People

Christmas Eve at the Front

An interesting letter has just been received by Mrs Packer, of Broadclyst, from her husband, Corpl Packer of A Company, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, who is serving with the Expeditionary Force in Northern France. In the course of a letter he describes a remarkable incident which occurred on Christmas Eve between the British and German trenches.

2 August 1963

Docherty – July 27th to Betty (nee Kivell) and Charles, a son, Michael Philip, a brother for Robert.
Jordan – July 24th at 40 Old Town to David and Mary (nee Stanbury), a son, Stephen Charles.
Peacham – July 17th to David and Ann (nee Badcock), a daughter, Shirley Ann.
Trewin – July 26th to Isabel and Raymond, a son, Jeremy Godfrey Thomas, brother for Jayne, Fiona and Sharon.

James-Cranleigh – the engagement is announced between Sheila, daughter of Mr and Mrs R J Cranleigh, 25 Pynes Lane, Bideford, to Derek, son of Mrs D James, 1 Sea View Road, Northam.
Lane-Munday – the engagement is announced between Joy, daughter of Mrs G Munday, Cairn Cross, Westward Ho! and Martin John, son of Mr and Mrs P Lane, Winslade Farm, Parkham.

Berryman-Kelly – July 27th at St Margaret’s Church, Northam, Bridget Ellen, daughter of Mrs Kelly, 15 Fore Street, to Lenard Palmer Berryman, RAF, of St Earth, Cornwall.
Colwill-Braund – July 20th at Holy Trinity Church, Westward Ho! Robert Malcolm of Luton, son of Mr and Mrs H Colwill, Bideford, to Janet, daughter of Mr and Mrs K W Braund.
Darby-Heywood – At St Mary’s Church, Bideford, on July 27th, Peter, son of Mr and Mrs R W Darby, 1 Northview Hill, Bideford, to Veronica, daughter of Mr and Mrs J D Heywood, 28 Old Town, Bideford.
Fishleigh-Brown – July 27th at Torrington Parish Church, Roger David, of the Somerset County Constabulary, son of Mrs M Fishleigh and the late Mr R C Fishleigh, Romar, Old Barnstaple Road, Bideford, and Elizabeth Jean, daughter of Mr and Mrs W Brown, 2 Mill Street, Torrington.

Mother’s 95th Birthday

Family Gathering at Appledore

There was a notable family gathering at no. 4 New Street, Appledore, on New Year’s Eve when the oldest woman in Appledore, Mrs Matilda Lamey, celebrated her 95th birthday.

Seven of her eight surviving children, five of them old-age pensioners, came in to wish their mother a happy birthday. They brought with them gifts and congratulations from her eighteen grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren.

Although six of Mrs Lamey’s children live at Appledore, they had not met all together in this way for years.

So on New Year’s Eve Mrs Lamey’s eldest daughter, Mrs Ada Revely, John, Fred, Mrs H Tucker, Mrs B Lobbett with whom Mrs Lamey is living, Percy and Randall, all joined their mother in the festively decorated sitting room to cut the birthday cake, made by Mrs Lamey’s daughter-in-law, Mrs Eric Lobbett, of Glenburnie.

Mr Tom Lamey, now living in Hayes, Middlesex, was unable to come down to Appledore for the occasion.

Congratulation cards and telegrams, money and other gifts came into the household with the Christmas mail, and Mrs Lamey is still busy replying to each sender.

‘I am well looked after by my family’ said Mrs Lamey when asked what made her such a bright, communicative person at her age.

She added that she liked to sit by the fire and watch TV ‘especially the horses,’ enjoyed listening to singing and liked a glass of beer occasionally.

Gazette article dated 9 January 1959

Commendations For Three Local Men

Framed personal letters

Today at the Amphibious Trials Detachment at Fremington Camp, Major-General R W Madoc, Major General Royal Marines, Portsmouth, is presenting the Commander-in-Chief Portsmouth’s Commendation to three Admiralty civilian employees at Fremington in recognition of their rescue attempt when two amphibian vehicles sand in the sea off Westward Ho! in March.

The three men are Messrs. John Bowden, of Bideford, George Slade, of Appledore, and F S Wood, of Northam. At the same time they will each receive a framed personal letter from Commodore The Right Hon. The Earl Howe, chairman of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. These will be presented to them by Capt H L Morgan, chairman of the Appledore branch of the RNLI, who will be accompanied by the secretary, Capt P Brennan.

If the weather is fine the presentations will take place on the lawn in front of the ATDHQ, but if it is wet they will be held in the office of Cmdr J S Mulock, the Officer Commanding.

Gazette article dated 7 October 1960