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.

Mr and Mrs Fred Patt, of 2 Buckgrove Cottages, St Giles-in-the-Wood

received congratulations from Mr E W Turner, also of St Giles, and chairman of Torrington Rural Council, on their diamond wedding anniversary last Friday.

When Mr Patt, who was born at Langridge Ford, left school at the age of 11, his first job was cracking stones, but most of his working life was spent as a farm labourer being employed by the late Mr Laurence Hookway, of Town Tenement, St Giles, and later by Mr Hookway’s son, Mr R L Hookway.

He is still very active and his main hobby is gardening.

Mrs Patt, a native of High Bickington, also worked on a farm before her marriage.

Both are 80. Of their five daughters and two sons, all survive except a daughter, Esther (21), who died in 1942 while serving in the ATS. There are nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Bouquets were presented to the couple by Mr Turner and by Mrs R L Hookway, of Town Tenement.

Gazette article dated 15 April 1965

Mr W Berry and Miss D Logg

The wedding took place at the beautifully decorated St Mary’s Church, Appledore, on March 28th, of Mr William Berry, son of Mr and Mrs J Berry, 12 Tower Street, Northam, to Miss Daphne Logg, daughter of Mr and Mrs E Logg, 8 Myrtle Street, Appledore.

The Vicar of Appledore, Rev H C A S Muller, officiated at the ceremony. Mrs Helen Muller presided at the organ. “The Lord is my Shepherd” was sung as a solo by Master Tony Redclift.
There were two bridesmaids – Miss M Hosegood and Miss B Logg. Duties of the best man were carried out by Mr Fred Berry.
A reception was held at the Appledore Hall. Mrs P Lamey made the wedding cake which was much admired.
Mr and Mrs Berry chose Wembley for their honeymoon.
The full Gazette article is dated 6 April 1951

Births and marriages

13 March 1945

Bowden – February 27th 1945 at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, to Amy (nee Daniel), wife of Vernon Bowden, a daughter, Joy Elaine.
Eastmond – February 28th at the Torrington Cottage Hospital, to Lucy (nee Beer), wife of Robert Leonard Eastmond, a son, Robert Michael.
Guard – March 9th at the North Devon Infirmary, to Doris (nee Avery), wife of Gunner H Guard, RLA, a daughter, Patricia Joan Ellaine.
Parsons – March 8th at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Phyllis (nee Bond), wife of Pte W Parsons, a daughter.
Smith – March 6th at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Mary (nee Husband), wife of PO A Smith, RN, a son, Michael David.

Ball-Friendship - Saturday March 10th at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, CSM Maurice Ball, RE, son of Mr and Mrs Ball, Treorchy, South Wales, to Florence Elsa, daughter of Mr J Friendship and the late Mrs Friendship, 7 Trafalgar Place, Bideford.
Dennis-Gabriel – at Christ Church, Weston-super-Mare, on February 26th by Rev C K W Warren, MA, Betty, daughter of Mr and Mrs L J Gabriel, Weston-Super-Mare, to Philip, son of Mr and Mrs A P Dennis, The Square, Braunton.
Moyse-Clark – Saturday February 17th at All Saints Church, Wigston, LAC F G Moyse (RAF), son of Mr and Mrs G B Moyse, Appledore, and Janet Clark (WAAF), daughter of Mr and Mrs Osmond Clark, of Wigston.