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.

Champion Bert takes the mike

National Champion Town Crier Bert Waldron “cheated” in Torrington on Saturday morning. He jumped into a loudspeaker van and toured the streets, ringing his bell and making his announcements using a microphone. But Bert was “found out” when a Gazette cameraman and reporter stopped the van in Well Street for this picture to be taken. He had, however, a good excuse for although he has the country’s champion voice after retaining the national Town Crier’s title at Hastings, the gale-force wind in Torrington on Saturday morning made his task of a clear announcement difficult.

So he rang and called over the microphone in Mr Tom Squire’s loudspeaker van.

Said Mr Squires, “The wind is extra strong to-day and as I had to make an announcement over the ‘speakers’ as well, we agreed that Bert could cry over them, too.” Said Bert, with a lough, “Yes, I’m doing a little bit of cheating, but I want the announcement of sound clearer in this strong wind.”

Gazette article dated 9 January 1959

Births and Marriages

10 November 1942

Acford – October 29th at the Woodside Nursing Home, Plymouth, to Elsie, wife of W H Acford, a daughter.
Babb – November 9th at the Grenville Nursing Home, to Peggy, wife of Cyril Babb, Rose Terrace, Buckland Brewer, a son.
Butler – November 5th to Irene, wife of George Butler, a daughter.
Cann – November 5th to Joan, wife of George Cann, Cosy Café, Bideford, a son, Roger John.
Furtado – November 4th to Clare (nee Young), wife of Capt G S Furtado, RASC, a son, Adrian.
Hider – November 6th to Rose, wife of John Hider, a son.
Quance – November 3rd at the Kenwyn Nursing Home, Crediton, to Dorothy (nee Bowden) wife of Mark Quance, of Medland Lodge, Cheriton Bishop, a daughter.
Vardigans – November 3rd to Mr and Mrs Glendenning Vardigans, a son.

Wakeley-Matthews – November 12th 1892 at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, by the Rev Jenkins, Samuel James Wakeley to Mary Matthews both of Bideford. Present address, 28 Geneva Place, Bideford.

Ford-Inson – November 4th at St Barnock’s Church, Braunton, the Vicar (Rev Prince) officiating. Horace Ford, son of Mr and Mrs H Ford, of Ferndale, Appledore, to Marjorie Francis Inson, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Inson of 26 Barton Lane, Braunton.

Hedden-Grigg – October 29th at Holy Trinity Church, Weare Giffard, Walter John, son of Mr and Mrs A Hedden, the Barton, Weare Giffard, to Mary, daughter of Mr and Mrs J Grigg, Neatherdowns, Weare Giffard.

Leonard-Edwards – On November 9th at St Mary’s Church, by the Rev Preb W N Manning, Craftsman Roger Leonard, REME, son of Mr and Mrs E Leonard, of Southern House, to Isabel Mary, daughter of Mr and Mrs H A Edwards, of Dagenham, North Road, Bideford

Births and Marriages

8 September 1942

Bedford – August 31st 1942 at Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, to Joan (nee Bassett), wife of John Ryland Bedford, a son.
Cox – August 31st at 95 Bellevue Road, Edinburgh, to Glenyth (nee Grey) wife of Stanley R Cox, a son, Brian.
Macaree – September 3rd at 4 Kenwith Terrace, to Phyllis (nee Waldron), wife of Howard Macaree, a daughter.
Mills – September 3rd to Mr and Mrs R Mills, Northam, a daughter.
Slade - September 2nd at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Mr and Mrs E A Slade (nee Alice Squires) of Colyton, Devon, a daughter, Ann Margaret.

Kelland-Gilder – September 7th at Holy Trinity Church, Landcross, by Rev G K Walton, Thomas George Kelland, sonof Mr and the late Mrs G T Kelland, of Summerhill, Littleham, to Mrs Margaret Gilder, daughter of Mr and the late Mrs W F Courtnell, of 71 Knighton Road, St Judes, Plymouth.

Larkworthy-Sutton – August 26th at St Mary’s Church, Thomas Burnard Larkworthy, son of Mr and Mrs B Larkworthy, of Mount Pleasant, Milton Damerel, to Alice Aline Sutton, daughter of Mr and Mrs W Sutton of Langtree.

Newcombe-Skinner – August 25th at St Stephens by Saltash, Cornwall, by the Rev G F Renner, assisted by the Rev Mr Venning, John Donovan Newcombe, only son of the late Mr Alfred and Mrs Newcombe, of 16 Richmond Terrace, to Vera Elizabeth Skinner, eldest daughter of the late Mr F and Mrs Skinner of Saltash, Cornwall.

Cawsey-Short – September 9th 1917 at St Mary’s Church, Appledore, by Rev J Goundry, Albert William Cawsey RNR, to Mildred Jane Short. Present address, 22 Meeting Street, Appledore.