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.

5 July 1963

Potter – June 28th 1963 at Swindon to Jane and Edward, a daughter, Helen Elizabeth, and granddaughter for Mr and Mrs F H Griffiths, Crossways, Buckland Brewer.
Turner – July 2nd at 30 Platts Lane, Hampstead, NW3, to Gillian (nee Chope) and Geoffrey, a son, John, brother for Sarah and Mark.

Snell-Sluman – Mr and Mrs Sluman of Torrington Lane, have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their daughter, June, to Terence, son of Mr and Mrs Snell, New Street, Torrington.

Bain-Acford – June 29th at St Helen’s, Abbotsham, Richard, son of Mr and Mrs Bain, of Pine Lodge, Northdown Road, Bideford, to Carole, daughter of Mr and Mrs W J Acford, Ridgeway.
Colome-Bunn – June 29th at St Mary’s Church, Appledore, by Rev R C Dixon, Brian John, son of Mr and Mrs J Colome, 111 Lime Grove, Bideford, to Brenda, daughter of Mr and Mrs L W Bunn, 13 Meeting Street, Appledore.
Moyes-Dawe – June 22nd at Bideford Town Mission, Herbert John, son of Mrs F Moyes, 49 Grenville Estate, Bideford, to Jean Patricia, daughter of Mr and Mrs C W J Dawe, 45 Elm Grove.

The Secret Of Keeping Young

Torrington Golden Wedding

The Mayor and Mayoress of Torrington, Mr and Mrs W H Jenkins, bring the congratulations of townspeople to Mr and Mrs Percy Copp.
Life is never lonely for Mr and Mrs Percy Copp, 76 Calf Street, Torrington, for their three sons, three daughters and 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild all live near them.
Mr and Mrs Copp’s sons are: Harold, who lives at Taddiport; George of South Street, who is a member of Torrington Town Council; and Reg, of New Street. Their daughters are Mrs Marjorie Popham, Mrs Olivia Newcombe and Mrs Winnie Oke, all of Calf Street.
Mr and Mrs Copp were married at Torrington Parish Church on June 6th 1908. Mr Copp, who is 73, left Barley Grove School, Torrington, when he was only eleven years old and went to work on a farm. Following his marriage he was employed by Torrington Rural Council and by Devon County Council. He was later employed as a quarryman by Mr Adams, of Langtree, and remained in this work until he was 65.
When married first Mr and Mrs Copp had to manage on Mr Copp’s wage of 15 shillings a week.
Mrs Copp is 69 years old. Most of her time is fully occupied. “Keep your mind active, keep going, and you always feel happy” is her motto.
Mrs Copp went to what is now Torrington County Primary School until the age of 14 when she became employed by a local glove factory as an errand girl at 3s 6d a week.
The full Gazette article is dated 13 June 1958

Devonians Get Together In Cyprus….

Several well known local people were present at the Governor of Cyprus’ Investiture held on the island last month.

When Flight-Lieut Sykes, of Stratton, received the MBE, Flight-Lieut J H Lamey, MBE, of Appledore, was one of his supporters. The OC of the unit (103 MU) was Wing Commander Pentren-Voak, OBE, of Braunton. Later the party met Miss Ann Backway, of Bideford, and the above photograph was taken by Wing-Commander Pentren-Voak.

Seen in the photograph are: Mrs J H Lamey, Mrs Pentren-Voak, Flight-Lieut J H Lamey, Sergt Ann Backway, Flight-Lieut Peel and Mrs E Sykes.
Flight-Lieut J H Lamey, in a letter, adds “Sir Hugh Foot told me that Sergt Backway was present and asked me to pronounce Bideford the proper way – which I did – and caused a laugh”.
The full article is dated 29 May 1959