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.

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.

Torrington Post Office

Presentations were the order of the day

at Torrington Post Office when the departing postmaster, Mr H Ash, received a picnic basket from the Torrington staff and friends at Bideford PO, Postman A May received a mirror and fireproof dish as wedding gifts from his colleagues, and Mr W S Hutchings was presented with a 10-years safe driving medal.
Mr W Sillifant, Mr C Pittwood, Miss A Beer, Mrs E Hoyle, Mr V Baker, Miss H Walsha, Miss M Bissett, Mr P Ford (acting postmaster), and Mr W Page.
Mr R Jones, Mr H Ash, Mr R D Cooper (Head Postmaster, Bideford), Mr A May, Mr W Hutchings, and Mr B Quick.
Gazette article dated 10 April 1959

Looking Forward To Their Diamond Wedding

Next week’s anniversary at Torrington

Sixty years ago next Thursday, July 24th, two well known Torrington people entered a local registry office and left man and wife. They were Mr and Mrs Herbert Baker, Fair View, Gas Lane.
Mr and Mrs Baker have one son, 57 years old Mr Reg Baker, Mill Street, Torrington, who is a driver for Torridge Vale Dairies (Devon) Ltd. They had one granddaughter, Mrs Stacey, of Calf Street, Torrington, and four great-grandchildren.
Mr Baker, who is 80 years old, has a long record of service to the town. For thirty years he was a member of Torrington Town Council, serving as an Alderman for six years. Just over twelve months ago he resigned from the Council, At that time he was ‘father’ of the Council.
For thirty years Mr Baker has also been a member of Torrington Commons Conservators.
Both Mr and Mrs Baker have lived in Torrington most of their lives. Mr Baker, one of a family of four, was born at Beaford, and Mrs Baker, formerly Miss Ruth Stapleton, was born at Merton and was one of a family of eight. She is now 78.
Until the age of 12, Mr Baker attended Buckland Brewer School, in his earlier school years having to pay a 2d a week fee for his education. On leaving school Mr Baker moved with his family to Torrington. He drove horses for a Torrington tanyard until at 14 he became employed at Specott Farm, Merton, where he was head horseman, in charge of three teams of horses. He was later employed on the Cross House Estate.
Mr Baker served in the Royal North Devon Hussars during the first world war and was wounded while in the Dardenelles. On returning he became a foreman in timber felling work the Board of Trade and later managed a smallholding. He then built what is now Goosegreen Garage, Torrington, and ran a school bus service with his son as a mechanic.
Mrs Baker left Merton School at the age of 11. Her family moved into Torrington when she was 13 and she worked in service until her marriage.
The full Gazette article is dated 18 July 1958