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.

19 June 1945

Dickson – June 12th to Kathleen (nee Symonds), wife of Major R C Dickson, Royal Signals, a daughter.
Hunkin – June 15th to Mary (nee Lake), wife of W Hunkin, of West Ash, Frithelstock, a son, William Roger.
Lesslie – June 9th at the Dibden Purlieu Nursing Home, to Gwen (nee Sluman), wife of Walter Lesslie, 11 Hollydene, Hythe, Southampton, a daughter, Sandra Mary.
Roberts – June 11th at The Wayside Nursing Home, Maidenhead, to Mr and Mrs L G Roberts (nee Vera Headon), a second daughter, Jennifer Margaret.
Seagrave – June 15th at Braunton Nursing Home, to Gwen (nee Chugg) wife of Mr Derek Seagrave, a son, Jonathan Richard.
Squire – June 12th at the Nursing Home, Torrington to Margaret (nee Crocker), wife of A G Squire, 2 South Street, Torrington, a daughter, Janet Margaret.

Bennett-Rendle – June 11th 1945 at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, by Rev T R Gibby, Desmond Bennett, son of Mr and Mrs A Bennett, 3 Pitt Hill, Appledore, to Joyce, daughter of Mr and Mrs H Rendle, 34 Meddon Street.
Rendle-Rocke – June 9th at Church of Christ the King, Bromborough, Cheshire, by Rev Father Velaide, Pte A Rendle, son of Mr and Mrs F Rendle, 12 Stanhope Terrace, Bideford, and Miss Winifred A Rocke, daughter of late Mrs and Mr Rocke, 18 Mainwaring Road, Bromborough.

Births, engagements and marriages

14 June 1963

Hunt – June 10th 1963 a the General Lying-in Hospital, London, SE1, to Lois (nee Eady) and Dr Roger Hunt, a sister for Rachel
Rice – June 6th in Singapore to Patricia (nee Anderson), wife of Derek, formerly of 3 Myrtle Gardens, Bideford, a daughter, Linda Gail
Tolley – June 8th at the Grenville Nursing Home, to Fiona (nee Greene) and Gerald, a son, Jeremy Mark

Blackmore-Martin – Mr and Mrs Blackmore, 84 Stucley Road, Bideford, have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their son, Albert, to Joan, daughter of Mr and Mrs Martin, 4 Vennclose, Instow
Nicholls-Poole – Mr and Mrs K Poole, Parklands, Fairy Cross, have much pleasure in announcing the engagement of their daughter, Mary, to Colin, son of Mr and Mrs G Nicholls, Hill Ash Farm, Langtree

Welsford-Day – On June 18th 1938 at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, by the Rev Mr Wilson, Cyril J Welsford to Ruth Day.

Steer-Pidler – On June 11th 1913 at St John the Baptist Church, Instow, Wilfred Heywood, of Bidna Farm, Northam, to Annie Jane, of Fullingcott Farm, Instow. Present address: Bryglyn, Kingsley Road, Bideford

Best Man And Bridesmaid Rejoin Langtree Couple 50 Years Wed

The best man and one of the bridesmaids at their wedding 50 years ago were among the guests at the golden wedding celebrations for Mr and Mrs Richard Bond, of Collacott, Langtree.

Best man was Mr Bond’s brother Jack, of Kilkhampton, and the bridesmaid, Mrs Lily Stevens, of Bampton. The other bridesmaid, Mrs Nancy Yelland, who lives at Clawton, was unable to attend through illness.

Another guest was the Rev Arthur Balman, minister of Shebbear Methodist circuit. Mr and Mrs Bond have been life-long Methodists.

Mr Bond (73) is one of 12 children of the late Mr and Mrs Samuel Bond, of Bradworthy. His wife Ivy (70) was born at Lydford, bu tlater the family moved to Bradworthy.
Mr and Mrs Bond farmed and spent many years at Riverton, Langtree. On retirement they moved to their present address where their son and daughter-in-law, Mr and Mrs Grenville Bond, farm. Their daughter, Mrs Audrey Ley, lives at West Burton, Alverdiscott. There are two grandchildren.
Mr Bond has been a keen farmer all his life and still takes an active interest in the farms of his son and daughter.
Mrs Bond, a schoolteacher at both Bradworthy and Buckland Brewer before her marriage, was formerly a Sunday Schoolteacher and organist at Eckworthy. For 28 years she has been society steward at Langtree Methodist Church.
Gazette article dated 27 February 1970