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.

Sapr A J Beer, RE and ACW E K Canham, WAAF

The wedding was solemnised at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, on Wednesda, of Sapr A J Beer, RE, eldest son of Mr and Mrs A J Beer, Homeside, 6 Chanters Avenue, Bideford, and ACW E K Canham, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs T E Canham, 108 Bye Pass Road, London. Both bride and bridegroom were in uniform, and the bride carried a bouquet of bronze chrysanthemums and trailing fern.
She was given away by LAC O’Connor, a friend. The bride was attended by ACW Mulry, also in uniform, and the best man was the bridegroom’s brother, Derek. Mr R Harper was at the organ.
On leaving the church, the bride was presented with two lucky horseshoes by the bridegroom’s two young sisters, Alison and Brenda, the latter on behalf of the bride’s sister, Edie, who was unable to attend.
A reception was held at Homeside, where about forty guests were entertained. Fifteen telegrams were received, including one from the bridegroom’s cousin, George Elston, who is serving in Sicily.
The full Gazette article is dated 2 November 1943

Births and marriages

15 May 1945

Chapman – May 7th 1945 at Ivygreen, Bowgreave, Garstang, to Mr and Mrs S Chapman (nee Dorothy Baron), a daughter, Jennifer, a sister for Graham.
Parsley – May 13th at Mount Pleasant, Parkham, to Ezma Mary Parsley (nee Copp) and Kenneth William Parsley, Royal Navy, a son, Victor Andrew.
Headon – May 11th at 64 The Quay, Clovelly, to Clara, wife of Lieut Stephen H Headon, RNVR, a sister for Clive.
Shutt – May 10th at 8 The Quay, Bideford, to Mr and Mrs L J Shutt, a daughter, Cynthia.
Smale – May 5th at 5 Bedford Cotts, Plymstock, to Mr and Mrs L Smale (nee Dora West), a son.
Turner – May 11th at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Dora (nee Sanders), wife of J R Turner, MRCVS, a daughter.

Taylor-Hocking – May 15th 1920 at St Margaret’s Church, Northam, Thomas James Taylor to Blanche Hocking. Present address: 29 Westcombe, Bideford.

Births, engagements and marriages

10 May 1963

Bright – May 4th at the North Devon Infirmary, Barnstaple, to Marion and Ken, a son, Kenneth John.
Brown – May 3rd to Joyce (nee Beckley) and Charles, a daughter, Teresa Mary.
Mayne – May 4th to Margaret (nee Hooper) and John, a daughter, Julie, a sister for Susan and Stephen.

Burdick-Wilkie – engagement announced between Major Peter Burdick, the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, son of Mrs G L Burdick and the late Mr H A Burdick, Shaldon, Devon, and Daphne, daughter of Mr H G Wilkie, CMG, and Mrs Wilkie, Weare Giffard, Bideford.
Kimber-Webster – engagement is announced of Anthony Robin Kimber, BA, Hayes, Little Torrington, and Patricia Rose Webster, BA, 9 Charles Road, Poole, Dorset.

Bennett-Abrams – May 6th at Totnes, by Special Licence, Norman Trevithick Bennett, Uplands, 151 Pampisford Road, South Croydon, Surrey, to Rosemary Joyce Abrams, Wyke Lodge, Totnes, South Devon, widow of Leslie Abrams.