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.

Mr and Mrs William Chubb, of 24 South Street, Torrington,

are photographed with members of their family during a party held recently to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.

Mr and Mrs Chubb are seated in the front row with Mr W Chubb and a daughter, Mrs W Luscombe, eldest daughter Mrs F Miles, a son, Mr J Chubb and a third daughter, Miss C Chubb.

Mr Chubb is a son of the late Mr John Chubb, who was huntsman for many years to the Hon Mark Rolle at Stevenstone House, St Giles, and his wife, formerly Miss Elizabeth Budd, was born in Torrington.

For many years Mr Chubb was employed at the Royal Naval Dockyard, Devonport. At the outbreak of the recent war he came back out of retirement to work at the Dockyard before coming to live at Ashley Terrace, Bideford, while he was with the British Rola factory.

Both Mr and Mrs Chubb enjoy and on their golden wedding day they welcomed thirty-six members of the family to lunch and tea at Castle House, Torrington. Among the guests were the two grandsons, Mr John Miles and Mr Peter Luscombe.

The cake was made and given by Mr and Mrs C R Popham. The catering was by Mrs Coward.

The full Gazette article is dated 12 October 1951

Golden Day for Former Mayor and Mayoress

Former Mayor and Mayoress of Bideford, Mr and Mrs Harold Blackmore, celebrate their golden wedding

Both natives of Appledore, they were married in the Congregational Church there on February 18, 1922, by the Rev. R. Dobbie.

It was a boy and girl romance. There was an affinity because Mrs Blackmore’s father, Mr Freddie Shutt, had a ship-repairing business on Appledore Quay and Mr Blackmore’s family a shipyard opposite St Mary’s Church. When they began courting Harold was apprenticed in the family business and Florrie, the youngest of six daughters, was a pupil at Barnstaple Grammar School. She left home at 7 a.m. to catch the ferry to Instow, from where she continued by train. It was 6 p.m. before she returned and Harold was always there to meet her. When the tide was out, of course, it meant walking halfway across.

Mr Blackmore had the distinction of being born in a ship’s cabin on the bank of the River Torridge at Hubbastone. His grandfather had broken up a brigantine, the Delaware, and had built his home from the deck house and other timber. The house, named after the vessel, was something of a show place.

Mr and Mrs Blackmore, now 73 and 71 respectively, moved to Bideford from Appledore in 1941, the shipyard having been transferred here three years earlier. Later he founded Laminated Woods Ltd. He was awarded the M.B.E. for services to the Admiralty. At the first attempt Mr Blackmore was elected to the Town Council in 1962, topping the poll, and he was elected Mayor in 1967. Next month his services to the community will be marked by conferment of the honorary freedom of the borough. His work in many spheres, including the Congregational Church, is well known.

Mrs Blackmore, who has supported her husband in his many roles, has also been a tireless worker for the Congregational Church. For 42 years until 1968, she was actively associated with the North Devon Congregational Women’s Guild, for two of them as president and 11 as secretary. She has always been a keen worker for Lavington Church.

Mr and Mrs Blackmore have a son and two daughters, who have arranged a family celebration dinner.

Gazette article dated 11 February 1972

Westward Ho! Golden Wedding

Mr and Mrs W O Hambly, active Octogenarians

Celebrating their golden wedding anniversary were Mr and Mrs W O Hambly of Kipling House, Westward Ho!

Their wedding took place at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, on the fourth day of the fourth month of the fourth year (1904) and it was the fourth wedding that had taken place that day. Miss Blanch Newcombe, second daughter of Mr and Mrs William Newcombe, of Castle Street, Northam, became the wife of Mr William Oke Hambly, second son of Mr and Mrs Fanny Hambly, of Darracott Farm, Welcombe.

After their marriage, Mr and Mrs Hambly lived at Upcott Hill and later moved to Westcombe where Mr Hambly was employed in Prouse’s tannery. In 1920 they moved to Westward Ho! at the Pebbleridge Villas and 15 years later to their present address. After the tannery closed Mr Hambly was in the employ of the Prudential Assurance Co. Ltd. In semi-retirement in 1931 he became tennis courts and putting green attendant for the Northam Urban District Council.

During the first World War Mr Hambly was mainly concerned with clerical work in the Forces.

Mrs Hambly before her marriage was a cook for Admiral Sir William Dowell from whose residence, Ford House, she was married. An ardent member of the British Legion, Mr Hambly was a member of the Bideford Branch and is now a member of the Northam and Westward Ho! Branch.

Mr Hambly has a fine sporting record. A keen skittler, he was a member of the Conservative Club team which won the Bell trophy three years in succession. The other members were: Messrs Walter Pickard, A R Jenn, R B Passmore, W Lock, S Ley, H Pidgeon and Jimmy Huxtable. He has been a member of Bideford Amateur Rowing Club. When he used to live at Parkham, when his parents moved from Welcombe, he took an active part in cricket. He also belonged to Bideford Bowling Club.

Mr and Mrs Hambly have one son – Mr Nelson Hambly – and two daughters – Mrs Esme Vine of London and Mrs R Ball of Westward Ho!. There are four grandchildren.

The full Gazette article is dated 9 April 1954