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.

1 May 1945

Dennis - April 25, ot Mr and Mrs G S Dennis, Markadon, Hartland, a son, Adrian George
Laws - April 24 1945, at the Grenville Nursing Home, to Margaret (nee Moore), wife of A D Laws, a son, a brother for Margot and David
Spry - April 20 1945, at 12 Iveagh Avenue, London, to Doris (nee Yeo), wife of Walter H Spry, a son, Nigel Adrian, a brother for Michael and Carole

Steer-Hill - engagement is announced between Kenneth John Steer, son of Mr and Mrs E Steer, Guelph, Ontario, formerly of Torrington, and Kathleen Helena Hill, daughter of Mr L Hill, Sask. Canada, and Mrs Hill, Monkleigh

Fraser-Webster - April 16 1945 at St Michael's Church, Carlisle, PO Stephen James Fraser, RN, son of Mr and Mrs G R Fraser, Grenville House, Bideford, to Wren Doris Kathleen, only child of Mr and Mrs W A Webster, Fairlie, Dalston
Massie-Thisby - April 24 945 at St Mary's Church, Bideford, Ian McKay Massie, Royal Navy, son of Mr and Mrs G Massie, Aberdeen, and Morwenna, daughter of Mrs R Thisby and the late Mr George Thisby, 4 New Street, Bideford
Mills-Law - April 24 1945 at St Clements Church, Ilford, Petty Officer Ronald George Mills, son of Mr and Mrs George Mills, 10 Lisgar Terrace, W14, formerly of Appledore, to Jean Letitia Law, daughter of the late Mr and Mrs A Law, Pretoria, South Africa
O'Toole-Wrey - April 23 1945 at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Bideford, John Patrick O'Toole, son of Mr and Mrs Leo O'Toole, West Wheeling, Lancashire, Ohio, USA, to Doris Wrey, daughter of Mr and Mrs Wrey, Sentry Corner, Bideford

Cleverdon-Hicks - April 20 1920 at the Wesleyan Church, Chelsworthy, by the Rev Franklin J Blake, John Pawly Cleverdon, to Nellie Hicks. Present address: 4 Bay View, Northam
Jewell-Edwards - May 1 1920 at St Mary's Church, Appledore, by Rev G Scholey, Sidney Benjamin Jewell to Louisa Jane Edwards. Present address: 5 Newport Terrace, Bideford E

Births and marriages

11 April 1963

Cole – April 4th to Anne (nee Parks) and Frank, a son, Andrew Neil.
Jones – Tuesday April 9th at Penlea, North View Avenue, Bideford, to Maureen, wife of Rev D Raymond Jones, a son, Andrew William, brother for Christopher.
Lee – April 7th to Sheila (nee Swiffen) and Derrick, a son, Stephen Richard.
Slade – To Ann and Brian, a daughter, Deborah Ann, a sister for Martyn
Westaway – April 3rd at the Grenville Nursing Home to Joyce (nee Ley) and John, a daughter, Susan Mary.

Deakins-Hornabrook – April 6th at St Mary’s, Appledore, Peter Deakins, 26 Merton Crescent , Portchester, to Maureen Hornabrook, daughter of Mr and Mrs C T Hornabrook, 16 Western Avenue, Appledore.
Hallett-Ford – March 27th at the Methodist Church, Appledore, by Pastor J Evison, assisted by Rev D Cox, James Gordon, son of Mr and Mrs G Hallett, Rosedale Cottage, Vernons Lane, to Eileen May, daughter of Mrs and the late Mr F J Ford, 19 One End Street.

Mr F W Titcomb and Miss M A Bright

Affection and esteem

The affection and esteem in which the bride and bridegroom are held was shown by the large congregation at the Baptist Church, Bideford, on Easter Monday for the wedding of Mr Francis William Titcomb, only son of Mr F P Titcomb and the late Mrs Titcomb, of Portledge, Queen’s Road, Newbury, and Miss Margaret Ann Bright, only daughter of Mrs Charles Bright and the late Mr C Bright, of Llandaff House, Clovelly Road, Bideford.
The ceremony was performed by the Rev E F H Knight with Mrs Dorothy Westacott at the organ.
The bride was given away by her uncle Mr J T M Mitchell. Her veil was kindly lent by Mr E F H Knight. She was attended by Miss Anne Lucas, the best man was Mr Carl Long and the bride’s brothers, Messrs Ingram and Christopher Bright, acted as ushers.
They will reside at Newbury, where the bridegroom is Master at Shaw House School. The bride, who received her training in nursing at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children, has been acting as staff nurse at the Bideford and District Hospital.
The full Gazette article is dated 6 April 1951