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.

Many friends attended the wedding at Bridge Street Methodist Church on Wednesday, March 17th of Mr Graham Braddick, elder son of Mr and Mrs L G H Braddick of Vicosa, Westward Ho! to Miss Dorothy Pickard, only daughter of Mrs and the late Mr T Pickard, 1 Sea View, Northam.

The bridegroom is a former secretary of Bideford and District Motor Club. An excellent shot, he has represented the County is clay pigeon shooting.
Rev Isaac Bond officiated and Mr E G Laycock accompanied the singing. Given in marriage by her uncle, Mr W Ace, the bride wore a white brocade dress with a white net veil and carried a bouquet of deep pink carnations and fern.
Bridesmaids were Misses M Ace and J Braddick. Duties of best man were discharged by Mr D H Dalling, cousin of the bridegroom.
A reception was held at Tanton’s Hotel, Bideford, after which Mr and Mrs Graham Braddick left for a touring honeymoon.
Mr and Mrs Graham’s Braddick’s future home will be at the Headlands Hotel, Westward Ho! where Mr Braddick will take over the management of Messrs Braddicks Holiday Camp there, and he will also continue this interest in Braddicks Electrical Ltd.
The full Gazette article is dated 26 March 1954

Sixty Happy Years

Diamond wedding of Mr and Mrs A Shute

Quietly celebrating sixty years of happy married life on Sunday of last week were Mr and Mrs Alfred Shute, 9 Wimbourne Terrace, Bideford, who were married on March 9th 1887, at Alwington Parish Church.
A small party was held at their home in honour of the anniversary and the family of three sons and one daughter were present. Mr Shute’s sister, Mrs Westaway, who was the bridesmaid at the wedding, also attended and some other guests included the Mayor and Mayoress of Bideford, Mr and Mrs J Lang, the Town Clerk, Mr F C Backway, and Dr M W Littlewood, the family doctor.
Of the family of four, only two live in the district. Miss Lillian Shute, lives with her parents and Mr W H Shute, who lives at 5 Victoria Grove, Bideford, is in business as a joiner and undertaker. Mr A A Shute lives at Chepstow and Mr Wilfred Shute at Bournemouth.
Mr and Mrs Shute snr. Came to Bideford shortly after their marriage and have remained here ever since. For over forty years Mr Shute was associated with the Wesleyan Methodist Church as a lay preacher until overtaken by deafness.
Mrs Shute, who before her marriage was Miss Wilmot Pennington, and lived at Alwington, is 88 years of age. Her husband is 85.
Memories of old Bideford recalled by Mr Shute include coming to Bideford as a boy – he then lived at Littleham – and seeing the Old Grammar School on the site of the present Bridge Hall, and of the British Boys ‘Bell’ School which then stood where the Fire Station now is.
The full Gazette article is dated 18 March 1947

Births and Marriages

9 March 1951

Gayton – March 5th 1951, to Irene (nee Pope) and George, a sister for David and Brian.
Jeffery – March 3rd to Mary (nee Hillman), wife of Francis, a son (Ian), a brother for Jeanette
Lee – March 1st at Moorpark, Fairy Cross, to May (nee Poole), wife of Robert George Lee, a son, Norman George.
Sherbourne – February 26th at Rose Cottage, Bideford, to Elsie, wife of Roy Sherborne, a son (Roy Frederick Arthur)
Shutt – March 4th to Margaret (nee Nye), wife of Gerald T Shutt, 52 Barton Tors, a daughter (Margaret Nadine).
Smallridge – March 1st at 14 Torridge Road, Appledore, to Ken and Emily (nee Farthing), a daughter (Patricia May).

Blackmore-Morris – March 3rd, at Bulawayo, S Rhodesia, Ronald, son of Mr and Mrs R Blackmore, 5 Clifton Street, Bideford, to Eileen, daughter of Capt and Mrs T Morris, Johannesburg