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.

When, about 54 years ago, two teenagers met on a carol singing party, little did they think that they were destined to spend the rest of their lives together.

But so it happened, and on Sunday, Mr and Mrs Charles Thomas Copp, Hendra, Ashley Terrace, Bideford, who are both 71, celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.
On March 27th 1910 they were married at Bideford Bridge Street Methodist Church by the Rev J A Aldington.
Before her marriage, Mrs Copp was Miss Dora Annie Rendle, one of the six children of the late Mr and Mrs T Rendle, 11 Geneva Place.
Mr Copp, who has one sister, was born in Hartland but his family moved to Bideford when he was three. Until 1913 he was employed in the offices of Messrs I Baker and Sons, builders’ merchants, and by R Cock and Sons Ltd, shipbuilders, Appledore.
In 1913 Mr Copp and his wife left the district, returning in 1923, when after 3 years with Bartlett, Bayliss and Co. Ltd, Mr Copp became chief clerk of the Northern and Western Divisional Office of the County Roads Department at Barnstaple, retiring in 1954.
During the seasons 1923-25 Mr Copp was secretary of the original Bideford Association Football Club. For several years Mr Copp was a member of the Bideford Male Voice Choir.
Both Mr and Mrs Copp attended school in Bideford – Mr Copp at the school in Gunstone, Mrs Copp at a school which stood on the site of the present fire station.
Mrs Copp is the Savings Club treasurer of the Bridge Street Women’s Bright Hour.
They have a daughter, Miss Vera Copp, who is a Sunday School teacher at Bridge Street Church.
The full Gazette article is dated 25 March 1960

Former YFC Secretary Weds

Mr A J Bailey and Miss M G Davey

A former hon. secretary of the Hartland and District Young Farmers’ Club for three years was married at St Nectan’s Church, Stoke, Hartland, on Saturday.
She was Miss Margaret Grace Davey, daughter of Mr and Mrs J Davey, East Titchberry, Hartland, and the bridegroom was Mr Arthur John Bailey, son of Mr and Mrs H Bailey, 8 Woodville Road, Woodford, Morwenstow.
The bride’s cousin, Mr T Davey, who is organist at St Thomas’ Church, Keyham, Devonport, was at the organ for the wedding service, which was conducted by the Vicar of Hartland, the Rev A T H Jones.
The bride had a pearl necklace, the gift of her two nephews, John and Stephen Davey.
She was attended by three bridesmaids, Misses Carol, Anne and Ruth Davey. Duties of the best man were carried out by Mr F Bailey, and acting as ushers were Messrs K Davey and D Jones (Stratton).
On leaving the church the bride was presented with three good luck tokens by her nephew, Colin Davey, and horseshoe tokens by her cousin, Greta Stidwell. She received a rolling-pin as a gift from the bridegroom’s cousin, John Rodgers.
A reception was held at the Church Hall, Hartland, after which the couple left for a touring honeymoon.
The full Gazette article is dated 21 March 1958

Mr H Ley and Miss E Tremeer

The wedding took place on March 5th, at the Methodist Church, Alverdiscott, of Mr Herbert Ley, son of Mr and Mrs A G Ley, Parkham, and Miss Evelyn Tremeer, daughter of the late Mr and Mrs W Tremeer, Garnacott Farm, Alverdiscott.

The service was conducted by Rev P K Parsons (Methodist Minister) and the organist was Mrs R Moore.
The chief bridesmaid was Miss Margaret Pickard and there were two other bridesmaids, Misses Gillian and Jean Ley. Duties of the best man were carried out by Mr George Ley, and ushers were Mr C Pickard and Mr T Andrew.
The bride’s eldest sister and brother-in-law, Mr and Mrs R Hodge, were unavoidably absent.
As the bride and bridegroom left the Church, the bride was presented with silver horse-shoes by Misses Rosemary Ley and Gladys Hodge.
After a reception held at Mitchell’s Café, Bideford, the happy couple left for their honeymoon, to be spent at London.
Among many gifts was a salad bowl and servers from the choir of the Alverdiscott Methodist Church.
The full Gazette article is dated 22 March 1951