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.

Torritonians’ Happy Anniversary

Congratulations and best wishes to Mr and Mrs John Quick, 53 Calf Street, Torrington, who have recently celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.
Married at the Bible Christian Chapel, South Street, Torrington on February 21st 1885, both are now 82 years of age and are staunch supporters of the Methodist Church, which they attend regularly every Sunday.
A postman for 36 years, with the Imperial Service Medal, Mr Quick remembers the great snowstorm in March 1891, when the snow was level with the hedges, also many occasions when the Taddiport Bridge could not be crossed owing to floods and he had to make several miles detour to deliver the mail at Langtree, Brandiscorner.
Before her marriage, Mrs Quick was the daughter of Mr and Mrs M Bennett, natives of Torrington.
Mr Quick was a member of the old 4th Devon Vols and was an expert shot.
Of Mr and Mrs Quick’s four children – three daughters and one son – there is only one surviving, a daughter, Mrs W Edwards, of Plymstock, who has one daughter, Mrs C A Battershill.
Mr and Mrs Quick were the recipients of numerous telegrams and messages of congratulation and best wishes, including a telegram from the King and Queen. One of the first callers for the day to offer his congratulations was the Mayor of Torrington, Ald L S Hutchings.

The full Gazette article is dated March 6 1945

Births

6 March 1945

Cole – February 22 1945 at the Southmead Nursing Home, Bristol, to Mollie, wife of F G Cole, a daughter, Linda Mary
Gayton – March 5 1945 at Devonia, Bideford East, to Irene, wife of LAC Arthur G Gayton, RAF, a son, brother for David, Brian James
Murch – March 1 1945 at the Beech Hill Nursing Home, to Muriel, wife of Ronald W Murch, of Dorridge, Umberleigh, a sister for Rachel
Pritchard – March 4 1945 at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Brenda, wife of Sgt A F Pritchard, a son, a brother for Michael
Smith – February 22 1945 at 3 Grenville Terrace, Bideford, to Vera (nee Lang), wife of Cpl T A Smith, R Signals, a son, Robert James
Warren – February 28 1945 at Lauriston, New Street, Torrington, to Muriel, wife of Reginald John Warren, B.Sc, a brother, Jeffrey Jonathan, for Anthony
Whittaker – March 3 1945 at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Evelyn, wife of F G Whittaker, a daughter, Jaqueline

Engagements and Marriages

25 March 1966

Backway-Thornton – The engagement is announced between John, only son of Mr and Mrs J C Backway, 17 Elmdale Road, Bideford, and Jane, only daughter of Mrs V Thornton and the late Mr Thornton, Gorselands, Winterslow, Salisbury.

Stevens-Hayward – the marriage took place on March 5th 1966 at St Leonards Church, Watlington, Oxford, of Lilian Jacqueline, only daughter of Mr and Mrs K Stevens, Westend Cottage, Watlington and the granddaughter of Mrs Staines and the late George, formerly of Appledore, to Roy Hayward, 39 Nuncham Courtenay, Oxford.

Lugg-Palmer – On March 29th 1916 at the Baptist Church, Frithelstock, Gertrude Ella to John. Present address: 2 Old Pound, Frithelstock.

Slade-Quance – On March 28th 1906 at Thornhillhead Chapel, Albert John to Ellen. Present address: Hilltop, Raleigh, Bideford. Heartiest congratulations from all the family

25.3.1966