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.

Funeral of Mr E G Laycock

Members of Lodge of Benevolence No. 489 (Bideford) of Freemasons, of which he was a Past Master and had been secretary for many years, were bearers and formed a guard of honour at the funeral at Bridge Street Methodist Church, Bideford, on Monday, of Mr Ezra George Laycock.

Mr Laycock, who was principal of the Bideford School of Music, Shorthand and Typewriting, at 25 Bridgeland Street, Bideford, died on January 5th, at the age of 78. For twenty years, until his retirement in 1946, he was secretary to Bideford and District Hospital. He was a trustee of the Bridge Street Church and for many years was church organist.
The funeral service, which was followed by a cremation at Plymouth, was conducted by Rev Isaac Bond. The organist was Mr R J Baker.
Family mourners attending the service were Mrs E G Laycock, widow, and Miss Hilda Laycock, daughter. Because of another family bereavement at Sheffield, many relatives were unable to attend.
Members of the Lodge of Benevolence No. 489 of Freemasons attending included: W Bro. A C Fulford (W.M), W Bros. Col F C Molesworth, A R L Adams, D J Reed, F C BAckway, C A Whitaker (also representing National Provincial Bank, Bideford), W J Oxenham, R L Cock, P J V Fulford, F C Midlen, , C E Tucker, F E Routley; Bros S Elliott, G Kelly (also representing Mrs Lee), L Cording, J R Seward, P Heale, W J Ward, A Pickard, C G Hurman, J H Williams, J Mitchell, M Honey, S G Heywood, W Simmonds, A Glover, D Friendship.
The bearers were Bros. C T Braddick, H A Littlejohns, A J Balsdon and K F Sollis.
Pthers attending included Mr E H Gaud (representing Bideford and District Hospital), Miss C Harris (representing Bridge Street Sunday School), Mr H Thorne (representing Messrs O Nicklin and Son) , Mr C T Copp (secretary, Church trustees, also representing Mrs Copp and Miss V A Copp); Church trustees attending were Messres T Burton, N Beer, N Sanders and L J Copp (also representing Mrs Copp); Mr E J Scott (Society Steward).
Members of the church choir present were Mrs E Heard, Miss W Jewell (also representing Mr and Mrs A Headen), Miss Hickford (also representing Miss Vincent), Miss J Braddick and Miss Hooper.
Messrs J E Ash, E H Bond, A J Joslin, W Joslin, F Sanders, C V Harvey, G E Danbury, A K Chope, H W Fulford, M W V Richards, G H Braddick (also representing Mr Leslie Braddick), R J Allin, C Grout, A Jackman, Vernon Cock, W H Copp, P H Morrrish, W Badcock, J Steer (also representing Mrs Steer and Rosemary), P H Joselin, E O Hannaford, F W Greenslade, Mr and Mrs E Shackson; Mr and Mrs S F Glover, Mr and Mrs L C Warmington, Mr and Mrs J Sanders, Mesdames L M Kennard, J Ackland, M Davey, D G Bennett, G Brown, W Pickard, Dockett, F Routley, Dunn, Adams, Lang (also representing Mr and Mrs A R Jenn), W Taylor, Jewell, Gerry, I Bond, Moon, Prince, Facey (also representing Mr J T Hearn), F Lucas, Misses M Pound, K Foden (also representing Miss E Kingsbury), O Moore, B West, M Jennings, Hooper and D Cox.
Funeral arrangements were by Messrs H W A Glover and Son, Market Place, Bideford.
Gazette article is dated 14 January 1955

Mr E J Tuplin

The funeral of Mr Edmund John Tuplin, of Coral Gables, Beach Road, Westward Ho! has taken place at the North Devon Crematorium.

Mr Tuplin, who was 82, died at his home.
The Rev R A Ford officiated at the service and Mr J Dalby was organist.
Immediate mourners attending were: the widow; Mrs J Evans; Mr and Mrs G V Tuplin; Mr and Mrs David Evans; Mr A Tuplin. Unable to attend were: Mr J Evans; Miss Judith Evans.
Others attending included: Mr and Mrs E Tritton, Mr and Mrs A Watkins, Mr and Mrs A Davies, Mr and Mrs K Harding, Messrs Andrew Davies, J Backway (also representing the Featherstone and Backway families), P Wise, S Trick (also representing the Beer family), Mesdames G Kelly, Houldridge, Diane Hopkins, W Newcombe, C Backway, J Moore, F Gray, Sister Jenkins, Misses F Newcombe and B Roberts.
There was a family cross only, donations in lieu of flowers being sent to the Andrew Home for the Blind, Instow.
Funeral arrangements were by Trapnells Ltd, High Street, Bideford.
The full Gazette article is dated 12 January 1973

Births, engagements and marriages

9 January 1945

Lee – January 5th at the North Devon Infirmary, Barnstaple, to Freda (nee Dalling), wife of CPO W F Lee, DSM, RN, a son, Roderick William.

Ashton-Boswell – engagement announced between Edgar William, son of Mr and Mrs Ashton, Monkleigh, to Beryl Hazel, daughter of Mr and Mrs S Boswell, Bexley Heath, Kent.

Hill-Foster – December 26th 1944 at Woldensian Church, Taranto, Italy, by the Methodist Padre, Rev Simeon Jewkes, Albert Clause (Lieut, RA), son of Mr and Mrs A W Hill, Buckland Brewer, to Eileen (Sister, Military Hospital), daughter of Mr and Mrs Wm Stewart Foster, Belfast.
Johnson-Bull – January 1st 1945 at Milton Abbot, by the Rev C R Bull (bride’s father), assisted by the Rev E W Moore (Vicar of Kelly), Lieut Cecil Agar Johnson, DSC, RN, son of Capt CC Johnson, RN (retd), and Mrs Johnson, of Croft, Instow, to Mary Ravenscroft Bull, WRNS, daughter of the Rev C R and Mrs Bull, Vicarage, Milton Abbot, Tavistock.
Parkin-Staines – December 25th 1944 at St Mary’s Church, Appledore, AB Arthur Parkin, Chesterfield, to Miss Eileen Staines, of Appledore.