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.

Kim Brewer of Bideford, competing against some of the most talented young pianists in the West Country, was runner up in the ‘under 14’ section of the Bristol heat of the national junior playing competition last week.

Kim, who lives with his parents and sister at ‘Anstruther’, Raleigh Hill, was told by Mr Harrison ‘for a boy of 11 you were surprisingly good’. The youngest competitor, and the only one to sit at the £2,000 British concert grand piano in short trousers, Kim has been playing since he was seven.
The full Gazette article is dated 8 October 1965

Winner Of ‘Charming Bride’ Competition

Special Decorations for Bideford Ceremony

St Mary’s Church, Bideford, was beautifully decorated with a floral arch and eight large vases of flowers arranged in an avenue in front of the choir seats for the recent wedding of Miss Amy Broad, winner of the ‘Charming Bride’ competition organised by the Strand Cinema, Bideford, in July.
There was a large attendance at the church to see the wedding and the decorations.
Miss Broad is the second daughter of Mr and Mrs R Broad, West Down, Newton St Petrock, and her bridegroom Mr John Sinclair Mitchells, only son of Mrs E Matthews, 10 Bull Hill, Bideford, and the late Mr W Mitchell.
Rev M G Ball officiated at the service. The organist was Mr G Sellers. Bridesmaids were Misses Muriel and Eleanor Broad, sisters of the bride, and Misses Barbara and Rachel Squire, cousins of the bride, were small attendants. Duties of best man were carried out by Mr Dennis Hopkins, friend of the bridegroom.
After a reception, held at the Torridge Inn, Bideford, Mr and Mrs Mitchell left for their honeymoon, which was spent at Paignton.
The bridegroom is a member of Bideford AAC.
Numerous presents were received including a canteen of cutlery from the staff at Elliott and Son (Motors), Bideford, where the bridegroom is employed and a cheque from Messrs Pontin’s, Buckleigh, Westward Ho! where the bride is employed.
Floral decorations of the church, bouquets, a three-tiered wedding cake and wedding bells were all arranged by the Strand Cinema, Bideford. The flowers were supplied by Messrs Perkins and Son, The Quay, Bideford, and the cake by C M Mitchell (Bideford) Ltd, of Market Place, Bideford.
The full Gazette article dated 19 October 1951

Births, Engagements and Marriages

23 October 1945

Dymond – October 17th at Beech Hill Nursing Home, Barnstaple, to Margaret (nee Perryman), wife of Kenneth Dymond, Moss Side, Old Bideford Road, a daughter, Margaret Ann.
Martin – October 19th at the Grenville Nursing Home, to Eileen (nee Green), wife of Ldg Sto. Harry Martin, a daughter, Carol Jean.
Shaw – October 16th at the North Devon Infirmary, to Ruby (nee Johns), wife of John Shaw, Duerdon Cottage, a son, Christopher John Edwin.
Stirrup - Saturday October 20th at Littlecroft, Bideford East, to Mr and Mrs J B Stirrup, (Civilian Mil Gov Com, BAOR), a daughter.
Weeks – October 15th at 7 Sentry Corner, to Ann (nee Densham), wife of Pte G G Weeks, a son, Christopher John, a brother for Margaret Anne.

Rice-Lamey – October 20th the engagement was announced between W Rice, Eng. Mech. RN (Birmingham), and Pte Primrose Lamey, ATS, daughter of the late Mr and Mrs J H Lamey, 7 New Quay, Appledore.
Waldon-Cording – engagement announced between Gerald Waldon, son of Mr and Mrs C A Waldon, Upland, Royston Road, and Hazel May Cording, daughter of Mr and Mrs W I Cording, Mastila, Chanters Road.
Sault-Parsons – October 20th (by special licence), at Warrington, Lancs, Eric A Sault, of Birmingham, to Edith Winifred Parsons, daughter of the late Mrs A Sherborne.