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.

With their two daughters, three year old Sally Ann, and 16 month old Edwina, Mr and Mrs Eric Colwill, of 64 Barton Tors, Bideford, have decided to emigrate to Australia.

Mr and Mrs Colwill, who have been married for four years, are emigrating under the Australian Government’s sponsorship scheme. They believe more opportunities will present themselves to the family than here at home.
“I have seen quite a few friends going to the technical college and then perhaps ending up in the blouse factory” said Mrs Colwill. She believes that Bideford cannot offer her children the same opportunities as Australia.
After they have emigrated the Colwill family hope to send for Mrs Colwill’s mother, Mrs Harris who is at the moment reluctant to go.
Gazette article dated 19 September 1958

Births, Engagements and Marriages

6 September 1963

Trewin – September 4 at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Eunice (nee Hunkin) and Denys, a son, Neil Alastair
Stephens – August 21 at 1A Boringdon Villas, Plymouth, to Beryl (nee Case) and Roger, a daughter, Beverley Jane

De Bank-Beer – engagement announced between Peter, son of Mr and Mrs De Bank, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, and Wendy, daughter of Mr and Mrs Beer, 5 Glebe House, Abbotsham
Heywood-Clark – engagement announced between John Nigel, son of Mr and Mrs H M Heywood, Yellowsands, Westward Ho! and Diane, daughter of Mr J Dudley Clark and the late Mrs I Clark, Kirkby-in-Ashfield
Lee-Beecroft – engagement announced between Michael John, son of Mr and Mrs W J Lee, Syringa, Silford, Northam, and Anne, daughter of Mr and Mrs J Beecroft, 34 Old Farm Road, Poole, Dorset

Fairbrass-Pow – August 31 at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, Pearl Maureen, daughter of Mr and Mrs T Pow, Coach and Horses, Horns Cross, to Alan Ronald Kenneth, son of Mr and Mrs R Fairbrass, Long Drive, South Ruislip, Middlesex
Johns-Brown – August 24 at Bideford Parish Church, Michael Thomas, son of Mr and Mrs T Johns, Union Inn, Bideford, and Marian Kathryn, daughter of Mrs G C Brown, 18 North View Avenue, Bideford. Rev T Derwent Davies officiated
Powell-Souch – September 2 at Bideford, Jennifer, daughter of Mrs Souch, Woolsery, and Mr Souch, Bideford, to Gerald, son of Mrs Powell, Bucks Mills

Births and marriages

11 September 1945

Bettiss – August 26th 1945 at 85 Eastbourne Avenue, Gosport, to Muriel (nee Beattie), wife of Marine R J Bettiss, a son, Raymond John.
Braund – September 5th at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Edith, wife of Grenville Charles Braund, a son.
Johnstone - September 1st at Hinstock, Market Drayton, to Elsie (nee Buse), wife of WHR Johnstone, ERARN, a son, David Rae.
Kline – September 5th at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Marjorie, wife of Kenneth Kline, US Navy, a son, Michael James.
Whitaker – September 10th to Mr and Mrs G Whitaker, 14 North Road, Bideford (nee Sylvia Lucas), a daughter, Denise Elizabeth.

Beasley-Arnold – marriage between Captain Michael David Beasley, son of Sir Owen and Lady Beasley, London and India, and Betty Arnold, daughter of Mr and Mrs T A Arnold, Northam, Bideford, later of Balderton, Newark, took place quietly at Gerrards Cross.
Bell-Bartlett – September 10th at St Michael’s and All Angels’ Church, Torrington, by Rev C J Barker, Vicar, Colin James (Warrant Officer, RAF), son of Mr and Mrs H H Bell, Torrington, to Margaret (Sergt, WAAF), daughter of Mr and Mrs W Bartlett, Carshalton, Surrey.
Bonett-Cabell – September 1st at St Peter’s Church, Fremington, Lieut P A Bonett, son of Col A M Bonett and the late Mrs Bonett, to Molly Cabell, only child of Mr and Mrs W F L Cabell, Kaya, Fremington.
Conway-Redshaw – September 1st at Henleaze Congregational Church, Bristol, Dennis Conway, son of Mr and Mrs J Conway, Beckenham, Kent, to Winifred, daughter of Mr and Mrs E Redshaw.
Tyrrell-Bettis – September 6th at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, L/S Leslie Tyrrell, son of Mr and Mrs A J Tyrrell, Oxford, to Wren Eileen May Bettis, daughter of Mrs and the late Mr F J Bettiss, 59 Clifton Street, East-the-Water, Bideford.

Backway-Jenkinson – September 11th 1920 at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, by Preb. H M Johnson (then Vicar of Ilfracombe), Frederick Charles Backway to Gladys Olive Jenkinson. Present address: Torridge Vale Bungalow, Chanters Road, Bideford.
Lamey-Payne – September 11 1920 at St Mary’s Church, Appledore, Alfred Cole Lamey to Nellie Payne. Present address: New Ferry, Cheshire.
Wooldridge-Walker – September 6th 1920 at Holy Trinity Church, Weare Giffard, by the Rev H O Cavalier, Thomas Edward Wooldridge, Lieut, Royal Marine Artillery, to Edith Gomer Walker, of Weare Giffard.