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.

Friends Near and Far

The death occurred on Monday of Mr Robert R Deubler, of Old Bank House, High Street, Bideford, at the age of 62.
For thirty-nine years Mr Deubler had been associated with the business life of the town in an individual way.
He first opened as a stationer in the High Street, subsequently extending his business to take in the Old Bank premises. These he converted into a delightful morning coffee and tea shop, behind which he carried on his business interests in artistic household materials and art needlework, the selectiveness and good taste of which assured him of a distinctive clientele.
A friend writes: “The Old Bank Café became a personal meeting ground for old friends who had left Bideford, and periodically returned, and always there was the atmosphere of personal welcome.
“In addition to his business life, Mr Deubler was well known and appreciated as a true Christian”.
Many friends, some scattered far, will feel regret in his passing. Sympathy will be felt for the widow and Elisabeth, his daughter, now Mrs C Morley Smith, and his brother, Mr H T Deubler, a missionary in Northern Rhodesia, who formerly practised as a dental surgeon in his brother’s premises.
The funeral takes place today at 2.30pm at the North Road Hall, Bideford.
Gazette article dated 7 September 1951

Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

When, five months ago, Paul was born to Mrs P Jeffery, wife of Mr Jeffery, of Clovelly Road, Bideford, he made the fifth generation of a family that has lived in the Woolsery and Clovelly areas for many years.

In this celebration picture great-great-grandmother Mrs C Prowse, aged 92, is seen nursing young Paul. On the top left is her only daughter, Mrs F Knight, of Sunnyside, Woolsery, with whom she makes her home. Next to Mrs Knight is her only daughter, Mrs W Jewell, of Lower Burscott Farm, Clovelly, and bottom left, is Mrs Jeffery, Mrs Jewell’s daughter, who has a sister and a brother.

Gazette article dated 5 September 1959

An 88-years-old ‘Gazette’ Reader In Ontario

Nearly seventy years ago there emigrated to Canada, with his wife, Mr Fred J Harris, and today, at the age of 88, Mr Harris is ‘still going strong’, and is a keen reader of the Bideford Gazette.

He says he finds something interesting in each issue to remind him of his younger days and the old locality.

Mr Harris must have outlived most of his contemporaries but there are relatives living in Bideford and Buckland Brewer still.
He is the last surviving son of the late Mr and Mrs J Harris, of Buckland Brewer, and his late wife was Miss Fisher, also of that parish.
Mrs Harris died in 1942. They lived at Stratford, Ontario, Canada, and Mr Harris is staying on there although he has had two offers to go and stay with relatives, but he does not want to leave unless absolutely necessary, his home for over 40 years.
He is an uncle of Mrs Bertha Bright, of Cintra Terrace, Orchard Hill, Bideford, and great uncle of Mr P C Bright, of Bridgeland Street, Bideford.
In a recent letter to his niece, Mrs Bright, Mr Harris mentioned that his birthday was featured in a greetings published with a photo in his local newspaper and added how, with kindly assistance, he manages at home and reveals his cheerful facing of the future, one day at a time, thankful for the blessings that have been shown to him.
The newspaper feature pays a graceful tribute to Mr Fred J Harris as a ‘revered resident of Stratford’. It adds that Mr Harris only gave up gardening at the end of last season because he felt the work a bit too strenuous for him.
Gazette article dated 5 August 1947