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.

15 July 1966

Cole – On July 8th 1966 at Highfield, Barnstaple, to Barbara (nee Cole) and David, a daughter, Deborah Julie.
Richardson – On July 11th 1966 at the Hospital, Barnstaple, to Annette (nee Downing) and Stanley Richardson, a brother for Louise, Timothy.
Stanbury – On July 5th 1966 at 62 Bowden Green, Bideford, to May Elizabeth (nee Brown) and Kenneth John, the gift of a daughter, Petina Claire.

Cann-Carter – The engagement has been announced between Judith, elder daughter of Mr and Mrs D S Carter, 73, Clovelly, and Roger, only son of Mr and Mrs A Cann, Barnstaple.
Dennis-Whitlock – Mr and Mrs C W J Whitlock have great pleasure in announcing the engagement of their younger daughter, Jeanne, to Tony, only son of Mr and Mrs L C Dennis, Bideford.
Eastman-Randell – Mr Randell, 43 Elm Grove, Bideford, has pleasure in announcing the engagement of his only daughter, Sheila, to Graham, youngest son of Mr and Mrs Eastman, 107 Stucley Road, Bideford.
Goldsworthy-Brend – Mr and Mrs K J Brend, Winslade, 3 Southdown Drive, Bideford, have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their daughter, Pauline Ann, to Howard James, only son of Mrs E Goldsworthy and the late Mr H A R Goldsworthy, 77 High Street, Bideford.

Hodgkins-Dawe – the marriage will take place at Embankment Methodist Church, Plymouth, on August 8th 1966, of Anthony John, Royal Navy, only son of Mr and Mrs S Hodgkins, 1 Lenards Road, Northam, to Ruth, only daughter of Mr and Mrs W Dawe, Plymouth.

Stevens-Tansey – On June 25th 1966 at the Church of the English Martyrs, Birmingham, Alan, only son of Mr and Mrs C Stevens, 90 Barton Tors, Bideford, to Maureen, only daughter of Mr and Mrs N Tansey, Sparkhill, Birmingham.

Births, Engagements and Marriages

8 July 1966

Blackmore – on July 2nd 1966 at the Grenville Nursing Home to Sheila (nee Richards) and Ian, God’s gift of a daughter, Annette Nicola, a sister for Andrew.
Hopkins – On June 21st 1966 at Albany, West Australia, to Juliet (nee Braund) and Brian, a son, Simon Philip, a brother for Nicola.
Jones – On July 6th 1966 at the Grenville Nursing Home to Susan (nee Black) and Michael, a daughter, Samantha Hayley, a sister for Stephen.
Withecombe – On July 2nd 1966 at the Grenville Nursing Home to Julie and Reginald, a son, Barry James.

Newton-Aubertin – the engagement was announced on July 2nd 1966 between Pauline, 18 Calvesford Road, Torrington, to Paul, Glen Cottage, Orchard Hill, Bideford.

Poole-Nicholls – the marriage will take place at St Edmunds Church, Maids Morton, Buckinghamshire, on August 6th at 2.30pm, of Morris Trevor, youngest son of Mr and Mrs S Poole, West Yelland (formerly of Appledore), to Susan Heather, only daughter of Mr and Mrs T Nicholls, Buckingham.
Babb-Sanders – on July 2nd 1966 at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, Richard David, elder son of Mr and Mrs R T Babb, 9 Clifton Street, Bideford, to Patricia Ann, only daughter of Mr and Mrs H M Sanders, Corner Cottage, Chanters Lane, Bideford.

Fulford – congratulations Aunt Gwen and Uncle Ern – fondest love from Pam, David, Stuart and Sharon.

Thanks From ‘Down Under’

The Gazette has been given a ‘pat on the back’ by an Australian newspaper.

In September last we published a story and photographs of ‘The Lonely Man’s Grave’ as it is known to people on Phillip Island, off the Australian mainland. The grave, situated on an isolated cliff top, is that of Capt William Phillip Grossard, of Bideford, Devon, who served for many years in the merchant service and was killed by gunfire on December 17th 1868. In a December issue of the Phillip Island News the Gazette story is reproduced with the comment: “Such items as the above make interesting reading for present day generations. We thank the editor of the Gazette for publishing same”.

The Australian story was shown to the Gazette by Mrs R Galliford, of Shrewsbury and Bideford. It was sent to her by friends in Melbourne, Mr and Mrs W Coombes, formerly of this country, who also sent the original story of ‘The Lonely Man’s Grave’. But Mrs Galliford tells me that ‘the lonely man’s grave’ will be lonely no more. The cliff top site is being used for building development. By strange coincidence there arrived at this office last weekend an airmail letter from Mr J T Martin, 22 Carson Street, Springvale North, Victoria, Australia, reporting that while walking along the cliffs of Phillip Island he came across the grave. He adds he and his wife intend to return to the lonely grave in the spring and clean it up – putting the stones back in place, clearing away the weeds, repairing and painting the fence, and planting a few flowers.
Gazette article dated 3 July 1964