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.

Golden wedding dinner

26.6.1964 Nicholls golden wedding Bideford1

There was a big surprise awaiting Mr and Mrs Fred C Nicholls of 81 Honestone Street, on Sunday.

It was their golden wedding day and, naturally, an occasion for family reunion, lovely flowers, good luck tokens, greetings telegrams and 35 cards. But to crown it, and unknown to them, the family sprang the surprise of a special celebration dinner all together at the New Inn Hotel. Adding to the surprise was the presence of a favourite nephew and niece, Mr and Mrs Bill Davies, of Taffs Wells.
Born in High Street, where his father had a small brewery near where Messrs Pickard’s paint shop was, Mr Nicholls was apprenticed as a tailor with Mr Cowie and subsequently spent over 40 years in the trade with Mr Len Short. Because of eye trouble Mr Nicholls had to leave tailoring and he spent some time employed at the Strand Cinema.
By coincidence he has lived on one side or the other of the Lamb Inn in Honestone Street for 60 years. In the first world war he served in France with RE Signals.
Before her marriage Mrs Nicholls was Miss Beatrice Shute and her family at one time worked at Apps Brewery, Littleham. She is also a member of the Women’s Section of the British Legion and of the No. 1 branch of the Old-age Pensions Association.
Mr and Mrs Nicholls have two sons in Bideford, Wally and Bill, and two daughters – Mrs Frances Tanton, who lives at Charlesworth, Manchester, and Mrs Violet Lewis, who lives at Ottery St Mary. There are four grandsons, one grand-daughter, and one great grand-daughter.
The full Gazette article is dated 26 June 1964

Mr J Langdon and Miss S M Cole

There was much local interest in the wedding at Lavington Congregational Church, Bideford, on Saturday, of Mr John Langdon, second son of Mr and Mrs S Langdon, 102 Lime Grove, Bideford, and Miss Sylvia Mary Cole, elder daughter of Mr and Mrs C H Cole, 19 Glendale Terrace, Bideford.

Until her marriage the bride was employed by the Bideford Gazette Ltd. The bridegroom is a member of the staff of the National Provincial Bank Ltd, at South Molton.
The Minister, Rev A J Herring, officiated and Miss D Cox was at the organ. Miss Barbara Cole, the bride’s only sister, was bridesmaid and duties of best man were undertaken by Mr Denis Langdon, youngest brother of the bridegroom, and ushers were Mr Gerald Tozer and Mr Sydney Cole.
Miss Jean Payne, niece of the bridegroom, presented the bride with a lucky horseshoe, and Master Michael Steptoe, cousin on the bride, presented her with a pair of lucky silver shoes.
A reception was held at the Rose of Torridge Café, Bideford, after which Mr and Mrs Langdon left for their honeymoon, which is being spent on the Isle of Wight. The wedding cake was made by Mr Alan Buckingham.
Among the many wedding gifts received was a cheque from the bride’s employer, Mr M F Lee, a barometer from the staff of the Bideford Gazette Ltd, and a clock and cutlery from the manager and staff of the National Provincial Bank.
The full Gazette article is dated 10 June 1955

Births, Engagements and Marriages

7 June 1963

Powell – on June 2nd 1963, at the NDI, to Margaret (nee Weeks) and Nicholas, the gift of a daughter, Lorriane Anne.
Williams – on June 5th 1963 at 20 Hugh Dickson Road, Colchester, to Mary (nee Screech) and Len, a daughter, Linda Yvonne.

Saunders-Gilbert – the engagement is announced between Keith, eldest son of Mr and Mrs L Saunders, Cherry Trees, Brancombe Road, Tiverton, and Wendy, only daughter of Mr and Mrs R Gilbert, 16 Fort Terrace, Bideford.
White-Jewell – Mr and Mrs J Jewell, Tomouth Road, Appledore, have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their elder daughter, Jennifer, to Lennard, second son of Mr and Mrs J White, New Street, Appledore.

Ford-Petley – on June 1st 1963, at the Baptist Church, Appledore, Harold, third son of Mr and Mrs H Ford, 3 Alpha Place, Appledore, to Constance Mary, only daughter of Mrs F M Petley, 5 Alpha Place, Appledore, and the late Captain J A Petley.
Harvey-Gibbons – on June 1st 1963 at Instow Church, by Rev H L Hustwayte, John, son of Mr and Mrs Harvey, Westview, Appledore, to June, daughter of Mr J and the late Mrs Gibbons, Morton, West Yelland.