• Welcome to the Bideford & District Community Archive

    Welcome to the Bideford & District Community Archive

    ...The Gazette Newspaper 1856 onwards.

    Read More
  • Welcome to the Bideford & District Community Archive

    Welcome to the Bideford & District Community Archive

    ...The Gazette Newspaper 1856 onwards.

    Read More
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  • 1 Appledore boy is youngest recipient of RNLI vellun

  • 2 Birds' convalescent home at Instow

  • 3 Charter granted by Philip and Mary

  • 4 Tomorrow' night's skittles broadcast from Bideford

  • 5

    Inter-school Road Safety Quiz Cup Winners
  • 6 Appledore's new lifeboat

  • 7 Weare Giffard potato

  • 8 Warmington's garage ad

  • 9 Private home for public pump

  • 10 Appledore schooner broadcast

  • 11 Appledore tugs fete London Tower

  • 12 Council agree to demolition of Chanter's Folly

  • 13 Bideford electricity window display qualifies for area competition

  • 14 East-the-Water sets town an example

  • 15 Tibbles home again - and fish supper

  • 16

    Appledore boys beat mums at football
  • 17 Broomhayes children will keep their winter pet

  • 18 Wasps' nest in sewing machine

  • 19 Bicycle now does donkey work

  • 20 New look for Torrington Lane

  • 21 All aboard the ark

  • 22 Practical sympathy at Northam

  • 23 One of the luckier farmers in getting in the problem harvest

  • 24 Littleham family's five generations

  • 25 Space dominates Hartland carnival

  • 26 Gloves fit for a king!

  • 27 Death - and birth - of a telephone exchange

  • 28 Local glove-making factory advertising for staff

  • 29 Hartland Abbey outdoor staff 60 years ago

  • 30 X-ray shoe fitting

  • 31 Big develolpment at Calveford

  • 32

    10-year-old scrambler practices
  • 33 Holiday traffic in Bideford High Street

  • 34 Four sisters' nostalgic reunion

  • 35 Clovelly donkey film star

  • 36

    Hamburger is part of modern life
  • 37 Eight and a half million pound Taw development scheme

  • 38 Grenville House for Bideford R.D.C.

  • 39 Burnard family reunion

  • 40 Northam wants to continue pumping from river

  • 41 Bideford Liberal club new lounge bar opened

  • 42 He beat the floods

  • 43 Reed threshing 'putting the clock back' at Weare Giffard

  • 44 Fishing light goes out at close of poor season

  • 45 Bideford blacksmith wins English championship

  • 46 Students help model St Sidwell

  • 47 Torrington to have first woman mayor

  • 48 Bideford 'What's my line?' challenger

  • 49 Shoes certainly not made for walking

  • 50

    Cadets are given certificates
  • 51 Future of Torrington almshouses

  • 52 A roof-top view - where?

  • 53 Wilfred and Mabel visit schools and hospital

  • 54

    First Girls at Bideford Grammar School take part in Play
  • 55 Weare Giffard Hall sold for £11,300

  • 56 When horses score over the tractor

  • 57 Sailing to victory at Appledore

  • 58 Modern living at Bideford

  • 59 Bideford's new market opens next week

  • 60 Church renovation rejoicing at Northam

  • 61 Some 240 exhibits

  • 62 Lady Godiva comes to Torrington

  • 63 Yeo vale road ruin provides a mystery

  • 64 What's the time?

  • 65

    Relatives all over the world
  • 66 Sweet success at Langtree School

  • 67 Pretty pennies at Beaford

  • 68 Huntshaw TV mast

  • 69 Dismantling of wireless mast

  • 70 A craftsman's 'potted' history

  • 71 Boys from Bideford school complete Ten Tors

  • 72 Police station view of Bideford

  • 73 Thriving 'orphan of the storm'

  • 74 Sooty is quick on the draw

  • 75 Allhalland Street - then and now

  • 76 Broomhayes £1,000 Surprise
  • 77 Amsterdam to Bideford double success

  • 78 Golden Bay Hotel ad.>
  • 79 Daisy's pride and joy

  • 80 For crying out loud!

  • 81 Capers on the cobbles

  • 82 A bird of their own!

  • 83 Joe the ginger tabby is 21

  • 84 Salmon netting at Bideford

  • 85 Puzzle corner at Bideford!

  • 86 Picture bought for shillings may be worth thousands

  • 87 Bideford Bridge re-opens

  • 88

    Married in 1908
  • 89 Gift plaque on Clovelly council houses

  • 90 Bideford Zoo's first baby is big draw

  • 91

    First prize
  • 92 Torrington's shelter for the aged

  • 93 Torridge graveyard of wooden hulks

  • 94 Westward Ho! combined op

  • 95 They are parted pro-tem

  • 96 Torridge wins on time schedule

  • 97 School's link with cargo ship

  • 98 Safety-first dipomas awarded to Torrington drivers

  • 99

    Reds Womens Team Are First To Compete Throughout Season
  • 100 Bideford firm develops new non-spill paint

  • 101

    New gateway
  • 102 Bideford's gift to Sir Francis

  • 103 Torrington Church's new organ

  • 104 Alwington School closing after 120 years

  • 105 Bideford's first triplets for 12 years

  • 106 Filming at Hartland

  • 107 Lots drawn to prevent dog fight

  • 108 Bideford regatta

  • 109 Bideford loses training ship

  • 110 Yelland potter's exhibition at Bideford

  • 111 Traditions and skills still there

  • 112 Bideford computer stars

  • 113 Peter poses for TV film

  • 114 Meredith's ironmongers

  • 115 Open-air art exhibition by 'under 40' group

  • 116 Northam loses thatched cottage landmark

  • 117 Quads join a Langtree happy family

  • 118 Sweets derationing

  • 119 By pony and trap to market

  • 120 Light reading for the lighthouse

  • 121 TV features Bideford's New Year bread ceremony

  • 122 First steel ship built at Bideford

  • 123 Unique holiday adventure!

  • 124 'Les Girls' of Hartland

  • 125 Train returns to Westleigh straight

  • 126 Torrington in 1967

  • 127 All for the love of a lady!

  • 128 Speeding communications: Bideford firm's new installation

  • 129 Bideford shipyard workers cheer new minesweeper

  • 130 In the tortoise nursery - eight hatched at Bideford

  • 131 Appledore's largest

  • 132 For South Africa from Westward Ho!

  • 133 A Weare Giffard speciality - delicious strawberries

  • 134 Housing progress at East-the-Water>
  • 135 New addition to Quay front

  • 136 Battle of the gap at Westward Ho!

  • 137 A man and his wheel

  • 138 Bank Holiday weather was beach weather

  • 139 The creative urge on Saturday morning

  • 140 Circus comes to town

  • 141 Passing of a Torrington landmark

  • 142 An early 'special' to Bideford

  • 143

    School of Dancing's Annual Display
  • 144 Eleventh hour bid to save last sailing barge

  • 145 Torrington acclaims 400th anniversary of granting of charter

  • 146 Centenary of Landcross Methodist Chapel

  • 147 Doing time - over 300 years of it - at Hartland

  • 148 One thousand visit zoo at Whitsun

  • 149 Second Monte Carlo Rally

  • 150 New gateway to King George's Fields

  • 151 End of the line

  • 152 Success to Festival of the Arts

  • 153 Calligrapher extraordinary

  • 154 Saving money, wear and tear

  • 155 New choral society's growing response

  • 156 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 157 Variety in summer weather

  • 158 Signed scroll momento of Queen Mother's visit

  • 159 Meeting at 10 Downing Street

  • 160 Getting up steam for tomorrow

  • 161 Ship-in-bottle world record

  • 162 From Bobby to Brian

  • 163 Found the answer waiting for him>
  • 164 Launching the 'Golden Hinde'

  • 165 Clovelly custom

  • 166 It really was the 'last time'

  • 167 Last of Bideford factory chimney

  • 168 Service with a smile

  • 169 Appledore skill brings 'Hispaniola' to life

  • 170 The art of the thatcher

  • 171 Just over a year old

  • 172 What the television camera saw at Abbotsham

  • 173 Bideford has built over 500 post-war homes

  • 174

    Exhibition of school work
  • 175 Down at the dump something stirs

  • 176 Diamond Jubilee of St Peter's Church, East-the-Water

  • 177 A lost Bideford 'island'

  • 178 Barley from Bideford to Bonnie Scotland

  • 179 Jalopy joy for children of Shamwickshire

  • 180 America's tribute to 'J.H.'

  • 181 Eleven million pound scheme's official opening

  • 182 Centuries old but today busier than ever

  • 183 Panto time at Westward Ho!

  • 184 Bideford inquest on French trawlermen opens

  • 185 Preparations for new Clovelly Court

  • 186 Liked holidays here - so starts business

  • 187 What is future of railway goods yard?

  • 188 Pannier Market's future?

  • 189 Bideford's first woman councillor

  • 190

    Andre Veillett and Quentin Reed in Judo Demonstration
  • 191 Bideford schoolboy's courage recognised

  • 192 First ship in 8 years

  • 193 Bideford triplets' first birthday party

  • 194 A sense of humour in advertising

  • 195 Jumble sale fever

  • 196 New shipyard on schedule

  • 197 Recognise this resort?

  • 198 Bringing shopping home by goat

  • 199 Brothers reunion 1947
  • 200 Up-to-date Bideford!

  • 201 Holiday scene near Sandymere

  • 202 Television comes to Torridge District

  • 203

    Wynne Olley's styles impress International Hair Fashion Designer
  • 204 So this is the mainland!

  • 205 Simple Item 138
  • 206 Instow local art show was 'tremendous success'

  • 207 Afternoon tea in the park

  • 208 No laughing matter

  • 209

    Birgitta Whittaker
  • 210 East-the-Water's call for new school

  • 211 Penny for the guy

  • 212 Bideford A.F.C annual dinner
  • 213

    Mums protest in Coronation Road
  • 214 John Andrew Bread Charity
  • 215 Teenager Peter Jackson Makes Horror Film
  • 216 New Lundy stamps

  • 217 Steep street of old Bideford

  • 218 Bideford childrens' cinema opens

  • 219 Torrington Youth Club rewarded by party
  • 220 Still hunting aged 80 and a Field Master

  • 221 Yeoi Vale House finally demolished

  • 222 Lundy memorial to John Pennington Harman V.C.

  • 223 Entente cordiale in Bideford

  • 224 Royal prince visits Torridge-side

  • 225 Safe door weighing two tons

  • 226 Fundraising trip for RNLI

  • 227 A story to tell!

  • 228 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 229 Bridging the stream

  • 230 North Devon Driving School

  • 231 Rowing triumphs at Bideford

  • 232

    FA Cup Match for the Robins
  • 233

    Gift from Bideford Town Council
  • 234 Torrington children build igloo
  • 235 North Devon author featured in TV documentary

  • 236 Wishing well is pixielated

  • 237 Hartland's invitation

  • 238 Hartland Dancers
  • 239 Bideford - as Rowlandson saw it about 1810-15

  • 240 Alderman Anstey's dream comes tru

  • 241 Ten year old scrambler

  • 242 Last train from Torrington

  • 243 Bravery against bull at Shebbear rewarded

  • 244 New civic medallions

  • 245 Twenty-one yachts

  • 246 Sixty-two year old Picarooner makes ready for season

  • 247

    Jinxed School Trip
  • 248 Little 'Big Ben'

  • 249 Westward Ho! public conveniences get go ahead
  • 250 Life begins at 80

  • 251 Landmark at Bradworthy

  • 252 Faints as she wins national competition

  • 253 Thunderstorm destruction of 25 years ago

  • 254 Tramps camp by riverside throughout arctic weather

  • 255 Homage to a well-loved sovereign

  • 256 Inscribed Bibles and silver spoons for babies

  • 257 Colour TV salesman at eight

  • 258 Torrington's enterprise's new extensions

  • 259 Five generations link Woolsery, Clovelly and Bideford

  • 260 Westward Ho! sand yacht to challenge speed record

  • 261 Ancestral home nestling in lovely combe

  • 262 The cab at the corner>
  • 263 They never miss a game at Torrington

  • 264

    Bidefordians
  • 265 New life for Hartland organ

  • 266

    Mrs Whapham finds ferret in Bridgeland Street while shopping
  • 267 Lady Churchill congratulates Bideford artists at nursing exhibition

  • 268 Appledore Juniors Football
  • 269 Hartland postman retires

  • 270 Puppet characters introduced

  • 271 Clovelly nightmare

  • 272 Clovelly's 91 year old horseman

  • 273 Bideford's private wharves busier

  • 274 Can spring be far away?

  • 275 At Bideford Arts Ball>
  • 276 Wine and beer merchants for 150 years

  • 277 Polish custom on Pancake Day

  • 278 New Lundy air-mail stamps

  • 279 Do recall the old windmill at Northam?

  • 280

    Womens Skittles Competition in Buckland Brewer
  • 281 Torrington school's sundial - fashioned by Headmaster

  • 282 Panel sprint for Bideford broadcast

  • 283 New Post Office

  • 284 Fish nearly pulled him in

  • 285

    Youth Clubs Join Together For Entertainment
  • 286 Christmas tree on Bideford Quay>
  • 287 Community centre opened at Westward Ho!

  • 288 Watch the dicky bird!

  • 289 Championship Trophy for Hartland
  • 290 Donkey and horses enjoy carnival drink

  • 291 Littleham cow tops 70 tons mark in milk production

  • 292 Bideford Liberals' fashion show

  • 293 Parkham plan realised

  • 294 Photo of town's first car wins prize

  • 295 Revenge in style

  • 296 Down at the 'Donkey House'

  • 297

    Double Baptism on Torridge
  • 298 Can-carrying over cobbles has disappeared

  • 299 No sale of Springfield House

  • 300 Cruising down the river

  • 301 Alverdiscott is proud of its new parish hall

  • 302 Pet squirrels at Monkleigh

  • 303 Born 1883 - still going strong

  • 304 Quads at Thornhillhead

  • 305 Centenary of Gazette

  • 306 Designed all furnishing of new chapel

  • 307 Harvest service in Bideford 'pub' bar

  • 308 Buckland goes to County Show

  • 309 Finished in 1876

  • 310 Sunshine and shade at Appledore

  • 311 Some mushroom!

  • 312 The Geneva marionettes

  • 313 Thirty bridges cross Torridge

  • 314

    Toasted with musical honours
  • 315 TV contest means big job for Bideford Guides

  • 316 New fire and ambulance stations

  • 317 Northam's almshouse

  • 318 No ancient Grecian temple this

  • 319 Fleet of foot and fair of face

  • 320 Ships at Bideford

  • 321 Farewell to passenger trains

  • 322 First tankers arrive at new depot

  • 323

    Close associations with North Devon
  • 324 Old Girls revisit Edgehill

  • 325 Cement-clad boats being built at Northam

  • 326 Vessel built 300 feet above sea level

  • 327 Emergency ferry services

  • 328 Bideford country dancers on TV

  • 329 Record pebble-throwing day

  • 330 Spring-cleaning the Ridge

  • 331 Loads of black and white

  • 332 Calf thinks of mare as mum

  • 333 On her 'maiden' trip from Bideford

  • 334 Where Bideford rope-makers walked>
  • 335 Out of puff!

  • 336

    Lenwood Squash Club
  • 337 Smiling welcome to Hartland visitors

  • 338 Mural in the whimsical fashion

  • 339 Donkey work made easier at Clovelly

  • 340 Off on a great adventure

  • 341 Happy Days!

  • 342 Picking the pops

  • 343 They set out for Bideford and became lost

  • 344 Northam footballers of the future

  • 345 Waldon Triplets
  • 346 Bideford stock car racing entry comes in second

  • 347

    Gus Honeybun meets local children
  • 348 Record player of 80 years ago

  • 349 Westward Ho! Tennis Club Winners
  • 350 Mayor becomes engine driver>
  • 351 Revived market off to splendid start

  • 352

    Building works
  • 353 Thorn-apple found in Littleham conservatory

  • 354 Spray dodging - the new pastime

  • 355 Chess - their bridge over the years

  • 356

    Successful motor cycling team
  • 357 New look in the hayfields

  • 358 Sight of a lifetime

  • 359 To build racing cars in former blacksmith's shop

  • 360 Largest salmon caught in Torridge

  • 361 Olympic riders to compete at Bideford Horse Show

  • 362 River scenes that enchant the visitors

  • 363 Riverside mystery

  • 364 Tide sweeps under and over the old bridge

  • 365 Two kinds of hovercraft at Bideford

  • 366 Four hundred residents leave Bideford!

  • 367 Buckland farm workers to receive long-service awards

  • 368 Eight to strike and a race to win

  • 369 'Out of Appledore' sailing memories

  • 370 Malibou boys are all-the-year-round surfers

  • 371 Bideford School Junior Choir Sing in France at Twinning Ceremony in Landivisiau
  • 372 School crossing patrol begins

  • 373 Six footed lamb

  • 374 New art gallery opened

  • 375 Not Bideford's answer to the moon rocket!

  • 376 Champagne send-off for Torrington new factory

  • 377 Making way for the double-deckers

  • 378 Baby Kate goes home to Lundy

  • 379 Larkworthy Family play in Shebbear's Football Team
  • 380 Designed and made in Bideford

  • 381 Picking the pops

  • 382 In their new robes and hats

  • 383 Thrush builds nest in cauliflower

  • 384 Boys win hockey on the sands challenge

  • 385 Cavaliers join the Hunt
  • 386 Repair work on Long Bridge
  • 387 New Estate's view of estuary activities

  • 388 Move for oldest boatyard on Torridge

  • 389 Symbol of Lundy independence

  • 390 Fishermen of Greencliff

  • 391 Bideford skifflers, they're no squares

  • 392 Mobile missionary

  • 393

    Was a missionary
  • 394 Beach search for mines takes longer

  • 395 Devil sent packing

  • 396 Photo mural in Bideford bank

  • 397 Works at craft he learned over 65 years ago

  • 398 Bideford-Torrington road gets 'carpet coat'

  • 399 Floral dancing at Appledore

  • 400 Celebrations for 103rd birthday

  • 401 Escaped crane moves into Kenwith Valley

  • 402 Decontrol of meat

  • 403 113 years at Instow

  • 404 Town's second woman mayor in 392 years

  • 405 Water Board mains spread through villages

  • 406 Children's procession with foxgloves

  • 407 Artisans' Club

  • 408 Torrington's new amenity

  • 409 Childrens' model of Torrington

  • 410 Head Barman appointed Torrington Town Crier
  • 411 Shipbuilding hobby at Hartland

  • 412

    Holidaying in north Devon
  • 413 Prizewinning babies at Torrington

3.5.1957 Robins win Hansen Cup

Robins Win The Hansen Cup

May 3rd, 1957

Bideford AFC pictured with the Hansen Cup after they had defeated Bude 2-1 in the final

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and suddenly it's spring

Cadds Down Farm

1 March 1974

Joined by Trixie, the pony

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  • 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.

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  • Seafield House - the "Spooky House" of Westward Ho!

    The house on the cliff edge known locally as ‘Spooky House’ or even ‘Haunted House’ , was built about 1885.

    The road was especially built to enable access to the house and was initially known as Seafield Road; later it became Merley Road.

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  • Torrington May Fair Queen and Her Attendants

    Names from left to right:Joan Ricketts; Joan Newcombe; Jean Wernhem; Margaret Sweet; Enid Ovenden; Rona Elsworthy; Doris Short; (back row);
    Eileen Short; Miss Margery Bennett (Queen); Joyce Downman; David Fiddian (Page); Peggie Sussex;

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1911 Coronation Medal

Coronation Medal Presented on June 22nd 1911   Learn More

The Hoops Inn

The Hoops Inn close to Peppercombe Beach

The Quay at Appledore

Appledore Quay where Taw and Torridge Rivers meet 

 
Wynne Olley

Crowning Glory

12 October 1962

Their finest achievement to date...

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Shipyard goes into liquidation 1963

Liquidator appointed

4 January 1963

Difficulty in retaining labour...

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Births, Engagements and Marriages

7 June 1963

7.6.1963 bmd

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.

Off The Beat Underwater

Bideford’s PC’s unusual pastime

6.6.1958 Bideford Thrupp

Under-water swimming and fishing is the unusual pastime a Bideford policeman plans to pursue this summer.
At least once a week the policeman, 25 years old Guy Thrupp, and a schoolmaster friend, will pack up their equipment – sponge rubber suits, face masks, flippers and harpoon guns – and make the long trip to Cornwall to explore the ocean depths off the coast of Tintagel.
At his home at 5 Chudleigh Avenue, Bideford East, PC Thrupp, who has been stationed at Bideford for nearly three years, talked about his hobby to a Bideford Gazette reporter.
Full Gazette article dated 6 June 1958

Births, engagements and marriages

20 May 1966

20.5.1966


Birch – On May 16th 1966 at Cambridge, to Ida Anne (nee Burrow) and Peter, the gift of a son. 

Curtis – On May 16th 1966 at the Grenville Nursing Home, to Jill and Bob, a son, Neil Robert, brother for David and Anna.

Ferguson - On May 18th 1966 at the North Devon Infirmary, Barnstaple, to Josephine (nee Hitchcock) and Jeremy, a blessing of a daughter, Elizabeth Josephine Louise, a sister for Paul. 

Hopkins - On May 15th 1966 to Prunella (nee Bond) and John, a daughter, Margaret Ann. 

Prouse - On May 8th 1966 at the Grenville Nursing Home, to Susan (nee Ayres) and Keith, a son, Andrew Francis. 

Stone - On May 6th 1966 at the Grenville Nursing Home, to Angela (nee Mitchell) and Peter, the gift of a daughter, Michelle Lorraine 

MacDougall – Churchill-Longman – the engagement is announced between Hugh Donald, son of Mr and Mrs Hugh MacDougall, 14a St Christophers Close, Bath, and Violet, youngest daughter of Lt-Col and Mrs W B Churchill-Longman, Heale House, Bideford. 

Rooke-Gilbert – Mr and Mrs H J Gilbert, of Backs Cross, Bideford, have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their younger daughter Ann, to Paul, only son of Mr and Mrs Peter Rooke, of Herstridge, Dorset, and formerly of Mill Street, Bideford

Cade-Halliday – On May14th 1966 at Holy Trinity Church, Exmouth by Rev T Linscott, John Rosewarne, only son of Mr and Mrs R H Cade, Sunny Hayes, Barns Road, Budleigh Salterton and grandson of the late Mr Frederick Lee, JP, of Bideford, and Ann, only daughter of Mr and Mrs David Halliday, Southernhay, 12 Cranford Avenue, Exmouth. 

Shortridge-Moon – At St Mary’s Church, Bideford, by the Rev T Derwent Davies, Sydney Shortridge of Appledore to Janette Moon of Bideford.

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