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.

Mr F A S Hoare and Miss J N Rudkin

Fellow members of Bideford Rugby Club formed a guard of honour with an archway of corner flags at the Church porch to greet Mr Fred Alan S Hoare and his bride, Miss Jean Nelson Rudkin, after their wedding at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, on March 23rd. The bridegroom, known to most of his friends as ‘Curly’ is a member of Bideford Rugby Club Chiefs and is also a well known local cricketer. He is the only son of Mr and Mrs Hoare, of 107 Lime Grove, Bideford. The bride is the eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs J N Rudkin, 3 Coldharbour, Bideford.

The Rector of Bideford, Preb J A Durling, officiated at the ceremony and Mr P Medley was at the organ. There were two bridesmaids – Misses Gail Rudkin, youngest sister of the bride, and Sally Bond, cousin of the bridegroom. Mr Brian Cording, friend of the bridegroom, undertook duties of best man and the ushers were Mr R Halbert and Mr Ian Rudkin.

Following a reception at Tanton’s Hotel, at which a toast to the happy couple was proposed by Mr S Webber, Mr and Mrs Hoare left for their honeymoon in London. Over 100 presents were received. From the staff of SW Electricity Board, by whom the bridegroom is employed, there was the gift of an electric fire. Flowers were by Messrs Perkins, Mill Street, Bideford.

The full Gazette article is dated 1 April 1955

Mr D N Cotterell and Miss S M Seward

There was much interest in a double wedding at St Catharine’s Church, Chipping Camden, Glos, on Easter Monday, at which one of the brides was Miss Sheila Mary Seward, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs J R Seward, of Tor-Croft, Raleigh, Bideford.

She was the bride of Mr David Noel Cotterell, youngest son of Mr and Mrs Cotterell of Gypsy Spring, Broadway, Worcs. The wedding of his brother, Mr Paul Cotterell, to Miss Hazel Longmore, took place at the same time.

David, who is employed in the Midland Bank, was for a time stationed at Appledore during his service in the Royal Navy. Miss S M Seward was formerly on the staff of the Inland Revenue at Bideford and was subsequently transferred to Evesham Tax Office. She was attended by her elder sister, Mrs M V Sharp, and by her friend, Miss Mary Featherstone. The page boy, a nephew of the bridegroom, wore red velvet trousers and a white silk blouse. Mr M V Sharp carried out the duties of best man. A reception, at which 75 guests were entertained, was held at the Cotswold House Hotel, Chipping Camden.

The full Gazette article is dated 6 April 1951

Births, Engagements and Marriages

23 March 1973

Beer – to David and Ruth, God’s gift of a daughter, Natasha Eve, born on February 14, in the Empress Zauditu Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Franklin – on March 3 1973 to Peter and Susan (nee Budden) a son, Charles Anthony. 20 The Broadway, Charlton on Ottmoor, Nr Islip, Oxford

Gale – on March 10 1973 at the NDDHMU to Elizabeth (nee Klein) and Alan, a daughter, Karen.

Grigg – on March 10 1973, to Diane (nee Chamings) and Michael Grigg, a second son

Grills – on March 11 1973 at NDDHMU to Bob and Kay (nee Huxtable), a son, Zach Robert, a brother for Cynthia

Hodgson – to Andrew and Maria Hodgson at Auckland, New Zealand, the birth of a son. Another great-grandchild for Mr and Mrs J Nelson Arnold, of Cross House, Northam.

Pennington – on March 11 1973 at the NDDHMU to Freda (nee Ridd) and Kenneth, a daughter June, a sister for Philip and John

Tithecott – on March 19 1973 at the NDDHMU, to Pamela and Mervyn, a son, Richard James, a brother for Carolyn Jane.

Cruickshank-Carey – the engagement is announced between Andrew, elder son of Colonel and Mrs M L Cruickshank of Atherstone Lodge, Elms Lane, West Wittering, Sussex, and Stella, only daughter of Dr and Mrs C J Carey, of Lenard Cottage, Northam, North Devon

Irwin-Wollaston – the engagement is announced between Charles, elder son of Mr and Mrs T H R Irwin, of South Knowle, Limers Lane, Northam, and Ione, younger daughter of Mrs Garland, of Hollands, near Bideford, and step-daughter of the late Mr Andrew Garland

Little-Smith – the engagement is announced between Anthony, eldest son of Mr and Mrs J Little, 17 Park Lane, Bideford, and Susan, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs K G Smith, 37 Yelland Road, Fremington. Best wishes to you both

Palmer-Stoneman – Mr William Arthur Stoneman has pleasure in announcing the engagement of his daughter, Margaret Rose Stoneman, to Raymond Palmer, youngest son of C W Palmer

Aust-Espantaleon – on Thursday March 8 in London, Brian John, younger son of Mr and Mrs A F J Aust, Clovelly, Bideford, to Aurora Del Carmen Garcia Espantaleon, elder daughter of Senor and Senora Juan Garcia Espantaleon, Madrid, Spain

Hannafin-Cummings – on March 17 1973 at the Church of the Sacred Heart, by Father McGivern, Carol Terese, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Potts, Bideford, to Michael, youngest son of Mrs and the late Mr Hannafin, Fremington

Nicholls-Lawrence – On March 10 1973 at Buckland Brewer Methodist Church, Terry, eldest son of Mr and Mrs J Nicholls, East Stone, Buckland Brewer, to Judith, second daughter of Mr and Mrs W H Lawrence, Town Tenement, Buckland Brewer

Starkey-Guegan – on March 3 1973 at St Mary’s Church, Appledore, Kathryn Elizabeth to Clifford John

Baker-Vardigans – on March 21 1933 at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, by Rev A H Mock, Percival Ernest to Enid Mary. Present address: 129 Lime Grove, Bideford

23.3.1973 bmd2