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.

Clovelly and Hartland links

Plans were eagerly made at Cheriton Farm, Hartland, for a golden wedding party on Tuesday; then they had to be postponed.
Tuesday was the golden wedding anniversary of Mr and Mrs Thomas Edward Finch, for many years of Clovelly.
Mr and Mrs Finch were married at All Saints’ Church, Clovelly, by the Rev T L V Simpkin, Mrs Finch being Miss Caroline May, the youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs John May, of Dyke Green Farm, Clovelly.
Mr Finch, whose home was at Robbs Farm, Cavendish, Suffolk, came to Clovelly in 1889 as gardener to the Rev T L V Simpkin and also farming part of the glebe. They farmed at Sierra Hill Farm, then moved to Burnstone Farm where they spent most of their farming life. Mr Finch retired in 1944 and they went to live at Higher Sierra. Ten years later they came to live with their only son, Mr T L (Len) Finch.
A veteran member of the NFU, Mr Finch was chairman of the Bideford branch in 1947 and 1948 and served for some years on the County Executive. Extremely fond of music, he studied under the late Mr Alfred Long of Barnstaple, who was organist and choirmaster at Clovelly. For the past 12 years Mr Finch has been a Diocesan reader, principally serving the parishes of Clovelly, Woolsery and Hartland.
Mr and Mrs Finch, now aged 77 and 76 respectively, and with two granddaughters, looking back over their 50 happy years together say that it seems to have so quickly, although 50 years may seem such a long time looking ahead.
The full Gazette article is dated 6 February 1959.

Mr T N Trickey and Miss H M Dimmock

Wedding at Northam

Many friends, including golfers and members of Bideford Rugby Club, attended Northam Parish Church, on Saturday, for the wedding of Mr Thomas Norman Trickey, second son of Mr and Mrs W H Trickey, of ‘River Glean’, Windmill Lane, Northam, to Miss Hester Mary Dimmock, elder daughter of Mrs Dimmock, formerly of Wimbledon, and now of Harrow, and of the late Mr W Dimmock.
The bride was given away by her uncle, Mr Frank Dimmock. Her sister, Miss Edna Dimmock and a friend, Miss Doreen Sharp, attended her as bridesmaids. The Vicar of Northam, Rev E B Bridger, officiated and Mr Robert Trickey acted as best man.
About 120 guests attended a reception at the Church Hall, Northam, for which catering was by Mr and Mrs F Patt.
Many wedding gifts were received, including an engraved clock from his many golfing companions at Northam, a tea service from Mr F W Beer (President of Bideford Rugby Club) and Mrs Beer, and a pouffe from fellow members of the ‘Imps’ skittles section. Mr Trickey also received gifts from members of the staff at Messrs W H Trickey and Son, Northam, the family firm with which he is associated.
Mr and Mrs T N Trickey’s future home will be at ‘Damar’, Raleigh, Bideford.
Gazette article dated 4 February 1955

Third Time In Finals Of Dancing Contest

For a third year running two Bideford girls have reached the finals of the national youth old-time dancing contest.

Marilyn Tyrell, who is 14, and Karen Watson, 13, whose families are neighbours at Hillcrest, East-the-Water, won their way into the finals at Redruth.
When they compete in the finals at Wembley in March, the girls will have travelled 20,000 miles in tournaments throughout the country.
Gazette article dated 2 February 1973 - photograph dated 9 February 1973