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 H T Heywood and Miss Florence Velvin

A very pretty and popular wedding was solemnised at the Methodist Church, Parkham, on Thursday last, the contracting parties being Mr Herbert Thomas Heywood, elder son of Mrs Heywood, Broad, Parkham, and the late Mr James Heywood, and Miss Florence Mary Velvin, only daughter of Mr and Mrs George Velvin, Lynches, Parkham.

The Rev A Roebuck, Bideford, conducted the ceremony. As the wedding guests assembled suitable music was rendered on the organ by Miss G M Honey, who also accompanied the hymns.

The bride, who was given away by her father, looked charming in an ankle-length dress of ivory satin beaute and with veil and wreath of orange blossom. She carried a sheaf of Harrisi lilies, the gift of the bridegroom. There was one bridesmaid, Miss Louisa Heywood, sister of the bridegroom, who looked very smart in an ankle length dress of floral pink georgette, with headdress to match and carried a choice bouquet of pink tulips, the gift of the bridegroom, as was also the rope of pearls she wore.

Mr William Heywood, brother of the bridegroom, carried out the duties of best man.

After the ceremony a reception was held at Friendship’s café, Bideford, where a large number of relatives and friends assembled to congratulate the happy pair, and numerous presents were received, including an overmantel from friends and the choir of Parkham Methodist Church of which the bride was a member and the bridegroom was also a regular member of the congregation.

The bride’s mother was attired in a dress of navy marocain with hat and coat to match and the bridegroom’s mother wore a floral navy silk dress and grey coat and hat to match.

Later in the day the happy couple left for London where the honeymoon is being spent, the bride travelling in a petrol blue dress with hat and coat to match.

The bridegroom’s present to the bride was a satin walnut china cabinet, and the bride gave the bridegroom an arm chair.

The best wishes will go out to Mr and Mrs Herbert Heywood in their new home at Billsford, Buckland Brewer.

Gazette article dated 15 February 1938

A Hug And A Farewell Kiss From Cousin Tony

Family returning to New Zealand after visiting Bideford

Three years old Tony kisses his little cousin, Angela, goodbye, as he, his five years old sister, Julie, and their parents, Mr and Mrs Arthur Eastmond, prepare to leave on their long journey to New Zealand. This is the second time that Mrs Eastmond (formerly Miss Jean Lester), daughter of Mrs W O Kemp, of Clovelly Road, Bideford, and the late Mr C Lester, has travelled to New Zealand.

The first time, in 1950, she was a newly-wed. Her husband, Arthur, who although born in England has lived in New Zealand since the age of three, and is an automative, electrical and general engineer, was in England on holiday when he first met Jean. After getting two years later they left to make their home ‘down under’.

The Eastmond family left Bideford on Sunday morning and journeyed to Tilbury, London. There, aboard the ss Orion, they set sail for New Zealand, via the Suez Canal.

Mrs Eastmond, although naturally feeling homesick at first, soon got to like New Zealand. She has visited Bideford’s counterpart – Bideford, Wairarapa, near Masterton, in the North Island.

The home address in New Zealand of Mr and Mrs Eastmond is 155 Ensors Road, Opawa, Christchurch, SE1.

In the picture Mr and Mrs Eastmond are soon with Julie, and others and their relation to Mrs Eastmond are: Mrs Mervyn Bird, Mrs Harold Short, Mrs J Vikmanis and Mrs W O Kemp.

Gazette article dated 26 October 1956.

Births and Marriages

27 October 1942

Arnold – On October 21st at the Nursing Home, Torrington, to Sybil (nee Richards), wife of John Arnold, of Torrington, the gift of a daughter.
Bell – On September 26th at 24 Church Street, North Liskeard, Cornwall, to Olyve (nee Werry), wife of Corporal H V Bell, a son, Edward Maxim.
McGuire – On October 21st at the North Devon Infirmary, Barnstaple, to Frances (nee Copp), wife of Thomas Patrick McGuire, the gift of a daughter, Bridget Frances.
Pomeroy – On October 21st at Lydcott, Highampton, to Ruby (nee Hearn), wife of Richard Pomeroy, a son, Geoffrey Richard.
Williams – On October 24th at 27 Honestone Street, Bideford, to Gladys (nee Waldron), wife of W Williams, a daughter, Ann.

Evans-Taylor – On October 17th 1942, at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, Donald Evans, MN, second son of Mr and Mrs A Evans, of 23 Meeting Street, Appledore, to Irene Mary, younger daughter of Mr and Mrs W G Taylor, of 3 Kingsley Street, Bideford.