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.

Presented with a Harry Juniper jug

While it might have been stretching the imagination a little to try to encapsulate 43 years of newspaper life at Bideford on to a jug, certainly the beautiful piece of pottery made by Mr Harry Juniper, the well-known local potter, gives something of an insight into the working life of Mr Dick Cleaver, Editor of the Bideford Gazette up to 1973, who has now retired.

Pictures on the jug - presented to him at a ceremony in the Gazette printing works on behalf of newspaper colleagues by Editor Phil Day, recalled his arrival at Bideford by train and his first walk across the Bridge with which he later became identified as Chairman of the Bridge Trust, plus other links with the newspaper industry.

Gazette article dated 30 June 1967

Mr M T Hutchings and Miss J Chapman

Instow Wedding

At St John the Baptist Church, Instow, on Easter Monday, the wedding took place of Mr Michael Thomas Hutchings, only son of Mr and Mrs A E Hutchings, of The Myrtles, Appledore, to Miss June Chapman, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Harold J Chapman, of The Chalet, Millards Hill, Instow.

The Rector of Instow, Rev H L Hustwayte, officiated at the ceremony and the organist was Mrs C Attwood.

The bride was attended by her cousin, Miss Barbara Negus. Duties of best man were carried out by Mr John Baker.

For the honeymoon in London, the bride travelled in a honey tweed costumer with mushroom accessories.

Among the presents received were a set of spoons from the staff of Forches Cross Primary School, where the bride is a teacher, and a breakfast set from Messrs A E Hutchings, of Bideford, of which the bridegroom is a director.

The full Gazette article is dated 26 April 1957

Births and Marriages

27 February 1945

Bishop – February 21st 1945 at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Kathleen (nee Copp), wife of R W Bishop, a son, Reginald Andrew, a brother for Kay.
Johns – February 8th at Ty-Fry, Torrington, to Joyce (nee Bennett), wife of Walter Johns, a daughter, Alison Elizabeth.
Johns – February 16th at Marylands Women’s Hospital, Baltimore, to Helen Patricia (nee Atkinson), wife of Renouf Johns, a son, Duane Renouf Stuart.
Jones – February 25th at the Nursing Home, Torrington, to Edna (nee Tolley), wife of Gnr Victor Jones, a son.

Bates-Hearn - Saturday February 17th at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, S/Sgt Harold John Bates, US Army, only child of Mr Edward Earl Bates and the late Mrs S Bates, of Brooklyn, New York, and Rona Hearn (NFS), only child of Mr Edward Hearn and Mrs K Hearn, Beachside, Torridge Place, Bideford.

Cook-Geen – February 21s by special licence, at the Registry office, Pte George Albert Cook, RASC, BLA, son of the late Mr and Mrs Cook, Appledore, to Rona Joyce Geen, daughter of Mr and Mrs J Geen, 46 Clifton Street, Bideford.

Langmead-Grills – February 17th at St Andrews Church, Stratton, by the Rev E C H Pyemont, Gunr D E Langmead, son of Mr and Mrs W H Langmead, 35 Sentry Corner, to Miss Irene Grills, daughter of Mr and Mrs C Grills, Cory House, Fore Street, Stratton.

Moore-Nichols – February 7th at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, by Rev Preb Manning, Corpl Raymond P Moore, RE, to Ena R Nichols.

Newcombe-Walker – February 17th at Liverpool, Edgar Newcombe, vehicle mechanic, RASC, only son of Mr and Mrs W J Newcombe, Rossholme, The Strand, Bideford, to Edith Walker, only child of Mr and Mrs H Walker, 27 Brockholme Road, Mossley Hill, Liverpool.

Terhune-Williams – February 19th at St Mary’s Church, by licence, by the Rev Preb W N Manning, Robert Thomas Terhune, Corporal, US Army, only son of Mr and Mrs Walter Terhune, Milford, Mass. USA, to Joan, only daughter of Mrs F Williams and the late Mr Harry Williams, 2 Sunnyside, Bideford.

Powe-Pennington – February 24th 1920 at the Registry Office, Bideford, Alfred Powe to Olive Marion Pennington. Address: 1 Sea View Place, Appledore.

Rendle-Vaggers – February 26th 1920 at St Mary’s Church, Appledore, William Frank, son of Mr and Mrs Rendle, Sweethome Terrace, Northam, to Georgina, daughter of Mr and Mrs Vaggers, Churchfield, Appledore.