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.

5 February 1965

Cloke – January 26th 1965 at the Grenville Nursing Home, to Lorna and Barrie, a daughter, Caroline Jane,.
Colwill – February 3rd at the Luton and Dunstable Maternity Hospital, to Janet (nee Braund) and Robert, a daughter, Amanda Jayne, first grandchild for Mr and Mrs K Braund, of Beach Road, Westward Ho!
Furse – February 2nd to Avril (nee Arnold), wife of Kenvyn, at Old Tree, Launceston, a son, grandchild no 17 for Mr and Mrs Nelson Arnold, of Cross House, Northam.
Milton – January 31st at the Grenville Nursing Home, to Sylvia (nee Wilton) and Charles, a daughter, Heather Sandra Gale.

Porter-Symons – the engagement is announced between Tim, only son of Mr and Mrs E Porter, 11 Riverbank Cottages, and Jennifer, elder daughter of Mrs and the late Mr P Symons, 184a New Street, Torrington.

Bissett-Vanstone – January 30th at St Michael’s Church, Torrington, Lionel James Bissett, only son of the late Mr and Mrs W Bissett, of Coldharbour, Bideford, to Sylvia Ann Vanstone, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs R Vanstone, 1 Hatchmoor, Torrington.

Births and Marriages

4 August 1942

Brown – July 31st at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Moira, wife of Lieut Peter Brown, a son, Phillip Manton.
Granger – August 1st to Joyce (nee Withecombe) wife of Flight Sergeant W Granger RAAF, of Melbourne, a son.
Ley – August 1st at Thorne, Buckland Brewer, to Corpl and Mrs H T Ley (nee Gladys Ashton), a son, Maurice John.
Mitchell – August 3rd to Dorothy (nee Sluman), wife of LAC Eric Mitchell, a son.

Bennett-Stanley – 1st August at the Parish Church, Leatherhead, Douglas, son of Mrs Bennett and the late Mr A W Bennett of Instow, to Mary, elder daughter of Mr and Mrs E W Stanley, of Ringwood and Bombay

‘Nell and Harry’ 60 years wed

One of the first couples

In the country to receive congratulations of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of their diamond wedding were Mr and Mrs H Verren, of 15 Elmdale Road, Bideford, who celebrated sixty years of happy married life.

Mr and Mrs Verren were married at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, on February 28th 1892, by Rev W Crowther. Before her marriage Mrs Verren was Miss Ellen Agnes Wills.

The anniversary was celebrated by a family tea party at which the Mayor and Mayoress of Bideford, Mr and Mrs W H Copp, were present together with Preb J A Durling, Dr C W Wilson and Mr R L Cock. Mr and Mrs Verren’s only daughter, Mrs L Chick, and her husband and son, were also present together with Mrs Verren’s three sisters, Mrs Waring, Miss Wills and Mrs Peck. Mrs D R Taunt, a grand-daughter, made the cake.