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.

Lieut G E T Cope and Miss C E Fair

There was much local interest in the wedding that took place on December 4th at Haileybury College Chapel, Hertford, of Lieut George Edmund Thackwell Cope, to Miss Camilla Esme Fair. It was the first wedding ever held in the College Chapel.

The bridesmaids were Misses Frances Fair, Rose Isabel Cope, Gill Champion and Fleur Secretan and pages, Masters Charles and Richard Cope. The duties of the best man were carried out by Major Douglas Flack, RAMC.

The reception was held at Trevelyan, some 200 guests being entertained. The honeymoon was spent in London and the West Country.

Full Gazette article dated 18 December 1945

Sigman A J (Bruce) Symons and Miss V M Matthews

Two families having long association with the GPO in North Devon were united at the wedding at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, on December 8th, of Sigmn A J (Bruce) Symons, Royal Corps of Signals, only son of Mr and Mrs H Symons, of 11 Salem Street, Barnstaple, and Miss Vera M Matthews, only daughter of Mr and Mrs W Matthews, of 3 Wimborne Terrace, Bideford.

The family association with the GPO extends from the bridegroom’s father and grandfather and the bride’s father to the bride and groom themselves. The bride is a member of Bideford telephone exchange staff and the bridegroom, before joining the Services, was with the GPO engineering department at Barnstaple.

A large number of friends attended the wedding ceremony, at which the Rector of Bideford, Preb. W N Manning, officiated. Mr R Harper was at the organ.

Duties of best man were carried out by Corpl. Jack Newcombe, Royal Corps of Signals.

Over 130 guests were entertained at a reception at the Church Institute.

Full Gazette articles dated 18 and 24 December 1945

Births, Engagements, Marriages and Anniversaries

December 1945

4 December 1945

Eastman – on November 29th 1945 at The Nursing Home, Torrington, to Margaret (nee Stacey) wife of Dvr J H Eastman, a sister for Sheila (Jean Margaret).

Purcell – on November 20th at 7 Joy Street, Barnstaple, to Lavinia (nee Vaughan), wife of Cpl J Purcell, RAF, the gift of a daughter.

Clark-Usher – the engagement is announced between Victor, younger son of Mr and Mrs E J M Clark, Dalhousie, Chudleigh Avenue, Bideford, and Edna, youngest daughter of PC and Mrs Usher, Avalon, Alcombe, Minehead.

Moody-Hallett – on December 4th 1920 at St Mary’s Church, Appledore, by the Rev J S Shenton, Hector O’S. Moody, of Marine Parade, Appledore, to Kate Hallett, of South Street, Newport, Barnstaple. Present address 58 Richmond Park Road, East Sheen, London, SW14

11 December 1945

Godbold – on December 3rd at Oakville, Market Street, Appledore, to Ella (nee Prout), wife of W Godbold, the gift of a daughter, Marjorie.

Perkins – on December 7th at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Mr and Mrs A C Perkins, of Cross Park, Woolsery, the gift of a daughter, Elizabeth.

Ploof – on December 9th at 2 Garfield Terrace, Bideford, to Betty (nee Moore), wife of Francis L Ploof, USA, the gift of a son, Francis Robert.

Eveleigh-Bennett – on Monday December 3rd 1945 at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, L/Cpl V B Eveleigh, of Winchester, to Florence Freda Bennett, of 9 Elm Grove, Bideford.

Hutchinson-Anderson – on December 1st 1945 at Burnt Oak, NW, Alexander Caldwell Hutchinson, B.Se, AMI MechE, of Tower House, Orchard Hill, Bideford and Geraldine Anders, MRCS, LRCP, of Hendon.

Jones-Daniel – at Bideford, Violet, youngest daughter of Mr E Daniel, of Park Lane, Bideford, to Jack Jones, of London.

Ebsworthy-Redcliffe – on December 11th 1920 at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, by the Rev Parsons, Frank Ebsworthy to Florence May Redcliffe. Present address: 20 Barnstaple Street, Bideford, E.

18 December 1945

Babb – on December 14th at the Grenville Nursing Home, to Mr and Mrs Cyril Babb, of Rose Terrace, Buckland Brewer, a daughter.

Bennett – on December 15th to Mary, wife of Surg-Lieut. Douglas H Bennett, RNVR, a daughter.

Buckley – on December 8th to Cpl and Mrs L Buckley (nee Winnie Copp), the gift of a daughter, Marion Patricia Mary, a sister for Joy.

Copp – on December 16th to Mr and Mrs V J Copp, of 8 Chudleigh Avenue, Bideford, a daughter.

Hocking – on December 14th to Mabel (nee Smith), wife of Petty Officer Hocking, RN, a son, David Alec.

Johnson – on December 14th at Woodhayes Nursing Home, Exeter, to Mary (nee Bull), wife of Lieut C A Johnson, DSc, RN, a son.

Norman-Kurr – the engagement is announced between William Edward, RN, aboard HMS Redpole, only son of Mr and Mrs W E Norman, West Barton Cottages, Horwood, near Bideford, and Thelma, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Kurr, of Pashely Street, Balmain, NSW, Australia.

Cope-Fair – on December 4th at Haileybury College Chapel, Hertford, by the Rev W H M Wathen (bride’s uncle), assisted by Rev Canon E F Bonhote (headmaster of Haileybury) and the Rev W RL Lloyd, Lieut George Edmund Thackwell Cope, eledest son of Capt H V Cope, of Hanley, Bideford and the late Mrs E K Cope, to Camilla Esme Fair, eldest daughter of Major and Mrs Charles H Fair, of Trevelyan, Haileybury College, Hertford. A report on the wedding can be found HERE (opens in new window)

Symons-Matthews – on December 8th at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, by Preb. W N Manning (Rector of Bideford), Sigmn. A J (Bruce) Symons, Royal Corps of Signals, only son of Mr and Mrs H Symons, 11 Salem Street, Barnstaple, to Vera M Matthews, only daughter of Mr and Mrs W Matthews, of 3 Wimborne Terrace, Bideford. A report on the wedding can be read HERE (opens in new window)

24 December 1945

Bentall – on December 18th to Gertrude (nee Madge), wife of Denis Bentall, the gift of a son, John Stuart.

Pearce – on Saturday December 15th at 32 Manston Road, Exeter, to Joyce (nee Friendship), wife of Hugh Pearce, a son, David Hugh.

Tredwen - on December 20th at Wreneaton, Belvoir Terrace, to Gladys (nee Facey), wife fo Mr R C Tredwen, the gift of a daughter, Diane.

Fowler-Schillers – the engagement is announced between Miss Florence Schillers, youngest daughter of Mrs Schillers of 35 Torrington Lane, Bideford, and Mr G W Fowler, of 4 Horne Park Road, Ilfracombe (RAF).

Purchase-Fulford – the engagement is announced between Jack, only son of Mr and Mrs D N Purchase, of Great Hele, South Molton, and Phyllis Doreen, second daughter of Mr and Mrs W J Fulford, of Horwood, Monkleigh.

Articles published in the Gazette December 1945