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.

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.

Another story about Mr Harry Verren can be found on the Archive's website - HERE

Full Gazette article dated 7 March 1952

First Wedding in Chapel

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

GPO Connections

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.