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.

Langtree Woman Wins Over 100 Prizes This Season

Over a hundred prizes and five cups have been won by Mrs M E Harris, of Frost Meadow, Langtree, in women’s classes at North Devon shows.

This success is all the more notable is that Mrs Harris did not begin to take an interest in the finer arts of exhibition embroidery, knitting, tatting, cooking, bottling and jam-making until about ten years ago when she was stimulated and encouraged to do so by lectures and demonstrations at the then newly-formed Women’s Institute at Langtree. She was then over 50.

For four years Mrs Harris was secretary of the Langtree WI of which she is still a committee member.

Gazette article dated 28 August 1959

Golden Wedding Anniversary At Weare Gifford

Mr and Mrs Alfred Lake

At Huxhill Farm, Weare Giffard, to which he and his wife came fifty years ago as a young married couple just setting out in life, Mr and Mrs Alfred Lake celebrated the golden anniversary of their wedding on Tuesday.

In those days when Mrs Lake sold butter in Torrington Pannier Market at 10d and 11d a pound, eggs at 24 for a shilling, and chicken at half a crown each, Mr Lake was a tenant farmer. Later he had the opportunity of buying Huxhill and when he retired, three years ago, he was succeeded by his only son, Mr Bruce Lake.

Mr Lake served on Weare Giffard Parish Council for many years and on the School Board and was a trustee of the Lovering Charity which provided secondary school places for village children. Every since coming to Huxhill, after their marriage at Torrington Baptish Church, Mr and Mrs Lake have been regular supporters of the Wesleyan Methodist Church at Gammaton.

Mr Lake served with the Stevenstone Troop of the Royal North Devon Hussars for several years, the officers of which were Major Drummond and Capt Scott-Browne.

Mr Lake was a son of Mr and Mrs W Lake, Beam Farm, Torrington, and his wife, formerly Miss Lily Moase, lived at Priestacott, Frithelstock, is which parish Mr and Mrs Lake’s daughter, Mrs W G A Hunkin, now lives at West Ash Farm.

There are three grandchildren, David Lake, who is making a name for himself as a sheep shearer and is a member of the very successful Alverdiscott YFC public speaking team, and Roger and Audrey Hunkin.

Mr Lake is a brother of Miss Florence Lake, Mayor-elect of Torrington.

The full Gazette article is dated 29 April 1955

Golden Day For Torrington Bee-Keepers

Golden Wedding Anniversary

A beekeeper for 50 years, Mr Claud Heal and his wife, Nora, who takes an active interest in her husband’s hobby, celebrated their golden wedding on Tuesday.

Joining them at the their home, 3 Goosegreen, Torrington, were their son and daughter-in-law, Mr and Mrs Norman Heal, and their two grandsons, Brian and Geoffrey.
Mr and Mrs Heal sen. were married at Petersmarland where the bride’s parents farmed Churchlands. Mr Heal’s parents farmed at Langtree but on leaving school he joined the Army and during World War 1 served with the 1/6th Devonshire Regiment in Mesopotamia.

For more than 20 years after the war he worked for the North Devon Clay Company at Petersmarland. The next 25 years, until retirement, he spent as a driver-salesman for Messrs P C Cobbledick and Co, of Torrington.

Visitors included the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr and Mrs W D Cockram.

The full Gazette article is dated 29 May 1970.