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.

The oldest macebearer in the country

will be carrying his badge of office for the last time next Thursday.

Mr Jack Gilbert, macebearer at Torrington for the past 25 years, has decided to call it a day – and who could deny him that right now he has reached the age of 88?

Jack has become as well known as a part of the civic ceremony as he was as a soccer player more than half a century ago when Torrington Football Club was in its heyday. An inscribed clock with which he is to be presented by the Mayor, Dr Harry Cramp, at the May Fair’s opening ceremony.

Another well known character, Mr Bert Waldron, who has already brought fame to Torrington as its championship-winning town crier – is to succeed him as macebearer.

Gazette article dated 28 April 1978

Births and Marriages

29 September 1942

Prance – On September 23rd at Buckland Brewer, to Joan (nee Braund), wife of Ernest Prance, a son, John David.
Symons – On September 25th at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Beatrice (nee Heal), wife of W H Symons, a son.

Baker-Dark – On September 23rd 1942, at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, Frederic Baker (Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry), of Sunderland, to Phyllis Dark, of Bideford.
Brock-Hemming – September 12th at St James’s Church, Shirley, Warwickshire (by special licence), Frank Alan Brock, RN, younger son of Mr and Mrs H J Brock, of Ashton House, 5 Clarendon Road, Weston-Super-Mare, to Joan Lilian Hemming, only child of Mr and Mrs Hemming, of Mayfayre, Shirley, Warwickshire.
Clack-Watkinson – On September 19th 1942 at St Matthew’s Church, Oxhey, Watford, Alford Clack, of Chiswick, to Florence Elizabeth Watkinson, of 47 High Street, Bideford.
Robinson-Morrish – September 18th 1942 at Newcastle, Staffs, Corporal Robinson, RAF, youngest son of Mr and Mrs Robinson, of Stone-on-Trent, to Ruby, youngest daughter of Mrs and the late Mr F Morrish, of 9 Coronation Road, Bideford.

Births, Engagement and Marriages

30 January 1945

Bissett – January 22 1945 at the Barnstaple Infirmary, to Jean (nee Sinclair), wife of Sergt James Bissett, RAF, a daughter, Gloria Jean
Cann – January 15 at the Grenville Nursing Home, to Florence (nee Budgen), wife of Leonard J Cann, a son, Nicholas Bartlett
De Vrieze – January 26 1945 at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford to Madam De Vrieze, wife of Oscar De Vrieze, a son, William, a brother for Anne Marie

Ritz-Pearson – engagement announced between Moira Pearson, Inglewood, Raleigh, Bideford, and Karl Ritz, Corporal, Coastal Artillery, US Army, of Bradford, Pennsylvania

Chantler-Fisher – January 27 1945 at the High Street Methodist Church, Bideford, by the Rev T E Clarke, Arthur Leslie Chantler, son of Mr and Mrs C G Chantler, 346 Woodham Lane, Weybridge, to Margaret Jean Fisher, daughter of Mr and Mrs F Fisher, Royston Road, Bideford

Hosegood-Shearer – December 23 1944 at St Mary’s Church, Govan Cross, Glasgow, by Rev J E Brown, MA, Sidney Arthur Hosegood, son of Mr and Mrs Hosegood, Northam, to Daisy Darnley Shearer, daughter of Mrs R Shearer and the late Mr R Shearer, Queensland Drive, Glasgow

Warwick-Manning – January 26 145 at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, Harold Frank Warwick, son of Mrs and the late Mr H Warwick, Sloane Square, London, to Maria Joan Manning, daughter of Mr and Mrs T A Manning, Park Lane, Bideford