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.

Capt. And Mrs F J Gayette, of Appledore

Celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary on Monday were Captain and Mrs Frederick J Gayette, of 15 Myrtle Street, Appledore.

Capt Gayette, who was actively associated with the sea for nearly 60 years, is 82. His wife is a year younger. They were married at Lavington Congregational Church, Bideford, on May 25th 1904, by the Rev George Warren.

During the 1914-18 war Capt Gayette was on one of the first merchant ships sunk. He was a member of the crew of the s.s. Maywood sunk by enemy action in the English Channel off Southampton three days after war broke out in August 1914.

Capt Gayette held command principally in ships owned by Messrs John Fisher and Son, of Barrow-in-Furness, with whom he stayed 15 years. Previously he had been in command of the first ever ship built by Messrs Robert Cocks and Son, of Appledore, whom he served for 10 years.

In 1946 Capt Gayette’s ‘zeal and whole-hearted devotion to duty’ was recognised by the award of the British Empire Medal (Military).

Mrs Gayette was born in the house where she now lives. She is the only daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Andrew Pennington. Her uncle, a Capt Swindale, who trained as a chemist with Messrs Hogg emigrated to Australia and Capt and Mrs Gayette’s children still keep in touch with his descendants.

Capt and Mrs Gayette have two sons and two daughters. They are Mr Fred Gayette and Mr Ivor Gayette, and Mrs Linda Marshall and Mrs Annie Brennan. Their two sons-in-law are both Master Mariners and one, Capt Pat Brennan, is Bideford Harbour Master. There are nine grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren.

The full Gazette article is dated 29 May 1964

Births and Marriages

30 June 1942

Cloke – On June 21st at 51 Lime Grove to Mr and Mrs Percy Cloke (nee Eileen Squires), the gift of a daughter, Pauline June.
Fagan – On June 23rd, at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Joyce, wife of Leading Stoker Fagan, RN, a daughter, Evelyn Ann.
Nicholls – On June 25th to Daisy, wife of George Nicholls, a son.
Petherick – On June 24th to Mr and Mrs W R Petherick, 6 Alverdiscott Road, Bideford, a son.

George-Hunkin – On June 24th at Frithelstock Methodist Church, Arthur James George, only son of Mr and Mrs J A George, Downe, Hartland, to Edith May Hunkin, only daughter of Mr and Mrs W E Hunkin, Myrtle Cottage, Frithelstock (formerly West Ash Farm, Frithelstock).
Peterson-Taylor – On June 20th at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, William Norman, elder son of Mr and Mrs W E Peterson, of Widley, Portsmouth, to Catherine Joan, elder daughter of Mr and Mrs W G Taylor, of 3 Kingsley Street, Bideford.

Births and Marriages

30 October 1945

Fagan – October 24 1945 at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Joyce (nee Harris), wife of SPO Fagan, RN, a son, David, lived 6½ hours
Gore – October 25 1945 at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Mary, wife of Petty Officer H Gore, a son, David Charles
James – October 28 1945 at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Dora, wife of Frank James, a brother for Alwyn and Derek

Daley-Ford – October 22 1945 at the Methodist Church, Appledore, by the Rev S M Pillinger, Gunner G Daley, RA, son of Mr and Mrs Daley, Walthamstow, London, to Elsie Christine, daughter of Mr and Mrs Ford, 19 One End Street, Appledore
Piper-Richards – October 20 1945 at St Mary’s Church, Appledore, by the Rev R W Robinson, Gordon L Piper, Corporal, Royal Corps of Signals, son of Mrs W J Walters of Westleigh, to Elsie Doreen Richards, daughter of Mr and Mrs W Richards, Dock Cottage, Appledore