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.

28 April 1942

Owen – April 23rd 1942 at 4 Victoria Crescent, Appledore, to Capt and Mrs John Owen (nee Marvin (Marina) Gale), a daughter.
Pickard – April 25th at the Clarence Street Nursing Home, Gloucester, to Mr and Mrs Alan Pickard (nee Anne Finnamore), Marlowe, Bloomfield Road, Gloucester, a son.
Walker – On April 24th at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Mr and Mrs W E Walker, a daughter.

King-Morrish – On April 18th 1942, at Filton Church, Bristol, LAC King, second son of Mr and Mrs King, of High Wycombe, Bucks, to Dora, third daughter of Mrs and the late Mr F Morrish, 9 Coronation Road, Bideford.
Letchford-Keen – On April 24th at Swindon, Sergt Letchford, of London, to Pte Leone Keen, ATS, daughter of Mr and Mrs Richard Keen, of 4 Lower Gunstone.
Leonard-Burch – On April 8th at St Margaret’s Church, Barking, Donald Buckingham Leonard, eldest son of Mr and Mrs E Leonard, of Southern House, Bideford, to Iris Valentine Burch, only daughter of Mr and Mrs T E Burch, of 84 Oulton Crescent, Barking.

Over 100 Prizes and Five Cups

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