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.

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.

Many Sea Memories On Their Diamond Wedding Day

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.