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.

Brother and sister are re-united after 44 years

There was a very special birthday party at East-the-Water on Saturday when a brother and sister were together in their native Bideford for the first time for 44 years.

The brother, whose 74th birthday it was, is Mr Frank Bennett McGowan, of Freshwater, Sydney, Australia, and the sister Mrs Mary Comer, 54 Sentry Corner, who is 68.

Their reunion was made possible because some years ago Mr Frank Bennett, as he is usually called, wrote to the Bideford Gazette inquiring about his sister with whom he had lost touch after many years in various places in Australia. Headed ‘Calling Mary Bennett’, the letter instantly evoked a response.

“We felt we had to come and say ‘thank you’ and let you know of the visit” they told the Gazette representative on Saturday. Admitting that he was ‘always getting into trouble’ as a boy locally, Mr Bennett said he and his brother Ernie were usually known as Big Tim and Little Tim.

The full Gazette article is dated 8 July 1960

Members of Young Conservatives’ Club Marry

On New Year’s Day

the wedding took place at Bridge Street Methodist Church, Bideford, of two members of Bideford Young Conservatives’ Club.

The bride was Miss Alwynne Muriel Bewes, only daughter of Mr and Mrs W H Bewes, of 16 Buttgarden Street, Bideford, who is a committee member of the Club and the bridegroom, Mr Reginald Leslie Charles Bennett, eldest son of Mr and Mrs C F Bennett, of 34 Coombe Street, Lyme Regis, Dorset, who is the vice-chairman.

The wedding ceremony was conducted by the Rev Isaac Bond and Mr Baker was the organist.

Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a full length dress of white frilled lace and net. Her full length veil was held in place by a head dress of lilies and her only ornament was a pearl choker. She carried a bouquet of red roses, white heather and trailing fern.

She was attended by three bridesmaids, Misses Ruth Fishleigh, Barbara Senner, and Margaret Letcher.

Duties of best man were carried out by Mr Gerald Shapley, a friend of the bridegroom.

Following a reception at Mitchell’s Café, Bideford, Mr and Mrs R L C Bennett left for the Channel Islands where the honeymoon was spent in Jersey.

From their fellow members of the Young Conservatives’ Club, Mr and Mrs Bennett received a table lamp in the design of a ship.

Gazette article dated 14 January 1955

Births, Engagements and a Marriage

7 November 1969

Dennis – On November 1st 1969 at 26 Tomouth Road, Appledore, to Maureen (nee Hocking) and Alan, a son, Shaun Alan, a brother for Laraine.
Hallett – November 3rd at the Grenville Nursing Home, to Chris and June (nee Hearn), a son, Stephen Christopher.
Mugford – November 2nd to Jimmy and Jean (nee Kay), a son, Kevin, brother for Janine and Jason.
Prouse – November 4th to Ann (nee Sussex) and Des, a son, Stephen James.

Britton-Beech – Mr and Mrs S V Britton have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their son, Francis, to Jean Beech, of 3 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey.
Cook-Oke – Both families have pleasure in announcing the engagement of Carole, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs D Oke, 1 Capern Road, to Leslie, eldest son of Mr and Mrs A Cook, 11 Myrtle Grove, Bideford.
Gorvett-Evans – Mr and Mrs 2 Evans, 4 Lily Close, Northam, have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their second daughter, Rosemary, to Rodney, only son of Mrs A Short, Fore Street, Hartland.
Walker-Warmington – Mr and Mrs L C Warmington of Alderley, Clevelands Park, Northam, have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their younger daughter Diana, to Michael, elder son of Mr and Mrs Rex Walker, of Denique, St James, Cape Town, South Africa.

Bowden-Welsford – On October 25th 1969 at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, Graham, second son of Mr and Mrs J R Bowden, of Darracotts Court, Irsha Street, Appledore, and Mary, only daughter of Mr and Mrs C J Welsford, of Talbot Inn, High Street, Bideford.

Cranleigh-Chubb – On November 9th 1944 at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, Ronald Jonathon to Olive Dora (Molly). Present address: 11 Pynes Lane, Bideford.