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.

…. and still going strong

Sixty years ago the name of Albert Kingdom first appeared on a list of local preachers. Today, at 88, he is still active in the Bideford circuit to which he moved from the Tiverton circuit in 1919. Even so, after all these years, “I’m always nervous when I’m preaching” he confesses. With a twinkle that is never far from his eyes he adds “Sometimes I think that is for the better.”

He averages three or four preaching appointments a quarter.

Mr Kingdom began local preaching during the First World War when country districts in particular were experiencing a shortage. He and two other men went around together taking services before, at a Bible Christian circuit meeting held at Petton Farm, near Bampton, they were formally received ‘on the plan’.

Singing has always given him great pleasure and for 55 years now he has sung in the choir of Bideford (High Street) Methodist Church. He also helped the Sunday School and choir of Bethel Free Church, East-the-Water, over very many years.

He watches TV, principally for the news, sport and feature programmes, but is not enamoured of some of the offerings. Mr Kingdom is teetotal. And he has never had anything to do with whist drives, draws and ‘things like that.’

March 1975

Harry Thomas returns

Mrs Annie Thomas, 95, of East-the-Water has just had the thrill of her long life

She has met the son to whom she last waved goodbye when, as a boy of 15, he sailed for Australia. That was 47 years ago.

The son, Harry, has also met sisters and a brother who only vaguely remember him. They include Mrs Dorothy Streater, of Karen Close, with whom Mrs Thomas makes her home, and Mrs Kathleen Harris, of Dolton.

Mr Thomas left England under an emigration scheme run by the Boy Scout movement in order to go farming in Australia. He was to serve in the Army for six years during World War II, but was never able to reach his family. The war over, he returned to Australia to work on the railways.

He was never really alone ‘down under’ for another sister had emigrated about the same time. She returned to this country on a visit 27 years ago and is now here again. Mrs Thomas, who is looking forward to seeing her again, has lived in Bideford for two years after moving here from St Blazey.

Mr Thomas will soon be rejoining his own family.

Gazette article April 1975

Abbotsham wedding

Leslie Kent-Smith and Dorothy Turner

A wedding of considerable North Devon interest took place at Abbotsham Church on Wednesday, between Mr Leslie William Kent-Smith, elder son of Mr and Mrs T W Smith, East Down, Barnstaple, and Miss Dorothy Madge Turner, second daughter of Mr and Mrs C T Turner, Pillmouth, Bideford. The Vicar of Abbotsham, the Rev E A Du Cane, officiated.

The bride, who was given away by her father, was daintily dressed in parchment stain, trimmed with orange blossom, and she wore a Brussels net lace veil, lent by Mrs H Oliver, with train of same, and carried a bouquet of Harissi lilies, and lilies of the valley and fern.

She was escorted by two bridesmaids, Miss Sylvia Turner and Miss Nancy Ridler. The best man was Mr R G Parminter and the ushers were Mr Harry Cock and Mr Wallace Turner.

The Church was crowded and over 60 guests were afterwards received at Pillmouth, the home of the bride. The bride gave the bridegroom a wireless set and the bridegroom gave the bride a wireless set and the bridegroom gave the bride a fur coat, and to the bridesmaids he gave gold scarf pins.

A large number of presents were received, including a shooting stick, clock and tea caddy from the employees at East Down and a silver cake dish from the staff at Pillmouth.