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.

3 January 1969

Braund – December 29th 1968 at the NDDHMU, Barnstaple, to Christopher and Veronica (nee Honeywill), a daughter, Hanna Marie.

Hockin – January 1st 1969 at Multan, West Pakistan, to Mary (nee Cope) and John, a daughter Julia Marie.

Morris – December 31st 1968 at the Grenville Nursing Home, to David and Sheila (nee Waldon, a daughter, Carol Anne, sister for Richard.

Taylor – To Alfred and Daisy (nee Copp), of Bideford, now at Tawstock, a son, Mark.

Baker-Gorvett – Mr and Mrs R C Gorvett, 25 Victoria Grove, Bideford, have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their eldest daughter, Diane, to Andrew, only son of Mr and Mrs G H Baker, 21 Calvesford Road, Torrington.

Jordan-Gorrell – Syd and Doris Gorrell of Trelawney, Northam would like their friends to know of the engagement of Nancy Morwenna to Peter, elder son of Mr and Mrs Samuel Jordan, of Dun Varran, Armagh, Northern Ireland.

Poole-Thompson – The engagement is announced between Jane, the only daughter of Mrs G Thompson and the late Mr H J Thompson, Moorhead, Littleham, and Anthony, the only son of Mr and Mrs K A Poole, of Parklands, Fairy Cross.

Quick-Wood – Mrs V M Wood, of 42 Barton Tors has pleasure in announcing the engagement of her only daughter, Veronica, to Ivor, eldest son of Mr and Mrs F Quick, of Fremington.

Reynolds-Meagher – The engagement is announced between Alistair Richard Reynolds, only son of Mr and Mrs John Reynolds, St Filans, Northdown Road, Bideford and Margart Mary, only daughter of Mr and Mrs William Meagher, 70 Glen Avenue, Blackley, Manchester 9.

Rowcliffe-Sparks – Mr and Mrs R F Rowcliffe, of Bideford, have great pleasure in announcing the engagement of their eldest son, David, to Marilyn, second daughter of Mr and Mrs A C Sparkes, of Castle Bromwich, Birmingham.

Saunders-Edwards – Mr and Mrs A H Mapp, Spindrift, Polywell, Appledore, have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their eldest daughter, Jean, to Michael, younger son of Mr and Mrs R Saunders, 10 One End Street, Appledore.

Hill-Slade – Mr and Mrs Trevor Slade, Brecklands, Northdown Road, Bideford, have much pleasure in announcing the engagement of their eldest daughter, Lindsay, to Peter, youngest son of Major and Mrs Edward Hill, 4 Park Avenue, Bideford.

Slocombe-Friendship – Mr and Mrs E Friendship of 4 Morwenna Park Road, Northam, have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their eldest daughter, Margaret, to Roger, youngest son of Mr and Mrs G Slocombe, 2 North Road, Bideford.

Smith-Vanstone – Mr and Mrs F J Vanstone, of Sandhurst, 49 Abbotsham Road, have great pleasure in announcing the engagement of their second daughter, Katrina, to Alan, second son of Mr and Mrs L Smith, 7 Redford Close, Langley Village, Eastbourne, Sussex.

Stevens-Short – Mr and Mrs F Short, of 48 Sentry Corner, have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their only daughter, Joyce, to Michael, eldest son of Mr and Mrs F Stevens, of 52 Pynes Lane, Bideford.

Sussex-Vaggers – Mr and Mrs D W Vaggers, 4 East Park, Woolsery, have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their third daughter, Diane, to Terence, only son of Mr and Mrs M Sussex, 30 High View, Pynes Lane.

Thomas-Symons – The engagement is announced between Julian Mark, elder son of Mr and Mrs J G W Thomas, Wixland, Atherington, and Nina Mary, only daughter of Mr and Mrs L T J Symons, Southlands, Old Bideford Road, Barnstaple.

Wilton-Godbold – Mr and Mrs W Godbold, 29 Myrtle Street, Appledore, have much pleasure in announcing the engagement of their daughter, Suzanne, to Ron, youngest sonof Mr and Mrs R Wilton of Romford, Essex.

Hull-Oxenham – The marriage has been arranged and will shortly take place between Anita Mary, daughter of Mr and Mrs W J Oxenham, of Ridgegrove, Westward Ho! and Gordon Charles, son of Mrs and the late Mr H Hull, of Southampton.

Cane-Maddams – The marriage took place at Weston-Super-Mare, on 21st December, of John Ferguson, second son of Mr and Mrs A J Cane, Roundhay, Leeds, to Susan, only child of Mr and Mrs T E Maddams, late of Northam, and now of 17 Charter Road, Weston-Super-Mare.

Folland-Baglow – On December 28th 1968 at Bideford, Pamela Frances, elder daughter of Mr and Mrs I Baglow, 2 Fosketh Terrace, Westward Ho! to Roger John, younger son of Mr and Mrs V Folland, 96 Stucley Road, Bideford.

Hart-Rickard – On December 28th at St Sabinus Church, Woolacombe, Brenda Loveday Anne, only daughter of Mrs L Rickard and the late Mr J J J Rickard, 56 Royston Road, and Colin, youngest son of Mr and Mrs R Hart, of Haddenham, Bucks.

2 May 1969

Lacey – April 28th 1969 at Old Tree, Launceston, to Jean and Tony, a daughter, Louise Sylvia, a sister for Jane and Jennifer.
Meintjes – April 22nd in Johannesburg, to Janna, a daughter, and great-granddaughter for Leslie and Elsie Basher, of Clovelly, North Devon.
Wadey – On April 23rd to David and Pam (nee Warren), at NDDHMU, a son, Andrew David, brother for Mark.

Miller-Patt – The engagement is announced for May 3rd 1969, of Diane, only daughter of Mr and Mrs F Patt, of Kingsley Bakery House, Northam, and David, eldest son of Mr and Mrs A Miller, of 50 Woodville Estate, Barnstaple.

Hickmott-Powell – The marriage has been arranged between Mary, elder daughter of Mr and Mrs W D Powell, Torridge Hill, Bideford, and Robert, elder son of Mr and Mrs E A Hickmott, 3 Walton Gardens, Folkstone, and will take place at St Mary’s Parish Church, on May 24th.

Beckley-Kemp – On April 26th at St Peter’s Church, Barnstaple, Roy George, second son of Mr and Mrs E G Beckley, of Bideford, to Hazell Sandra, second daughter of Mr and Mrs C J Kemp, of Barnstaple.

May-Ellis – On May 3rd 1944 at St Anne’s Church, Bucks Mills, Vera to Eric.

Four sisters, average age 73, are staying together under one roof for the first time since girlhood.

They want to make the most of the last few weeks before one of them – Mrs Alice Billings (78) – returns to her home in Toronto, Canada.

Mrs Billings last month returned to North Devon, which she first left in 1913, to be reunited with her sisters and brother.

Now, Mrs Nellie Harris, of 17 Fore Street, Langtree, and Mrs Edith Gerry, of Sutcombe, have temporarily moved in with the baby of the family, Mrs Dora Hutchings who lives at St Elvis, Northdown Road, Bideford.

Their brother, Mr George Beal, lives at 2 Hillside Terrace, Pitt Lane, Bideford.

Born in Frithelstock, Mrs Billings emigrated to Canada 12 months after her fiancé, Mr Tom Hill, and they were married. She has a son, Mr Tom Hill, in Newhaven, Sussex, two grandchildren, Michael and John, and two great-grandsons, Brett and Scott.