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When, about 54 years ago, two teenagers met on a carol singing party, little did they think that they were destined to spend the rest of their lives together.

25.3.1960 Copp


But so it happened, and on Sunday, Mr and Mrs Charles Thomas Copp, Hendra, Ashley Terrace, Bideford, who are both 71, celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.
On March 27th 1910 they were married at Bideford Bridge Street Methodist Church by the Rev J A Aldington.
Before her marriage, Mrs Copp was Miss Dora Annie Rendle, one of the six children of the late Mr and Mrs T Rendle, 11 Geneva Place.
Mr Copp, who has one sister, was born in Hartland but his family moved to Bideford when he was three. Until 1913 he was employed in the offices of Messrs I Baker and Sons, builders’ merchants, and by R Cock and Sons Ltd, shipbuilders, Appledore.
In 1913 Mr Copp and his wife left the district, returning in 1923, when after 3 years with Bartlett, Bayliss and Co. Ltd, Mr Copp became chief clerk of the Northern and Western Divisional Office of the County Roads Department at Barnstaple, retiring in 1954.
During the seasons 1923-25 Mr Copp was secretary of the original Bideford Association Football Club. For several years Mr Copp was a member of the Bideford Male Voice Choir.
Both Mr and Mrs Copp attended school in Bideford – Mr Copp at the school in Gunstone, Mrs Copp at a school which stood on the site of the present fire station.
Mrs Copp is the Savings Club treasurer of the Bridge Street Women’s Bright Hour.
They have a daughter, Miss Vera Copp, who is a Sunday School teacher at Bridge Street Church.
The full Gazette article is dated 25 March 1960

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