Next week’s anniversary at Torrington

Sixty years ago next Thursday, July 24th, two well known Torrington people entered a local registry office and left man and wife. They were Mr and Mrs Herbert Baker, Fair View, Gas Lane.
Mr and Mrs Baker have one son, 57 years old Mr Reg Baker, Mill Street, Torrington, who is a driver for Torridge Vale Dairies (Devon) Ltd. They had one granddaughter, Mrs Stacey, of Calf Street, Torrington, and four great-grandchildren.
Mr Baker, who is 80 years old, has a long record of service to the town. For thirty years he was a member of Torrington Town Council, serving as an Alderman for six years. Just over twelve months ago he resigned from the Council, At that time he was ‘father’ of the Council.
For thirty years Mr Baker has also been a member of Torrington Commons Conservators.
Both Mr and Mrs Baker have lived in Torrington most of their lives. Mr Baker, one of a family of four, was born at Beaford, and Mrs Baker, formerly Miss Ruth Stapleton, was born at Merton and was one of a family of eight. She is now 78.
Until the age of 12, Mr Baker attended Buckland Brewer School, in his earlier school years having to pay a 2d a week fee for his education. On leaving school Mr Baker moved with his family to Torrington. He drove horses for a Torrington tanyard until at 14 he became employed at Specott Farm, Merton, where he was head horseman, in charge of three teams of horses. He was later employed on the Cross House Estate.
Mr Baker served in the Royal North Devon Hussars during the first world war and was wounded while in the Dardenelles. On returning he became a foreman in timber felling work the Board of Trade and later managed a smallholding. He then built what is now Goosegreen Garage, Torrington, and ran a school bus service with his son as a mechanic.
Mrs Baker left Merton School at the age of 11. Her family moved into Torrington when she was 13 and she worked in service until her marriage.
The full Gazette article is dated 18 July 1958