Mr and Mrs W O Hambly, active Octogenarians

Celebrating their golden wedding anniversary were Mr and Mrs W O Hambly of Kipling House, Westward Ho!

Their wedding took place at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, on the fourth day of the fourth month of the fourth year (1904) and it was the fourth wedding that had taken place that day. Miss Blanch Newcombe, second daughter of Mr and Mrs William Newcombe, of Castle Street, Northam, became the wife of Mr William Oke Hambly, second son of Mr and Mrs Fanny Hambly, of Darracott Farm, Welcombe.

After their marriage, Mr and Mrs Hambly lived at Upcott Hill and later moved to Westcombe where Mr Hambly was employed in Prouse’s tannery. In 1920 they moved to Westward Ho! at the Pebbleridge Villas and 15 years later to their present address. After the tannery closed Mr Hambly was in the employ of the Prudential Assurance Co. Ltd. In semi-retirement in 1931 he became tennis courts and putting green attendant for the Northam Urban District Council.

During the first World War Mr Hambly was mainly concerned with clerical work in the Forces.

Mrs Hambly before her marriage was a cook for Admiral Sir William Dowell from whose residence, Ford House, she was married. An ardent member of the British Legion, Mr Hambly was a member of the Bideford Branch and is now a member of the Northam and Westward Ho! Branch.

Mr Hambly has a fine sporting record. A keen skittler, he was a member of the Conservative Club team which won the Bell trophy three years in succession. The other members were: Messrs Walter Pickard, A R Jenn, R B Passmore, W Lock, S Ley, H Pidgeon and Jimmy Huxtable. He has been a member of Bideford Amateur Rowing Club. When he used to live at Parkham, when his parents moved from Welcombe, he took an active part in cricket. He also belonged to Bideford Bowling Club.

Mr and Mrs Hambly have one son – Mr Nelson Hambly – and two daughters – Mrs Esme Vine of London and Mrs R Ball of Westward Ho!. There are four grandchildren.

The full Gazette article is dated 9 April 1954