Cause for celebration

Births – to Driver L J and Mrs Bryant, a daughter; at 5 Montague Place, to Lillian (nee Raymond), wife of Trooper A V Clarke (Middle East), Eleanor Shirley; to Gwenyth (nee Jeffery), wife of R E Reed, a son; at 30 Cross Street, Northam, to Mr and Mrs E Rutherford (nee Moyse), a daughter Judith Anne; to Mr and Mrs K J Stanbury, a son; to Mr and Mrs J T Harris, of Warmington, a daughter, a sister for the boys, Margaret Ann; at 45 Irsha Street, Appledore, to Margaret (nee Cann), wife of Bdr S W Poole, RA, a son; at 13 Glendale Terrace, to Dorothy (nee Burton) wife of BQMS J E A Cornish, RA, a daughter, sister for Richard and Diana; to Jacqueline, wife of Corporal Donald H Evans, RAF, West African Forces, a daughter, Madeline; to Anne (nee Somerset), wife of Captain Andrew Payne Cook, RA, FNAF, a son, John Andrew; at 3 Silver Street, to Gwen, wife of LAC Shaxton, RAF, now serving in India, a son, Cyril Albert; to Margaret Drummond (nee Lee) wife of S T Vanson, a son; to Minna Mary, wife of Lieutenant Richard Eyre, RN, a son; to Joyce (nee Harris), wife of LAC Cliffford Joy, RAF, 31 Royston Road, a daughter, Sheila Margaret; at Cleave Farm, Weare Giffard, to Mabel, wife of Frank Wilton, a son, Roger Anthony John.

Engagement – The engagement is announced between George, only son of Mr and Mrs Alec Whitaker, Bude House, Appledore, and Sylvia, elder daughter of Mrs and the late Mr H Lucas, 14 North Road, Bideford.

Marriages – at Frithelstock Methodist Church, Richard John Cleverdon of Great Gorwood, Buckland Brewer and Gracie Daniel, of Higher Culleigh, Frithelstock; at St Gabriel’s Church, Plymouth, Gunr P Squire, RA (formerly of the Plymouth City Police), of Honestone Street, Bideford, and Ivy Hoskin of Peverell; at Instow Parish Church, Captain Robert Douglas Taylor, RE, to Phoebe Polwhele, of Blatchley, Instow; at Parkham Methodist Church, William John Walter, of East Goldworthy, to Louisa Mary Heywood, of Broad Parkham; William George Bond of Pencleave, Frithelstock, to Mona Brooks, of East Browns, Langtree; Robert Butler, of Sentry Corner, to Florence Joyce, younger daughter of Mr and Mrs F J Knight, of Nuttaberry Bungalow; at Northam Parish Church, John Leslie to Betty Hillman of Appledore; at the Baptist Church, Bideford, F Brady, Army Catering Corps, to Dorothy Beryl Blankau, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs Charles Blankau, of 13 Hyfield Place, Bideford; at Bridge Street Methodist Chapel, William Henry Harris of Bradworthy, to Gertrude Mary (Mollie) Newcombe, of 28a Bridgeland Street.

Lillicrap-Cann – on March 16th 1918 at St Michael’s, Chester Square, SW1, Albert Horace to Ida Elizabeth. Present address: Heatherdene, Alcombe Steep, Minehead;

Stephens-Lesslie – on March 25th 1918, at the Registry Office, Bideford, William Stephens to Elizabeth (Lily) Lesslie, present address, 11, the Bungalow, Hythe.

The wedding took place at St Mary’s Church, Appledore, of Sapper Raymond Hocking, Royal Engineers, youngest son of Captain and Mrs R S Hocking of Market Street, Appledore, and Miss Mabel Smith, RSCN, Childrens’ Hospital, Widnes, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs W Smith of Leigh Avenue, Widnes. The bridegroom was for several years a popular member of the Appledore Football Club while working as an apprentice in the shipbuilding yards. The ceremony was conducted by the Vicar of Appledore, Rev H C A S Muller, and Miss Barrington was at the organ.

There was a large attendance of friends at the wedding at the Baptist Church, Bideford, on March 13th, of Corporal F Brady of the Army Catering Corps, of Leyton, London, and Miss Dorothy Beryl Blankau, of 13 Hyfield Place, Bideford. The Rev F Hobbs officiated and Mr Darch was at the organ. The bride was given away by her uncle, Mr C Piper and was attended by Miss Sheila Fishleigh, Miss Barbara Piper, and Masters Trevor and Graham Fishleigh. The reception was held at the Torridge Inn and the happy couple left for their honeymoon in Sussex.

A bridegroom in naval uniform, Mr John Edward Kemp, only son of Mr and Mrs E T Kemp of Cardinal Avenue, Morden, Surrey, was married at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, on March 18th to Miss Phyllis Bishop, only daughter of Mr and Mrs R C Bishop, of Meddon Street, Bideford. The Rev R Y Stone officiated. The bride was attired in a two-piece of dusty pink with hat and shoes of brown, and had a spray of red carnations. The bride’s mother wore a dress of wine colour, with hat and shoes to tone, and an oyster shade coat, and the bridegroom’s mother a dress of silver blue, with hat, shoes and coat to tone. Duties of best man were carried out by Mr L Lomas. On leaving the church the bride was presented with a silver horseshoe good luck token by her little niece, Janet Mary Bishop. A reception was held at the Torridge Inn, about fifty guests toasting the bride and bridegroom who were the recipients of many presents, including a case of silver fish knives and forks from the officers of the bridegroom’s ship, and an inlaid mahogany clock from his shipmates. Numerous greetings telegrams were received from many parts of the country. The honeymoon was spent in Surrey.

At the High Street Methodist Church on March 6th the wedding took place of Mr Thomas Henry Hare, MN, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Hare, 2 Churchfield, Appledore, and Miss Elsie Squire, second daughter of Mrs and the late Mr C Squire, of 56 Honestone Street, Bideford. The bride, who was given away by her uncle, Mr B Nichols, wore a pale blue dress with burgundy hat, shoes and gloves to tone, and a spray of pink carnations. Duties of best man were carried out by Corporal B Spry. The happy couple were the recipients of numerous congratulations and presents including a cheque from the firm of Bideford Dairies with whom the bride is employed. The reception was held at the Conservative Club, and the catering was by Mrs Butt, Quay House. The honeymoon was spent at Plymouth.

There was considerable local interest in the wedding at All Saints’ Church, Clovelly, of Miss Edna M Cook, daughter of Mr and Mrs T Cook, Winsworthy, Higher Clovelly, and LAC William Hume, RAF, who has been serving at Gibraltar, eldest son of the late Mr Hume and Mrs Appleby, Manchester. The bride, who has been working at the Saw Mills of Messrs J Dennis and Son, Ltd, Clovelly, is a member of an old and well known family and is very popular. The bride was given away by her father and the bridesmaid was Miss Alice Moore. Drvr Leslie Cook, Royal Corps of Signals, bride’s brother, carried out the duties of best man.

Frithelstock and Buckland Brewer families were united by the wedding at Frithelstock Methodist Church of Mr Richard John Cleverdon, only son of Mr and Mrs J P Cleverdon, Great Gorwood, Buckland Brewer, and Miss Gracie Daniel, elder daughter of Mr and Mrs R Daniel, of Higher Culleigh, Frithelstock. The Rev S Sandercock officiated. The bride’s aunt, Mrs J O Daniel, was at the organ. Weston-Super-Mare was chosen for the honeymoon.

The wedding took place at the Methodist Church, Hartland, of Mr Fred Thorne, younger son of Mr and Mrs L Thorne, of Loveland, Hartland, and Miss Helena Joyce Hill, younger daughter of Mr and Mrs W Hill of Lower Lutsford, Hartland.

At the Zion Methodist Church, Langtree, on March 18th, the wedding took place of Mr Denzil Wilfred Thorne, eldest son of Mr and Mrs William Thomas Thorne, of Norton Barton, Hartland, and Miss Violet Mary Harris, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Marwood Harris, of Withacott, Langtree. Pastor C Maltas officiated at the ceremony and Mrs E Underhill as at the organ. There were three bridesmaids - Miss Olive Pennington, Miss Edith Gerry and little Hazel Gerry. The duties of best man were carried out by Mr Arthur Thorne.

At the Methodist Church, Parkham, the wedding took place of Mr William John Walter and Miss Louisa Mary Heywood, only daughter of the late Mr James Heywood and of Mrs Heywood of Broad Parkham. Many friends attended the ceremony at which the Rev F E Poad officiated. Mrs G E Honey was at the organ.

There was much local interest in the wedding at All Saints Church, Belvedere, Kent on February 27th of Mr David Alan Lake, only son of Mr and Mrs Sydney Lake, Albert House, Well Street, Torrington, and Miss Margaret Mercia Hilder, of 337 Bedonwell Road, Belvedere. An Old Boy of Bideford Grammar School, the bridegroom is well known in Torrington and district. Passing an open examination for the Civil Service, he was posted to the Admiralty at Whitehall and was recently transferred to Devonport. There were two bridesmaids - Miss Kathlene Hilder and Miss Hilary Yvonne Lake, and Miss Anna Hilder, acted as flower girl. Mr P Thompson, friend of the bridegroom, carried out the duties of best man.

There was much local interest and a large attendance of friends at the wedding at Westward Ho! Church on March 4, of Pte John James Montague, Military Pioneer Corps, eldest son of Mr and Mrs J Montague, of 101 Coventry Drive, Denistoun, Glasgow, and Miss Doris Myrtle Hutchings, only child of Cllr and Mrs G W G Hutchings, of 5 Westbourne Terrace, Westward Ho! The bridegroom was in the Dunkirk evacuation having served in France in a Highland Regiment. The bride was attended by Misses Violet and Edith Ellis, her cousins, and by Miss Pearl Montague. On leaving the church the bride was presented with lucky silver horseshoe tokens by her cousins, Misses Evon and Edith Ellis, and a friend, Miss Patsy Hocking. Following the reception at the bride’s home, the happy couple left for their honeymoon in Glasgow, the bride travelling in an Irish tweed coat of wine and blue, with a blue hat and wine dress. Flowers for bouquets were supplied by Messrs Braund Bros. High Street, Bideford, and the dresses by Messrs Heywood and Cock, Grenville Street, Bideford.

March 1943