Lundy

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.

To mark the 40th anniversary of first issue of Lundy stamps, there will be a new issue by the island of five values of stamps on November 1st.

The stamps, depicting the transport of mails to and from the island, have been designed by Mr John Dyke, and printed by Messrs Bradbury, Wilkinson and Co., who printed the stamps of 1929, 1930, 1939, 1950 and 1957.

The price of the first day cover will be five shillings.

Four of the five new stamps are shown above. The 1 puffin depicts Postmaster F Allday. The 2 puffin shows the Lundy Gannet. The 6 Puffin depicts the cutter Gannet. The 9 puffin shows the Lerina. The stamp not illustrated is the 12 puffin which shows the Lundy mails arriving and being despatched by air.

The full Gazette article is dated 17 October 1969

Baby Kate Goes Home To Lundy

Lundy’s youngest and newest inhabitant arrived last week on the island from the mainland in the ‘Lundy Gannet’ quite unperturbed by the rough weather.

She is Katherine Jane, daughter of Mr and Mrs John Ogilvie, of Barton Cottages, on the island. She was born on the mainland on October 1st.

Baby Kate spent the three hours on the trip in a carry-cot on deck, carefully watched over by her parents who have made their home on the island since their marriage nearly six years ago. They are seen preparing to carry their daughter to her new home. The island church and some of the buildings are in the background.

Mr Ogilvie is farm bailiff on Lundy. His wife Penny is the only daughter of Dr and Mrs William Ruddock, of Bideford. Dr Ruddock is doctor to the island. The island has been without resident children for several years.

5.12.1969 Lundy baby1

Gazette article dated 5 December 1977

Confirmation on Lundy

Bishop makes history

At 7am on Monday morning the Bishop of Exeter, Dr R C Mortimer, boarded the Lundy Gannet at Bideford Quay to go to Lundy where, in the evening, he became the first diocesan Bishop to officiate at a confirmation service there.
It was the first time such a service had been held on the island since 1912.
In the church of St Helena, lit by oil lamps and candles, he confirmed four candidates, all members of one family. They were Mr Stanley Charles Smith, Wayland Pondsbury, Joan Lerina and Judith Cynthia Daniels.
Mrs Audrey Smith was the organist and her father, Mr Frank Cannon, was among the congregation of 40. Mr and Mrs Smith were married on the island.
The Bishop, who was accompanied by his 12 year old daughter, Kate, was assisted at the ceremony by the Rev R C Dixon, Vicar of Appledore and priest-in-charge of Lundy.
Others present included Miss Eileen Heaven, Mrs Albion Harman, and Mrs Diana Keast.

The full Gazette article is dated 19 September 1958