People

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.

St Mary’s Church, Bideford, was decorated for the wedding on September 15th of Mr William Henry Vodden, son of Mr and Mrs W H Vodden, 20 Milton Place, Bideford, to Miss June Margaret Dann, daughter of Mr and Mrs A E Dann, Smythan House, Clovelly Road, Bideford.

28.9.1951 Vodden Dann wedding Bideford2

The wedding ceremony was conducted by Rev A J C Beddow. Mr Godfrey Sellers was at the organ.
The bride was attended by four bridesmaids - Misses Shirley Dann, Brenda Dann, and Patricia and Barbara Davis. Two small attendants were Miss Diane Sparkes and Master Tony Davis. The duties of best man were carried out by Mr Ken Johns, and Messrs J Mitchell and C Shute were ushers.
Sixty guests were entertained at a reception at Mitchell’s Café. Music was supplied by Miss M Morley and Mrs F Hicks. Following the reception, Mr and Mrs Vodden left for Paignton.
Among the wedding gifts was the three-tiered wedding cake, made and presented by C M Mitchells Ltd, and a fruit bowl and server on a silver stand from the Buckland Brewer Association Football Club, of which the bridegroom is a member.
The full Gazette article is dated 28 September 1951

Off To Australia

With their two daughters, three year old Sally Ann, and 16 month old Edwina, Mr and Mrs Eric Colwill, of 64 Barton Tors, Bideford, have decided to emigrate to Australia.

Mr and Mrs Colwill, who have been married for four years, are emigrating under the Australian Government’s sponsorship scheme. They believe more opportunities will present themselves to the family than here at home.
“I have seen quite a few friends going to the technical college and then perhaps ending up in the blouse factory” said Mrs Colwill. She believes that Bideford cannot offer her children the same opportunities as Australia.
After they have emigrated the Colwill family hope to send for Mrs Colwill’s mother, Mrs Harris who is at the moment reluctant to go.
Gazette article dated 19 September 1958

Births, Engagements and Marriages

6 September 1963

Trewin – September 4 at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Eunice (nee Hunkin) and Denys, a son, Neil Alastair
Stephens – August 21 at 1A Boringdon Villas, Plymouth, to Beryl (nee Case) and Roger, a daughter, Beverley Jane

De Bank-Beer – engagement announced between Peter, son of Mr and Mrs De Bank, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, and Wendy, daughter of Mr and Mrs Beer, 5 Glebe House, Abbotsham
Heywood-Clark – engagement announced between John Nigel, son of Mr and Mrs H M Heywood, Yellowsands, Westward Ho! and Diane, daughter of Mr J Dudley Clark and the late Mrs I Clark, Kirkby-in-Ashfield
Lee-Beecroft – engagement announced between Michael John, son of Mr and Mrs W J Lee, Syringa, Silford, Northam, and Anne, daughter of Mr and Mrs J Beecroft, 34 Old Farm Road, Poole, Dorset

Fairbrass-Pow – August 31 at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, Pearl Maureen, daughter of Mr and Mrs T Pow, Coach and Horses, Horns Cross, to Alan Ronald Kenneth, son of Mr and Mrs R Fairbrass, Long Drive, South Ruislip, Middlesex
Johns-Brown – August 24 at Bideford Parish Church, Michael Thomas, son of Mr and Mrs T Johns, Union Inn, Bideford, and Marian Kathryn, daughter of Mrs G C Brown, 18 North View Avenue, Bideford. Rev T Derwent Davies officiated
Powell-Souch – September 2 at Bideford, Jennifer, daughter of Mrs Souch, Woolsery, and Mr Souch, Bideford, to Gerald, son of Mrs Powell, Bucks Mills