Old girl of Edgehill College
3 January 1964
Peals of bells1 March 1963
A competition winner2 February 1968
No colour TV reception5 January 1968
Message from a newspaper14 February 1969
Mr Fred Piper24 January 1969
And a bonny mother18 August 1972
Six Devon people recognisedOctober 1973
Still gets nervousMarch 1975
Sailed to AustraliaApril 1975
Honeymoon in LondonOctober 1933
South Coast honeymoonOctober 1933
To live in MargateOctober 1933
Celebration16 May 1969
Announced in the GazetteMarch 1943
Announced in the GazetteFebruary 1943
Announced in the Gazette19 May 1942
Bert uses a van9 January 1959
Announced in the Gazette10 November 1942
Announced in the Gazette8 September 1942
Mr and Mrs Chubb12 October 1951
Young romance11 February 1972
Mr and Mrs Hambly9 April 1954
Announced in the GazetteMarch 1972
Announced in the GazetteFebruary 1972
Old girl of Edgehill College3 January 1964
Miss Anne Hopper,
only daughter of Mr and Mrs W A Hopper, of Hammetts, Woolsery, left for Toronto, Canada, just after Christmas, to join her brother (who has an appointment with Toronto Dominion Bank) and to seek a job as a dental nurse and receptionist.
Her brother, Richard, who was formerly with Bideford branch of Lloyds Bank Ltd emigrated three years ago. About two years ago he experienced a bank hold-up in course of which three customers were shot, one fatally. He promptly flung himself on the alarm bell.
Miss Hopper, who has been employed by Bideford dentist, Mr J G Cross, was formerly with Bideford branch of the Midland Bank, and with the Gazette office.
An Old Girl of Edgehill College, 27 year old Miss Hopper told the Gazette she had been thinking of emigrating for some time, especially since her brother had gone to Toronto.
Gazette article dated 3 January 1964
Peals of bells1 March 1963
Mr B P Hopkins and Miss J A Braund
Peals on the bells of St Mary’s Church, Bideford, where they had just been married, on Saturday greeted an Old Boy of Bideford Grammar School, Mr Brian Philip Hopkins, B.Sc, and his bride, Miss Juliet Anne Braund, SRN, an Old Girl of the Stella Maris Convent School.
The bridegroom, elder son of Mrs M Hopkins and the late Mr P H Hopkins, 52 Royston Road, Bideford, obtained his B.Sc in agriculture at Reading University and is now a consulting officer with the Milk Marketing Board in Hampshire where the couple are to make their home.
Only daughter of Mr and Mrs W Braund, ‘St Davids’, New Road, Bideford, the bride trained and obtained her State registration as a nurse at the Torbay Hospital, Torquay. She has recently been a staff nurse on the children’s ward at Bideford Hospital.
The Rector, Rev T Derwent Davies, officiated at the service. The chief bridesmaid was Miss Ann Dolton, the younger was Miss Patricia Law. The page was Ian Withecombe. Mr Norman
...
A competition winner2 February 1968
A Bideford plumber and electrician,
Mr W Grant, and his wife, photographed at a presentation dinner in London at which it was announced that Mr Grant was one of the 10 winners of an eight-day holiday by jet to Majorca in a competition sponsored by Nibco Ltd to promote their new all-copper range of capillary fittings.
Mr and Mrs Grant live at St Heliers, Meddon Street, Bideford.
None of the prizewinnes knew exactly which prize they had won until they were called on to the stage by the compere.
Gazette dated February 2, 1968
No colour TV reception5 January 1968
An entry 'on the spur of the moment'
in a competition with colour TV sets as prizes, sponsored by Marley Tile Co. Ltd. won for Mr and Mrs Eric Giddy a £279 cheque as one of the 10 principal winners in the country.
The Giddys took the cash option instead of the set as this area is not yet in the normal reception area for colour TV.
Presenting Mr Giddy with the cheque is Mr J B Hodgson, assistant sales manager, of the Marley retail division. On the right is Miss P Gammon, director of Rawle, Gammon and Baker Ltd. retail agents, in whose premises in Kingsley Road, Bideford, the presentation took place.
Gazette dated 5 January 1968
Message from a newspaper14 February 1969
Mrs Annie McCubbine
“From one centenarian to another” read a telegram sent to Mrs Annie McCubbine, of Northam, last week when she celebrated her 100th birthday.
The telegram was from Mrs McCubbine’s home town newspaper The Croydon Advertiser which is also celebrating its centenary. Sitting in an armchair, as alert and witty as a woman years her junior, Mrs McCubbine chatted to a Bideford Gazette reporter and proudly displayed other telegrams from the Queen, Gracie Fields and Mr Richard Crossman, Secretary of State for Social Security. Congratulations also came from singer Cilla Black during her TV show last week. Earlier the same day the chairman of Northam Council, Mr George Northcott, and his wife paid a visit, bringing the congratulations and good wishes of the Urban District.
To celebrate her birthday Mrs McCubbine as entertained to dinner by 15 of her family at Yeoldon Hotel, Northam, where another present awaited her from Mr and Mrs Mansell of Yeolden. It was the first 100th
...
And a bonny mother18 August 1972
The hair of the dog
Pub patrons the world over know the old saying about how helpful the hair of the dog can be – and at the Royal Mail Inn, Bridge Street, Bideford, they do not have to go far to find one.
Mr and Mrs Terry Sleigh, the licensees, boast not one dog, but three – and all St. Bernards. Not long ago there were even more for Shasta, a three-year-old weighing in at over 11 stone, produced 11 puppies. Unfortunately only five survived, and homes have now been found for three of them. One of the remainder, named Bass, is to stay, but a home is being sought for the other.
Shasta costs between £1 to £1.50 a week to keep. She is named after a mountain in northern California – what more appropriate name for a mountain of a dog!
Gazette article 18 August 1972
Still gets nervousMarch 1975
…. and still going strong
Sixty years ago the name of Albert Kingdom first appeared on a list of local preachers. Today, at 88, he is still active in the Bideford circuit to which he moved from the Tiverton circuit in 1919. Even so, after all these years, “I’m always nervous when I’m preaching” he confesses. With a twinkle that is never far from his eyes he adds “Sometimes I think that is for the better.”
He averages three or four preaching appointments a quarter.
Mr Kingdom began local preaching during the First World War when country districts in particular were experiencing a shortage. He and two other men went around together taking services before, at a Bible Christian circuit meeting held at Petton Farm, near Bampton, they were formally received ‘on the plan’.
Singing has always given him great pleasure and for 55 years now he has sung in the choir of Bideford (High Street) Methodist Church. He also helped the Sunday School and choir of Bethel Free Church, East-the-Water, over...
Sailed to AustraliaApril 1975
Mrs Annie Thomas, 95, of East-the-Water has just had the thrill of her long life
She has met the son to whom she last waved goodbye when, as a boy of 15, he sailed for Australia. That was 47 years ago.
The son, Harry, has also met sisters and a brother who only vaguely remember him. They include Mrs Dorothy Streater, of Karen Close, with whom Mrs Thomas makes her home, and Mrs Kathleen Harris, of Dolton.
Mr Thomas left England under an emigration scheme run by the Boy Scout movement in order to go farming in Australia. He was to serve in the Army for six years during World War II, but was never able to reach his family. The war over, he returned to Australia to work on the railways.
He was never really alone ‘down under’ for another sister had emigrated about the same time. She returned to this country on a visit 27 years ago and is now here again. Mrs Thomas, who is looking forward to seeing her again, has lived in Bideford for two years after moving here from St Blazey.
Mr Thomas will...
Honeymoon in LondonOctober 1933
Leslie Kent-Smith and Dorothy Turner
A wedding of considerable North Devon interest took place at Abbotsham Church on Wednesday, between Mr Leslie William Kent-Smith, elder son of Mr and Mrs T W Smith, East Down, Barnstaple, and Miss Dorothy Madge Turner, second daughter of Mr and Mrs C T Turner, Pillmouth, Bideford. The Vicar of Abbotsham, the Rev E A Du Cane, officiated.
The bride, who was given away by her father, was daintily dressed in parchment stain, trimmed with orange blossom, and she wore a Brussels net lace veil, lent by Mrs H Oliver, with train of same, and carried a bouquet of Harissi lilies, and lilies of the valley and fern.
She was escorted by two bridesmaids, Miss Sylvia Turner and Miss Nancy Ridler. The best man was Mr R G Parminter and the ushers were Mr Harry Cock and Mr Wallace Turner.
The Church was crowded and over 60 guests were afterwards received at Pillmouth, the home of the bride. The bride gave the bridegroom a wireless set and the bridegroom gave the...
Celebration16 May 1969
When an invitation to dinner
from the 'Five and Fifty Club' dropped through the ltter box of their Bideford home, Mr and Mrs Albert Bedler were puzzled.
And to were those friends to whom they showed it. No one had every heard of the Club. But Mr and Mrs Bedler of Sentry Corner accepted and on Friday arrived at a Westward Ho! restaurant. The riddle was solved. Awaiting them were 36 members of their family. They had organised the party to celebrate Mr and Mrs Bedler's 55th wedding anniversary.
Gazette article dated 16 May 1969
Announced in the GazetteFebruary 1943
February 1943
Births – to Gunner and Mrs R J Campbell, a son, Brian Guy; to Corpl and Mrs G Hadley, a son, Gerald Victor; to Clarice (nee Nicholls) wife of Pte Richard Hopper, a daughter, Sylvia Mary; to Betty (nee Newcombe), wife of Sergt E Lloyd, a son, Terence John; to Mr and Mrs S Bennett, a daughter, Marilyn Joyce; a daughter for Mr and Mrs Bond; a son to Private Richard and Sarah Goss; to Mary Joan (nee Blackall, wife of 2nd Lieut. J G Allen, a daughter, Susan Joan; to Phylis (nee Griffiths), wife of LAC Hotchkiss, a son; to Corpl H Matthews and Mrs Matthews (nee Bettess) a daughter; a son to Mr and Mrs J Moore; to L/Bombr and Mrs L H Niblett (nee Margaret Pat Marsh), a son; a son, Colin Lewis, for Mr and Mrs R C Rendle (nee Marjorie Lewis); to Phyllis (nee Batten), wife of T Ayre, a daughter, Wendy; to L/Cpl and Mrs Beames, a son; to Mrs Clarke (nee Lucy Ross) and late Sgt-Pilot N G Clarke, a daughter, Wendy Patricia; to Bdr G M Durant and Mrs Durant, a son, Peter William; to...
Announced in the Gazette19 May 1942
19 May 1942
Blackmore – May 15th at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Mr and Mrs Howard Blackmore, Macauley Road, Clapham Common, SW4, a son (Richard Howard.
Dark – May 14th to Isabel (nee Rowbottom), wife of Mr W J Dark, The Stores, Bucks Cross, a daughter.
Gates – May 14th at Haeremai, Westward Ho! to Hilda (nee Tucker), wife of L/Bmdr R G Gates, a son.
Harris – May 10th at 11 Newquay, Appledore, to Mr and Mrs Gordon Harris (nee Phyllis Shute), a son.
Hughes – May 18th to Gwen, wife of Capt Hughes, RAMC, a daughter.
Lawrence – May 17th to Mr and Mrs J Lawrence, of Clifton Street, Bideford, a son.
Mathews – May 13th to Mr and Mrs E Mathews, of 20 Mill Street, Bideford, a son.
Scriggons – May 17th to Mr and Mrs F Scriggons, of Uphill, Avon Lane, Westward Ho! a son.
Warner – May 14th to Violet, wife of Henry Warner, Hawkley, Hants, a son.
Wheeler – May 10th at Kingscott, St Giles, to Mr and Mrs G Wheeler (nee Phyllis Hearn), a son.
Carter-Wade – May 13th at St Mary’s Parish
...
Bert uses a van9 January 1959
Champion Bert takes the mike
National Champion Town Crier Bert Waldron “cheated” in Torrington on Saturday morning. He jumped into a loudspeaker van and toured the streets, ringing his bell and making his announcements using a microphone. But Bert was “found out” when a Gazette cameraman and reporter stopped the van in Well Street for this picture to be taken. He had, however, a good excuse for although he has the country’s champion voice after retaining the national Town Crier’s title at Hastings, the gale-force wind in Torrington on Saturday morning made his task of a clear announcement difficult.
So he rang and called over the microphone in Mr Tom Squire’s loudspeaker van.
Said Mr Squires, “The wind is extra strong to-day and as I had to make an announcement over the ‘speakers’ as well, we agreed that Bert could cry over them, too.” Said Bert, with a lough, “Yes, I’m doing a little bit of cheating, but I want the announcement of sound clearer in this strong wind.”
Gazette article dated
...
Announced in the Gazette10 November 1942
10 November 1942
Acford – October 29th at the Woodside Nursing Home, Plymouth, to Elsie, wife of W H Acford, a daughter.
Babb – November 9th at the Grenville Nursing Home, to Peggy, wife of Cyril Babb, Rose Terrace, Buckland Brewer, a son.
Butler – November 5th to Irene, wife of George Butler, a daughter.
Cann – November 5th to Joan, wife of George Cann, Cosy Café, Bideford, a son, Roger John.
Furtado – November 4th to Clare (nee Young), wife of Capt G S Furtado, RASC, a son, Adrian.
Hider – November 6th to Rose, wife of John Hider, a son.
Quance – November 3rd at the Kenwyn Nursing Home, Crediton, to Dorothy (nee Bowden) wife of Mark Quance, of Medland Lodge, Cheriton Bishop, a daughter.
Vardigans – November 3rd to Mr and Mrs Glendenning Vardigans, a son.
Wakeley-Matthews – November 12th 1892 at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, by the Rev Jenkins, Samuel James Wakeley to Mary Matthews both of Bideford. Present address, 28 Geneva Place, Bideford.
Ford-Inson – November 4th at St Barnock’s
...
Announced in the Gazette8 September 1942
8 September 1942
Bedford – August 31st 1942 at Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, to Joan (nee Bassett), wife of John Ryland Bedford, a son.
Cox – August 31st at 95 Bellevue Road, Edinburgh, to Glenyth (nee Grey) wife of Stanley R Cox, a son, Brian.
Macaree – September 3rd at 4 Kenwith Terrace, to Phyllis (nee Waldron), wife of Howard Macaree, a daughter.
Mills – September 3rd to Mr and Mrs R Mills, Northam, a daughter.
Slade - September 2nd at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Mr and Mrs E A Slade (nee Alice Squires) of Colyton, Devon, a daughter, Ann Margaret.
Kelland-Gilder – September 7th at Holy Trinity Church, Landcross, by Rev G K Walton, Thomas George Kelland, sonof Mr and the late Mrs G T Kelland, of Summerhill, Littleham, to Mrs Margaret Gilder, daughter of Mr and the late Mrs W F Courtnell, of 71 Knighton Road, St Judes, Plymouth.
Larkworthy-Sutton – August 26th at St Mary’s Church, Thomas Burnard Larkworthy, son of Mr and Mrs B Larkworthy, of Mount Pleasant, Milton
...
Mr and Mrs Chubb12 October 1951
Mr and Mrs William Chubb, of 24 South Street, Torrington,
are photographed with members of their family during a party held recently to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.
Mr and Mrs Chubb are seated in the front row with Mr W Chubb and a daughter, Mrs W Luscombe, eldest daughter Mrs F Miles, a son, Mr J Chubb and a third daughter, Miss C Chubb.
Mr Chubb is a son of the late Mr John Chubb, who was huntsman for many years to the Hon Mark Rolle at Stevenstone House, St Giles, and his wife, formerly Miss Elizabeth Budd, was born in Torrington.
For many years Mr Chubb was employed at the Royal Naval Dockyard, Devonport. At the outbreak of the recent war he came back out of retirement to work at the Dockyard before coming to live at Ashley Terrace, Bideford, while he was with the British Rola factory.
Both Mr and Mrs Chubb enjoy and on their golden wedding day they welcomed thirty-six members of the family to lunch and tea at Castle House, Torrington. Among the guests were the two...
Young romance11 February 1972
Former Mayor and Mayoress of Bideford, Mr and Mrs Harold Blackmore, celebrate their golden wedding
Both natives of Appledore, they were married in the Congregational Church there on February 18, 1922, by the Rev. R. Dobbie.
It was a boy and girl romance. There was an affinity because Mrs Blackmore’s father, Mr Freddie Shutt, had a ship-repairing business on Appledore Quay and Mr Blackmore’s family a shipyard opposite St Mary’s Church. When they began courting Harold was apprenticed in the family business and Florrie, the youngest of six daughters, was a pupil at Barnstaple Grammar School. She left home at 7 a.m. to catch the ferry to Instow, from where she continued by train. It was 6 p.m. before she returned and Harold was always there to meet her. When the tide was out, of course, it meant walking halfway across.
Mr Blackmore had the distinction of being born in a ship’s cabin on the bank of the River Torridge at Hubbastone. His grandfather had broken up a brigantine, the Delaware, and...
Mr and Mrs Hambly9 April 1954
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...
Announced in the GazetteMarch 1972
March 1972
3 March 1972
Braddick – On February 24th, 1972 at N.D.D.H.M.U. to Dorothy and Graham, a son, brother for Sharon, Julie and Louise.
Ford – on February 27th, 1972, at Simpson Memorial Hospital, Edinburgh, to Dr and Mrs Peter Ford (née Gillyan Bennett), a son Andrew.
Hearn – On February 24th, 1972, to Peter and Margaret, at N.D.D.H.M.U. a daughter, Sharon Marie, sister for Philip.
Parslow – On February 22nd, 1972, at Chipping Sodbury Maternity Hospital, to Roger and Mary (née Phillips), a daughter, Sarah.
Petherbridge – On February 20th, 1972 at N.D.D.H.M.U. to Michael and Hazel (née Squires, a son Stephen Michael.
Scollard Kerr – On February 13th 1972 at B.M.H. Hanover, to Danny and Pat (née Owen), a daughter Jennifer Lee.
Smith – On February 22nd, 1972, at Alexandria, Louisiana, U.S.A. to Pat (née Burrow) and Terry, a son, Michael Shaun, brother for Nicky.
Campbell-Makinson – Engagement is announced between Donald Campbell, only son of Mr and Mrs J. Campbell of...
Announced in the GazetteFebruary 1972
February 1972
4 February 1972
Baker – To David and Maureen (nee Hancock), a son, Robert John, by adoption.
Bedler – On January 31st 1972, at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Alan and Maureen (nee Cock) a second son, Gary.
Curtis – On January 28th 1972, at the Grenville Nursing Home, to Maureen and Peter, a daughter Melanie Jane, a sister for Darren.
Heath – To Edward and Kay (nee Mitchell) a son, Simon George Cavendish at N.D.D.H.M.U.
Meadows – On January 28th, 1972, at N.D.D.H.M.U. to Neil and Jean (nee Mackenzie), a daughter Louise Mary.
Sharrock – On January 28th, 1972 at the Grenville Nursing Home, to Nathie and Veronica (nee Squire) a daughter Nichola Katherine, sister for Brian and Lesley.
Earle-Berry – Mr and Mrs W. Berry, 31 Barnstaple Street, Bideford have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their eldest daughter Margaret to Jimmy, eldest son of Mr and Mrs B. Earle, Phillack, Hayle, Cornwall.
Starkey–Guegan – Mr and Mrs R.J. Guegan of Vernons Lane,...