DISTRICT NEWS, BADSEY – RANGERS’ SKIPPER WEDS
The wedding took place at St James’ Church on Thursday afternoon of Miss Freda Knight, youngest daughter of the late Mr & Mrs Edwin Knight of Victoria Terrace, Bretforton, and Mr Douglas Austin Jelfs, eldest son of Mr & Mrs William H Jelfs of Lindwood Villas, Badsey. The Vicar of Offenham (Rev E H Combs) officiated. The ceremony was choral. Psalm 67 and the hymn “The voice that breathed o’er Eden” and “How welcome was the Call” being sung. Mr Leslie Sharp was at the organ.
The bride, who was given away by Mr J Halford, her brother-in-law, was charmingly attired in an ankle-length dress of white georgette with a wreath of orange blossoms and veil. She wore white stockings and white satin shoes, and also a necklace of pearls (the gift of the groom). She carried a bouquet of red and white tulips with maidenhair fern. She was attended as bridesmaids by Miss Elsie Knight (her sister) and Miss Hilda Jelfs (a friend) who looked charming in ankle-length dresses of rust crepe suede with mustard hats with veils. They wore skin shoes and gold necklets (the gift of the groom) and carried bouquets of mustard colour tulips with maidenhair fern. Mr George Jelfs (brother of the groom) carried out the duties of best man.
As the happy couple were leaving the church, the ringers rang a merry peal on the bells. The bells were rung again during the evening.
The bride is well-known and very popular in the district, having a wide circle of friends. For a number of years she was an ardent member of the Bretforton Girls’ Friendly Society.
The bridegroom is also well-known and popular in Badsey and the district, and takes an active part in the social life of the village. He has been captain of the Badsey Rangers’ Football Club for the past three seasons, while a few years ago he was Secretary and vice-captain of the Badsey Cricket Club. He was educated at Badsey Council School and Prince Henry’s Grammar School, Evesham. When he left the latter school he was a prefect, vice-captain of Workman House, captain of football and vice-captain of cricket teams. Upon leaving school he was articled to Mr R J Atkinson, Surveyor and Sanitary Inspector to the Evesham Rural District Council, and is now employed as second assistant under Mr Atksinson. For several years he was a teacher at St James’ Church Sunday School and a member of the church choir, while he is still the superintendent of St James Church Choir to the School of English Church Music, to which the choir is affiliated. He is also Clerk to the Badsey Parish Council.
A reception was afterwards held at the home of the bridegroom’s parents. Mr & Mrs Jelfs were the recipients of numerous handsome and useful presents, including one from Mr & Mrs R J Atkinson, one from the officers and staff of the Evesham Rural District Council, and one from the staff and employees of the Vale of Evesham Fruit Canners (where the bride was employed until six months ago). Mr & Mrs Jelfs will make their temporary future home at Lindwood Villas, Badsey. A coincidence is that the wedding falls on the anniversary of the bridegroom’s parents’ wedding. They were married by Canon Allsebrook at St James’ Church, Badsey.