THREE 90th birthdays within eight days of each other and a fourth a month before was as good a reason as any for a good get-together, especially as three have known each other all their lives.

They were Gwen Buckingham, birthday on November 4, Cyril Cann on November 2, Richard Rice on September 27 and Gwen’s long-time friend Clara Kerry on October 30.

All, apart from Clara, were born and grew up at Morchard Bishop, Clara moved there later, and all four were together at the London Inn, Morchard Bishop on Saturday afternoon (November 3) to celebrate Gwen’s birthday.

Gwen is the only one still living at Morchard. She got married at the Emmanuel Chapel at Morchard and then went to Sampford Courtenay where she and her husband lived for about seven years before returning to Morchard to live at North Leigh.

When her children had grown up a bit, Gwen became assistant cook at Morchard Primary School, later going to the kennels at Orchard End to help out.

Gwen never learned to drive, she would cycle everywhere. Their farm was about three miles out of the village.

She is a member of Morchard Women’s Institute and the parish church and is a regular attender at the monthly coffee mornings held at the London Inn.

She was totally surprised when the church threw a small party for her birthday with tea and cake at the church.

Her eldest daughter, Hazel Evely, had organised the party for the four to which family members from all over the world returned.

Gwen’s other daughter, Sheila Buckingham lives in Morchard and son, Byron lives in Crediton. Gwen has four grandchildren and six great grandchildren two of whom came over from Singapore.

Richard Rice had married Jean, they celebrated their golden wedding in 2013 but she has since died.

Richard grew up in the bakehouse opposite the London Inn. His father had been a baker with Bert Williams.

He later worked at Ambrosia, becoming foreman of the cannery. When that closed, Mr Rice worked in Okehampton, becoming production manager at Countrymade Foods.

He had served in the RAF for his National Service, played football and cricket for Morchard, won trophies with his bowling, has been North Tawton Bowling Club champion and played bowls for Devon.

They had five children. Richard has 13 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren. He now lives in North Tawton.

Cyril Cann, who now lives in Crediton, has two daughters, one of whom came down from Scotland for his birthday, one grandaughter and three grandsons and two great grandaughters.

After National Service in the RAF Cyril returned to Morchard, became first a butcher working in the village at Otton’s and later working for Ambrosia at Lapford, cycling there each day.

When that closed, Cyril went to work at Crediton Dairy, later moving to the town. He enjoyed playing skittles.

Clara was born at Lustleigh where she got married. They first bought a farm in North Devon and then bought Broadridge, at Morchard. Gwen was their neighbour at North Leigh.

They became good friends, Gwen being with Clara when her son was born. Her children went to school at Morchard, then on to Chulmleigh.

Her husband died after they retired to Crediton where Clara still lives. That was when she joined U3A at Barnstaple with a friend and they did the Duke of Edinburgh Award for Senior Citizens. There was then no U3A in Crediton.

Clara also joined the WRVS, becoming a volunteer escort to patients at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital which she had much enjoyed until she injured her arm in an accident in Crediton two years ago. She still misses the WRVS work.

She has four children - two sons and two daughters and three grandchildren. One son and daughter returned from Virginia, USA, where they now live.

Sue Read