The funeral took place yesterday at St. John’s Church Devoran yesterday of Miss Bertha Nicholls, who died at her residence, 5 Lemon Street, Devoran on Saturday, after a long illness.
Miss Nicholls who was 57 years of age was the youngest surviving daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry Nicholls of Carnon Downs.
Well known and highly respected, Miss Nicholls had been caretaker of the Village Hall for many years and a member of the Devoran Women’s Institute
as reported in the local press August 4th 1938.
Plenty of her fellow W.I. members turned out for the funeral.
A new caretaker was appointed in September 1938, as reported in the local press on 22 September 1938.
“Devoran Village Hall Committee on Thursday, appointed Mrs. Melville Hitchens, as caretaker of the hall. The vacancy was caused by the death of Miss B. Nicholls. A vote of sympathy was passed with relatives of the late Mrs. B. Nicholls, the members standing in silence.” as reported in the local press on 22 September 1938.
Mrs. Melville Hitchens is probably the caretaker who kept the Village Hall clean and tidy during its many roles in the busy wartime WW2 period. Dances, lectures, gas mask distribution, jam making …
Blog post by Mark Norris as part of DVH100 Devoran Village Hall centenary, 19 April 2024
Devoran War Memorial Cornwall 