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ARCHIBALD FRANK PAPE M.B.E
A Thanksgiving Service was held for Frank Pape after he died peacefully in his sleep
at home in Kilmington aged 101 years, only 5 months after the death of his wife Muriel,
aged 100 years, and 7 days after attending the Remembrance Sunday Service at the
War Memorial. St Giles’ Church was full on Thursday 26th November for the Thanksgiving
Service conducted by the Re
v’d Alastair McCollum. A Tribute on his remarkable life
was given by his son Colin Pape MBE DL and Readings were given by his grandsons and
granddaughter. Frank served as an equipment officer in the RAF with Bomber Command
during World War II from 1941-
Brian Lavender
HARRY PRICE
Well known throughout the Five Alive Mission Community because of his years with the St Giles’ Church Choir, his thespian activities with the Shute Theatre and Arts Guild which he served as both Chairman and President and as Secretary of the Kilmington Branch of the Royal British Legion, Harry Price died on Sunday 8th February 2009 at the Silverleigh Care Home in Axminster, aged 88 years. While studying Law at university at the outbreak of the Second World War, as a member of the Territorial Army, he was drafted into the British Army. He trained as a gunner in the Royal Artillery and he took part in Operation Avalanche, the Allied Landings at Salerno, Italy, in September 1943. He was badly injured in the shoulder after nine days of fighting but went on to fight in the successful campaign with Montgomery’s 8th Army against Rommel’s forces in the North African Desert. When hostilities in Europe were over, he was sent to Klagenfurt in southern Austria and effectively became Mayor of the town in the rank of Captain while order was restored. It was here that he took up skiing and Harry was still going on skiing holidays up to the age of 80 years. He resumed his law studies after he left the Army and practised as a solicitor for most of his career. Susan Moore and he became great companions and she gave him tremendous support after his stroke some 7 years ago. He will be greatly missed in the local community.
Brian Lavender
BAZIL GOSLING
Well known Kilmington character “Baz” Gosling died peacefully in hospital on 3rd
March 2009, aged 83 years. A raconteur, whose memory of Kilmington history and that
of the surrounding area, he will be greatly missed. Born in Kilmington at Vealhayes,
the only child of Walter and Mary, they moved to Lussac Cottage from where he only
had to walk a few steps to Kilmington Primary School for his education and to the
Church. He worked as a postman for a number of years, then as a driver for Cox and
Harris in Axminster delivering paraffin which was the primary source of heat and
light in the Village years ago. 
He was a delivery man for Hurfords Stores and also
did a good job for the Cricket Club by cutting the playing field and gardening for
many people in Kilmington. He never married and was fiercely independent, pouring
his affection on his animals, his cats in particular. He loved the countryside and
this came through in a recording played at his Funeral Service in St Giles’ Church
on 12th March during which the Vicar paid tribute to Baz and summed up his life
so well. It was moving to hear Baz’s voice on the recording, and when he sang “I
met Connie in the cornfield” one thought that there must have been some romance in
his life! Relatives and friends met in the Old Inn afterwards to reminisce about
him.
Brian Lavender