25 years ago

January 21, 1999

Launceston farmer Barry Jones was among a group which met with Agricultural Ministers Nick Brown, Jeff Rooker and Elliot Morley recently to protest at the badger culling experiment. Mr Jones, who is the chairman of the National Beef Association’s TB committee, lives just miles from the experiment area on the Devon/Cornwall border, and said the minster listened to the concerns of the group.

The youngest members of the First Steps Dance School, Launceston, lined up at a recent concert, they were: Chloe Wonnacott, Aimee Moore, Natasha Hair, Abigail Davies and Abigail Carroll.

Martin’s Cash and Carry at Launceston paid almost half a million pounds for part of the town’s former Abru Factory, it has been revealed this week.

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40 years ago

January 21, 1984

Boscastle playgroup met at the Post Office on Monday where it was reluctantly agreed that fees for each session would temporarily have to be raised in order to cut the shortfall between current weekly income and expenditure.

Firemen involved in fighting the serious blaze at the Georgian mansion, Tregeare, shortly before the New Year, have received a letter of thanks from the owners Mr and Mrs Micahel Reeve.

A talented young team presented Lewannick Amateur Dramatic Society’s 35th annual pantomime Cinderella in the village hall last week. The hall was crowded for each of the four evening shows produced in lively style by Michael White. The panto was written by Peter Randall and the tiny stage was used in full advantage during the eight colourful scenes.

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50 years ago

January 19, 1974

At Lezant Parish Council January meeting in the Churchroom, the chairman Mr N Parsons, presented the retiring clerk, Mr O Steed, with a gold pen for his service to the council over the past 12 years.

Mr Reg Cathew, handyman at the Jamaica Inn, Bolventor, escaped uninjured in Wednesday’s gales when a 30 foot caravan in which he was working somersaulted three times in the high winds before coming to rest 25 feet away against a garage wall at the inn.

Mrs Eileen Gregory won the North Cornwall heat of the Lions International world championship knit-in held at the Summerleaze Beach Hotel, Bude. Mrs Valerie Hartrey was second and Mrs Mary Osbourne third.

Mr Allin Isaac Bewes, aged 42, of Suddon, Newton St of Devon County Branch of the Farmers’ Union at the annual meeting on Friday.

The Camelford YFC team of Sydney Westlake, Trevor Commins, Michael Sleep and Clifford Bradley won the preliminary round of the northern area youth quiz and will now go forward to the semi-finals.

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60 years ago

January 25, 1964

A well-attended meeting at Central Methodist Church Hall, Bude, gave unanimous support for a new public hall for the town, in a show of hands, only one of the 200 people present signified disapproval. The majority of those who spoke were in favour of a site on the Wharf for the proposed new building.

The report of the public health committee, presented to Holsworthy rural council on Wednesday, contained an allegation that there was a serious delay in the arrival of an ambulance to take a patient to the isolation hospital. It was stated that the patient, an eight-year-old Bridgerule boy, died from spotted fever — an uncommon disease. The committee stated that while appreciating the valuable service by the local ambulance personnel at Holsworthy, they were unable to be called when an infectious disease ambulance was needed. At present such an ambulance has to be obtained from Plymouth and in some cases the time could prove fatal.

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70 years ago

January 23, 1954

When Chapman scored Lifton’s opening goal in their football match with Wescon on Saturday, he brought his side’s tally of goals to 100 in league and cup football this season. Lifton won 6-2, Webb getting a hat-trick and the other scorers being Hodge and Dyer.

North Cornwall Motor Club, at their annual meeting at Launceston, elected the following officers: President, Mr L Mayor; chairman, Mr T S Hicks; vice-chairman, Mr G S Edwards; treasurer, Dr J R Hart; secretary, Mrs C R Parsons.

The new vicar of St Thomas, Launceston, is to be Rev James Duncan Worsley, 39, from Biddulph in the Midlands.

For this year’s presentation in the barn theatre at Kelly, the Kelly Players have chosen Iris Capell’s translation of the Flemish comedy, ‘The Hopeful Travellers’.

Bude-Stratton Urban Council is supporting Camelford RDC’s campaign for Exchequer assistance in acquiring derelict land for housing. At Friday’s meeting, Councillor A E Heard pointed out that in Bude at the moment they were fighting a proposal that a new school should  be built on good agricultural land.

Mr W S Rogers has been elected president of Callington Club and Institute for the 33rd time. Mr H Trewartha was re-elected secretary and Mr H Lucas treasurer.

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80 years ago

January 22, 1944

Flt Sgt Alfred Walter Hicks, RAFVR of Launceston, has been awarded the DFM for coolness and courage on operations over enemy territory.

General Sir Bernard Montgomery, commander in chief of the British Invasion Force was spotted in Launceston on Saturday. The secret had been well kept, but Monty was soon recognised and the news spread rapidly.

Wadebridge Food Committee’s scheme for the rural area supplied 13,868 pasties in the last eight-week period, it was stated at Tuesday’s meeting. The food executive officer, Mr W E Blackwell, reported that the number of cottagers’ pigs slaughtered in the district in that period was 420 — officially (laughter).

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90 years ago

January 27, 1934

Published this week is the plan of the Chapple Park Estate, which is to be built at Launceston by the North Cornwall Building Co for Mr C H Gillbard. About 80 dwellings are planned for the 10 acre site with public grounds, shelter and two children’s playgrounds. Two new roads are schedule to meet Chapple Hill, with the top of St Catherine’s Hill.

Mr C Herbert, of Verbena, Killerton Road, Bude, has commenced the manufacture of concrete blocks at the Higher Wharf, Bude.

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100 years ago

January 26, 1924

A petition signed by 130 ratepayers was received by Stratton and Bude Urban Council on Friday protesting against the council’s proposal to erect a new teahouse at Mentone, on the grounds that the district is already loaded with loans, that is will increase the rates and would be in competition with local cafés Coun Foster Mellior, who had proposed they proceed would be any charge on the rates and it was decided to lay the scheme before the ratepayers’ meeting.

Launceston Town Council returned on Monday to the deferred question of placing some form of protection around the war memorial. It was stated that more reverence was being shown an it was agreed to postpone the matter again until October.