The Inner Wheel Club of Launceston recently held their monthly meeting for October. In the absence of President Helen Bailey, Vice-President Julia Gaunt took the meeting. Plans were made for several events coming up in December including the Christmas Tree Festival at St. Mary's and the Club's annual Christmas social event. Members brought items for sending to Ukraine under the 'Sending Love to Ukraine' project.

After the business part of the meeting, members enjoyed getting together to make Halloween Lanterns.

Launceston Inner Wheel is always looking for new people to join them. They meet on the fourth Monday of each month at Trethorne Golf Club at 6pm for a meal followed by a short meeting. For more information please email: [email protected]

At the next meeting in November members will be making and decorating Christmas Cards.

At our first October meeting Launceston Probus members were given an illustrated talk by member Andrew Davis on railway infrastructure and signalling.

Andrew had been a train driver for many years, joining the railways at 16 years of age in his native Bristol. After working in other roles he studied for his qualifications in Stratford London then he returned to Bristol to complete his training as a driver. He mentioned that as a driver he had to know how to do all the other jobs associated with trains. This involved having knowledge of a rule book of over 100 pages.

He then displayed a number of photos showing the evolution of signal boxes and points systems over the years, from the hand operated rod systems to the highly automated control boxes of today. Modern signal boxes are effectively workstations incorporating displays which show the positions of all trains covered by a box, allowing the operator to electronically operate signals and points. To cover possible power cuts signal boxes have a generator back up - something Heathrow airport could learn from! This has resulted in fewer boxes covering larger areas. However, it was not all advanced technology, there were still places where the old system existed of drivers collecting tokens to show their presence on a line (single track).

During the course of his talk Andrew explained the protocols for deciding what lines trains used, and what various signals meant. This led to a number of questions from members - keen to be able to know what to look out for on rail journeys.

Chairman Christopher then thanked Andrew for his presentation and commented that members are looking forward to a follow up talk on locomotives in the new year.

For our second October meeting we were joined by partners and guests to hear local harpist Robin Uglow give a recital of short melodies.. Robin commented that she had been drawn to the harp from an early age and had appreciated the support given her by family and friends during her development. After she had completed her recital all present were very impressed by her polished performance. We were also fortunate to have Robin’s harp teacher Bethany Coggon present who also played for us.

After the session members commented how much they enjoyed listening to the harp, and asked a number of questions on the instrument. It was agreed that they were very impressed by Robin, still in her early teens, and would be following her career, and looked forward to her performing again

Mens’ Probus meet on the second and fourth Monday of each month and Ladies’ Probus on the third Monday of each month, with a speaker followed by an optional lunch.The clubs are primarily for retired or semi-retired people, providing a relaxed atmosphere with a focus on entertainment. For further information on past and future activities of Probus, including talks and visits, please visit our website at probusclub.net/launcestoncornwalluk/ or our Facebook page ’Probus Club of Launceston - Cornwall’.

The choir of St Mary Magdalene under the direction of Dr Sean Sweeney sang a service of choral evensong for the first Sunday in November. The service was led by the vicar, Rev. Dr. Michael Dobson, who also preached and acted as cantor in the Responses by William Smith.

The service opened with “For all the saints” as the service was on the day after All Saints day.

The choir also sang Psalm 150 to a setting by Stanford and Mike Warne read the lessons from Isaiah and St Paul’s letter to the Hebrews. The Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis were sung to a setting by Stanford in C accompanied by Dr Sweeney with Bernard Pink conducting as well as singing.

The anthem was the unaccompanied anthem “Hail, Glorious Spirits” by Christopher Tye which the choir last sang in Cornish and Dr Sweeney ended the service with a Toccata by Georgi Mushel. .

Next Saturday, November 8, at 1pm, Dr Sweeney will be giving an organ recital at St Mary’s. On Friday, November 28, the choir will be singing carols at 7pm after the opening of the Christmas tree festival. On Sunday, November 30, there will be an Advent carol service at the usual time of 5.30pm and on Tuesday, December 9, the choir will be singing carols at St Torney’s Church, North Hill.

The next choral evensong will be on Sunday, December 7, at the usual time of 5.30pm.

On Saturday 15 November at 7.30pm at Central Methodist Church Launceston Choral Society is performing Mozart’s wonderful “Requiem” but perhaps not as you know it.

Mozart fans will know that the composer died before he was able to finish the work though he left one completed movement and sketches of the others. The version usually performed is the completion by Mozart’s contemporary, Süssmayr, of whom Mozart did not have a particularly high opinion, having once described him as acting like a “duck in a thunderstorm”. The choir will be performing the completion by composer and Mozart scholar, Duncan Druce who has changed no note of Mozart’s but included the best of the various musicians who composed completions of their own.

The soloists will be Kate Walker, soprano, Louise Mott, alto, Matthew Skaria, tenor and Toby Hawkins, bass. David Green will be playing the organ to accompany and, musical director, Jonathan Mann will conduct.

A Requiem is bound to bring with it thoughts of death, and as usual, at this time of year, there will be a retiring collection in aid of the RBL Poppy Appeal, but it is also for remembering the lives of those who have gone before. This concert is dedicated to the memory of choir members Avril Colwill and Jennifer Blockley and long time accompanist David Crocker, all of whom have died in the last year. They are much missed.

Tickets cost £10 and are available from members, David Parish Menswear and on the door. School age children are free.

The Society is grateful to JL Podiatry Clinic who have generously sponsored the concert.

Twenty-seven members of the Lezant Lunch Club were welcomed by Ken Scoble at Trebullett Hall on Wednesday, October 29.

Members enjoyed a delicious meal of steak and ale pie served with mashed potatoes, cabbage and carrots. The desert was plum crumble with custard. A vegetarian option was also available. The caterers were Judith Scott, Ros Davey, Irene Nash, Ruth Burden and Mary Synott. Service was provided by Jan Docherty, Cynthia Jewell, Helen Judge and Karen Luxon.

During coffee, members were entertained by a geography themed quiz presented by Angela Morrison.

The Lezant Lunch Club meets on the last Wednesday of each month. The next meal will be held at an outside venue on Wednesday, November 26. Please phone Ruth on 01566 782286 to book