25 years ago
April 30, 1998
A brother and sister who were separate as children were reunited in Launceston this week after 56 years apart. Keith Ford arrived from Australia on Saturday to meet the sister he always remembered as ‘Reen’, and his new found family and it’s been cuddles and kisses ever since. “I’ve never received so may hugs from good looking Sheilas in all my life,” Keith said in true Australian style.
A hotel at Ashwater is seeing stars — two AA Red Stars, the motoring organisation’s highest accolade for hotels of outstanding merit. The Blagdon Manor country Hotel at Ashwater, which dates back to the 16th century, is run by husband and wife team, Tim and Gill Casey.
To mark St George’s Day, as part of National Tourist Information Centre Week, Sally Holden, manager of the Camelford centre, ran a painting competition on the subject of St George. The winner was Kimberley Prout or Delabole was presented with £5 and runner-up was Elizabeth Burnward of Advent received £2.50.
A couple have revealed their delight at being the first to be married at the Eagle House Hotel in Launceston, all the arrangements for which were resting on whether the premises gained its licence in time.
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40 years ago
April 30, 1983
The youngest and oldest participants in Launceston Lions’ ‘cross channel’ swim held hands for the camera during the event at the leisure centre. Bethany Rose Lewitt, aged 21,and John Mazur, 71, were joined by Lions’ president Monty Lowther.
In an exciting match at Bude last week, St Giles beat Bradworthy 3-1 to gain a place in the Pickard Cup final against Bude to be played at Holsworthy. The team included: Peter Cann (secretary), Phil Parker, Richard Wooldridge, Terry Williams, Roy Steinbichl, Paul Williams, Kenny Downing, Cecil Martin (chairman), Clifford Nosworthy (secretary), Rodney Mitchell, Nigel Nosworthy, Sean Jack (captain), Jeff Rutherford, Steve Williams.
Tintagel and Camelford and Wadebridge Lions’ Marathon — last year billed as the “toughest in the world” — again provided a stiff challenge for 71 runners over a hilly coastal route.
Parents of pupils at Coads Green Primary School have got together to solve the problem of children walking to and from the school along narrow country lanes. Each day, a parent, operating under a rota system, transports 10 of the school’s 32 pupils in a specially purchased minibus.
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50 years ago
April 28, 1973
Much to the surprise of her owners, Mr and Mrs W J Dingle, of Scadgehill Farm, Poughill, an eight-year-old Ayrshire cow gave birth to triplets on Good Friday. Triplets are rare among cows explained Mrs Rachel Dingle, adding “It was completely unexpected. We just thought that she looked uncommonly pregnant.”
Mr G E Gilbert, who has been Launceston’s Chief Public Health Inspector for 17 years, is retiring on Monday. The new temporary Public Health Inspector will be Mr J M V Smith of Bideford.
A film made almost entirely in and around Boscastle had its Westcountry première at the Drake Cinema, Plymouth. The film, a horror story, was written, produced by and starred Radio One disc-jockey Mike Raven, who is now living at Lesnewth. Among the extras in the film are Miss Frances Baxter, of Penally House, Boscastle, and Jo Burgess, of Treworra Farm, Davidstow.
Mrs K M Alford, on behalf of residents, made a presentation to Mrs Jean Mead, of Widemouth Bay, who for the past 12 years has trudged the roads in all weathers delivering the morning mail. Mrs Mead has been made redundant as the Post Office decided that many part-time postal workers should be replaced by motorised deliveries from the nearest centre.
Neil Martyn, of Hornacott Barton, in announcing his retirement after 25 years in junior football, has arranged a farewell charity match on Monday between ex-team mates and the present Boyton team.
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60 years ago
April 27, 1963
Councillor Pickard, conducting his final meeting as chairman of the Bude-Stratton Urban Council on Friday, thanked his fellow members, the staff and members of the public for making the past year one of the happiest during his 50 years’ service with the council.
To cater for the steady growth of the local telephone system, a new 600-line automatic telephone exchange was brought into service at Holsworthy on Thursday.
Concerned about the effect of the Beeching rail plan on East Cornwall, Calstock parish council decided at its April meeting to write to Mr Douglas Marshall, MP for the division. The parish council is asking that the necessary steps be taken to see that the Bere Alston-Callington branch line remains open until such time as suitable and adequate transport arrangements are made to cater for the considerable traffic.
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70 years ago
April 25, 1953
While rescuers — his father among them — searched up and down the coast and the Camel estuary around St Minver a 40-year-old novelist, John Vernon Hewes, lay helpless at the bottom of a 300ft cliff, with both ankles and his arm broken. He lay there for a night and a day, and at one-time saw his father on the clifftop, but his cries were too weak to be heard, and he remained there until spotted sometime later by a holiday-maker who phoned the police.
Because of the breaking up of a wreck off Welcombe Mouth, people using Welcombe beach should be careful particularly in regard to what their children pick up, for among the things being washed in from the wreck are live rounds of ammunition.
Two cannons over 300 years old were used to fire a loyal salute from the cliff-top at Compass Point, Bude, at mid-day on Tuesday, in honour of the Queen’s birthday.
There will be no content at Launceston in the forthcoming municipal elections.
On the outskirts of Launceston work is proceeding space on the town’s latest and long-desired educational development — the construction of Pennygillam Secondary Modern School.
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80 years ago
April 24, 1943
Reported missing: LAC Williams, formerly of Northgate Street, Launceston, and A Jeffery, of Kilkhampton. Prisoner of war: LCpl Arthur H Cox, of Harrowbarrow.
Women between 18 and 65 are now eligible for auxiliary duties with the Home Guard (clerical work, driving, cooking, etc).
Headland College, Gunnislake (evacuated from Plymouth), held a music festival with art and elocution classes before a crowded audience in the school hall. The principal (Mrs Normington) explained that it was arranged to promote a love of art in general.
Mr S G Bearcock, collector-in-charge of the Inland Revenue Office in Western Road, Launceston, since 1938, has been promoted to Birmingham. He and his wife have been active in town organisations, especially at Wesley Church, and Mrs Bearcock has been secretary of the soldiers’ canteen at the Dingley Institute.
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90 years ago
April 29, 1933
Frederick Climo, aged 27, one of the Tintagel football team, collapsed and died from heart failure when playing for Tintagel against St Agnes in the final of the Cornwall Junior Cup, at Bugle on Saturday. The match, which was drawn at that point, was abandoned and Tintagel, undefeated this season, have decided not to replay, not to play the other two finals for which they have qualified.
Mr William Ellicott, a native of Launceston, has just died in Richmond, Surrey. He was a noted marksman, wining success at Bisley with rifle and revolver, as well as being the clay pigeon shooting champion of England no fewer than six times.
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100 years ago
April 28, 1923
“Accidental Death” was the verdict at two Holsworthy inquests, Mr John Bromell, aged 75, was found dead in a pond, into which he fell during a seizure. John Mervyn Martin, aged nine, of Chapel Street, was knocked down by a car near Keephill Bridge.
For the first time in 20 years, bells rang out at Altarnun Church tower on Monday after the Bishop of Truro had dedicated the new peal of eight. The late Mr Samuel Pearn, of Penpont House, bequeathed £500 and the remaining £300 of the cost was subscribed by parishioners.