25 years ago

July 13, 2000

Adventure International boss, Keith Marshall, has made a strongly worded attack on the temporary lifeboat house erected on the edge of Bude’s Summerleaze Beach. Speaking as a member of Bude Stratton Town Council, he presented his colleagues with a series of photographs taken from the various floors of his hotel building. “You can’t see the beach until you get to level three! All you see is the temporary lifeboat house and two portable buildings — you used to get a view of the beach, now all you get it an abomination courtesy of North Cornwall.”

The weather almost broke a long standing tradition this year, as the humidity built, thunder rumbled in the far distance, and rain clouds gathered on the horizon. For the locals of Holsworthy believe that it never rains for the Pretty Maid ceremony — and they were right again.

Camelford residents are to be asked their views in a wide ranging survey which will seek to find out what local transport is needed.

* * *

40 years ago

July 13, 1985

Signs were a talking point at this month’s meeting on Tintagel parish council. Before he opened the meeting chairman Mr Fred Whiting dealt with a question from Mr Terry Dangar, regarding “illegal” signs in the village. Mr Dangar complained that certain signs displaying arrows purported to be traffic signs. Some of these were placed on other people’s property. Mr Whiting assured Mr Dangar that his complaint had been passed on to the right quarter at county hall.

Gas engineers turned off the supply after a number of gas leaks were discovered in the kitchen at Okehampton College lower school last week. The 200 pupils were taken by bus last Friday to have lunch in the canteen at the upper school on the other side of the town.

Holsworthy’s new Pretty Maid, Eileen Margaret Walker, 18, was presented to the town at noon on Wednesday, the first day of the St Peter’s Fair celebrations.

An adventure playground in Holsworthy’s Stanhope Park is in such a dangerous state that children could easily be injured on it, a town councillor claimed last week. mrs Anne Luxton said rope ladders in the playground were continually being cut by vandals and the play-bridge was in poor condition. “I saw a small child slip down one of the gaps on the bridge. There were lots of other children on there and he would have been crushed, but fortunately he was small enough to slip right through.”

* * *

50 years ago

July 12, 1975

This year’s Holsworthy Pretty Maid is Josephine May Isaac, whose fiance, Mr Colin Hunkin of Tetcott, did not know about her selection until she walked through the church door on the stroke of noon on St Peter’s Fair Day.

Mr Jack Hill, of Trefrew, Camelford, retired on Friday after 50 years as an employee at Delabole Slate Quarry. Mr Brian Setchell presented him with a cheque, and he received a watch from his workmates.

Emma Weeks, aged four and a half years, of Highfield Park Road, Launceston, was the youngest walker to Help the Aged in a youth campaign sponsored walk in Coronation Park. With her mother, she completed 15 circuits — well over seven miles.

Having reluctantly accepted the wishes of the retiring president, Mr Ivor Barriball, not to stand for re-election, those present at Bude Football Club’s AGM elected local schoolteacher Mr Frank Wheatley as their new president.

Helen Dunning and Stephen Lee were the captains of the winning Trevithick team at Launceston College sports day.

* * *

60 years ago

July 17, 1965

Thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused by floods which brought chaos to Wadebridge and district. In all 5.49 inches of rain fell in a 24-hour period and 5.03 inches fell between 3 pm and 6.40 pm.

After three days continuous rain, Launceston Show opened in warm sunshine at Kennards House. This year’s president is Mr E C Chudleigh, of Lawhitton, a past chairman of Launceston Rural Council, and a well known and active supporter of the show for many years.

The election of Mrs M W Perkin as a county alderman has created a vacancy in the Ashwater electoral division which has not yet been formally declared. In fact, Devon County Council is considering the abolition of this division and the inclusion of most of its parishes in the Holsworthy division.

Delabole British Legion’s Summer carnival procession was headed by Mrs B O’Malley, marshall on horseback, followed by the carnival queen, Miss Angela Tabb, and her attendants, Misses Brenda Williams and Georgina Bray.

* * *

70 years ago

July 16, 1955

A Meteor jet aircraft disintegrated in a terrific explosion after flying at high speed into the cliff face at Trevose Head, near Padstow, on Thursday week. The pilot was killed instantaneously.

National Service calls over the past two years have been the cause of a reduction in the numbers taking part in competitive wrestling in Cornwall. Some of the best Cornish wrestlers have been “lost” to the sport because of this.

Launceston Rural District Council at their meeting on Thursday decided to support a proposal to have one of four police radio stations at Kit Hill.

* * *

80 years ago

July 14, 1945

Mrs G M Ward, of South Coombe, Shebbear, met her death under tragic circumstances this week. She was leading a horse in the hayfield when the animal dropped dead, in falling, its head struck Mrs Ward who died of shock.

The first post was British Railway engines are to be Westcountry locomotives of the Southern Railway. Among the first 20, four are to be named Launceston, Bude, Wadebridge and Okehampton.

Callington Parish Council is supporting a proposal to form a bowling club in the town; the plan is to have a green in the Saltash Road recreation fields.

In an Army Cadet initiative and efficiency test, Sgt B W Rolston and Cpl N Welch, of the Bude Company, hitch-hiked 230 miles in less than 30 hours last weekend despite having to walk the last 20 miles home. They did not spend a penny of the half-crown they were permitted to carry.

For being persistently late for work at the County Council highway’s quarry at Helsbury, Michaelstow, a quarryman was fined 10s by Camelford magistrates on Friday. At a previous court the case was adjourned with the bench setting a starting time for him of 7.30am, but it was stated that he had not conformed with their decision.

Nearly 60 members of Launceston WVS, which has rendered such sterling service during the war years, attended a “victory” dinner at the White Hart Hotel on Thursday, but are not standing down as much remains to be done.

* * *

90 years ago

July 20, 1935

Miss Sylvia Mountjoy, aged 12, a scholar of the Bude Elementary School, has been presented with a jade necklace and a volume of Shakespeare in recognition of her gallant behaviour this week, when she plunged into a rough sea and saved the life of a local resident.

The 48th annual Launceston Agricultural Show held on the exhibition field at Windmill, Thursday, had 285 entries, a slight decrease on last year. This year’s president was Mr Ernest Barriball.

Launceston Town Council has purchased a motor fire engine for £350. It is a reconditioned model and there is a saving of £300 on a new one.

The farmhouse of Luddon Farm, Bossley, owned and occupied by Mr William Ward and family, was completely gutted by fire on Sunday afternoon.

Officers elected at the annual meeting of Holsworthy Football Club were: President, Dr W G Grayd; treasurer, Mr Stuart Reed; secretary, Mr F H Stanlake; team secretary, Mr G K Mellers; trainer, Mr E W Hookway.

* * *

100 years ago

July 18, 1925

The Launceston Gas Company on Monday reduced the price of gas by 6d per therm. The price is no 1s per therm.

Bude Football Club, which ended last season with a deficit of £14 15s 4d has appointed the following officers: President, Mr Johnson (Summerleaze); chairman, Mr Truscott; joint hon secretaries, Messrs R M Moyle and D Graver; hon treasurer, Mr Tregenza. The club will compete in the East Devon League next season.

Miss Hilda Jasper, who has just gained her scholarship to Horwell Grammar School, Launcesotn, is the fourth daughter of Mr and Mrs T Jasper, of Ruse’s Mill, Lezant, to have done so, and all four will be at the school at the same time. Their earlier education was at Trekenner school under Mr W W Edwards.

Rev C J Bucknall, priest-in-charge at Delabole, met with severe heckling when he held another open-air meeting after the service on Sunday evening. At one point he declared he could not see how a man could be a Christian and uphold the capitalist system. Asked if he was a Bolshevik, he replied that he was opposed to the actions of the Government.