25 years ago
January 1, 1997
Organist and choirmaster at St Mary Magdalene’s Church, Launceston, Jonathan Mann, has retired from the post after 12 years. Following the carol service on Christmas Eve, the vicar, Rev Tim Newcombe, paid tribute to his dedication to the church and to the choir in building on and developing the St Mary’s choral tradition.
Ylow Clegh (music of the bells) ringers presented various Christmas carols to children at Boyton Primary School at their end of term concert. The ringers were Hilary Woods, Keith Burnard, Sandra Hangar and Audrey Fry. Rachel and Ruthie Summers, Christopher Parnell, Joe Jackson and Nicky Martin all had a go with the hand bells.
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Launceston deputy Royal Mail sorting office manager John Cornish presented a glass prism embossed with a stamp to North Cornwall MP Paul Tyler, when he visited the Launceston office at Pennygillam at 6am just before Christmas.
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40 years ago
January 1, 1982
“Rats galore” fronted the stage at Marhamchurch V P School pantomime, ‘Dick Whittington’, which took place on Tuesday week.
The children of Holsworthy Playgroup held a party and Nativity play at the Market Hall on Thursday.
Camelford town councillors meeting last week discussed at length the proposed estimate for 1983/’84. It was agreed to precept for £7,000 of which £2,000 was required to pay for surfacing the Churchfield car park extension and the additional expenditure incurred.
Snow, hail and ice resulted in a number of accidents in Okehampton and district just prior to Christmas.
Mr Fred Whiting, of Tintagel, Cornwall’s representative on the Association of County Councils and a member of that organisation’s Social Services Committee, has been selected to serve on a working party to meet a House of Commons Standing Committee in London next Wednesday to discuss various problems relating to children.
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50 years ago
December 30, 1972
The Scouting medals of merit have been awarded to Mr Leslie Frederick John Gunn, district commissioner for North Cornwall, and Mr Leslie George Harris, secretary of the Bude Scouts Council, in recognition of their outstanding services to the scouting movement.
Mrs K Harris, of Cherricote, Whitstone, was sitting in her home when she heard things smashing outside. She discovered a bus had skidded, flattening the hedge and demolishing the glass frontage of her house. The bus halted by a 200 gallon water tank but not before it had doubled up the tank which was full of water. The driver, who was badly cut by glass, was taken to Stratton Hospital.
One of the officer cadets who passed out from Sandhurst this month was Senior Cadet Timothy Eveleigh, whose home is at Hillside Farm, Northlew.
Mrs M Shillaber and Mrs Rogers organised a nativity play and concert in the home of Mrs Shillaber, at Tregoodwell, Camelford, with more than 40 present. The proceeds will go to Cancer Research.
The work of well-known Launceston poet Charles Causley featured prominently at the Christmas concert at St Joseph’s Convent School, Launceston. The producer, Mrs G M Jenkin, was presented with a bouquet by Jennifer Perry at the conclusion of the second performance of the concert.
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60 years ago
December 29, 1962
Mr L Goaman of Elmscott, Hartland, took the reserve sheep championship at the Three Societies Christmas carcass competition at Bideford with a pair of Suffolk lambs.
A carol service was held at the Headland Pavilion on Sunday evening, organised by the Bude Town Band. Also taking part was the Bude and District Children’s Choir and the whole of the proceeds went to the old people of the district.
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70 years ago
January 3, 1952
To be offered by Messrs Mudge and Baxter of Exeter, at the London Auction Mart is King Arthur’s Castle Hotel, Tintagel. The hotel, freehold and fully licensed is adjacent to the ruins of the ancient castle reputed to be the birthplace of King Arthur. Accommodation includes 62 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, bar, sports room, music room, lounge with logi, dining room ad garages. The property extends for about 55 acres and includes golf links, cliff land, a cottage and a private house — Barras house.
Mr John David Gard, aged 19, of Meadows, Poughill, the son of Lieut Col E Metherell Gard, a chartered accountant, was who among the injured in an avalanche at Stuben, West Austria, has died.
Prompt action by people on the spot averted what might have been a serious fire with possible personal injuries when an outbreak occurred at the home of Mr and Mrs F Jeffery, at Glebelands, Holsworthy.
Two Devon yearling heifers, the herd of Mr William Stanbury, Carey Barton, Launceston, left on New Years Day to join the herd of Mr Roy Trethewie, of Launceston, Tasmania.
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80 years ago
January 2, 1942
Reported missing Sergeant Maurice S Peters, RA, formerly of the editorial staff of the Post, who was in charge of a gun crew aboard a merchant ship.
Coal and coke supplies are to be restricted. No one may now keep more than 15cwt in stock.
A mock parish council of Callington consisting of young members of the night school conducted by Mr W F Harris, called for various post-war improvements. Jack Cogan wanted a cable railway to Kit Hill. Dorothy Sergeant asked for a hospital, a cinema and a library, and Arthur Sampson wanted industry in the form of a canning factory plus a swimming pool and a gymnasium come recreation room to keep youth off the streets.
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90 years ago
January 7, 1932
A large number attended the meet of the Weatherdon Hunt Beagles at Germansweek. The Lamerton Hunt which held its annual ball at the Town Hall, Launceston on Monday met the following morning at Werrington Park under the master, Capt Babbington.
The opinion was expressed at Delabole market dinner held at the Delabole Inn, that there was not a farmer present who had earned as much as 30s a week during the past two years. The speaker was Mr T H Dyer, of Port Isaac, and he advocated increased mechanisation and government aid as the answer to agriculture’s depression.
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100 years ago
January 6, 1922
The last service at St Johns Church, Okehampton, was held on Sunday evening. The Bishop of Exeter has replied to a petition that he cannot reverse the decision of the Parochial Church Council who voted 10-7 for closure.
The Rev E P Thorpe, new Baptist Pastor for Launceston district in succession to the Rev Bonsor opens his ministry this Sunday.
A horse drawing a cattle wagon bolted down Landers Hill, Wadebridge, round the comer by Martin and Pauls and over the bridge and level crossing which was fortunately open. The horse was courageously stopped by Charles Brenton of Guineaport when turning into the Platt.