25 years ago
December 11, 1997
Nativity at St Giles: The three kings — Gareth Hutchins, William Hall and Jamie Hanscombe were joined on stage by Mary and Joseph, played by Emma Heywood and Thomas Preece at St Giles on the Heath School Nativity on Monday morning.
Ben Tague played E flat bass at The Rotary Club of Camelford’s music competition at Sir James Smith’s School and won the under 11 age group. The under 4 section was won by Alison Evans playing her tenor horn. Both are members of Camelford Town Band.
John Stratton of Tintagel Orpheus Male Voice Choir presented cheques to Ray Worden for FAAST, and to Elizabeth Brown for the Tintagel Chapel Building Fund, at an anniversary concert of the joining of Trewarmett and Tintagel Chapels. The money was raised with a concert by Parkside Colliery Choir (Lancashire) earlier this year.
Beech trees forming a striking feature on the approach to Boscastle are to be cut back after planners were told they were a danger to road users.
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40 years ago
December 11, 1982
Officials and prize-winners of Camelford Young Farmers’ Club held their annual dinner-dance at St Morits Hotel, Trebetherick. In attendance were Monica Ham (club leader), Tracey Smith (vice-chairman), Angela Rouse (cup for most points in county competitions, ladies), David Kenner (club leader), Barry Carter (cup for most points in county competitions, men), Jane Harris (cup for best attendance), Alison Davey (secretary), David Parsons (chairman), Sheila Kenner (president), Jeffery Heard (treasurer), Nicola Sleep (social secretary).
St John cadets from Launceston, Camelford and Wadebridge received awards at a presentation evening held at the Launceston Ambulance Hall. There were also presentations on behalf of all the cadets of the Eastern Area to County Staff Officer Miss K Govier, of Launceston.
The Pied Piper joined forces with Father Christmas to lure the children to Santa’s grotto at the Town Hall, Launceston, on Saturday. Few needed a second invitation and well over 200 were there to receive their gifts.
The Duchy of Cornwall has announced that Kit Hill, Callington, the ancient meeting place for the Parliament of Tinners for Devon and Cornwall, is being given to the people of Cornwall by the Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall, to mark the birth of Prince William of Wales.
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50 years ago
December 9, 1972
The finest Christmas present of her life arrived this week for an 89-year-old patient in Holsworthy Hospital, Mrs Elizabeth Ann Body. It was her son, Charles, whom she has not seen for 48 years. Mr Body was 18 when he, and Harold Blatchford, emigrated to Australia in 1924 — just on impulse.
Mrs Lilas Browning Williams, of Battens Mill, North Hill, celebrated her 104th birthday on Thursday week. A life-long Methodist Mrs Williams still attends the services of North Hill Methodist Curch where she was married in 1898.
W Stanbury and Son, of St Giles, took second and third places in the Devon heifers 15-24 months class at the Royal Smithfield Show. Other local winners included S J Cory, St Gennys, and A J Stephens Ltd, Tavistock.
The Mayoress, Mrs E J R Martin, opened the annual bazaar of Launceston League of Friends of Launceston Hospitals and was presented with a bouquet by Shirley Bridgman. The Mayor, Mr Ronald Martin, received a buttonhole from Shelley Bridgman.
Despite the bad weather which caused many roads to be blocked by flooding, Otterham Hall was full to capacity for the Week St Mary Youth Fellowship concert. The entertainment was organised by Margaret Kittow. Nigel Storer and Bernard Mellings, who also supervised the lighting and effects. The MC was Edward Elson.
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60 years ago
December 15, 1962
Weighing about half-a-ton and operated by the insertion of pennies, a century-old juke box has been discovered during work at St Mary’s Hospital, Launceston. The juke box, called a polyphon, was made of solid oak and played steel records which were 24 inches across.
A jubilee dinner was held by Bude-Stratton Urban Council to honour its chairman, Mr Thomas Pickard, MBE, on his completion of 50 years of unbroken service as a member of the council.
Holsworthy Carnival Committee allocated £200 to the swimming pool fund.
The first meals-on-wheels service to be operated in the Holsworthy district was started at Bradworthy.
Mr Douglas Brock, of North Petherwin, with an Aberdeen Angus cross steer, won the award for best butchers’ beast at Week St Mary Christmas market.
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70 years ago
December 6, 1952
The combined St John Divisions of Launceston assembles at the Ambulance Station on Monday to meet their new Ambulance Divisional Surgeon (Dr Ronald Healey) who had accepted the invitation to take up this position.
The torrential rain which fell on Saturday morning did not deter a very large gathering from being present at Bude Methodist Church, Stratton, to witness the opening of the new Sunday School Hall and to take part in thanksgiving festivities.
The recent disclosure at Launceston Town Council’s latest meeting that a physiotherapy service is to be provided at Launceston Hospital and that the Area Medical Officer was advocating that the hospital should be developed as much as possible has caused considerable interest in the town and district.
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80 years ago
December 12, 1942
An Army lorry smashed the window of Messrs Treleaven’s shop at Launceston on Wednesday, and then careered across Soutgate Street to crash into the front of the Co-op outfitting store. The street was crowded at the time and pedestrians scattered in all directions, but miraculously only one person was hurt and not that seriously. She was Miss B Gibbard, a dispenser at the nearby surgery of Drs Galbraith and Angel.
Led by Capt R Cooper and Lieut G Chapman, Holsworthy Guides and Brownies have raised £13 for the Prisoners of War fund by giving an entertainment in the Senior School Hall.
What is believed to be a record yield for a Devon cow — 900 gallons in 12 months — has been achieved by an animal belonging to Mr W Hocken, of Barnham, Launceston.
Mr H J Cloke is the new Master of Callington Freemasons.
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90 years ago
December 17, 1932
For the first competitive encounter between the two neighbouring football clubs for some years, Holsworthy met Bude in a Kingsley League match at Bude on Saturday, the Seasiders winning 3-1. But unlike the old days when a crowd of 2,000 and a gate of £40 was normal, this time there were only a few to watch and the gate was under £5.
Horwell Grammer School for girls Launceston, held its speech day at Hendra on Tuesday, which Sir Francis Acland, MP for North Cornwall, as the principal speaker. There are 74 girls in the main school and 24 girls in the preparatory department. Leading amination successes were gained by Vera Rayner, Anne Maddever, Freda Body, Julie Sandercock, Muriel Trewin, Clarice Turner, Sylvia Burnard.
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100 years ago
December 16, 1922
There was a decided breeze at Saturday’s meeting of Launceston Rural Council, when Mr J Climo (Altarnun) cross-examined the surveyor (Mr Soper) on the appointment of a roadman at Altarnun. He moved a resolution which was practically a vote of censure on the surveyor, but was the only one to vote for it, and an amendment supporting the surveyor was carried by 17 votes.
As the result of a conversation started by Mr J Treleaven, a gathering of Launceston traders, on Friday, decided to call a meeting in January to form a Mercantile Association for the town and organise a Shopping Week. Mr Mules said the Shopping Week should be successful, but was doubtful whether the revival of the old Mercantile Association would be easy.