25 years ago
March 12, 1998
Can you imagine how you would feel if you opened your post one morning to be faced with the prospect of having to pay £465.57 + VAT for repairs to a wall forming part of the boundary to the property you bought from the council? Now imagine what it would be like to open your post and find that you could have to pay £3,434.74 + VAT for similar work to be carried out to your wall? That is what happened to 11 home owners on Launceston’s Ridgegrove Estate this week.
Benson the pot-bellied pig is smitten after the arrival of a new friends on his Tintagel farm — thanks to the ‘Post’. Tina and Richard Reeves are delighted to announce the safe arrival of Crackles, and hope that Benson’s lonely days are over for good. Benson’s lack of a pot-bellied friend at Trewinnick Farm, Tintagel, was highlighted in the ‘Post’ (February 26) in an attempt to find him happiness.
Boscastle School’s successful team in the Camelford Rotary Club Youth Speaks Competition was made up of Lewis Sullivan as chair of the team, Vonnie Hampshire with the vote of thanks and Kieron Sullivan whose speech was about the relative merits of different energy sources.
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40 years ago
March 12, 1983
Mr John Hake, manager, National Westminster Bank, Launceston, is seen presenting a new match ball to Mr Dickie Downes, chairman of Launceston Football Club. This season the club has been sponsored two match balls by the bank.
Mrs Marion Oak, of Launceston Women’s Liberal Association, receives the President’s Shield from Mr Peter Cocks at North Cornwall Liberals’ AGM at Wadebridge on Friday.
Mrs V Elliss, founder secretary of Clawton Young Farmers’ Club, cuts the cake on the club’s 21st anniversary at a dinner held at the Hartland Hotel, Bude, on Friday. Others included Mr A Beckley, chairman; Mrs D Ley; Mr R Ley (guest speaker), Mrs B Chubb (president); Mr M Bluett (secretary) and Mr A Parsons (treasurer).
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50 years ago
March 10, 1973
Launceston Young Farmers’ Club Dairy Queen for 1973 is Sally Dibb. She was chosen from nine club members, the runners-up being Rosalind Smith and Jeannette Ponsford. The judges were Mr Terry Jones (president) and his wife, and Mr Ian Tucker (leader) and his wife.
Peter Lang, of Tintagel, who is employed by Messrs Truscott Bros of Launceston, is the South West finalist of the BP mechanic of the year competition.
The Holsworthy Secondary School Wind Band held a recording session at the Youth Centre. The Sound Recording Services (Martyn Squire) were recording for a stereo record. Twenty-three young musicians took part together with Miss mary Kellaway, who teaches clarinet, Mr Leo Edwards, music master, and Mr Barry Megson, conductor.
Bude Central Methodist Youth Club retained the North Cornwall Area Youth Services Quiz Cup by beating St Stephens Youth Club 66-63 in the final. The teams were — Bude Central: Tim Jenkins, Lynn Seward, Celia Hicks and Andrew Watts; St Stephens; Stephen Lee, Simon Oates, Sharon Mills and Johanna Kimberley.
North Petherwin Youth Club held a pram race from Trillacott Cross to Petherwingate. The winning pram was pushed by Stephen Fry with his brother Christopher on board as ‘baby’. Kevin Clark with ‘baby’ Garvin Jones came second.
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60 years ago
March 2, 1963
Callington and Calstock parish councils are united in desiring to remain within the St Germans Rural Council District and opposing a take-over bid by Launceston in the proposed redistribution of areas. This decision was expressed at a joint meeting of the town parish councils at Callington.
Draft regulations have been drawn up by the Minister of Transport, Mr Ernest Marples, to permit 16 year olds to drive agricultural tractors, subject to certain conditions.
Windmill CP School Parent Teacher Association unanimously decided at its annual meeting to write a letter to the County Education Authority pressing for the installation of indoor toilets at the school.
A cheque for £62 10s was presented at Okehampton on Friday as a result of efforts by Okehampton District Girl Guides’ Association to raise funds for the Freedom from Hunger Campaign.
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70 years ago
March 14, 1953
During the heavy winds of about a month ago one of the windows of the Wesley Church, Launceston, was blown in and the gable end of the church was weakened. Yesterday the church held a thanksgiving day the proceeds from which will go towards the cost of the renovation work.
Early Tuesday morning Mr and Mrs G Smale, of Northcott Farm, Morcambe, was awakened by the smell of smoke and discovered that their home was well alight. Their daughter went to a neighbour and phoned the fire brigade and Okehampton and Hatherleigh units were soon on the scene.
Mr and Mrs Albert Ball, of Hole Park, Holsworthy, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on Saturday.
Launceston Fatstock Show, dormant since the outbreak of war, is to be held again this year.
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80 years ago
March 13, 1943
Previously missing, now reported prisoner of war: Warrant Officer John White (HMS Exeter), of Woodford Bridge, Milton Damerel.
Members of a Devon and Cornwall Club which has just been formed in a prisoner of war camp in Germany, include: Sgt A C March (Black Torrington), Sgt W Webb (Holsworthy), Bdr A Hicks (Callington), and Sgt A P Hooper (Wadebridge).
One of Startton’s most enthusiastic workers for various war causes is little Miss Rachel Kelly, whose untiring efforts have included the Red Cross, Prisoners of War, Aid to Russia, and the latest, Aid to China funds, the latter receiving £3 from her, the results of a doll competition.
The Chief Guide, Lady Baden-Powell, visited Lifton last week and was given a tremendous welcome by Girl Guides from all over the district. She was presented with a bouquet by little Jean Skinner, and enrolled seven Ringers; Eileen Davey, Pat Parnell, Betty Walters, Pamela Sillifant, Brenda Long, Frances Bevan and Barbara Whitfield. She also presented a ‘thanks’ badge to Mrs W Venner.
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90 years ago
March 18, 1933
In view of the depression and the general unemployment position, it has been decided not to hold a Bugle Band Festival this year.
Trapped for three hours by the branch of a tree he was felling near Trebursye, Mr Aunger, of South Petherwin, happily escaped without injury. Heavy blocks had to be used to lift the tree off him.
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100 years ago
March 17, 1923
Mr T T Pearce, of Northcott Hamlet, died after an accident at St Giles, where the horse he was driving bolted and he was thrown on to the front wheel.
Holsworthy Urban Council has accepted an offer of Miss E E Batten of £100 to provide the new lych gate for the cemetery.
Land, stone and labour have been offered by landowners and farmers for transforming the present track between St Neot and Bolventor into a parish road.