25 years ago
April 9, 1998
Langore’s Second Royal Variety Performance by the Langore Players on Friday and Saturday was a worthy successor to last year’s production. Graham Smale as compère escorted the royal couple — Lord Lieutenant Derek and Lady Enid Broad, to the Royal Box, ad there after he tried with varying success to hold tight to the reins of the show as well as the curtains! But we were always entertained by his fund of characteristic stories.
Adrian Downing’s children William and Sarah have been helping him to train for the upcoming London Marathon.
A petition of 30 names, plus three letters, opposed a plan for change of use of an out building to an annexe at Homecraft, Stratton, Bude, but North Cornwall Council planners decided to give the thumbs-up.
North Cornwall’s first family mediator — trained for the new Family Law Act — is based in Launceston. North Cornwall’s first family mediator is Philippa Buckland, a solicitor with the firm of Parnalls, of Launceston.
A Tintagel carpenter showed great courage and determination when he detained two youths running from the scene of a smash and grab burglary in the village, the Chief Constable of the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary John Evans said this week.
* * *
40 years ago
April 9, 1983
Mr A J Blatchford, headmaster of Clawton Primary School, leaves Clawton after 19 years to go to Stratton Primary School. Parents and children turned out in strength to give him and his wife a good send-off. Mr and Mrs Blatchford received a farewell gift from the children during the evening.
Three students at Wadebridge School were the top prizewinners in the junior section of the national computer software competition, organised by the University of Kent and sponsored by Barclays Bank. They were presented with their awards by Mr Trevor Nicholas, a divisional general manager of Barclays Bank, and the presentations took place last week at Redbrooke Hall, Cheshire, the bank’s headquarters for the research and development of technology. The three were Michael Bookham, Dean Jennings and Morgan Skinner.
A presentation to Mr Reg Lobb, to mark his retirement as Master was made by the chairman, Mr Ian Borton, at last Wednesday’s meet of the Bolventor Harriers at the Jamaica Inn. With them was Mr Lobb’s wife Shirley.
* * *
50 years ago
April 7, 1973
Miss Mary Fraser, of Launceston, was presented with the British Red Cross Society Certificate of Honour and life membership at the AGM of the Cornwall Branch at Truro. Fifteen years’ voluntary medical service medals were received by Mrs Lavinia Werren and Miss Mary Hunt.
At the end of the Kilkhampton parish postal delivery service and the start of the new postal delivery van from Bude, Mr Norman Harris was presented with a clock from his many friends in the Thurdon parish. Mr Harris’ friendliness will be missed on his postal round.
Werrington County Primary School will not be closed before 1977. The Department of Education had approved Cornwall Education Committee’s proposal to close the school but it would be some considerable time before it would be possible to accommodate all the children in Launceston St Stephens C P School.
The consecration of the extension of the Holy Cross Church burial ground, Tetcott, took place on Saturday with the Bishop of Plymouth, the Rt Rev Richard Cartwright, officiating. The land had been given by Col Molesworth St Aubyn and the preparation work was done by volunteers.
At the annual meeting of Warbstow Conservatives the following officers were elected. President, Mr J Sloman; chairman, Mr Wilfred Weeks; vice-chairman, Mr Roger Jones and Mr Albert Sloman; secretaries, Misses R Edwards and P Penfounf; treasurer, Mrs J Fry; postal vote officer, Mr J Shute.
* * *
60 years ago
April 6, 1963
Mr William Stanbury, of Carey Barton, Launceston, has been selected as a member of an eight-man delegation to visit Italy on behalf of British beef breeders, with the aim of introducing one or more of their breeds into that country. The visit follows an experiment with 44 beef steers which were flown to Verona fair in Italy.
Following alterations and redecoration, the Bude Methodist Church held its re-opening celebrations on Thursday week. The opening ceremony was performed by Mrs A Box, a member of the family holding a long association with the church.
More than 1,000 people attended the two-day Tamar Valley and Western Counties 30th annual spring flower show, which concluded at Launceston town hall on Friday.
* * *
70 years ago
April 4, 1953
Renovated and modernised at a cost of £2,540 and now considered one of the finest two-manual instruments in the West of England, Holsworthy Bodmin Street Methodist Church organ was re-opened on Thursday by Mrs G T Carthew (wife of the Senior Trustee).
Now established for five years Launceston Rugby Club is looking ahead to the future — and one of its immediate objects is to acquire a permanent ‘home’ in order that it can carry out ground improvements and provide the equipment necessary to its continued progress.
At a meeting of the Launceston District Committee of the National Union of Agricultural Workers, Mr F Cole the union’s Cornish organiser said that a claim had been made so the wages board for a substantial increase in the national minimum wage for agricultural workers. He said that while no specific figure had been mentioned the union representatives on the board would make it clear that the workers on the land felt they were entitled to at least £7 a week.
* * *
80 years ago
April 3, 1943
Died on service: Bandsman Richard Pearn, of High Street, Camelford.
The first parade service of Delabole Fire Brigade took place on Sunday when the company, under commanding officer White, attended Pengelly Methodist Church.
One of the salvage huts at Widemouth Bay was completely destroyed by fire on Wednesday, Mr R Hobbs, of the estate office, says it was most gratifying to see local women and children organising themselves into two efficient parties to fight the blaze with stirrup pumps. Working like well-trained teams, Mrs Jones, Misses Turner, Barbara Landsvergh, Ann Barr-Hall, Sylvia Finnemore and Mrs Parsons prevented the fire from spreading while a mains hose was run out from West Haven.
SQMS J A Palmer, RAOC, son of Mr and Mrs A Palmer, The Village, Ashwater, has been awarded a certificate for good service and devotion to duty.
* * *
90 years ago
April 8, 1933
The Master of Holsworthy Poor Law Institution, Mr A Tooze, cannot provide working tasks for tramps as he has no means of disposing of broken stone and the demand for chopped wood has also fallen.
Latest suggestion by Mr L F Moreshead for providing occupation and a little money for Launceston’s unemployed is the forming of gangs to fell trees, cut them up and sell logs for firewood.
* * *
100 years ago
April 7, 1923
Ralph Batten, aged 18, of Lezant, was killed on Thursday when the horses drawing a cart in which he was riding bolted and he was thrown under a wheel.
The Halwill agent of the Cornish and Devon Post, Mr Fred White, met with an accident on Sunday when motoring to Lifton. His car ran away down Wrewton Hill, hit a tree and overturned. The five occupants were severely shaken.