25 years ago

April 30, 1998

A hotel at Ashwater is seeing stars — two AA Red Stars, the motoring organisation’s highest accolade for hotels of outstanding merit. The Blagdon Manor country Hotel at Ashwater, which dates back to the 16th century, is run by husband and wife team, Tim and Gill Casey.

To mark St George’s Day, as part of National Tourist Information Centre Week, Sally Holden, manager of the Camelford centre, ran a painting competition on the subject of St George. The winner was Kimberley Prout or Delabole was presented with £5 and runner-up was Elizabeth Burnward of Advent received £2.50.

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40 years ago

April 30, 1983

The youngest and oldest participants in Launceston Lions’ ‘cross channel’ swim held hands for the camera during the event at the leisure centre. Bethany Rose Lewitt, aged 21,and John Mazur, 71, were joined by Lions’ president Monty Lowther.

In an exciting match at Bude last week, St Giles beat Bradworthy 3-1 to gain a place in the Pickard Cup final against Bude to be played at Holsworthy. The team included: Peter Cann (secretary), Phil Parker, Richard Wooldridge, Terry Williams, Roy Steinbichl, Paul Williams, Kenny Downing, Cecil Martin (chairman), Clifford Nosworthy (secretary), Rodney Mitchell, Nigel Nosworthy, Sean Jack (captain), Jeff Rutherford, Steve Williams.

Tintagel and Camelford and Wadebridge Lions’ Marathon — last year billed as the “toughest in the world” — again provided a stiff challenge for 71 runners over a hilly coastal route.

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50 years ago

April 28, 1973

Much to the surprise of her owners, Mr and Mrs W J Dingle, of Scadgehill Farm, Poughill, an eight-year-old Ayrshire cow gave birth to triplets on Good Friday. Triplets are rare among cows explained Mrs Rachel Dingle, adding “It was completely unexpected. We just thought that she looked uncommonly pregnant.”

Mr G E Gilbert, who has been Launceston’s Chief Public Health Inspector for 17 years, is retiring on Monday. The new temporary Public Health Inspector will be Mr J M V Smith of Bideford.

Mrs K M Alford, on behalf of residents, made a presentation to Mrs Jean Mead, of Widemouth Bay, who for the past 12 years has trudged the roads in all weathers delivering the morning mail. Mrs Mead has been made redundant as the Post Office decided that many part-time postal workers should be replaced by motorised deliveries from the nearest centre.

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60 years ago

April 27, 1963

Councillor Pickard, conducting his final meeting as chairman of the Bude-Stratton Urban Council on Friday, thanked his fellow members, the staff and members of the public for making the past year one of the happiest during his 50 years’ service with the council.

To cater for the steady growth of the local telephone system, a new 600-line automatic telephone exchange was brought into service at Holsworthy on Thursday.

Concerned about the effect of the Beeching rail plan on East Cornwall, Calstock parish council decided at its April meeting to write to Mr Douglas Marshall, MP for the division. The parish council is asking that the necessary steps be taken to see that the Bere Alston-Callington branch line remains open until such time as suitable and adequate transport arrangements are made to cater for the considerable traffic.

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70 years ago

April 25, 1953

While rescuers — his father among them — searched up and down the coast and the Camel estuary around St Minver a 40-year-old novelist, John Vernon Hewes, lay helpless at the bottom of a 300ft cliff, with both ankles and his arm broken. He lay there for a night and a day, and at one-time saw his father on the clifftop, but his cries were too weak to be heard, and he remained there until spotted sometime later by a holiday-maker who phoned the police.

Two cannons over 300 years old were used to fire a loyal salute from the cliff-top at Compass Point, Bude, at mid-day on Tuesday, in honour of the Queen’s birthday.

There will be no content at Launceston in the forthcoming municipal elections.

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80 years ago

April 24, 1943

Reported missing: LAC Williams, formerly of Northgate Street, Launceston, and A Jeffery, of Kilkhampton. Prisoner of war: LCpl Arthur H Cox, of Harrowbarrow.

Women between 18 and 65 are now eligible for auxiliary duties with the Home Guard (clerical work, driving, cooking, etc).

Headland College, Gunnislake (evacuated from Plymouth), held a music festival with art and elocution classes before a crowded audience in the school hall. The principal (Mrs Normington) explained that it was arranged to promote a love of art in general.

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90 years ago

April 29, 1933

Frederick Climo, aged 27, one of the Tintagel football team, collapsed and died from heart failure when playing for Tintagel against St Agnes in the final of the Cornwall Junior Cup, at Bugle on Saturday. The match, which was drawn at that point, was abandoned and Tintagel, undefeated this season, have decided not to replay, not to play the other two finals for which they have qualified.

Mr William Ellicott, a native of Launceston, has just died in Richmond, Surrey. He was a noted marksman, wining success at Bisley with rifle and revolver, as well as being the clay pigeon shooting champion of England no fewer than six times.

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100 years ago

April 28, 1923

“Accidental Death” was the verdict at two Holsworthy inquests, Mr John Bromell, aged 75, was found dead in a pond, into which he fell during a seizure. John Mervyn Martin, aged nine, of Chapel Street, was knocked down by a car near Keephill Bridge.

For the first time in 20 years, bells rang out at Altarnun Church tower on Monday after the Bishop of Truro had dedicated the new peal of eight. The late Mr Samuel Pearn, of Penpont House, bequeathed £500 and the remaining £300 of the cost was subscribed by parishioners.