25 years ago

February 12, 1998

Celebrations are the order of the day after the community of Launceston and district has won its campaign to halt the axing of half the 20 beds at Launceston Hospital — but campaigners are also checking out the small-print. Campaigners were described as “thrilled to bits” with the decision of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority to withdraw its proposal to halve the number of beds with the aim of saving £190,000 each year.

Members of Polyphant Youth Club decided to plant a copper beech on the village green last Sunday afternoon after another tree was blown down during the storms a year ago. The tree was kindly donated by Mr Terry Jasper.

Widespread disruptions of the Methodist Church in the 19th century had their repercussions in Launceston and led to the building of chapels in the town other than ‘Wesley’ (now Central), by two smaller Methodist denominations, the Wesleyan Methodist Association and the Bible Christians, writes Maurice Brown, Archivist of Central Methodist Chuch, Launceston.

A Delabole horse breeder has been giving her advice in front of the cameras for a BBC 1 series. Marilyn Pilgrim from Pengelly, Delabole, is one of three breeders in Cornwall to feature in the series ‘What Would You Do?’

The Cornish way cycle track has been granted £2-million of European money. The trail which goes through Camelford, Davidstow, Bude and over the Devon border, has been allocated the money alongside the £1.5-million pledge from Sustrans.

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40 years ago

February 12, 1983

With a total cast of over seventy children, Kilkhampton CP School’s show, “Searching for the Stars,” has delighted audiences with its fresh vivacity. Written and directed by Miss J Pencheon, the Infants’ teacher, the whole show is a credit to the school and its staff.

The Bude Grassland Society held its annual dinner-dance at the Bullers Arms, Marhamchurch, where cups were presented to the winners of the eighth silage competition.

The children of North Petherwin CP School gathered around their headmaster (Mr Ken Davis) to say goodbye when he left on Friday to take up the appointment of Primary Schools Advisor for East Cornwall. They read him a thank you poem they had written and presented him with a briefcase boxed in a model of the school.

Children with special educational needs, attached to a unit at St Stephens School, Launceston, will have a tuneful reception when they return from their half-term holiday. They will find a piano in their classroom, presented by Launceston Lions president, Mr Monty Lowther, on behalf of Mr and Mrs R Watters, of Ridgeland, Broadbury, Bratton Clovelly.

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50 years ago

February 10, 1973

Mr Jimmy Simmons, of Black Torrington, was featured on BBC Television’s ‘Nationwide’ programme on Tuesday demonstrating his wart-charming prowess. The interviewer promised to come back in a month if his warts hadn’t disappeared after being ‘viggied’ by Mr Simmons.

St Stephens Youth Club (represented by Kathryn Gynn, Stephen Lee, Sharon Mills and Simon Oates) beat North Petherwin Youth Club by 79 points to 39 in the qualifying round of the North Cornwall Youth Quiz.

Mr C Sandercock has been elected to represent Boscastle (Forrabury and Minster) on Camelford Rural Council. The vacancy arose as the result of the resignation of Mr Mark Olde. Mr Wilfred Pusey also stood for election.

At the annual meeting of Bude-Stratton Horticultural and Honey Society the following officers were elected: president, Mrs Fitzgeorge-Parker; chairman, Mr W J Dinner; hon treasurer, Mr H G Harrison; hon secretary, Mrs R M Dingle; assistant secretary, Mr R Berry.

At the end of Holsworthy Amateur Theatrical Society’s last performance of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ on Saturday, Mr Jim Cumblehulme (secretary) was asked to take Mr Leo Edwards (conductor) on to the stage for a surprise presentation of a National Operatic and Dramatic Association long service medal (25 years).

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60 years ago

February 9, 1963

As was expected, the report of the Boundary Commission, issued this week, recommends the transfer from Devon and Cornwall of that part of the Broadwoodwidger rural district lying west of the River Tamar. This means that North Petherwin and the bulk of the parish of Werrington would become Cornish and presumably part of the Launceston rural district, this ironing out one of the “bulges” where the county border leaves the Tamar — explained in the popular local tradition by the fact that the medieval surveyors dined and drank too well at Launceston and consequently took the wrong river when they continued their maping journey!

Flood-water cut off the little village of Canworthy Water and there were reports if other flooding in the area.

The combination of melting snow and torrential rainfall brought flooding to many parts of North Cornwall and West Devon on Wednesday. Among the worst hit places was Boscastle where a hotel, houses and shops were flooded when the swollen River Jordan burst its banks.

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70 years ago

February 14, 1953

Described by the auctioneer as “a gift”, King Arthur’s Castle Hotel, Tintagel, was sold at the London Auction Mart, Thursday week, to Mrs Letty Lavinia Rundle, a Tintagel farmers’ wife, for £9,200.

At a meeting held in the school, Lifton, on Tuesday, the Lifton and District Agricultural Association decided to wind up its affairs.

The vice-chairman and treasurer of Launceston Young Farmers’ Club, in the respective persons of Miss Mary Vivien Frayne and Mr Douglas John Brookham, were married at St Michael’s Church, Trewen, on Saturday.

Miss M Grier, headmistress of Horwell Grammar School, Launceston, said at the speech day that there appeared to be no reason why the scheduled site for the proposed new grammar school should not provide in advance the playing fields which would be necessary later. This could be of great value to the present school children of the town.

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80 years ago

February 13, 1943

Killed in action: Trooper Percy Richards, of Broad Street, Lifton. Died while prisoner of war: Pte Percy Vanstone, DCLI, of Egloskerry.

Flt Lt David Maltby, of Bomber Command, whose home is at Beaworthy, has been awarded the DFC for fine work on raids over enemy territory.

Two farmers and various members of their families were fined a total of £155 by Callington Magistrates on Monday for offences arising out of the slaughter of cows without permits. Some of the summonses were for wasting food, as the meat concerned had been hidden in a coalhouse; other meat was found hidden in a bedroom behind a wardrobe.

The requisition for war salvage of all unnecessary railings in the Camelford Rural District is due to commence in March. The only appeals likely to be considered will be for the retention of railings around tombs and graves.

The Vicar of Tintagel, the Rev Edward Arundell, disclosed that shortly after his appointment to the parish, he received a deputation expressing the hope that he would abandon the use of incense. “It is hardly likely that i should,” he states. “I have used it in public worship for over 55 years.”

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90 years ago

February 18, 1933

Roused by the exploding of loose cartridges, Mr and Mrs W S Ward and their two sons were able to escape unhurt when their farmhouse home at Greylake, Camelford, burnt to the ground on Tuesday night. Mr J ward had to leap 15ft from a window to the ground below.

Miss Bertha Cobbledick, aged 30, of Callington, principle assistant at Callington Post Office, lost her mother and father through death from pneumonia within a few hours of each other, and ledd than two days later she herself died, also of pneumonia.

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100 years ago

February 17, 1923

The Rev H D Jackson was almost overcome by fumes on Thursday night when he awoke to fund St Kew Vicarage on fire. The main part of the building was saved, but many valuable documents, including the old parish register, were destroyed.

Launceston National School managers have now agreed to the amalgamation of their school with the local Council School for reasons of economy. The Council School managers have already agreed and on Tuesday the Sectional Education Committee approved the proposal, which, it was stated, would save £400 a year.