25 years ago

May 21, 1998

Links between the Launceston Steam Railway and Ffestiniog Railway in North Wales, should see the completion of a £350,000 joint project to construct a brand new locomotive in the year 2001. The scheme is the brainchild of Mr James Evans, of Callington.

Beds made in Dartmoor Prison, Princetown, were presented officially to CHICKS, the local charity providing Country Holidays for inner City Kids, which is based at Dunterton, near Greystone Bridge. On Thursday, John Lawrence, the governor of the prison, and his colleague Mike Griffiths, who were responsible for the design, making, and donation of 12 pine bunk beds for the charity’s new headquarters at Woodside Retreat, went along for the presentation.

The show season kicked off in fine style at Holsworthy on Thursday as the excellent weather, supporting crowds and standard of entries all contributed to another triumphant event.

A successful lurcher, terrier and ferret show, with racing, was held recently at Laneast by the Mullis family who live in the village. The event raised £105 for the Derriford Cardiology Unit, chosen by the family because Melissa Mullis has heart disease.

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40 years ago

May 21, 1983

The wish of a lifetime was fulfilled at Boyton recently for a New Zealand family on pilgrimage to their ancestral home. David and Helen Young and their two daughters were able to visit Dunna Farm, home of Mrs Young’s forebears, John and Johanne Phillips, at the turn of the century.

Mrs E Stanbury, wife of the president of Holsworthy and Stratton Agricultural Show, presented the silver salver to Mrs Jean Wonnacott, president of Clawton and Tetcott WI, winners of the display section of the WI competitions.

Following an outstanding season, Launceston Rugby Club held their annual dinner and dance in the White Hart Hotel on Friday. With the club having won the Cornwall Merit Table and the County Knockout Cup for the first time ever, the scene was set for a memorable occasion for the 190 members, wives and guests present.

Launceston Lions president Mr Monty Lowther presented a cheque for £266 to Launceston Swimming Club organiser Mr Melvin Thomas. The money will go to purchase an Anatomic Anne — a resuscitation practice dummy — something which the club has wanted for some time. 

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50 years ago

May 19, 1973

At a meeting of Holsworthy Parish Council, a letter was read from the keeper of the records of Holsworthy Court Leet recommending the name of Mr Frank Kellaway as Portreeve for the next three years. This recommendation was approved unanimously.

Mr Edgar Jones was presented with a certificate for completing 40 years as a local preacher at the Week St Mary Circuit Rally at Tremayna Methodist Church. The presentation was made by Mr J H Parsons.

In the forthcoming elections to the new North Cornwall District Council there will be no contest at Camelford and Advent where Mr Evan Holman, a member of Camelford Rural Council was the only nomination for the one seat.

Part of the North Cornwall branch railway line could be re-opened if plans being looked at by Launceston Rural Council come to fruition. The council is to be asked to approach British Rail about the sale of land following an inquiry from Mr H Bowman, of Guildford, Surrey.

Crooklets, Bude, was the venue for the two-day South West Canoe Surfing Championship with the best placed Bude Canoe Club member being Mrs S Bannister, who was third in the ladies’ canoe handling competition.

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60 years ago

May 16, 1963

Mr Stuart Peter who has been Launceston Town Clerk for the past 38 years, and whose father and grandfather held the position before him in an unbroken family line stretching back almost 80 years, is to be Launceston’s Mayor for Coronation Year and will be sworn into that office next Monday. To replace him as Town Clerk the council have selected Mr Clifford W Parsons, who has been Borough Treasurer for the past four years. The post of Borough Treasurer is to be filled by Mr J Dingley, manager of the national Provincial Bank, Launceston.

Always a strong feature of the ever-growing Launceston Festival, is the orchestral and instrumental section, But this year it became so large that the conventional positions had to be reversed. Some members of the audience sat on the Town Hall stage and the orchestral players occupied nearly half the body of the hall.

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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.