25 years ago

March 4, 1999

A tree planting exercise at Stowe Barton was attended by Jeff Cherrington (warden), Joanne Charlton (volunteer), Jack Parker-Pizani, Stuart Cook, Natasha Heard, Rebecca Wickett, Louis Thomas (volunteer), and Edward Day.

Bude Junior School’s constant fight against vandalism continues with a repeated call for the local authority to take responsibility for lights which have been made a target. Only one of the eight external lights now work after an attack by vandals, and the school refuses to have them repaired, describing it as pointless due to repeat attacks resulting in hefty bills which must be met out of the school budget with some county council help. They have been switched off permanently.

Bude and District funeral director Kingsley Bryant was installed as the president of the National Association of Funeral Directors (Cornwall area) at its AGM held in Truro recently. Kingsley has worked for over ten years with his father Arthur Bryant in the family business based at Bude.

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40 years ago

March 3, 1984

Last week we wrote of Mr Harry Slade, aged 90, of Patebalcott, who has lived in the same council house for 58 years. This week we have news of a couple who have lived together in their council house for 62 years. They are Mr William Neno, aged 84, and his wife, Florence, who was 82 last week. The couple moved into 3 Beech Cottages, Bratton Clovelly, when they married in 1921, paying half a crown in old money. The current rent is around £16.

Mrs Winifred Tibble, who made the presentations, lent a hand with some of Mr Ivor Paddon’s trophies at the Bude Sea Anglers’ dinner held at the Hartland Hotel, Bude, while other winners displayed their awards.

Labour candidate John Mills topped the poll last week in the five man bid for two vacant sears on Lamerton Town Council. Mr Mills polled 189 votes.

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50 years ago

March 2, 1974

Miss Gillian Coles, aged 17 of Honnacott Farm, Bradworthy, is Stratton Young Farmers’ Dairy Maid of the Year. The runners-up were Carol Vickery and Kathryn Axford.

Mr Bob Warren is attempting to reconstitute the former Dunheved Lodge or the Royal Antediluvian Order of the Buffalo (RAOB). Mr Warren, manager 0f the Tower Cinema, Launceston, is an old Brother of the Order.

The Royal Humane Society’s certificate on vellum for a rescue at Trebarwith in July was presented to Mr Richard Wells Whiting during Tintagel Surf Life Saving Club’s annual dinner at the St Moritz Hotel, Trebetherick.

Mrs Ruth Sleeman, of Launceston, was the judge at North Hill Church Hyacinth Show which was opened by the new vicar, Rev Conner. During the judging Miss Joan Rendell, of Yeolmbridge, gave an interesting talk on matchbox labels.

At the inaugural meeting of the newly formed Holsworthy Area Committee of Parish Councils, Mr John Parkinson (Clawton) was elected chairman, Tom Dart (Tetcott) vice-chairman, and Mrs P Everitt committee secretary.

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60 years ago

February 29, 1964

In a report to the Cornwall Education Committee, the Secretary for Education, Mr J G Harries, said he wished to allay any anxiety about the safety of Callington school (which, as we have reported, has been propped in several places to prevent crumbling). Mr Harries said the position was that the school was at present safe.

The Dunheved Bowling Club, Launceston, celebrated its golden jubilee with a dinner at the Eagle House Hotel, on Monday.

The East Cornwall Water Board, which met at Liskeard on Monday, approved water schemes for Kelly Bray at a cost of £40,000 and for Golberdon costing £13,000.

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70 years ago

March 6, 1954

Launceston’s next mayor is to be councillor Reg Allen, of Newport Square.

At the annual Queen of Queens contest held in the Clubroom, Altarnun, Miss J Trewin, of Kilkhampton, was chosen with Miss B Hoskin, of Altarnun as runner-up.

Camelford Police Division held its annual ball at Davidstow Parish Hall on Wednesday week. Over 250 enjoyed themselves to the music of Harry Turnbull and his Red Aces Orchestra.

An election was held at North Hill yesterday to fill the vacancy on Launceston Rural District Council caused by the death of Mr C L Symons. The results was: Mr D E Phillips, 197; Mr J T Carpenter, 93.

Mr George Sandercock, of Treween, Altarnun, recently appointed chairman of Launceston RDC, was appointed Justice of the Peace at Tuesday’s sitting of Launceston Petty Sessions.

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80 years ago

March 5, 1944

Reported missing: Stoker Frank Walter, of Brentor. Previously missing, now reported prisoner of war; Pte Horace Fry, of Higher End, Marhamchurch. Wounded in action: L/Cpl Baden A Duke, of Stratton.

Since January 1943, the daily consumption of water at Callington has nearly trebled and the South East Cornwall Water Board is to investigate the position.

Launceston and Broadwoodwidger Rural Councils have declined to carry out a survey to ascertain the rat population of their districts and find out where they are. Members considered it a waste of money and manpower, commenting that the rates were everywhere.

Mr A W Parsons, of Bude (and formerly of Launceston) has been elected president of the Devon Master Bakers Association, and Mr Arthur Bray Venning, of Launceston, s director of “The Post and News”, has been elected as president of the South Western Federation of Newspaper Proprictors.

No 1, Bush Park, Launceston, a six-roomed cottage, fetched £1,010 at an auction on Tuesday, and Hogs Park, a 194-acre farm near Holsworthy, made £2,600.

Rev L Greenaway’s curate-in-charge of St John’s Church, Delabole, preached his farewell sermons on Sunday before leaving for Somerset. He was presented with a cheque by parishioners and friends, and another cheque from the ARP service, of which he has been senior warden.

Mr John Parsons Burrow, 72, of Hartland, who has just retired as a postman, is estimated to have walked a total of 185,000 miles on his rounds since he started in 1899.

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90 years ago

March 10, 1934

Delabole Music Festival, extended to two days again this year, had a record entry of 400 competitors. The adjudicator, Dr Harold Rhodes, had particular praise for Mr J R Bennetts, a Camelford schoolmaster, who gained 94 marks for baritone sol; Iris Hockin, of Boscastle, 91 marks in the elocution class under 12, and Miss Marina M Bluett, of Tregeare, 88 marks for soprano solos.

Callington Town Band is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It was formed in 1884 and the first bandmaster was Mr J Wolseley Risdon, a local printer. The longest record of service is held by Mr James Jago, who retired last year after being a member for 49 years, and the bandmaster since 1914. The present bandmaster is Mr H Buzza.

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100 years ago

March 8, 1924

The controversy concerning the use of Boscastle stone in road making flared up again at Camelford District Council’s meeting on Thursday as a result of representations from a Boscastle Ratepayers’ meeting protesting against their continued use.