25 years ago

November 20, 1997

A Christmas fair was held at Pendruccombe Residential Home, Launceston, when residents and visitors had a fine old time eating mince pies with a cup of tea on Saturday morning whilst raising money for the Friends of Pendruccombe and Cornwall Air Ambulance.

Increasing popularity and great ambitions has resulted in Launceston-band Syrup deciding to leave their Cornish base. The five lads from the town who all began their musical careers at Launceston College have said everything they can do in the South West has been done, and are now planning to branch out into the wider world. As they plan a nationwide tour including venues in Birmingham, Nottingham, Cardiff, Portsmouth and London, the group have revealed they will be moving from Launceston shortly after Christmas.

Messrs Alan and Chris Mill of Norton Barton, Launcells, Bude, are seen receiving the Budgens Stores Championship Trophy from judge John Fawdry, senior buyer for Budgens, at the recent Beef Carcass Competition at Jaspers (Treburley) Ltd. The second annual Christmas Carcass Competition in conjunction with Budgens entertained a large number of local beef producers and was highly successful. There was an even higher standard of exhibits than last year. The results are as follows: Champion Steer: Messrs A Mill and Son, Launcells. Limousin class: 1, Messrs A Mill and Son; 2, Mr W Yeo, Lewdown; 3, Messrs Dinnis and Sons, Bray Shop. Charolais class: 1, Mr D J Brookham, St Giles; 2, Messrs J A Perry and Sons, Lawhitton; 3, Messrs Dinnis and Sons. South Devon class: 1, Mr R L Davey, Bray Shop; 2, Mr C Sobey Jnr, Liskeard; 3, Messrs R Bastard and Son, Launceston.

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40 years ago

November 20, 1982

The Aldermanic robes of the old Launceston Borough Council made their promised reappearance on Sunday, after being in store since local governmental reorganisation. They were worn for the Remembrance parade by the four senior members of the present Town Council Councillors Ronald Martin, Jim Hughes, Wilfred Bailey and Oliver Harris (deputy Mayor). They were picture in the Post with the Mayor (Mr Arthur Wills), the Town Sergeants (Messrs S Martin and B Castle) and the Standard Bearer (Mr B Tremain).

An informal sherry party was held in Madford House, Launceston, to mark the retirement after 45 years with the Inland Revenue of Mr C H J Daniel, of 4, Shilson Terrace, Launceston. Mr Daniel entered public service in 1937 at Exeter and apart from a period in the Army during 1940 to 1946 has worked mainly in the South West of England. He worked in Launceston in 1946 for a few months before being transferred to Newton Abbot. He returned to the town in 1967. Mr Daniel was presented with a cut glass rose bowl and dish by the District Inspector, Mr G Potts, on behalf of colleagues in Launceston Tax Office. Mrs Daniels was given a bouquet by Miss Joanne O’Keefe.

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50 years ago

November 18, 1972

When he conducts the Launceston Municipal Band at the South West Brass Band contest in Paignton tomorrow (Saturday), Bandmaster Reg Walter will be fulfilling his last engagement in that capacity for he is retiring at the beginning of next month after 36 years’ service.

The MBE was awarded at a Buckingham Palace investiture on Tuesday to Miss Cicely Kingdon, a Queen’s nurse, midwife and health visitor, who has worked at Callington for 22 years.

Susan Brouet, of Week St Mary, won the Hearn trophy for highest number (91) of marks in boys’ and girls’ vocal classes at Wadebridge Music Festival.

‘Young love in Venice’ entered by the Jordan and Yelland families won the artistic class at Holsworthy Carnival. The open champion float was ‘Gay Paree’ entered by Miss M Wheaton and Mrs P Hines from Okehampton.

Lord Marks’ prizes for the boy and girl at Launceston College obtaining the best A-level results in 1972 examinations have been awarded to Neilson Nute, of 31, Trecarrell Estate, Launceston, and Elizabeth Jefferies of Beara, North Hill.

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60 years ago

November 24, 1962

The old ‘Roundhouse’ at Soldon Cross, a few miles north of Holsworthy, has been demolished.

While removing plaster at St Michael’s Church, Trewen, in order to insert a collecting box in the wall, Mr W T Hutchings discovered a medieval holy water stoup close to the door, inside the church.

The former Great Western branch line, from Launceston to Tavistock and on to Plymouth, which when opened in 1884 was the borough’s first rail link, is to close on December 31.

Mr A B Bartlett, of Broadclose, Bude, is the new charman of the Stratton and District branch of the National Farmers’ Union.

Within half an hour of each other the deaths occurred on Monday of Holsworthy’s “Derby and Joan” couple, Mr and Mrs Bill Wickett, of Stanhope Close, who celebrated their golden wedding a year or so ago.

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70 years ago

November 15, 1952

This year’s fairy queen for Camelford is Carol Bath and her attendants are Felicity Kinna and Marilyn Barnes. The queen who takes over from Miss Sally Walkey is Miss Mary Burnett and her attendants are Misses Maureen Hill and Mary Prout.

Reporting to Camelford Rural Council on Thursday week on a joint meeting about cattle grids for Davidstow Moor, Mr T B Wakeham said: “We are very very strong we have to face the third winter, since we started asking for cattle grids and still have the cattle on the roads.”

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80 years ago

November 21, 1942

Killed in action: Percy Lashbrook, of Heggadon, Ashwater. Died on active service: William Evans, of North Hill. Wounded in action: W P Stanbury, of Ridgegrove Lane, Launceston.

Awarded Bar to Distinguished Service Cross for gallantry in action in HM motor gunboats; Lieut L G R Campbell, RNVR, of Trevellan, St Teath. Awarded Distinguished Service Medal: CERA L Gillespy, Stoke Climsland, and POTel J Hobban, Wadebridge.

Two schoolboys Raymond Davey and Gordon Hodge, organised a carnival at Newport, followed by a concert in the Old Tannery, and raised £1 13s 6d for the Prisoners of War Fund.

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90 years ago

November 26, 1932

Launceston Town Council is to provide work for the local unemployed, the first item being the construction of a circular path around the base of the Castle Keep.

Mr W H Bickley is to retire from his post as Launceston Borough Librarian. In the past there has been no provision for a holiday for the holder of this post, but in future a week’s annual holiday will be given, the library to be closed for one week.

The Rev F C Hamlyn, Vicar of Morwenstow, is to exchange with the Rev Philip A Evans, from Lincolnshire.

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100 years ago

November 25, 1922

Launceston’s MOH, Dr A Budd, received permission from the town council on Monday to publish notices inviting the public to be vaccinated. He spoke of the recent outbreak of smallpox and said 75 per cent of the people of Launceston were not vaccinated. Okehampton Town Council was also warmed of the danger of smallpox by their MOH, Dr A Gaster, who said the only isolation accommodation would be a tent in the town.