25 years ago

July 9, 1998

Marhamchurch and South Petherwin Primary Schools have been successful in a competition organised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The subject of the competition was “Buildings Old and New, Inside and Outside”. In first place was Marhamchurch Junior and Infant School winning £100, and in joint second place, South Petherwin and St Kew Primary Schools each winning £50.

Crowds head for hills to sample mini-Glastonbury — Last weekend saw the third annual Bude Surf and Rock Festival with clear skies and a big band line up seeing more people than ever.

Victims of the Lowermoor water poisoning incident of ten years’ ago were among those who handed a letter to the Prime Minister on Monday calling for a full public inquiry. The incident on July 6, 1988, affected 20,000 homes in North Cornwall and has hit the local, regional and national headlines on a regular basis ever since.

40 years ago

July 9, 1983

Mrs Cynthia Buckingham donned a second chain of office — in addition to becoming the Mayor of Launceston, she is also this year’s President of Inner Wheel.

A member of Launceston Life-Saving Club, Wendy Davey, examined Anatomic Annie, a dummy featuring the respiratory system and used for teaching kiss-of-life techniques. The dummy, costing £230, was presented to the club by Mr Monty Lowther on behalf of the local Lions.

A strawberry and champagne evening was held by Launceston ladies’ Circle at the home of Mr and Mrs John Wakeham.

With weather this year reminiscent of the golden summers of long ago, Holsworthy St Peter’s Fair is again presenting its mixture of ancient tradition and modern interest to the people of the town and district.

50 years ago

July 7, 1973

A team from Cornwall ages 12-14, takes part in the first of a new series of the ‘It’s Your Word’ knock-out quiz programme on BBC 1 on Monday. Cornwall team members are Jacqueline Bloomfield, of Tolcarne, Lewannick; Timothy Atlee, of Higher Penpety, Tintagel; and Linda Trebilcock, of Metherell, Callington.

Albert Steel, aged 71, who has been a hairdresser for more than 55 years, retired on Saturday. He started his business at Pinchbeck, Lincolnshire. It was nearly 35 years ago that he moved to Launceston and has since carries out business at 8, Church Street.

Mr F Hambly, a member of the Observer Corps at Bude for 24 years, received a bar to his long service medal when presentations were made at Bude by Observer Lieut R Symons. Other Bude members had master badges and first class certificates.

Mr A Dowdle is the new chairman of Whitstone Parish Council with Mr E Short vice-chairman. Miss P Walter was appointed clerk in succession to Miss C Martin.

Temperance Hotel, Lewannick, once a public house known as the Archer Arms, may revert to its original use subject to planning permission. It has been over 50 years since the small village with an electoral roll of 53 had its own local, but at Launceston Transfer Sessions on Monday, Mr Charles Hooper was provisionally granted a full licence in respect of the Archer Arms.

60 years ago

July 6, 1963

Several local people are among the many guests due at Buckingham Palace for the first of this summer’s Royal garden parties. They include the Mayor and Mayoress of Launceston (Mr and Mrs W R BEnnett), Launceston’s County Councillor (Mr Albert Sloman) and his daughter (Miss Vera Sloman), and Canon and Mrs W G Steer, of Launceston.

A runaway lorry loaded with seven tons of china clay careered down a hill at Gunnislake, smashed into the back of a coach, and then crashed through the parapit of New Bridge where it came to a halt, swaying precariously with its front wheels suspended 50ft above the Tamar.

Mr C Rollanson, of Hurdon Way, Launceston, discovered that an old wooden chest, which had been given to him, was lined with papers over 100 years old. Mr Rollason did not realise at the time the date of the papers, so some of them were torn very badly and destroyed. There were however, pieces of “The Times” of 1857.

A Pyworthy farmer, Mr Tony Flower, of Crinacott Farm, has been invited to visit Moscow to demonstrate to Russian farmers an automatic electrically operated calf feeder.

70 years ago

July 11, 1953

Selected as Holsworthy’s 115th Pretty Maid, 21-year-old Miss Joan Mary Master, of 21, North Road, Holsworthy, was presented to the assembled crowds outside the parish church on Wednesday.

During the week eight salmon, two grilse, and one sea trout have been taken from the White Hart Hotel waters.

A scheme for enabling a larger quanitity of water to pass under the bridge which serves the trunk road through Camelford, thereby reducing the risk of serious flooding, such as occurred in 1950, has been submitted to Camelford Rural Council by the county surveyor.

80 years ago

July 10, 1943

Mentioned in Despatches, for gallant and distinguished service in the Middle East: L/Cpl D W O Grover, of Bude.

Recently reported missing on an operational flight over enemy territory, Sqn Ldr W Lashbrook, DFM, is now safely back home on leave at Iddescott Gate, Putford.

Mr Charles Sandercock, a submariner in the Royal Navy, recently repatriated after being a prisoner of war in Italy, visited his home town of Stratton this week.

Rev William Thomas Rickett, Rector of Virginstow with St Giles since 1937, is leaving for Marwood, near Barnstaple.

To Camelford Rural Council on Thursday, Mr H Bray complained that the bus service from the Tintagel district to Camelford was inadequate, the bus company were running the usual services, but with the influx of visitors, the buses were nearly always full and local people often had to walk home. The council are to make representations on the matter.

90 years ago

July 15, 1933

Camelford Rural Council is complaining at the district being left out of the national scheme for the supply of electricity. They have enlisted the aid of Sir Francis Acland, MP for North Cornwall.

The largest number for many years attended St Peter’s Fair at Holsworthy. This year’s pretty maid is Miss Gwendoline Dennis, cashier at Holsworthy Picture House, and daughter of Mr Dennis, grocer of The Square.

Bude may have a new Council School. A largely signed petition from the residents has reached the County Council.

100 years ago

July 14, 1923

The clock-face weighbridge which Launceston Town Council, at the suggestion of the local Farmers’ Union, has installed in the Cattle Market, was used for the first time on Tuesday. Mr Baker, of Treniffle, was the owner of the first animal to be weighed.

This year’s pretty maid at Holsworthy St Peter’s Fair is Miss Rhoda Trace, of Penrose GArden, Bodmin Street. In accordance with custom, instituted by the present Rector (Rev T S Kendell) a number of the Romney folk brought their infants to be christened at the church.

When the proposed North Cornwall water scheme was discussed at a public meeting at Delabole, voting was close, but it was agreed to support the scheme. At a similar meeting, Tintagel showed itself to be nine to one in favour. Mr T Wakefield, JP, CC, made explanatory speeches at both gatherings.

It was reported at the annual meeting of the Launceston Electric Supply Co, Mr R B Rogers (chairman) presideing, that no dividend could be paid, but the company was in a better position.