25 years ago
March 25, 1999
Fundraiser Bob Johns presented a cheque for £3,600 to Ray Powles, head of the leukaemia and myeloma units at the Royal Marsden NHS Trust, London and Surrey.
The annual parish meeting was held in Yeolmbridge Methodist Sunday Schoolrooms last Thursday, when the chairman of the council, Mr R A Adams, presided. The attendance was very small, despite the meeting having been publicised beforehand.
Launceston blacksmith Colin Beal of Wooda Forge has been helping Westcountry TV unravel one of the region’s oldest mysteries. Colin has recreated a lead cross which was allegedly found in Glastonbury in 1191 for one of the programmes in the Strangers than Fiction series, which explores the legend ‘Were the bones found in Glastonbury those of King Arthur’.
A consensus of support has been given to Camelford Town Council to press on with safety work on the children’s play area in Enfield Park.
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40 years ago
March 24, 1984
Representatives of Launceston, Camelford and Stratton branches of the National Farmers’ Union met North Cornwall MP Gerry Neale on Saturday in an attempt to explain to him the devastating effects the EEC proposals would have on the local livestock industry.
Salesman Mr Barry Jordan was chosen as mayor-elect of Launceston at a special meeting of Launceston Town Council on Friday.
North Cornwall Council has been warned not to be too confident about plans for building a new geriatric hospital in Launceston.
Gorse fires have proved a headache for Launceston firemen over the past week. Last Friday saw them in attendance at gorse fires at Badgall Down, Moorview and Laneast.
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50 years ago
March 23, 1974
Mrs Grace Oke, of Holsworthy, has for 27 years organised flag days for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, helping to raise more than £1,200. To mark her achievement, she received a framed letter from the Institution.
Mrs Doris Thomas was elected president for a second term of office at the annual meeting of Launceston Women’s Institute.
David, Judith and Isobel Cleave and Rosemary Olde of Morwenstow Sunday School won certificates at the eighth youth eisteddfod held at Bude and Stratton.
Jennifer Pengilly took the lead role in Bradworthy YFC pantomime ‘Robinson Crusoe’.
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60 years ago
March 21, 1964
An application from Launceston Rugby Football Club to improve its facilities, by increasing the size of the clubhouse and setting up a licensed social club, was not granted when it came before the highways and general purposed committee. This was reported at a meeting of Launceston town council at the Guildhall on Monday.
At the Bradworthy Memorial Hall on Monday, Messrs Seldon and Cory offered for sale by public auction Broad Park, comprising house, buildings and 11.431 acres with an additional house. Bidding commenced at £4,000 and quickly rose to £5,600, the purchaser being Mr A F Webb, of Bradworthy.
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70 years ago
March 20, 1954
Launceston’s rate rose to 21s 6d in the £. This figure was adopted on Monday — an increase of 1s on last year. The rise is due entirely to the increased county precept which is now 17s 3d.
Tower Street Methodist Church, Launceston, is out of the red after a spring effort raised £575. This has paid off the remainder of loans used for the extensive renovations two and a half years ago.
Mr A R Cory, chairman of the committee of 25 butchers, farmers and dealers planning a new abattoir at Launceston, announced this week that detailed plans would be submitted soon. The project will cost an estimated £25,000 to £30,000.
News was received in Bude on Wednesday that Darrell Cann, of the Royal Engineers, had been killed in Egypt. He is the eldest of three sons, all serving in HM Forces, of Mr C Cann, of Fairfield Road, Bude.
Burglars made an unsuccessful attempt to blow open a safe in the offices of the egg packing station at Tavistock Road, Callington.
Callington Parish Council decided last week to hold a special meeting relating to the town’s cattle market and the proposed sale of it by St Germans Rural Council. Mr A E Lazenbury said people feared the town’s dignity could be lost.
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80 years ago
March 18, 1944
Killed in action: F/Lt E R Stannard, RAF, whose wife was formerly Miss Peggy Carthew, of Holsworthy. Died of wounds: Sgt R E Chammings, Bartin Road, Okehampton; Pte Arnold Pridham, RAMC, of Tillannda, Callington. Died through enemy action: Radio Officer Norman Frederick Sandford, MN, of Tregulland, St Clether. Drowned on active service: Sig Arthur Charles Allen, RN, of Trewarmett, Tintagel. Missing: Guardman Gordon Sleep, of Tettaridge Gate, near Launceston.
During Home Guard practice at a rifle range near Hatherleigh, Lt Hugh Willmott Roxborough made a faulty throw with a hand grenade. To save others, he picked it up to throw further but it exploded and he lost his right hand and left arm. This week he has been awarded the George Medal for his gallantry.
Driver George Henry Jury, RASC, of Old Wooda, Launceston, now serving in Italy has been awarded the Military Medal.
For permitting straw to burn in their fields at night, two farmers were fined 10s and £1 respectively at Stratton Police Court under the black-out regulations.
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90 years ago
March 24, 1934
Captain J B Cook is retiring from Bude-Stratton urban Council, of which he has been a member since 1914. Now 78, the captain first went to sea on his father’s ship as a boy of nine and on retirement from the sea established the firm of Cooks Stores, of which there are two branches in Bude. He was captain of the Steel Ketch “Kindly Light” which after he has sold her, was sunk by an enemy submarine in Bude Bay.
After a prolonged and stormy meeting at which the chairman, Mr W S Ward, eventually refused to accept any more remarks, Camelford Rural Council on Thursday, turned down the proposition of Mr Setchell that they should rescind their previous decision to buy a fire engine for the district.
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100 years ago
March 22, 1924
Members of the Delabole British Legion Band, started in March 1921, appeared at a concert arrayed in new uniforms. The esteemed bandmaster, who has brought them so far on the road of perfection is Mr J Amy.
Poughill Weslyans after so many years of labour and longing, opened their new chapel on Saturday. Previously, they had worshipped in a small unsuitable building, converted some 80 years ago from a machine hose, the property of Mr Gurney.