25 years ago

July 29, 1999

On Saturday, Boyton village staged its first ever fayre when ‘Have a Heart Day’ was held at Braggs Wood Nursery and Gardens. The idea was largely that of Peter Horrell, the owner, who invited a small committee to help with the planning and running of the event which was intended to raise money for Heartswell South West and the British Heart Foundation.

The Castle Grounds at Bude were the windy setting for Budehaven Community School’s annual Summer Fair last week.

More than 200 buildings in Launceston of historic interest are to be the focus of an “at risk” survey sponsored by two local firms — estate agents Kivells and architects Parke Lees.

The green light has this week been given to Homeleigh Garden Centre, a business employing between 30 to 40 people, to expand.

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40 years ago

July 28, 1984

A 15-year-old Davidstow girl is a runner-up in a national art competition to design a Christmas card in aid of cot death research. Joanne Tague, of Butterwell, was one of 20 youngsters to receive a £5 gift voucher as her prize.

Launceston firemen, called by builders on site to a blaze at an Ashwater cottage last Thursday, could hear sheets of asbestos roofing exploding when they were half a mile away. The property was undergoing renovation at the time.

Committee members of Callington’s Chamber of Trade waited outside the council chambers last Tuesday evening to ensure that anyone thinking of attending the open evening would be in no doubt where it was.

A teenager led a police officer a merry dance across the moor in a high-speed chase at Davidstow, magistrates at Bodmin heard on Tuesday. Cons Michael Webb, who roared after the 19-year-old when he tried to give him the slip, admitted to the court “He was going so fast I couldn’t keep up with him.”

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50 years ago

July 27, 1974

Mr F Abbey was elected chairman and Mr J Cory vice chairman at the first meeting of Launceston Group of Primary School Governors.

Dr R J Bridgewater of Tintagel is to stand as an anti-party political candidate (Liberation Movement) for North Cornwall at the next general election.

Because of the pressures of his other commitments Mr Raymond Shaddick, our local correspondent at Kilkhampton for many years has had to relinquish the post and we have appointed Mrs A Spiby in his stead.

British chess master, Peter Clarke, played members of Holsworthy Chess Club and a few passers by, all simultaneously, at the St Peter’s Fair festivities. Of the 22 games played he won 20, drew one with club champion Geoff Kidd, and lost one to ten-year-old David Bromell, of Bradworthy, in 14 moves.

People living near the site of the proposed multi-storey car park at Launceston have signed a petition organised by Mr Mervyn Dawe.

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60 years ago

August 1, 1964

When his lorry developed a breaking system fault on Okehampton’s East Street hill, the young driver chose to drive into a causing injury. Mr Keith Dearsly, of Folly Gate, said: “There was a car in front of me pulled up behind a lorry, and rather than risk a collision I drove head on into the wall.”

Hopes of an early start to the new Launceston by-pass proposal will be revived by the news that the ministry of transport have approved a three-day origina and destination traffic survey at Launceston this month.

A life-long wish of 50 years was fulfilled in Launceston last week. It was in 1915 when her country was over-run by the Germans that a five-year-old Belgian girl, Elvira Falleyn, of Ghent, came to the town with her mother, three brothers and two sisters, and a number of other Belgian refugees. This week she is staying with her husband in Launceston to re-live her childhood days in the area.

The schoolchildren of Marhamchurch have elected Jean Rodd, of Foundry Road, as queen of the local revel.

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70 years ago

July 31, 1954

By trains, express coaches, cars, motor-cycles, pedal cycles and even on foot, holidaymakers in their thousands descended upon Devon and Cornwall last weekend.

A Week St Mary woman is still in hospital in Plymouth, where she is making steady progress after breaking her hip in falling over a kitten.

Pennygillam County Secondary School’s first swimming gala was held at Coronation Baths, Launceston, Friday.

A comic perambulance race was one of the events of Bude carnival week.

While wicket-keeping for Launceston 11 at South Petherwin on Friday, L Marks was hit just above the eye with a rising hall from Warne. He was taken to Launceston Hospital where two stitches were inserted.

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80 years ago

July 29, 1944

Killed in action: Gerald Kay, RN, of Bude; Wilfred Coleman, of St Breward. Lost at sea: Cpl S Allen, of Okehampton. Wounded: Pte R Johns, of Semmersdon Farm, North Tamerton; Lieut John G Gibson, of North Hill, Launceston.

Because of the new ‘flying bombs’, which are dropping on London and elsewhere, fresh evacuees are arriving in the Westcountry, Okehampton and district for instance, received 400 mothers and children at short notice, while nearly 300 arrived at Bude.

One of the members, Rev A C Williams, prophesied to Friday’s meeting of Bude-Stratton Urban Council that after the war a good many houses in Stratton would have to be condemned.

Launceston Show was held last week for the first time under war-time conditions. A gymkhana was included and all the proceeds were for the Agricultural Red Cross Fund. Mr Gerald Peter was president and Mr Horace Kittow, honorary secretary.

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90 years ago

August 4, 1934

Tintagel has lost a great friend and benefactor through the death of Mr Frederick T Glasscock, of Eirenikon, who died aboard the Cunard liner “Scythia” and has been buried at sea. Almost every institution in the neighbourhood has received his generous aid, but his principal interest was the fellowship of the Knights of the Round Table of King Arthur, of which he was the founder in 1927, and which now has members all over the country and abroad.

Winners at a baby show at Horwell Grammar school garden party were: Victor Brian Body, John E Mules, Margaret Joy Gwyn, Esther Pearce, Arthur John Burroughs, Joyce Foster, Freda Pearce, Eric Harvey, Derek Bewes, Kathleen Miller, Peter Wicks, Eric Sandercock.

Indicative of the drought is that it has been possible to ride a horse across Cranmere Pool on Dartmoor for the first time in memory.

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100 years ago

August 2, 1924

Dunheved College, Launceston, celebrated its jubilee on Monday, when the prize-giving was presided over by Mr E D Pethybridge, chairman of the directors, who was a pupil at the school when it was opened 50 years ago. There have been three headmasters — Dr Ralph, 1974-87; Mr Turner, 1887-96 and Mr B B Hardy, 1896 to date.

Tommy Robbins, a lad had a miraculous escape at Lifton when run over by a car. The car passed right over him without causing worse than grazing.

Mr Thomas Brown, organ blower at Tintagel Parish Church for more than 30 years, has been presented with £14 from parishioners of all denominations on his retirement. The organist for 45 years, Mr H G White, is carrying on.