25 years ago

March 16, 2000

Brave Becky Oldfield is determined to overcome leukaemia — with a little help from her friends. The family of eight year old Becky have been overwhelmed by the support from Tintagel residents whose kindness and financial donations have been an enormous morale boost over the past year. The latest fundraising event — a darts tournament held at the Tintagel Country Club — raised £200 towards the family’s expenses.

An important site at the entrance of Bude which has lain redundant for several months can now be developed into a new enterprise — a fast food restaurant.

Pupils at Launceston College cheerfully welcomes Education Secretary Mr David Blunkett and his faithful black dog Lucy, when he opened the special unit at Launceston College last Wednesday.

Rocky the guillemot has been released back into the wild having been restored to full health by Bude mechanic Paul Vincent. Paul rescued the oil soaked guillemot from Bude Canal over a month ago.

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40 years ago

March 16, 1985

Due to the absence of the priest-in-charge, the Rev E J Widdows, who has voluntarily withdrawn his services from Lewannick, the chairmanship of the parochial annual meeting was taken by the Archdeacon of Bodmin, the Ven George Temple, in St Martin’s Church on Sunday.

It was a case of no rest for the weary at Widemouth Manor Hotel last weekend when a determined trio played pool for 52 hours to raise money for the National Kidney Research Fund. They were publican Ricky Perry, Pete Wintle of Zoeftig Furniture, Alan Hawkins of Widemouth Bay Service Station.

South Petherwin Junior Ringers were triumphant at Cornwall County Music Festival last week when they won the Pollard Shield for the best handbell ringing. And in doing so they ensured that the shield came back to the village for the third year running.

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50 years ago

March 15, 1975

For saving a young brother and sister from drowning last August, Mr Peter Joseph Ash, of Congdon’s Bridge, Crackington Haven, received the Royal Humane Society’s testimonial on parchment from Mr Ken Axford, chairman of Stratton Magistrates.

Young Stephen Bridgeman stuck the old gallows bell to signify the unveiling of the memorial tablet at the official opening of St Catherine’s Church of England School, Launceston. He was held by the headmaster, Mr Henry Kinsman, and watched by Canon W G Steer and the Lord Bishop of Truro.

Stephen Rickard, aged 12, as Buttons was the star of the show when Bude Central Methodist Youth Club presented their annual pantomime, a new and original ‘Cinderella’ with Lisa Opie in the lead role.

Mr Duncan Keith Gordon, of the Melbourne Hotel, Boscastle, was sworn in as a special constable at Camelford Court on Friday.

Christina Ward sang duets with herself, with the aid of a tape recorder, at Bude Music Society, Mr Geoffrey Savage introduced Miss Ward and Mr Graham Bacon thanked her for a most enjoyable evening’s music.

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60 years ago

March 20, 1965

Launceston’s rate for the coming year will be 12s 9d in the £, it was announced at a meeting of the town council on Monday. the increase of 5d on the current figure of 12s 4d in the £ has been brought about by the 3d rise in the county council’s precept which now stands at 8s, and an additional 2d on the East Cornwall water board demand which is now 1s in the £.

Bad weather led to the East Cornwall Hunt’s point-to-point steeplechase meeting being called off on Wednesday. Continuous heavy rain on the course at Lemalla near Launceston made conditions unsuitable for racing.

Cornwall YFC Federation’s most coveted award the Clifton Cup this year went to Launceston YFC for the first time. For the past three years it had been held by the Threemilestone Club. The award was announced and the trophy presented at the Federation’s 28th annual meeting at Fraddon on Wednesday week.

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70 years ago

March 19, 1955

Stoke Climsland’s new sports hall, formally opened on Monday, will serve all three sports clubs in the village and provide a venue for any other approved social and recreation group at a rental of a shilling a year.

It has been let by the Duke of Cornwall on a 31-year lease at this nominal sum. Situated close to the Parish Church, this substantial building of stone replaces the Men’s Institute which was dismantled last year because the site was required for churchyard extension.

New school buildings, commodious and well-equipped were formally opened at Callington last week. They will provide extra accommodation for the 195 pupils of the Grammar School, which was built in 1907 when the number on the register was less than 100.

Two sprigs of holly are growing from a chestnut tree in Westgate Street, Launceston.

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80 years ago

March 17, 1945

Ldg Aircraftswoman Jean Metherell of Sunnyside, Boscastle, is reported missing after an aeroplane accident. Also from Boscastle, Stewart Allen, observer on a Lancaster bomber, was reported missing in a raid on German.

Clifton College, which has been evacuated to Bude, is to return to Bristol.

There was a lively debate on post-war housing plans at Camelford’s annual parish meeting with Mr Jago calling the present situation “an absolute muddle”. There were near 200 men from Camelford serving in the forces, he pointed out, and if on return they had to occupy rooms with their parents they would be disgusted. Sir John Molesworth-St Aubyn thought it should be a national matter as it would be impossible for Camelford to build houses for all who would require them and Mr C E Lees suggested there would only be about 30 houses for the returning servicemen.

At an auction conducted by Messrs Kittow and Son, the 17 acre Higher Truscott Farm, St Stephens, was bought by Mr George bray for £1,800.

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90 years ago

March 23, 1935

Mr Alfred Grigg of Launceston, who has died aged 77, was one of the town’s most respected inhabitants. A former bank manager at Launceston, he was the secretary of the original Dunheved College, had been a town councillor and held many offices. He was one of the first in the town to possess a penny-farthing bicycle.

Launceston Town Council are considering re-organising the cattle market to cater for the modern trend of cattle conveyance by lorries. They have also decided to open the Pannier Market on Tuesdays as well as Saturdays.

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100 years ago

March 21, 1925

A member of Loyal Unity Lodge of Oddfellows, Launceston for the 40 years and its secretary for the past 25 years, Bro F Beney was on Thursday presented with a wallet containing £100 at a dinner in the White Hart Hotel.

Launceston Chamber of Trade held its second annual meeting and dinner on Monday. Membership has increased to 85. Officers elected: President, Mr R Waller; chairman, Mr J Treleaven; hon secretary, Mr Lyndon Cook jar; treasurer, Mr A Y Oag.

Miss Dickinson stressed the need for a public mortuary at Saturday’s meeting of Tintagel Parish Council. She said that in recent cases bodies have been placed in a cattle shed or carpenter’s shop.