25 years ago
April 6, 2000
Launceston Millennium Tree Fund has received “tree-mendous news” of an £8,132 grant.
It has been six months since Camelford Town Councillors decided not to rectify the alleged mistake of naming the town’s ope-ways as awks on signage erected last year. But at tonight’s (Thursday) meeting of the council the item has been put on the agenda again to consider a letter from Camelford and District Old Cornwall Society asking them to right the wrong.
What’s Up Boys, a horse owned by a Bude man and looked after during his holidays at Tintagel, is enjoying his new equine celebrity status after pulling off a famous victory at the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival.
Launceston Town Council is going on-line with the aim of providing a “community hub” to link different organisation. The council is in the process of commissioning “an exciting new website for the town”.
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40 years ago
April 6, 1985
The new tourist centre at the Crescent Car Park, Bude, was officially opened on Wednesday by Mr Graham Facks-Martin, chairman of North Cornwall District Council. In presenting the keys of the centre and of the canal exhibition building at Hele Bridge to Bude-Stratton Council chairman Mr Jack Gardiner, he said he hoped this was the start of many combined efforts between the district council and the town and district.
Auctioneer Lewis Bond was again unanimously re-elected as chairman of Callington’s Chamber of Trade at their AGM. Peter Manning has had to step down from the office of vice-chairman as his work now calls for frequent trips to London, but he will continue to support the Chamber as a member. Bill Gallagher was elected vice-chairman, and Adrian Sanders was re-elected treasurer.
Launceston Young Farmers’ Club had a successful evening on Saturday when 17 members travelled to Malvern, Worcestershire, as part of the county entertainments team. The Cornish team competed against others from Shropshire, Devon, Buckinghamshire, Sussex and Warwickshire in the southern round of the national entertainments competition and were once again placed first.
Audiences who attended performances of “The Inn of Happiness” at Launceston College last week were enchanted by the catchy music, the skilful lighting effects and, above all, by the quality of the acting of the large cast of children.
A ceremony tinged with sadness sealed the official friendship of Launceston and its Breton partner, Plestin les Greves. For, just before the charter signing on Sunday, Plestin’s deputy mayor, Arsene Conan, collapsed and died.
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50 years ago
April 4, 1975
Alan Gifford received the head boy’s prize and Gillian Westaway the head girls’ prize at Holsworthy Secondary School presentation of awards.
A violin solo by young Suzanne Green was one of the highlights of the Bude Youth Orchestra concert at Budehaven School. The conductor was Miss Muriel Maddock.
Councillor Alan Buckingham’s proposal for Launceston to have five representatives instead of four on North Cornwall District Council failed at a meeting of the policy and resources committee.
Kathy Keat, aged 15 of Bude, is the Under-23’s Ladies’ Golf Champion for Cornwall. Sally Willis, also of Bude, took third place in a field of 12 at Perranporth.
Mr Raymond Shaddick was the compere for a concert in the Parish Hall at North Petherwin and the artistes were Mr Harold Gubbin, with his glasses; Miss Hillary Prout, guitar; Ian Harvey, electric organ; Misses Teresa and Lucille Cann, duets; Barriball brothers, Jan and Stan; Mr Gerald Fry, comedy; and the W I Choir under Mrs Werren.
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60 years ago
April 10, 1965
An application by Mr S C Gillbard, the proprietor, for a new Justices’ on licence for the Eagle House Hotel, was granted at Monday’s licensing sessions at Launceston.
Described as “Disastrous for the county’s economy”, cuts in Ministry of Transport grants for Cornish roads were revealed at the quarterly meeting of Cornwall Highways Committee in Bodmin on Friday.
Mr John Michael Gorst, aged 36, an industrial and public relations consultant, of 33 Bruton Street, London, WI, has been commended for adoption as prospective Conservative candidate for the South East Cornwall Division.
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70 years ago
April 9, 1955
On Tuesday night Sir Winston Churchill retired from the Premiership, Sir Anthony Eden has been invited by the Queen to form a government.
One of the queerest love affair known is being enacted on Brooklands Farm, Port Gaverne — that between a gander and a heifer, the eight-year-old gander has refused to leave its side. In summer, the eight-year-old gander spends the whole of the day and night in the field with the heifer, which is not a consenting party in the friendship and would gladly show its disapproval with a hefty kick. Although the gander keeps as close as possible to its heels, it wisely keeps just out of range! The strange friendship is a source of great amusement to visitors each summer.
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80 years ago
April 7, 1945
Killed in action: Gnr Fred Rowe, Hartland; Capt Basil Spread, of Berridon Hall, Bradworthy (whose elder brother, Capt P C Spread, was killed in action in 1943). Missing: Coder Reg Hole, RN, of 18 St Thomas Road, Launceston.
Mr Arthur William Rowe. 34, of Troy Cottages, Hartland, was injured when the tractor he was driving overturned between Philham and Etson on Monday. Mrs Thrupp, of Philham Water, heard the crash and raised her alarm, and Mr Lewis Walter, of Great Philham, jacked up the machine to free Mr Rowe.
A Devonport youth of 17 lost his life on Tuesday when the cycle he was riding down a hill crashed into the parapet of Gunnislake Newbridge and he was thrown into the river. Inquest evidence was that he died from drowning after becoming unconscious from a blow on the head and a verdict of accidental death was recorded.
Rev H H Griswell, Vicar of St Thomas, Launceston, is resigning to take up a post with the Missions of Bahrain.
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90 years ago
April 13, 1935
A thatched cottage at St Ann’s Hill, Bagbury, Bude, was completely burned out last week, but fortunately, the occupants, Mr and Mrs J Metherell and their daughter. escaped unhurt.
The new occupational centre at Drakewells, Gunnislake was officially opened on Friday by Mr A M Williams, chairman of the Cornwall Unemployed Committee. The intention is that the unemployed men can work here making articles such as furniture for themselves, their homes and families, which they otherwise could not afford to have.
Launceston and Bude Football Clubs may go senior next season. At present they are playing in junior leagues in Devon, Bude, beaten in the eastern section in the Cornwall Junior Cup last week won the trophy in 1911.
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100 years ago
April 11, 1925
The unemployment figures for the Bude area for the week ending April 11, were: Men 17; Women 4.
The death occurred at Falmouth of Henry Houssemayne DuBoulay sometime archdeacon of Bodmin and Rector of Lawhitton.
Up to a late hour this afternoon, Wednesday, the bodies of P/O N C Walker and A/C F E Mills, of Gunnislake, who disappeared after a bombing aeroplane in which they were flying, crashed into the sea off Birchington, Tuesday, had not been recovered.