The four youngest pupils at Werrington CP School met Father Christmas at the school party: William Walton, Adrian Lewis, Samuel Wooldridge and Katie Parkyn.

Altarnun village hall was filled to capacity on December 16 and 17, when members of various organisations presented a millennium pageant celebrating the years 1900-2000.

‘Thanks George’: Launceston’s ‘Jilty Five Fund Raisers’ held their Christmas bingo and presentation evening recently when donations of £250 each were presented to Mrs Jean Mathison (Macmillan Nurse) and Dr Wheal of Launceston Medical Centre, towards a defibrillator for the centre, by vice chairman George Lugg. The money was raised by a series of bingo evenings over the summer months.

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An Okehampton grandmother has kept mum for two hours and raised at least £100 for the campaign to pay for liver transplants in children...proving that silence really is golden.

The power failure on Boxing Day that deprived 200 people living on two Launceston estates of their hot Boxing Day dinners was patched up within a matter of hours.

A mad scientist, Biggles and Boy George let their hair down in Camelford this week and welcomed in 1985 with a fun-packed jamboree that has the whole town buzzing. The unlikely trio were among more than 100 locals in fancy dress celebrating a new year party.

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On the last Sunday of 1974 a chapter was completed in the story of the religious life of Launceston when the last service took place at Tower Street Methodist Church — a story that began in January 1851 when the Bible Christians bought the site and erected the first chapel.

Kilkhampton Parish Council met recently and the first item of business was the election of a councillor to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr R Metherell. There were three applicants and Mr F Trewin was unanimously elected.

Mrs Grace Venton has retired as manageress of Marathon Launceston Limited’s making-up and training departments as she is expecting a baby in March.

At the invitation of Col and Mrs St Aubyn, parishioners and friends assembled at the manor at midday on Christmas Eve to witness the presentation of a colour TV and cheque (to which tenants of the estate and friends had donated) to Mr S Williams, who had recently retired from the staff of Tetcott Estate after being in the employ for 40 years.

A bunch of primroses was picked at St Teath last week by Mrs K Sleeman.

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Steam trains did not leave the North Cornwall line in a blaze of glory on Saturday night. Whatever railwaymen have said in the past about the transfer to diesel did not count on these lines, as the engines were in such bad repair that even the crews were glad of the changeover.

Bridestowe Methodist Church was re-opened, and a new car park was opened for the first time, in ceremonies on New Year’s Day.

There is a great shortage of nursery schools for Britain’s under-fives — but not at Lifton where a playgroup venture, started in November by the rector, Rev Mark Thornewill, and a group of sponsors, has just completed a highly successful first term.

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Well-known sportsman Mr H Landrey, of Lemarne, North Hill, whose weather records for his district have become a regular feature of this newspaper, states that the past season was “the wettest I can remember”.

The first of series of street announcements at Callington appealing for new savers in the National Savings Campaign was made by the Town Crier, Mr Bert Maunder, on Saturday.

Farm workers’ wages are to be increased from January 24. The award means a 7s increase for men, bringing the rate to £6 7s for a 47 hour week. Women will receive £4 16s a week.

About 45 years ago when Mrs S Prout was living in the cottage at Trecorne Farm, Delabole, she lost her wedding ring. Quite recently Mr T Burnard, who now occupies the cottage, was digging in the garden and found the ring still in perfect condition. He returned it to Mrs Prout, who now lives with her son-in-law and daughter, Mr and Mrs A Whell at Downhouse, Delabole.

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Killed in Italy: Sub-Cond Fred Sargent, RAOC, second son of Mrs Sargent, of 15, Hill Park, Launceston. Wounded in action: Capt Bernard Underhill, Gurkha Rifles, of Callington. Awarded DFC Sq Ldr Adhemar Auber Melville-Jackson, of Bude.

Children in the Wadebridge district have this week seen bananas for the first time in their lives: a gift from the crew of the town’s adopted ship MHS Jonquil.

In a joint statement, the four main line railway companies say that after the war they will re-equip their lines and trains and carry out extensive improvements so that Britain will have the finest railway service in the world and the aim will be to provide pre-war frequencies and speeds at the earliest possible moment.

Charlie Jasper, a familiar figure in the borough of Launceston, died on Tuesday at Pages Cross, where he had been since he was a boy. He was 76.

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There has been a sudden increase in unemployment in Launceston, the figure of workless having been almost doubled and the occupational and recreation centre at the Dingly Institute has been reopened. There have been free issues of coal and children have been given free cinema tickets.

The annual meeting and dinner of the Delabole Market Committee was held at Bridge House (the residence of Mr and Mrs A Blake) on Friday, Mr E S Ellicott presiding, and the main point of the speeches was support for the government marketing schemes.

The opening dance of the up-to-date and well-equipped Ace of Clubs roundhouse at Lewdown took place on Tuesday with 300 people present. Converted from a garage, there is a ballroom and cafe.

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The action of the sea in undermining the road at Port Isaac was reported to Bodmin Rural Council on Saturday when Mr S M Stephens said that recent floods had also caused ruts in the road two feet deep. It was decided to support the proposed harbour scheme on the grounds that it would keep the sea out.

Mr Short, monumental mason and decorator, had just got off his motor-cycle to deliver a breastplate to a Delabole undertaker on Wednesday when he collapsed and died.

Unemployment figures for Bude again show an upward tendency — men 35, women five.