Launceston town councillors feel they are getting nowhere fast in their quest to have alcohol free zones set up in the town. They have voiced disappointment at the lack of response from North Cornwall District Council on the town’s application, which has been backed by the police.

The gate to Launceston’s old priory ruins are now kept locked in an attempt to prevent damage and theft. Launceston Civic Society recently suggested the possibility of making the site secure with access being granted only to those with a genuine historical or architectural interest.

Kevin Dingle and Mike Edkins, of Port Isaac lifeboat station, are attending a special reception at Buckingham Palace tonight (Thursday) to mark the contribution of the emergency services in the UK. Kevin and Mike were both accorded the Thanks of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution inscribed on Vellum, in 1998, for their part in rescuing a father and son — hotelier Nick Leeds, aged 52, and hi son, James.

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Members of the parish charity week, who raised £585 for the Robert Johns (Whitstone) Leukemia Fund, handed a cheque to members of the Johns family in a ceremony at North Petherwin Parish Hall on Saturday. The presentation was made by Mrs Norah Jewell.

Once again St Mary’s Hospital Players, Launceston, demonstrated their flair for using good, popular music and turning it into a ‘musical’ for their latest production, “Down Memory Lane” in the town hall.

Members of the Hurdon Way Residents’ Association presented a cheque for £250 to Mrs Morris, nursing office of Launceston Hospitals, on behalf of the Dr Charles Sutherland Memorial Fund.

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Mr E R A Barriball was re-elected chairman of Launceston magistrates for the 24th consecutive year. Mrs W G Steer and Mr J A Perry were re-elected vice-chairman.

A presentation ws made to Mr Arthur Davey to mark his retirement from Messrs Glover and Uglow. The presentation was made by Mr S Walters at a party at the Coronation Hall, St Giles-on-the-Heath.

When North Cornwall Finance Committee discussed rate collection, a disagreement led to council chairman, Mr Arthur Kent, saying: “It goes to show how far divorced some councillors here are from the people they represent. I represent the ratepayers of St Teath and I am putting their views.”

Gillian Broyd won the ladies’ race at Launceston Lions’ go-kart races at the Showfield, Kennards House. Ian Peel representing Orchards won the Grand Prix with Gerald Keast second and Andrew Clogg third.

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For the North Cornwall Motor Club’s Annual Tamar Trial, in the Gidcott area of Thornbury, on Sunday, rain and mud made conditions difficult. The principal award, the George Edwards cup, was won by Sidney Parnell, driving a Ford Popular; Dennis Hawken, of Wadebridge, won the club cup.

The possibility of Tresmeer primary school being reopened was settled on Monday. A special meeting of the county education sub-committee was held, at which it was decided that no action should be taken to alter the present arrangements.

Launceston firemen were summoned to Pennygillam secondary school on Friday. The services however were not required as the outbreak was quelled before their arrival. This was due to prompt action by the caretaker Mr L Dymond and a man from the adjacent canteen. The children were transferred to another school room.

Completely undeterred by the human inhabitance, a pigeon has made its next on an inside window sill of an office in Broad Street. The hen had laid two eggs and one pigeon chick is now being successfully reared, much to the interest of the office staff who share its home.

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Launceston is to be visited by a sporting personality well known throughout England and Wales. Mr Wilfred Wooller, the Glamorgan county cricket captain and Welsh rugby international will be the chief guest at the Launceston Cricket Club’s dinner.

There was no official opening for Launceston shopping week but townspeople and country shoppers could have had little doubt as to what was happening, practically every other window was in the process of being very carefully dressed for the special display competition.

A grey squirrel was seen at Trelay, Davidstow, on Monday. This is the first ever reported to have been seen in the parish.

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Killed in action: Cpl Jack Lander, of Glen Road, Wadebridge; Lieut D R Stuart, of Floden Tor, Boyton; Sgt Bobbie Bolt, of Okehampton; L/Cpl J H Marks, of Prockters Place, Race Hill, Launceston. Died of wounds: Pte G M McKenzie, of Trevanson Street, Wadebridge. Missing Flt Geoffrey Fulford, of Lyndridge, Okehampton. Wounded in action: Rifleman Norman Jennings, of Kilkhampton, Cpl Tony Richards, of The Laurels, Halwill.

A public meeting was held on Monday in the Liberal Hall at Delabole, with Mr S Smith presiding, to discuss the holding of thanksgiving services on the cessation of the war with Germany. It was decided that as quickly as possible after the news arrives, a united service should be held in the large splitting shed at the Slate Quarries, and a committee was set up to make detailed arrangements.

Local servicemen enjoyed a pasty supper laid on by Cairo Cornish Association. Among those present were Sgt R Bennett, Bude; Dvr A S Good and Sgt J C Parsons, Launceston; Cpl Allen, Camelford; and LAC F G Rowse, Gunnislake.

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There has been considerable controversy at St Teath over the fact that the village war memorial, a clock tower, bears the name of the committee who erected it in larger letters than those who fell in the war. The committee’s names are now to be erased.

There is considerable local criticism of Launceston Town Council’s action in approving the erection of an abattoir at Newport. A petition against the scheme has been sent to the council who stat that, as the plans comply with bylaws, they cannot be refused. The necessary licence was issued on Monday.

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For driving a heavy motor car between Wainhouse Corner and Bude at a speed in excess of 12mph a man was fined £5 by Stratton Bench on Monday.

The tercentenary of the birth of George Fox, the founder of the Society of Friends, was celebrated at Launceston (where he was once imprisoned) by a gathering in the Castle Green, presided over by the Borough’s civic heads and attended by Quakers from a wide area.

South Petherwin UM Chapel was re-opened, after expensive renovations, by the Mayoress of Launceston, Mrs W Barriball. Principal speaker at the luncheon was Sir George Croydon Marks, MP.