Davidstow residents fed up with cars being burnt out and dumped on the moor are taking action. Over 30 vehicles have been left on the common and forestry land in the last 12 months, sparking a joint campaign by the commoners’ association, parish council, neighbourhood watch and police.

Instead of being its normal bustling post weekend self, Holsworthy, took on an eerie atmosphere on Monday morning when a bomb scare in the town resulted in hundreds of people, who were just about to start work, being evacuated from the area, whilst two problem packages were dealt with and the area declared safe.

Two paramedics who worked tirelessly to assist flood victims at Bude in December have been given special awards. Steve James of Bude Ambulance Station and Peter Hicks, based at Camelford, worked above and beyond the call of duty in their attempts to assist those affected by flooding on December 18.

Last October the Cornish Tractor Club held a vintage tractor working day at Lezant where around 20 entries took part to raise money for Cornwall Air Ambulance and managed to raise £155 for their efforts. Presenting the cheque to paramedic Bill Chamberlain were the ladies who sold raffle tickets for the event: Gwen Pink, South Petherwin; Jean Tryner, Altarnun; Pat Rivers, Launceston.

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Launceston town councillor Mrs Chris Abbott is incensed over the strong hints that the government is proposing to impose VAT on children’s wear in the forthcoming budget. So much so that she has started a petition in her shop ‘Fashions 4 Less’ in Madford Lane.

Brothers Kevin (7) and Adrian Parsons (10) have done the family proud with their BMX skills — and they did it without a single wheelie. The brothers, from West Illand, Congdon Shop, were among 50 winners in a nationwide competition run by the bicycle firm, Raleigh.

People living in Stoke Climsland are to have their say ab out the proposed £470,000 student residences for Home Farm Agriculture College. Accommodation is planned in the village for 40 students.

A scheme to transform an old alley in Launceston into a showpiece shopping lane was unveiled this week by North Cornwall Council — but a major property owner involved says it is too expensive. Hotelier Brian Baker believes it will cost around £200,000 to convert Chings Alley into a shopping link between Southgate Street and Madford Lane — and most of the money would have to come from the property owner.

A party of French visitors will descend on launceston next month to celebrate newly-forged twin town links — but they may find no room at the inn. Nearly 100 members of the Aberavon Male Choir from South Wales have already booked the lion’s share of hotel rooms for the same weekend. Fifty of 60 beds at Launceston’s largest hotel, the White Hart, are reserved for the Welshman, on Saturday, March 30th, and the Eagle House’s 18 rooms are similarly booked.

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The Mayor, Coun Olver Harris, officially opened SWEB’s new shop in Southgate Street, Launceston, in what formerly was a supermarket run by Walter Williams.

Mr T B Wakeham, of West Park, Davidstow, is resigning from Cornwall County Council after nearly 14 years’ service as a member.

Mr Trevor Down, chairman of Bude-Stratton Entertainments Association, said he was very pleased how well the last twelve months had gone, with thanks mainly due to Mrs G Chadd, secretary.

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Police are searching for two men who attacked a crippled antique dealer and merchant in his Gunnislake home on Sunday and made off with more than £80.

Richard Haddow, the 15 year old Tintagel footballer, has been offered a month’s trial with Chelsea Football Club. This was the outcome of his interview with manager Tommy Docherty at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The date of the trial has not yet been fixed and will largely depend on arrangements to be made with Mr K A Sprayson, headmaster of Sir James Smith’s School, where Richard is a student.

A new-type of life-saving belt which is to be tried out this season at Bude was demonstrated at a Truro conference on Monday.

The Rev L Gurth Fothergill, from Northants, will succeed the Rev P L Ashford as Vicar of Poughill. His institution is expected to take place in May.

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Camelford Rural Council carried an amendment that support be given to St Austell Urban Council’s protest against the proposal to provide Cornwall police with radio control equipment.

Launceston Rural Council heard on Tuesday that provision for five old people’ bungalows had been included in the council’s housing programme for 1955-56.

Launceston is to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the granting of its Philip and Mary Charter on February 15, 1955.

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Killed in action: Pte Francis John Duke, of Launceston, serving with the British Liberation Army. Wounded in action: Cpl E Sanders, of Higher Street, Hatherleigh, who is attached to Airborne Forces.

Three men were killed instantly on Monday when the bus they were driving to Altarnun and of which they were the only occupants, crashed into a cottage at Hollaway Cross about four miles from Launceston on the Bodmin Road. They were Reginald Drach and William Robins, both of North Devon, and Gerance Pethick, of Treween, Altarnun. The bus, a 33-seater vehicle used for conveying prisoners-of-war in the locality, crashed right through the wall of the cottage (which is the old Toll Houser) but the occupants, Mr and Mrs G R Jasper, who were sitting by their fire at the time, escaped injury and their young child was also safe.

Two Royal Navy men with local connections have received the DSM from the King at a Buckingham Palace investiture: Mechn A Mortimore, who has relatives at St Ann’s Chapel, and A B Jenkins, whose mother lives at West Down, Delabole.

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Mr G Peter, on behalf of licensees in the district, applied at Stratton Licensing Session, on Monday, for a summer extension of hours until 10.30pm. A petition, signed by a large number of visitors was produced, but there was opposition from the police and from Methodists, who produced a petition against the extension. By a majority, the magistrates decided to refuse the application.

Bude football team are undefeated, with 114 goals for the 24 against. They are in four semi-finals and are strongly challenging for the Cornwall Junior Cup.

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A new recreation room, given by the directors of Ambrosia Ltd, to the staff, was opened at Lifton on Friday by Mr Alfred Morris. he explained that the Ambrosia circle combined the firms of Ambrosia, Virol and Bovril and said he first had the idea for the factory at Lifton when fishing there.

Rev H Johnson, on Tuesday organised a novel entertainment at St Clether in the form of a high-class wireless concert, broadcast from Chelmsford, interspersed with items by local amateurs — Misses A and L Baker, Messrs H and L Sloman and S Davey.

The site has been selected for Holsworthy’s milk factory, plans have been completed and excavations commenced. The capital has been raised locally.