25 years ago

January 27, 2000

Mr Arthur Bate Venning former editor of the Cornish & Devon Post Series of newspapers, is to be made an Honoured Burgess of Launceston. Mr Venning, aged 80, of Dunheved Road, Launceston, will become only the fifth person to have the title.

The wraps have just come off a truly inspirational project which has captured in pictures the history and happenings of one parish and village to celebrate the new millennium. These frozen, instant snatches in the life and times of St Gennys Parish and Crackington Haven village, from celebrations to sadness, have led to the creation of a remarkable book of 1,000 photographs from 1900 onwards, which is published this week.

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40 years ago

January 26, 1985

Schoolboy cadet Stephen Jape is bound for the Rocky Mountains and some tough outdoor training to prepare him for life in the Royal Marines. Launceston College student Stephen, aged 16, is one of just two cadets from the Westcountry who have been selected for a month’s exchange trip to Banff in July where he will train with the Canadian army.

Callington schoolgirl Emma Sanders studied the secret world of the squirrels and won herself one of the main prizes in a nationwide conservation competition run by Lloyds Bank.

Mr and Mrs Frank Penfound, of Poughill, are the winners of Bude AFC’s 200 Club January draw. Their prize is a chest freezer.

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50 years ago

January 18, 1975

Annette Dennis played the lead role in Holsworthy Amateur Theatrical Society’s pantomime ‘Cinderella’ with all tickets being sold for the two week run.

Nearly 100 children turned up for swimming instruction from officials of Bude Surf Life Saving Cadet Club and there were too many for the officials. “This is a rather embarrassing situation”, said club secretary Ian Whitefield. “We have decided that we must have some limit in numbers in the future”.

The new Rector of Lanteglos-by-Camelford is to be the Rev Roger Hawkins, at present Vicar at St Mawgan-in-Pydar.

Mothers Pride bread deliveries from Launceston have escaped the axe by Rank Hovis McDougall on door-to-door services in the Westcountry.

Bratton Clovelly’s only store is to close. The owners, Mr and Mrs Donald Kutz, said the shop is a victim of the economic crisis. It simply was not paying its way.

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60 years ago

January 23, 1965

The Council of the Devon Cattle Breeders’ Society heard at their meeting in Exeter on Monday that Mr William Stanbury, of Carey Barton, near Launceston, had been invited by Brazilian later this year.

Launceston Agricultural Association’s bold venture in taking a new site two miles outside the town at Kennards House for last year’s show has been very successful.

Okehampton Town Council is to close its chartered cattle and livestock market from October. This decision was made for economic reasons and comes into effect at the expiration of the agreement with the present leasees H G Stanbury and Harris and Co.

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70 years ago

January 29, 1955

A freehold semi-detached four-roomed cottage, known as No 48, Northgate Street, Launceston, was submitted to auction by Messrs Colwills Ltd on behalf of the representatives of the late Mrs Jeanette Bailey. Bidding commenced at £100 and with keen competitions, but small bids, soon rose to £235, at which figure the property was secured by Mr Bridgeman, of Riverside, St Thomas.

Rev C H York, assistant curate of Gorran, has announced that the Bishop of Truro, the Rt Rev E R Morgan, had offered him the benefice of Lezant and that he had accepted the offer.

A gift of £250 towards the restoration of Stoke Climsland Parish Church roof has been sent by the Duke of Cornwall, the Rector, Canon L M Andrews, announced at a concert in the church last week.

Mr Horace Kittow, who has been honorary secretary of Launceston Agricultural Association for many years, was at the annual meeting on Tuesday elected as the association’s president. It was the members’ well-deserved tribute to home, for Mr Kittow will be present of the association for the visit of the Bath and West Show to Launceston in June.

Rev William Thomas Soper, present curate-in-charge of St Teath and Michaelstow, has been appointed to the living of Week St Mary, subject to the approval of the Bishop of Truro. He has been at St Teath since 1952. The live of Week St Mary became vacant at the beginning of this year when Rev N F Townsend was inducted as Rector of Port Isaac.

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80 years ago

January 27, 1945

Killed by enemy action in Belgium: Tpr Charles Victor Jolliffe, The Hussars, of 18, King Street, Bude. Awarded DFM: Sgt Thomas Edwin Heard, RAF, of Morwenstow. Mentioned in despatches: Dvr Harold Gabe, RASC, of St Stephens, for rescuing five people buried by a bomb blast which fell on a Belgian cafe.

Mr F C Short, a council workman, was accidentally drowned in the Canal at Bude on Thursday.

Maj Gen Sir Wyndham Childs has announced his intention of standing as the Conservative candidate for South East Cornwall at the next election, in succession to Mrs Beatrice Wright, MP. He is a former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.

A letter has been received at Kilkhampton from HMS Kilkhampton suggesting a link between parish and ship. With five officers and 75 crew, the vessel is engaged on antisubmarine work.

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90 years ago

February 2, 1935

Brooks House, Pyworthy, a thatched cottage on the main road between Holsworthy and North Tamerton, was totally destroyed by fire on Friday. Holsworthy Fire Brigade could do little owing to the shortage of water. The cottage was the home of Mr Frank Walmsley.

Masses of people have been drawn from all over the countryside to hear the world-famed evangelist Gipsy Smith, who has conducted a four-day campaign. A thousand people listened to him in Launceston Town Hall on Sunday, while his meetings at Wesley Church were related by loudspeaker to the crowds packing the streets outside.

The Camelford Ambulance Brigade, formed 12 months ago with the gift of a secondhand ambulance, is now collecting for a new vehicle. To date, it is reported by the president, Mr T E Wakefield, £152 has been subscribed.

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100 years ago

January 31, 1925

Okehampton bakers raised the price of bread on Monday. The 4lb loaf is now ten and a half pence.

The Rector Rv J M Ford, presided over a meeting of sports enthusiasts at Callington to discuss the formation of a rugby club for the town. It was decided to form a club and officers were appointed.

Callington Council have decided that the town’s cattle market shall be held bi-monthly on Wednesdays.