25 years ago - Millennium edition

January 1, 2000

This edition was dedicated to offering a glimpse into the past century as reported in the ‘Post’ series:

1900 — The first issue for the year 1900, was dated Saturday, January 6, and was priced at one penny. In those days, space was given to a lot of national as well as local news. On the advertising side, sales were much in evidence. At J H Badock’s of Holsworthy, the great winter sale is now on for 28 days. H Gardner of Broad Street, Launceston is showing a stock of ladies clothes and T Stephens, also of Broad Street, invited your inspection with their new and fashionable goods.

Letters: Millenium thoughts — ‘A better chance for farmers’: When i grow up I want to be a vet and to travelt he world. For the millennium I want farmers to have a better chance and to stop Tony Blair banning fox hunting. I think the millennium is just another year, but I hope to travel into space before I’m 30. Sarah Bastard, age 10.

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40 years ago

December 29, 1984

Normans Cash and Carry in Launceston has won this year’s Wilkinson Sword of Honour. Launceston was chosen as the best presented family warehouse in a competition among the 15 Normans branches in the South West, South of England and South Wales. Norman’s group chairman Michael Slocock presents the sword of honour to Andrew ‘Fred’ Moss who supervises the garden and do-it-yourself section at Launceston.

Three charming models, Emily Trewin, Rachel Oke and Charlotte Trewin, posed at the Bude AFC Children’s Fashion Show at the Grenville Hotel, put on by “Jen and Dee”.

Launceston Pre-School Playgroup children presented their annual Nativity Play in the town hall. Youngsters ranging from two-and-a-half to four years took part in the play that preceded the Christmas Fayre.

It may have been cold turkey for many Launceston residents on Boxing Day when electricity to more than 500 homes was cut off got up to six hours.

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60 years ago

January 2, 1965

Mr John Wentworth Pardoe, a 30-year-old Westcountryman, living in London, is to be the new prospective Liberal candidate for North Cornwall in succession to Mr Meddon Bruton.

A slight shower of rain which froze as it fell on Tuesday morning made some roads in the Westcountry impossible for motorists to travel. A Post Office lorry carrying the mail from Plymouth for early morning delivery in the Launceston town and rural districts turned completely round on two occasions before even reaching Saltash.

The Okehampton and District Swimming Pool Association is being offered by the town council a sire in the pleasure grounds between the cricket field and the river for the proposed new pool.

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70 years ago

January 1, 1955

A grievous blow was struck to the little parish of St Andrew, Stratton, on Thursday week, when it became known that the beloved Vicar, Rev Thomas Walter Gilbert, had died suddenly just after a dinner party given to old age pensioners.

Prompt action by railway porter Gerald Smith prevented what might have been a disastrous fire at Launceston. When the fire broke out at 29, St Thomas Road, the residence of Mr and Mrs Gordon Sleep, he was passing by. Called in to help by Mrs Sleep, he threw buckets of water on to the blaze and contained them until the arrival of Launceston Fire Brigade.

Eleven boys of a new cadet division of the St John Ambulance Brigade were enrolled in the presence of parents at Callington on Wednesday.

Arrangements have been made for a visit to Bude of a mass radiography unit for the advantage of both townsfolk and country people.

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80 years ago

December 30, 1944

Killed in France: Bob Manaton of Commerce House, Hatherleigh. Missing: PO John Petherick, RN, of The Square, Holsworthy.

Ft Lt Alan Humphrey Comfort, whose home is at Boscastle has been awarded the DFC for gallantry in piloting his aircraft in an action against enemy E Boats. Lieut Roy Pugsley RA and Sgt Geoffrey Richard Sticks, RA, both of Launceston, have gained the MBE and MM respectively, for gallant and distinguished services in Italy.

The black out restrictions in this part of Cornwall have been relaxed with a “dim-out” substituted meaning that ordinary curtains can now be used.

Lewannick Home Guard marked the “stand down” with a supper in the village hall with Captain A Lea their former Platoon Commander, his successor Lieut W Jenkin and other officers present. They plans to hold an annual reunion in the future to which Lewannick men now serving in the Forces will be invited.

Master T Bartlett, 15, only child of Mr and Mrs C Bartlett, of Lake Villa, Bradworthy, lost his life on Saturday when a load of hay from a rick fell on him at Lew Farm, where he was working.

The Wadebridge Pasty Scheme is to be discontinued expect at Port Isaac and St Minver where demand is still high. The number of pasties has dropped over the past 12 months from 4,000 a week to under 2,000 and of the original 25 centres only six were still operating.

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90 years ago

January 5, 1935

Launceston is to mark the coming silver jubilee of HM King George V by launching a scheme for the erection of a new hospital.

Parents of senior scholars at St Stephen’s Council School are protesting at their proposed transfer to the Launceston Council School. At a public meeting, presided over by Mr G T Perkin, a resolution of protest proposed by Mr E Chudleigh was carried overwhelmingly.

Mr Henry Badeley, of Bude, was knighted in the New Year’s honours list. He holds the post of clerk of the parliaments.

Mr Jack Nance, jeweller and optician, of Polmorla Road, Wadebridge, has won £787 in a newspaper crossword competition.

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100 years ago

January 3, 1925

It has been decided to start a band once again in Bude and Mr W Cooper has consented to the conductor.

A score of men have been dismissed from an arsenic mine at Gunnislake owing to the decreased demands for the product. The St Teath and Radmore mines are also expected to be affected by the low price (£30 per ton).

Winner of the Callington Club and Institute’s championship silver cup for billiards this year was Mr Angwin Brown, who defeated Mr Russell Underhill in the final.

Rev H Edwards, who for six years has been vicar of St Teath with Delabole, on Monday at Delabole was presented by Mrs T H Holmes with an entree dish and cheque from parishioners on his departure for Golant.