A Lewannick man who has been unemployed for 12 years, has decided to help others secure the job they want. For 69-year-old Derek Bidwell, from Lewannick, has been developing a parish register and a job information database since 1993. The register so far lists 40 local providers.

Retired after fifty years: Tony Sandercock retired from Sprys of Launceston on August 13 after 50 years of continuous service with the company, apart from a stint of National Service. He joined Sprys as a school leaver, as a motor vehicle technician apprentice and worked as a technician since the time he qualified to that position.

Police officers who went on foot patrol in an area of Launceston following a reported disturbance, found a man with a wooden handle sticking out of his jeans, a court heard this week. They pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon — a 3lb hammer.

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Launceston Abbatoir Co’s factory at Newport has been acquired by Mr John Davy Ltd, the butchery firm with 12 branches in the West Country. Mr Lionel Knight will be general manager, Mr Ken Collins butchery manager and Mr Gordon Allan sales manager.

Rain caused the cancellation of the horse jumping classes and rodeo at Camelford and District Agricultural Association’s 69th annual exhibition Mr Jack Ward, showyard director, was unable to attend because of illness and his duties were carried out by the chairman, Mr S A H Button.

A Scout group at Bude is claiming to have become world record holders — by building the biggest sand castle. “It was a good effort and has gone very well”, said a cheerful group scoutmaster, Mr Harry Ireland.

At Hartland Carnival, the Fairy Queen, Caroline Heard. Her attendants are Bryony Johns and Debbie Walter.

The new Liberal agent for the Bodmin Division, now represented by Liberal MP Mr Paul Tyler, is Miss Doreen Brents of Launceston.

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Launceston town council, meeting on Monday, approved without comment the recommendations of a joint meeting of representatives of the town and rural councils together with local objectors and county experts concerning the best way to present their case for the retention of rail passenger services to Launceston. It was agreed that every effort should be made to retain Launceston as a rail-head for all purpose with adequate supporting bus services, and that a diesel service to Plymouth via Lydford and Tavistock should be regarded as a number one priority.

Not to be outdone by the boys who had crossed Devon from Westward Ho! to Wembury in the “Spotlight” relay, girls from St Stephens Youth Club, Launceston, set off on Sunday to run the 71-mile course. The team comprised Lorraine Abbot, Elizabeth Doidge, Mary Hicks, Shirley West, Jennifer Phillips and Carol Dillon.

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Launceston Carnival Committee, at their annual meeting, learned from the chairman of the Eventide Homes Committee, Mr S L Peter, that the find now stood at more than £2,000. The carnival had raised £1,240 for the fund.

Roughtor, near Camelford, has been set aside as a memorial to those who lost their lives while serving in the 43rd (Wessex) Division in the North-West European Campaign 1944-45. A plaque is to be unveiled by General Sir Ivor Thomas, who commanded the division throughout the campaign.

Parts of North Cornwall and North Devon on Friday experienced one of the worst storms in living memory, with torrential rain and fearful thunderstorms.

A long-overdue necessity has recently been completed and is now in operation at Bude — the newly built and equipped police station off Lansdowne Road at the rear of King Street.

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Killed in action: Pte T A Hill, Delabole; Pte W F Cronin, of High Street, Delabole; Pte W Laundry, of Doublepools, Callington; Lieut M H A BAker, Chillaton; Lieut J M A Coles, Lamerton; Lieut J D Godfrey, connected with Hatherleigh. Died of wounds: Pte Weight, of Cory Hill Cottages, Coryton. Wounded in action: Pte Ronald Cleave, of Pengelly, Delabole; F C Sandercock, of Boscastle; Guardsman Douglas John Collins, of Martin Square, Callington.

Pilot Officer Derek Henry Stephens, RAF, only son of Mr and Mrs R B Stephens, of Trestephen, Helstone, Camelford, has been awarded the DFC. W/O William Leonard Rowe, RAF, of Upton Cross, has been mentioned in despatches.

Mr W G A Penhale, of Penbode, Holsworthy, has won one of the first 12 undergraduate scholarships awarded by the Veterinary Educational Trust.

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“Speed demons of the west” — young motorcyclists from St Austell, Plymouth and Launceston — entertained a large crowd by their demonstrations and races at Bude on Thursday.

Mr John Penberthy, familiarly known as “Billy Camborne,” aged 72, a well-known character at Launceston, died on Tuesday as the lodging house, Northgate Street. Quiet and inoffensive, he had also tried to be enterprising; he made paper windmills and sold them to children at the price of 1d, or one jam jar, and he also established a “cinema show” in an alley off Northgate Street, the admission one jam jar. At intervals, he dabbled in peddling.

With the pipe supply cut off to enable the reservoir to fill, water is being supplied to Holsworthy from tanks.

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The success of the Workers’ Union demonstrations at Delabole on Saturday was such that it is hoped to make it an annual event. After a procession led by Delabole British Legion Band, and including schoolchildren wearing helmets bearing the words “Read the Labour newspaper,” there was a big evening meeting addressed by several Labour and trade union orators.

Launceston Town Council were informed on Monday that the district valuer considered that the value of £125 placed on the site for the 10 proposed houses at Race Hill was excessive. It was decided that the cost of the building should not exceed £510 per house.