Andrew Motion has been appointed as the new Poet Laureate in succession to the late Ted Hughes. Calls had been made for one of Launceston’s favourite sons, Dr Charles Causley, 81, to be honoured in this way. One of the calls for Dr Causley to be made laureate came from North Cornwall District Council in a letter to the Prime Minister. The laureate writes poetry for state occasions.

The Venerable Rodney Whiteman, aged 59, is to be the new Archdeacon of Cornwall. He has been Archdeacon of Bodmin since 1989 and will take up his duties next January.

A battle of the flowers might be looming in Launceston. Although the Launceston In Bloom Association reporters it had its first annual meeting on May 19, Launceston Town Council has decided to hold its own meeting of interested people to “set up a new committee for Launceston In Bloom to run independently of the council.”

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Twenty-six cases of tuberculosis have so far been confirmed at Holsworthy (population 1,748) since the epidemic was first reported there some two months ago.

Agricultural Minister Michael Jopling has been urged to treat the agricultural college at Stoke Climsland’s Duchy Home Farm as a special case under the milk quota regulations. The pleas, by South East Cornwall MP Robert Hicks, has been prompted by fears about the future of the college.

There is no definite link between unemployment and an increase in the crime rate, North Cornwall MP Gerry Neale claimed last week.

Twelve-year-old Nick Trewin received his Player of the Year award at the Launceston and District Table Tennis League dinner from league chairman Alan Knight and president Brian Baker.

Television was on hand to mark the successful finish of Launceston only competitor in the increasingly popular London marathon — John Barnes, who completed in the 26-mile run in three hours and 50 minutes; but five minutes of that was taken in actually crossing the start line.

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A 38-year-old Bude man, Mr Richard Willoughby, has been selected as the new prospective parliamentary candidate for the Labour Party in North Cornwall.

The Launceston Nursing Cadet team gained first place in their section of the St John South West Regional competition. In the team were: Leader, Sgt Rosemary Parnell, Cpl Pippa Wynn, Cpl Linda King and Sgt Nicola Gilbert with Cadet Diane Seager as reserve. The team was trained by Divisional Superintendent Mrs J D M Martin.

Bro P T Bowden of Egloskerry was elected District Chief Ruler at the annual meeting of the Independent Order of Rechabites at St Breward Methodist Church.

Mrs D Webb and Mrs D Walters, both of Bradworthy, won classes in the rabbits section of the Devon County Show.

Sarah, the three-year-old daughter of Mr and Mrs Roy Parnell, presented a bouquet to Mrs E G V Kittow, who returned to Altarnun after a few years to open the Church Fete.

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The suggestion that rock n’ roll dances be banned at the town hall, Launceston, because of the damage being caused to the floor by stiletto heels was put forward at a meeting of Launceston town council.

As we have foreshadowed previously, a major building programme is planned for the Launceston College site, to establish a comprehensive secondary school for the town and district, bodying the present college and the Pennygillam secondary modern school

The new Civil Defence control headquarters at Horwell, Launceston, was officially opened on Monday by the Inspector General Aid Chief Marshal Sir Walter Merton.

The first chairman of Callington parish council to be given the honorary ancient title of Portreeve eight years ago was unanimously elected chairman and Portreeve again. He is Mr T N Coombe.

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Matron of St Mary’s Hospital, Launceston, since January 1, 1947, Mrs Dorothy Edith Cottrell, died at Launceston Hospital on Saturday. She was 45 years of age.

Launceston Town Council were told at their Wednesday meeting that the Ministry of Housing and Local Government had approved the scheme for the Scarne Housing Estate with 56 council houses.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were the main attraction at the Royal Cornwall Show at Par Moor, St Austell.

Councillor Reg Allen was elected Mayor of Launceston for the coming year and announced at the ceremony at the Town Hall that the fountain, once such a feature of the reservoir on Windmill, would soon be playing again, and not just on Sundays when people were out for walks, but all the time.

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Killed in action: Cpl G T Slade, of Launceston and formerly of Holsworthy. His brother, Sgt E W Slade has won the Military Medal and another brother, Charles is a prisoner of war in Hong Kong. Died of wounds: Pte Charles Buckingham, DCLI, of Delabole, and formerly of Stratton. Missing presumed killed: Flt-Sgt F W Capes, of 53, Molesworth Street, Wadebridge.

Lt M Hayward Butt, RN, from Bude, was one of those injured when the destroyer inconstant battled for three-and-a-half days against the tremendous storm while on convoy duty in the North Atlantic.

Bude-Stratton Urban Council want a policeman allocated to its district. At Friday’s meeting of the council the Rev A C Williams, vicar of Stratton, said there was a lot of drinking by young girls and the presence of a policeman would tend to keep the streets more the sort of place that decent citizens would want them to be.

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About 30 attended a meeting at the Drill Hall, Bude on Friday of the British Union of Fascists — Sir Oswald Moseley’s “Blackshorts”.

An “open access” system is to be adopted at Launceston Public Library so that borrowers will be able to look at books before taking them out. At present they ask for them by title and have no opportunity to browse through the shelves.

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One horse was killed and another seriously injured when, drawing an empty waggon, they crashed into the railing of Mr John Phear’s residence in Station Road, Okehampton.

Great difficulty and delay has been experienced in getting the necessary horses to draw the Launceston Fire Brigade on country calls. An experiment carried out on Monday should improve the position. The steamer (fire engine) was attached to a Fordson tractor belonging to Prouts Garage Ltd and a demonstration was made. This proved satisfactory and Mr W E Prout’s offer to lend the tractor free for a year was accepted. Its speed is 8mph.