December 10, 1998

A cheque for £3,000 has been presented to St Clether Church as a contribution to the extensive restoration work just completed on the Norman tower which has cost over £24,000.

North Petherwin Parish Councillors are happy with proposals for speed reduction measures in the village following a site meeting, and it is hoped that work will start soon.

A horse trainer’s plan to open up his Bude gallop to the public has been approved. North Cornwall planners decided to lift a condition imposed on previous planning approval in order to allow the general public to use of the gallop at Thorne Farm, Bude.

A warning has gone out to surfers after an incident when a man got into difficulties off Widemouth Bay. Coastguards and a Sea King helicopter from Chivenor were called to Widemouth Bay on Monday afternoon when a 22-year-old Tavistock man, believed to be surfing for the first time, could not return to the shore because of a strong rip current.

December 17, 1998

Pupils at Werrington School received new computers purchased by the Friends of Werrington School Association. Most of the money was raised at the school fete and a safari supper held in the autumn.

Both the morning and afternoon session children of St Catherines C of E nursery class in Launceston have put on their nativity plays. In the morning production were, Tom Davey, Bernadette Chidley, Ryan Cook, Danielle Williams, Kirsty Franklin, Zoë Uglow and Jack Matthews. The afternoon children  were Liam O’Brien, Jodie Burden, Amy Thorne, Ryan Hancock, Karl Daniels, Nathaniel Parsons, Chantel May and Joshua Hockridge.

Rhona Cowling, senior library assistant at Launceston Library, retired on Monday (December 14) after 33 years in the library service. 

A mini-roundabout and a pedestrian refuge are planned to alleviate danger to pedestrians crossing at the Roydon Road/Dutson Road junction at Newport in Launceston.

December 10, 1983

Members of Launceston Young Farmers’ Club held their annual presentations at the White Hart Hotel.

Members of the Ancient Order of Foresters visited Launceston General Hospital, where they handed over the gift of a Highworth geriatric chair for the use of patients. They made the gift as part of the Devon and Cornwall District’s 125th anniversary celebrations.

Warbstow School is making quite a name for itself with successes in chess tournaments. The most recent was in the Cornwall Primary Schools Chess Championship  at Truro where Theresa Garrett, aged 9, took first place in the under-19 section.

A public meeting was held at Trekenner School on Thursday last week called by the parish council as a result of a letter from Lezant residents concerned over a newspaper report that 10 council houses were to be built in the village.

December 17, 1983

Twin sisters, Elizabeth and Victoria Letts, two of the Three Kings in Launceston Playgroup’s nativity play, presented posies to the Mayor Mrs Cynthia Buckingham and consort Mr Alan Buckingham during the Christmas Fayre in the Town Hall.

A sponsored ride organised by Nine Tors Riding Centre raised £833 and enabled three presentations to take place at North Hill’s Racehorse Inn last week. 

The Cornwall Federation of Young Farmers’ Club held their 1983 County Debating Final at the Newquay Sports Centre. The winners were Launceston YFC with a score of 161 out of 200.

Mrs Lilian Crocker, aged 88, presented a bouquet to the mayor of Launceston Mrs Cynthia Buckingham at the annual Christmas party at Old Tree Nursing Home, Trebursye, on Saturday.

December 8, 1973

Mr Derek Woollacott of Okehampton correctly forecast eight draws on Vernons pools but he was not among the eight winners sharing £242,424 as his coupon had arrived too late.

Peter Vickery received the Bude Surf Lifesaving Club trophy for the best club member during 1973 from the club president, Mr R H S Jones.

At the carol party in aid of Dr Barnardo’s in the Eagle House Hotel, Launceston, the happy atmosphere was helped along by Mr R C Harries who was the compère. Another key role, that of pianist, was under taken by Mrs M Uglow.

St Breward Silver Band president Mr T Parsons, presented a certificate of honorary life-presidency to one of the band’s supporters, Mr Nip Reed, who is now living at Rock.

Michael French scored the only goal of the game to give Holsworthy County Secondary School (North Devon area champions) victory over Exeter Schools at Upcott Field in a regional final of the schools football championship

December 15, 1973

Mrs Ruth Sleeman, president of Launceston Chamber of Trade, presented the window dressing cup to the winner, Mrs A Greber, of Southgate Wools.

Two members of the successor Parish Council at Bude-Stratton Messrs Richard Willoughby and John Dale Glossop, protested about having to say prayers at the start of each regular meeting.

Mrs M Stacey won the star prize in the ‘Brains of Week St Mary’ competition, compèred by Mr R Shaddick, at Week St Mary WI Senior Citizens Christmas party.

Rev Michael Hawkin Pearce, at present Rector of Jacobstow with Warbstow and Treneglos, has accepted the appointment of Priest in Charge of the suspended Benefice of St Teath Mr Stanley Walters, depot manager of Glover and Uglow’s Launceston branch received a gold watch in recognition of 35 years service at a presentation of English China Clay’s long service awards.

December 14, 1963

Launceston Rural District Council discussed the need for rent increases and decided that all rents should be pooled including the 10 houses now being built, with the exception of those for old peoples’ dwellings and with necessary adjustments made for lack of modern facilities and a restriction on the rent to be paid by the elderlv. 

A freehold end-of-terrace three-bedroomed stone and slate dwelling house known as New Haven situated opposite the public library in Northgate Street, was auctioned for Mr Kenneth Jeffery on Tuesday The property was bought by Mr G N Hunt for £1,625.

December 21, 1963

Disappointment was expressed at Monday’s meeting of Launceston Town Council at the refusal of the Minister of Housing and Local Government to permit the council’s application to develop land at The Walk as a car park.

Holsworthy Rural Council supported a request from parents at Thornbury who want transport arrangements altered so that their children who attend Bradford primary school can return home earlier.

Launceston firemen responded to call on Saturday afternoon when they were summoned to Mr Roy Husband’s fish and chip cafe in Westgate Street, Launceston, where an extractor pipe had become ignited. Firemen soon had the outbreak under control. Despite damage to the electrical apparatus, it was business as usual in the evening.

December 12, 1953

Camelford is to get a better book service; the rural council is providing a room at their council offices for use by the County Library, who will set up a 1,000 volume branch there. The hon librarian is Mrs M R Richards.

Tintagel Parish Council greeted with satisfaction the news that progress is being made on a sewerage scheme for Treknow village. It is now with the Ministry.

With the dissolution of the Launceston British Legion Male Voice Choir and the reignition of its conductor, Mr L R Poore, many ex-members are seeking to form a new choir on a town basis. Mr Carey Tolchard will act as chairman for the inaugural meeting next month.

Mr W H Kinsman, headmaster of Marhamchurch C of E School, has been appointed as the new head of Launceston VP National School in succession to Mr R H Keast, who retired at Christmas.

In a competitive test for the Life Saving Apparatus Brigades of the South Division, held at Bude on Sunday, Boscastle, under Vol R J Kernick, took first place and go forward to the final.

Camelford YFC team — Giles Whithouse, William Pethick, Davis Salter, Ivor Harris and Elizabeth Whitehouse — have won the Cornwall County YFC’s brains trust competition.

Jacobstow Parish Hall is to be enlarged, and a fundraising scheme has now been launched following a public meeting presided over by Mr W Paynter.

Best beast in the show at Launceston Fatstock Show on Friday was an Angus-Shorthorn cross heifer from Mr Gilbert Brown, of Tresmarrow.

December 19, 1953

The recently opened motor racing track at Davidstow has been granted the only licence for a national car racing event next Whit Monday. The BRM is likely to be the main attraction.

Speaking to a company of 90 members and friends at Camelford Farmers’ Union annual dinner (chairman, Mr S J Biddick) at the King’s Arms, Camelford, Sir Harold Roper, MP for North Cornwall, urged farmers to develop their own schemes for livestock, as the government had shut the door on a marketing board.

Broadwoodwidger Rural Council, meeting at Launceston, decided to ask all other district councils in Devon to support them in seeking to have the allocations from the Road Fund increased. The vice-chairman (Mr F Stanbury) said at present only 10s of each licence fee was spent on the roads, while £2 went to the Exchequer.

A new County Welfare Home is proposed for Okehampton, at a cost of £35,000. It will accommodate 36 residents.

Wadebridge Rural Council is pressing for relief to the overcrowding in the town’s elementary schools pending the promised start next year on a  new secondary school.

The Launceston YFC team (Edwin Stanbury, of Netherbridge, and Vernon Daniel, of Trebursye) carried off first prize for sheep-judging at the Sithfield Show.

The first Landrace pig sale was held by Messrs Kittow at Launceston on Tuesday, with gilts fetching to 80 gns.

December 11, 1943

Prisoner of war: Pte G Short, of Market Square, Hatherleigh.

Half-a-dozen goods waggons broke loose during shutting operations at Otterham Station and ran away. They set up a record speed to Launceston, covering the distance faster than any passenger train has, and after flushing through the station, eventually come to red at Tower Hill.

Camelford Rural Council is to almost double its first year post-war housing programme from 24 dwellings to 42, to meet the expected demand from young couples where the husband is now serving and the wife living with her parents.

December 18, 1943

Prisoners of war in Germany: Mark Worth, of Hoopers Lane, Gunnislake; Sgt S W Edwards, of Chilsworthy. Awarded DFC: Pilot Officer H C Thorn, of Bramble Hill, Bude.

The Trebursye Tigers rugby team is doing well at Launceston, and on Saturday beat a Rhodesian XV 5-0, the Colonials’ first defeat in this country.

Okehampton Rural Council is pressing for the re-erection of signposts (removed early in the war as an anti-invasion measure). The chairman, Mr H W Perryman, says that thousands of gallons of petrol are being wasted daily by traffic that has missed its way.

Six oranges fetched £3 9s for the Red Cross at the Bude Constitutional Club last week, and other local efforts include £110 for the POW fund at Whitstone, and, for the Agricultural Red Cross fund, £340, from Broadwoodwidger, £522 from Hartland, and £340 from Hallworthy.

A brisk black market in turkeys and chickens fro Christmas is reported in the Wadebridge area.

December 15, 1933

The severe weather has  taken its toll. Monday night’s snow made it difficult for farmers to bring their cattle to Launceston Market; Tuesday, parties have been skating on Dozmary Pool and parts of Kensey at St Thomas, Launceston. The Tamar at Polson has been frozen.

A motor ambulance has been obtained for Camelford following the formation of a St John Ambulance Brugade division. The division was formed as a result of a lesson in first aid given by Mr C S Moyse.

December 23, 1933

Cornwall’s new JPs include Miss Laura J Dickinson, of Tintagel.

For the first time since 1916 the River Tamar and the canal were frozen over at Weir Head, Gunnislake, on Thursday.

A housing push at Launceston is expected to help cut the number of local unemployed. Mr C H Gilbard plans to build eight workmen’s cottages and eight tenements at Chapple Park; and Messrs J and R Worth, who have had the plans for four houses in Windmill Lane approved, have submitted their layout plan for 55 houses of the cottage-type.

Outbuildings, farm machinery, implements and corn at Small Hill Farm, St Gennys, the property of Mr R P Banbury, were destroyed by fire on Thursday.

December 15, 1923

For the first time a lady (Mrs A Thynne, Kilkhampton) distributed prizes to the boys and girls of Horwell Secondary School, Launceston, on Tuesday. The headteachers (Misses Tindal-Atkinson and Mr Richardson) gave their reports. Miss Atkinson mentioned that they had just completed their first full year at Hendra, Dunheved Road, after starting 11 years ago in two rooms at St Thomas Road with 25 girls and one assistant mistress.

December 22, 1923

Holsworthy AOF have leased a portion of the exhibition field to the football club and given portion of the exhibition field to the football club and given permission for the erection of a permanent grandstand.

Dr Cole, of St Tudy, was on Tuesday presented with a matchbox by Mr F West (hon secretary of St Breward’s St John Ambulance Brigade) in token of her services as a tutor.

Messrs Vosper and Kivell conducted their annual auction at the West of England Fatstcok Show at Launceston on Wednesday and Thursday. Highest price was £5 2s 6d per live cwt, for a Devon heifer from HRH the Prince of Wales.