Take a look back at the news from the last 100 years:
25 years ago
April 23, 1998
A familiar face in Launceston will now be looking down on the town from a higher place than the roofs of the buildings he spent so many hours contentedly perched. Famous in the local roofing trade, Badger, the 10-year-old Collie has passed away, saddening all who came across the talented and beloved companion of David Nicholls. Badger, who rarely left his master’s side, could be seen on many a roof in Launceston, keeping the birds away as Mr Nicholls, who has been based in the town since the early 80s, got down to work.
Ashwater artist John Forward is one of only three people from the Westcountry to be selected to take part in a new Channel Four television series. The programmes, being filmed in early May, will be a series of competitions for amateur artists. On hearing the news, John, who is a chartered architect, said: “I am rather flattered to have been selected, as the level of competition for the places was very high. It will be quite a challenge to paint a picture in front of a television camera.”
Tintagel Surf Life Saving Club is hoping to improve its facilities and prospects through the formation of a new fundraising committee.
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40 years ago
April 23, 1983
Greg Bailey gave WPC Jill Steer a free shoeshine in exchange for parking space in the town square. The stall was set up as part of Launceston Scout Group Job Week.
North Cornwall’s MP Gerry Neale this week replied to the challenge over the nuclear weapons issue put to him by the area’s prospective Labour candidate, Colin Hayday.
Parents of pupils at St Joseph’s Dominican Convent School in Launceston received the shock news this week that the sisters who rin the school are being withdrawn at the end of July next year.
Launceston is to lose another shop at the end of the month with the shock closure of the Co-Op drapery store, after 40 years’ trading in the town.
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50 years ago
April 21, 1973
At the Cornwall County Council elections the following were elected: J C Ball (Bude-Stratton), J M Tamblyn (Callington), T B Wakeham (Camelford), Joyce Hart (Launceston and K J Trewin (Linkinhorne). In the Devon County Council’s elections Honora Broad was elected to represent Holsworthy.
Mr John Pardoe, MP for North Cornwall, has written to Launceston Town Council on behalf of the tenants of Lanstephan who are objecting to a decision to charge 25p a week for parking places on the estate.
Mr B Johns has returned home to the old POst Office, Milton Damerel. She is nearly 90 years of age and had been away during the winter months.
In the examination of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, Gail Ridge of Ashwater was successful in passing Grade VIII (final) in pianoforte at the early age of fourteen.
Sixty-nine children from Holsworthy Secondary School spent a week at Butlins, Minehead, during which they received instruction from Amateur Swimming Association coaches. At the end of the week personal survival fold awards were presented to Robert Walpole, Roger Walpole and Garry Perkins.
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60 years ago
April 20, 1963
In appalling weather conditions at Indian Queens on Wednesday, Stratton County Secondary School football team defeated Penryn County Secondary School by one goal to nil, to win the Cornwall Schools football shield. David Martyn scored the goal.
A car came to rest halfway in Hicks’ baby shop window in Broad Street, Launceston, on Sunday evening when travelling towards the Square. The car was being driven by a learner, Mrs Beard, of Gunnislake.
An ambitious plan for a two or three-tier car park for Launceston was envisaged in the markets and estates committee report to Launceston town council on Tuesday. The borough surveyor, Mr K R Blackmore, said an outline scheme was being prepared for tiered parking on the site of the existing Guild Hall car park.
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70 years ago
April 18, 1953
Hearing a cry from the yard, an Ashbury woman sent a farm-worker out to see what was the matter. He did not return and she went out herself to find him tearing the blazing clothed off her two-year-old daughter whose dress had caught fire in the boiler house. The girl died from burns in the Frenchay Hospital, Bristol.
The various activities of Dr and Mrs lea during their fifteen-and-a-half year stay in Lifton were recognised on Thursday week when a farewell party to all parishioners, was given by the doctor and his wife, in the Coronation Hall.
Boys and girls of the village of Langore and Truscott have shown much keenness regarding the Coronation celebrations and were responsible for two fine efforts at the weekend.
Through the columns of ‘The Post’, Mr Cecil Uren, chairman of Launceston and District Racing Pigeon Club, asks the person who shot two valuable racing pigeons on Tuesday week to refrain from shooting any more.
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80 years ago
April 17, 1943
Previously reported missing, now known to be prisoner of war, Stoker PO Ralph Jeffery, of Hartland.
First British soldier to link up with the Americans in the 8th Army’s recent Tunisian advance was Holsworthy man Sgt William Brown, of The Warrens.
The front window of the Jehovah Witness meeting place at Launceston was smashed during the weekend and a Swastika was daubed on it in whitewash.
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90 years ago
April 22, 1933
A humming bird was seen by Mr Wakeham in his garden at Minson, Gunnislake, on Good Friday.
A disastrous fire broke out on Saturday afternoon at Dishcombe, South TAwton, the residence of Captain F R Buckingham, and one of the oldest country houses in the district. In spite of efforts by firemen and police the building was completely destroyed.
A fire broke out at Five Acres Farms, Lifton, on Wednesday, completely gutting the farmhouse and a barn. The building was also very old being one of the most ancient farm buildings in the district.
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100 years ago
April 21, 1923
Mr Stanley Baldwin’s first budget, presetned on Monday, includes no new taxation. Reduction include: income tax down 6d to 4s 6d in the £, beer 1d a pint less and cider held pence; telephone, local messages reduced fro 3d to 2d. The question of a betting tax was deferred.
The Catherine Johns Gift House, Trevena, given for use as a Women’s Institute, by Miss Johns, of St Nectan’s Glen, was opened at Tintagel on Thursday by Lady Molesworth St Aubyn. It is a picturesque building adjoining and built to match the famous old Post Office.