25 years ago

November 23, 2000

Launceston Town Councillors have reacted angrily to a decision by planners to turn down Lidl UK’s scheme to build a neighbourhood food store on land at Hurdon Road, Launceston. The town council recommended the thumbs-up be given to Lidl, of Weston-super-Mare, but competitors South West Cooperative Society Ltd said the application should be refused.

Children’s Hospice South West — the charity backed wholeheartedly by readers of the Cornish and Devon Post Series — is definitely not in crisis. Following a recent BBC news item which featured a hospice at Rochester, Kent, and suggested that UK hospices were in crisis, the Children’s Hospice South West said: “We wish to re-assure supporters and most vitally the families of sick children who use its facilities, that the charity is not in crisis.”

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40 years ago

November 23, 1985

The cut backs in the hospital car service was again raised by St Teath Parish Council at their recent monthly meetings — incidents were cited where some elderly were told to attend hospital, but were unable to obtain transport and had the appointment cancelled.

Carnival capers in Camelford — Camelford’s streets were transformed by cheerful crowds who gathered for the carnival last Wednesday evening. The recent spell of fine weather held and the night, although cold, was fine and dry.

Fifty years of carnival in Holsworthy were celebrated one Saturday when the town’s first fairy queen returned to place the crown on the head of her modern counterpart. Mrs Joan Webb, of Bodmin, was, as Joan Bray, aged 10, the first fairy queen in 1935. She came back to her home town to crown eight-year-old Louise Blackman.

The annual meeting of Bude Carnival Committee was held on Thursday week at the Red Cross Rooms, Bude. The 1985 carnival queen, Miss Karen Cavey, had taken part in the Radio One road show quiz and attended the Launceston, Camelford and Okehampton carnivals.

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50 years ago

November 22, 1975

Mrs Heathcope, of Petherick Road, Bude, tells us that she this week picked several really red and ripe wild strawberries at Stone Hill, Bush, just five weeks before Christmas.

Mr and Mrs Harold Bath, of Bridgerule, are retiring from business this week. They will not, however, be leaving the business.

Mrs Wallington was elected president and Miss Standing chairman at Boscastle Senior Society’s tenth annual general meeting, which was held in the church hall.

Mr Brian D Uglow was succeeded by Mr John Stephens, of Pencrebar, Callington, as President of the Cornwall and Devon Pig Breeders’ Association at the annual general meeting at the Eagle House Hotel, Launceston.

Miss J W Thorpe, the headmistress, received a cheque for £250 from the Lions Clubs to Bude Infant School towards the cost of a swimming pool.

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60 years ago

November 27, 1965

The Inner Wheel Club of Bude received its charter at a dinner held at the Grenville Hotal when the document was presented to the founder president, Mrs L J Mill by the District Chairman, Mrs W G Cornelius.

Mrs D W J Swanson received the rose bowl for the best farmhouse flower garden from Mrs J A Perry, wife of the president of Launceston Farmers’ Club after the annual dinner at the Eagle House Hotel.

At Boscastle Parish Council meeting, Mr F Saltern was appointed caretaker of the War Memorial garden.

James Scott-Hopkins, MP, at the request of Bude-Stratton Urban Council, protested in the strongest terms against the proposal to close the head post office at Bude at 5.30pm instead of 6pm.

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70 years ago

November 26, 1955

Gaining a splendid away success against Plymouth Argyle by two goals to nil, the Clarets for the second time this season have assumed the leadership of the P and D League Premier Division.

During Friday night and early Saturday morning the offices of the Launceston Farm Implement Co, Bridge Meadow Works, Newport, were entered through a rear window and ransacked. A sum of money was stolen. The matter is being investigated by the police.

Christmas gifts at Curry’s, Launceston. Trix Goods Train Set — it’s sensational — A new electric train set with its own generator! £5 17s 6d; Sparkling Jet Plane — see its blazing trail as it runs. 4s 11d. Walking Doll — delightful little doll in gaily patterned dress, 9s 11d — (Advt).

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80 years ago

November 24, 1945

Flt-Sgt Douglas Gordon Patten, RAF, whose home is at Roughtor Farm, Camelford was killed in a plane crash in Libya last week. An old boy of Camelford Grammar School, he was 23.

Mr Charles Congdon of Kelly has now been informed that his brother died in 1943 whilst a prisoner of war in Japanese hands.

Launceston NFU have passed a resolution protesting at the fact that those employing prisoner of war labour have to pay the men when, because of wet weather, they are unable to work. The wage rate for POWs has recently been raised from 1s 3d per hour.

Mr Frank Gerry, an employee of Captain Gervaise Babington of Stowford, has been thanked by the police for his courage in going to the assistance of an old lady who was found on a narrow ledge in Wray’s Quarry, above a sheer drop. Assisted by a police constable Mr Gerry eventually carried her to safety.

Camelford’s new ambulance was dedicated on Sunday by the rector, Canon A R O Apps, in the presence of rural councillors and others. The new vehicles cost £1,330.

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90 years ago

November 23, 1935

Launceston Chamber of Trade are pressing for a bus station for the town. They hope that either the bus companies of the town council will provide it.

The National Government has been returned with a majority of 248 seats over the Socialist and Liberal opposition. Locally, Sir Francis Acland (Liberal) defeated Mr E Whitehouse (Nat Con) by a majority of 836 in North Cornwall; Mr J R Rathbone (NC) had a majority of 2,753 in South East Cornwall to gain the seat from Mr Isaac Foot (L); and Mr Mark Patrick (NC) retained his seat in the Tavistock Division with 4,053 more votes than Mr John Day (L).

Pinch Bridge, Marhamchurch, is to be rebuilt at a cost of £1,250.

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100 years ago

November 28, 1925

The North Cornwall water scheme, mainly brought about through the work and initiative of Mr S T Button over the past 25 years, was formally inaugurated on Wednesday by the simultaneous cutting of the first sods at five different places — Crowdy Marsh, Delabole, Tintagel, St Minver and Poltregworgye (near Port Issac).

Launceston Town Council on Monday passed a resolution asking Parliament to make vaccination compulsory, exemption to be claimed before a Petty Session.