Launceston’s St John Ambulance building which is used by the public, is now fully accessible to wheelchair users.

The mayor of Launceston, Cllr Eric Chapman and the MP for North Cornwall, Paul Tyler, were early risers on Saturday, December 24, to visit the Pennygillam, Launceston, Royal Mail sorting office, to see the yuletide post sorted and delivered.

Three Bude men have completed a parachute jump in aid of Cornwall Air Ambulance. Tony Statton, Peter Cleave and Simon Edwards did the jump at the Cornwall Parachute Centre, St Merryn, in September. Now, the sum of £710 which they raised through sponsorship has been handed to Arthur Newton, the North Cornwall co-ordinator.

Lending a helping hand to all ages has landed Bude’s top award for Jean Messenger. The Eric Chadd award has to be presented to someone — nominated by the public — who has given outstanding and usually unsung work in the community. Jean was a leader of the Flexbury Playgroup. She currently works with five to eleven year olds, running an after school club which she and her committee raised funds to form.

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Firemen dashed to a blazing Devon cottage at Combe Bow, near Bridestowe early on Christmas Day when a man was reported trapped by the blaze. The 150 year-old cottage at Slyers Hill was well alight when the two fire engines arrived, but fortunately the man was located with friends down the road.

End of term at Launceston College saw the culmination of fund raising events for charity which reached a total of £1,700. The headmaster thanked all the boys and girls and the parents who have been involved for what they had done.

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Mrs Ada Murrin, aged 92, of Lifton, for 80 years had had an unswerving admiration for the Police and on Tuesday she presented a solid silver cup to the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall, Mr John Alderson. The cup will be awarded annually to the police officer making the best contribution to community relations in Devon and Cornwall.

Tintagel and Camelford Lions Club was pleased to welcome three new members, Alan Davey, Peter Dyer and Douglas Iceton, to their final meeting of 1975.

Mrs Barbara Thomas, aged 44, of Broad Park, Launceston has won a long weekend in Holland with a special visit to the Dutch bulbfields. This was first prize in the competition — Quick Brew Festival of Flowers — organised by the makers of Quick Brew tea.

The new club house at Holsworthy Golf Club was filled to capacity for the Christmas social evening. The President, Mr A Horwood, welcomed members and guests.

Three founder members of Bude and District Racing Pigeon Club, Messrs R J Haydon, W Bennett and R C Gaff, attended the club’s 25th anniversary dinner.

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The “Beeching axe” is to fall upon the local railway lines with passenger services being discontinued between Okehampton and Bude and between Halwill Junction and Wadebridge.

Launceston Youth Club’s new building in the cattle market was opened by the chairman of the county youth committee, Mr Phillip Varcoe, who was thanked by club leader, Mr E L Mitchell.

Port Isaac fishermen limited — the cooperative undertaking formed about two years ago — is in the midst of negotiations with the Plymouth fish salesman who they hope will market their mackerel.

Mrs Gwendoline Mill and Mr Tom Pickard were created life members of Bude surf life saving club at its annual dinner at the Granville Hotel, Bude.

Author Michael Tresillian wants to know why a spot on the tiny stream that flows nearby Bossiney Lands between Tintagel and Boscastle is described as the petrifying well.

Heavy rain let to the collapse of the wall and part of the garden at Gylmartyn — Mrs Soper’s bungalow — fronting both Ridgegrove Lane and Dutson Road, partially blocking Dutson Road.

The little hamlet Tramagenna, one and a half miles from Camelford, was hit by lightning and the lino had been ripped off the floor of the farmhouse where Mrs Reg Rowse and her younger daughter Rosemary were sitting watching television.

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Fears that foot-and-mouth disease had broken out at Rockwell Farm, St Stephens, Launceston, have happily proved to be groundless. Veterinary inspectors of the Ministry of Agriculture visited the farm and after a further examination of the suspected animal concluded that the complaint was not foot-and-mouth disease.

Heavy rain on Thursday night-Friday morning last week brought the rivers in the Launceston area well up. At Netherbridge the road was covered to a depth of at least three feet and traffic had to be diverted. A double-decker bus en route to Bideford had to return to Launceston.

A new St John Cadet Ambulance Division has been formed at Coads Green.

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A civial servatn in Sarawak, Mr Gilbert Roger Harris Arundell, only son of Rev and Mrs G H Arundell of Lewtrenchard, was reported missing early in the war. No further news was received until last week when he was officially reported as having been killed in action in 1941 or 1942.

Mr Thomas Cottell, aged 74 of Higher Lank Farm, St Breward, was killed when he fell from a wagon on Wednesday and broke his neck.

Plans for transportation of British wives and children of American servicemen to the United States are complete and the first contingent of 1,200 is expected to embark this month.

The WVS clothing exchange in a shop at Market Street, Launceston, lent by Messrs Treleaven and Son, is to open every Tuesday afternoon until summer to help parents in the great problem of children’s clothing.

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A thunderbolt struck Yeolmbridge village near Launceston early on Monday morning terrorising the inhabitants. A row of cottages was damaged and there was a loud explosion with a wireless being shattered and a hole knocked through a wall. Mrs Mantey, who was staying with her sister, Mrs A Martin, saw a ball of fire whizz through her bedroom, and other residents, including Mr and Mrs Furse, Mr and Mrs H Saunders and Mr H Polkinghorne, also had alarming experiences.

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St Bridget’s Church, Bridgerule, restored in 1878 by Rev G H Southcombe at a cost of £1,200, had had much work done for its by the present vicar (Rev F H Kingdon). He has erected rood screens with parclose, screen in carved oak with painted panels of the Twelve Apostles, a Lady Chapel, baptistry and screen, a very beautiful reredos and tabernacle, when Bishop Robertson did not allow reservation on the High Altar. Altogether the people have given some £6,000. The peal of bells has been re-cast at a cost of £500 and they were reopened with thanksgiving on New Year’s Day, principals in the ceremony being the vicar and the head ringer (Mr Frank Gilbert).

Local players chosen for the Cornwall County football team to meet the Royal Navy at Launceston on January 23 are: Maddever (Launceston); Knight (Wadebridge); Hodge (Launceston); Fry (Tintagel).