25 years ago

December 18, 1997

Started in 1972 by Marion Ferrett, Joan Kinsman and Mary Nicholls, with Carole Vincent in the chair, Boscastle Playgroup has just celebrated its 25th anniversary with founder and current members at the Cobweb Inn.

Support for a proposal to reinstate a freight railway on North Cornwall’s picturesque Camel Trail has been withdrawn by the District Council. North Cornwall District councillor Barry Bryne’s motion was backed by members who voted 18-16 on Monday night to withdraw support for the plans by the Bodmin and Wenford Railway.

A change of heart could see a telephone kiosk being provided in the Moorland Road area of Launceston and other parts of the town.

Mr Paul Bray, who works for Truscotts of Launceston, won third place in this year’s national motor technicians competition held in Coventry. Paul received his trophy from Mr Ed Slattery, Peugeot District Parts and Service Manager. The final was held over two days and consisted of practical and written work. There were around 400 competitors.

Volunteers will be braving the cold winter weather and taking time away from their Christmas festivities in the Callington and Stokeclimsland areas to join the Whitbread Action Earth scheme, which is staging environmental projects all over the country.

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40 years ago

December 18, 1982

Mr Sidney Musson received a watch for 15 years service and Mr Raymond Hawkins a certificate and cheque for his 25 years, at the annual dinner-dance of Messrs Thomas Oke and Son Ltd, agricultural merchants, Holsworthy.

There will be an improvement in Launceston’s employment prospects next week when production starts at a new wet suit and leisure wear factory on Pennygillam industrial estate. Tornado Leisure is a new company, but the men behind it — managing director Mr Brain Beasley and sales director Mr Jim Harris — have many years experience in the trade.

Go-kart drivers and trophy winners at their annual dinner-dance held at the Hartland Hotel, Bude.

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50 years ago

December 16, 1972

“Water is so discoloured in the Warbstow area that at times people cannot see the bottom of the cup” stated Mr W J Uglow at Launceston Rural Council meeting on Tuesday. He asked the council to write to East Cornwall Water Board and ask them to look into the matter.

The Bishop of Truro, the Rt Rev M Key, instituted and inducted Rev William T Godfrey as the Vicar of the united benefices of South Petherwin and Trewin on Saturday.

All the churches of the Holsworthy Deanery met at Ashwater Church for the Deanery Evensong. The service was conducted by the Rector of Ashwater, Rev K P Ince, assisted by Rev V W Bell, Vicar of Clawton. The preacher was Rev J M Lucas, Vicar of Northam, and the lessons were read by Mrs L Elliott and Mr A E Moon, lay readers.

Miss Dorothy Martin, daughter of Mr and Mrs C W Martin, of East Panson, has obtained her SRN certificate. She will continue nursing at Chippenham General Hospital, Bucks, as a theatre staff nurse.

Mrs May Cobbeldick was the pianist for the community singing at the Senior Citizens’ party organised by Week St Mary Women’s Institute. Graham, Ray and Ian entertained with their guitars and vocals.

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60 years ago

December 22, 1962

The annual Christmas party for the blind, organised by the Cornwall County Association for the Blind, was held at the Brotherhood Hall, Launceston.

Andrew Bourne, patrol leader of the 1st Okehampton Troop, is among those who have been nominated to attend the World Scout Jamboree near Athens in August as one of the Devon representatives.

Mr T R C Dennis, Bridestowe, was a successful exhibitor at Hatherleigh Christmas Show, when his two-year-old Devon steer was judged best butchers’ beast, was runner-up to the local champion and, with another steer, took the cup for best pair of steers or heifers.

The freehold farm and land known as Hoggs Park, holsworthy, and containing 194 acres, was sold by auction at the Market Hall for £9,400 to Mr F O Vanstone, of Trewyn.

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70 years ago

December 13, 1952

Two local appointments are among those made by the Minister for Fuel and Power to the South Wester Electricity Consultative Council. They are Major C A E Chudleigh (Bude) and Mr J A M Kent (Delabole).

For Kilkhampton carnival there were over 70 competitors and the judges had the unenviable task of selecting the winners. All those who failed to get a prize were given a consolation award of 1s each presented by the committee.

At the morning service on Sunday the Rector of Whitstone, Father H W D Arscott announced that he would shortly be leaving the parish.

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80 years ago

December 19, 1942

Killed in action: Fred Hawking, only son of Mr and Mrs M J Hawkins, Carteret Road, Bude. Prisoner of war; Sgt S W Edmunds, of Chillaton.

Rommel is in full retreat across North Africa, pursued by General Montgomery’s 8th Army. The Russians claim that at Stalingrad, 94,000 Germans have been killed in the last month, in addition to 75,000 lost on the Central Front in the past fortnight.

A Bude man, who in his spare time, made and sold cigarette lighters at 7s 6d each, but did not have an excise licence and did not pay duty, was fined a total of £7 by Stratton Magistrates on Monday.

Pte George E Sheppard, RAMC, formerly a member of the St John Ambulance at Bude, has been awarded the Royal Humane Society’s testimonial on vellum, for saving a man fro drowning; he was home on leave last August and dived in from the breakwater to bring a soldier to safety. He already holds the Scout certificate of merit for a cliff rescue attempt when he was a boy.

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90 years ago

December 24, 1932

A wage of 5s per week is proposed for the unemployed farm labourers, who are to be employed on road and corner improvements, under arrangements made by local Rural District Councils. There are 86 such men in the Holsworthy Rural District for instance.

Christmas market prices at Holsworthy and Callington: turkeys, 1s 8d a lb; geese, 1s; chicken, 1s 2d; ducks, 1s; butter, 1s 4d; beef, 9d; mutton, 3d; lamb, 8d; pork, 10d; bacon, 7d; eggs, 1s 4d per dozen; potatoes, 16lbs for 1s; cabbages, 2d each; broccoli, 4d; turnips, 1d.

There was only one applicant, a Plymouth man for a vacant council house at New Road, Stratton, and he was accepted.

A Lych Gate at Stratton constructed from oak from HMS Defiance, the old wooden battleship, was dedicated by the Bishop of Truro (Dr Frere) on Thursday, to the memory of the late Canon Leslie Jones, for 20 years Vicar of Stratton.

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100 years ago

December 23, 1922

Sir Edmund Robbins, KBE, died at Bognor yesterday (Thursday) at the age of 76 Son of the late Mr Richard Robbins, a well-known Launcestonian, he became the first apprentice, in 1858, at the office of “The Launceston Weekly News” at the age of 11. After completing his journalistic training there, he went to London and became prominent with the Press Association.

Mr C E Lease, headmaster, said at Camelford Grammar School’s prize day on Friday that by selling, during the year, some of the property bequeathed in the 17th century by Sir James Smith, the school now had its own scholarship of about £60 a year to a university.