25 years ago

February 25, 1999

The Cornwall Heritage Trust has been awarded £73,000 of lottery funding towards the production of the Millennium Book for Cornwall.

Bradworthy is looking forward to an exciting new approach in the way in which local government works with the people it serves.

A local woman’s dream of travelling to Australia has come true but there will be a double advantage to Mary Gleeson’s trip in that it will also benefit the people of Launceston. Mrs Gleeson’s ‘chance of a lifetime’ has come about through the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travelling Fellowship Awards.

New head teacher at Launceston CP School (Windmill), Mr Mark Lindfield, is settling in well after completing his first half term.

* * *

40 years ago

February 25, 1984

Keen youngsters of 1432 Sqdn Bude Air Training Corps who got extra practical advice and the opportunity to try their hand at using equipment when they were guests at the Bude Station of the County Ambulance Service following their first aid emergency course.

Artists and craftspeople in North Cornwall are looking informally into the possibility of a communal meeting place at Bude.

Members of Launceston CND took their turn at keeping the weekend peace vigil at RAF St Mawgan. Ten members were present during Saturday and Sunday, and will be going again in a few month’s time.

Miss Naomi Allin, of Hendra Vale, Launceston, who last week at the Tremont Hotel, Newquay, won the title of Miss Dairy Maid of East Cornwall. A member of Launceston YFC, Naomi works for Kittows, Estate Agents, in Launceston and now goes on to the next heat to be held in Exeter.

* * *

50 years ago

February 23, 1974

Mr A E Soby, manager of the Bude branch of Messrs Coombes (outfitters), has been with the firm 50 years and to mark the occasion he was presented with a gold watch by Mr Peter Abbott, managing director, on behalf of the firm.

Launceston firemen  won the final of the Cornwall County Fire Brigade Quiz. The Launceston team, who were accompanied by Station Officer Leslie Olver, comprised Leading Firemen R Mounce and B Steer, Firemen E Smith, E Chapman and C Cottle.

At the annual dinner of the Holsworthy branch of the British Legion, Mrs L Brewer and Mrs J Cox were awarded brooches in recognition of their long service as poppy sellers.

* * *

60 years ago

February 29, 1964

In a report to the Cornwall Education Committee, the Secretary for Education, Mr J G Harries, said he wished to allay any anxiety about the safety of Callington School (which, as we have reported, has been propped in several places to prevent crumbling). Mr Harries said the position was that the school was at present safe.

The Dunheved Bowling Club, Launceston, celebrated its golden jubilee with a dinner at the Eagle House Hotel, on Monday.

The East Cornwall Water Board, which met at Liskeard on Monday, approved water schemes for Kelly Bray at a cost of £40,000 and for Golberdon costing £13,000.

* * *

70 years ago

February 27, 1954

The postponed institution and induction of the new Vicar of Hartland, Rev A T H Jones, took place at the spacious Parish Church of St Nectan on Saturday. Parishioners, including a great many Nonconformists, crowded the edifice coming on foot, in motor cars, and in coaches.

Cornwall’s county rate is to go up by 1s to 17s 3d in the £ for the coming year it was decided by the County Council meeting at Truro on Tuesday. Total expenditure for the coming year will be £5,600,000, a record.

Meeting at Exeter on Thursday week, Devon County Council approved a second rate of 19s 3d in the £ for the year starting next April, an increase of 11d on the current rate.

* * *

80 years ago

February 26, 1944

The Bishop of Truro on Saturday instituted Rev G C V Davies to the living of North Tamerton.

St Teath Parish Council have put forward an efficient sewerage scheme for the parish as their No 1 post-war priority. They also want all building sites in Delabole and St Teath to be made available at a reasonable price, according to agricultural value.

Reporting to the annual meeting of the Launceston Hospital and Rowe Dispensary, Mr J Treleaven stated that the board of management had been pressing for the provision of a maternity hospital at Launceston and had been told that the matter would receive careful attention. There was also need for a hostel for old people incapable of looking after themselves.

Gunner David George Sercombe Moore, RA, has been awarded the BEM for gallantry in rescuing personnel from a crashed bomber. He is the son of Rev and Mrs W A Moore, formerly of Holsworthy, and grandson of the late Mr and Mrs J H Stranger, of that town.

* * *

90 years ago

March 3, 1934

Mr S Radcliffe, of Delabole, has been returned unopposed as the county council representative for the Tintagel Division.

Mr H B Gent, sorting officer and telegraphist at Holsworthy, has been promoted to postmaster there. Okehampton War memorial Hospital now has a credit balance for the first time (£84), it was reported at the annual meeting. The number of patients admitted last year was 159, of whom 103 were discharged cured. The daily cost of each patient was 10s 11d.

The Union of Postal Workers held their first dinner at Launceston, in the Castle Temperance Hotel, with their chairman (Mr J Cornish) presiding. The secretary is W J Best.

Mr F R J Cressey, from Falmouth, has been appointed as the new head postmaster of Bude.

* * *

100 years ago

March 1, 1924

The recently formed branch of the Okehampton Independent Labour Party held its first open meeting on Friday. Mr C E Drew said that ILP had some chance of turning out that ‘wishy washy bloke’ — Mr Lambert Ald Charles Sprague, branch chairman, presided.

Extensively renovated and altered, the Wesleyan Chapel at Laneast was reopened on Thursday, the ceremony being performed by Mrs T Dunn, now living at Barnstaple. A gift of a communion set has been made to Mrs Metherell, of Camelford, formerly Miss Stephens, of Laneast.

The £50,000 harbour scheme for Port Isaac, cancelled buy the war, is being revived on a modified scale.

Mystery of the disappearance of Samuel Scawn, of Maiden Tor Farm, St Breward, who vanished seven weeks ago, was solved on Friday, when his body was found in a stream at Allen’s Ford. Inquest verdict ‘Found drowned’.