25 years ago

June 25, 1998

A 23-year-old multitalented musician from Widemouth Bay is releasing an album featuring songs depicting the bright side of Cornwall. Aidan Griffiths, who operates under the name Wish You Well, is looking forward to the release of the album ‘Way Down ‘Ere’ on Wednesday which will principally be available from Upbeat in Bude.

Jamaica Inn’s latest development has brought together real smuggling artifacts and a tribute to Daphne du Maurier and her story of the inn. Based in Bolventor’s old school house, it contains artifacts from the defunct Smuggling Museum of Polperro and brings to life in a theatrical way the story of Jamaica Inn.

Taking the place of North Hill Carnival, the North Hill Medieval Revel and Market on Saturday were voted a stunning success. The event, run in aid of North Hill Village Hall funds, included a grant jousting tournament, skittles and Mystic Muriel!

Former Delabole resident Philip Gross has won the £1,000 first prize in the 1998 Peterloo Poetry Competition organised by Cornwall’s major national poetry press.

Duck Island was officially opened in Enfield Park, Camelford, on Friday, by the Mayor, Cllr Pearl Roberts, in glorious sunshine.

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40 years ago

June 25, 1983

Launceston Girls’ Brigade staged a Teddy Bears’ picnic in the Castle Green last week. The organisers were Betty Wilkins, Caroline Warne and Elaine Cook.

Six Launceston Scouts took part in the Five Tors Challenge on Dartmoor, an inter-troop hiking competition. This involved map and compass work to estimate the times they would take between Tors. They were so successful in this — being out by only 15 minutes over the whole course, and in walking the 181 kilometres — that they won the competition. The boys involved were Mark West, Tim Gomm, Tristan Uglow, Andrew and Mark Kinvig and Jason Parr.

Three young men who ran off after leaving a Launceston shop were being sought in a police hunt mounted just before midday on Wednesday, The force helicopter was called in to assist Launceston mobile police division in their search of the area.

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50 years ago

June 23, 1973

Mr J A M Kent, of Delabole, who has been associated with local government for 35 years, was elected as the first chairman of the North Cornwall District Council at its inaugural meeting at Wadebridge on Monday.

Thomas Oke and Son Ltd of Holsworthy have a fine record of long service from their employees and at a special reception at the Strand Hotel, Bude, awards were made by Mr John Oke to: Mrs Myrtle Harris (32 years), Mr Ken Cornish (33), Mr Fred Coombe (28), Mr Raymond Hawkins (22), and Mr A Buse, the present managing director (25). Mr John Bailey, who was unable to attend, has served 35 years.

Mermaid, Felicity Trew, arrived in a beach buggy driven by Mr Ken Erlich to open the eighth Round Table Water Fair at Newport, Launceston. However, the River Kensey proved too much for the vehicle and it got bogged down in midstream. Many willing waders came to the rescue and it was soon pushed to the shore.

Mooring space in the outer harbour at Budde has almost reached saturation point. The major problem facing councillors is the lack of control the local authority has over the moorings. On the payment of 5p to the town’s resorts services manager Mr Frederick Dymond, boat owners can moor their craft where they like.

Miss ivy Littlejohns is leaving the staff of Holsworthy Hospital after 24 years service. A part was arranged for her at the Summerleaze Beach Hotel, Bude, when she received gifts which were presented by Mr J C Wooley, Hospital Group Secretary for North Devon.

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60 years ago

June 29, 1963

The South Petherwin sewerage scheme, which is nearly complete, has been designed by Mr F R Thorne, the Launceston Rural District Engineer, and his assistant, Mr Bowyer-Smith. The basis of the design is for economical running and maintenance.

At an auction at Callington on Monday, an asbestos and timber-built five-roomed bungalow, called ‘Marylou’, Tavistock Road, Callington, with garage and garden, was withdrawn at £1,400 but was sold immediately afterwards at an increased figure. A plot of land adjoining the bungalow property and having a frontage of 100ft, to the main road and a depth of nearly 200ft was sold for £800.

The Primary Sub-committee of Cornwall Education Committee are seeking once more to close Lewannick CP School, a proposal successfully resisted by parents and other local people last year. The sub-committee revealed that they had considered the position again of the schools at Tregadillett, South Petherwin and Lewannick. Their report stated that the situation now was that at Lewannick there were 25 children on roll with the probability of smaller numbers next year.

A big crowd gathered on the summit of Kit Hill at nightfall on Saturday for the annual bonfire ceremony. The event was organised by the Callington Old Cornwall Society.

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70 years ago

June 27, 1953

The long established local tradition that there is always fine weather on the annual Roman Catholic pilgrimage at Launceston was completely shattered last Sunday when the weather was such that, for the first time in more than 30 years that the pilgrimage has been held, the usual procession through the streets of the town had to be abandoned and the service itself was held indoors.

Launceston is one of seven towns in Cornwall which are to have school crossing patrols.

The traditional custom of lighting of hilltop bonfires on mid-summer eve was observed throughout Cornwall on Tuesday.

PC Eric Webber, of Launceston, is gravely ill in Freedom Fields Hospital, Plymouth, as the result of injuries sustained through accidentally falling out of a bedroom window at his home at Daw’s House, South Petherwin, during the early hours of Friday.

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80 years ago

June 26, 1943

Awarded DFM— Sgt-Pilot Jack Nance-Kivell, RAF, of Torquay, and formerly of Dolsdon Farm, Whitstone.

Two local Home Guards CSM Collett, of Daw’s House, and Sgt Slee, of Tower Street, Launceston, have been awarded Certificates of Merit for their services and devotion to duty. Both are postmen.

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90 years ago

July 1, 1933

The Post Office at Camelford was destroyed by fire just before Christmas last year. On thursday new spacious and attractive premises were opened on the same site.

The lifeboat which has been stationed at Port Isaac for many years has now been removed, much to the regret of local inhabitants. Many people gathered to watch the last launch.

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100 years ago

June 30, 1923

Joseph Werren, of West Curry, Boyton, was killed on Monday when his horse took fright at a motor car and he was thrown to the ground from a horse rake.

About 60 men employed on the construction of the Halwill / Torrington railway were singing ‘The Reg Flag’ in Hatherleigh Square on Saturday night at 10.15pm. Police Sgt Babb and Con Hutchings told them to move along and the men then mobbed them. Six ring-leaders were all sent to prison by the magistrates on Tuesday.