February 11, 1999

Funds amounting to £1,465,000 have been awarded to expand the buffalo dairy initiative based at Tetcott near Holsworthy. MAFF has announced the grant of almost one and a half million pounds which will be used to create a co-operative company and import a herd of approximately 1,000 water buffalo.

Love blossomed on stage and off for pantomime star Nicola Arscott whose story of her own fairytale romance has helped her become the South West finalist of Wedding and Home’s Bride of the Year competition. Nicola, from Tregadillett, and her 30-year-old fiance Carl Johns met on stage in Rhyl, North Wales, playing opposite each other as the leading roles in ‘Peter Pan’.

Joseph Lally from Launceston completed a sponsored rowing marathon at the Phoenix Leisure Centre on Sunday in order to raise much needed funds for the British Epilepsy Association (BEA).

February 18, 1999

It was obvious, right from the start, that Friday night’s ‘Post’ gala night at Penstowe Leisure Club, Kilkhampton, was going to be something special, and it was. The brilliant atmosphere could be felt even before the curtain went up on what was described by many present as ‘the best yet’.

People living and working opposite a bus station in Launceston can now breathe in fresh air thanks to a one-man campaign which has succeeded in reducing the level of pollution. Oscar Mantovani, who works from one of the offices in Westgate Street, was so fed up with the fumes from buses he decided to ask the drivers, whose stay was for more than five minutes, if they would switch their engines off.

Readers of the ‘Post’ have voted overwhelmingly in favour of moves to set up a new market in Launceston — in one form or another. In addition to our ‘Market Revival Poll’ we received many telephone calls and callers to the office, who were mostly in favour, although some believed the multi-faceted market envisaged might not be viable and that a farmers’ market might be more workable.

February 11, 1984

Bude Grassland Society’s silage competition for 1983 was sponsored by UKF Fertilisters Ltd. During the Society’s annual dinner-dance at the Nullers Arms, Marhamchurch, UKF’s representative, Mr Trevor Hayne, commented that despite the appalling weather conditions the quality of silage had been very high. His wife, Wendy, presented trophies to the top three; 1, Mr and Mrs John Turner, Penleaze, Marhamchurch; 2, Mr and Mrs Herbert Sherratt, Gorracott, Canworthy Water; 3, Mr and Mrs Roger Vanstone, Lana Wood, Pancrasweek.

At the annual meeting of Launceston Conservative Association, held at the Conservative Club on Monday, reported of a successful year were presented and it was reported that there had been a huge increase in subscriptions.

Objections have been lodged to the renewal of the registration certificate of Okehampton Conservative Club and a special hearing arranged for the application to be made.

February 18, 1984

Launceston and North Cornwall Motor Club’s third annual Launceston Trial was held on Sunday. Pictured at the event were Keith Horrell and his machine, with John Wills as sidecar passenger with the Mayor Mrs Cynthia Buckingham who performed the official start.

The Right Rev Peter Mumford, Lord Bishop of Truro, assisted by the Wen the Archdeacon of Bodmin, Fr George Temple, licensed the former Vicar of Bude Haven, Fr John Widdows, as priest-in-charge at North Hill Parish Church.The Bishop was greeted at the door by all 12 churchwardens.

South-East Cornwall MP Robert Hicks on Tuesday refused to support the government in its plans to cut housing benefit, despite attempts to make the cuts more acceptable to Tory rebels.

February 9, 1974

The highlight of a gathering of senior citizens at North Tamerton was a presentation of “This is your life’. The compère, Mr Raymond Shaddick sprang the surprise on Mr John Stanley Axford, aged 65, who was joined on the stage by his wife Winnifred. 

Mr F J W Whiting who has been licensee of the Mill House Inn, Trebarwith, for over 20 years, has given up the licence which has been transferred to Mr Patrick John Frederick Cul linan and Mr Peter Courtney Fitzjames Cullinan.

Anthony Heard and Debra Miller played the title parts in Bude Central Methodist Youth Club’s pantomime ‘Jack and Jill’.

Milton Damerell’s oldest man, Mr Hannam senior, aged 94 years, has been removed to hospital.

Mr and Mrs Sam Bradshaw were presented with a painting by Launceston Ladies Football Club in appreciation of their services.

February 16, 1974

A presentation was made to Mr Jack Huxtable, who is retiring after serving for a quarter of a century with the Stratton branch of the National Farmers’ Union.

“‘The miners’ action has challenged our democratic way of life and Parliament itself”, said Mr Peter Mills, Conservative candidate for West Devon at his adoption meeting at Tavistock.

The Joan Rendell Shield for the Launceston Floral Art Group member gaining most points in Class A in the monthly competitions was won for the second year running by Mrs F Smale, and the winner of the gift token for most points in Class B was Mrs A Wills.

Mr Norman Knight, of 35, Glebelands, Holsworthy, has retired from the firm of agricultural and general merchants, Thomas Oke and Son Ltd, after 40 years’ service.

At the annual meeting of Ashwater Agricultural Show, Mr A E Moon, chairman, thanked the committee for the way they had supported him over the last 25 years as chairman and said he was now vacating the chair.

February 15, 1964

Sunday cricket at Callington? The introduction of it was favoured at Thursday week’s annual meeting of the cricket club. It would be in addition to Saturday games. The subject was raised by Mr Peter Moores. “I think it would be a great benefit to the club,” he said. “Other clubs have Sunday cricket and I suggest we have a few Sunday matches this season as an experiment. 

A team of 10 runners from Launceston is going to attempt to better the time of nine hours and 35 minutes for the run from Polson Bridge to Lands end set up a few weeks ago by a team from the Falmouth/Mylor area.

Launceston Rural District Council at their meeting on Tuesday unanimously decided to support the move against the closing of Lewannick primary school by the Cornwall County Education Committee.

The switches of the public street lights to the private housing estate of Woburn, Launceston, on Tuesday evening, ended several years of waiting by residents whose protests were brought to a head recently through Mr Barry Wennington, an insurance inspector who lives on the estate.

February 22, 1964

Hundreds of tons of silver grey Cornish granite are reaching London every week for use at Mill Bank where a 1,200ft long new river wall is being constructed for the London County Council. The granite, a very light silver grey in colour, is quarried from Hantergantick quarry, St Breward.

There will be seven candidates for five new seats on a joint authority which will be known as Holsworthy Rural Council. For a number of years there have been both rural and urban councils at Holsworthy, but with effect from April 1 they will be amalgamating. The new authority is to take the rural council’s name and will serve a population of about 7,500.

February 13, 1954

The severity of last week’s frost was well shown on Sunday by the large slabs of ice, some as large as a table top, which was observed floating down the Tamar at Greystone Bridge.

It was announced at Tuesday’s meeting of Launceston Rural Council that various farmers, butchers and dealers in the area are planning to erect a new slaughterhouse in the town.

Camelford magistrates heard on Friday that there had been no convictions for drunkness in the Lesnewth division for the past three years.

Mr Edwin Malindine was adopted as prospective Liberal candidate for North Cornwall at Wadebridge on Saturday. 

February 20, 1954

Launceston’s new Borough Surveyor, Mr L T Colburn, of Finchley, London, a building and engineering consultant, took up his appointment in the town on Monday.

Mr L D Williams, who has been the Conservative agent for the North Cornwall Division since August 1, 1948, is shortly to leave the division for a new position with Conservative Central Office.

For the first time in their history the Devon Longwoolled Sheep Breeders’ Society have a woman as their president, for at their annual meeting at Launceston on Tuesday, Mr E R Whitehouse, of Boscastle, was unanimously voted to the office.

With their two previously fixtures cancelled because of the heavy frosts, Launceston made up for lost time on Saturday by scoring enough points in the one game for normal complement of three, Launceston 39pts, HMS Alaunia 0.

Callington Grammar School Mixed Choir and Launceston College Orchestra under the baton of Mr H Spencer Toy, the headmaster, took part in a BBC recording at the Drill Hall, Launceston, on Wednesday.

February 12, 1944

Previously reported missing, no notified as prisoner of war in Germany; Pte Norman Penno, of 6, St Thomas Hill, Launceston.

The old Wesley Chapel at Trenoult, near Pipers Pool, has collapsed. For the last 10 years it was maintained by Mr M Howard Coad at his own expense.

Four drivers who went to Launceston police station to report that their cars had been stolen were later fined for failing to immobilise them in accordance with the anti-invasion regulations the police had driven them away from where they were parked as the rotor arms had not been removed.

Holsworthy’s British Restaurant is making a loss on the coupon-free meals served, and Holsworthy Urban Council discussed on Tuesday raising the rent of the Soldiers Canteen to help meet the deficit. However, it was felt unfair to penalise the troops in this way, and that the restaurant should stand on its own feet, increasing the charge for meals, if necessary.

February 19, 1944

Killed in action: Sgt William Henry Broadribb, RM, of Milton Dameral. Lost his life in air operations from India; Flg Officer Hedley C Jewell, formerly of Holsworthy. Prisoners of war; John Dean, of East Putford, William John Avery Tolley, of North Street, Okehampton; Pte W J Abbott, of 30, St Thomas Road, Launceston.

Cadet Frank Budd, 16, of the Bude ATC, is to broadcast in the BBC programme, “First Flights” from London tomorrow. A telegraph boy who sings in Stratton Church Choir, he comes from a noted family of singers and is in much demand as a boy soprano for local concerts.

Miss Muriel Strong, a teacher at Tintagel Council School, has replied to recent criticisms at Camelford Rural, Council that there is no headmaster there and that the bigger boys were getting out of hand. She denies this, but says that a few boys and girls, near leaving, have tried to upset the others.

February 17, 1934

Launceston Farmers’ Union are asking that the town’s cattle market should be held weekly on Tuesday, instead of fortnightly, and that the Pannier Market should be open on the afternoon the same day instead of only on Saturdays as at present.

Patrol Leader Dudley Kernick, of the 1st Boscastle Boy Scouts, has been presented with the silver cross (the Scouts’ VC) for bravery in rescuing a bot, Charles Mason, from drowning in Boscastle Harbour last year. When the presentation was made at the Mission Room on Thursday, the rescued boy was also enrolled as a Wolf Cub.

February 24, 1934

Launceston is considering building a new hospital. The hospital committee (president, Mr J S Tregonning), realising that with the increase of motor traffic the present building (in Western Road) is unsuitable and they have now launched a new building fund and are looking for a suitable site.

Mr James Venning, of Callington, has submitted an appeal to His Majesty the King against the proposed loss of Callington’s urban status and its incorporation in St Germans Rural District. He suggests amalgamation with Calstock instead, and failing that, asks that His Majesty should make Callington a municipal borough.

February 16, 1924

At Lifton Petty Session on Thursday, a defendant was fined 25s for doing damage to the road at Lewtrenchard by dragging the wheel of a loaded timber waggon, the skipan being completely worn out.

While working at Kilkhampton New road Quarry, Mr John Ford, of Sanctuary, Stratton, had his foot badly crushed by falling rock. He was conveyed to Stratton Cottage Hospital and although he received immediate attention, gangrene set in and his leg had to be amputated.

February 23, 1924

The Ministry of Health has approved the North Cornwall water scheme — which covers St Kew, St Endellion, St Minver Highlands and Lowlands, St Teath and Tintagel, at a cost of £8,000 — following the recent public inquiry.

Launceston Town Council have approved the scheme whereby it and the two rural councils should provide an eight-bed isolation hospital for the area to be sited on one-and-three-quarter acres near St Stephens.