Sign language

study for pupils

THE Guide Hut at Liskeard School and Community College is to host an event as part of Deaf Awareness week.

The week, running on October 8-14, is to include social evenings, an exhibition, an open day and workshops. The Cornwall Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing People, based at 3-4 Quay Mews, Truro, will also be giving information about where the nearest British sign language classes are.

The association says one in seven people in the UK are deaf or hard of hearing, with most able to be helped by the use of appropriate hearing aid. Sign language does, however, help those with a profound or total hearing loss, British sign language being a visual language with its own grammar and syntax. Such language has been recognised by the European Parliament since l989, but there is no recognition of it in this country as a core subject in the educational curriculum.

However, number of pupils from Liskeard and the surrounding area will be learning about sign language, from pupils of the Royal West of England School for the Deaf from Exeter at the Guide Hut during the afternoon of October 11.

Reunion for

1987 students

FORMER students of Liskeard Comprehensive School who left in 1987 are invited to a reunion at the Lord Elliot Hotel on Saturday, October 6, from 8pm onwards for a buffet and disco. Entry will be by ticket, available from Kay on 01566 777405.

£7,000 deficit

for association

LISKEARD Agricultural Association reported that there was a deficit of just over £7,000 for the year as a whole, at their AGM this week. The association normally holds the Liskeard Show each July, but foot and mouth disease forced its cancellation this year.

The two functions held during the year - the members' winter dinner and the get-together and disco on July - had contributed £500 to the funds. A total of £2,289 of the spending was for buying new hurdles, while much of the rest, including £200 for tentage, would be carried forward to the 2002 show.

Despite the financial drawbacks, the association maintained its donations to local charities and organisations, but at half the previous year's figures.

It was also decided to re-elect the officers and committee members en bloc who were appointed for 2001. Meanwhile, the chairman, John Glanville, chairman of the association for the past 22 years, gave notice that he would not be standing as chairman next year.

It was agreed the 2002 Liskeard Show would be held on Saturday, July 13, whatever might happen next year.

League sale

THE Cats Protection league are holding a sale in the Long Room, Liskeard, this Saturday (October 6). There will be a variety of stalls including bric-a-brac, books and crafts.

Entry is free, but donations of cat food are welcome. For future dates contact Val Taylor on (01579) 363192, or visit the website on http://www.cats.org.uk/branch/callington">www.cats.org.uk/branch/callington .