Pennyland clean up

West Looe Town Trust has informed the Harbour Board that it is 'anxious to establish ownership of the Pennyland Walkway', as it is considering laying legal claim to the land, with the intention of cleaning up and refurbishing the area.

At a recent meeting the harbour commissioners agreed to carry out ownership investigations but meanwhile they have informed the Trust that they believe Pennyland at West Looe to be the property of the harbour dating back to the 1847 Act of Parliament.

Commissioners have asked the Harbour Master, Ted Webb, to clean up the area and to erect signs re 'dog fouling'.

'Mate' for Nelson

The port's famous one eyed seal, Nelson, was in the harbour a few days ago with a friend in tow. Smaller in comparison it is hoped the new arrival is a mate as Nelson needs some cheering up after having to contend with his recent eye infection and gashed nose.

However, quay workers noted with amusement that mate or not, Nelson kept the other seal out in the middle of the river and would net let it come near the fish quay, from where his welcome supply of food is thrown to him daily.

A 'Cornish' welcome

The harbour commissioners have put work in progress to refurbish all the signs in the Buller Quay car park. They are also to erect a 'Welcome to Looe' sign which will be in both English and Cornish languages.

'Odd Couple' was a hoot!

Well done the Looe Players - the Odd Couple, written by Neil Simon, provided local theatre goers with an evening of fine entertainment from an exceedingly difficult play to perform.

Originally written for male stars the play became a Broadway classic in 1968 starring Jack Lemon and Walter Mattau. It concerns two divorced men who share a New York apartment and live with a desire to 'ring each others necks'. Re-written in the same year to encompass a predominantly female cast of stars it centres on Olive, untidy, carefree and with a vivid sense of humour, and Florence, nervous, immaculate and conventional. The two friends are thrown together when Florence separates from Stanley, her husband of 14 years.

The play opens in a stifingly hot room of an American summer with a group of lady friends playing Trivial Pursuits - a reflection of their lives perhaps? Olive's entrance comes like a breath of fresh air, full of fun and humour, which she manages to maintain all through this difficult play. Underneath however, is a well disguised feeling of loneliness, so she welcomes the idea of having Florence for a flat mate. Company palls however, as Florence tidies, disinfects and dusts EVERYTHING! She also cooks elaborate meals and generally tries to re-mould poor Olive, played by Gill Harris, who longs for her old life of chaos. Florence, played by Val Laverton, can do no right and a double replay is performed when Olive and Florence have an almost identical argument to that of Florence and Stanley.

Events come to a climax when two Spaniards, divorced brothers, appear on the scene. These two are also opposites living together. The confusion of the Spanish and English languages causes much hilarity. Olive longs for a romantic evening out but Florence cooks an elaborate meal. Everything seems ruined when everyone, including Olive, turns up late and the capon is burnt to a cinder.

By this time the audience is hooting with laughter and living through the action with the characters on the stage. The humour comes thick and fast. Now comes the ironic twist in the play. Poor Olive, driven to distraction, turns Florence away and returs her flat to its blissful state of untidiness. Florence however, wins the sympathy of the two Spanish gentlemen, played by Dave Laverton and Anthony Nelson, and they whisk her off her feet and into their flat. Olive is left playing Trivial Pursuits with her friends, played by Joy Higgs, Lucy Hebbs, Jacqui Vineer and Pam Kevern.

In his vote of thanks, Don Webb asked the audience to come along to the next production and bring a friend so 'Educating Rita' could play to a full house. 'So come on you Looe residents, support your local theatre group, they deserve it'. . . . . revue by Anne Dingle.

Quiberon art sale

Whilst Looe Arts and Crafts members displayed their work in Polperro over the Easter weekend, one enterprising member took up an offer to show his paintings at a gallery in Quiberon.

Artist Colin Poole from Pensilva 'hitched' to Brittany, where he had been invited to show his work by Mme Francoise Zainel at her gallery in Quiberon.

Colin has done much to keep interest in town twinning alive - and the one sale of the weekend at the gallery in Brittany was one of his own paintings!

Looe Arts and Crafts society is open for membership, please contact the membership secretary on 01503 265102.

Five new helpers at Cancer shop

Manager of Looe's popular Cancer Research charity shop, Rita Ranson, is delighted to report that the recent publicity campaign in the Cornish Times has led to five new volunteers stepping forward.

Rita has been appealing for more help for some time, especially now the tourist season has started, which means the shop will be busier than ever. However, there is still room for more people to come forward as Rita says she can never have too much help, which means the stalwarts can take more time off. 'The more the merrier' she says. You can contact Rita on 01503 2630032 or just pop along to the shop in Fore Street.

Fine weather brings in the fish

The fine weather over the Bank Holiday weekend led to a good market on the Tuesday which included over 1,000 doz scallops. Three vessels from the port, Lucy Two, The Hartley and Frank Philips are all now concentrating on scalloping.

Figures for week Friday, April 28 - Thursday May 4 (weights in kilos) - Frid: cuttle (1200), pollack (470), turbot (80), lemons (3000), whiting (1100), scallops (400 doz); Tues: scallops (1000 doz), cuttle (1500), lemons (3500), plaice (1500), whiting (1500), dory (400), pollack (400); Weds: cuttle (750), lemons (800), whiting (350), plaice (250), mackerel (230), turbot (70), scallops (460 doz); Thurs: cuttle (700), lemons (700), plaice (200), whiting (300), mackerel (300), turbot (70), scallops (250 doz).

Figures courtesy of Looe Fish Selling.

TV presenters to launch raft race

Carlton TV presenters Richard Bath and Lorna Dunkley are to start the annual raft race, organised by Looe and Polperrro Chamber of Commerce, which takes place at 2.15pm on Sunday, June 11. This year the event promises to be even bigger with much interest already being shown.

Some new additions on the start line up in the children's races will be at least ten rafts entered by scout groups from all over Cornwall. They will race in their own category with the winners receiving a special cup.

Richard and Lorna will also be presenting the prizes to all the winners in the marquee on the Millpool car park, which is being erected as part of the Looe Festival of the Sea celebrations, during which the raft race takes place

All crews wishing to enter this highly entertaining and fun event are asked to contact the co-ordinator, Dave Howells, as soon as possible on 01503 240799 for full information.