Optician

retires at 83

IT was the end of an era in West Looe this week, with the retirement of Jack Cowdrey, of Cowdrey's Opticians, who has probably been the oldest serving optician in the county and beyond.

At the age of 83 Jack says he feels it is time that he retired, although he has still been enjoying every minute that he has spent carrying out eye examinations and fitting contact lenses and spectacles. 'I have counted it a privilege to have been doing this for over 45 years in the beautiful county of Cornwall' he said.

Jack gained a scholarship to read ophthalmic optics at the Northampton Polytechnic, London (now The City University) at the age of 17 and qualified at the age of 21. Even in those days this was considered young!

Since then he has worked continuously in the world of optics, apart from a few years in the Royal Naval Medical Service, where he was doing similar work.

Since those early days Jack has continued to study and take additional examinations, but says that as his age has increased and his health deteriorated, he felt it was time to retire, but at the same time find someone to succeed him who would maintain and expand his ideas.

Jack is pleased to announce that that person is Mr Tim Spiers who has now taken over the business. Tim says he is looking forward to his new venture and feels privileged to have the opportunity of continuing the tradition of clinical excellence which has been Jack's hallmark since the 1950s.

Tim qualified with a first class degree in Optometry at City University London, and also passed the examinations entitling him to Membership of the College of Optometrists with the second highest mark in the country. He was born and raised in Essex, though his mother was a Blewett and her family lived in West Taphouse. Mr Geof Puddephatt will continue at the practice with Tim.

Jack has been the recipient of many good wishes on his retirement, and thanks, for his excellent care over the years.

New ideas for

the Millpool

and Polean

THE Polean area at the far end of the Millpool in West Looe, is to be looked at for a variety of possible uses to clean up the derelict area. These include a supermarket, other retail outlets and small workshops.

European money is funding a study to allow Caradon to take a fresh look at the potential new uses for property at the Millpool and Polean areas.

A section of the Millpool already has a controversial outline planning permission for a supermarket for the town, while Polean has been the subject of much criticism over its untidy and semi-derelict condition.

The project is to look at ways of improving amenities and creating new employment opportunities on land owned by Caradon Council and West Looe Town Trust.

The research will be carried out by a multi-disciplinary team of property consultants under the direction of Caradon and should be completed by early autumn.

Councillor Sid Gardner, a Caradon Cabinet Member, said that the objectives of the study are to identify how these sites could best benefit the town.

'There will no doubt be greatly differing views on what is needed and how it should be achieved,' he said.

'At this point we are looking at what is feasible on the land available, and there will be plenty of opportunity for people to air their views once the technical issues affecting feasibility have been identified and evaluated'.

Fish

figures

Figures for week Friday August 10 - Thursday August 16 (weights in kilos) were: Fri - squid 1000, lemons 150, plaice 60, whiting 130, cod 120, pollack 100, monk 100, scallops 300 doz; Mon - squid 900, lemons 380, plaice 260, monk 260, whiting 3200, haddock 250, pollack 260, cod 420, turbot 150; Weds - whiting 3000, lemons 800, squid 500, plaice 250, monk 180, pollack 230; Thurs - squid 450, whiting 2500, plaice 200, lemons 500, pollack 200, cod 150.

Figures courtesy of Looe Fish Selling.

Funds for ACHE

THE Chairman and Trustees of Looe and District ACHE (Area Community Health Equipment) are grateful to the Fisherman's Choir for the recent evening of song on Polperro quayside which raised the sum of £207.

Another enjoyable fundraising event was also held in Polperro in the gardens of Mrs Pierre-Hunt, overlooking the harbour, a lovely setting for a coffee morning. This raised £226. It was a glorious day and many holidaymakers, from home and abroad also attended.

'ACHE are presently raising funds for a mountain of new equipment for the doctors, nurses and community staff in the Health Centre at Looe to keep them up to date with the demands of the NHS,' says Patricia Carnell, secretary/assistant treasurer.