Kick start

for walking festival

A NEW two-week walking festival, celebrating the beauty of the Looe Valley, will be held between September 15-29.

Over 20 events will take place during the festival, many based on the scenic Looe Valley line (the Liskeard-Looe branch line).

Events include walks from the small intermediate halts on the line, walks exploring the industrial history of the area, a wildlife walk, story-telling walk and town walks in Liskeard and Looe.

Called the Looe Valley Walking Festival, it kicks off on Saturday September 15 with on-train commentary on a morning train from Liskeard to Looe.

It ends on September 29 with an illustrated talk by author Michael Messenger whose book 'Caradon and Looe, the Canal, Railways and Mines' has just been updated and reprinted.

The festival has been jointly organised by Looe Valley Line working party and Caradon Countryside service.

Financial support is being provided by the Countryside Agency, Rural Development Programme and the South West Coast Path team as well as the partners which make up the Looe Valley Line working party, Cornwall council, Caradon council, Looe and Liskeard town councils and SECTA.

Working party chairman, Sid Gardener, said: 'The Festival celebrates the beauty of the area of South East Cornwall served by the Looe Valley Line.

'The festival offers many opportunities for people to see, experience and find out much more about this beautiful part of the country.'

The festival is part of a project to promote walks from the railway. A new leaflet is being produced promoting walks from stations on the line, together with one promoting guided walks organised by a range of groups.

A series of 'stamping points' will also be set up away from stations to encourage walkers to visit local businesses to collect 'stamps'. The project is scheduled to be completed by spring 2002.

Free copies of the Looe Valley Walking Festival guide are available from Looe Tourist Information Centre, South East Cornwall Discovery Centre in Looe, and Liskeard station. Alternatively copies can be obtained, also free of charge, by calling Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership on 01752 233094 or e-mail [email protected]">[email protected]

Walks include 'Looe Town Trail', 'Two Rivers Walk', 'Landscape Stories', 'Looe Maritime Walk', 'Liskeard and Moorswater Circular' and 'Autumn Wildlife'.

Car boot bid to provide more Christmas lights

SANTA'S arrival and the switch-on of Looe's Christmas lights will take place on Friday December 7. It will be a joint presentation by Looe Lions and the town forum.

Over the past two years the festival lights in the town centre, West Looe and the Barbican have increased with local donations and funding, and it is felt that this year the voluntary lighting group needs to raise the funding for the required electrical components and replacements.

Dave Holford, of Looe town forum, urged all Looe residents to help - simply by searching cupboards, lofts and sheds for any items, except electrical goods, which are no longer needed and which can be donated to the lighting committee for sale at autumn and winter car boot sales in Looe. All proceeds from the sales will be for the town's festive lighting.

For collection ring 01503 264702, 265575, or 264698.

Scallops by the dozen

FISH figures for Looe, beginning Friday August 24 (in kgs). There was no market over the Bank Holiday weekend. August 24 - squid (500), lemons (350), whiting (1800), monk (120), plaice (300), bass (100), scallops (910 dozen). August 28 - squid 620, whiting 1300, plaice 400, monk 220, lemons 350; August 29 - cod 150, haddock 130, plaice 250, whiting 1600, squid 260, pollock 180, monk 200. August 30 - squid 320, lemons 150, whiting 1800, monk 330, plaice 100, scallops 600 (dozen). Figures courtesy of Looe Fish Selling..

Over £500 raised for

Looe's old lifeboat

A BRUNCH has been held to raise money towards helping maintain the Ryder – the l902 Looe lifeboat which is moored alongside Polperro's Heritage museum from Easter to October.

The brunch was organised at Porthallow End, Talland. Guests were welcomed with Bucks Fizz, followed by scrambled egg with smoked salmon, bacon, sausages, hash browns, toast, croissants and muffins.

The swimming pool, which was available to guests, was used throughout the day, and especially enjoyed by the many children who attended.

Chefs Jenny Hall and Shirley Shearsmith were kept busy throughout the morning serving some 50 guests, and Sheila Hitchman sold over £100 worth of raffle tickets.

The Ryder stall was manned by Dot Aitken.

Next year sees the l00th anniversary of the Ryder, and it is hoped to take her to London for the Great River Race 2002, which will take her past the site of the Thames Ironworks where she was built - now West Ham's football ground.

The event raised over £500 for Ryder funds.