Farewell to fine
old lady of sea
THERE has been a certain amount of nostalgia along the quayside, since Ibis, Paul Greenwood's lugger, left her moorings last week and slipped out of Looe for the last time. She was heading for her new berth at Brixham, where new owner Martin Pomeroy is to sail her as a private yacht.
Paul, who is chairman of the Cornish Lugger Association, brought the Ibis to Looe 24 years ago, from Porthleven, and since then the orange and black livery of this fine old lady of the sea has been a familiar sight at her mooring, just down from the bridge on the east of the river. Paul ran her for charter trips around the coastline and to Brittany and Ireland, but latterly she has been involved in diving charters. Paul says the lugger was soon due for re-classification under the new licensing for such vessels, and given that keeping a vessel of her size involves a lot of time and effort, he decided, along with wife Maggie, that it would be nice to take things a bit easier.
'We were both very sad to her go,' said Paul, 'but we are now looking for a smaller lugger which will be just for private use'.
More trains
on Sundays
THE county council is a main contributor towards a scheme, organised by the Devon and Cornwall Rail Rail Partnership, to enhance Sunday services on the Looe Valley branch rail line for the next two years.
Rail services are already provided for 12 Sundays on the Looe Valley line, and the proposal is to extend this by eight additional services to run for 20 Sundays. The £32,000 costs will be met by the county council, the Countryside Agency and the Rail Working Party.
The project will also involve producing extra publicity leaflets, and employing information assistants to travel on the trains to help people make the most of their visit to the area. Members of the county executive were told that provided the other organisations provide the necessary funding, the additional services could start on June l next year.
Singing in the square
THE British Heart Foundation is organising carol singing in West Looe Square which commences at 7pm on Monday, December 17. Hot food will be available from a barbecue.
If wet, the event will take place in the fire station.
Limpets lunch
LOOE Limpets held their Christmas lunch at Tom Sawyers, Hannafore.
Chief Limpet Fred Leese welcomed a larger attendance than usual, before calling on Limpet Mary Purdy for a vote of thanks to all contributing to such an enjoyable occasion.
The New Year meeting will be held on January 30.
Loan for Looe
computer centre
IT has been agreed that Looe Development Trust can receive a short-term interest-free loan of £89,000 to enable a property to be purchased to house the new Looe computer suite.
Looe Town Forum has been operating the ICT centre from temporary premises in the town since October l this year, and in the first month over 90 residents used the centre.
Caradon councillors were told that suitable permanent premises are needed and, since the Forum cannot own property, a company limited by guarantee (the Looe Development Trust) has been set up to enable the project to proceed. The Trust has been offered 3 Polkirt Arcade, Higher Market Street, East Looe on a 999-year lease on a ground rent of £1 per annum.
Initial funding was obtained from the government of £30,000 for equipment, and revenue funding over three years of £59,150 is coming from the Lottery. Funding for the purchase has been secured from Looe town council, East Looe town trust, West Looe town trust and Caradon. Further monies are being sought from Objective l, Cornwall Enterprise and the Rural Development programme.
The loan for £89,000 would cover the purchase, refurbishment and fitting out of the permanent premises.
Market awash
with mackerel
Fish figures for Monday December 10 - Thursday December 13 (weights in kilos): Monday 10: squid 400, cuttle 1300, lemons 150, monk 190, whiting 850, plaice 180, cod 400, scallops 160 (dozen), mackerel 1000(L) 2500(LM) 12000(M) 9300(S); Tuesday 11: mackerel 300(L) 700(LM) 3500(M) 4200(S); Wednesday 12: mackerel 750(L&LM) 3250(M) 4400(S); Thursday 12: squid 190, cuttle 140, whiting 1200, plaice 130, monk 90, cod 190, bass 50, scallops 180 doz, mackerel 900 (L@LM), 5200 (M), 11300 (S). Figures supplied courtesy of Looe Fish Selling.
Pickles night
THE Looe branch of the Royal Naval Association held a successful social evening on December 7 (Pickles Night). The event commemorated the arrival at Falmouth of HMS Pickles in l805 with the news of the success at Trafalgar, and Admiral Nelson's death.
Carol concert
THE 14th annual carol concert organised by East Looe Town Trust at the Council Chamber in the Guildhall, is to take place on Sunday at 3pm.
The event will once again comprise seasonal melodies from the Looe Valley Singers, under the baton of Danny Gill, and community carol singing. Trust staff and members will be serving mincepies and cream and hot drinks. The event is free of charge.