Trolley dash for a project

A community service project has been planned by the Lions of Callington to mark the Millennium.

The Lions, under the leadership of president Arthur Pridham, have acquired four large granite blocks, which will be sited at each of the town's approaches, and inscribed 'CALLINGTON'. Entombed beneath each block, a time capsule will be crammed with historical facts and artefacts of life in the area, past and present. Lions members would welcome any suggestions for inclusion.

To fund the project a 'trolley dash' has been arranged with the approval of the local Pioneer store. Tickets at £1 will be through Lions members, on inside the store on Saturdays.

They will be entered for the draw on Tuesday December 7 when three winners will be named. The first out of the drum will win two minutes of 'dash' time, the second and third prizes being in-store vouchers for £50 and £25 respectively.

The winning 'dash' will be at 8am on December 13.

A large lorry is to be the stage

Plans for Torpoint Millennium celebrations are gathering pace as the organisers put together the final arrangements.

All seven of the ferry lanes will be closed from 6.30pm on Millennium night, and alternative arrangements will be put in place for loading the ferry.

During the course of the day a team of workers will be preparing the road closures and rigging the stage - a large articulated lorry - for a spectacular night of celebration. The entertainment will start at around 7.30pm with a roller disco for the younger element of the town, but the main theme of the evening will be a mix of live music and a disco leading up to midnight with community singing along the lines of the Last Night of the Proms.

The New Year will be signalled by a solitary rocket, and the singing of Old Lang Syne followed by a fireworks display.

Walking for a challenge

A book outlining a walk around the United Kingdom, entitled 'The Millennium Challenge', is on sale in local bookshops to raise money for charity.

Since l992 Robin Moore has walked over 3,000 miles for Imperial Cancer Research, his treks including the 2,160 mile walk around the Kingdom using roads and paths, and a walk from John O'Groats to Land's End using roads. He has also tackled the 400 mile round Cornwall coastal walk via the coast path, Hadrian's Wall to Land's End via roads, and Cornwall to Oundle via roads.

Future walks include a 4,000 mile hike around Great Britain and a walk around the coastline of Great Britain. The footpaths incorporated into the walk include the South West way, the Severn Way, the Sandstone Trail, the Norfolk coast path and the Saxon Shore way.

Robin is a one-man army who remains self-sufficient throughout his campaigns providing his own expenses and sponsor forms for the charity work, as well as taking sole responsibility for fundraising and organising each event. On all his walks he carries his equipment in a rucksack, sometimes weighing over 50lbs, and has to find his own accommodation, often late at night.

Speaking of his Millennium challenge he said: 'I mainly kept to the coastal routes where the elements were usually more exacting, thus construing the message of penance and the meaning of challenge. The Cornish footpath was without doubt the most testing of these and was the reason why I chose to start and finish on it. So, in terms of penance created for the purpose of fund-raising I can at least say I have fulfilled my obligation.'

Robin began his walk on the north coast of Cornwall, ending it over 50 days later by walking along the south coast which took in the stretch of Caradon's seaward towns and villages. He described how the walk between Portwrinkle and Looe was 'deceptively difficult' leaving him quite exhausted, how the streets of Looe itself were thronging with holidaymakers, and how he walked the narrow roads of Fowey.

The book costs £9.99, and is an ideal way in which to put up your feet, and still walk around the UK coastline - raising money for charity at the same time.

Saltash mural is completed

Local artist David Whittley has completed a mural on the side of the Union Inn at the Waterside, which had been commissioned by Saltash Partnership.

The mural will be opened by the mayor, Mona Tomaszewska, on November 27 at 11am. The mural, funded by the single regeneration budget and Euro funds via Leader 11, is the first project to be completed within the Waterside regeneration programme and will be an attraction on the Saltash Heritage trail.

It depicts the history and personalities of the town, and David has received help and support in researching the project from Saltash Heritage, who are busy preparing to open the town museum.