I am very annoyed by the use of the phrases "the last.....of the century", and "the end of the century", so frequently and glibly used by television presenters and yourselves when speaking or writing about events in 1999 and the phrase "the new millennium" when speaking about next year, in particular the two articles in yesterdays Gazette concerning Callington Honey Fair and Liskeard's St Matthews Fair.
Yes, the year 2000 is a millennium year, but it is NOT the beginning of the 21st century and it is NOT the beginning of the new millennium.
The meaning of the words 20th century is the twentieth set of 100 years and, therefore next year is the last year of the present century, i.e.
1901 - 2000 - twentieth century, 2001 - 2100 - twenty-first century
Similarly, the meaning of the word millennium is a thousand years, so next year is also the last year of the present millennium.
The millennia are as follows:- 1 - 1000 - first millennium, 1001 - 2000 - second millennium ,2001 - 3000 - third millennium
Could you please, therefore, make this clear to all your columnists and contributors as it is not befitting a publication such as yours, which goes into every household in the area, to be printing such inaccuracies.
These are the not the last Honey Fair and St. Matthews Fair of the century. All being well, both these Fairs will be taking place again next year.
RICHARD BILAS
Callington.