Three original members of Burraton Toc H attended the group's 50th birthday celebrations at Burraton community hall on Saturday - the trio being secretary Des Ellis, Norman Nicholson and Melbourne Coombes.

Of the other initial members Norman Chapman, 87, is in hospital and Norman Snell, now of Polzeath, was not well enough to attend.

About 80 guests were welcomed by chairman Harry Hawke. They included Saltash mayor, Mona Tomaszewska, and her consort, her husband John Honywill, Sir Vernon and Lady Seccombe, development officer for Toc H John Mitchell, Rev Malcolm Griffiths of Landrake and Rev Fred Card of Liskeard.

Three Toc H members, Mr Ellis, Mr T Pawley and Mr J Bowhay, gave a brief history of the Burraton group, which started in Burraton Recreation hut and held its first meeting at Coombes Highway Cafe on 18 January l948 before moving to the fire station hut. The 'Lamp of Maintenance', which made them an official branch, was received in l949.

The Toc H hall, in Grenfell Avenue, was opened in l955 by Eleanor Ellis, mother of current president, Des. Services to the community have included a Toc H county library service, before the present library building was opened, and the cleaning of the operating theatre at St Barnabas Hospital for 40 years. Members still serve teas in the Maurice Huggins room in Victoria Gardens.

Guest speaker was John Mitchell, who edits the national Toc H journal. He spoke about the formation of the movement in l9l5 in Belgium, by Army chaplain Rev Tubby Clayton.

The anniversary cake was cut by Mr Hawke and his wife, and entertainment was provided by Burraton male voice choir with Grace Way as soloist. The evening ended with the ceremony of 'Light' taken by Mr Mitchell with prayers led by Rev Card.