Prince signs gift

A COUPLE who were both born in Plymouth but came to live in Saltash at an early age have celebrated their diamond wedding.

Russell and Gwendoline Truscott were married at St Nicholas and St Faith Church at Easter after both having attended North Road School.

Russell was born in Plymouth 80 years ago and came to Saltash when he was about six. On leaving school when he was 14, he became a milk roundsman for SP Thomas in Saltash. He was then called up in the Army, serving in the Royal Engineers and in the Eighth Army in the Middle East and North Africa building bridges and laying mines.

After he was demobbed he worked at Daws Creameries, Saltash, as the foreman of the bottle shop. When the creameries closed in 1973, he went to work in Devonport Dockyard as a storekeeper for 12 years until his retirement.

Gwendoline, 77, came to Saltash when she was quite young and on leaving school she became a hairdresser for Savage's Hairdressers of Saltash where she remained until her marriage. She was also a part-time nanny for Mr and Mrs M Lavelle of Saltash.

The couple have three sons, Brian who lives in Lostwithiel, Desmond who lives at Falmouth and Roger in Liskeard. They lost their only daughter who died at the age of six with cancer.

They have six grandchildren and recently one of them, Bryan, who is a Royal Marine, has gained his Green Beret at the age of 17.

Among the gifts they received for their diamond wedding was a book about the gardens of Highgrove signed for them by Prince Charles, the Duke of Cornwall. A relation knew of a friend who worked for him and asked if he would sign it. So with the traditional greeting card from the Queen it made their day.

The mayor of Saltash, Eve Storey along with her consort and husband, Jim, made a visit with flowers during the afternoon.

The couple spent the day at home with family and friends.

Cheques for charities

BURRATON Community Players held a presentation evening at the Burraton Community Hall to give cheques to various organisations and charities from the profits from their recent pantomime.

Peter Harris welcomed the Mayor, Eve Storey, who presented the cheques on behalf of the players. The Teenage Cancer Trust received £100, Scope (Trengweth School, Ivybridge) was given £100 and ASK (Activities for Special Kids) also received £100.

The sum of £50 went to the Saltash St John Ambulance Brigade and £50 was given to Saltash Leos, both of which helped the players during their pantomime.

Peter said the players were formed 12 years ago by the late Hilda Clay and Christine Woolcock, who is still with the players, writing parts of the script for their panto productions and taking part.

The group had no resources when they started but the group raised money for equipment.

The player's next production will be a comedy called Wild Goose Chase on June 21 and 22.