Fighting for Torpoint

South East Cornwall MP, Colin Breed, is calling for a fair deal for Torpoint.

He said he has written to Caradon's chief executive, Dr Jack Neal, asking the steps which are being taken to give Torpoint an equal say with other towns in the district.

He is also calling for Torpoint's representation on Caradon council to be increased.

Mr Breed said: 'I have met with representatives from Torpoint town council who feel Torpoint loses out to other towns in South East Cornwall when it comes to economic regeneration and local services.'

Demelza wins a family trip

A special presentation has been held at Torpoint Infant school to present five-year-old Demelza Wells with a family trip to the Seal Sanctuary in Gweek.

Demelza won the trip in a competition organised by the school catering company, Initial Catering Services.

The competition took place at the end of September in all participating primary schools throughout Cornwall. To enter the competition pupils had to write in less than 20 words why they would like to visit the Sanctuary. The prize was presented by Gwen Chard of Initial Catering Services.

Wreath laid on Frank's grave

An annual weekend has been held, to remember those from HMS Charybdis and Limbourne who died whilst trying to recapture the Channel Islands from German occupation in the Second World War.

Torpoint councillor, Mike Pearn, with his wife Val, visited a cemetery in Guernsey during the weekend, where Frank Bradford from Torpoint is buried. A mechanician 2nd class in the Royal Navy, he was on board the HMS Charybdis when it was sunk on 23 October 1943. His body was washed up on the shores of Guernsey.

Every year the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines from HMS Raleigh flies to attend a special service on the Islands to perform at various functions and raise money for King George's Fund for Sailors. A concert performed by them brought in over £3,000.

Mike and Val were guests of the Queen's representative and Lieutenant governor of Guernsey, Vice Admiral Sir John Coward. They laid a wreath of poppies on Franks' grave.

Frank Bradford was the son of William John and Kate Jane Bradford of Torpoint, and the husband of Ellen Patricia (Nellie) Bradford of the town.

Steve Saunders

School reunion

Pupils who left Torpoint School in 1983 are being invited to attend a reunion.

The event will take place at the 200 Club in the town on Saturday, October 30, at 7.30pm.

An admission charge of £3 will be charged on the door and any profits made will be given to the school.

No partners are allowed at the reunion unless, of course, they attended the school in the same year!

New intake

Torpoint Infants School has welcomed a large intake of new pupils this term.

A total of 110 four and five-year-olds have joined the reception year at the school in Albion Road which has 412 pupils on its registers.

Meanwhile, the school's nursery unit now has 50 new three and four-year-olds on its books.

A chance to be in town guide

Children and adults with an eye for a good picture or an unusual angle are being invited to take part in a photographic competition in Torpoint

New photographs of the town and surrounding area submitted for the competition will have a chance of appearing in a new town guide.

Town Mayor Bob Cross said: "We haven't had a new town guide for over 10 years. Because we are going into the next century, the town council decided it would be nice to have another guide."

A working party of councillors, including Mr Cross, Mike Pearn, Steve Martin, Julie Martin and Alan Brimacombe, will be bringing out the new publication.

"We are encouraging the town to take part by having the photographic competition. There are lots of views of Torpoint that could make nice pictures," said Mr Cross.

"We are looking for views of the town, the river, the ferries and the surrounding area including Mount Edgcumbe, Antony House, Cawsand and Kingsand, and Whitsand Bay.

"The guide will contain at least a dozen pictures, if not more. We have access to historical pictures which we may use in the history section.

"The guide, which will probably contain around 40 pages, will have articles about the town and local area which a couple of councillors are beginning to write and will carry contact information for organisations, churches, doctors, dentists, etc.

"Local businesses will be approached to take advertisements in the guide which we hope will be in print by the beginning of next year."

The guide will be free and will be given out through the town's library, the council and other outlets.

The photographic competition has two sections, for under-16s and over-16s, each with prizes of £25, £15 and £10 for the best three pictures.

Any other photograph submitted for the competition which is then used in the guide will win £10.

Entries can be of any size and either colour or black and white.

The closing date for the competition is November 1 when all entries should be with town clerk Chris Harris.

For more details, contact Mr Cross on 812184.