Goss' catamaran goes on the web
Yachtsmas Pete Goss has launched a website on which the progress of his state-of-the-art catamaran - which is due to take place in The Race around the world at the end of the year - can be monitored.
The 120' catamaran, Team Philips, is to be launched on February 29 and named by the Queen at a ceremony in London on March 14.
The vessel is also to make an attempt on the Jules Verne round the world record.
Pete Goss, of St Germans, invited a number of adventurers to the website launch on Wednesday, including representatives of the Arctic exploration team Polar 2000, and transatlantic rowers John Searson and Mark Stubbs.
Those using the website will be able to watch the final days of the building of the catamaran via a webcam. Progress reports, information about the project, and pictures from the vessel itself, will be available while it is racing.
The catamaran, being built at Totnes, is to be launched on to the River Dart. A spokeswoman for the Goss team said: 'By launching teamphilips.com with this ground-breaking on-line forum of world adventurers, the project further promotes its ethos of 'daring to dream' to as wide an audience as possible.'
St John site visit
Caradon councillors are to hold a site visit at St John on January 17 to discuss a planning application.
The site visit stems from an application by Ms J Sheen for the erection of a conservatory and balcony over store room (conversion of existing single storey extension) at Primrose Hill, St John's Lane. The meeting will take place at l0am.
Infant School celebrations
Millennium celebrations are being held at Torpoint Infants School today (Friday, Jan 14).
Around 400 pupils will be taking part in a special day of activities to mark the dawn of the new era.
Each child will be given a china mug as a souvenir of the Millennium and they will also be able to enjoy a special cake.
Craftwork and art lessons and numeracy and literacy classes will all have a Millennium theme with some of the pupils making "Millennium Bugs".
Millennium balloons will also be given to the children.
Delivery was a success
The Christmas card delivery service organised by the Second Torpoint Scout Group has been judged a success.
Group Scout Leader Bob Andrews said: "The group continued their time-honoured tradition of delivering Christmas post within Torpoint and the surrounding area.
"Post was collected at six nominated collection points situated in various shops and business premises within Torpoint and also from the Millbrook Scout Group with whom the Torpoint Scouts have a reciprocal agreement.
"The postal collection for 1999 saw a departure from the normal arrangements in that the Sea Scouts and their immediate leaders were solely responsible for the delivery of the mail. In previous years the postal deliveries have been shared by the Sea Scouts, the Venture Sea Scouts and the adult leaders with the group.
"There were some minor hiccups with the new arrangement but overall the operation was judged to be a success as the net result was an increase in revenue of 25 percent over the same period for last year, providing much-needed revenue for the Scout group.
"The group wishes to thank all those who supported them with special thanks to those traders who allowed their premises to be used for the vending of stamps and the collection of mail."
Special Millennium Coins
Around 1,000 children were given special Millennium coins in a ceremony at the Torpoint Town Council offices on Saturday (Jan 8).
The coins, commissioned by the council, were given free of charge to the children from the town.
A total of between 1,800 and 2,000 coins will eventually be presented to youngsters who have applied for the memento.
Councillor Mike Pearn, who has been overseeing the distribution and sale of the coins, said: "There was a steady stream of people visiting the council offices between 10am and 1pm.
"At 12 o'clock the Mayor of Torpoint, Councillor Bob Cross, presented the first Millennium baby born to Torpoint parents with a certificate. His name is Madison Lee Spurrell and he was born on January 1 at 6.10am at Derriford Hospital. He will be given a special mounted coin as will the first baby girl born in the new Millennium.
"Children who were old enough signed their names in a book when they received their coins. It is a good collection of signatures. The book will be bound and placed in the town archives.
"There will be another event in the future to hand out coins to children who were unable to attend because of the flu outbreak or for other reasons."
Meanwhile, around 200 coins have been sold to adults. One side of the coin says Millennium 2000 while the other says Torpoint Town Council 2000 together with a picture of the council offices in York Road copied from the mayor's chain.
The coins, which cost £2.50 each, will soon be available from various outlets in the town. More details are available from Mr Pearn on 01752 813164.
Millennium hymn
A new hymn for the new Millennium has been written by a local church organist.
Don Benson, who plays at Maryfield Church, has penned the words and created the tune of the four-verse hymn.
He said: "In the past few years I have been writing tunes for other people's words. Around 18 months ago I thought I would create a song for the Millennium.
"I wrote the words first. That took around six weeks and then I spent three weeks on the tune. The hymn looks at God in relation to time. It starts with God as the Creator, looks at people's mortality, tells of Jesus in the world and ends by stating God is the ruler of time.
"The piece is broadly traditional in style."
The Maryfield Church choir and congregation have been learning the "Hymn for the Millennium" which will be sung in the presence of the Bishop of Truro on Sunday with Don at the organ.
Don is hoping the piece may reach a wider audience and has sent a copy to a publisher.