Chatty meeting at the Torpoint clinic

CHAT started off the New Year with a meeting at Torpoint Clinic on January 5.

The Christmas celebration at Tamara had been a success and thanks went to those who helped and to Tamara's staff. Members were told Pensioners' Voice of Torpoint had dissolved after 46 years. The problem of litter was raised and it was felt CHAT's efforts should be at the same time as the council's Spring Cleaning campaign which is usually in April.

A suggestion was made that CHAT should organise a forum on helping those who are elderly and confused. Kate Bailey was asked if she would consider leading a session in the spring.

The CHAT directory is currently being updated and will be delivered in June. Anyone who would like a telephone contact included or changed should contact Lynn at Torpoint Clinic before March 13. Contact 01752 812850 to put in an entry or for further information.

The meeting was told the shop had been busy and had made two more donations to local groups - The Millennium Committee and the Ladies' Singers. The next meeting will be on February 2 at 7.30pm at Torpoint Clinic.

Wilcove Community Association

A party to celebrate the new Millennium has been staged by Wilcove Community Association.

The supper party held in the village hall was attended by approximately 60 people who enjoyed a buffet meal, party games, music from the last Millennium and a quiz on the last 1,000 years.

The masters of ceremony were John Waters and John Carter. Profits from the event will go to the village hall fund.

Community Development Forum

A grant of £22,500 is being sought to help pay for a full-time manager at a centre in Torpoint which enables local people to gain computer skills and retrain.

At present the Torpoint Open Access (IT) Training Centre, formerly the Ratio Centre, is being managed on a voluntary basis.

This week a meeting of the Torpoint Community Development Forum, which is responsible for running the centre, heard that a proposal form had been sent to the Key Fund for the grant.

Forum secretary Alan Brimacombe said that the fund, which is supported by European money, is for rural development programmes in Cornwall.

Meanwhile, Mr Brimacombe told the meeting at Torpoint School that the Charity Commission had indicated that subject to minor alterations to its constitution, the forum would be granted charitable status. This will pave the way to the forum becoming a trust.

The forum, which is dedicated to the regeneration of the town, includes representatives of many of the town's organisations. This week a vote was taken to elect the forum's chairman.

John Chadwick won the vote and succeeds Mike Shaw who had been chairman for four years. Mr Shaw was chosen as vice-chairman. Mr Brimacombe was re-elected as secretary with the treasurer being Phil Powell.

Mr Chadwick thanked Mr Shaw for all the work he had done as chairman.