Credit union close

to opening in town

A CREDIT union could soon be opening in Torpoint.

The prospect of having such a community-based savings and borrowing co-operative in the town has long been discussed. Now the idea is close to being realised.

The credit union, which gives people the chance to borrow money at low rates of interest, would be run in Torpoint by Seccure (South East Cornwall Credit Union).

Hilary Warren, the chair of Seccure, said: "There is a lot of preparation involved in starting a credit union. Our steering committee has been running for two years.

"Now we are waiting for assessment by the Registry of Friendly Societies. Once we have been approved, we can open for business.

"We are hoping to have four collection points to start with - in Torpoint, Liskeard, Saltash and Gunnislake. But that depends on how many cashiers and collectors we can recruit.

"We almost have enough volunteers in the Torpoint and Millbrook area to start a training course. Provisional dates have been set for three Saturdays - June 23 & 30 and July 14. The course will be held in Torpoint, hopefully at the CHATlink information centre in Macey Street. Anyone interested in attending should contact 01579 340618. We will pay travel costs for people wanting to attend the course which will be run by members of the steering committee.

"The commitment for people who want to be a cashier or collector would be about one day a week.

"The credit union is a not-for-profit savings and loan co-operative run by and for its members. It will enable people to save small or large amounts of money and take out loans at only one percent interest per month."

To be a member of Seccure, people have to work or live in Caradon.

The credit union in Torpoint would be run from the CHATlink centre.

Splendid year for RNLI branch

THE Rame Peninsula Branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has enjoyed a splendid year.

So reported chairman Janet Allom at the branch's 13th annual general meeting which was attended by the region's deputy divisional RNLI inspector, Paul Jennings.

Mrs Allom told around 40 members meeting at the Institute in Kingsand that not only had events raised a great deal of funds but that collections, both flag days and house-to-house, had shown an increase over the previous year.

RNLI box holders had also achieved much, particularly Torpoint Rowing Club which contributed over £300 and became the holders of the Rame challenge trophy as a result.

Treasurer Peter Cheesman reported that £8,150 had been passed to RNLI headquarters, with an additional £392 from the regional draw and a record £1635.33 from souvenir sales.

Mrs Allom thanked everyone for their great support, both the hardworking branch committee and all others who had assisted in many ways. She added that the committee would welcome new members.

Two long-serving committee members, Brian Williams and Vivian Lockwood, received the RNLI Silver Medal from Mr Jennings for their work.

Brian has been a member of the RNLI for over 50 years and was a founder member of the branch.

He formed the RNLI West Country Group in 1993 after organising the successful RNLI SW Tattoo from which RNLI Music was born. The number of recordings resulting from the branch commissioning the first ever RNLI official march, The Lifeboatmen, grew at a considerable rate to the current position where over 20 are listed. So great has been the achievement that it has become the RNLI Music Division and part of RNLI (Sales) Ltd with over 21,000 recordings sold and just under £100,000 put into RNLI funds from their sales.

Vivian served from 1981 as press officer for the Liskeard RNLI branch becoming flag officer in 1988. When the Rame Peninsula branch was short of committee members in 1997, Vivian volunteered to join the branch as vice-chairman.

Since then she had achieved much with the branch.

Cliff work

A SCHEME costing around £170,000 is planned at Coastguard Cottages, Cawsand. Caradon District Council, in its role as coast protection authority, is proposing to carry out the work.

A reinforced retaining wall anchored to bedrock would be built at the foot of the cliff. Part of the cliff would be backfilled and the top section would be stabilised with mesh and soil nails.

Ninth singathon

TORPOINT Lady Singers are holding their ninth annual singathon this month. The choir will be staging the singing marathon from 9am to 9pm on Saturday, June 9, at the Torpoint Band Hut. Money raised by the event will go to the Children's Hospice South West.

Antiques

night

AN antiques quiz night run by Sotheby's will take place this evening (Friday, June 1).

The event has been arranged by the Friends of Mount Edgcumbe Country Park and will begin at 7.30pm in the Orangery at the park near Torpoint.

Tickets are priced at £4 for members of the Friends and £5 for non-members. More details are available on 01752 822236.

Quiz for

school

ANTONY School Association is holding a quiz night at the Ring O'Bells pub in the village on Saturday, June 9, starting at 8pm. The entry fee is £1 each.