PLAYER’S SERVICE TO RUGBY CLUB

A man who was described as ‘a gentleman on and off the field”’was presented with silver cufflinks to mark his 25 years’ good service, at the annual dinner of the Teignmouth Rugby Football and Supporters Club, held at the Royal Hotel last Friday. In making the presentation to Mr Walt Rogers, the chairman of the parent club, Mr Jack Brooks, said he had watched Walt play in his heyday. He had represented the county, and was sure England had missed him. He would not have disgraced the national side. He now turned out for the club’s third team and was teaching the youngsters. Mr Rogers, taken by surprise, remarked ‘All I have done is play a game I liked.’

BUNNY GIRL HOAX

Dozens of hoteliers and guest house owners in the South Devon area, including Teignmouth, have been hoaxed by a bogus bunny girl. She calls herself Gwen Smith, a 29-year-old from Brooklyn, New York, and booking a year’s stay at each establishment.

RESCUE FROM CLIFF

Coast guards from Brixham and Teignmouth made three attempts at different places to find a way down the sheer 300ft cliffs near Maidencombe beach on Thursday, before they found a way through thick undergrowth and gorse to reach a young couple of holidaymakers, stranded halfway down. Torbay lifeboat returned to base after it was realised that the jagged rocks at the bottom of the cliff made a rescue impossible from the sea. The couple had been cut off by the tide, tried to climb the 300ft to the top and fell. They were saved from crashing onto the rocks by a bush, but the girl injured her ankle. Her friend scrambled half a mile over the rocks to raise the alarm, then returned to keep her company.

The rescue teams – four coastguards from Brixham, five auxiliary coastguards from Teignmouth, and the police – described it as one of their most difficult rescues. It took 90 minutes to find a way down and bring the couple150ft up the cliff face. ‘It was a terrifying experience,’ she said.

FREEMAN OF LONDON

At the Guildhall in London last Friday, 60-year-old Mr Gordon Welland was honoured by admission as a Freeman of London. He took over the bakery firm which bears his name 23 years ago, , and for the past year has been the national president of the Association of Master Bakers and Confectioners. He has represented the trade at City of London functions, and addressed meetings and bakery conferences all over the country.

WEIGHING MACHINE

Teignmouth Urban Council has an obsolete weighing machine, and at the Beach and Pleasure Grounds Committee, it was agreed to make a gift of it to any organisation which could make use of it .

GALAXY OF STARS

Guest artistes booked to appear at the Carlton Theatre in ‘Summer Cavalcade’ include the ‘My Brother and I’ double act, Bob and Alf Pearson; the singing star of musical comedy Bruce Trent; the coloured songstress Adelaide Hall;  impressionist Peter Cavanagh;  the immortal Wee Georgie Wood;  Bill Pertwee from Dad’s Army; the legendary Elsie and Doris Walters;  and Peter Brough with his famous ventriloquist doll Archie Andrews. The ‘wizard of the harmonica’ Larry Adler, will appear in the week of August 14. His booking is a scoop for Teignmouth.

RIVIERA CINEMA

The Hunting Party, Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush, pictured, The Anderson Tapes, I Walk the Line.