NEW LIBRARY OPENED

Mr Simon Day, chairman of the Libraries and Museums Committee, officially opened the new library. ‘I think you are all concerned about the future impact the Library Service is going to make on the County. Here today we have a magnificent building, and we congratulate the builders, Messrs J H and W R Bovey & Sons, and the architects Messrs Edward Narracott and Partner.’

Cllr Arthur Bladon read out a letter from Mr K C Harrison, president of the Libraries Association, London. ‘It is always a pleasure when a new library building is opened. Teignmouth is the 18th new building in the Devon County’s programme, which began in 1960. It is a pity that Teignmouth had to wait so long, but no doubt has benefitted from the planning of other branches.’ Mr Bladon presented Mr Day with a 1912 reprint of Crossing’s Guide to Dartmoor.

CLERGY DESPERATE

Because of the ever-increasing cost of living, the lowest paid clergy – about £1,225 a year – were finding themselves in a desperate state. Some were in debt and their wives had to work to boost their income, and buy their families’ clothes at jumble sales. Some were so poorly-paid that they ‘had to run their cars into the ground’.

The Exeter Diocesan Board of Finance will recommend that £8,000 be added to the share to the parishes of £160,000, to help the lower paid clergy, and the Car Loans Committee to consider making loans on second-hand cars up to a year old, instead of only demonstration models, or up to 5,000 miles on the clock.

WISE WORDS

The whole of my life has been passed like a razor – In hot water or a scrape! 

Contentment consists not in great wealth but in few wants.

DUET FOR THREE HANDS

A recital for two pianos will be given at the Great Hall of Exeter University, for the benefit of disabled people, by Cyril Smith and his wife Phyllis Sellick. After a stroke in 1956, on tour in Russia, which deprived him of the use of his left hand, the charity St Loyes provided re-training. They have become most famous for their performances on two pianos. His book ‘Duet for Three Hands’ is so successful that it has gone into a sixth reprint. Their achievements have inspired leading composers to create new works for them, some unique in musical history. Their example to the disabled has been recognised, as both have been awarded the OBE.

ELM TREE DISEASE

The disease had not spread so far in Devon as in many other counties, although Somerset is still a threat. 600 trees have been removed. Grants would cease at the end of March, and the two inspectors redeployed on clearance.

RABIES WARNING

Ships using small ports such as Teignmouth provide a risk of introducing that dread disease rabies into England. Dr H M Davies, Port Medical Officer, commented on the lack of suitable safeguards, the risk cannot be ignored. Copies of his report are sent to the Department of Health and Social Security, but on no occasion has his report brought any comment from that Department. 

There were no reports of notifiable or other infectious diseases or malaria last year from the 585 ships dealt with. No action was taken in regard to the de-ratting of ships, and no de-ratting certificates issued, but 29 de-ratting exemption certificates were issued.

RIVIERA CINEMA

Hell’s Belles; The Devil Rides Out; Naughty (warning, with explicit scenes) Bread and The Perfumed Garden; Please Sir; The Intelligence Men.