EXORCIST

An official exorcist is shortly to be appointed by the Bishop of Exeter, Dr Robert Mortimer, to deal with witchcraft, black magic rites and occult practices. The move follows a commission on exorcism convened by the Bishop, which said every diocese should appoint a priest as an exorcist. It was much to be desired that, in each province, centres of training should be established.

The Bishop said that he was disturbed by the number of requests he was receiving for help and advice on the exorcising of places or persons.

FIRE AT PETER PAN RAILWAY

Sodium chlorate weedkiller between the lines burst into flames when it self-ignited, on Wednesday afternoon. The engines were quickly moved to safety and no damage was done to them or to the station. Firemen who attended with two appliances, under Sub Officer William Holland, used a hose reel from a water tender to flood the track.

SEEKING DESCENDANTS

Dear Sir, I am attempting to locate descendants of a family named Grove, which emigrated on a Teignmouth schooner, the Mayflower, bound for Nova Scotia from Newfoundland in 1823, but was shipwrecked en route, rescued, and taken to Quebec Province, where the family settled.              DAN CARNEY, Jnr. 8302 SE 42nd Street, Mercer Island, Washington (USA) 98040.

NIGERIA BOUND

A Teignmouth boatman is delivering two trawlers to Nigeria, and they are expected to reach Lagos in two weeks. Mr Neil Gamble, of Parson Street, is in charge of the convoy, and the vessels are to be used as shrimp trawlers off the African coast. They were built on the Humber and were fitted out  with special equipment at Teignmouth by Sleeman and Hawken, the marine engineers.

THE MERRY WIDOW

The stage at the Carlton Theatre this week is indescribably beautiful, reported our theatre critic. ‘The Teignmouth Operatic Society’s  production

of The Merry Widow, with the lilting melodies of Franz Lehar, is their best for many a year. All the encomiums I can muster cannot adequately describe the brilliance of presentation, with breathtakingly lovely costumes, outstanding scenery and well-contrived lighting effects.’

WISE WORDS

We are all in the same boat, though we do not all steer:  Early to bed and early to rise - and you’ll meet very few of our best people.

RIVIERA CINEMA

CROMWELL: A magnificent epic, starring Richard Harris and Alec Guiness.

The historian will praise it for its painstaking accuracy; those who appreciate beauty and craftsmanship will marvel at the labour and time that has gone into the sets – one alone, Parliament Square as it looked in 1642, was one of the largest sets ever constructed in England, covering two acres, and including the House of Commons, the Palace of Westminster, the Great Banqueting Hall, Westminster Abbey and some 50 houses, all of them architecturally perfect.

To the dress conscious - an obvious appeal is the wardrobe of 4,000 costumes, ranging from the Puritans’ sombre black, to the silks, satins and velvets of the King’s followers.