► SEA  ANGLING FESTIVAL

It was the small fry that took the big prizes at the Teignmouth Sea Angling Festival which concluded last week. A 10-year-old, John Ashton of Shaldon, carried away three awards at the prizewinning ceremony at the Winston Room last Friday evening, while another young competitor, Miss Dawn Holmes (15) won three awards. “These young entrants are the fishermen of the future,” said the club secretary, Mrs Treacher. During the festival, almost 512lbs of fish were caught. The biggest catch was a 74lb shark, landed by Mr D Denne of Dawlish Warren.

The prizes were presented by Mr Edward Card, the vice-chairman of the Urban Council. He thought that all councillors should become fishermen. He considered that they were the most happy and contented people. It was the peace and solitude of the sport that was important, not what was caught.

► ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY

Regarding the suggested hotel and marine development scheme at Riverside, Shaldon, the chairman reported that he had had a personal interview with Mr Randall, who had assured him that there was no intention of this scheme being carried out in the foreseeable future, and the existing bungalow was to be demolished shortly, and a Georgian house built on the site.

► SPECIAL EVENTS WEEK

A smashing shot by a lady football player sent the goalposts crashing to the ground, in a match played on The Den last Thursday evening. While officials repaired the damage, the ladies were able to snatch a few minutes rest before proceeding with the game.

► TOOK PLANS TO COURT

Mr R Foster of Flat 9 Powderham Terrace, in a dispute with the traffic warden, Mr Harold Smith, brought plans of his flat to the Teignmouth Magistrates Court, to convince the Bench that he was right. The warden said that he had kept the defendant’s Rover under observation from 9.35 to 9.55, and no-one went near it.

Mr Foster said that during that time he had made four trips up and down stairs carrying luggage, which he claimed as loading, which he was allowed to do under the Road Traffic Act. He had not put them straight in the car, as it was raining, but stacked them at the bottom of the stairs to collect. He told the Bench that he suffered from thrombosis, and added ‘There are 42 steps from the road, and because I cannot gallop these days, I may have taken quarter of an hour.’ The case was dismissed.

► CINEMA PROJECTIONIST

A man who has been entertaining the public from his projection box for 57 years is ‘still going strong’. Mr C E Hawken, aged 70, still helps as an assistant at the Riviera Cinema.

During the First World War, he worked for Cinedrome, and was sent to Dartmouth, Paignton and Tavistock. Then in 1924 he joined a travelling mobile cinema, which visited Ashburton, Princetown, Mortonhampstead, Bovey Tracey, etc. Some places had no electric light, and the cinema equipment was carried on a 30cwt Ford truck with solid tyres. Mr Hawken turned the projector handle. It took him 30 seconds to change the reels. Light for the screen was provided by oxygen gas and pastel jet.

On August 16, 1925, he was offered a job by Mr A W Prince at the Riviera Cinema, and has been there ever since. He recalls the earliest talkies, where sound was synchronised on discs. One of the first, in 1929, was The Desert Song.

► RIVIERA CINEMA

Diamonds Are Forever; Bedknobs and Broomsticks.