Teignmouth Post and Gazette No 4889 Friday, 31 October 1975

THE MAN WHO NEVER WAS

Stokeinteignhead’s "Quiet American”, the man who never was, flew home to New York on Friday, after less than a week’s “residence” in the village, where he bought “Gabwell House” and planned to spend he rest of his days.

Mr. Bertram Baker from East Aurora, New York State, emigrated to America 21 years ago. During the summer, he decided to return, and after two months, decided to buy “Gabwell House”, with wife Stella and teenage daughters Deborah and Anne.

In less than a week, they realised that they had made a mistake and were going home “It was the biggest blunder of our lives. I’d come to love the American urgency and efficiency” His wife said “I’d never get used to the small kitchens and tiny wardrobes which you have over here.”

CAREERS SERVICE IGNORED

Only a third of the 170 unemployed young people invited to talk over their problems with careers experts in Newton Abbot, Torquay, Brixham and Paignton actually attended.

Careers Officer Mr Malcolm Cooke said “We were surprised and disappointed that so many invited school leavers did not turn up. But the meetings did come up with several ideas for helping young people though their times, and providing training through other skills.”

FOUNDER OF MODERN AUSTRALIA

The grave of an unknown Englishman, who became famous in Australia as a cabinet minister, parliamentarian, explorer, land developer and surveyor of the Northern Tablelands, was discovered in Teignmouth Cemetery last week by Professor John Ryan of Cambridge University and the University of New England, New South Wales.

Professor Ryan was in Teignmouth to find the final resting place of John James Galloway, who lived from 1818 to 1883. He had died as a batchelor, with no next of kin, in Brussels, at the Bella Vista Hotel, next to the British Embassy.

His body was brought home by sea at midsummer, for interment at Teignmouth on Friday July 6, 18883, performed by Reverend R. Eling Green, who came from Middlesex for the service.

GINGERBREAD SOCIETY

If tomorrow, you wake up to discover that your partner had left, that you were alone with the kids, you get in touch with the Gingerbread Society. They are a group of one parent families, and they have all faced this traumatic experience. Not all have been deserted; some have been lost in tragic circumstances. Can you imagine being on your own, with children to feed, clothe and look after?

Think about the four walls and the loneliness, the shortage of money; the prejudice from most parts of society. It’s surprising how friends drift away when this happens. How would you like social security looking over your home, questioning your possessions, that your life should be the barest possible minimum, with tax deducted from your maintenance payment. Gingerbread gets together every other Tuesday night at the Charlton Club.

John Tooley does not charge for the use of his upstairs premises, nor does he expect them to buy a drink, although they can. He provides them with a meeting place, when St James’s Church Hall felt constrained to charge them for the use of their hall.