Teignmouth Post and Gazette No 4891 Friday, 14 November 1975

BRIDGE AWARD

The Teignbridge viaduct, which carries the dual carriageway A38 over the River Mardle, the Dart Valley Railway approach road and the old Totnes road, at Buckfastleigh, has won one of only two United Kingdom awards in an international engineering design award scheme for 1975.

It is just over 200 yards long, devised as a single sharply curving viaduct, by Mr. Michael Hawkins, the Devon County engineer.

ANCIENT ANCHOR

The anchor, outside the Ship Inn, is believed to be over 200 years old. Evidence for this is in its hand forge made chain, which was made before welding techniques were introduced. It was picked up off Salcombe by Peter Vickerstaff, an experienced diver. He marked the spot with a buoy, and hopes to investigate the “wreck” next summer.

BOMB SITES

(25 years ago) A compulsory purchase order is approved on 1.5acres of land in Bitton Street, Parson Street, Willey Lane, Saxe Street, Mulberry Street and Willow Street, which are all bomb sites.

WIDTH OF THE CHANNEL

The Debating Society took on the proposition that "the Channel is wide enough”. Dr. Quinnell explained that Britain is an island protected to keep out invaders, but not too wide to allow the spread of ideas.

On the few occasions when the invaders did overcome the obstacle, they were so affected by the character of the inhabitants, that they became more British than the British, and were as keen as their victims to close the moat behind them.

He believed that the tides and navigational difficulties of the Channel bred a race of seamen fitted to develop a great empire behind its protection.Mr. Bossom said that the Channel varies from 21 miles to 100; it was not wide enough for the convenience of the Low Country ports.

It has provided a political and industrial shelter, behind which we have developed an isolated and sleepy attitude.Mr. F. Smith complained that we have never made any sensible use of the Channel since we allowed spongers to cross it. Mrs. Webber wanted to drain the Channel dry so she could drive to Paris as easily as her friends in Brussels could. Mrs. Jebson thought it was not wide enough since it was possible for Continental trippers to buy cheap English food and seek a free abortion.

The proposition was declared lost by one vote.

RIVIERA CINEMA

Simon Ward and Anthony Hopkins in ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL.