Teignmouth Post and Gazette No 4904 Friday 13 February 1976

FRAGILE SEA WALL

Crucial three days next week. With very high tides on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings, next week will see the biggest test of this winter. High tide will reach 16ft 9ins, higher if there is an onshore wind blowing.Meanwhile, no reply has yet been received from the Ministry of Agriculture to the South West Water Authority’s letter to the Government for a grant aid £500,000 to reconstruct the section of the sea wall between the Pier and the lighthouse.

HYPOTHERMIA DEATHS

Faintly apologetic Press statements from the Electricity and Gas Boards excuse the heating industry from hypothermia blame. The Board cannot be expected to know the personal circumstances of a million customers. The real problem is that in a majority of cases, it is not the lack of heat or light, but simple plain fear of the account and the worry it brings. Press advisors feel that any reference to deaths resulting from lack of warmth will not help their “image”. The Boards appear to have forgotten the old French saying “Who excuses himself, accuses himself”.

WESTCOUNTRY HARBOUR

We include here today the first extract from a book “Westcountry Harbour”, by H. J. Trump, which will be published by Brunswick Press in the spring. The description of the maritime enterprise of the Fox family is give in the book, and is based on documents which were recently discovered in a house in Shaldon by Mr. S. Coulton who, with Mr H. Bucklow, rescued some of them from destruction.

They are now deposited at the County Record office in Exeter.Mr. William Fox’s account book meticulously documents the cargos of the “Good Intent” and “The Endeavour” from St. John’s, Newfoundland, to Plymouth and Teignmouth. It lists the fish imports and the purchases of cold-weather clothing for the harsh conditions. The profits were dividd equally between William Fox, Richard Ashford and Thomas Stigings. Many of the traders are buried in the churchyard of St. Nicholas, within sight and sound of the building and fitting-out of their ships.

OLD BROOK HILL SCHOOL

Certain old school records are being sent to the County Records Office, to be kept as a resource of research material. If anyone has in their possession any relevant material from the Inverteign Infants’ School, it would be appreciated if they could send it to the Head Teacher for forwarding to the County Achivist.

FIRST PHONE CALL

A set of special stamps will be on sale in March to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first ever telephone call on March 10 1876. Alexander Graham Bell heralded a new era in communication, when he spoke a few simple words over the phone to his assistant.DRAW CORD BANRecently, there have been accidents where children have been hanged when the drawcords of their anoraks have caught on obstructions. The sale of children’s outer garments with hoods will be banned from July 1 It is already illegal to import or manufacture them.

DEBATING SOCIETY

A definition of The Council: A place where minutes are passed and hours wasted!.