WHAT was happening fifty years ago this week in and around Teignmouth? Find out with the latest nostalgia column - Teignmouth Post & Gazette: May 18, 1972

► COUNCIL’S OBJECTION

There were exclamations of disbelief – almost horror – when Teignmouth Urban Council was told on Tuesday that under local government reorganisation it was intended that the Devon County Council was to take over sport and recreation facilities. Mr Arthur Bladon said: ‘I cannot understand this, because with due respect to the DCC, they are mostly aged gentlemen, and I would have thought that sport was the last thing they would know anything about. To give the County Council the job to do frightens me to death.’

► DEVON & DORSETS

A unit of the 1st Battalion of the Devonshire & Dorset Regiment visited Teignmouth on the Wednesday of last week. After the regimental band and corps of drums, appearing by permission of Lt Col P Burdick, a Teignmouth man, had marched through the town from Bitton House, the salute was taken on the Den by the chairman  of the Urban Council, Mr Frederick Morris. They performed the ceremony of ‘beating the retreat’. During the day, there were displays of Army equipment on The Den, and some of the soldiers “skirmished” through the town in a demonstration.

► LOCAL LIBRARY A ‘SHOW PLACE’

The popularity of the new Devon County library continued, which had a record issue of 3,848 volumes on the first day. Mrs G Griffiths reported: ‘The facilities in the new library, reading room, reference room and children’s library, have prompted favourable comments.’ A total of 211,550 books were lent out during the year. The innovation of small chairs and tables has proved popular, with the addition of a carpet square on which smaller children sit while choosing their reading matter.

► CONSTABLE’S BRAVE RESCUE

An act of gallantry by a Dawlish police constable, Graham Squires, resulted in the presentation to him at Teignmouth Magistrates Court last week of the testament, on vellum, of the Royal Humane Society.

On October 18 at 11.30pm, he was on patrol in Dawlish, when he was told that a 48-year-old resident was on the breakwater, threatening to kill himself. There was a high wind, causing higher than normal waves. It was also very dark. He called on the man to stop, but was unable to prevent him diving in.

Without hesitation, in full uniform, the constable dived in, to approximately seven feet of water. The would-be suicide was a non-swimmer. The constable swam after him, struggled to control him, and eventually brought him to the breakwater, where he was taken out with the assistance of spectators.

The testimonial was presented with tremendous pride to Constable Squires, by the Chairman of the Bench, Mr. Norman Roberts. He said it was a very brave act which had won the appreciation of the Court, the police force, the whole town and everyone concerned.

► WISE WORDS

Truth, like a cork under water, is bound to come to the top. Resolve not to be poor; whatever you have, spend less. A man can go a long way after he is weary – don’t give up.

► CATS AND PIGEONS

At the Council Press Conference on Monday, references were made to nuisances being caused by pigeons spoiling the fronts of buildings and blocking gutters, and to feral cats. No-one remarked that it was a pity ‘the cats could not be put among the pigeons’!

► RIVIERA CINEMA

Sunday for seven days: Now you can see the original uncut version of the most talked-about, written-about controversial acclaimed sensational film of the decade, Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange.