► TOASTMASTER CELEBRATES

Mr and Mrs Ernest Ward celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at a special dinner at the Royal Hotel on Monday. The guests included the Bishop of Crediton. Mr Ward is one of a very small number of toastmasters, and he officiates throughout Devon and Somerset. His list includes society weddings, such as the Earl and Countess of Devon’s daughter at Powderham Castle.

Before coming to Teignmouth in 1958, he was stationmaster at Exeter St Davids. Before that, he had worked at Birmingham Snow Hill, responsible for the arrangements for VIPs. His passengers included royalty and film stars such as Charlie Chaplin and Cary Grant.

During the war, he helped with the evacuation of schoolchildren from London. Then in Reading he was responsible for the distribution of troops arriving home after Dunkirk, and dealing with American and Canadian troop movements. In 1945, he was chosen to represent the Great Western Railway in the victory procession.

► SPECIAL HOLIDAY WEEK

This week’s events includ a four mile relay race, a ladies’ football match, a boxing match, a five-a-side football tournament, and a cricket match between the actors in the cast of Summer Cavalcade and the ladies of the Ivy Benson Band. The umpires will be the well-known comedians Hope and Keen, appearing in the Black and White Minstrel Show in Paignton.

► NEW FISHERIES ACT

The chairman of the Devon River Authority’s Fisheries Committee, Mr Arthur Bladon, has welcomed the new Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act. It will strengthen the hands of river authorities in dealing with poaching and illegal fishing. It is now an offence to use firearms, crosslines or set lines to catch fish. The penalties have been substantially increased. On indictment, a man convicted of using poison or illegal instruments can be imprisoned for up to two years.

► WISE WORDS

A wise employer wants ideas, not echoes. A little self-denial is a mighty good tonic. The best way of answering a bad argument is to let it run. We often repent of saying too much, but seldom of saying too little.

► GREASING UP

Ken Dodd applies the grease to his swimming instructor, Bill Pickering. At approximately 9am on Sunday August 27, Bill, aged 51, will enter the water at Exmouth, opposite the clock tower, to start his marathon swim of nearly 20 miles to Paignton, where he is expected to arrive at 5pm. This swim, in aid of the NSPCC, has never been attempted before.

This life long vegetarian already has an impressive list of achievements, including the England to France World Record in 1955, Morecambe Bay Cross Champion, and the record holder of the Bristol Channel swim from Penarth to Weston-super-Mare. He is one of the only two men in the world to have swum the Firth of Forth, and the only man in the world to have swum The Wash.

► RIVIERA CINEMA

Walt Disney’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks; Barquero; The Bridge at Remagen; In the Heat of the Night; The Thomas Crown Affair; Hang ’em High.