► RAIL SERVICE SLASHED

Concern was raised at a report in a Sunday newspaper suggesting that there might be a drastic slashing of rail services. The department denied that this is to be implemented, but the article had mentioned a reduction from 11,600 miles to between 7,000 and 9,000 miles. As far as Devon and Cornwall were concerned, services would cease west of Plymouth, and the line from Exeter to Reading would be discontinued. The line to Torbay would continue, but it was not clear whether trains would stop at Teignmouth or Dawlish.

‘It would be suicide for resorts along the South West coast,’ said Mr Doel, who added ‘I don’t think this is on. Somebody has probably done an exercise, and it has got into the press.’


► CROWN JEWELS IN DEVON

The Crown Jewels of England will be on display in Exeter for 10 weeks this winter. What are considered to be the finest set of replicas were brought from a Hatton Garden jeweller by the charity Church of England Children’s Society, to be exhibited at Bobby’s department store. The set of 20 pieces includes the most popular of the Crown Jewels: the Imperial State Crown with the Great Ruby; St Edward’s Crown; the Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother; the Great Sword of State, and the other Crown Jewels as used at the Coronation.

When the Queen Mother saw them at Newby Hall in Yorkshire, her comment was: ‘These look better than the real things. The Society was lucky to get hold of them.’


► WON HORSE QUIZ

The winner of the horse quiz, Mrs Anne Rolls, who lives near Asburton, and formerly resided in Teignmouth, was presented with a Range Rover and a double horse box by Richard Meade at the Horse of the Year Show at Wembley, last Saturday.


► PIANO WEEK

The old days of songs around the parlour piano have, unhappily, long disappeared. Yet, the old attitude of regarding the piano as the focal piece of the home is rapidly returning. It is not an easy instrument to learn to play, but it is probably the best for personal and family entertainment. British piano production now has a quality which can meet any of the overseas producers. In tone and action, and in general design, the British piano is excelling during ‘Piano Week’, which runs until October 17.


► WISE WORDS

A cloudless sky could never produce a good harvest. Love is an ocean of emotion, entirely surrounded by expenses.


► TELEVISION PROBLEMS

The BBC’s Engineering Division was very disappointed that the new Beacon Hill transmitter overlooking a large part of South Devon, which should give a strong colour television signal in the Teignmouth area, was not brought into service last weekend. ‘Even a small query about the very highly technical specifications of the equipment can cause delays. We hope it will be open in October but until it is, we shall not know what coverage it will give to the central part of Teignmouth - that part that lies in a bowl. There are definite plans for a relay station which will give service to the blankest areas.’


► RIVIERA CINEMA

Valdez is Coming; The Bed-Sitting Room; Up The Front.