100 Years Ago

Totnes Council: The finance Committee recommended that a precept be made on the overseers for £25, to meet the Borough Fund expenses for the ensuing six months. Councillor Stephens moved the adoption of the report, saying that they were budgeting for a deficit.

The estimated expenditure for the half year was £191, and the income £142 15s 2d, but they understood that if they made a call upon the overseers for anything over £25, it would mean an increase of 2d on the poor rate.

Included in the estimate was £25 for repairs, including the putting in order of the heating apparatus in the Guildhall. The Committee had no hesitation in recommending the Council, although it was the winter half year, to do as in previous winters - go with cold feet rather than make an order on the overseers for £50 and increase the poor rate by 2d.

He thought that the ratepayers would recognise in that decision a certain amount of public spirit and a desire for economy. In the income was included £85 6s 11d repaid by the County Council out of fines levied on the Borough Bench in the last four or five years, under the Act passed in 1914, which became law in 1916, that such fines were payable to the Borough Council.

Owing to the absence of the Magistrates Clerk on war service, it was overlooked, but since his return he had taken it up, with the result that the County Council recognised the liability, and would be paying the Council the cheque.

Their thanks were due to Col. Windeatt for having secured the payment. They found by going in discomfort during the winter they would reduce the demand on the overseers to £25, and he moved that an order be made for that amount. Alderman Rea seconded.

50 Years Ago

Mr Doug Rouse, of Plymouth Road, Totnes, stayed for ten days by the banks of the River Dart near Staverton this summer to carve a 7ft high figure of a Madonna with child.

As reported in the edition of the Dartington Hall News, he camped on an island at Staverton Mill Leat in the pouring rain surrounded by herons, mink, otters and the occasional fisherman. When the battery of his radio ran out on the second day of the exploit, he had nothing to think about but his work and no distractions but wildlife.

The carving was made out of a pine log washed up on the river bank.

Mr Rouse has since moved out of the area to live at Peter Tavy on Dartmoor.

Staverton residents, who have christened the work ’the Madonna in the Woods’, are now worried about the effects of flood water and vandalism. Local people have helped to carry the Madonna on to a site on the north bank within Dartington parish boundary, on land owned by the Dartington Hall trustees.

A plinth of earth and boulders protects it from the water.

25 Years Ago

A Totnes pressure group, fighting to save the Civic Hall from demolition, is to hand over a second petition to town councillors to prove that residents want to keep the existing building.

Jenny Rogers, of the Friends of the Civic Hall, said that all the present hall, built around 30 years ago, needs is a facelift and soundproofing.

"They are trying to replace it with a hall only half the size, with no soundproofing, and lots of steps," she complained.

Plans to offer the Ariel Trust hall at King Edward VI College as an alternative venue is not an acceptable alternative to the group.

"We don’t want to be stuffed into a sports hall," said Jenny, "I have had experience of that in the past and music and sports halls just do not mix."

The group presented its first petition to town councillors after the ban on live music at the Civic Hall meant the end of the popular dance nights that have been held at the venue for many years.

It collected more than 1,800 signatures from residents urging councillors to re-think the ban.

Now a further petition, with more than 1,000 signatures, is pleading with councillors to keep the Civic Hall and spend money on a re-vamp instead.

"The hardwood ballroom floor would probably be irreplaceable now, and the copper roof cost a fortune for just 30 years use. We have many ideas for extending the present hall which would make it even more useful to groups needing space for meetings and other activities."

Jenny is hoping to present the petition to councillors at the Totnes town council’s meeting on Monday night.