Police plea: 'Help us beat the beggars'

By Helen Thomas

POLICE want the public to help clear Falmouth's streets of beggars.

They are determined to beat the problem, which is now causing alarm to traders and shoppers alike.

Beggars are proving a major menace in The Moor and Prince of Wales Pier areas of Falmouth. Officers are concerned that both locals and tourists are being approached by a group of individuals who are asking for cash, often to buy drink.

Several times when beggars have been refused money they have become abusive.

Inspector Bob Burns told the Packet: "There have been a number of complaints by the public about people being approached and asked in a menacing manner for money."

Police are keen to put a stop to this "anti-social behaviour" and need the help of the public to achieve this. Inspector Burns admitted it was a difficult issue to deal with, but his officers are looking at various ways of tackling the begging problem.

Still running the show at 80

NEARLY 200 people flocked to the Helford Passage at the weekend to celebrate the birthday of Falmouth's oldest active businesswoman.

Phyllis Rowe, wife of the late William Rowe the baker, celebrated her 80th birthday on Saturday with about 180 guests from as far away as Glasgow.

Mrs Rowe, at the age of 80, still sits in the driving seat of the 140-strong business, ensuring the efficient running of 10 shops throughout the county, working six days a week.

"Someone has to take the lead," said Mrs Rowe, who doesn't stop for a tea break, "What I do, I do for my Bill."

Mrs Rowe can normally be found serving at the hot bread shop by Prince of Wales Pier in Falmouth and is maintaining her late husband's connections with sporting organisations, being president of Mawnan Smith Football Club.

Guests, who were mainly staff and her family, brought her countless gifts of flowers, rose bushes and crystal glassware, including 80 red roses from her staff.

Birthday cards were sent from all over to Mrs Rowe, who received 100 in all, and staff at the bakery in Penryn baked a huge cake for the occasion which is the first ever birthday cake she had.

"I like flowers very much, but I don't eat cake - even as a child I never wanted a birthday cake."

But Mrs Rowe broke the habit of a lifetime and had a piece of cake accompanied by a glass of champagne, "It was beautiful," she said.

Police station scheme 'may be shelved'

THERE is now a real threat that the proposed new Falmouth police station will not go ahead.

Continual problems with planning and conditions, as well as possible increased expenditure, could lead to a total rethink and the scheme being shelved.

That would leave the town without a 24-hour police station for many more months, or even years.

Information gathered by the Packet this week shows that the Police Authority meeting to be held on September 28 could be advised to withdraw funding and offer it to more pressing needs elsewhere.