Packet writers past and present have joined forces for a new Falmouth-Penryn history book just published in aid of Cancer Research UK.

The Lighter Side of Local Life is the third in the local history series from Mike Truscott, now retired, who spent much of his journalistic career writing for the Packet.

This time it is more of a team effort, with guest chapters from David Barnicoat, our long-running shipping columnist, Helen Dale, who stepped down last year after 30 years in local journalism, and Felicity Warner (nee Mudd), who was trained by Mike in the late 1970s.

There is also a guest chapter from Sioned Parry-Rudlin, co-owner of Falmouth’s Merchants Manor, with some revealing insights into behind-the-scenes hotel life.

The new book takes a leisurely look back at amusing events and characters in the Falmouth-Penryn area, both in the recent past and stretching back over two centuries.

It focuses on the quirky and the off-beat, along with some revealing “stories behind the stories” and a host of anecdotes collected during more than a century of combined service by Packet writers.

Completing the Packet link, the book is dedicated to Mark Humphreys, editor of the Packet newspapers from 1977-84, who died last year from cancer. Mike worked closely with Mark during his spell as chief reporter with the newspaper.

Mike has amassed a wealth of local historical details and anecdotes, both through his passionate study of the subject – drawing on numerous other local history books - and after personally interviewing and writing about many of the area’s best-known characters and events.

Together with the contributions from his guest writers, his latest book is a miscellany of literally hundreds of Memory Lane tales, insights and reminiscences. It is published and funded by Mike and his wife Janet.

* The Lighter Side of Local Life is now on sale – strictly limited edition, price £5.95 – only at the Cancer Research UK shop in Market Street, Falmouth (mail order: 01326 212905). All proceeds will go to the charity.