Docks in 'fight to the end'

By Stephen Ivall

ANGRY Falmouth dock workers are rapidly heading for their first industrial action in 22 years.

Only a softening of approach by workers or a climb-down by management will bring peace.

Management have warned that no more ships will be using the dry docks until the threat is lifted. Long-term it could be disastrous, they say.

The £20 million a year pumped into the local economy could rapidly disappear. Every business in the area could be hit, traders feared this week.

On Monday almost 300 dock workers turned up at a public meeting seeking the backing of the people of the area in what they described as their "fight to the end".

As workers reflected on what was said, the Packet can reveal there were behind-the-scenes negotiations to try and avert the pending catastrophe within the docks and salvage some of the 119 redundancies planned for next month.

Top level talks to try and bring about a settlement and hold further discussion on neutral ground were also in hand but it needs the cooperation of both sides.

Workers say they are in no mood to mess around. They fear more redundancies are on the cards and that the docks will end up being run by agency staff.

Samantha, 25, weds millionaire tycoon, 51

By Stephen Ivall

A WEALTHY Yorkshire aristocrat married his English rose from a Cornish village on Saturday and said hew as the happiest man alive.

Age made no difference, said Mr Wensley Haydon-Baillie, 51. His bride, 25-year-old Samantha Acland of Devoran was the girl he had wanted to marry for some time. His dreams had now come true.

"I have never thought about my being older and she is surprised when asked about it," he said. "She has made my life complete."

They shared the same ideals and interests. Everything was perfect.

The pharmaceuticals tycoon, one of Britain's richest men, is listed in the Sunday Times Richest 500 as joint 303rd with a fortune worth £40 million, down from £70 million the year before. He owns a share stake in Porton International worth £17 million.

He had waited a long time for the right girl to come along but had finally married the cousin's daughter he first met when she was just a teenager.

Now Samantha has given up her job as a secretary and will divide her time between the family mansion in Yorkshire and houses in London and Hampshire – a new lifestyle which her mother is confident she will easily settle into.

Meanwhile back in Devoran, where the blue Rolls-Royce of Mr Haydon-Baillie has often been during the couple's courtship, Mrs Georgina Acland was delighted at her daughter's marriage. "This is the real thing," she said.

Mrs Acland is in the catering industry and has a contract to serve the Crown Court in Truro.

Mr Acland said the age difference did not matter so long as the couple were happy.

Copter lowers wreath in memory of Americans

By Stephen Ivall

A HELICOPTER from Culdrose circled low over the water off Trebah on Thursday and a diver slowly lowered towards the water where he laid a wreath of poppies in memory of the Americans who had left the beach 50 years earlier for Normandy and never returned.

It was a fitting tribute to the hundreds who had mustered on the beach in very different conditions to embark on the liberation of France and eventually Europe in June 1944.

As the diver returned to the aircraft the pilot made three low circles over the beach and a memorial stone which had been unveiled by the youngest of three United States veterans who were the guests of Major Tony Hibbert.

As the aircraft flew away into the distance so a somewhat quiet Piper aircraft which actually took part in Operation Overlord flew down the valley and dipped its wings in salute.

On the ground, the American ex-servicemen, accompanied by members of the Royal Cornwall Parachute Regiment Association, proudly saluted back.

The ex-servicemen had gathered with hundreds of spectators in brilliant sunshine to witness the commemoration.