The Year in Review: Top stories from the Packet in 2019

One of Falmouth’s most-loved high street stores closed its doors, and to this day the building remains empty.

Familiar faces have sadly passed away and dangerous criminals have been locked away thanks to the work of the police and courts.

On a more positive note, daring rescues have been made and an unpopular housing development plan turned down.

Changes to Falmouth School and the town's harbour have also been warmly received.

Here’s how the Packet reported the biggest stories each month from January to June (check in tomorrow, New Year's Day, for part two):

January

Residents of Mabe showed up in droves to object to a housing development which could see one of Cornwall’s last granite quarries shut down.

Penryn’s Temperance Hall hosted a public meeting over the controversial plans to build 27 homes on land off Antron Way in Mabe Burnthouse.

A total of 30 speakers from Mabe presented their objections to planning officers and Cornwall councillors.

Philip Hosken spoke proudly about the quarry which his family had been involved with for several generations.

He said: “I have an idea there is history being made tonight, and I don’t mean Brexit.”

• The plans were thrown out by Cornwall Council the following month, much to the delight of residents.

IT has lain empty for more than 15 years but at long last Helston Business Park is being used for its intended purpose, with the opening of its first store and a second to follow shortly.

What has previously been referred to as “the most expensive dog walking site in the UK” is now a buzz of activity, following the opening of Screwfix on Monday.

The opening of the store has created 12 jobs, six of which have been filled by existing employees relocating from other stores – the majority of staff already living in the Helston area.

February

Bernard Hellings enjoying his last cup of tea at Marks and Spencer in Falmouth before it closed

A FALMOUTH WWII veteran who visited Marks and Spencer on opening day in 1933 paid a final visit today (February 2) before the shop shut its doors for the last time.

Bernard Hellings was 13-years-old when he bought an alarm clock on the day M&S opened to wake him up for school.

Now 98, Bernard remembers the excitement of the beloved shop opening in the town.

He said: “It was quite a big attraction, a big store like this coming to Falmouth.

“Nothing like that had ever happened before, it was mostly smaller shops and family shops but a big store like this was quite a big attraction.”

Bernard’s granddaughter Bridie Toft brought him to the shop to enjoy a final cup of tea and a biscuit in the cafe.

He went on to say: “I’m sorry to see it go but in business there’s no sentiment. I think it will be sadly missed.

“There were a lot of rumours for a long time and now it’s happened.”

• There has been talk of businesses interested in taking over the building since it shut, but as of yet nothing has materialised.

Alan Goldsworth and Sue Mallinder at Helston's Boating Lake where they carried out a daring rescue A COUPLE who jumped into Helston Boating Lake to save the life of an elderly woman they found floating in the water during the early hours of the morning have spoken of the moment they were woken by her cries.

Police have told Sue Mallinder and Alan Goldsworthy that had they not pulled the pensioner from the lake when they did, she probably wouldn’t be alive today.

The woman, who was in her 70s and believed to have been from Porthleven, was taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in a “severe condition” with hypothermia, but was subsequently said to be improving with treatment.

Speaking to the Packet this week, Sue said: “The police did say that any later she wouldn’t be here. We were just lucky that we heard her; we didn’t expect to find what we saw. And very lucky for her.”

March

A BODY has been pulled from the water in Falmouth this afternoon.

Police, coastguards, the ambulance service and the RNLI were called to the Prince of Wales Pier just before 3pm, following reports of a body of a being spotted in the water.

Police initially said it was the body of a woman, but have since clarified that it was actually a man.

The crew of the Falmouth inshore lifeboat has since recovered the body.

One witness said she initially thought it was a dog in the water, but upon having a closer look she “saw two feet.”

A police spokesperson confirmed that enquiries were continuing into this matter.

• An inquest in October revealed that the body was that of Falmothian William Charles Griffith, 59.

Andrew Wearne (left) was called in to lead after Giles Clotworthy (right) broke his leg

HELSTON Flora Day has been caught on the hop with injury forcing a change to the Midday Dance leaders.

Two weeks ago the Packet revealed that the lead set for this year would be Giles Clotworthy, Sandra Laity, Mark Eaton and Rachel Eaton.

However, last week Giles suffered a devastating injury, breaking his leg in two places and forcing him to withdraw from the dance.

As a result, the Helston Flora Day Association has called in reserve dancer Andrew Wearne – who admitted it was “a bit of shock” when he got home from holiday to find a letter waiting for him, explaining that he was needed.

“It’s a shock. It’s a shame Giles is injured; I knew he was hurt, but I just didn’t know it was that bad,” said Andrew, who danced in the Midday four years ago in the same set as Giles and used to be his next door neighbour.

April

Elizabeth Ann Treneer being interviewed by the BBC  

A MOTHER of an eight year old autistic boy has been jailed for fraud.

Elizabeth Ann Treneer, aged 38, was sentenced alongside her own mother for fraud at Truro Crown Court today.

Miss Treneer, of Chapel Meadow, Perranwell Station, was sentenced to 40 months in prison, while Angela Colleen Treneer, aged 72, of Cogos Park, Mylor Bridge, received a 20-month jail term.

In sentencing, Judge Robert Linford said: "When the game was up you both lied and lied in an attempt to squirm out of responsibility.

"Elizabeth, you stole to fund your lifestyle including foreign holidays, while tenants were worried about being homeless and landlords went without their money. You twisted, squirmed, lied and obfuscated."

Mrs Treneer had run Premier Property Management, based in Truro, for 20 years, before her daughter became involved in the business in 2007.

It was from 2009 that deposits and rentals began to disappear as the pair "robbed Peter to pay Paul", said prosecutor Alexander Greenwood.

Defending Angela Treneer, barrister Julia Cox said that her age and deteriorating health should be taken into consideration. Defending her daughter, Jason Beale said that she was of previous good character and that she had to look after her autistic son as a single mum.

May

Maenporth Beach Cafe's then-new owners James and Leann Wright watch as the building burns 

A BLAZE at the Maenporth Beach Cafe has left new owners Leann and James Wright “devastated”.

The mother and son took over ownership of the cafe on April 8 and had been renovating the roof in recent weeks.

At around 10 o’clock yesterday morning (Tuesday May 28) the building set on fire and continued to burn for some time, eventually leaving the roof completely gutted.

Leann said: “I’m devastated. Thank god everyone was out safely. We’ll just start again I guess. There’s not a lot you can say really, we just feel really unlucky.”

James was working in the cafe yesterday morning when the lights in the building went out with a spark.

He noticed a burning smell, and went outside to find that the roof had caught light.

He rushed back in and told colleagues and a customer that “they needed to get out before it got really bad”. The cafe’s co-owner told the Packet that he could hear the sound of the fire in the roof above.

THE bunting may be down but the memories remain following another successful Helston Flora Day.

The forecast rain never really materialised, aside from a brief – but extremely heavy – shower that began almost to the first beat of the Midday Dance bass drum and ended the moment the last couple left the Guildhall.

Generally speaking it was a dry day however, with even some sun shining down, far exceeding expectations.

June

FALMOUTH School’s Ofsted rating has been downgraded from good to inadequate in a damning report published this week.

The report states that leaders rely too heavily on academic performance and not enough on fostering relationships with parents, pupils and staff.

Inspectors found that the school’s leaders have failed in several areas including ‘off-rolling’ students – removing them from the school – against the wishes of families, the advice of Cornwall Council and the professional judgement of other agencies.

They also found that the school’s provisions for pupils with special education needs or disabilities (SEND) is lacking, as is the system of governance which fails to hold leaders to account.

There is no effective system for dealing with complaints of bullying, according to the report.

Despite the inadequate leadership, the school’s quality of teaching, pupil outcomes and 16 to 19 year old study programmes were all rated good, with “confident and articulate” pupils who were found to “behave well in lessons and around the site”.