Ref spots ball, wins quarter of a million

A FORMER soccer referee from Falmouth has spotted the ball…and won a quarter of a million pounds from Littlewoods.

John Ingham’s eyesight was often called into question during his days as a ref. But it didn’t let him down when he entered the Spot the Ball competition.

He was right on the ball with his cross and learned this week that he is £250,000 richer.

Mr Ingham, 66, of Longfield, took up refereeing when in the Fleet Air Arm. He maintained his links with the sport through Spot the Ball.

Now, with a quarter of a million in the bank, he does not intend on giving up. John plans to go on staking his £2 a week for 540 crosses.

Yesterday he was presented with his cheque at the Green Lawns Hotel, Falmouth, having sent in his entry for the win early. The week before he forgot to hand his entry over to the representative!

John has taken his prize in cash although he could have had a £36,800 luxury Jaguar XJS Coupe and a £100,000 house.

Woman head for Penryn School

PENRYN Community School has appointed its first female headteacher to replace Ian Jones when he leaves to take over as head at Camborne School next term.

Mrs Marie Hunter is currently deputy head of Bodmin Community School and will take up her position at the 720-pupil school in Penryn next term.

Welshman Mr Jones announced last November that he was leaving Penryn to take up the “new challenge” that Camborne School offers. It boasts almost 500 more pupils than Penryn and includes a sixth-form centre.

Camborne School’s controversial former headteacher, Derek Adam, left the school at the end of last term after a year of staff unrest. The school is currently being led by a temporary head until Mr Jones’ arrival.

Mr Jones, 46, has been head at Penryn Community School for four-and-a-half years and has been teaching since 1971. He has been deputy head at Humphry Davy School in Penzance and head of humanities at Helston School.

Traders fear ruin if bridge scheme goes ahead

A £400,000 county council strengthening scheme for Penryn Bridge has run into troubled water.

The 25-week scheme will effectively replace the bridge while keeping its existing fascias and is due to begin on March 6. The bridge will be strengthened to take the increased 11.5 tonne axle weights required by European regulations and the decking will be replaced by pre-stressed concrete beams.

Two temporary metal bridges will be built to ensure two-way traffic flows throughout the period of repairs. One will be upstream of the present bridge and the other built over one of its carriageways. “You will not know the bridge has been changed,” said county project engineer Mr Keith Withey.

But the many traders around Eastwood Road and College Hill claim the temporary traffic system could ruin business. And Carrick Council have written to the county asking for the works to be put back to April 12 because they fear it will affect the sale of the Anchor Warehouse. Tenders for the warehouse site have to be in by April 12.