Vandals strike at advertising site

VANDALS cut down posters and banners advertising fundraising events in Falmouth and then dumped them on the recreation ground this week.

There has been no explanation as to why the three giant banners fixed to a wall at the roundabout near to the entrance to the recreation ground disappeared.

The three banners advertised the weekend’s conservative Christmas Fayre, All Saints Scouts Christmas Fayre and a production by the Falmouth Amateur Dramatic Society.

The site is popular with many groups and organisations who want to promote their activities and has long been used by them.

“The banners were all there on Thursday evening, but missing by Friday,” said Mrs Irene Reeve, a member of the scout group. A parent checked them on his way home at midnight, she added.

“I went on a search for them and it was on Saturday on my way to the Christmas fayre I saw a man walking along holding the banners. He had found them in the recreation ground,” said Mrs Reeve.

Cubs drop ban on girls

Hayley Upex is a first for 2nd Falmouth (All saints) Cubs.

The eight-year-old from Fairfield Road has just been formally made a Cub along with Amy Strowger and Helen Popperwell. But Hayley was the first.

The junior “gender warrior” failed at her first attempt around two years ago when the boys followed the example of famous London gentlemen’s clubs in voting against letting girls join.

Among the “refuseniks” was Hayley’s own brother Ross, now 10. Amy’s brother also gave the idea the thumbs down. But now the brothers have moved from Cubs up to Scouts and the last vote went in favour of girls.

Hayley’s mother Shirley explained how her daughter had grown impatient with the Brownies she belonged to and was straining at the leash to join her brother’s Cub pack. “Now she lives for it and cannot wait for her first camp. A lot of Brownies don’t go on camp or do as many outside activities,” she said.

Ostrich for Christmas dinner?

A HAMLET near Falmouth has three new residents who are famous for sticking their heads in the sand. Lamanva man Neil Hinkley has decided to branch out from the family furniture business and become a full-time ostrich farmer.

The three seven-feet-high ostriches – a male and two females – he has parading around his field will start breeding in March and continue to September. The marker for meat in this country is growing, he told the Packet.

Once his chicks have reached the age of three months, Mr Hinkley will send them to a firm in Leicester which specialises in ostrich meat. “We’re too nice, we couldn’t slaughter them,” he added.