WHAT were the stories of the day occupying readers' attention in 70s Teignmouth?

► FLOWER SHOW

Over 3,000 people patronised the Teignmouth and District Horticultural Society’s Summer Show on the Den last week, believed to be a record. There were 650 entries, and although the numbers in the vegetable and fruit section was described as ‘thin’, due to the effects of the recent dry weather, the quality was excellent. The entry in the sweet peas was outstanding.

The Urban Council had an exhibit urging the public to ‘Plant a Tree in ’73’, with a clump of trees in plastic pots, and a map showing where trees had been planted, and where more could be put.

It was not the larger flowers which drew the attention entirely. One could not but describe as exquisite the flowering cacti, with their delicate blooms, which gained Mr L A Milton the blue ribbon for the best exhibit in the show.

► FREAK STORM

On Monday evening, Teignmouth residents saw an ominous cloud over Torquay, accompanied by lightning and thunder. Soon the local fire siren sounded, and an appliance sped to Torquay. Many other fire service units were called in form surrounding stations to deal with extensive flooding of the main streets, doing the worst damage the centre of the town has ever known. Union Street was flooded up to 6ft down.

Pedestrians ran for higher ground as manhole covers  were forced up. Two empty cars were swept away, ending in shop doors. Thousands of  pounds worth of damage was done to at least 34  shops, from the Post Office to the Market Street and Fleet Street.

► STOMPERS

A rumour that the Teign Valley Stompers were breaking up was scotched last Saturday, with the engaging of a new trombone player Dave Batchelor from Dunfermline. He has just left Reading University with a degree in music and English.

He joins the band at a very busy time, with their summer season in full swing on Pontin’s holiday camps, and an invitation to travel to London on Monday to audition for BBC Radio 1 and 2.

► WISE WORDS

One of the greatest mistakes in life is to fear continually that you will make one. A strict belief in fate is the worst form of slavery.

► SWORD OF PEACE

The 1st Battalion the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment has won the Wilkinson Sword of Peace for 1972, presented to the Commanding Officer, Lt-Col Peter Burdick by Lord Carrington, the Defence Secretary, in London. A sword is awarded annually to a unit of each of the three Services, for outstanding efforts to foster good relations in the community in which it serves. The Devon and Dorset gained their sword for work in British Honduras.

The Royal Navy’s winner is also a West Country unit, 40 Commando Royal Marines, stationed at Plymouth, for their work in Northern Ireland. The third sword went to RAF St. Athan, Barry, Glamorgan, for mountain rescues and flood relief.

► RIVIERA CINEMA

Carry On Abroad; The Intelligence Men; The Detective; Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; Pablo and the Dancing Chihuahua.