► GIANT TRANSFORMER

Inch by inch, a giant transformer was driven aboard the stern of a ship, the Kingsnorth Fisher. Even stripped of its main connections and cooler, it weighed almost 200 tons. The quay at Teignmouth had to be reinforced to take the strain. The ship, at 2,000 tons, is easily the largest vessel to enter the harbour since the war. Designed as a roll-on roll-off ship, she is specially adapted to accommodate bulky loads.

The 48-wheel Wynns trailer left Exeter at 5am on Sunday, to get clear of the traffic jams of the Exeter bypass early, and arrived in Teignmouth at 4.30pm. Because of its length, it was impossible to drive straight onto the quay, so it was eased through the central reservation in reverse.

With a load this size, there is a danger of bridges collapsing. Travelling with the trailer was an air cushion supply unit, on the hovercraft principle. This supports the transformer in three places instead of two, distributing the load more evenly. The CEGB was taking it from Exeter to Ferrybridge in Yorkshire.

► KING GEORGE’S FUND FOR SAILORS

The 28th summer fete at the Cliffden was opened by Rear Admiral  H Howson. As he stepped forward to make his speech, the platform collapsed beneath his feet, spilling flowerpots across the lawn. He said: ‘I could not have arranged an introduction guaranteed to bring myself closer to you,’ and went on as if nothing had happened.

► NO BANANAS

The shortage of bananas is worrying the keeper at Shaldon Zoo – and the animals are not happy about it either. Owing to the dock strike, deliveries of fruit have come to a standstill. There are 70 animals in the zoo, and usually they eat their way through 45 lbs of apples, pears, bananas and grapes every week.

‘There is no real substitute for bananas,’ said the spokesman. ‘The baby toucan and the hornbill need to be fed with soft fruit. They are choosy, and turn their noses up at things like carrots and tomatoes. If they don’t like the taste, they throw it away.’

► TEIGN ROTARIAN

Teignmouth Rotarians, assisted by neighbouring clubs, have raised funds for an inshore rescue boat for the Outward Bound Trust. It was presented to the round-the-world yachtsman Chay Blyth, who is a deputy director of the trust, on The Den last Saturday. Mr Blyth, in turn, handed the log book to Mr Derek Pritchard, who said that it would not only be used by those at the Outward Bound School at Ashburton, but for patrolling the coast between Dartmouth and Salcombe.

► TRAWLER RACE

Skippers from Brixham and Exmouth competed against three local boats in the Regatta Trawler Race off Teignmouth on Saturday. The race was won by Mr Malcolm Cook in the Wilhelmina Maria, which operates out of Teignmouth. The Regatta Bowl was presented by Mrs F Morris, wife of the chairman of the council.

► FOR SALE

Large Persian embroidered sheepskin coat £20, 12 bore single barrel shotgun and accessories £30, Buluchistani tribal prayer mat £50, complete set of Turkoman tribal clothes £20. Nonshayne, 96 Coombe Vale Road.

► RIVIERA CINEMA

Living Free; The Man Called Flintstone; Vanishing Point; Bedknobs and Broomsticks; A  Man and a Woman.