Est. 1981
Link
The
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Lo ca lN ew sa nd
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Issue 188 January/February 2013
Camel Estuary Community Magazine All proceeds to local good causes Cover art based on an original design by John Hewitt. Paintings by Roy Ritchie.
www.stminverlink.org 1
Breakfast Baps served from 8 to 10.30 am With Bacon, Sausage, Egg, Mushroom, Onions, Tomato in any combination.
See our Notice Board for opening times and Special Offers
Hair at Nigel’s
Modern & traditional cutting. Nationally recognized master craftsmen Main Salon
Colour Studio
Registered with the Hairdressing Council as a top salon in the South West
at the Pavillion, Rock 01208-862258
Privately owned boutique hotel in exquisite location overlooking the Camel Estuary in Rock. This is the perfect location to enjoy a short break or family holiday. Rock has long been popular for sports seasonal produce and focus on locally caught seafood. Reservations please call 01208 863394 info@enodoc-hotel.co.uk www.enodoc-hotel.co.uk www.nathan-outlaw.com
cleanearth - your solar and renewable specialists Solar PV and thermal, wind, ground and air source pumps, biomass FREE no obligation property assessment All planning, grid and tariff applications covered Save Money Trusted and experienced experts and help the 100s of satisfied customers onment
envir
Call FREE 0800 975 5635 www.cleanearthenergy.co.uk 1
I.Tatam Electrical Electrical Installations & PV Hughenden, Rock Road, St Minver, Wadebridge Cornwall, PL27 6PW Tel: +44(0)1208 862 522 Fax: +44(0)1208 869 251 Email: iantatam@aol.com “Your local electrician since 1979�
EST. 1953
Mrs
monumental Est. 1985 services New memorials supplied. Leaning headstones realigned. Re-lettering and cleaning. Full maintenance service. For a friendly and reliable service contact us on
01840 212969 or 078950 72507 2
METTERS & SONS
The Vac Sweeps Comprehensive and expert chimney sweep service using vacuum with brush for NO MESS!
Call 01840 211089 TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
Looking after our clients’ property interests for over 40 years PROPERTY SALES, HOLIDAY LETTING AND MANAGEMENT, CHARTERED SURVEYORS, VALUATIONS AND ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES Rock Office: Tel: 01208 863206 Port Isaac Office: Tel: 01208 880302
www.johnbray.co.uk
3
ROBERTSON’S JEWELLERS LTD Visit your local qualified jeweller for jewellery, giftware and the widest selection of watches around We offer a full workshop repair service for Jewellery & Watches Commissions & Insurance Valuations
Come and enjoy shopping at a real jewellers! Offering excellent prices for your Gold and Silver in any condition
25a Molesworth Street, Wadebridge www.robertsonsjewellers.co.uk The Company of Master Jewellers
01208 812291
Trebetherick Stores is an independent village store, Newsagent and Off License situated in the heart of the village. Fresh bread is available each day, along with freshly baked croissants and a variety of freshly made sandwich and baguettes. With our new and improved Gourmet Menu, we produce even more delicious home made Take home meals in our own kitchen.
Steph and her team, Gemma, Barb, Becci, Laura, Annalise and Ashley, are proud to welcome you into your local convenience store, and look forward to seeing you all soon. 4
ESTATE AGENTS • VALUERS HOLIDAY LETTING
Cole Rayment & White are estate agents and holiday letting agents specialising in the Rock Area. If you have a holiday home to let please call Domenique or Sam on 01208 862299 www.crwholidays.co.uk Computer generated image of the riverside view of the Bradfords Quay project
Wadebridge luxurious waterside development with apartments starting at ÂŁ185,000 - 01208 813595 Malcolm Cole, FRICS Chartered Surveyor having lived and worked in the parish for over 30 years would be delighted to assist with all your house buying or selling needs.
Please contact Malcolm on 01208 863322 www.crw.co.uk Cole Rayment & White Radley House Rock Road Rock PL27 6NW 5
Matthew Dingle Electrician NICEIC Domestic Installer Approved TRUST MARK Approved Est Since 2005 with over 20 Years Experience City and Guilds Quali�ied Tel: 01840 214857 Mobile: 07795 281137 Free Quotations All types of Electrical work undertaken
Glowarm Plumbing and Heating (Cornwall) Ltd Boiler Breakdowns Gas and Oil Installations Bathrooms Heat Pumps Leadwork Domestic Plumbing
Free Estimates 24 Hour Emergency call out Gas Safe and APHC Registered
01840 212457 0777 9969 484
Glowarm Plumbing and Heating (Cornwall) Ltd, Middle Fernleigh, Trefrew Road, Camelford, Cornwall PL32 9TP. Fax: 01840 212457. sthobbs@btinternet.com. www.glowarmplumbing-camelford.co.uk 6
R. J. Bray & Son Independent Family Funeral Directors
N.A.F.D. Diploma Day and Night Service Private Chapel of Rest
Bridge End, Wadebridge. 01208 812626 www.rjbray.co.uk
ENSLA PRODUCTS WINDRUSH, POLZEATH, CORNWALL PL27 6TN TEL/FAX: (01208) 863483
ENGRAVERS IN SLATE HOUSE NAMES MEMORIAL PLAQUES BUSINESS PLATES
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01208 812722 Just off the A39 at Wadebridge
Trailer servicing & repair. Garden machinery serviced & repaired. Gates & Railings to order. Boat engine servicing.
Do you have a query about any legal matter? We offer a free 30 minute diagnostic interview.
Call Graham at Macmillans Solicitors on 01208 812415
Macmillans Solicitors Car Park beside office Manor House, Wadebridge- opposite Julian Foye the furnishers.
www.macmillansď€solicitors.co.uk
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Lingham Hall St Minver School
Community Hall and Gallery for Hire
Sports, Dances - Keep fit Shows - Parties - Meetings
£10 per hour - Regular Users £15 per hour - Occasional users
Ian’s Logs and Kindling Delivered within
Includes kitchen equipment and facilities for many sports.
20 mile radius of Wadebridge
(School Hours)
M I R Mabley, Blake’s Keiro, St Minver
01208 862496
01208 863404 07740 404850
Busy Life Cleaning Services Available to suit your needs Call Nicola now on: 07812 465439 Email: busylife@live.co.uk
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Wadebridge
Babes & Bikes
Nursery Hire Cots, High chairs, Z-Beds, 3 Wheeler Single & Double Buggies. Wheelchair Hire Cycles Sales, Spares & Repairs Delivery & Collection Service 01208 815262 www.babesandbikes.biz
The Rock Shop and Post Office Pavilion Building, Rock Road, Rock Tel: 01208 863079
Cards, Gifts & Prints Motor Vehicle Licences SWEB Key Recharge FREE Banking, Forex & Travel Services
Most UK National Banks - Lottery 10
Your Local Taxi Service
Pityme Taxi 01208 862212 07792 633150
Rob Woodley
07816 90 20 80 19 Middlewell Park, Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 7HH
Approved Electrician and Solar Installer Domestic and Commercial electrical services New Installations Re-wires Fault Rectification Test & Inspection Solar Panel Installation Pat Testing
Friendly, reliable, affordable service, covering Cornwall
Telephone: 01208 895345. Mobile: 07411 147091 d.b.electrical@live.co.uk 11
The St Minver Link Committee Chairman---------- Brian Crank------------------ brian@stminverlink.org------------01208 869120 Editor--------------- Jennifer Gordon------------ jennifer@stminverlink.org--------01208 816470 Distribution ------ David Topliffe--------------- david@stminverlink.org-----------01208 869636 Photographer---- Martin Broadfoot---------- martin@stminverlink.org----------01208 863705 Diary Editor------- Pat Crank-------------------- pat@stminverlink.org--------------01208 869120 Graphics Design- Flo Millard------------------- flo@stminverlink.org---------------01208 812589 Secretary --------- Kerensa Beer-Robson----- kerensa@stminverlink.org--------01208 869102 Treasurer---------- Jen Edwards----------------- jen@stminverlink.org--------------01208 869101 Adviser------------- Ann Jeal.
To have something published in Link By Email (addresses above) Articles , general interest items Jennifer Local clubs and organisations Brian Council or Local Government news Kerensa By Post Send to Jennifer Gordon, 19 Guineaport Parc, Wadebridge PL27 7BY .
To have Link delivered to your door Contact David or visit www.stminverlink.org/Delivered.html.
To receive Link by post To receive Link in the post during 2013 send your name and address and a cheque for £11 (5 issues) made out to St Minver Link to: David Topliffe, 2 Greenbanks Rd, Rock, Cornwall PL27 6NB or visit www.stminverlink.org/Where_to_buy_ByPost.html.
Link Copy Dates (next copy date is in bold italic type)
Issue Copy Date January/February Dec 1st March/April Feb 1st May/June Apr 1st July/August Jun 1st September/October Aug 1st November/December Oct 1st St Minver Link is a not-for-profit community magazine produced by volunteers. The Link committee do not necessarily agree with opinions expressed by contributors. Any funds in excess of those needed to produce the magazine are given to local good causes.
To advertise in Link To place your advertisement in the next issue simply visit www.stminverlink.org/How_to_ Advertise.html or contact Martin on 01208 863705 or Brian on 01208 869120. Next Issue Only Black and White
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All 2013 - 5 Issues
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We welcome local stories and photographs.
Issue 188 January/February 2013
St Minver
Like links in a fence we will unite To create a fine community With willing hearts, with hands held tight. Neither keeping in nor shutting out But holding fast a fellowship A refuge from adversity. Anna Alexander
Link
The Link Committee wish all readers and advertisers a very happy and prosperous New Year. Contents Around and About
St Minver Football Club Maintains its Winning Ways------------14 Children’s Hospice South West Offer Guest Speakers-----------------------------16 CRUK Christmas Fair Raises £1,680------17 The Great South West Coast Path Walk---18 Parish Plan Report---------------------------19 Polzeath Beachcare Would Appreciate Your Help---------------------20 Link Welcomes Two New Helpers--------21 Popular Nativity Scene Restored---------21 Wadebridge Choral Society----------------22 St Minver Probus Club----------------------22 St Minver Computer Club------------------23 Rock Sailing & Water Ski Club-------------23 St Minver Garden Society------------------23 North Cornwall National Trust------------26
Regular Items
We Will Remember Them------------------26 Brain Gym--------------------------------------27 Trebetherick & Polzeath WI---------------30 Rock Lifeboat Diary--------------------------38 Book Review - A Perfectly Good Man---40 Country Diary from Cobb Cottage-------42 From the Desk of Dan Rogerson----------50 St Minver Lowlands Parish Council------51 Church Services-------------------------------53
Features
A Response to Cassino----------------------24 Have a Wonderful Winter Garden-------28 Paint Rock Pink Day Raises £11,000-----31 ‘Caddy’------------------------------------------37 Recipe - Spanish Tortilla & Chick Pea Salad----------------------------44 Thereby Hangs a Tale-----------------------45 Arranging Furniture-------------------------46 The Link Events Diary-----------------------52 Dungarees, Marooning & More----------48 Visit our website - www.stminverlink.org
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St Minver Football Club Maintains Its Winning Ways Duchy league clubs are sitting up and taking notice as St Minver Football Club’s winning streak continued into December. We are two months further into the season since my last report in the Link and St Minver’s first team remain unbeaten in all competitions as at the end of November. In the Cornwall Junior Cup. We have overcome high flying second division side Lostwithiel and ‘Premier’ outfit Bodmin Saints in consecutive rounds, both by a score of 4-1. In the next round, we will take on Newlyn East, another premier division team, on home turf in what will prove to be another really exciting match. If we progress to the next round,
Jam Jars Wanted
Can you help? Needed by Wadebridge Country Market. Thursdays 8.45am – 12.30pm Wadebridge Town Hall 14
and we have every chance if we play as well as we have been doing, I am sure our support will grow and we look forward to seeing some new faces turning up to watch us play. Last Saturday (November 24tt) we were disappointed to have our league match at Launceston College called off for the second time. On that day there were only two games that went ahead throughout the whole of the Duchy League. LC Phoenix, the team we were due to play are in second place , so the lads were well up for that one. The fixture will be rearranged later in the season. Manager of the first team Keith Simmons said “We are playing attractive passing football and we deserve to be where we are. Our main enemy is complacency, so we have to treat every game as though it’s a cup match.” Our new training arrangements at the Camelford floodlit all weather pitch are proving to be well worthwhile and we are getting about 20 players turning up for
each session. New players are still welcome to come along. Both first and second team train at the same time (7pm) Our second team are still finding their feet in league football but we now have a handy sized squad and the spirit is good and at the present time we are sitting comfortably in a mid table position On Dec 1 we beat Camelford 3rds 8:1. Our quiz night was a great success and put much needed funds into the club. Over £500 was raised, mainly due to the efforts of Dan Haynes getting local traders and friends to provide some fantastic prizes and Sam Williams with the curry and the quiz. Thanks to you all again for your donations and prizes and to those who turned up on the night. Next Saturday evening we will be at the Point for our Xmas celebrations, when we hope we may also be celebrating progressing to the next round of the Junior Cup. Roy Birchwood (Secretary) 01208 880549
We welcome local stories and photographs.
Visit our website - www.stminverlink.org
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Left to right. Back row: Chris Simmons, Dayle Beesley, Dan Witts, Chris Andrews, Mike Green, Darren Lang, Dan Haynes. Front row: Jo Robinson, Jason Keatley, Paul Dingle, Steve Wooton, Richard Simmons, Ben Beesley. Photo: Martin Broadfoot.
Children’s Hospice South West Offer Guest Speakers to Local Organisations
If you need a guest speaker for a community group or organisation and would like to find out more about Children’s Hospice South West the charity is offering to provide a speaker to talk about their vital work. Mary Murfin, local Community Fundraiser for Children’s Hospice South West’s Little Harbour children’s hospice in Cornwall, explains: “We are a well-known regional charity providing care and support for families with children who aren’t expected to reach adulthood, but there are still a lot of misconceptions about what we do and what it’s like inside one of our special children’s hospices. “There is no mistaking the seriousness of our work, but our homely hospices are very much about living. Our overarching aim is to make the most of short and precious lives and as a result our hospices are often filled with the
sounds of joy and laughter. “As a charity we are almost entirely funded by voluntary donations and we are only able to provide this wonderful service thanks to the support of local communities. We would love the opportunity to come and talk to your group, completely free of charge, to help give you more of an insight into life at our children’s hospices and the invaluable support we provide.” Children’s Hospice South West is the only organisation in the region providing respite care for families with life-limited children in a hospice environment. We also provide a range of palliative, emergency, and end of life care, and bereavement support. To find out more and book a speaker for your group please phone us at Little Harbour, our children’s hospice in Cornwall, on 01726 871800, or email reception.lh@chsw.org.uk
Photograph, courtesy dalecherry.com shows: Raising a smile - a sibling enjoying time in the Messy Play room at Little Bridge House, CHSW’s hospice in North Devon
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We welcome local stories and photographs.
Cancer Research UK Christmas Fair Raises £1,680
Estelle Budden has a quick cuppa before doors open ‘guess the name of the baby’ competition, and Sue Morris made a lovely cake for ‘guess the weight of the cake’ – both of these were won by committee member Maggie Day. John Killingly and Anne Murray were very busy on their tombola and some were leaving, with big smiles on their faces, laden down with bottles. Mary Baillee and Liz Stewart ran the Grand Draw which had a large number of desirable festive prizes, Audrey Hocking drew out the winning tickets. It was good that many of the prize winners were still there to choose their own prize, and it was lovely to see some of the hard working committee members were winners too. A big thank you to all who supported this event and we are proud to announce that £1680 was made for Cancer Research UK. Jane Bendall Visit our website - www.stminverlink.org 17
A dry, sunny morning brought our loyal supporters to the Rock Sailing Club for our annual Christmas market. The club looked very festive. Each stallholder had made a real effort to dress up their stall (and themselves) with tinsel, glitter and lights to give a very Christmassy atmosphere. David Parr wearing a Christmas boater took the entrance fee which included a coffee and a homemade mince pie. These were kindly made and donated by Mary Hibbert and Barbara Robson – who made so many, the rest were sold swiftly on the cake stall. There were many stalls. Keith Snelling had kindly made and decorated wooden tree hangings in the shapes of reindeer, stars and hearts. Lesley Mattos and Jane Parr had been busy sewing patchwork items like napkin holders and festive bunting for their craft stall. There were several other gift stalls where bargains could be found. Roger Heydon ran a
‘The Great South West Coast Path Walk’ supports, The South West Coast Path Association (SWCPA) is busy organising a special event to providing celebrate their 40th anniversary next Spring, there is enough with the aim of funding improvement projects funding for that throughout the route of the South West Coast project to take place Path in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset. (otherwise it will be used for the project most in To raise funds for small but significant improvement projects, over and above general need). More information about each leg of maintenance of the path, SWCPA are launching the walk, the dates and the corresponding ‘The Great South West Walk – putting 40 years improvement project is on our website at www.GreatSouthWestWalk.co.uk”. of love back into the Coast Path!’ Brian continued, “People can take part in a A large number of countryside organisations half day or full day walk, through to a number are supporting the event including the South of legs over several days, building a walking West Coast Path Team, the National Trust, holiday. Whether people are walking long or County Councils and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty Teams, along with local walking short distances, coming from near or far, we hope that thousands of people will take part to groups and numerous tourism businesses. support this spectacular coast line.” Media partnerships have also been secured with Western Morning News, Cornwall Today Through individual sponsorship, grants, and BBC Radio Solent, Devon and Cornwall. corporate sponsorship and matched giving, the target is to raise £250,000. This will enable The event next April/May aims to encourage over 40 improvement projects spread along the at least 30 walkers each day across a series route of the entire path to be completed during of sponsored walks which have been broken down into 56 legs and will be done in relay to 2013. These projects have all been selected cover the entire 630 mile path around Dorset, to enhance the experience and enjoyment of walkers using the path. Devon and Cornwall (as well as the Exmoor coast through Somerset). From locals to visitors, dog walkers to family Meeting with a birthday party at Land’s End on outings, hill climbers to gentle strollers – the South West Coast Path is enjoyed by many. It is 7th May 2013, the South coast series starts at Poole on 3rd April, with the North coast series used for recreation and business, is vital for the starting at Minehead on 16th April. Each leg will economy, whilst providing a tool for a range of charities to raise funds. be guided by local experts, rangers and path wardens, who are all assisting the SWCPA with It is a unique part of our heritage and it needs this event. help. So please get involved with the Great South West Walk and help put some love back Walkers will be asked to raise £50 of sponsorship each, so that further funding can into the Coast Path! be levered from relevant organisations via For more information, or to sign up to take matched giving. Brian Panton, Chairman of the part, please visit www.GreatSouthWestWalk. South West Coast Path Association explains: co.uk, or contact the SWCPA on 01752 869237. You can also follow the event on Twitter @ “We are offering walkers the opportunity LoveSWCoastPath. to specify which project their sponsorship 18 We welcome local stories and photographs.
Situation Vacant
St Minver Cancer Research UK
St Minver Link
Good surgery in bad places
Advertising Manager This is a voluntary position. Previous experience of magazine advertising would be helpful but is not essential. This is an interesting and worthwhile position. The main effort occurs September to December when bookings for the following year are taken. Call 01208 869120 or email Brian@stminverlink.org if you are interested
Parish Plan Report The Parish Plan Update meetings early in October were supported by members of the St Minver Parishes. Thank you for turning up and thank you also for your written comments. Also it was good to talk over with individuals and groups, the perspective of old and new friends on the present issues that face the Parishes. Thank you again for your time and input to the Plan. The venues were arranged in an exhibition layout, each section of the Plan was displayed separately and those who came were able to browse, at their own speed, on what was in the Plan in 2006 and the information that had been collected from the Drop In and questionnaire that had been held in 2011. There was the opportunity for those who came to supply their comments on reply slips that were available on each table. We were encouraged by the way in which those who attended engaged with the Parish Plan; 57 people attended the two events, and there was 61 different comments on the 55 reply slips left in the box at the door. As could be predicted the Section on Housing and Development lead with the most comments closely followed by the Section on Transport, Roads, Traffic and Parking. The rest was spread in single figure responses over the other sections. David Short Visit our website - www.stminverlink.org
The Point at Polzeath Monday Feb 11 7 for 7.30pm Alan Waterworth, an ex Army Surgeon, will be talking about his experiences abroad. Cost £7 (includes a Pasty) Tickets available from The Point,Newslines or Jean Thorman on 01208 863819
North Cornwall National Trust Association
The Alpaca Family Methodist Church Hall Launceston Thursday Jan 24 7.30pm Cost Members £3 Guests £3.50. A buffet supper with tea or coffee will be served following the talk. Contact: Graham Smith 01566777024 windeler.rock@btinternet.com
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North Cornwall National Trust Association
The Riddle of the Sands A full-day event with film, lunch and talk by Drummond Challis.
Rock Sailing & Waterski Club Friday Feb 15 10.30am - 4pm Cost Members £18.50 Guests £20. Contact: Bob Reason 01840 230173 windeler.rock@btinternet.com
Perceval Institute ‘Kitchen Upgrade’ Fund
Jumble Sale Perceval Institute Saturday Feb 16 2pm
Perceval Institute ‘Kitchen Upgrade’ Fund
Jumble Needed
Clothing, shoes, brica-brac toys books etc. all greatly received. Please bring items to the Perceval Institute on the morning of the sale between 10am to 12noon or contact Liz on 01208863778. 20
Polzeath Beachcare would Appreciate Your Help! We are now two and half years into the Beachcare programme originally launched in the SW here in Polzeath and centrally managed by Neil Henbrow of Keep Britain Tidy. A keen and dedicated core of volunteers continue to brave the weather and sometimes difficult conditions to try to deal with the never-ending deposits of litter bought in daily by the tides and occasionally left by visitors. The new 2012 regime by Cory for rubbish collection and litter picking in Cornwall has worked really well. They pick up the heavy stuff frequently, daily in the Summer, so, with over 70 bags of rubbish collected by the Group so far this year and with several other people regularly picking up litter on an informal basis, you can well imagine just how much comes onto the beaches here. The Group cover 3 generations of volunteers; it is great to have youngsters coming along. They are the guardians for the future well-being of the environment and are to be strongly encouraged at all times. We are hoping to spread the word of our activities into local schools to help awareness generally. Neil arranged for St Breock school to attend this month’s Survey and Tidy; 31 Year 5’s took one small area of beach and collectively 7 bags were collected.....amazingly, all done with smiles, then followed a rock pooling expedition, led by Rosie. There has been an amazing and surprising assortment of human debris including an inflated blow up doll (!) and food containers from as far away as Japan, presumably discarded at sea. Eating sea birds on the East coast of Canada continues, as an enormous quantity of cartridge shells are washed ashore in their dozens. However it is the huge extent of the most extensive litter, plastic, large to very small pieces, that is the most worrying; several species of smaller sea animals are being suffocated by the extent of ingestion of plastic and this will extend up the food chain until eventually, us ! We would always welcome more supporters for this important work in helping maintain a quality environment here in Polzeath. Nick Pickles 01208869742 nickdpickles@gmail.com We welcome local stories and photographs.
Link Welcomes Two New Helpers We are delighted to announce that Claire Warr and her daughter, Olivia, have joined the Link Team. Claire, who “absolutely loves proof reading” will take over the Link Events Diary and will have a look at our Facebook page. We will also encourage her to get involved with the Link website. Olivia, ‘Livvy’, is taking on our ‘Local Telephone Number Page’ as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme project. As part of this she will check out every telephone number (so if you are on the list expect a call) and will suggest additions and other improvements. We welcome them both. If there is someone out there who would like to become Advertising Manager of a very successful community magazine we would like to hear from you!
St Minver Silver Band Needs MD The Band is looking to recruit a new Musical Director for the Senior Band. We are a non-competing band with many regular engagements throughout the year in support of local charities, fetes and community groups. Our MD would be expected to conduct our regular Tuesday night rehearsals and take charge of our musical programme. Previous experience with conducting brass bands is desirable but enthusiasm and commitment are more important. The position would be on a remuneration basis
Call Garry Gauss on 01208 814170.
St Minver Link AGM Swallows Rest, Monday Jan 14, 7pm
Popular Nativity Scene Restored by Local Artist
The nativity scene which appears at Christmas every year in the village of Trelights was getting worse for wear and was in danger of being scrapped. On hearing this, local amateur artist Anne Prouse, who had always admired the stable scene, offered to restore the figures at her own cost, to give them a new lease of life. Clem A ’Court , a retired professional photographer , who lived in Trelights, was the originator of the nativity scene some twenty years ago. We are sure he would have been delighted to see the results of Anne’s work and to know that the scene of the crib and stable will now be featured for many years to comeThank you Anne! Visit our website - www.stminverlink.org
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Wadebridge Choral Society With Christmas now behind them, the Choir now looks forward to Spring. It’s still some way off, yet the prospect of rehearsing some glorious music makes the winter less daunting.
anthems and from Purcell there will be ‘My Heart is Inditing’. As usual there will be full orchestra and Tony Tournoff will be at the keyboard to provide the continuo. We shall let you have more information in the next issue The Choir’s Spring concert will once again showcase works from the Baroque period with of St Minver Link. There is more information about the Choir on our website: www. music by Handel and Purcell. From Handel wadebridgechoral.org.uk. there will be one of the splendid Concerti Grossi for orchestra, the ever-popular ‘Arrival We wish our readers a happy and harmonious of the Queen of Sheba’ and his Coronation 2013.
St Minver Probus Club
The after lunch speaker at the November (2012) meeting of the St Minver Probus Club was Graham Renwick, Director of First Edition Theatre which is based in Wadebridge. They performed the play, 84 Charing Cross Road, in the unusual setting of St Minver Church in April, raising money for charity. He believed that the skills required to running a theatre company were similar to those for running any business. Some of these are leading a team, communications, selling skills, organisation, financial skills, persuasion and negotiation. Graham talked about his time with the Ember Players in Esher, and the Miller Centre in Caterham, Surrey. He found that most amateur drama groups choose a repertoire as much for the benefit of their members in order to use all the skills of the team, as for the audience. He spoke on one of the plays, “Our Country’s Good” by British writer, Timberlake Wertenbaker about the first fleet of British prison ships to Australia. In 2004, with another couple, Graham and Tracy Renwick formed the “In and Out Theatre Company”. Amateur casts and directors were brought together to present challenging, innovative and stimulating work to audiences for a fraction of professional prices. As an example, their first production, “The Marriage of Bette and Boo” by Christopher Durang was 22
about the marriage of an American couple struggling with life. Graham and Tracy moved to Wadebridge earlier than planned and formed the First Edition Theatre. They maintain their desire to produce quality productions. Graham directed and produced ‘84 Charing Cross Road’ by Helene Hanff which was performed in the unusual setting of a theatre created within St Minver Church. They received a donation from St Minver Link to help with initial production costs. They made an appeal for old leather and cloth-bound books to help make the set look as realistic as possible. Graham unveiled a large screen with the design of the book cover used in the play which draped over a bookshelf. This was made by our chairman’s wife, Jean Thorman. Some interesting photographs of productions were passed around including Our Country’s Good and The Marriage of Bette and Boo. There were a variety of questions such as director and cast relationships and how they manage to remember their lines. A vote of thanks was given by Gerry Stone for such an enjoyable and enlightening talk. St Minver Probus Club welcomes any enquiries from new and prospective members. Telephone the secretary, Roy Birchwood, on 01208 880549. Robert Lawrence
We welcome local stories and photographs.
St Minver Computer Club welcomes complete beginners.
The Club meets at the Tubestation which is of course an internet café and you don’t need to have a computer as the Club has a laptop. There is a very welcoming log fire and time for coffee and chat. Several members have come along not having used a computer and soon learnt to be able to send emails, shop on line, book holidays and train tickets as well as finding out all that ‘useless’ information that fascinates us and impresses the grandchildren! We have found that age is no barrier and being over 80 years old is certainly no problem.
The Club atmosphere allows you to do just what you want to do, learn or sharing your ‘knowhow’ and your latest discovery or help/ have any problems solved and possibly helping the person sitting next to you to enjoy new ways to use their computer. The club meets on alternate Thursdays 10.30 to 12 at the Tubestation. The dates for the next session in 2013 will be: 10th and 24th January: 7th and February 21st; 7th and March 21st. If you would like to know more contact David Short (01208862568)
Rock Sailing & Water Ski Club
Well, that’s it. Another year and another season gone. 2012 was blighted by poor weather but the Club sailed through the year with some successful events that tested the skills of young and old alike. The end of the year’s festivities: the End of Season Supper, the Christmas Lunch and carol singing on Christmas Eve all highlighted the great social scene the Club offers. By the time the next issue of the Link is published boat owners will be scrubbing, varnishing and polishing their pride and joys ready for the 2013 season. Easter, the first event of the new season is earlier this year with Good Friday on March 29th, perhaps
adding a note of urgency to the preparations. Meanwhile, the social life of the Club continues with yoga, quilting and other activities in full swing. Also, the Friday fish night is open and with its popularity it might be advisable to book a table in advance. To do this and to get copies of the 2013 Season’s Handbook, and indeed any information about the Club, call Kim on 01208 815981 or call at the Club office in the morning. There is also the Club’s website: www.rswsc.co.uk. We wish all members, sailing or non-sailing, a Happy New Year, and for those that do, good sailing!
St Minver Garden Society
Our October lecturer was Michael Stephens from St Ive (pronounced ‘Eeve’ and not to be confused with St Ives, he told us. There is no beach or harbour!). His subject was Plants Blooming in October and November. Michael took us through dozens more flower slides than expected because he included those plants that can be relied upon to continue blooming from summer. Many of us were not familiar with the ‘lipped’ family of fairly inconspicuous flowers. The November speaker was another Stephens
– Jim from the Duchy Nursery, Lostwithiel, showed 270 slides in rapid succession of plants he had seen on visits to New Zealand and Australia. He said immigrants from the UK had taken plants to establish in New Zealand where the climate ranges from tropical to one similar to ours. He found many plants he is familiar with here but others he had never seen before.
December was our Christmas Tea and final meeting of the St Minver and District Garden Society. JAG Visit our website - www.stminverlink.org 23
A Response to ‘Cassino’ I read the last issue of Link (187 page 26) while my husband was jumping out of the car and distributing 700+ copies to distributors and shops. I wrote this response to the poem ‘Cassino’ while we were in the car. I know that by the standards of the past our lives today are cynical and hollow but the core values are still alive in our communities, especially in rural areas where our traditional old fashioned values have yet to be diluted by ‘new’ people and their values. So don’t ever forget that the sacrifices your families made they thought were important, made our lives better, and it’s our failure to protect/ maintain that lifestyle since that we should question and reflect upon. Janet Carter Grandad was in the trenches His tales too gruesome to be told, And he was one of the fortunate few Who lived to make bones of old. He came home and fought for the welfare state, For national insurance, pensions and health, For standards of care and compassion Which he valued more than monetary wealth. He gave me an education And the freedom to wear mini dresses, And counted every day in our lives These simple things as our blessings. I’m delivering around these villages It’s a real joy, a living community, Where people will meet and greet me And I can write this reply with impunity. 24
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Did I mention Father? He went off to Egypt A specially trained weapons engineer. But they put him in charge of the camels and servicing officers’ motorbikes for free. So I can deliver to Methodist and Anglican And Muslims if there were any, We can sing rule Britannia and wave our flags, We have our British pounds and our pennies You can print your views and your poems Even if we don’t all agree. Our freedoms and our tolerance On view for the world to see. Growing up in the sixties I enjoyed the standards for which they had fought The streets felt safe, the neighbours our friends Now respect is not quite what we thought Some rob us of things we have paid for, Some things we just take for granted, Others abuse, disregard or destroy The bright optimistic seeds Granddad planted. I have children working in the Arab States And ‘living the dream’ out in Oz Because so many of our brave young men Gave their lives, with freedom their cause.
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North Cornwall National Trust Association
Our decision to arrange a new event – a joint concert with the Loveny and Wadebridge Male Voice Choirs was amply rewarded by a near full to capacity audience in November. The sight and sound of about 70 male voices singing “Trelawney” was memorable and well-received by a very appreciative audience. An unexpected bonus was the late inclusion of a soloist, Maisie Tooley, a seventeen year old soprano who recently was awarded 2nd place in a national talent contest held at the O2 Arena in London. Definitely a name and voice to be remembered for the future. This concert was so popular that another concert has already been arranged for November this year, this time featuring the Imerys and Wadebridge Male Voice Choirs. Our final event for 2012 is a three course Christmas Luncheon at the Bowood Golf and Country Club. We are pleased that we are
able to welcome, as guests. several National Trust Staff who have been so supportive over the years and perhaps learn something of the plans for Lanhydrock where, subject to planning approval a new cycle trail will be laid out through the wider estate along with new facilities and a return to the original estate entrance. All this should do much to attract more visitors and increase visitor enjoyment and satisfaction. In 2013, our programme will commence on Friday January 11th at Wadebridge Town Hall, with our AGM at 7.00pm. This will be followed, at 7.30pm by a talk by Paul Jackson, the famous potter from Helland, who will be talking about and illustrating how a visit to China influenced his pottery design. As always, everyone is welcome to all our events. For further details, please contact Bob Reason, Tel 01840 230173 or Hazel Burrows, Tel 01208 850749
We Will Remember Them Felicity ARNOTT formerly of Rock. Eric Horace CLEAVER of Rock. Peter CONWAY of Rock. Edna CUTLER of Windmill Court. Patricia Mary MASLEN-JONES of Rock (August). Dorothy SHARPE of Trewiston Lodge. Joice SLOMAN of Windmill Court. Norah WHITE of Carruan Farm, St Minver. 26
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Brain Gym David Topliffe
Answers Last Issue’s Brain Gym
1. 2. 3. 4.
A Unkindness of Ravens A Host of Sparrows A Mustering of Storks A Knot of Toads
5. 6. 7. 8.
A Rafter of Turkeys A Troop of Baboons A Colony of Beavers An Army of Caterpillars
This Month’s Quiz
1. 2. 3. 4.
Tom and .......... Gilbert and ........ Venus and ......... Hail and ..........
5. 6. 7. 8.
Hue and .......... Hansel and ........ Stress and ......... Sound and .........
Sudoku
Unfamiliar with Sudoku? All you have to do is to fill each of the 9 sub squares (marked with heavier lines) with the numbers 1 to 9 without repeating any number. In addition, a number must not appear twice in any row or column of the puzzle as a whole.
4
2
8
6
5 8 7
3
9
5
3
1 6
5
5
6
7
9
1 3
4
3
8
2
4
5
3 2 7
3
9
2
6 8
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Have a Wonderful Winter Garden Michael Stevens
I recently gave a talk to St Minver Garden Club and have been asked to contribute this article. I open my garden at St Ive near Liskeard for the NGS (Yellow Book) in February. This sometimes surprises people and they remark, “But there is nothing in my garden then”. So here are some thoughts about making your garden attractive in winter. First of all have a tidy up. Perhaps mulch your borders. Make sure paths are attractive. All sorts of things are available in garden centres for covering borders and paths. Now I am going to appear to contradict myself. You may want to leave some areas untidied for wildlife to feed or shelter. Statues add winter interest,whether it be a piece of driftwood, something unique or something purchased from the garden centre. Likewise topiary. It may be your garden is enjoyed from indoors during winter. Consider the view from inside the house and create a winter picture. Have a focal point (seat/bird bath or whatever) surrounded by winter plants. Whether to be viewed from indoors or not, grouping winter plants creates impact. So consider a winter corner, perhaps near the front door or a path so you can enjoy the scent many winter bloomers have. Even if you have very little garden, pots can be cheering. In winter it’s more like flower arranging than gardening- create a static display of plants of your choice. Rearrange and replace when plants go over so you 28
keep the display fresh- you needn’t even take them out of their pots, just plunge them into a tub. Do you find yourself looking out from your windows at a boring wall or fence? Consider cheering yourself up by giving it a bright coat of paint. Similarly, pots, seats, doors etc can be made colourful and bright. I have an acre of garden in a beautiful but steep Cornish valley. As well as snowdrops and other bulbs, early colour and scent is provided by witch hazels, daphnes, camellias, rhododendrons, dogwoods, hellebores and a host of more unusual winter interest plants I have collected. In 2013 I shall be open for the NGS every Sunday afternoon from February 10th to the end of March from 1 to 4 pm. So enjoy an afternoon out and support a good cause at the same time. Teas in the village hall. Interesting plants for sale. There are good paths but unfortunately quite a number of steps not suitable for wheelchairs or those with very limited mobility. Open unless snow/ice- check if unsure. (signposted from the A390), Coombegate Cottage, St Ive Liskeard PL14 3LZ. 01579 383520 mike@oombegate.wanadoo.co.uk
Photograph right. The seating area at Coombegate.
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Trebetherick and Polzeath WI The start of a new year and we look forward with renewed energy and enthusiasm. In November we celebrated our 58th anniversary with a lovely meal out to No 1 Rock Road which built us up ready to face the fun and hard graft that is our annual Christmas Fair. In spite of the bad weather we were well supported at the Fair by members and villagers giving us the chance to sell our goodies and raise funds for our WI and the Phoenix Stroke Appeal. Many thanks to lovely Jamie for giving again the first prize in our raffle draw of a meal for two at his restaurant. We plan to start 2013 with the good luck rubbed off by local Sweep Ryan Metters with his talk on ‘Sweeping Changes’. The WI is moving with the times and we are pleased that our Keep Fit mornings with Julia Treglown continue. So if you need to keep that New Year’s resolution with a little help, just pop down to the Rock Institute on a Wednesday morning. From 10 to 11 am we have armchair exercise and 11am to noon gentle standing routines - £2 per session. If sitting down and drinking tea while learn-
Below: One of the creations on sale at the fair.
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Gillian Molesworth, Communications and fund raising co-ordinator for the Phoenix Stroke Appeal, at the WI Christmas Fair. ing a new craft as you chat along putting to right the worries of the world is more your scene, then join our craft group Tuesdays fortnightly at the Methodist meeting rooms 10 ‘til noon. We are always pleased to make new friends; indeed the WI has room for more. We meet on the first Thursday of the month at The Rock Institute 7.30pm. Even if you do not wish to become a regular, look out for our bi-monthly articles in Link, our topics may be of interest and we are always open to visitors. 20p entry and 20p for tea. A bargain. We’ve even been known to let men in! Our plan for 2013 is to continue our support of community events in this area, to carry on with our crafts to enhance our skills, expand our activities, join in local competitions and generally grow old disgracefully while baking cakes, boiling jam and ………….(answers on a postcard). Janet Carter
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Paint Rock ‘Pink’ Day Raises £11,000 What a day! What a month! The St Minver Cancer Research UK committee could never imagine the response we would get when this idea of Painting Rock Pink was hatched. The aim of the event, was to endorse the National Breast Cancer Awareness campaign, by raising funds for research and treatment specifically in the south west region. Our local community, Rock, Trebetherick, Polzeath and St Minver, together with neighbours Padstow and Wadebridge, all offering to provide support. In the month leading up to our Pink Day on October 31st the Rabbits Golfing Society from St Enodoc Golf Club started the fund raising with a Pink Ball Day. The ‘pink-clad’ rabbits were steered through a fun competition, a dinner, raffle and auction, that continued until £1,000 was achieved.! Trebetherick and Polzeath WI held their annual ‘Soup and Pudding Lunch’ for our ‘Pink’ charity, comprising of a selection of tasty hot soups, with crusty bread served by the husbands wearing our pink t-shirts. Mouthwatering desserts followed. The handicraft ladies had made a selection of useful ‘pink’ items for sale and ran a raffle. We were presented with a much appreciated £365. David and Beth Elliot held a lunch in their home for some of our senior citizens. They all wore something ‘pink’ and raised a most welcome £100. St Minver Short Mat Bowls Club held a Tournament in which eight teams from around Cornwall took part raising a further £300. Tim Venning of Rock Social Club had his
The ‘Boobs’ cake made by Rock Bakery.
hair dyed pink and then all cut off adding another £200 to the kitty. St Enodoc Hotel held a Charity Lunch for us, where guests tasted a delicious fish menu, and met and chatted with Nathan Outlaw. And finally, our Pink Day arrived. All the telegraph poles between the Pityme Inn and No 1 Rock Road were dressed with pink ribbon bows, shop windows and awnings were decorated with bunting and bunches of pink balloons, and even the ferry wore ‘pink’. Our very ‘game’ shop keepers sported pink hats, wigs, waist coats, and our very special T-shirts with ‘Think Pink and Rock On’, all mixed in with black haloween items to make a sight for sore eyes ! What fun the day was! The community had joined together for a very good cause and everyone made an effort to enjoy it. The St Minver Silver Junior Band came and played outside the bakery and the Rock Inn to set the atmosphere for the day. The weather was fairly kind to them in the
The story continues on page 34 ->
All but one of the photos of the eventoverleaf were taken by Martin Broadfoot. We were not able to identify all of the individuals - can you put us right?
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Jenna Spencer Jackie Stanley
Kerry Richards
Mary Baillie
Martin Broadfoot
Malcolm Meagor
Victoria Mead
Estelle Budden
Genny Millward
T h e D ay Ro 32
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John Killingley Estelle Budden
Laura Hawken
Gill Hemmings
d Ann Blight Josie Raynes
Georgia McNulty
o c k wa s Pa i nte d P i n k ! Visit our website - www.stminverlink.org
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morning though I think their fingers must have been cold. The many businesses on the Rock Road and in Trebetherick ran some wonderful fun ways of raising money for us. Just a few were; guess the number of balloons in the room, sweets in the jar, and in the bra; guess the weight of the cake, the lobster and the turkey breast. Some businesses donated a portion of their takings on the ‘pink’ day, others made cards for sale, and some ran face painting, and their own raffles. In addition to all this, we ran a Grand Draw, and sold pink tickets throughout October, Prizes were donated from far and wide and over 3,000 £1 tickets were sold. The draw took place in the Pityme Inn with Graham Renwick hosting. The winning names are listed in the Nursery Stores and Newlines. Very many thanks to everyone that took part. Jane Bendall
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Melissa, Phil, Nigel and Julia of Watt’s Butchers witrh the ‘Guess the Weight’ Turkey which was won by Rhonda Knight..
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We welcome local stories and photographs.
Caddy B M Le Main (Illustrations ‘Bewildered Belinda’) Mentally girding myself to get into a literary mood, I took up my pen. A highpitched squeak fell on my ears, I looked at the television, again the squeak, and the sound did not come from the set. There it was again and louder this time. This was when I was overtaken by a primitive instinct. Me, the person who while feeding a large speckled bear with chocolate, remonstrated severely with the said beast when he had become impatient and had taken a swipe at me. During my lunch break at the zoo I would talk and caress leopards, admittedly reared by hand. I now found myself ignominiously standing on a stool while my domestic cat brought in her latest prize. This particular feline, I am convinced wanted to start her own wildlife park in my living room and brought every catch back alive. Stupidly I voiced my chagrin where upon the cat dropped the mouse who proceeded to search for a safe nook. The cat followed and I grabbed a large plastic jar and lid (which I keep to hand for such occasions) and joined the line of pursued and pursuers. Over, round and under, wherever possible, until the cat drove
the mouse under the stairs. This was very annoying, as I would have to move the television then crawl, torch in hand, trying to get the beastie. I did not, needless to say, relish eye to eye contact with it. I started to move the coffee table while giving full vent to my feelings, informing the cat that her place of rest was in danger and her ancestry uncertain. She seemed to take this to heart and flushed the rodent out. Once more we followed until the mouse found itself behind the door, where mistakenly, or perhaps not as it turned out, I had left my waterproof trousers after drying them. A perfect place for a small mammal in danger of being eaten. The cat became distracted having lost sight and sound of her quarry. Deducing that the animal was still in the trousers, I gingerly caught hold of the leg bottoms and then the waistband and took the garment to the front door and out into the garden, then gave a gentle shake. Last I saw of the mouse was a swiftly moving behind and tail making for the undergrowth. Oh! How I wish she wouldn’t bring them back alive, yet on the other hand I would not be able to save them.
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Rock Lifeboat Diary As I mentioned in the last issue the eagerly
awaited new life jackets have been issued to the Rock station. These life jackets have been designed by the RNLI and the manufacturer, Crewsaver, specifically to meet the charity’s search and rescue requirements and are a far cry from the original cork life jackets invented by RNLI Inspector Captain Ward in 1854! The jackets are fitted with an emergency light and integral flare pockets for day and night distress flares and can carry in zipped pockets casualty care kit, torches, gloves or knives. Remarkably they only come in ‘one size which fits all’, provided by the ingenious fitting straps. Helm Tom Fletcher, pictured here, confirms that they certainly allow the wearer to do his job efficiently while wearing one. The down side is that with this Tom Fletcher wearing the new Crewsaver life use of the latest materials technology and jacket. design, each jacket costs £330 ! We thank not been found the previous night. This the Fund Raisers for making this possible. entailed searching the shore line from PadReported Missing stow to Wadebridge. He was eventually th found by the Police, alive but in need of On October 8 the Lifeboat was called medical attention having spent the night in at 8.45pm to help look for a 90 year-old a field. Jinx Hewitt was again the Helm and man suffering from Alzheimer’s. He had been missing for nearly nine hours and we Sam Bishop, Paul Hancock and Phil Bartlett searched the estuary shore from Tregonce were the crew. to Wadebridge without success. After The only other shout in this period was on several hours the search was stood down October 25th and was one of those occabecause of thick fog. The crew were Jinx sions when lessons were learned about Hewitt (Helm) with Pete Thomas and Tom the importance of timely communications Fletcher. between all parties during a rescue. In this On the following day, we were requested, case is was a potential suicide who was eventually calmed down by the Coastguard after a briefing from the Police, to help and taken to hospital. After the event all look again for the same person, who had 38
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parties got together and resolved to improve communications in future.
Flood Rescue Team during this period and they were initially deployed to Bridgewater in Somerset and a few days later, to Exeter. Flood Rescue They had some long days and nights! And Now you probably remember the weather finally, you may recall in the Sep/Oct issue during November and the serious threat of Link we reported the rescue of a girl in to life and property it caused. There are a cave near Trebetherick. The station was very different skills needed in handling a delighted to get a ‘thank you’ donation Lifeboat in these ‘fast water’ conditions. and, more importantly, a letter from the Two of our crew who were trained in these parents of the girl which is worth sharing techniques are Jinx Hewitt and James with you. Batters. They were asked to join the SW Sam and Rosie Berwick wrote:
, from y saved our daughter, Alice, Last month you miraculousl th erous tide came in, and we bo ng da the as e, cov ed ert des a our hearts. wanted to thank you with all u defiabsolutely amazing – and yo What you all do every day is rds ely daughter. Obviously, wo nitely saved the life of our lov any proper way. cannot express our thanks in to make y. However we would like Neither, of course, can mone . nd, and a cheque is enclosed Fu ew Cr the to n tio bu tri con a nks, not just what you did for Once again, many, many tha and the u do every day of the year – Alice, but really for what yo way that you do it. d about k about the “Big Society” an There is currently lots of tal that another. You are everything how we should all help one t. this type of society is all abou t we in touch if ever you think tha Please don`t hesitate to get LI.” RN ck get difficult for you at Ro may be able to help if times
“Dear Rock Lifeboat Crew
This grateful thanks makes all the training tion for their action from the Chief Execuand potentially dangerous work worthtive of the RNLI, Paul Boisier. while. To cap this the crew were presented Gus Guest in December with a Letter of CommendaVisit our website - www.stminverlink.org
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A Book Review by John Baxter
A Perfectly Good Man by Patrick Gale
Published by Fourth Estate, London £7.99 paperback from Wadebridge Bookshop Patrick Gale is well known to residents in North Cornwall. Not only is he a bestselling author with a distinguished international reputation, but he is also closely involved with the St Endellion Festival and has helped with many events associated with Arts and Spirituality in the ‘cluster’ of churches. Domiciled in West Penwith he gives this novel a strong Cornish flavour, apparent also in his previous novel ‘Notes from an Exhibition’. For the author it is “important for the setting of a novel to function almost as if it were a character”. Cornwall is as much a part of what shapes his characters as their fictional parents. He acknowledges the special characteristics of West Cornwall; remote, the delight of living where the sun sets, but possessing a dark side, “as claustrophobia-inducing as living in a box”. The final few pages of my edition consists of ‘A Days Excursion through Barnaby’s Parish’, a tour escorted by Patrick Gale through his local countryside, touching familiar and less familiar place names, overlooked by most tour guides, but “just the sort of spot to which Barnaby would devote his life”. Just as the opening sentence was crucial in an A level History or English essay, so too should be the opening chapter in a novel. Patrick Gale achieved this is ‘Notes from an Exhibition’ where Rachel wakes with a pill stuck on her face. The opening of this story is even more shocking and 40
fires a missile which shatters the delicate web that binds together the Parish Priest, Barnaby, his family and his community. Each of the chapters of this book begins with a character’s name and his/her age at that point in the story. So we are introduced to the sad but determined Lenny at 20, before meeting Dorothy aged 24 and Barnaby at 60. The final chapter of a 400 page book returns to Barnaby at 8. Readers might find the movement of
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the story backwards and forwards through time disconcerting and irritating. The author would be deeply unimpressed with this reaction; for him his task is to make the reader work a little. In order to join the dots in the story he makes the readers involve themselves more deeply in the events on the page than would have been likely in a continuous chronological narrative. The author is anxious to remind readers at the outset that the book is neither “journalism nor history”, but a work of fiction and that the characters, particularly the parish priest, are entirely imaginary. Among the acknowledgments at the end, however, appears the Reverend Prebendary Dr John May, well known in this part of Cornwall. Only the spotless elements of Barnaby’s character could possibly have derived from the saintly John May, but the reader might find it difficult not to see the tall, slightly windswept features of ‘our’ priest at certain moments in the story! The plot is vintage Patrick Gale. Your reviewer is suspicious of books (and even more so of chapters) that begin with literary quotations. Tucked away between the Dedication and the Author’s Note are two statements from Thomas A Kempis, ‘De Imitatione Christi’, “All perfection in this life hath some imperfection bound up with it; and no knowledge of ours is without some darkness”. This is wholly appropriate. In summary, this is a book about one man’s struggle with faith, with marriage, with parenthood and with morality. The character of Father Barnaby Johnson is beautifully drawn as he bounces from crisis to crisis in his life, but the other characters all give dramatic
colour. We quickly become familiar with the unfortunate Lenny and his attractive mother, Nuala, devoted Dorothy, wife of Barnaby, and his fascinating daughter, Carrie, who falls in love for the first time at the age of 35; the Johnson’s Vietnamese adopted son, Phuc, who provides some of the most hurtful moments of the story; the deeply unpleasant Modesty Carlsson who survives an appalling sexual crime and imprisonment to follow Barnaby to Pendeen where he arouses more disgust in the reader by burning Barnaby’s treasured copy of Thomas A Kempis’ ‘The Imitation of Christ’. The historically significant Uncle James and his Secretary, Mr Ewart, and the beguiling Morwenna all emerge strikingly towards the end. Sharp intelligence oozes from every page, nowhere more so than in the penultimate chapter when Carrie’s love for Morwenna blossoms into a civil partnership, followed the next day by a ‘wedding’ in church ‘ if not with the full approval of the Church, then in the eye of God….’. Blissful happiness swiftly turns to Nuala’s agony in the aftermath of Lenny’s death, followed by Barnaby’s retirement and proposed trip with Nuala to her homeland, Australia, before the chapter returns to the blessing conducted by a woman priest who, drawing on the love of David and Jonathan calls for God’s blessing on a lasting union and concludes ‘May this marriage in the eyes of their friends and family, eventually come to be one in the eyes of the Church’. A resounding Amen followed. Should the new Archbishop of Canterbury take note?
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Country Diary from Cobb Cottage
Written and Illustrated by Joan Cockett
November 15th
November 6th
Well, so much for the moon, today we have the sun. A warm, springtime day, when I rake up the leaves, and pick up the rocket sticks that have landed in the garden. November 5th lasts 10 days . . . Cyclamen (from the farm shop) provide small patches of colour in pots, and I found myself reflecting how commonplace they are now. Twenty years ago we visited Castle Drogo in Devon, and were so excited to see a circle of tiny cyclamen round the trees, near the Wendy House, carefully looked after. At that time it was rare to see them, and small patches in gardens were treasured. Now we pick them up with the supermarket shopping. . . It is still exciting to see the very tiny ones growing in the wild, though. I guess it was the Dutch bulb growers that saw the gap in the market; the larger ones have always been on sale before Christmas as indoor plants, but obviously the popularity of the small outdoor ones is immense, every window-box and many pots bear witness. I like to keep a few on the kitchen window-sill, particularly to appreciate the decorative leaves.
“Moons are in!” proclaimed the artist John Minton, after a successful show of his English Romantic work in the 50’s. These words come back to me when the leaves on the apple trees at Cobb Cottage fall, and give a view through to Brea Hill, the remaining apples caught in the moonlight. There have been some beautiful moons in early November. My friend Brian Hanscomb of St Breward, whose beautiful engravings will be familiar to many of you through his prints and cards, is another artist often inspired by the moon. We love it for its mystery, its paleness and stillness, and the constancy of its cycle. I have been reading a superb new publication; English Graphics, by Tom Lubbock (art critic for the Idependent from 1997-2011) which features many of the English Romantics that I love - Thomas Bewick, Blake and Samuel Palmer (a particular moon lover.) Tom Lubbock writes about the vignette, a ‘contained environment’, a form of illustration much used by Bewick, and one which I’ve always loved. Here I have drawn ‘Brea Hill and Moon’, as a vignette. 42 We welcome local stories and photographs.
November 20th
A phone call from my son in the evening telling me about a happening in Polzeath that afternoon. He was out surfing with a friend, and they were both aware of 6 or so seals bobbing around, two with their pups. One mother and her pup were obviously very curious moving closer, only 8ft or so away, bobbing and watching the human seals in their wetsuits. As my son paddled out and surfaced, much to his astonishment (and the seals!) the pup swam through the gap between his arm and surf board, and came face to face with him. Who was more surprised? He said the pup looked panic stricken, gave the board one almighty shove with his tail, and quickly swam off to his mother. This sort ofcontact is always special. Most of us here have enjoyed seeing dolphins swimming with the surfers off Trebetherick Point. On this afternoon in Polzeath my son said they later watched a seal trying to surf the waves!
them were taken out of my pocket, and put on the table, so I drew them. Walks in Daymer often produce a sandy pocketful. To all of you who have told me how much you enjoy the Country Diary, thank you so much.I look forward to my Spring Diary. A happy and peaceful New Year to you all. Footnote: I didn’t have time to draw the seal pup before this went to press, but he may bob up somewhere in the New Year .
November 23rd
I end my article with a drawing of shells and stones, for no other reason that a handful of
A Day Down the River Camel Myself and a full Cornish Crew of one called Frank took ‘Tin of Pete’s’ for a trip. The Camel was flat and calm as a mill pond. Breaking the surface all over were fish - from Rock to Daymer and across to Hawker’s Cove. A very large shoal of herrings all around the boat and as far as you could see. Then we saw a rather fat seal with its flippers in the air. At first I thought it was tangled up with a fishing line. No. It had eaten too much herring. We went right up to it, gently. The seal didn’t mind at all. Then it started to move off with its head
under water looking for more dinner. Not a bad first winter trip. I gave orders to the crew to come about and trusty Frank was there in a jiff and back to land and reality. Tin of Pete’s
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Spanish Tortilla and Chorizo and Chickpea Salad Kerensa Beer-Robson This recipe is inspired by my time living in Madrid. I used to skip breakfast at home in favour of popping into my local café and having a ‘pincho’ de tortilla with a slice of rustic bread and a café con leche. I’ve worked on this recipe to the point where I think it is pretty close to the tortilla served in most Spanish corner cafes. Adding the chorizo and chickpeas salad turns it from a breakfast/mid morning snack to a lovely lunch or supper. For the Tortilla, you will need: 2 large onions 700g (1.5lb) potatoes a large glug of olive oil 750ml (1.5 pt) sunflower oil 6 eggs Salt and black pepper Peel and cut the onions into thin slices. and toss with a teaspoon of salt. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and cook the onions taste. Add the potatoes and onions and over a low heat for about half an hour, stir together. stirring occasionally until the onions are golden. Drain and reserve the oil for later. Heat the reserved olive oil in a 20cms frying pan over a high heat. Add the mixture Meanwhile peel the potatoes, cut them in half, then quarters and then across into and immediately turn the heat down to 1/2 cm (¼ inch) slices. Heat the sunflower low/medium. Cook for 4 minutes. Then oil in another large saucepan. The key to take a same sized plate to the pan, place cooking the potatoes is to make sure they it over the pan and with one hand on the are cooked and soft on the inside without plate and the other on the pan handle turn the tortilla on to the plate. Turn the heat colouring. so they must be cooked on a back to high and then slide the tortilla back medium heat. When tender, drain and place on a paper towel to lose any excess into to pan. Reduce the heat once more, push the sides down with a plastic spatula oil. and cook for a further 4 minutes. Then Break the eggs into a large mixing bowl, turn in out onto another plate, let it cool whisk briefly and add salt and pepper to 44
We welcome local stories and photographs.
for a few minutes and slice into 8 for a ‘pincho’ or 4 for lunch or supper. I think that a tortilla should be slightly runny in the middle but if that doesn’t appeal then cook for a further minute or so on each side. For the Chorizo and Chickpea salad you will need: A 350g (12 oz) ring of chorizo sausage A 400g (14 oz) tin of chickpeas drained and washed. A bag of watercress A handful of fresh chopped coriander A dozen or so baby plum tomatoes halved
A glug of olive oil A glug of sherry vinegar. Slice the chorizo into ½ cm (¼ inch) pieces and fry over a medium heat until charred on the edges. You shouldn’t need very much oil as the sausage lets out a lot of oil during cooking. Toss all of the other ingredients together. When the chorizo has slightly cooled toss the pieces into the salad. Serve with the tortilla and torn off pieces of rustic style bread. If you are feeling a bit naughty dip your bread into the lovely reddish oil left from cooking the chorizo …. Delicious!!
Thereby Hangs a Tale
The Spring 2012 edition of ‘Evergreen’ magazine included an article on Bodmin by John Husband where he stated that during the First World War the Domesday Book and the Crown Jewels were kept in the Town’s jail. “My goodness, I didn’t know that!” I thought. Then, in November 2012, I picked up the leaflet for Bodmin Jail amongst all the holiday guides in a supermarket and read in there ‘During World War 1 the Jail held State Papers and the Domesday Book’. No mention of the Crown Jewels. Why not? I phoned Bodmin Jail to discover if they are missing a trick and spoke to Mark, their Tour Guide for eight years, who told me that during the First World War German Prisoners of War were held there but it was in the Second World War that State Papers, the Domesday Book and the
Crown Jewels were brought by train to Bodmin Jail – but only for a few days until their planned destination (caves in Wales) was ready. At that time the railway ran close to the Jail so making it a short distance to move the boxes from 14 carriages. In 2012 a 95 year old ex Guardsman visited the Jail and told the story to Mark and the town’s historian. Soldiers garrisoned in Bodmin were called upon for security and Cadbury’s vans were used. The ex soldier was free at last to tell the tale. Bodmin Jail tel.no. 01208 76292. Postcode PL31 2NR. www.BODMINJAIL.ORG For cyclists the Jail is the start/end of the Camel Trail. Pick up a leaflet and see what else is on offer at Bodmin Jail. Perhaps make a winter visit and avoid the summer crowds. JAG
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Arranging Furniture Author’s name withheld in the interests of marital harmony. It was a Saturday morning and when I came downstairs and Barbara was standing in the front room doorway, leaning on one side of it, facing into the room, with arms akimbo. Her face was serious. I asked what was the problem ? “It’s a nice room but something is not quite right,” she said. “Do you mean that we should repaint it ?” I asked. “No,” she replied, “the colours are fine – it’s the furniture.” Inwardly, I shuddered. We were not in a position to consider any new purchases even on the ‘never-never’ and this included such relatively inexpensive items as curtains. But how could I put it to her that this might not be the best time to talk about new furniture?
Barbara elected to make me some coffee as a means of saving face all round while I surveyed the scene and planned my moves. Logic told me that to move the chair to where the sofa now stood would involve lifting it on to the sofa; moving the sofa to the space opened up as a result; and then dropping – ever so gently – the chair that had been riding on the sofa into the area evacuated by the sofa/chair horse and rider. Happily, I managed the move without dropping anything and, even better, without swearing. I called Barbara to inspect and she arrived complete with a much-needed cup of strong coffee. Her reaction was as immediate as it was negative. “No, no ! That will never do! It is completely unbalanced. No. The sofa should go there”, she pointed to the location where the second easy chair stood unmoved and stolid in silence, “and the easy chairs need to be arranged just so.” She demonstrated by flapping her hands artistically.
Luckily, she pre-empted me by muttering that the chair was in the wrong place but that if it were moved there – she pointed to where the sofa already occupied the space – it would be a This artistic flapping needs a short explanation. great improvement. Barbara, who trained as an English teacher, has Perhaps I should explain here that terraced a terrifying capability with her mother tongue. houses such as ours, are very limited in the She is able to reduce anyone in the family to space they provide. This meant, for instance, a nervous wreck if she is moved to anger, that the piano could not be accommodated purely by her use of the language. Yet, at the in the front (sitting) room, and there was same time, there are situations in which she insufficient space even for a coffee table. The finds the use of body language – particularly two easy chairs and a two-seater sofa took the waving of arms – helps in improving the up most of the available space. This meant listener’s comprehension of the state of affairs. therefore, that any rearrangement of furniture Like describing a spiral staircase which ascends was going to be a tricky affair. clockwise; “You know, it goes like this,” she says Accordingly, I suggested that if she felt strongly as she uses both arms while she turns herself around. enough about it, I would undertake the So, here I was standing in the sitting room door ‘rearrangement’ but that it would be better having to speak in my second language – body if I were left alone to do it since my language – to ensure that I didn’t misunderstand what I might not be very delicate. 46 We welcome local stories and photographs.
was required to do. A few flaps later I believed looked when completed. She muttered as if I had ‘got’ what was required of me. in conversation with herself – probably a wise move as conversation with me would have I drank my coffee; suggested to Barbara that her place was in the kitchen –anywhere other been quite abrupt by now. than where I was working – and set about the task. This time, because of the shape of the room, while I could make one of the chairs take a piggy-back on the sofa, I had to remove the other easy chair since it was in the way no matter what I did. I tried to take it out of the door but soon found out why it had taken two men to perform the operation when they brought it in originally. This new move required careful thought and analytical skills which, early on a Saturday morning, were not yet available to me since I hadn’t yet had my regulation three cups of coffee. I went in search of the second and, having got it, drank it while I considered my options. I had a flash of brilliance. Make both easy chairs take a piggy-back and move the whole lot together. I tried it. The ‘pile’ wouldn’t move. “That figures,” I said to myself, “there are too many splinters in the wooden floor.” Accordingly I looked for a crowbar to lift the ‘pile’ over the splinters; performed that operation; reached the place where I could unpiggy-back the easy chairs; and placed them where Barbara’s flapping arms had indicated. By this time, I was in a sweat. Remember, I still haven’t had my third cup of coffee yet and here I am already perspiring heavily ! Ah, well ! Marriage is made of such situations, I suppose. I called Barbara to inspect - which she duly did - with an immediate rejection. This time I asked her, slightly coolly, if she could try to imagine how it would look before I was required to move it all around so that I didn’t need unnecessarily to strain muscles I never knew I had. She thought hard about the impending move since even she could get a sense that it was likely to be the last irrespective of how it
Suddenly her eyes lit up – “Yes, I know exactly how it should be !” With enthusiastically wind-milling arms she told me where, and lest there be any misunderstanding at all, I repeated the instructions in plain English. She concurred with my interpretation even though her agreement included a hand wafting the position of easy chair number two to a position a couple of inches from where I had believed it to be. No matter, small adjustments could be easily accomplished. I ordered the third cup of coffee. It came with remarkable speed perhaps because the air around me carried a somewhat brittle quality. Understandable in the circumstances, I suppose. I won’t bore you with the details of the third – and I trusted final – move since it required just as much work, cursing and swearing as the previous move. When I finished, I tried to recall the precise location that the wafted hand had indicated and made my last adjustments before calling Barbara to her ultimate inspection. She arrived a little apprehensively, I noticed, and looked around the room. It was apparent that she approved and very strongly at that. Her face lit up even when passing her eyes over the pictures. Everything - and I mean everything - was obviously exactly where she wanted it. I was as pleased as she was because my work for the morning was over. However, my pleasure had only just begun because of the look on her face when I quietly reminded her that the layout was now exactly how it had been when I came down the stairs an hour earlier.
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Dungarees, Marooning and More Iain Ross, Editor Wyke Register Magazine In this article we’ve I’ll cover Sailor Talk that don’t seem to fit any particular category.
Cloth and Clothing
washing down the decks, to make trousers to be removed over their boots when forced to abandon ship or when washed overboard. The removed trousers were intended for use as a life preserver by knotting the legs, then flipping the trousers over the head, belt first, in a scooping motion to catch air. The duffle bag, also spelled duffel bag, originally referred to the sailor’s principal clothing as well to the sea bag in which he carried and stowed it. The term comes from the town of Duffel, near Antwerp, where an inexpensive and rough, yet very serviceable woolen cloth was once made. A ditty bag these days is a small bag used to hold a sewing kit, toiletry articles, perhaps some writing paper or maybe a sail repair kit. But first it was called a ditto bag, because it usually contained at least two of everything, two buttons, two needles, and so forth. Some ditty bags contain a variety of gadgets. The gadget, from the Middle French gache, started out life in the nautical world as a small hook.
First let’s look at some items made from cloth and consider dungarees, the modern sailor’s work trousers. The term dates back to the 18th century, from the Hindi word dungri, a particular type of sturdy Indian cotton cloth that was used for making sails. The original cloth wasn’t dyed, nor was it woven as finely as today’s denim. The original dungarees were cut directly from old sails and retained their tan colour just as if they were when they were drawing wind. Dungri became Anglicized to dungaree. Often captains would report more sail lost in battle than was actually the case so the crew would have material to mend their hammocks and make new clothes. Clothes made of dungaree cloth would of course be called dungarees. Khaki was a cloth that didn’t arrive in naval tradition until early this century. It started as a soldier’s uniform material, first manufactured in India starting around 1845. British soldiers would soak their white uniforms in mud, coffee Marooning and curry powder so that they might blend into Now let’s take a different tack and talk about the landscape better. the origin of marooning, the punishment The Pea Coat is a much, much older item of where the victim would be left to his fate on a cloth. The heavy topcoat has been worn in cold deserted island with only a musket, a cutlass and foggy weather since at least 1723. It is and maybe a container of water. This term made from pilot cloth (p-cloth), a heavy, coarse goes back to none other than Sir Francis Drake. and very strong twilled cloth. Jackets made Spain had captured some Ci-maroon Indians from p-cloth were sometimes called p-jackets on the Darien coast of Panama and took them or p-coats. Eventually the spelling of p-coats to the West Indies as slave labour. The Indians became pea coats. were subsequently deserted by their masters Bell-bottom trousers were introduced probably and left to starve. Sir Francis found them and around 1817. They were developed to enable returned them to their home, receiving some the crew to roll the legs above the knee when valuable intelligence from them in return. 48 We welcome local stories and photographs.
The Significance of Friday
became a gesture of respect. But the habit of firing salutes became wasteful, with ships We’re all familiar with the story of Robinson and batteries firing for hours at a time. This Crusoe, who was marooned on an island in an accident of shipwreck. It was years would be especially problematic for a ship with before he found his companion, Friday, so limited storage space for powder. Eventually named because he was found on a Friday. To the British Admiralty established a regulation Robinson Crusoe, that particular Friday was to address the situation. The rule was very auspicious. But to many sailors, any Friday is a simple. For every volley fired by a ship in very inauspicious date to set sail. Why this has salute, the shore battery could return up to come about is not known. But there have been three volleys. The regulation further limited recorded instances when even ship’s masters ships to seven shots in salute. This, in turn, would refuse to set sail on a Friday. Here’s meant that the shore battery was limited to a an interesting story about the superstition. It 21-gun salute. The maximum allowable salute could even be true. Supposedly the English eventually became reserved for honouring Government decided to really disprove the only heads of state or other similarly important superstition. They laid the keel of a new ship on a Friday, launched her on a Friday, named dignitaries. Salutes of fewer than 21-guns can her HMS Friday, gave her to the command of be offered on significant occasions for lesser Captain Friday and sent her on her maiden individuals, such as Admirals (17-guns), and voyage on a Friday. All worked according to Vice Admirals (15-guns). plan... except that the ship was never seen Holland joined the War of American again. Independence against Britain as a direct The Tie that Binds result of a 17-gun salute. The Dutch governor “The tie that binds” is often said of blood, of the Caribbean island of St. Eustatia, more marriage or other relationships where people commonly known as Statia, noticed a ship with are in a very strong common bond. It could a strange flag entering the harbour. The ship most certainly be said of Robinson Crusoe fired off the traditional salute honouring the and his man, Friday. The phrase is generally Dutch flag flying over the fort. Never having believed to have come from the short chain that attaches the main and fore yards to their seen that particular ensign before, but needing to return the salute, the governor ordered respective masts. 17-guns fired in return. This was the very The 21-gun Salute first salute to the flag of the fledgling United And finally, let’s look at the background of States of America. On hearing of this action, firing gun salutes. But the tradition goes to the British declared war on the Dutch for the first cannon appearing on ships. In those honouring the flag of the American rebels and, days, it might take as long as fifteen or twenty thus, officially ‘recognizing’ the independence minutes to clean, load, aim and fire one cannon. By emptying her guns, a ship showed of the American colonies. Today one can visit the old fortifications on Statia and view that that she was no threat to those ashore. the plaque presented by President Franklin The batteries of the shoreside fortifications would return the gesture. Over time this Roosevelt in honor of that occasion. Visit our website - www.stminverlink.org 49
From the Desk of Dan Rogerson In the last edition of the Link I talked about efforts to get more government contracts awarded to the Post Office, including the DVLA contract to provide tax discs etc. I am glad to be able to say that our campaign paid off, and in November the Government announced that it had awarded the multi-million pound DVLA contract to the Post Office. This is great news for post offices in Cornwall. Extra government contracts and work should help to secure the future of well loved local branches by helping them to attract more customers, stay profitable and stay open. I also met with Post Office management recently to discuss how we can work together to support Post Offices in Cornwall. I wrote to all Post Offices in North Cornwall to see what they thought Post Office Ltd could and should be doing, and I was glad to raise some suggestions from Rock Post Office during my meeting. I am continuing to do everything I can to support local post offices and am urging ministers across government to award as much work as possible to the Post Office.
Government and retail guru Mary Portas. After it was announced that the town had been unsuccessful in the original bid to become a fully blown ‘Portas Pilot’ town like Liskeard, I signed up to be their ‘Town Team Partner’ and applied for Wadebridge to receive the cash, as well as support and guidance from retail experts to help local town centres thrive.
Whilst I was disappointed that Wadebridge was unsuccessful first time around, I was really I was in St Minver recently to visit the pleased to be able to apply and secure this Community Land Trust, where we discussed their plans for the future. The trust are leading money and advice for everyone involved in the way across the UK in developing innovative trying to improve our town centres. I am now working with the Town Team, local people ways to provide much-needed affordable housing for local people in rural communities. and businesses in Wadebridge to see how this money, advice and Government support can be I look forward to working with them to make sure that local people, especially young people best invested to secure the future of the town centre. and families starting out, are able to find a Finally, I would like to take the opportunity to decent, affordable home in our area. We got some more good news recently – that wish everyone all the best for the coming year.
Dan Rogerson MP. Tower Street, Launceston, Wadebridge will receive £10,000 to help Cornwall PL15 8BQ. contact@danrogerson.org boost the town centre as part of a multi million pound scheme run by the Coalition Telephone: 01566 777123. 50 We welcome local stories and photographs.
St Minver Lowlands Parish Council Gillian Thompson - 01726-882145 - clerk@stminver-lowlands.org.uk
Trewint Playing Field
Work is underway to clear the area at the bottom of the site. This will open up the area and make it possible to have two football pitches, instead of the existing one.
Traffic Management: Trewint Lane
Traffic approaching the built up area from the north, has long concerned Members, as vehicles regularly exceed the 30mph speed limit there and, of course, it is close to the entrance to the playing field. Members have been in discussion with County Highways, regarding possible tools to reduce traffic speed. It seems that a combination of dragons’ teeth (rumble strips) used in combination with signs so that drivers can associate the reasoning for the slowing markings with the associated sign is the favoured solution. However, these can only be in advance of the built up area because of the noise and vibration caused, i.e. they won’t be able to be placed near the recreation ground, but on the approach to the built up area from the north. They should not be placed within 100m of a house because of the noise/vibration.
The total cost of this work will be approximately £2,000 and this will be considered further when Members set their budget later in the year. Why not let us have your views? You may wonder why we are not pursuing an option to install a ‘Speedvisor’ sign, i.e. a flashing sign that warns traffic they are exceeding the speed limit. Whilst effective, there are rules governing their installation and Highways have to be selective about the sites on which they are placed, due to limited resources and an ever expanding programme of installation requests, so they tend to be limited to sites outside schools or on entry points on main roads into villages. The Parish Council itself is not permitted to fund a Speedvisor.
Daymer Bay Public Conveniences
We have been informed of a programme of works, which Cornwall Council intends to provide to update and improve the WCs. Work was scheduled to be carried out during week commencing Monday, 1st October 2012.
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St Minver School Grant Request
Members were pleased to make a grant of £500 to St Minver School, towards the purchase of new musical instruments totalling £1,000. Highlands Parish Council pledged the same amount.
Council Meetings
A Full Council Meeting is held on the first Monday of each month (except August) and a second meeting is held on the third Monday of the month (except December) to deal (mainly) with planning applications. All Meetings commence at 7.30pm and are held in the Council Chamber, Rock Methodist Church. Members of the public are warmly invited to attend and may address the Council during the Public Forum, which is held at the start of each meeting. Forthcoming dates: • Full Council Meetings – Monday January 7th and February 4th. • Planning Meetings – Monday January 21st and Monday February 18th. If you are unable to attend Council Meetings, why not visit our website and read the Minutes online: www. stminvercouncils.org.uk?
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The Link Diary
Whilst we try hard to avoid mistakes they can, and sometimes do, happen. If we are made aware of any mistakes we will update the details on our website www.stminverlink.org/LinkEventsDiary.html
Recurring Events
Art Group Friday January 11, 18, 25. February 1, 8, 15, 22 at Perceval Institute. 10.30am - 12noon. Marriage Preparation Saturday February 9 all day. P C C Meeting Thursday February 7 at Perceval Institute. 7.30. PC Meeting Tuesday January 15, February 5 at Perceval Institute. 7.30pm. Pilates Thursday January 3, 10, 17, 24, 31. February 7, 14, 21, 28 at 9.30-12.30. Friday January 4, 11, 18, 25, February 1. 8, 15, 22, 6 – 7pm at at Perceval Institute. St Minver Computer Club Thursday January 10, 24. February 7, 21 at Tubestation, Polzeath. 10.30-12noon. Contact: David 01208 862568. St Minver Senior Circle Tuesday January 22, February 5, 19 at Rock Methodist Chapel. 10.3012 noon. St Minver Senior Circle Keep Fit Class Wednesday January 16, 23, 30 February 6, 13, 20, 27 at Rock Institute 10am – 12 noon. 52
St Minver Senior Circle Short Mat Bowls Monday January 14, 21, 28, February 4, 11, 18, 25 at Rock Institute. 2-4pm. Contact: David 01208 869636. St Minver Short Mat Bowls Club Tuesday January 8, 15, 22, 29; February 5, 12, 19, 26. Friday January 11, 18, 2; February 1, 8, 15, 22 at Lingham Hall. 6.45-9.15pm Trebetherick and Polzeath WI January 3, February 7 at Rock Institute. 7.30pm. Contact: Audrey 01208 863467. Whist Drive Tuesday January 29, February 26 at Perceval Institute. WI Craft Group Tuesday January 15, 29, February 12, 26 at Rock Methodist Chapel. 10am12noon.
January Tuesday January 1 – 2 Exhibition Janie Mcdonald All day. Monday 14th St Minver Link AGM. 7pm, Swallows Rest PL27 6RD Thursday 24th ‘The Alpaca Family’ 7.30pm, Talk in aid of North Cornwall National Trust Association. Cost Members £3, Guests
£3.50. A buffet supper with tea or coffee will be served following the talk. Contact: Bob Reason 01840 230173.
February Monday 11th ‘Good Surgery in Bad Places’ Talk by Alan Waterworth in aid of St Minver Cancer Research UK. 7 for 7.30pm, The Point at Polzeath. Cost £7 (includes a Pasty). Tickets available from The Point, Newslines or Jean Thorman on 01208 863819. Friday 15th ‘The Riddle of the Sands’ 10.30am-4pm, Rock Sailing and Waterski Club. A full-day event with film, lunch and talk by Drummond Challis in aid of North Cornwall National Trust Association. Cost: Members £18.50, Guests £20. Contact: Bob Reason 01840 230173. Saturday 16th Jumble Sale, 2pm, Perceval Institute. In aid of Perceval Institute ‘Kitchen Upgrade’ fund.
We welcome local stories and photographs.
Anglican Church Services Weekday Services Wednesday St Minver Holy Communion 10am Wednesday St Michael Evening Prayer 5.30pm Sunday January 6th 11am Rock Chapel Covenant Service No service at St Minver 3pm St Enodoc Evensong 6pm St Michael Evensong Sunday January 13th 9.15am St Michael 11am St Minver 3pm St Enodoc 6pm St Michael
Holy Communion Holy Communion Holy Communion Evensong
Sunday January 20th 11am St Minver 3pm St Enodoc 6pm St Michael
Holy Communion Evensong Evensong
Sunday January 27th 9.15am St Michael 11am St Minver 3pm St Enodoc 6pm St Michael
Holy Communion Freestyle Holy Communion Evensong
Sunday February 3rd 11am St Minver 3pm St Enodoc 6pm St Michael
Holy Communion Evensong Evensong
Sunday February 10th 9.15am St Michael 11am St Minver 3pm St Enodoc
Holy Communion Holy Communion Holy Communion
Evensong
6pm
St Michael
Sunday February 17th l1am St Minver 3pm St Enodoc 6pm St Michael
Holy Communion Evensong Evensong
Sunday February 24th
9.15am 11am 3pm 6pm
St Michael St Minver St Enodoc St Michael
Holy Communion Freestyle Holy Communion Evensong
Please Check With The Parish Newsletter, Church Notice Boards or website For Latest Information. www.northcornwallcluster.org.uk/St Minver
Catholic Church Services WADEBRIDGE, St Michael’s Church. Mass: Sundays 8.30am. Confessions: Fridays 10.30 - 1am. BODMIN, St Mary’s Abbey. Mass: Sundays 4pm, weekdays 19am (usually) Confessions: Saturdays 11 - 11.30am. PADSTOW, St Saviour & St Petroc Church, Mass: Saturdays 6.30pm. Confessions: Saturdays 5.30 - 6pm. TINTAGEL, St Paul The Apostle Church, Mass: Monday - Thursday 10am, Friday 6pm, Sunday 10am, Vigil Saturday 6 pm. Confessions: Before and after Mass and any other time on request.
Methodist Church Services
Rock Methodist Church 11 am every Sunday Wadebridge Methodist Church (Worship takes place at Wadebridge Primary School) 10am Every Sunday Morning. Trelights Methodist Chapel Sundays 6pm Tubestation (Polzeath) Multi-denominational 10 am Every Sunday.
Quaker Meetings Sunday mornings at 10.30 in the John Betjeman Centre, Wadebridge (next to library). All are welcome. Polzeath Area Residents’ Association
Hospital/Surgery Car Service
If you need transport please ring one of our voluntary drivers: Mr Harry Hardcastle (01208 862343), Mr Harold Sillifant (01208 862989) or Mr Gary Cooper (01208 869165) Standard charges are based on 40p per mile and include reasonable waiting time: Wadebridge (£8). Bodmin (£14), Truro (£33), Port Isaac (£8), St Austell (£22), Falmouth (£35), Hayle (£37), Newquay (£20) and Plymouth (£37 - excluding bridge toll). Please Note: If you are receiving income support, you should take your book with you for reimbursement.
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Local Telephone Numbers Churches St Minver Vicarage Rev J Mosedale)------------ 01208 862398 Warden Mrs E Elliott-------- 01208 863905 St Endellion Rectory (Rev Dr John May)---------- 01208 881041 Catholic (Bodmin) -------------01208 72833 (Tintagel)------------------- 01840 770663 (Wadebridge)-----------------01208 72833 Methodist (Rock)------------- 01208 863481 (Tintagel)------------------- 01840 770274 (Wadebridge)--------------- 01208 812887 Multi-denominational (Tubestation Polzeath)------ 01208 869200 Quaker (Wadebridge)-------- 01208 812336 Doctor / Medical Bridge Med Centre W/bridge-01208 812342 Bodmin Hospital ------------ 01208 251300 Drug Helpline------------------0800 776600 Port Isaac Surgery------------ 01208 880222 Rock Surgery----------------- 01208 862545 Royal Cornwall Hospital------ 01872 250000 Wadebridge Health Centre--- 01208 812222 Libraries Wadebridge------------------ 0300 1234111 Bodmin------------------------01208 72286 Police Non-urgent calls------------- 08452 777444 Crimestoppers------------------0800 555111 Emergency Electricity-----------------------0800 365900 Gas-----------------------------0800 111999 NHS Direct HelpLine-------------- 0845 4647 Police, Fire, Ambulance, Coastguard----- 999 Samaritans------------------- 08457 909090 Women’s abuse centre---------01208 77099 Veterinary and RSPCA Wadebridge------------------ 01208 813258 Bodmin------------------------01208 75252 RSPCA ---------------------- 01637 881455 General Numbers Air Ambulance HQ (Roche)--- 01726 890444
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Bridge Club (Robert Mabley)------------ 01208 814564 British Legion-St Minver (Fred Prior)----------------- 01208 862543 Cancer Research UK (Jane Bendall)-------------- 01208 862113 Carn Awn Singers (Barbara Richards) --------- 01208 880575 Citizens Advice Bureau------ 08444 99 4188 Cornish Consumers Helpline------------------- 0845 650 3122 CRUSE Bereavement support--------01726 76100 DEFRA------------------------ 01872 265500 Electricity Customer Services----0800 365000 Friends of the Earth - Camel (Tony Wainwright)---------- 01208 880846 John Betjeman Centre-------- 01208 812392 Old Cornwall Society (Margaret Bartlett) --------- 01208 816307 Padstow Harbour Master----- 01841 532239 Parish Council: Highlands Clerk (Helen Hyland)------------- 01208 812289 Parish Council Lowlands Clerk (Gillian Thompson)--------- 01726 882145 Perceval Institute (Maureen)----------------- 01208 863366 Polzeath Area Residents Association (David Short)-------------- 01208 862568 Polzeath Surf Life-Saving Club (Ursula Burgess)------------ 01208 863198 Relate Relationship counselling-----01726 74128 Rock Institute (Allan Caswell)------------ 01208 869420 Rock Lifeboat Station -------- 01208 863033 Rock Sailing & Water Ski Club-------------------- 01208 862709 Rock Water Taxi-------------- 07778 105297 St Minver Beavers (Alison Cox)------------------ 01208 862839 St Minver Brownies
(Kathy Hore)-------------- 01208 862340 St Minver Cemetery Committee (Mary Drummond-Dunn)---- 01208 863491 St Minver Cricket Club (Richard Shrewsbury)------- 01208 812469 Clubhouse------------------ 01208 863402 St Minver Cubs (Nigel)------ 01208 815102 St Minver Football Club (Roy Birchwood)------------ 01208 880459 St Minver Flower Show (Joan Cock)----------------- 01208 862144 St Minver Post Office--------- 01208 863366 St Minver Pre-School--------- 01208 869511 St Minver School (Mrs Austin Secretary)------ 01208 862496 St Minver Scouts (Robert Watson)------------- 01637 889 190 St Minver Senior Circle (Jo Holt)--------------------- 01208 863993 St Minver Short Mat Bowls (David Gill)----------------- 01208 862440 St Minver Silver Band (Garry Gauss)--------------- 01208 814170 St Minver Sunday School (Marjorie Mabyn)----------- 01028 862678 Trebetherick WI (Janet Carter)-------------- 01208 869636 Tre-Pol-Pen Hand Bell Ringers (Betty Scroupe)------------- 01208 869003 Wadebridge & District Angling Assoc (Jon Evans)----------------- 01208 812447 Wadebridge & District Camera Club (Pam Hall)------------------ 01208 862957 Wadebridge Choral Society (Annabelle Woolcott))------ 01841 815322 Wadebridge Male Voice Choir (Chris Bartlett)-------------- 01208 814468 Wadebridge Post Office ------ 01208 812813 Water Helpline--------------- 0800 1691144
Muts Cuts
Qualified City & Guilds Dog Groomer Ring Kerri 01840 211786 07921 637055 www.mutscuts.co.uk Gable Cottage Newhall Green St Teath, PL33 9ES
A proper nursery growing plants with a passion Specialities of Perennials & Herbs Wide range of Shrubs, Climbers & Trees Coastal plants, Marginals, Bedding & Hanging Baskets Deliveries by arrangement. Open every day. Farmers’ Market 3rd Saturday in the month: 10am-2pm Quality plants, expert advice. Laveddon Mill, Bodmin PL30 5JU (A389 between Bodmin & Lanivet)
Tel: 01208 72837
www.bodminnursery.co.uk 55
Emergency Security & Sanitation Services South West Licenced Key-holding and Response Service to BS 7984:2008. Detection Dog Services. Static Guarding Event Security.
M J Taxis
On-site Customer Support with Opening Up Services. Full Commercial and Residential Hygiene Services. Spring Cleans & Changeovers. Grounds Maintenance.
esssouthwest@mail.com w w w. e s s s o u t h w e s t . c o . u k
C o n t r o l Ro o m 0 8 4 4 8 8 8 2 3 6 4 Re s p o n s e L i n e 0 7 4 0 2 6 9 7 7 9 56
0791 5169 902 Car and an 8-Seater available
Plumbing & Heating Contractors Seciaists in the desin instaatin and servicin il as and renewale Heating Systems. Heat Pump Systems. nderloor Heating Systems. Free estiates and cnsutatins
J M BREWER LTD
Trenant Vale, Egloshayle, Wadebridge PL27 6AJ
01208 814838
End of season cleans include: Carpets, upholstery and general cleaning services Professional eco friendly carpet & upholstery cleaning Spring Cleans, One-off Cleans & Holiday Changeover Cleans “Environmentally friendly cleaning solutions without compromising on performance and safety” Tel: 01208 816729 • Mob: 07952 802850 Email: tristan@greengeckoclean.co.uk • www.greengeckoclean.co.uk
Rock Television and Electrical Services For all your electrical needs.
01208 863788 57
Inspirational Home Furnishings Gorgeous Fabrics. Poles & Tracks. Full Making & Fitting. Free measuring. Painted Furniture. Cushions & Lighting. Gifts & Homeware. 17 Polmorla Walk, Wadebridge PL27 7NS Open Monday to Saturday 10-5. 01208 814023
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CONVEYANCING
BUSINESS
WILLS
PROBATE
DISPUTES
DIVORCE
ACCIDENTS
LANDLORD/TENANT
8 Fore Street Camelford
42 Fore Street Bodmin
The Rock Port Isaac
01840 212315
01208 72328
01840 212315
59
Martin Way
ROOFING ROOFING CONTRACTORS ONTRACTORS LEADWORKS LEADWORKS ETC ETC
25 YEARS YEARS EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE 012O8 85O24O 07788 133659
HAWKSLAND CANINE HYDROTHERAPY www.hawkslandhydro.co.uk
Hydrotherapy and Physiotherapy for dogs Rehabilitation Arthritic Pain Disc Problems
Sprains & Strains Overweight Fitness & Fun
Swimming Pool, Water Treadmill & Hydrospa
01208 813199 Higher Hawksland Farm, St Issey, Nr Wadebridge PL27 7RG 60
01726 891799 O779O 482544
Telephone 01326 373416
Email: info@tanyaleach.co.uk www.tanyaleech.co.uk 61
The Cornwall Advertisers
& The Cornwall Review
The only local newspaper that has a monthly feature on Rock, St Minver, Polzeath & Trebetherick Tel 01208 815096 Tindle House, Trevanson St, Wadebridge PL27 7AW • Fax: 01208 815935 E-mail: nca@internet-today.co.uk • www.cornwalladvertisers.co.uk
Established 1992 -10 Year Guarantee
We will plan your conservatory and all associated building work and construct it to the highest standard. New Pilkington Active Solar Control and self-cleaning glass as standard. Also Windows, Doors, Fascias and Soffits.
01208 851182 07798 644 293
Dingle & Way Ltd
B BUILDING UILDING & &D DECORATING ECORATING C CONTRACTORS ONTRACTORS 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE 25 YEARS A LL ASPECTS ASPECTS OF OF BUILDING BUILDING WORK WORK UNDERTAKEN UNDERTAKEN.. ALL E XPERIENCED AND AND QUALIFIED QUALIFIED.. EXPERIENCED F REE QUOTATIONS QUOTATIONS.. FREE 012O8 012O8 85O24O 85O24O 07788 07788 133659 133659
01726 01726 891799 891799 O779O O779O 482544 482544
Penbre, Penbre, Trelill, Trelill, Wadebridge, Wadebridge, Cornwall Cornwall PL30 PL30 3HZ 3HZ 62
Treleavens Property Care Provides the complete range of holiday home services Caretaking - Building maintenance Building projects • Swimming pool maintenance Grass & hedge cutting • Landscape & garden maintenance Pressure washing • Window cleaning
Cleaning & Linen Hire
Change Over Cleaning • Spring Cleaning Linen Hire Laundry Service
Tel: 01208 862562 • Mob: 07977 480616 david@treleaven.fsbusiness.co.uk Web: www.treleavenspropertycare.co.uk
ISO 9001 • ISO 14001
Litho • Digital • Bindery • Mailing & Fulfilment Stationery • Brochures • Posters • Leaflets • Flyers Environmentally sound, award winning print solutions on your doorstep.
t. 01726 68650 e. enquiries@sapc.co.uk w. sapc.co.uk
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Farm Shop & Restaurant Open Daily from 9.30am Mid-March to end of October
New for 2013. We have extended our Farm Shop and Restaurant. Why not come and have a look? Pick our wn r Ready Picked Home rown Strawerries Rasperries ooseerries Black currants and Red currants Home produced ee lam and reerange eggs and Seasonal egetales. Homemade ams pickles and marmalades. ocal produce cheeses country crats gits country wines and ciders. Breakast unches elicious Homemade Cakes and Cream eas rders taken or Celeration Cakes Childrens Play rea Pets Corner. Find us at St Endellion Nr Port saac on the B331
Tel 01208 880164
www.trevathanfarm.com
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symons@trevathanfarm.com
WELCOME
18 hole golf course 12 bay driving range Restaurant and Bar Health Club with indoor pool Spa room Tennis court Holiday rentals
thepointatpolzeath.co.uk CALL US 01208 863000
www.millardandflo.com
A flexible design service in North Cornwall. Specialists in lighting design & furniture specification.
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The Mariners Rock offers a bar menu using fresh local produce, alongside a wide range of Cornish beers and ciders. See our website for menus, opening times and special events. The Mariners Rock, Slipway, Rock, Cornwall, PL27 6LD 01208 863 679 tides@marinersrock.com www.marinersrock.com Printed by St Austell Print Company Ltd. 01726 68650