BOSCASTLE BLOWHOLE No 55 Autumn 2006 £1 Copyright photos courtesy David Flower Wanda Larrett & Liz Gregory Book Signing Full story and Book Review on page 24 CONTENTS INCLUDE: Parish Council Report page 8 Will Sharp page 16 Drs Corner page 18 National Trust page 23 School page 23 Pickwick Papers page 26 Pete’s Peeps page 31 Travellers’ Tales page 32 Letters page 34 Nature Notes page 38 Coastguard page 44 Seagulls - Friend or Foe? Seagulls e natural foodstuff of Gulls are scavengers Gulls sometimes make are part of seagulls is fish and fish and will feed amongst swooping attacks on people our local offal, carrion, crustaceans, discarded litter and waste, (usually only in the nesting ecology but molluscs, earthworms small often tearing plastic season, April - June) to have been birds and mammals - a diet rubbish bags that contain protect their young and ruffling a of bread, pasties etc does waste food. Gulls which they will also snatch food few feathers recently. ere not keep them healthy. regularly feed in the from people. are people who love them However if you offer it to same location sometimes Gulls are protected and others who view them them then they will eat decide to nest on the roofs under the Wildlife and as a nuisance. it as they are supremely of nearby properties. is Countryside Act & it is Regular feeding of gulls opportunistic and take can lead to properties illegal to do anything that should be discouraged as advantage of whatever is being damaged by bird will cause suffering to it encourages abnormal available – if it is edible droppings, blocked roof gulls. numbers of birds to an area. then they will eat it. Any gutters and broken roof is can cause nuisance to food left out for them that tiles / slates as well as an neighbouring properties. they do miss is attractive to increase in noise. rats. Boscastle Blowhole Editorial Team e editorial team reserves the right to edit, accept, or reject any material submitted for publication in the Blowhole. e views expressed within the magazine are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial team. e team are: Philippa Arthan, Arthur Bannister, Joan Cork , Chris Rodda, Daphne Rogers, Noel Ward and Mary Wright. For advertising queries, contact Daphne Rogers 01840 250244 Copies of the Blowhole are available by post at a cost of £1.75 per issue; cheques should be made payable to Boscastle WEA and can be sent to Boscastle Blowhole (FAO Philippa) c/o e Post Office, Boscastle, Cornwall, PL35 0AA Contributions to the Blowhole can be sent c/o Boscastle Post Office or by email to [email protected] e Blowhole is published 4 times a year and printed by Easyprint of Launceston e next Blowhole will be published in mid December. Please ensure that your copy reaches us by 17th November or we may be unable to include it. Many thanks to all our contributors, without whom the Blowhole would be a much slimmer publication. THE OLD MILL BOSCASTLE ANTIQUES, PRINTS, OLD BOOKS, BEARS, LINEN, SOFT TOYS, ANTIQUE FRENCH BEDS, GIFTS, CARDS, CHILDREN’S CLOTHES, SOFT FURNISHINGS, TEA ROOMS . .. AND MUCH MORE! COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF tel: 01840 250230 www.boscastle-oldmill.co.uk Page 2 Boscastle Blowhole Autumn 2006 Here and ere Openings: and the half acre walled YHA Hostel kitchen garden which e YHA hostel will open produces a variety of fruit on Wednesday 4th October and vegetables, including 2006. A report of the peaches nectarines and occasion will be published figs. in the next edition of the e rectory has been Blowhole the home of Sally and Harbour Light Chris for the past 10 e Harbour Light opens years and is now run on Saturday 7th October as bed and breakfast accommodation. Sally’s Jackie Jones ‘in the pink’ at Davidstow Church 2006. Further details Copyright photos courtesy David Flower appear on page 15. grandparents bought the undergone treatment at house in 1956 when the all of which were raffled at Orchard Lodge the Mermaid Centre for Church of England sold the end of the evening. Welcome to Geoff and breast cancer. Because of it. Family links reach e climax of the event Shelley Barratt who have the remarkable level of care back to World War II was a very packed house recently taken over Orchard and understanding and in when her grandfather on Sunday night for a Lodge B&B in Gunpool recognition of everything Cannon Welch was a Pasty and Pudding supper Lane. Bed and breakfast is that they were able to do rector there. which preceded an evening a new venture for them and for her she felt a real need ere are also special concert given by the very they have had something of to show her appreciation links with the Victorian in a tangible way - and “In popular Church Town a baptism of fire, opening literary giant omas Unity Jazz Band. Jackie up just at the start of a busy e Pink” has fulfilled that Hardy. As a young need. Clearly the event hit comments that she could season. ey are hoping to architect, Hardy was not have envisaged such a get to know more of the the right note with the local asked to visit St Juliot and wider communities successful outcome without community when they can church to draw up the support of her husband get out of the kitchen. attracting exhibitors from a plans for the proposed broad spectrum of the arts Chris and children, Philip, Open Garden Helps Laura and omas and restoration. Whilst and craft world. to Keep The Lid on St staying at the rectory her many supporters in On the first evening Juliot Church Tower he fell in love with the the community who have of the event over eighty e St Juliot Church tower rector’s sister-in-law, given in time and kind to ladies filled the church for a fund was increased by the Emma Gifford, whom ensure the success of the demonstration of floral art substantial sum of £880 he later married. It was festival. given by popular, local florists when Sally and Chris Searle their love and subsequent In all, with moneys still Elaine Bromell and Caroline of the Old Rectory St problems that became to be counted, the final Crabb who, appropriately, Juliot, opened their historic the inspiration for much total will exceed £4,400 - a used only pink flowers and of Hardy’s finest poetry truly remarkable outcome. garden at the beginning of accessories for their creations, June. Funds were needed In the Pink to replace the lead that has Davidstow parish church been on the tower since it was the venue for a three was restored and rebuilt in day festival of arts and Vacancies exist for adults and children (beginners or advanced) to have 1870. Hopefully, work can crafts recently. Entitled now go ahead in September “In e Pink” all proceeds Piano or Keyboard Lessons to be taught in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere by a junior of this year. were for the benefit of school teacher with over 20 years of experience of piano teaching Visitors were able to e Mermaid Appeal, in Cornwall. Parents are welcome to attend the lessons For further details please ring enjoy the 3-acre garden, the Cornish breast cancer Peter L Henry BA, LTCL with its mature palms and charity. e concept and yews and rather special organisation of the event 01840 770470 monkey puzzle which is were to the credit of Jackie more than 100 years old Jones who has recently Boscastle Blowhole Autumn 2006 Page 3 Car Park A Drop of Nelsons Johnny Cowling What’s On? Residents in Tintagel enjoy Blood! Fundraising Event September: the benefit of limited free Fri 22nd National Children’s Last year, the band Tinkers Camelford and District parking in the NCDC car HospiceCream Tea, 2pm, see p13 Bag played a great gig Cardiology Foundation rd park. Several spaces have Sat 23 Tinkers Bag, see left in the Village Hall. e HeartSWell—are th been allocated adjacent to Sun 24 Harvest Festival, good news is that they presenting an evening Chapel, 11am, see p12 the Post Office that they are coming back again on with Johnny Cowling at Mon25th Harvest Auction, can use, for a stipulated Saturday 23rd September. Bowood Golf Club on urs 28th Parish Council period, provided they th e theme for the night ursday 19 October Fri 29 Macmillan Biggest display the special badge, is ‘A Drop of Nelsons 2006 at 7.30pm. Tickets Coffee Morning, see left which has been issued to th Blood’, based on a show are strictly limited tickets Fri 29 : Superheroes & Villains them. written to celebrate the and cost £10 each, Charity Night, Wellington NCDC have indicated Trafalgar celebration in including a buffet supper. October that they will consider October 2005. with songs Payment with booking Wed 4th YHA reopening something for Boscastle th of the sea. on 01840 770671. Thurs 5 Quiz Night, Wellington residents although they see Sat 7th & Sun 8th Festival of Expect great tunes, possible problems using a Residents Association Food, Arts & Crafts, see p37 some rousing shanties, and similar system. What do Sat 7th Harbour Light great readings peppered Several people have you suggest? If you have reopens, see p15 with good humour and suggested that a residents th any ideas pass them on Fri 13 Hollow Bones, Welly great fun, and above all association be formed in th to our Parish Clerk, Bob Wed 18 Residents’ another storming night’s Boscastle.