8NEWS MONDAY AUGUST 18 2014 WESTERN MORNING NEWS WMN-E01-S2 westernmorningnews.co.uk Diocese of Chefs take walk on the wild side to develop new foraging skills facing Edible food is all around us £1m shortfall but it requires an expert eye to point it out in the Cornish The Bishop of St Germans c o u n t r y s i d e. says the is Top chefs from the West- facing a shortfall of more than country gathered with local £1 million in the next financial suppliers and students in ye a r. North to gain valu- The Right Reverend Chris able insights into the art of Goldsmith delivered his stark fora ging. warning after figures revealed Adam Clark, an expert in that Anglican churchgoers in the field, led a wild food walk Cornwall donate 20 per cent in which he pointed out the less than those in any other delicacies growing in the diocese in England –a ro u n d countryside that so often go £5.80 per week, compared with unnoticed. a national average of £8.40. The aim of the day was to In a financial report Mr encourage leading Cornish Goldsmith said: “If we con- chefs to forage for their menus tinue to chase down declining with Mr Clark showing them income by reducing costs we examples of the vast range of risk an organisational death species growing on the door- spiral from which it would be step –from peppery wild difficult to recover.” rocket in the car park of the He added that the church Bedruthan Steps hotel to sea could cover its costs for 2015, spaghetti on the shoreline at but after that “it would be Mawgan Porth. irresponsible for the situation Students from Cornwall to continue.” College got the opportunity to Mr Goldsmith said the prob- show off their culinary skills, lem had been developing for creating beautiful canapés in- several years, and the diocese corporating costal foraged in- was now consulting with gredients for the culinary ex- Cor nwall’s 12 deaneries – per ts. groups of churches –for sug- Mr Clark said: “I was ex- Chefs, suppliers and students learn about foraging from Adam Clark at Mawgan Porth, North Cornwall gestions about how best to tremely impressed with the tackle it. students today –they were Millgate to the point where he preparation and utilisation of the walk. ate foraged rosehip, wild “Rather than the diocese good-humoured, enthusiastic, was offered a job on the spot. wild, foraged ingredients. I am These ingredients were plums, black mustard, telling others what they got their heads down and Richard Polkinghorne, aged really happy about Darren’s then used in an impressive samphire, meadowsweet and should be doing, we want to turned it on. They weren’t 19 and a student at Cornwall offer of a job at Bedruthan and cookery demonstration by Mr sea buckthorn into restaurant hear what ideas they can come overwhelmed by the big list of College, said: “It has been a really look forward to working Clark, who started his for- m e nu s. up with,”he said. tasks issued to them on ar- thoroughly enjoyable day, with him. aging journey in central The Chefs’Forum stages The bishop previously r iva l . ” very inspirational and I have Mr Clark showed the chefs a London. quarterly events to enhance warned that the diocese may One youngster impressed learned lots of new tech- white board displaying vari- Mr Clark advised the top chefs’skill sets and be “under-investing in our the Bedruthan Steps hotel’s n i q u e s. ous foraged ingredients so Cornish chefs on the best way strengthen links with local ca- churches and ministries,”and executive chef Darren “I now know lots more about they knew what to look for on to identify, pick and incorpor- tering colleges. urged an increase in urging decision makers to consider encouraging more tax-effi- cient giving and to try and increase the number of gift- aided donations. Mother speaks of her heartache after Young air cadet wins top son found hanged in Thai police cell national prize BY ESME ASHCROFT The pair flagged down a tuk- He gave a statement and trouser belt to commit sui- tuk motorcycle and Mr Whi- told the court he paid 1,000 c i d e. ” A 19-year-old cadet from A man from Cornwall was taker spoke to the driver baht for losing a police of- Detective Inspector David Devon has received a presti- found hanged in a police cell about buying harder drugs. ficer’s pen. Shelton, from Devon and gious award in recognition of in Thailand after being ar- Mr Meredew said: “Liam He added: “It seemed like we Cornwall Police, said that his achievements. rested for possession of a class made some sort of deal with were talking to gangsters and there was no evidence of a Cadet Warrant Officer Jake A drug. the driver and walked down the Thai police seemed to be third party involved in his Rosen, a member of No. 1064 Liam Whitaker, 24, was one an alley out of my sight.” cor rupt. death as there were not marks (Honiton) Squadron, is this day in to a three-week holiday A police officer pulled the “It didn’t seem safe.” on Mr Whitaker’s body to sug- ye a r ’s recipient of the Dacre with friends in Thailand pair over and found a bag of Mr Meredew persuaded the gest there was a struggle and Sword prize –an annual award when he was found hanging in powder in Mr Whitaker’s police to let him leave the that it was entirely possible he made to the best male air cadet a police cell in Bangkok at pocket, which he later said station for a break and the had hanged himself. He in the country. 4.30am on October 15 last was 0.55 grams of “ya ice”or three friends went to the air- added: “We do have a gap in The many accomplishments ye a r. crystal meth. port and flew back to Eng- evidence between what was of CWO Rosen, a former pupil Coroner for Cornwall, The men were taken to land. said between James leaving of Kings School, Ottery St Emma Carlyon recorded an Chanasongkram police sta- In the documents submitted and Liam being found.”T he Mary, include the completion open verdict and she was not tion where Mr Whitaker was to the court the Thai police of flying and gliding scholar- satisfied there was a legal put in a police cell and Mr Liam Whitaker died in police cells did not record asking Mr ships in 2013, participation in level of proof that he killed Meredew told the court he was Meredew for money. ‘We are a variety of sports activities h i m s e l f. led out and asked to take of returning in the morning. Police Senior Sergeant heartbroken...Thailand and the founding of the Devon Cornwall Coroners Court in money out of a cash ma- He added: “I left him (Mr Major Vittaya Siewaddhiparp, and Somerset Wing ATC Band. Truro heard conflicting evid- ch i n e. Whitaker) with the feeling the officer who arrested Mr is a dangerous place’ He also achieved his Gold ence on Friday from Mr Whi- He said: “All I could make that the situation would be Whitaker and the first person Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in t a ke r ’s friend James Meredew out was that they wanted much the same as in the UK. I to find his body, said: “Not Andrea Whitaker 2012 having taken part in an and officers in the Thai police £400,000 baht (Thai currency) left thinking it would all be long after his friend (Mr Mere- expedition to the Black Moun- regarding the events leading which is £8,000. sorted in the morning when dew) left the police station we tains of Wales. up to his death. “I went out with an official Liam had sobered up. took the accused (Mr Whi- inspector said that Thailand Air Commodore McCafferty, Mr Whitaker, from , looking man to a cash ma- “I left him in good spirits – taker) to the second floor of had two police forces and the commanding officer of the arrived in Thailand on Oc- chine. I took out £100 but he was happy drunk.” the station. country was known for cor- UK’s air cadets, made the tober 14 and had undertaken a c o u l d n’t take out any more. When Mr Meredew re- “The accused then asked to r uption. presentation during a recent day of sightseeing before “I don’t believe that Liam turned around 12pm the fol- go to the bathroom and we Andrea Whitaker, Liam’s visit from Headquarters Air going to a bar with his three had knowingly bought that lowing day with his other two took him to the juvenile de- mother, said: “We are heart- Cadets based at RAF Cranwell f r i e n d s. kind of drug.” friends a British consular told tention room. We shut the broken and we want to warn in Lincolnshire. Two of the men went back to After returning to the police the group that Mr Whitaker door but didn’t lock it. other parents and travellers He said: “I have had a fant- their room while Mr Whitaker station the officers said they had hung himself in a police “We continued to record the that Thailand is a dangerous astic time as an air cadet –so and Mr Meredew had dinner, would not release Mr Whi- cell during the night. details of the arrest and place and people do get many opportunities have been continued drinking and took t a ke r. There were no witnesses to waited for the accused. I was scammed.” provided. As an instructor diazepam, also known as Mr Meredew went back to his death. an extremely long time. Dr Carlyon said that no one cadet I have been able to give Valium, which they had pur- the hostel where he was stay- Mr Meredew said: “I was “(When I opened the door) I could be sure how the drugs something back to the young- chased at a late night chem- ing to tell his friends what had shocked and in complete dis- was very shocked. I found that he had taken affected his er cadets at the squadron.” ist. happened with the intention b e l i e f. ” the accused had used his own mental state.