www.polgoothtimes.co.uk

Celebrating 175 years of the Methodist Church (see page 22)

2 Editorial

Welcome again to the Times. Thank you to those who have contributed to this issue, hopefully as more readers continue to send us articles we will be able to make the magazine one of interest for everybody. I’m sorry if on occasions we do not have the space to include everything submitted.

We also hope to shortly produce our second puzzle book. Look out for them on sale in the Polgooth Village Store and the Polgooth Inn.

I’m sure by now you are all aware that Polgooth once again has a bus service close to the village. Many thanks to the person concerned who was the driving force (excuse the pun), to having a bus reinstated, I’m sure everyone is very grateful, particularly those who no longer have to walk up the hill to . The bus times can be found on page 41. They are also available on our website. (www.polgoothtimes.co.uk)

In response to an article in the last issue about obstructions caused by parked cars, I did receive a lengthy letter from a resident who raised the issue about lack of parking in the vicinity of the Village Hall and Polgooth Post Office at certain times of the day. In short, the resident was asking that more people, particularly if they are using the Preschool, could perhaps take advantage of Tanya’s offer to park in the Inn car park and walk to the Preschool. It was felt that the Post Office owners think their trade is affected by the lack of parking; it was also noted that on occasions Polmewan flats parking area is used.

At the time of writing we have enjoyed several weeks of good weather (I even have a tomato plant outside starting to turn red). I hope that the summer will continue to be warm and dry and school holidays will have given opportunities to enjoy our lovely countryside and the beach. For the armchair sports fans there has certainly been a lovely variety of sporting events to enjoy. Maybe as Autumn approaches some will be inspired to get fit by joining or forming groups and put into practice things passively enjoyed!

On a personal note, sadly I have to inform you that my Dad, Michael Corneby, passed away on 23rd July. His health had been deteriorating for some time. An obituary will follow in the next issue.

Di Thompson, Editor. 3 Polgooth Times dates for next two issues

2014 Issue 129 Closing date 3 October Delivery after 14 November 2015 Issue 130 Closing date 2 January Delivery after 13 February

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4 God’s Perfect Love

My first reaction to hearing that finally the doctors felt it time to tackle my heart problem was elation and joy. However, these feelings only lasted for a very short time! The more I thought about it the more my feelings began to change to fear and trepidation!

This really bothered me because it tells us in the bible that we ‘must not let our hearts be troubled and neither let them be afraid’. Well, this made me ask myself that if, as the bible says ‘perfect love drives out fear’ is my love for God perfect?

Of course not; it can never be perfect because of sin! However, God’s love for me and you IS perfect; and we must respond to His great love to help drive our fears away.

I know that I need to spend more time with God so that in times of trouble He will be my first port of call. Every time I feel afraid or anxious I can trust God’s Promises, of which there are many in the bible. Also, there are many accounts of times when people were reassured and told ‘Do not be afraid’.

So, guess what, fear is nothing new; people have been afraid of one thing or another ever since Adam told God that he was afraid because he was naked! I believe that with help I can face my fears and dispel feelings of helplessness by relying on God in all situations. I needed to take Him at his word and trust Him for He holds the key to my future. So stand with me and believe that His perfect love drives out all fear.

Realising this has helped me to be in a much better place with regard to my forth-coming heart operation. Whatever the days ahead hold in store, let us pray that with God’s perfect love driving out our fears, we can face each new day with the assurance that God is in control and all the help we will ever need is only a whispered prayer away.

Angela Champion (May 2014 )

Quote

Careful is thoughtful, fearful is emotional Careful is fuelled by information, fearful is fuelled by imagination. Careful calculates risks, fearful avoids risk. Careful wants to achieve success, fearful wants to avoid failure. Careful is concerned about progress, fearful is concerned about protection. Bob Gass 5 Polgooth Village Hall

The last meeting of the Polgooth Village Committee was chaired by the Treasurer, Jonathan Childs as I was at another meeting of the Neighbourhood Plan steering group. Jonathan thanked the Pantomime group for their donation of £2,000 from their successful production. He also mentioned the photo- electric panels that are to be installed on the rear hall roof. The fees paid by the Under Fives pre-school group are to be increased slightly. Their representative, Mackenzie Waters will tell the playgroup about this. She also said that the group wanted to obscure the glass of some of the windows and asked if fire insurance certificates could be displayed.

Sam and Mark Butcher, the new owners of the village shop, have been asked to attend meetings.

Kate Spencer asked if a list of Parish Council meetings could be passed on to Michele Taylor who keeps the Hall diary and deals with bookings.

The dates of the Parish Council meetings can be found on page 17 of this issue.

Martin Barnes 01726 63277

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6

Alex and Tanya would like to welcome you to

The Polgooth Inn

Open all day, everyday for food & drink

Families welcome

Give us a bell on

01726 74089

or email us at

[email protected]

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8 St Mewan Under Fives

St Mewan Under Fives has enjoyed a busy summer term with new children joining us throughout the months. Our role play area this term was set out as a Bakers so the children have had aprons and chefs hats to wear, they’ve been busy making playdoh cakes and pastries to cook in their little oven, clanging baking trays and stirring up lovely concoctions in the mixing bowls. We’ve also been busy making real rock buns; following the recipe, children adding the ingredients themselves, mixing it up, baking them and getting to take home their masterpieces at the end of the Session.

We held our Summer Fayre on the Goffin in June and what a glorious day we had for it, the sun shone and the children, parents and a few locals enjoyed the cupcakes, some fun games, a bouncy castle, raffle, plant sale, lucky dip, book stall and best of all…..the bacon butty van! Thanks to those that came and helped us to raise some funds for our village Preschool.

We had a rather wet start to the term. After organising a trip to the Lost Gardens of Heligan that had to be cancelled due to the rain, all the parents and children met instead at and had a great couple of hours playing in the soft play area and having a good chat and a coffee.

The weather however was shining on us for our Preschool trip to St Ives on the train. All the children were impeccably behaved on the train from St Austell and loved it at Porthminster beach. They had great fun with their friends, parents and staff building sand castles, chasing each other, paddling, eating yummy picnics and ice creams and chasing the odd seagull! All children came back happy and tired after a busy and fun day out.

Our Forest School sessions are really popular with the children. The children have been down to their Allotment this term, foraging for sticks and leaves, building stick men, making beautiful wooden picture frames, scary spiders webs and little wooden boats to name but a few things they get up too.

Our Mother and Baby group ‘Bunnies’ runs on a Wednesday morning from 9.30am – 11.30am in the front of the Village Hall. New mums and their children are always given a friendly welcome, with tea and coffee available. No need to book, just turn up and have some fun.

We have several children going to ‘big school’ in September, we would like to wish them all the best in their new Reception classes, thank them for being such amazing children and say that we’ll miss them all. Good luck.

We have many more exciting things planned for September and would like to thank the staff for all their hard work, the Committee for their dedication and the parents and children for coming and supporting our lovely Preschool.

Hope you all have a fun and happy school holiday.

St Mewan Under Fives

9 Polgooth Ladies Group

The Ladies Group seems to have enjoyed a time of food and more food over the last few months but we are all human so no complaints were heard about that!!

April saw us welcoming Mr Philip Rodda from the firm which produces everyone’s favourite clotted cream. Mr Rodda gave us the most interesting talk about the origins of the firm started in 1890 by his great-great grandmother to today. In 1998 the firm was granted Protected Designations of Origin status along with the likes of champagne. Milk for the cream is supplied by about 150 farms within a radius of 30 miles of the creamery. Nowadays with cream being sent by post and individual portions served on flights, Rodda’s cream is to be found worldwide in countries as varied as Dubai, Hong Kong and Holland. Items produced also include butter, custard and fromage frais and we were all able to enjoy samples of each of these upon making a donation to a charity. What a wonderful history of a Cornish family business.

Our May meeting saw us eating again with a visit from the Duchy Smoked Fish Company. These favourite treats are produced locally in Par. Following a talk and photographs of the origins of the firm we enjoyed tasters of oak smoked cheese, mackerel pate and salmon pate. Father and son gave us a most interesting and tempting evening.

Our June meeting was the annual fish and chip night at the Polgooth Inn. A very warm welcome from Tanya, Alex and staff was followed by 28 ladies enjoying meals of a very high standard as usual. There was lots of chat and laughter and a “little” drink ensured the time was most enjoyable.

Maybe we should be looking to book a speaker to give a talk about dieting but we’ll think about that for a little while!

Amy Evely

St Eve District Gardening Club Meetings take place on the second Wednesday of the month at the Village Hall at 7.30 pm Next meeting: September 10th Kernow Young Carer — Action for Children Contact Eileen Mackrory on 01726 843530 for more information

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11

The Deaf Wife Problem 121 Alexandra Road Bert feared his wife Peg wasn’t hearing as well as she used to and he thought she might needSt aAustell hearing aid. Not quite sure how to approach her, he called the family Doctor to discuss the problem. The Doctor told him there is a simple informal test the husband couldPL25 perform 4QL to give the Doctor a better idea about herExtensive hearing loss. ‘Here’s Range what youof do,’ said the Doctor. ‘Stand about 40 feet away from her and in a normalSamples conversa- tional speaking tone see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet and so on until you get a response.’ Free Measuring Free Estimating That evening, the wife is in the kitchen cooking dinner and he was in the den. He says to himself ‘I’m about 40 feet away, let’s see what happens’. Then in a normalFitting tone he asks ‘Honey, what’s for dinner?’ No response.

So the husband moves closer to the kitchen, about 30 feet from his wife and repeats ‘Peg, what’s for dinner?’ Still no response. Telephone 01726 72845 Next he moves into the dining room where he is about 20 feet from his wife and asks ‘Honey, what’s for dinner?’ Again he gets noMobile response. 07968862624

Polgooth Pantomime Players – Summer update

Things have understandably died down in recent months, whilst the Players have a well-deserved rest. However, it will soon be time to start all over again. I am in the process of finding a suitable script, having decided to buy one this year. I am hoping to find a good script of a pantomime we haven’t done for some time, if at all. Watch out for further announcements. We will have had our production meeting on Tuesday 12th August to discuss which script to go with and to work out other bits and pieces. One thing is for sure, the pantomime will still be held during February half term and tickets will be on sale at the usual time of January onwards. If you would like to join our flourishing group, please send an email to [email protected] or phone me on 01726 61220. Remember, this includes on stage and backstage roles, as well as front of house. Garry Hitchens 12 Polgooth 2030!!!!!

Attending a public meeting in the village hall recently really got me thinking – which was the intention of the meeting anyway! A new committee has been formed through a government initiative to be the voice for communities at Borough Council meetings. A voice that is intended, as I understand it, not only to gather views, hopes and aspirations, but to interpret and relay the communities’ views regarding plans and decision making that is likely to affect any of those communities.

Incorporated in the purposes of the meeting was an encouragement to think outside the box of the here and now by giving opportunity to ‘post’ our thoughts, hopes and dreams to enhance community life and what infrastructure would bring it about. Further encouragement was given regarding possible funding for certain types of ventures. SO – do we as Polgooth village people yearn to see positive changes happen in the near or not too distant future? If so – what? Should we be giving ourselves opportunity to share our views and continue to feed back to this committee what we want?

We can wait for the compilation of a questionnaire to be widely circulated in up to two years’ time or we can begin to grow a plan for ‘our space’ some of which may be realised in our time?

How about it? What do we want Polgooth to look like in 2030? What are we going to do about it – NOW!

Jeanette Warren (May 2014)

The Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group would also be very pleased to receive any comments via the website wearestmewan.org.uk

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14 Polgooth Fund Raising Group

The Polgooth Fund Raising Group of Marie Curie Cancer Care has raised a total of £18,250 in the last year and is holding a Cornish Craft Fayre at the Countryside Barn, Lobbs Farm Shop, Heligan between 30th September and 5th October. There will be many Cornish craft stalls selling hand crafted goods.

The group is hosting a Ladies Lunch on 21st October at Probus Village Hall at 10.00 am offering a coffee/tea reception and then lunch with two speakers and craft stalls. The annual Pet Walk is taking place on 2nd November along the pretty Pentewan path.

Do you have any unwanted gifts? We are collecting for our tombola stall and would welcome anything you can donate for this. Gifts can be left or collected – please call the number below.

Why not join your local Polgooth Fundraisng Group. We would welcome some new members. The time involved would be approximately two hours per month. If you are interested or would like more information on the above events please contact Lynda Thomas on 01726 77800.

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15 St Mewan Parish Council

At the Annual General meeting of your Parish Council several points were made by Parishioners. Someone asked whether Trelowth was to get a bus shelter. The Clerk, Mr Larry Budge, replied that he had been in contact with and that he would order a new shelter straight away as soon as the Council gave him their approval.

Mrs P M Mitchell was voted as Chairman with Mr J Kneller as Vice-Chairman. All were in favour.

The composition of the various sub-committees was decided on. There are three, Planning, Rights of way and Playing fields. The Planning sub-committee meets more frequently than the others. Matters that have come up recently relevant to Polgooth and Trelowth are applications by the owner of the building on the corner of Trelowth Road which was, for many years, the Polgooth Press printing works. There was permission given to use this building as a bakery, but due to several objections, the owner has decided to re-apply for permission to convert it into a one-bedroomed flat. The same owner also has applied for permission to build a four-bedroomed house in Rickets Road on the site of the old sewage works, which is now redundant and overgrown. There were also applications from owners of numbers 1 and 2, Trelowth Village to build two three-bedroomed houses on the gardens belonging to them. This was approved by the sub-committee but questioned the Architect’s provision of only three car parking spaces for what amounts to a six bedroomed property. The objection was based on the fact that the only access to the highway was through the layby which already has several vehicles parking on it.

There have been at least two pre-application presentations given to planning The first was again in Rickets Road for 4 houses on a very small plot. The second was for a 51 bedroomed dementia care home at the rear of a house at the bottom of Tregongeeves Lane. Again, these are only pre-application presentations and not actual applications. In other words, the developer is trying to get an idea of what the Parish Council might say. What we always say is “Apply, and then we’ll tell you what we think”. The dementia care home applicant had a letter from the planning officer that said that it was a totally unsuitable site from the point of access and the site was a flood plain.

The Village Hall in Polgooth had a grant of £600 from the Parish Council and is having a four-kilowatt photo-electric system of panels fitted to the roof of the rear hall. This is being paid for from some money from Manor Farm, Burngullow. The other halls in the Parish are having similar grants and photo- electric installations.

Cllr Martin Barnes 01726 63277

16 List of St Mewan Parish Council meetings, dates and venues

Anyone is welcome to attend any of these meetings and can speak for the first 15 minutes

Wednesday September 10th 2014 Polgooth Village Hall Wednesday October 22nd 2014 St Mark’s Hall, sticker Wednesday December 3rd 2014 Village Hall Wednesday January 7th 2015 Polgooth Village Hall Wednesday February 11th 2015 St Mark’s Hall, Sticker Wednesday March 11th 2015 Trewoon Village Hall Wednesday April 8th 2015 Polgooth Village Hall Wednesday May 6th 2015 St Mark’s Hall, Sticker

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18

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Tregongeeves Farm Cottages and River Valley Holiday Park Offer 4 and 5* accommodation set within 5 minutes of Polgooth village. Why not pop in have a look around and pick up our brochure.

Have a look at our web site www.cornwall-holidays.co.uk or give us a call 01726 68202 /73533

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20 Polgooth’s Got Talent

By the time you read this, I will hopefully have a good number of people who are wanting to enter Polgooth’s Got Talent. You will no doubt have seen posters advertising it or announcements on Facebook. I plan for this to be an annual event in August, as a semi-replacement for the variety show that we used to hold. The plan is as follows:

16th August – Official closing date for entries (if you are reading this after that date but want to enter, contact me to see if there are still slots to fill).

23rd August – Rehearsal afternoon, 2 – 5 pm. The joy of a talent show is that it does not require people to get together for months of rehearsals, individuals and groups can do that elsewhere. However, I want to use this afternoon to get all acts together to get some sort of running order and to see what requirements there will be (microphone, drumkit, flaming rings of fire* etc. – certain things will need to be provided by the act. This includes backing tracks, as musical accompaniment will not be provided).

30th August – Polgooth’s Got Talent Show. This is the night that the paying audience will come to watch your talent. The audience will vote for the winner and the winning act will win a prize and claim the trophy. Tickets will be on sale by the time you read this.

I plan for the night to start at 7.30pm ending at 10pm at the latest. There will be a 15-20 minute interval with an hour either side. An act can have up to 5 minutes to perform, with a 1 minute turnover, meaning a maximum of 20 acts can take part. Someone (still to be decided) will compère the show to keep it running smoothly. The last 15 minutes will be taken up with the counting of the votes.

I would like to make clear that I intend for this to be a separate entity to the Polgooth Players. Many who appear in the pantomime will be entering and it’ll be great to see a different side to their performing ability. However, anyone in Polgooth or the surrounding areas (after all, Britain’s Got Talent has foreign acts too) is welcome to enter. The pantomime is a massive commitment whereas, with this, you can simply turn up and do what you do best.

*having said that, be aware our insurance will only stretch so far…!

Garry Hitchens

21 175 years and still going!

Over 175 years ago the decision was made to build a ‘meeting house’ to provide room for all who were eager to worship God, through songs, listening to the preaching on the Bible and through prayer. Judging by the size of it (since converted into flats on the ‘hill’) it was embraced by a high percentage of the community at the time. I can imagine the amazing sound of the Cornish voices uplifting those present and all who were within earshot to the point, in some cases, of ‘conversion’.

Some time later the ‘Sunday School rooms’ were built further up the hill where, over the years, hundreds of children were taught about God’s love as shown in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, with encouragement to learn the ‘Scriptures’ and live by them.

With the passage of time generations were wooed away from this preoccupation and the buildings became a sad reflection of the disinterest, consequent neglect and the impossible task of the few to maintain them.

With seemingly no alternative, the decision was made over 30 years ago by the remaining congregation to sell the chapel in order to refurbish the ‘Sunday School’ becoming the new Chapel and so enabling a fresh start.

God blessed this move as more were led to become part of the worshipping community and for many years it has been a hive of activity for all ages and yet a haven of peace and tranquillity, with many opportunities for reflection and nurturing of faith.

Once again the church is a small faithful community whose one desire is to continue to be a witness by their lives as they walk in the footsteps of those gone before.

The church in this village has been, and is, on an important journey leaving to overcome obstacles and difficulties, yet unfailing in its hope that the Lord will continue to bless the work of the faithful through each generation, that many more will be enabled to find what they are looking for him.

Proverbs 8 v.32 speaks from God’s heart by saying ‘And so my children, listen to me, for happy are all who follow my ways. Listen to my counsel and be wise.’ Don’t ignore it!

PS The weekend Celebration of 175 years (July 5/6th) brought much conversation about the pages of Polgoooth’s ‘history book’ and the part that the church played in it. With happy chatter over a cuppa, cake and scone, friends reunited and new contacts made, the chapel was alive and buzzing. This flowed into an evening filled with rich harmonious singing of old and newer songs by

22 Cornish Connection Barbershop Chorus and more happy chatter during a pasty supper. With an increase in attendance next morning, joyful singing of hymns and songs could be heard from a distance and an encouraging message from Rev Greg Haynes (our minister at the time of our transition) brought both a reminder of the past, the importance of the present and inspiration and hope for the future.

23 VILLAGE DIRECTORY

Police: Ring 999/112 for EMERGENCY - but for Local Enquiries the number now is 101 and ask for your Local Police Station The NHS 111 service. You can call 111 when you need medical help fast but it is not a 999 emergency. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.

The Polgooth Post Office & General Stores

The Shop is open Monday to Saturday 8am - 8pm Sunday 8am—8pm

PO Counter Open Weekdays 8am to 5.30pm Sat (8 am - 12.30pm). The last post is collected at 4.45pm on weekdays, 9.30am on Saturdays, no collection Sundays. Tel: 01726 73816 (see advert)

The Polgooth Inn . 01726 74089, email: [email protected] Monday-Thursday 11am—11 pm Friday & Saturday 11am—12am Sunday 11.30am—11pm

The Mobile Library opening times from 17.01.14 then fortnightly Trelower Park 16.05—16.25 pm Woodgrove Park (top) 16.30—16.35 pm

Refuse Collection takes place on Wednesday. Recycling fortnightly. See special notices re Public Holiday Collections.

Coal and Anthracite is delivered by R.A. Hawke & Co. Mondays in Polgooth - Wednesdays at Trelower Park Tel: 01726 73121 (see advert)

Daily and Sunday Newspapers are delivered by The Post Office & General Stores (delivery or collection).

Travel Cornwall Bus Service 471 is now operating between St Austell and Gorran Haven. (see page 41) . Age UK Minibus to Truro. 2nd and 4th Friday of each month leaving Trelowth Road at 1.15 pm. Return fare £2. For more information contact Pam Harrison 66681 or Barbara Littlejohns 71265 (see page 40)

24 Advertisers Telephone Numbers

A1 Weston - Driving School 61167 Averlea Residential Home 66892 Bowen Therapy Centre 65758 Capitol Carpets 72845 /07968862624 Carnmoggas Holiday Park 74070 Chambers Marcus - Painting & Decorating 07768713957 Charlottes Tea House 01872 263706 Clark J.V & Sons – Electrical 65300 Cornwall Screenprint 68689 Enviroscape Solutions 844688 Everything Stone 814466 Family Law 68926 Grigg M.A– Country Store & restaurant 65656 Hawke R.A & Co. – coal & fuels 73121 Hunter’s Moon – Bed & Breakfast 66445 Heligan The Lost Gardens of 845100 Hitchens Garth– Furniture maker/restorer 72790 J & L Plumbing 73958/07824961470 Lee Harvey computing 07884812739 Lobbs Farm Shop-Heligan 844411 Match A Scratch 07522 020911 May Whetter and Grose 222963 May D & Sons (Hewaswater) – Country clothing etc 883838 May Denis & Sons (Goonvean) – sand, cement, etc. 823333 Giles McGuffie - Get the Gardener 07886791392 Pengelly Plant Centre 883757 Pentewan Valley Nurseries 842360 Polgooth Inn 74089 Polgooth Village Stores 73816 Poltarrow Farm 67111 Property Maintenance (SW) 07972345546 River Valley Garage (formerly Hillside) 74056 Shane Perry, Aerial & Satellite Services 883655 Spindrift, Accommodation 65478/07546895302 Stellar Solar Ltd 07887767630 Sweet Bros – car servicing/repairs/recovery 72959 Tregongeeves Farm Cottages—Holiday accom 68202/73533 2KS Building Services 07434947420/07816913479/ 01726891972 Village Salon 75930 Weed Control Specialist 68746

Printing of Polgooth Times by KCS Trade Print Ltd. 01566 773696

25 GROUPS & ORGANISATIONS

POLGOOTH LADIES GROUP will be meeting on the last Tuesday of each month in the Village Hall at 7.30 p.m. For further details please contact Mrs Carol Peatheyjohns on 63457. POLGOOTH KEEP FIT CLUB In the Village Hall. Monday 7pm or 2pm according to the time of the year. Term-time only. Contact Irene 67757 POLGOOTH CHILDREN’S GROUPS. Every Friday in the Chapel from 6.15 to 7.15 pm for 3-8 year olds. Contact Pam Hitchens 72790. POLGOOTH PLAYERS Contact Ian Taylor 73150 or Jacquie Kessell 64059 for details. All welcome. Annual productions. POLGOOTH CHURCH Coffee morning in the Chapel, on the first Monday of the month at 10.30 am. POLGOOTH VILLAGE HALL Bookings- Contact Michelle Taylor 73150 KNIT & KNATTER Contact Angela Champion 72440 POLGOOTH EVENTS COMMITTEE Arrange seasonal events throughout the year. To get involved contact Kate Spencer on 61889 ST MEWAN UNDER FIVES 76001 Email: [email protected] Open 9.00 am—12.00 pm Monday to Friday Bunnies Wednesday mornings 9.30 am—11.30 am in front of the Village Hall

PLACES OF WORSHIP

St. Mewan Parish Church For details please contact the churchwardens, Myrna Baker 01726 73698 or David Priston 01726 70575.

Polgooth Methodist Church For details please contact Tony Warren on 01726 75362.

St Augustine of Hippo, Roman Catholic Church Woodland Road, St Austell (opposite ASDA) Sunday Mass Times: Saturday 6 p.m., Sunday 8.30 and 10.30 am Holy Days: 10.30 am & 7 pm Telephone: 01726 73838

26 Polgooth Methodist Church

Diary Dates

Coffee Mornings on first Monday each month from 10.30 am Children’s Group on Fridays during term time from 6.15 pm to 7.15 pm 21st September 10.30 am Family Harvest Celebration led by Rev Steve Wild

9th November 10.30am Remembrance Service commemorating the centenary of the outbreak of WW1. See page 26 for contact details

OUR DUCK ‘CLOVER’

Our Cayuga duck is beautiful, she is two years old and medium sized. She has black plumage shot with blues, greens and purples and has bright beady eyes and will stretch her neck to see what is going on particularly if a hawk flies overhead.

You can often take her for a walk as long as you are behind her with a stick. She takes a long time moving along as she wants to poke her bill under every clump of grass along the way.

Most days she lays a lovely tasty egg with a very yellow yolk, laying better than our hen Violet. They both love spending time in the flower beds finding slugs, snails and other bugs. Clover loves water and there are several bowls around where she can drink. She’s got a bathing pool too. Sadly, she had a sister that was taken by a fox so they can only range free when we are in the garden.

I think she is quite intelligent for a duck. Just lately I heard her doing a slow continuous quack and when I went to see what she was doing I found a squirrel in the pen. Also she knows when we are up in the morning and she quacks a ‘good morning’ to us as soon as she hears us moving.

Pauline Sweet

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R. A. HAWKE & CO

Anthracite, Coal and all solid Fuels. Delivery to your door or collect pre-packed at the shop. Come and see our selection of Brass and Copper-ware: Candlesticks and Lamps: Companion Sets in Brass or Wrought iron-work: Scuttles and Hods: Bric a Brac You are welcome to come in and browse.

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29 SPINDRIFT GUESTHOUSE LONDON APPRENTICE

Bed and Breakfast in (en suite) twin, double or family rooms. Special Diets catered for. Every Comfort. Lovely Views. Private Gardens and parking. 6 miles to Eden – 4 miles to Heligan – 2 Miles nearest beaches. Est over 25 yrs.

Self Catering properties sleep 2 – 4 persons All in beautiful countryside location with private parking.

Contact: Linda McGuffie 01726 65478 or 07546895302 www.spindrift-guesthouse.co.uk email: [email protected]

30 SURGERY FOR STEPHEN GILBERT M.P.

These are published on his website :- www.stephengilbert.org.uk

Stephen Gilbert MP holds regular advice surgeries for his constituents to raise issues or problems. No appointment is necessary and Stephen promises to see anyone who turns up.

Newquay The Workshops, Clevedon Rd, TR7 2BU St Austell 10 South St, PL25 5BH . 01726 63443 [email protected]

The Deaf Wife Problem

Bert feared his wife Peg wasn’t hearing as well as she used to and he thought she might need a hearing aid. Not quite sure how to approach her, he called the family Doctor to discuss the problem.

The Doctor told him there is a simple informal test the husband could perform to give the Doctor a better idea about her hearing loss. ‘Here’s what you do,’ said the Doctor. ‘Stand about 40 feet away from her and in a normal conversational speaking tone see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet and so on until you get a response.’

That evening, the wife is in the kitchen cooking dinner and he was in the den. He says to himself ‘I’m about 40 feet away, let’s see what happens’. Then in a normal tone he asks ‘Honey, what’s for dinner?’ No response.

So the husband moves closer to the kitchen, about 30 feet from his wife and repeats ‘Peg, what’s for dinner?’ Still no response.

Next he moves into the dining room where he is about 20 feet from his wife and asks ‘Honey, what’s for dinner?’ Again he gets no response.

So, he walks up to the kitchen door, about 10 feet away. ‘Honey, what’s for dinner?’Again there is no response.

So he walks right up behind her. ‘Peg, what’s for dinner?’ ‘For God’s sake, Bert, for the FIFTH time, CHICKEN!’

31 Property Maintenance SW General/On-going Property & Garden Maintenance. Fencing & Gates, Patios, Driveways, Painting & Decorating, Carpentry– Internal & External, Woodworm Damp Proofing, Dry/Wet rot, Plumbing & Drainage Roofing, guttering, Fascias & Soffits. Kitchen & Bathroom

Fully Insured - Affordable Rates - Free Estimates Emergency Call out 07972354546 (St Austell)

Mobile For Free Estimate

32 A1—WESTON SCHOOL OF MOTORING 32 Years Experience- competitive rates A1westonschoolofmotoring.tel Simon Sweet St Austell 61167

CARNMOGGAS HOLIDAY PARK INDOOR BOWLS CLUB

OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK SIX RINKS ARCHERY TUITION AVAILABLE LICENSED CLUB BAR SNOOKER, POOL & PUB SKITTLES SOCIAL MEMBERSHIP PARTIES CATERED FOR

LITTLE POLGOOTH, ST AUSTELL Telephone St Austell 74070 33 THE ‘GREEN THING’

Checking out at the supermarket, the young cashier suggested to the much older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren’t good for the environment. The woman apologizes and explained “We didn’t have this ‘green thing’ back in my earlier days.” The young cashier responded “That’s our problem today – your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations.” She was right – our generation didn’t have the ‘green thing’ in its day. Back then we returned milk bottles, lemonade bottles and beer bottles to the shop. The shop sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilised and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were re-cycled. But we didn’t have the “green thing” back in our day.

Grocery shops bagged our groceries in brown paper bags, which we re-used for numerous things, most memorable besides household bags for rubbish, was the use of brown paper bags as book covers for our school books. This was to ensure that public property (the books provided for our use by the school was not defaced by our scribbling). Then we were able to personalise our books on the brown paper bags. But too bad we didn’t do the “green thing” back then.

We walked up stairs because we didn’t have a lift in every supermarket, shop and office building. We walked to the local shop and didn’t climb into a 300 horsepower machine every time we had to go half a mile. But she was right. We didn’t have the “green thing” in our day. Back then, we washed the baby’s Terry Towel nappies because we didn’t have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 3 kilowatts of wind and solar power. We really did dry our clothes back in the early days. Kids had ‘hand-me-down’ clothes from their brothers and sisters, not always brand new clothing. But that young lady was right; we didn’t have the “green thing” back in our day.

Back then we had one radio or TV in the house – not a TV in every room, and the TV had a small screen the size of a big handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of Scotland in the kitchen. We blended and stirred by hand because we didn’t have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn’t fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. We pushed the mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn’t need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she’s

34 right; back then we didn’t have the “green thing.”

We drank from a tap or fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn’t have the “green thing” back then.

Back then, people took the bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their Mums into a 24-hour taxi service in the family’s £50,000 People Carrier which cost the same as a whole house did before the “green thing.” We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances and we didn’t need a computerised gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 23,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest Pub!

But isn’t it sad that the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn’t have the “green thing” back then?

Please pass this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smart young person…..

Sara Aberdeen

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DENIS MAY & SONS GOONVEAN ST STEPHEN

CEMENT, SAND, AGGREGATE, BUILDING BLOCKS ETC.

Tel 01726 823333

J & L Plumbing

Call Dave Hitchens for a free estimate

 Bathrooms  Natural Gas Boilers  Gas fires  Plumbing Repairs

Tel: 01726 73958 Mobile 07824 961470 Email: [email protected]

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Back pain/sciatica Fully qualified and Bowen & Poor posture insured Spinal Neck/shoulder practitioner restriction Totally confidential Headaches/Migraines Touch consultation Sports injury Other treatments in Polgooth Digestive complaints include For more information or just a chat to see if aromatherapy Bowen or Spinal Touch can help, call 01726 65758 or e-mail [email protected]

37

ENVIROSCAPE SOLUTIONS Mr Nigel Mitchell

Tel: 01726 844688 Mob: 07968353653 Web: http://enviroscapes.wix.com/kernow Email:[email protected]

Fencing Garden Maintenance

Supply and install all types, including Grass Cutting (Domestic & Commercial) Chain Link Strimming Palisade Fencing Timber Post and Rail Weed Control Including Japanese Timber Board & Panel Knot Weed

Steel Mesh Panel Systems Ornamental & Native Hedge Security Fencing Trimming

Timber Gates Shrub Pruning Animal/Stock Fencing

Tree Works Landscaping

All aspects of tree work undertaken, Paving including Pergolas Hand Rails Felling Raised Beds Pollarding Timber Decking Supply/Lay Quality Turf Crown Reduction/Lifting Ornamental Stone Walling Windblown/Storm Damaged Rotovating/Soil Preparation Trees Cleared Grass Seeding Decorative Gravels (supply & In- “No Tree is too big or too small; stall) we will consider them all!” Installation of Low Maintenance Gardens

Fully Insured NPTC and Lantra Qualified Please Contact Me For Free No Obligation Quotation

38

The Village Salon Polgooth

Unisex hair salon  Free Parking Professional & friendly service for all the right outside family  Stockists of Now including— Moroccan Oil Indian Head Massage and Goldwell

The Village Salon Fore Street Ask for Mandy or Tanya Polgooth TEL: 01726 75930

39 BUS SERVICE— POLGOOTH TO TRURO

Why not take advantage of the twice monthly shopping bus to Truro? The mini- bus is organised by AGE UK and the return fare is £2.

The bus leaves Trelowth Road (two pick up points and more can be arranged) on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month at 1.15pm. It collects passengers from Trelowth, Sticker, and Hewaswater. The bus travels direct to Tesco, Lemon Quay for Marks & Spencer and the final dropping point is The Cathedral.

There is ample time for shopping at Tesco and maybe a ‘cuppa’ before the bus makes its return journey leaving Tesco at around 3.40pm and subsequent places shortly afterwards.

We very much regret that we cannot accommodate wheelchairs. However, wherever possible it will be a ‘door to door’ service. For further information please ring Pam Harrison Tel 66681 or Barbara Littlejohns on 71265.

We do need your support, for if we don’t use it, we shall lose it.

Thank you

Pam Harrison

40 TRAVEL CORNWALL BUS SERVICE 471

Gorran Haven to St Austell via Mevagissey and Polgooth This timetable is operated Monday to Saturdays only but not on Bank or Public Holidays.

Gorran Haven Car Park 0940 1345 1650

Gorran Triangle 0942 1347 1651

Gorran Churchtown 0947 1352 1656

Gorran Highlanes 0950 1355 1659

Heligan Gardens 1000 1405 1709

Tregiskey 1005 1205 1410 1714

Mevagissey School Hill 1007 1207 1412 1716

Mevagissey Trevarth 1012 1212 1417 1721 Polgooth 1023 1223 1428 1732

St Austell Trinity Street 1032 1232 1437 1740 Saturdays and Non Schooldays St Austell Trinity Street 0845 1140 1250 1600

Polgooth 0854 1149 1259 1609 School Hill 0904 1156 1306 1616

Mevagissey Trevarth 0909 1200 1310 1620

Tregiskey 0912 1205 1315 1623

Mevagissey School Hill

Heligan Gardens 0917 1322 1630

Gorran Highlanes 0927 1333 1640

Gorran Churchtown 0930 1336 1643

Gorran Triangle 0933 1341 1646

Gorran Haven Car Park 0935 1343 1647

41 MAY’S COUNTRY STORE

PET: Most leading brands of pet food. We carry a wider range and are cheaper than the supermarkets.

GARDEN: Growbags, fertilizer, compost, peat, seeds, hand tools

CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR: Wide range of top brands including Tayberry, Tagg, Hoggs, Dickies, Caterpillars, Dr. Martens

EQUINE: Feed, bedding, riding wear, tack, rugs, most things for horse and rider

HOUSEHOLD: Domestic cleaners, detergents, washing powders, kitchen essentials

D.I.Y: Decking, timber, fencing, hand tools, power tools, building materials

D MAY AND SON HEWAS WATER, ST AUSTELL 01726 883838

Open Mon-Fri 7.30 am - 5.30 pm Sat 8.00 am - 5.00 pm

Ample Parking Assisted Loading Beside the A390 St Austell to Truro road

42 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE POLGOOTH TIMES

The format and number of pages are decided soon after the specified date. Late material may be impossible to fit in, unless especially important, articles, letters, etc. will be held over for fresh consideration. Editing of some articles may be essential. SUBMISSIONS for publication can be hand-written, printed, typed or photocopied BUT MUST BE LEGIBLE. We can also include photographs. WHEN SUBMITTING ARTICLES PLEASE TRY TO PRODUCE THEM ON A5 SIZE (as this page). This helps reduce work in compiling the draft. Articles may be emailed to: [email protected]

The Editorial Committee cannot undertake to confirm times, spellings, dates, venues, etc. Contributors are asked, please, to check accuracy of details sent in. Views expressed in letters and articles in the POLGOOTH TIMES are not necessarily those held by members of the Editorial Committee, the Committee does not accept responsibility for opinions, methods, conclusions or views expressed in content material.

The POLGOOTH TIMES is FREE to people living in Polgooth, Little Polgooth and Trelowth. Additional Copies 60 pence Copies sent by post: £4.00 per 4 issues (payable in advance) FROM Mr Roger Smith, 44 Little Trelower Park, Trelowth, St Austell. 01726 67653

GARTH HITCHENS Green Acres, Trelowth St Austell PL26 2DZ Tel 01726 72790

Woodturning, Joinery, A selection of new furniture and garden windmills for sale

43 Polgooth Times Information

News information and diary events for inclusion in the forthcoming issue should be put in the Red Box in the shop or emailed to [email protected]

Thanks to those who regularly contribute to our magazine.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Di Thompson, (Editor)10 Pondhu Road, St Austell. 01726 65342. Sally Williams (Compiler) Treloweth Farm Cottage, Trelowth. 01726 75129 Roger Smith ( Treasurer) 44 Little Trelower Park, Trelowth. 01726 67653. David Holman (Webmaster) 38 Polyear Close, Polgooth 01726 64267. Lynda Thomas 1 The Old Cooperage 01726 77800. Nik Howard Tynance, Fore St, Polgooth. 01726 73189. Heather Lamble 50 Polyear Close, Polgooth 01726 75299 Katherine Spencer (Adverts) Netherton, Trelowth Road. 01726 61889

www.polgoothtimes.co.uk

Polgooth Times Check out our website

We are making our website more active and invite you to publicise any events you think readers may be interested in by e-mailing [email protected].

We are working with social media including links to Facebook and also up- loading past issues of the magazine. Please let us know if you have any comments about the website.

44 ADVERTISING IN THE POLGOOTH TIMES

If you are a retailer, or provide a service, in or near Polgooth, you’ll find this newsletter a worthwhile advertising medium. Potential advertisers will get a good deal because: -  THE POLGOOTH TIMES is published four times a year  It is delivered free to every household in Polgooth, Little Pol- gooth and Trelowth  It has a circulation in excess of 500 copies  Subscribers U.K. and Overseas  Copies supplied to St. Austell Library for County Records  Advertising Charges are reasonable We cannot guarantee the positioning of adverts. This depends on the layout decided when the newsletter is compiled. Advertisements will continue to be published and charged annually, unless the advertiser notifies Kate Spencer before the deadline of 31 December. New advertisers may be put on a waiting list. If any advertisers wish to pay electronically, please contact Roger on 67653 For advertising please contact: Katherine Spencer Netherton, Trelowth Rd Tel: 01726 61889 [email protected] ADVERTISING CHARGES Should anyone, advertisers Annual rates: or others, wish to include a Full Page £88 flyer with this magazine we are now having to make a ½ Page £54 small charge. A5 size would be £25 but anything ⅓ Page £42 that required folding would ¼ Page £32 be £50. Anything directly concerning the village is Advertisements started during the year negotiable. will be charged pro-rata.

45 Playing the Truro Cathedral organ

As many of you will know, Garth Hitchens is the resident organ player of Polgooth Chapel, having played for 66 years since the age of 14. He currently owns three impressive instruments of his own, one of which resides in the Chapel. Across the years he has rarely missed a Sunday service in Polgooth and has played at a number of other places of worship around St Austell as well.

When his 80th birthday came around, in June, it seemed only fitting that he should have the opportunity to play the largest organ in Cornwall and one widely regarded as the best in the country. Under the watchful eye of Chris Gray, Organist and Director of Music at Truro Cathedral, Garth was able to fulfil a lifelong dream by playing the famous Father Henry Willis Organ for around twenty minutes. The organ was brought into Truro by boat in 1887. It is almost the same now as it was all of those years ago, only with the addition of an electric blower. It was given a restoration in 1963, carried out by the grandson of Willis for a total of £17,000. The console was moved in this year to a more convenient location – thankfully for Garth, as it was originally accessed by a spiral staircase which took two to three minutes to climb.

Family and friends came to watch him play, including daughter-in-law Caroline and wife Pam, who together came up with and organised the idea. In between songs, Garth was told a number of facts about the instrument, including the sizes of the many pipes (one is wide enough to stand a child inside and stands over 30 feet tall!) as well as being told about the £250,000 service which will soon be upon them. Chris then treated everyone to a short performance, after a little bit of persuading.

Thankfully, Garth is quite content with the organs he owns, much to the relief of Pam, who had visions of hundreds of pipes being shipped in to get the full effect! Chris politely declined Garth’s invitation to pop up and compare sound quality, but he was assured that the sound produced by Garth’s organ was very impressive for one lacking pipes.

To capture the moment, I was filming when Grandad was told he would be playing the organ and filmed his performance at the cathedral. For anyone who would like to watch this, here is the link to the video: bit.ly/TDId23 (this links to a Youtube video) Garry Hitchens

46 Garth playing Truro Cathedral organ

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