BOSCASTLE BLOWHOLE No 73 Spring 2011 £1
Dougie & Bridget celebrate St Piran’s Day
Also inside: National Trust Events page 10 Moira Hart’s Fiendish Crossword page 19 School News page 20 RAF Davidstow Museum page 26 Travellers’ Tales page 28 Pete’s Peeps at the Past page 33 Editorial ... or March Rant A few years ago the binmen would empty into on Thursday. I left them the Old Road over half- Council decided to change their truck. Easy-peasey. out for the next week’s term. Now we learn that the rubbish collection, Now, they will no longer collection, still they stayed the Old Road from the Slip insisting that we put all empty the ashbin, as in situ. The following week to the Welly will be closed refuse in our dustbins rubbish must be wrapped. ditto. Last week I put the from 14th March to 15th inside black plastic bags. It So I shovel the ashes into plastic sacks into black bin April to repair the failed seemed mad to me - surely a plastic sack - like the bags and this magically bank. The tarmac surface it just meant even more ones Pat & Matt had their made the ashes acceptable of the whole of Old Road non-degradeable items in dung delivered in (see next for disposal via the refuse is in a parlous state & it is landfill sites. page) - and put that out collection ... Bonkers! to be hoped that Highways I have a Rayburn & a for collection. Generally It is certainly good news will take this opportunity wood-burner so generate this has caused no hassle. A that the New Road has to resurface at least this a fair amount of ashes few weeks ago, however, I been reopened, albeit with section of it properly, and during the winter, Before put out two sacks of ashes lights at the time of going soon do the rest, rather the ‘bag edict’, I put ashes on Wednesday night and to print. It was somewhat than just patching the found they were still there numerous potholes. into a metal bin that the hairy with 2-way traffic in PA Boscastle Blowhole Team The editorial team reserves the right to accept, reject or edit any material submitted for publication. The views expressed in the magazine are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the team. The editorial team are: Philippa Arthan, Arthur Bannister, Heather Colne, Joan Cork, Gloria Quinlan, Ann and Chris Rodda. Your name could be added to the list if you wish to join us! Help is needed with posting subscribers copies and new writers are always welcomed. The next Blowhole will be published in June. The deadline for copy will be Friday 27th May. Items for inclusion can be emailed to [email protected] Copies of the Blowhole are available by post at a cost of £2.50 per issue. To subscribe please either email [email protected] or phone 01840 250891. For advertising queries, please contact Heather Colne on 01840 250639 or email [email protected] Communications to the Blowhole can be sent by post to 44 Clover Lane Close, Boscastle, PL35 0AL or by email to: [email protected] The Blowhole is published 4 times a year and printed by: Easyprint of Red Post, Nr Bude, tel: 01288 381700 email: [email protected]
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Page Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Camelford Young Farmers Club Annual Dung Run 2011 Visitor’s Centre At the February meeting of the FMPC, Adrian Prescott, the Parish Clerk, mentioned that “We have heard that the National Trust has had meetings with Cornwall Council with a view to their taking over the Visitor Centres in Tintagel and Boscastle.” Ian Kemp of the NT will attend the March meeting of the Parish Council. Juliotter Garden Club Get together with other people to learn more about Copyright photos courtesy David Flower gardening through talks Camelford Young Farmers’ Pictured above are Matt & demonstrations at the Club held its Annual Dung and Pat Wood, who wanted Quiz Night Juliotter Garden Club. Run on Sunday Feb 13th. three bags and posed with Another Quiz Night will be New members are always the young Farmers team held at the Otterham and The club visited welcome. Camelford, Boscastle, for photographer David St Juliot Hall, Marshgate, The club meets at Tintagel, Delabole and St Flower. on Friday 25th March Otterham Village Hall Teath. Despite it not being Left to Right: Pat in aid of the New Hall at 7.30pm on the fourth ideal weather the club Wood, Glynnn Marquand, Building Fund. Starting at Tuesday of each month. raised over £770 for in aid Matthew Pethick, Tom 7:30p.m. of the Sunrise Appeal, for Jones, Dan Wheldon and Entry will be by £5 Dates for the next quarter the oncology unit at the Matt Wood per person and can be for are: nd Royal Cornwall Hospital, For information about teams of between two and 22 March Club AGM. th Truro. They would like the club, please contact six persons. Interval tea, 26 April Hanging to thank, on behalf of the Jenni Carthew on 07814 coffee and biscuits will be basket arrangements, club, everyone who helped 303972. provided. If you wish to demonstration by Tim them achieve this. have other drinks then you Ellis. are welcome to provide 24th May Talk all about your own - please also Hostas with Roger Napoleon Inn bring your own glasses. Bowden. Boscastle For further information 28th June Club Annual 01840 250204 please call 01840 251531. Barbecue. 16th century pub full of character Opticians open in Camelford now open all day
Lunch & evening meals served daily in our bar or restaurant, booking advisable J S Eyecare, Opticians All food prepared on the premises 5 Market Place, Camelford using local produce wherever possible Tel: 01840 213011 LIVE MUSIC EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT Complete spectacles from £40 For more details about the pub, the area & all our forthcoming events please ring us or Contact lenses supplied & fitted check out our website at www.napoleoninn.co.uk Feel free to call in and browse our wide A warm & friendly welcome awaits you selection of frames including designer ranges
Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Page Enterprising Young Fundraisers Volunteer Car Drivers The idea of making the journey to and from hospital for an appointment with a doctor or clinic can be quite worrying for some patients. When one is unwell or a member of the family needs treatment, the thought of driving some distance can provide additional stress. A system of volunteer car drivers to take people to and from hospital already exists in Boscastle. Organised by the church and encompassing six parishes it is a great service and provides enormous In the half term holiday’s full money pot they raised relief to folk who find Lauren (Edwards) and just over £50. They would themselves, sometimes Maisie (Miller) decided that like to thank everyone quite unexpectedly, in need they would like to do some who bought their nicely of help. cooking and sell their wares decorated buns and biscuits, Obviously the more for charity. We were really and are donating the money volunteer drivers there are proud of them coming to a poorly pet society. Very the better. If you would like up with the idea, so let Well done to you girls. to join the team , or find them go ahead with it. They Lauren Sophie and Lily out more about it, contact cooked and decorated, for and Katy Bright are also Colin Bennett on 01840 a day then went round doing a sponsored Mile run 250417 or e-mail: the village knocking on or skate (they decide which [email protected] doors, and returned home on the day), in March with an empty basket! And a for Sport Relief at the Equally if you find Eden Project so good luck yourself in need of a driver Adrian & Staff to take you to hospital Welcome you to the to you all.If anyone would like to sponsor them, to meet an appointment the forms will be around Colin would be pleased to help you. Cobweb Inn the village. CE BOSCASTLE, CORNWALL ▪ FREE HOUSE ▪ REAL ALES ▪ BAR SNACKS ▪ PENNING ▪ FAMILY ROOM ▪ RESTAURANT ▪ PAINTING Tel: (01840) 250278 Private and commercial painters and decorators www.cobwebinn.co.uk LIVE MUSIC SATURDAY NIGHTS, TILL MIDNIGHT Building & 19th March: Blue Slate 7th May: February Mad 26th March: Festive Road 14th May: Whiskey Thieves Property Maintenance 2nd April: Tank Slappers 21st May: Festive Road 9th April: Atomic 80s 28th May: Shellin’ Snails Cornwall Devon 16th April: The Cresters 4th June: Mood Indigo 30th Apr: The Harry Peanut Show 11th June: Blue Slate 01840 250047 01626 337596
Page Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Boscastle Singers Raise Money for Shelter Box Bus Passes Since January people with concessionary bus passes have had to pay to travel at certain times. They are now charged the standard fare before 9.30am and after 11pm from Monday until Friday. Travel is free at all other times including Bank Holidays and weekends. The council claim that the money generated would help protect evening and weekend bus services and that the new charges would bring them into line with Photo (by David Flower) taken in the Napoleon Inn at Boscastle on January 25th 2011 local authorities elsewhere. Pictured are Back Row: Ron Muffet (Landlord Napoleon Inn), Roger Nicholls (Coal Merchant), Peter Hicks (County Ambulance Driver), Paul Latham (Manager Napoleon Inn), Katie Neale, Raymund (Presumably these local Rogers (Artist), Hedley Venning (Local Builder) and Chris Edwards (Facilities Manager). Johnny authorities elsewhere have also Statton, another member of the Boscastle Singers, was unavailable for the photo shoot brought themselves into line Front Row: Rachel & Joe Hicks, Peter’s children with other local authorities On Tuesday nights at to Katie Neale on behalf elsewhere!) the Napoleon Inn, The of the Rotary Shelter Box Boscastle Singers can be Company. heard singing traditional Cornish songs whilst All at the NAPOLEON raising money for Shelter INN would like to say a Box. The group consisting BIG thank you to Mandy of Roger Nicholls, Peter Washer & Odette Rigby- Hicks, Raymund Rogers, Jones (pictured right at Hedley Venning, Chris our New Years Eve party Edwards and Johnny in 2009) for organising our Statton, helped to raise annual Charity Harvest £580 for the ShelterBox Festival Auction. They Charity. This sum included both put in an enormous the proceeds from a raffle amount of effort, time & organised by Odette Rigby- money towards this event & Jones and Mandy Washer. it is gratefully appreciated The cheque was presented by us all. BD
Vacancies exist for adults and children (beginners or advanced) to have Piano or Keyboard Lessons to be taught in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere by a junior school teacher with over 20 years of experience of piano teaching in Cornwall. Parents are welcome to attend the lessons. Grass Cutting, Hedge Trimming & General For further details please ring Grounds Maintenance. Peter L Henry BA, LTCL
01840 770470 Tel/ Txt: 07733 937486 Teri Roberts Email: [email protected]
Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Page The Second Best Christmas Party Ever!! Following the rip roaring success of the first best Christmas party ever, 17th December was the date for the second one, and a wonderful time was had by all eighty six of the party goers! Local trades people once more clubbed together to provide a festive Christmas lunch at The Cobweb. Generous hosts, Adrian and Tracy Bright put on a fine show, ably assisted by their staff. Crackers, carols, Father Christmas, mulled wine, Biddick (electricians), a magnificent meal, a Roger Coker (builder/ wealth of raffle prizes- this property maintenance), celebration certainly had Dean Danger (stone the X-mas factor……and walling/builder), Alan at the end of it all, the party Darlison (general building participants put their hands maintenance), Pete Green in their pockets to donate (plasterer/ general builder), £115 to Cornwall Air Mark Knowles (builder), Ambulance. On leaving, a Andy Leeds (chimney number of folks were heard sweeping/stove insulation), to say, “That was brilliant, Roger, Nan & Tim Little I’m looking forward to next (Boscastle Pottery), John year’s do already!” What Maughan (Mr Mend), Barry was an original idea by Mordue (project manager), Uncle Paul seems rapidly Thomas Mordue (painter/ to have become a Boscastle d e c o r a t o r / b u i l d e r ) , tradition. Barry & Frankie Page Grateful thanks must (carpenters/roofers), Tim go to the following trades Palin (Heritage Bespoke people who paid for the Joinery), Roger Perry event: (builder/construction/ Malcolm and Simon roofer), David Scott
M. BIDDICK & SON LTD ANDREW LEEDS ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS CHIMNEY SWEEP & STOVE INSTALLATIONS The Willows National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting Boscastle N CEIC SWEEPING, SERVICING PL35 0AS APPROVED CONTRACTOR REPAIRS, INSPECTIONS AND ALTERATIONS Telephone: 01840 250448 Registered Company No: 2372 Mobile: 07966 498733 or 07974 676583 TEL: 01840 250114
Page Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 The Second Best Christmas Party Ever!! (electrician), Martin Smith (gardener/handyman), Uncle Paul (Anything You Need), W.R. Scaffold, Simon Welch (windows/ doors) and Western Supply Co. (builders’ merchant). Big thanks also to Joan Kinsman, Sandi Darlison, Cheryl Maughan, Jilly Dominy (for star piano playing!), Rosemarie Tamplin, Heather Colne, PLC Printers, Rocky Road, Kenny the Cab, Jackie Page, Arthur Nicholls, and all those who contributed raffle prizes and helped out Photos, clockwise from above: from the Cobweb Brian Corrigan, Sarah-Jayne Mason, Adrian Bright, on the day. Tracy Bright, Karen Mason, Adrian Osborne; happy diners; more happy diners; some of the builders and their helpers. The event inspired the Photos courtesy David Flower following ode from two partygoers: w r perry & Son A Great big thank you from some ‘Birds’ of Paradise Building contractors In the bleak mid-winter, A cheery sight was seen, stone masons As golden oldies in Sunday best, roofIng specialists Set out for a day supreme renovations/extensions They were heading for the Cobweb, family business - established for And what they found inside, 40 years Was Christmas cheer, and lots of beer and plenty tel: Boscastle 01840 250081 more besides. The food it was fantastic. The mulled wine warmed you through The friendship even warmer, and Christmas pudding too!! The waiters they were gorgeous, Familiar faces some, Was that the man who did my roof? Or perhaps it was his son! A parting gift from Santa rounded off the day We could not have had a better time Hip, hip hip hooray!! What a start to Christmas, What a generous crew Thank you jolly tradesmen We will not forget you. JF & CB
Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Page CHRISTMAS DAY 2010 Val Gill tells us about some cliffs and yet these hun- festive pursuits: What do dreds of swimmers were we get up to when we have all lined up on the start- opened our Christmas ing line for the 11am rush Presents? ... Well, the very to the sea. All ages in their brave among us may decide swimming gear were eager to join the Bude Life Sav- but, with some reserves, as ing Club’s Christmas Day to what they were going to Swim which is held annual- let themselves in for. The and maybe he would do it event each year. Afterwards ly at Crooklets Beach Bude. whistle signalled the start again!! Sue said she would do it For the last few years I have and the swimmers were The Bude Life Saving with me next year, I would gone along to watch the on their way to the freez- Club offered the swimmers only consider that if I very brave and take some ing sea, running laughing, hot chocolate or mulled could guarantee substantial photos. I asked my son Ian screaming and having fun wine afterwards to help sponsorship towards the to accompany me to watch together, cold, cold sea here thaw the brave souls out, Otterham and St Juliot the great event but Ian we come, as far as I could and yes they were all still New Hall Appeal Fund, said that he wouldn’t just see everyone of them took laughing together. I would and seeing that it would be watch, but would join in the plunge. like to take this opportunity unlikely that any sponsor the swim for the first time. I saw Mike and to say thanks to every one would offer an amount to I thought he was mad, he Sue Stickney members of the swimmers for such attract me, I will stay on didn’t agree. This year the of the Boscastle and an entertaining time and the side of the spectators. air temperature on arrival Crackington Gig Club thanks also to Bude Life Valerie Gill. at Bude on Christmas Saving Club for staging the (Ed: Perhaps Blowhole readers would drying off afterwards, Sue like to sponsor Val and encourage her to morning at 10.30am ac- commented that she had to change her mind and join Sue!) cording to my car was mi- earn her Christmas dinner nus 2⁰C, we were informed by joining the swim which that the sea temperature she had done for the past was 9⁰C. Snow was on the 7 years, brrr!! Ian agreed beach and the surrounding it was a great experience
BOSSINEY HOUSE HOTEL and Cedar Tree Restaurant Tel: 01840 770240 Bossiney Road Tintagel Camelford Country Dance Great rooms, a comfortable bar and Every Thursday Night at spacious restaurant which are open St John’s Ambulance Hall, Camelford to non-residents for a la carte meals throughout the week and with our 7.30 - 9.30 pm renowned carvery every Sunday - also a Cost: £1.10 including, tea and biscuits great venue for special events, weddings and Christmas parties Contact Barbara Perry 01840 212655
Page Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Cheaper Litres Oil has assured me that Over thirty village they will always afford to Boscastle Chamber of Trade the group the best possible households are now part and Commerce of the Boscastle Group for price; after all, they too, are ordering domestic heating benefiting from reduced costs for their tankers, Have your say; voice your ideas or concerns oil. Members who placed For more information on joining contact: orders with Hop Oil in which is also reflected in September all benefited our discount. There is also Shirley Wakelin (secretary) 250314 from a 4p per litre reduction the added fact that we are Chris Searle (treasurer) 250225 when the bulk delivery was ‘doing our bit’ with the Denise Tillinghast (membership secretary) 250397 made in early October. reduction of emissions and Membership fee is £20 per year and is open road wear and tear by having I’ve received news of a to all businesses within the PL35 postcode area only two tankers travelling rival company offering £10 a relatively short distance to per load to encourage ex- make bulk deliveries twice clients back: my response a year instead of numerous is, would this offer apply individual journeys all to all your orders for an round the village. indefinite number of years? Would you be paying a Hop Oil is aware of higher basic unit price to the works on New Road start with? Apparently, and have given assurance good prices can be offered that they will make all by online companies who deliveries as soon as they will then use a local supplier possibly can and that there to deliver. Will the cost of, will be no penalties or lack say, a 1000 litre bulk order of discount in the event online compare favourably of them having to make with the likely discount staggered deliveries. granted to a group bulk Call me on 01840 Relieve stress & tension with a back/ 250520 if you would like body Swedish massage. Relaxing order such as ours which aromatherapy/holistic massage with totals several thousand to be added to the register. soothing essential oils. litres? Call Hop Oil on 01208 Facial massage 851195 by the 31st March Oil prices fluctuate Specific medical conditions i.e. trapped nerves daily, even hourly, but Hop with your next orders. andd whiplash. Skin disorders - psoriasis, Myrna Lester eczema. Arthritis/rheumatism, sciatic pain, minor aches and pains. Slimming Treatment. G5. By appointment only - Home visits by arrangement I.T.E.C. Qualified Physical Therapist Valency LYNNE KELLY Tel: 01840 230933 St Gennys & Local areas Mobile: 07751 508800 Taxis THE Near Boscastle HARBOUR Anita & David LIGHT Come and see our exciting new season’s men’s, women’s and children’s clothing Tel: 01840 211702 We are approved stockists of famous brand names Licensed Private Hire including JOULES, DEAL, LAZY JACKS, WEIRD FISH Our new Italian range of “Solo” just has to be seen! Mobile: 07974 835 084 Come and Browse, we’d be delighted to see you Reliable & Friendly Service tel: 01840 250374
Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Page planting for butterfly habitat management Meet Crosstown (Bush Eggsciting events traditionally the time to Volunteer help Inn), Morwenstow Easter Egg trails are once carry out woodland work Our volunteer work days go May 15th: Footpath again being run this Easter such as coppicing, thinning from strength to strength clearance and in Boscastle Harbour on and felling. The Trust’s and have seen coppicing maintenance. Location April 22nd, 23rd and 24th, woodland in and around completed within the TBC 11am to 3pm. Join the Boscastle has been entered Valency Valley from the June 7th: Himalayan NT and Cadburys to into the Woodland Grant car park to the stepping Balsam Pull – Valency follow clues around the Scheme and this means stones. This not only helps Valley. Meet main car park harbour to claim your certain management will the wildlife of the area but Boscastle favourite chocolate treat. be carried out to improve forms part of the flood June 19th: Arable plant One trail is pushchair and the wood for the future. management work within survey on Forrabury wheelchair friendly. Cost Among the work the valley. Stitches. Meet Forrabury is £1.50 per person. Meet planned will be ‘halo The volunteers have also Church, Boscastle at the National Trust shop thinning’ around specimen installed 2 kissing gates Days start at 10am and courtyard, Boscastle. trees to give them more to replace stiles to make it finish 4pm (or earlier to suit) New for this year……. light and space and to thin easier to use the paths and the beech and sycamore All tools and tuition Camp on the Wild Side have been instrumental within the wood (as these in restoring an orchard at provided June 4th - 5th. 3pm until are considered non-native Newmills. Please bring clothes that 10am the following day. and can out-compete the can get muddy, stout Come along for an If you would like to help native trees). footwear and food and afternoon of learning out please see the following drink We have also been bushcraft skills, cooking programme: If events change or are surveying trees and paths on an open fire, and look Volunteers programme cancelled due to weather, out for nocturnal nature. for any safety issues and this we will endeavour to let March 20th: Spring clean will give more work to go everyone know. However Camp overnight in either Boscastle Harbour your built shelter or bring into our work programme feel free to get in touch to April 5th: Beach your own tent. Breakfast over the coming months. check beforehand! cleaning, The Strangles, on an open fire and then New staff Any questions: near,Trevigue (part of Following Mike Simmonds’ break camp so you leave Clean Cornwall week) Tel: 01288 331372 no trace. Under 16’s to be promotion to Head Ranger April 10th: Beach cleaning or email Fred Hutt, Ranger accompanied by a parent/ for the Tintagel to Holywell at Northcott Mouth, nr Fred.Hutt@nationaltrust. guardian. Meet at Stowe area, we have recruited Bude - Meet at car park org.uk Barton, near Bude. £12.50 Fred Hutt as Ranger for the (part of Clean Cornwall Jeff Cherrington, Head per adult, £7.50 per child. Boscastle to Morwenstow week) Ranger Booking essential on 01208 area. Fred started in January May 3rd: Wild Thyme 863046 2011 and will no doubt be Jeff.Cherrington@ nationaltrust.org.uk Working in the woods writing in future editions The winter months are of the ‘Blowhole’. ValencyValency “Nestled into the beautiful Valency Valley close to the famous harbour, scenic old village and dramatic coast path.” Bed & Breakfast and Self-Catering Penally Hill, Boscastle, Cornwall. PL35 0HF www.valencybandb.com 01840 250397
Page 10 Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 party will now take place in April! Before then we have a The Old Coach House quiz night to look forward to with our colleagues from Relax in the beautiful surroundings of this 300 Stepper Point at Padstow. year old coach house, We also face our Annual with large, secluded DFS Assessment in March mature garden and private parking when our professional Open all Year efficiency is put to the National Coastwatch Institution test by the Maritime and All rooms are En Suite with TV & radio Coastguard Agency and Geoff & Jackie Horwell News from the senior officers from other Tel: 01840 250398 www.old-coach.co.uk Lookout NCI stations. Like everyone else in the We currently have three area we’re making sure that new volunteers under we’re ready for the new training, but we always have A M HIRCOCK visitor season, the major room for more, particularly PLUMBING AND HEATING work has been done but, as if we want to stay open for always, there are still some longer during Summer General Plumbing cosmetic touches to finish weekends.So, if you are things off. interested in spending a few Oil Central Heating Our new Wind hours each month looking Oil boiler, Rayburn & Aga servicing Generator has been installed out for others, then call our and is already providing all Manager, John Davis on the power needed to keep 07791761502. 01840 250320 our equipment running. We would like to wish Fortunately it is backed up everyone a busy and successful by two solar panels for all season and if you, your guests or those days when we expect any visitors want to know what to enjoy the windless, the sea conditions are beyond WESTERINGS the harbour you can always give blazing sunshine we all us a ring on 07837610410. deserve. Spacious Self-Catering However, our winter Accommodation social programme took a - Open All Year - bit of a battering from the weather and our Christmas Shirley Wakelin Forrabury, Boscastle Tel: 01840 250314 Website: www.westeringsholidays.co.uk
Fresh locally produced meats Barnecutt’s bread and hot pasties HEDLEY VENNING Wide range of groceries, fresh fruit & veg Gluten free products stocked BUILDING CONTRACTOR Off Licence and Pay Point Your local tradesman with 30 years experience ------Opening hours: • New Builds • Renovations Mon - Fri: 8am-6pm • Roofing• Plastering Saturday: 9am-5pm • Stonework • Drain Clearance Sunday: 9am-1pm ------Tel: 01840 250108 Tel: 01840 250113 www.bottreauxfillingstation.co.uk Mobile: 0797 4581836
Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Page 11 Golden Wedding VENN DOWN FARMHOUSE
Luxury 4 star self catering apartments in a tranquil location, distant sea views Open all year 01840 250599 / 07860 608817 www.venndownfarmhouse.co.uk www.boscastleholidaycottages.com [email protected]
Warmest Congratulations to John Caberet Supper Nights and Yvonne Ayling, who celebrate The Caberet Supper Nights will be their Golden Wedding Anniversary held in the Village Hall on Friday Boscastle on Tuesday 5th April. They were 18th & Saturday 19th March. married at Christchurch, near Ware, Visitor Proceeds to Boscastle & Trevalga Hertfordshire, which they will revisit th Village Halls. Centre on Sunday 10 April, followed by a Telephone:(01840) 250010 Tickets are £10, phone 01840 celebration at Welwyn attended by a E-mail:[email protected] 250770 or 01588 880085 to check www.visitboscastleandtintagel.com host of friends and family, including availability. Open Daily Yvonne’s sister, flying in from Karachi, 1st March - 31st October their Best Man, Chief Bridesmaid 10.00am - 5.00pm 1st November - 29th February and their then 3 year old pageboy Camelford Country Dancing 10.30am - 4.00pm – now a burly Police Inspector! This takes place every Thursday Wide selection of books and leaflets on: Wildlife, Local History, Walking guides, We will be thinking of you and night at St John’s Ambulance Hall, Maps, Tide Tables & Geology guides. send special wishes that you have a Camelford, 7.30 - 9.30 pm. Cost: Accommodation Booking Service very happy day. £1.10 including tea and biscuits. Eden Tickets on sale Happy Anniversary! For more information Contact Photo copying & Fax available Public Internet Access ML Barbara Perry on 01840 212655
Page 12 Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Salmon in the River Valency Are you free Mr Humphreys (or anyone else in the area)? Are you hacked off with being house-bound after our wearisome winter weather? Are your Monday mornings chore-bound or chair-bound? Then why not pop out and come to the ‘Popin’ – open on Monday mornings from 10am. Come and enjoy coffee, cake and conversation with Earlier this year Graham King came Justine said that salmon had Lyn Biddick, Sandy Darlison across a dead salmon washed up on not been seen for about ten years, and the regulars. the bank of the Valency. He gave the certainly not since the flood, when There may be ‘a welcome in the fish, a female weighing between 5 all the baby salmon were destroyed. hillside’ but there’s a bigger and 6 pounds, to Justin Ruscombe- This one, which may have been welcome waiting for you at King who carried out an autopsy. spawned and hatched in 2007, has ! This revealed that it was not carrying returned. The find indicates that the The ‘POPIN’ eggs and could well mean that it had river is good health as a result of the Children’s Hospice South West, spawned in the river. If so there may restoration work in the area. Precious Lives Appeal be as many as 5000 eggs waiting to hatch. Bernice Lewis held a coffee morning at her home in Paradise Road to help Postage Stamps Children’s Hospice South West raise Myrna Lester collects used postage half an inch) of paper round the money to build the first children’s stamps, all year round, for the Royal stamp them either pop then through hospice in Cornwall. With the help of National Institute for the Blind, so the letter box at 8 Pentargon Road or friends and neighbours she raised the please do not throw yours away. leave them in the collection box just grand sum of £280. Bernice would like to thank them and all those came Tear them off the envelope, inside the main door of the Doctors’ along and gave so generously leaving about one centimetre (about Surgery. Thank you. NEATE FEET For all your foot health needs Professional foot care in the comfort of your own home Painful Callus Reduced Toenail Clipping Ingrowing Toenails MILLER’S PANTRY Painful Corns Removed At The Old Mill Paddings & Dressings Verrucae Treatment 01840 250223 Reflexology Decorative Home Everything you require to keep your feet pain free Accessories & Claire & Simon Neate DIPCFHP Unusual Gifts Qualified foot health practitioners Coffee + Light + Teas Mob: 07968232344 / 07870508867 Lunches
Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Page 13 Dear friends not make much difference we should never laugh in A man dies and goes The start of another year to you at all, but will, church, and that church to heaven. St. Peter meets - and it already seems hopefully, enable the church should not be fun. him at the pearly gates. to be flying by far too to look more at ministry I beg to differ, the St. Peter says, “Here’s how it quickly – I’m sure that and mission rather than church should always be works. You need 100 points I read somewhere once, just buildings and finance. fun, God has a tremendous to make it into heaven. You that the years seems to fly What we are hoping for sense of humour, and I tell me all the good things by the older you get, well is that those people in the NEVER take the Lord’s you’ve done, and I give you I think that I should start wider community who name in vain. I might a certain number of points to deny how old I am and love the buildings might laugh with our Lord for each item, depending then hope that the years consider becoming more but I would never laugh on how good it was. When will slow down – but they involved in their care and at our Lord, and there you reach 100 points, you probably won’t. maintenance to ensure that is a HUGE difference. get in.” “Okay” the man I would like to thank in all seven church buildings Church should be a place says, “I attended church this article all the hard work survive in the future, and where we meet together to every Sunday” “That’s good, that Raymond, Michael that they become a real celebrate the love of God says St. Peter, “ that’s worth and friends have been community resource for in our lives, and that love two points” “Two points?” doing at Minster, it is a real the entire community. If includes much laughter, he says. “Well, I gave 10% joy to see work progressing this experiment does come as well as sorrow. But life of all my earnings to the and once more to be able about then hopefully I itself is also like that, there church” “Well, let’s see,” to see all the grave stones will also have more time are always good times and answers Peter, “that’s worth in the grounds – two of for pastoral work about bad, but there needs to another 2 points. Did you which I was not even aware the parishes, and might be be a balance, and I will do anything else?” “Two of. Thank you so much, it able to do more visiting continue to encourage points? Golly. How about really is lovely to see the – which would be lovely to laughter in church in order this: I started a soup kitchen wider community cherish be able to undertake more that we may laugh with in my city and worked Minster as much as the off (so do stock up on the our Lord – and our Lord in a shelter for homeless regular parishioners do. I chocolate biscuits!!!!). must have a tremendous veterans.” “Fantastic, that’s am also quite sure that if In January this year in sense of humour, you just certainly worth a point,” he anybody wished to join the Church News I was have to look at the human says. “Hmmm...,” the man in, then they would be so stuck for an idea about race to see that. says, “I was married to the more than welcome and what to write that I decided I will therefore end with same woman for 50 years would receive a very warm, to print some Christian a joke from a Christian and never cheated on her, hospitable greeting for jokes that had been passed Joke web site: even in my heart.” “That’s whatever they could offer. onto me during the last Lower Meadows By the time that you year. A few weeks later on the very day that I received Quality En-suite B&B Accommodation read this article all of my six parishes will have voted a verbal thanks from a local Offering a warm welcome, our own parking, on whether they wish to be person, who said that they part of the experiment on had made them think, and all facilities and above all a relaxing stay. becoming a single parish, laugh, I also received a Anne & Adrian Prescott and it is my hope, and letter of complaint from a Lower Meadows visitor saying that we as a prayer, that the majority Boscastle of the parishes do agree church should not take the to work more closely with Lord’s name in vain, but 01840 250570 each other. To the wider in reality what the letter community this will really actually implied was that www.lowermeadows.co.uk
Page 14 Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 wonderful,” says St. Peter, “that’s worth 3 points!” Gillian Elizabeth Sale “THREE POINTS!!” the man cries, “At this rate the 27.6.1950 – 18.01.2011 only way I get into heaven is by the grace of God!” Gillian was born in helped June Mills run the open a new department to “Come on in!” London and first came to Brownies at Corentin, and gain improved treatment Yours in Christ. Boscastle aged four where danced The Floral Dance and welfare for the service Robert she enjoyed a holiday at whilst continuing to have personnel wounded in Iraq Bourne Stream, the home extra clarinet tuition at and Afghanistan and for the Contact Details: of Billie Procter, Roy’s aunt. Launceston College and relatives of those killed. Church of England: Subsequently holidays Westward Ho! Aged 60, Gillian retired Revd Robert Thewsey were spent at a cottage in On leaving school and bought a bungalow in The Rectory, the harbour with Tim, her aged 18, Gillian joined Seaford where her parents Forrabury, brother and her parents. the Women’s Royal Army now live. Delight was cut Boscastle At thirteen the family Corps Band at Guildford short when three weeks PL35 0DJ moved to Boscastle and but erupting wisdom later signs appeared of the Tel: 01840 250359 Gillian rapidly developed teeth and a difficult dental cancer for which she had Boscastle Methodist her talent for music at operation followed by been treated two years Chapel: Sir James Smiths School infection prevented her earlier had returned. Initial Rev Bryan Ede, playing the clarinet at from playing the clarinet. treatment at Brighton was 38 Penmead Road, school concerts, Cornwall The Director of Music sent to have been followed Delabole Symphony Orchestra PL33 9AP her to the Royal Military up at Eastbourne but and at Dartington Hall Tel: 01840 214818 School of Music, Kneller the disease proved too Summer School of Music Hall, where she received rapid and Gillian received Roman Catholic where she met musicians Church: solo tuition on all the excellent Hospice care at who later became famous Fr Storey percussion instruments, home from a long standing St Paul’s Church, – Jacqueline Duprey, her professor finding that Army friend, nurses from Tintagel Daniel Barenboim, she had perfect pitch and St Wilfrid’s Eastbourne, Tel: 01840 770663 Thea King and Charles was able to sight read very Seaford Community Mackeress. Religious Society accurately. Nurses and carers and with of Friends: Gillian sang at Five years later aged Social Services providing all Quakers meet each Symphorian Church, 23; Gillian was promoted the equipment necessary, Sunday at 10.30am in Dartington, St Endellion to Drum Major. She and her G.P., a very good the John Betjeman and St Jims where she played throughout the doctor! Centre, Wadebridge was a Girl Guide and she UK and most of Europe, Whilst still in command being invited to tea with of her senses, Gillian chose the Mayor of Gibraltar her own funeral hymns, and was awarded a medal readings and music. Tim Christopher Key for her services to music read a poem expressing her by the Lord Mayor of love of cats. Many attended Solicitor London at the Mansion the service, Army friends House. and neighbours, so the Trebiffen, Boscastle, PL35 0BN On leaving the Army, singing was lusty and at the Tel: 01840 250200 Fax: 01840 250900 Gillian worked for Wake they were requested eighteen years for the by her to enjoy a Cornish Established 1997 Post Office Fellowship Cream Tea. The weather serving the local community of Remembrance being celebrated for Gillian too conveyancing & wills made redundant in its re- – a Boscastle Rag with 60 organisation. She joined m.p.h. winds! Everyone probate, general litigation, etc a legal department of the will miss her but we are grateful for the privilege of Member Law Society Personal Injury Panel Army in Aldershot and having her for 60 years. Agricultural Specialist ~ Harbourmaster just before the war in Iraq helped a medical office
Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Page 15 having a formal meeting committee are compiling BOSCASTLE as such. The aim of the the programme for this afternoon was to have fun year which hopefully COASTGUARD and tea was provided by will appeal to all. They REPORT the committee. include Discovering In January Kieron your Family Tree, FEB 2011 Chatterjea came to talk Hearing Dogs, and Hello readers since my last We had planned a about the ancient Chinese visits to Bodmin Plant report we have had just Christmas shopping martial art of Tai Chi and & Herb Nursery and one callout. expedition to Truro at we were given the chance the Recycling Centre, the end of November so to take part in some of the plus a Wildlife Walk at 4/1/11 12:39 Falmouth on the arranged date and more basic exercises. Trevigue. paged team missing person undeterred by reports of We enjoyed it so much We also have plans Gleeb Cliff Tintagel. possible snow our intrepid that we persuaded Kieron for a Coffee Morning Boscastle team were stood members embarked on the to run a class until March, to be held in the Village down when arriving on Age Concern bus for our on Thursday afternoons in Hall in aid of charity, scene. Missing person found eagerly awaited trip. the Village Hall, for those yet to be decided, and by the police. Returned to station 13:20 The forecast proved who were keen to learn a day outing in May to accurate for once. As we more. Cotehele. In Attendence: L.Siford,D. approached Truro it became Our winter coffee club, As you can see from Roots,M.Smith,N.Jones, a winter wonderland, which is held on the last the above we continue F.Hegarty,J.Garrod,T. beautiful to the eye but Tuesday morning of each to flourish but we are Partrick. not so great for our driver, month, has also proved a always on the lookout Training continues. at the Michael Parsons. A couple great success, with more for new members. moment still indoors and of our members were all for people attending each We meet in Boscastle have been cut back to two turning back but nothing month. It’s a great chance Village Hall on the hours a month. Let’s hope it stops a WI member to enjoy a cuppa and a chat second Tuesday of the will change in April, but the especially when there is without any formalities. month, starting at 7.30 lighter nights will soon be a chance of some serious Boscastle WI will p.m. from March to with us and we will be able shopping!! We arrived be celebrating its 65th October, and at 2.00 to get out on the cliffs and safely, if a little later than anniversary this year and p.m. during the winter do search exercises . planned and a good time plans are afoot to mark the months. Do come and Until the next time, take was had by all. occasion. join us, you will be most care on our Coastline. We held our Christmas Having just had our welcome! Les Siford SV social in December, not annual meeting the new Station Office Boscastle.
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Page 16 Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 ‘THAT WAS MY LINE, REALLY…’ TREASURE ISLAND:- THE PANTO What a tremendous evening! Full of fun and really good- natured humour! There was absolutely no shortage of appalling puns, double- entendres and unsubtle rib- tickling jokes throughout the performance of ‘Treasure Island’, freely adapted from the work of the same name by Robert Louis Stevenson, although I am not sure how much he would have been prepared to put his name to! It is not Pictured are the cast L to R: Billy Bones (Laurence Eagle), Wallace Turbot (Nick Holmes), Spanish Kitty (Sherry Christie), Mrs Ted (Dee Pearce), Farmer Ted (Julian Findlay), African Sam (Reece Kent), Blind possible for me to hazard a Pugh (Charlotte Eagle), Blind Pugh guide (Keely Christie), Captain Mullet (Malcolm Drover), Tilly guess at how many rhymes Turbot (Mike Parsons), Poppy Trelawney/Roger Claire Cronin), Jim Hawkins (Jo Kent), Doctor (Chris there are for ‘rowlocks’, Edwards) and Bob the Dog ( Aaron Kent) however you spell it. And, copyright photo courtesy David Flower whilst we are on our way and effort went into the wonderful way in which and were involved in the sailing to Treasure Island, production of the panto the whole cast and the production. you can imagine what a and it resulted in a truly prompt dealt with the My only slight misgiving variety of sources we were enjoyable evening. Part of “occasional” forgetfulness was that unless we had tossed by. We even had, the fun and pleasure is in regarding lines: see the title, been asked to go to see ‘My wife offered me super seeing the backstage helpers ‘That was my line, really!’ the performance in order sex. I took the soup’. You sneaking on and off to said with good humour by to produce a little write- will all be able to picture change the scenery, which the cast member who had up for the ‘Blowhole’, for yourselves how useful itself was truly inventive. been robbed of his or her we would have had no the phrase ‘getting it up’ is The costumes were dramatic fleeting moment of glory. idea that it was on! And I in a nautical context, As for and decorative. I think it All the cast seemed to would have hated to miss Roger, the Cabin Boy, well! would be difficult for any thoroughly enjoy their part the treat. Make sure you Nor am I going to tell you missing parson to really go in the performance, even advertise sufficiently widely who dared mention the missing in such flamboyant when things went slightly for unobservant people Missing Parsons Bureau. garb! For us, the greatest awry: when Captain Hook next time! According to So I think you can judge fun of the evening, and made an entrance after an anonymous member of the flavour of the soiree! we went on the Thursday, the voyage to Treasure the audience, ‘it was better A huge amount of work the second night, was the Island accidentally without than last year’s’. Well, there his hook, he casually you are, then! remarked, ’Oh! That The panto was was a long journey! I’ve produced/directed by Mike grown my hand back!’, Parsons; musical direction before being handed his by Jo Kent; keyboard Julia hook from backstage. We Bright; lighting Matthew particularly enjoyed the Thewsey; costumes Odette ability of the cast to ad-lib Boscastle Rigby Jones/Sue Digby; set and joke, even when the construction Matt Wood; Gates, Railings, Fire Grates script was obviously not prompt Sue Digby; props Weather Vanes, Security Bars being adhered to! It was Pam Clarke Ornamental Ironwork, Welding excellent, too, to see how AR Tel: 01840 261340 the children ( Bob, the dog and Blind Pugh guide)
Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Page 17 Harbourmaster’s News Winter is traditionally a The job of harbour master does not quiet time for the harbour require daily attendance in the winter and this season has been and I have been lucky to travel abroad. no exception. Industrious I have been on a visit to the port of Cap remained moored in the D’ai in the south of France where I know harbour throughout the the harbour master or port capitaine. whole period and was safe He is a Dutch man with 280 mooring despite some heavy gales to administer together with a helicopter and occasional groundsea. landing pad and which makes my job I am told that Industrious here look very straightforward. I have is now sold and will be also been in Road Town on the British leaving Boscastle for the Virgin Islands, a port which caters for last time on Friday 25th numerous yachts merchant shipping and February bound for a port huge passenger liners. I cannot see any in Brittany. Industrious supply two restaurants in passenger ships coming here this season! has been the largest potter Boscastle last year with Chris Key operating out of Boscastle a number of lobster and Harbourmaster during all my 25 years as a fish and also to supply member of the Fisherman’s lobster and bass to Nathan Association and more Outlaw at the St Enodoc lately as harbour master. Hotel down at Rock At one time Scott Washer who was awarded two had more than a thousand Michelin Stars this year. It lobster and crab pots at sea is good to think that some several hundred of which of our Boscastle produce he now has stored outside a was used in his kitchens. barn at my place and down I have had one or two on the quayside. readers suggesting that all the Boscastle restaurants Catching shell fish and should be reviewed in the taking tourist trips will still Blowhole. With at least 8 be the main commercial food outlets in the village activity amongst the boats this may be an interesting in the harbour and I idea. personally was pleased to “BEEF AS IT USED TO TASTE” Old Manor FINEST QUALITY HOME REARED House Restaurant NORTH DEVON BEEF Xmas Trees, Turkeys and Free Range Chicken also available 01840 250251 Free Range Eggs We serve a great selectionThe Bridge of homemade Boscastle food including Seasonal Vegetables Home made Jams and Chutneys Morning Tea Allor Coffeecooked fresh& Biscuits, to order Homemade using Cream Teas TAKE HOME A TASTE OF CORNWALL LocalLight Produce Snacks wherever & Hot Meals possible Call in to our shop or phone to place an order Contact Robin & Jackie on tea garden (dogs on leads welcomed in the garden) Enjoy your meal in our restaurant or our large, sheltered 01840 250195 / 07977 514 798 TAKEAWAY SERVICE...phone us with your order
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Page 18 Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Moira Hart’s Fiendish Crossword R. MEARS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 CHIMNEY SWEEP 10 12 14 11 Vac & Brush
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45 39 40 41 42 43 RENOVATIONS,EXTENSIONS, PLASTERING 44 45 46 EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR 47 50 PAINTING. QUALITY WORKMANSHIP FOR ALL YOUR BUILDING REQIREMENTS. Across Down BOSCASTLE 1 two-masted sailing ship 1 town in SE 01840250100 -07969118058 7 mountain pass 2 colour 10 diminish 3 exactly alike 11 game on horseback 4 weapon 12 characteristics 5 perform 15 language of Pakistan 6 whinny 16 hard rock 7 central part 18 head covering 8 aged 20 country 9 county in N Ireland 21 hackneyed 11 postman 23 flying horse 13 stumble 27 happen 14 American university 28 ignited 19 curve 29 musical direction 20 sure 32 supple 22 flower 33 zodiac sign 24 targeted 34 sympathy 25 v shaped panel (16th century) 35 woman’s name 26 metal (atomic no. 21) 36 writing fluid 30 purpose 38 maiden name 31 eye inflammation 39 intelligence agency 32 writing implement 41 Greek river god 37 sovereign 44 circular band 40 cooking range 45 small shark 41 animal 46 woman’s name 42 printing measurement 47 seaweed 43 cutting tool 44 Sun god answers on page 37
Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Page 19 the other schools – about musicians amongst our On the bus Nathan sat next 160 children in all. We younger children ~ an to me. I brought Polos so I have been given one song incentive for all of us to wouldn’t get sick, it worked. It felt like hours but we finally to sing in Cornish and keep singing! (Not that reached our destination. quite a few of the harmony we’ve ever needed much of When I got off the bus I lines to learn. The aim of an excuse!) was glad to get some fresh the project is to raise the Sarah Duffy air. So we all got off the bus standard of singing in the Shops and lined up in our classes. schools involved and we Shops, Then we all walked down to News From School are meeting that challenge. Shops, the room where Mark met The writing from the Mrs Renshaw (Sing Up Shops, up with us and told us a bit about the Eden Project and children will tell you what leader) has been to school Pasty shops, we have been up to so far Pet shops, about safety on the ice. While to work with us all and we were in the Core, Class 2 this term! Our postponed Bright, shiney, shoe, shops, has made us much more Giant green sports shops, were in the rainforest biome. Ice skating took place early aware of the need to pay These are just a few. Me, Archie, Lydia, Ryan and in January. We always Amy were playing on the attention to phrasing, Computer shops, piano. Everyone admitted expect a high standard diction and singing in the Sweet shops, that Archie was the best at of behaviour from our correct style for each song Gleaming, glittery jewellery playing like a professional! children, but we all came – the children think the shops, We had to come off back from the Eden trip songs where we have to lose Amazing art shops full of saying what a lovely day rainbow paints, because Mrs Haden wanted our Cornish accents make to count us in case we got we had had. The children us sound quite posh! Butchers shops. lost. Then we went to the were even better than usual Surf shops Class 1 have also been forest biome. It felt like a – high praise indeed. Food shops, having a musical term and sauna. When we got further Fast pizza shops up it started getting hotter Classes 2 and 3 (the have all been attending Last of all and best of all older children) have been we saw a water fountain. The Music Train Club after I like joke shops. Everyone went over and had studying poetry over the school. With their teacher By Thomas a drink. I enjoyed being in past few weeks. Class 3 have Hayley, they have learned the biome. tackled the Jabberwocky. Trip To Eden a great variety of songs th After that we went to get They recorded themselves On the 17 of January the and a new instrument each school had planned to go to our ice skates on. I’m size 5 performing the poem and week including drums! Eden. In the school term it ¾. Everybody lined up for then used it as a frame work They have also learned had been cancelled because our first session. I was the third person on. I fell over to write their own version. about Mrs Minim and the it had been raining so much They typed them on the it had had a flash flood. When once because someone fell quaver twins and can all into me. Then we went back computers and I think recognise their values when I got to school we had to go to the loo. Once every one and had lunch. I sat next the spell check practically Hayley plays them on her to Nathan and Lydia. Then exploded! had come and gone to the guitar. I watched most of loo we set off. On the way up we went on for our second We have continued to the sessions and was very to the bus we met someone session. I felt much more learn our songs for our impressed with the structure who was late. confident. I helped Lydia and Lucy because they were a bit Sing Up International of the programme and the When we got to the bus wobbly. concert. We have attended children’s achievements. the sickies went at the front, then we were off to Eden. Once we had all taken two massed rehearsals with We have many promising our ice skates off, we headed Urchins The Bear Shop BLOCKED DRAINS The Old Mill Boscastle CLEARED FAST 24 hr call out Hedley Venning 01840 250800 01840 250113 0797 4581836
Page 20 Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 up to the land train. It was a we went to the rain forest and some of us The Gluglub bumpy ride. Finally we got took our jumpers off. Class 2 were still in the ‘Twas brilarge and the sucald toves, to the bus and we were on rain forest and we looked at the plants and Did groam and gumble in the wabe, the way home. On the way the houses. So then we made our way to the All dobly were the borogroves, back I played a game with ice skating ring. And the gong-glubs outgrabe. Katie, Lauren, Jess, Tim and We got our ice skating boots on and lined “Beware the Gluglub my son!” Ryan. It was a bit like Guess up. There was another school there. We got The jaws that crush, the claws that catch! Who. Eventually we were on the ice. Some people went around the Beware the Zumzum wolf, and shun, in Boscastle, nearly at the edge. We went on for 40 minutes and got off The rantic Gramsp! garage. I was so pleased to the ice and went back to the core for lunch. be home. I had a fantastic When everyone finished we went back He took his vorend sword in hand, day. to the ice skating ring. We had it all to our Long time the maleome foe he sought, So rested he by the chum chum tree. By Sarah selves. At the end we got off the ice and got our boots off and then we got on the train. And stood awhile in thought. There were four carriages on the train. We And as in hufuna thought he stood, Ice Skating at Eden got off the train and walked up to the bus. The Gluglub, with eyes of flame, It was Monday, I was excited Some people went to the toilet before we Came stomping through the tingley wood, because we were going to got on the bus. We played games on the bus And grumbled as it came! The Eden Project. I walked back to Boscastle. We got dropped off to our Slice! slash! slice! slash! And stab! And stab! to school and we went to Mums and Dads at the end of the day. The vorend sword went slicker slicer! the toilet first and then we By James He left it dead, and with its head, did the register. We couldn’t He went rullumphing back. go before Christmas because Shops “And has thou killed the Gluglub? The Eden Project was flooded. Shops, Come to my arms my beamish boy! The whole school walked up Shops, Magnious day! Harrooh! Herraay!” to the bus. Shops, He gruntled in his joy. I sat down with my mates Camera shops, and on the journey we had ‘Twas brilarge and the sucald toves, Car shops, Did groam and gumble in the wabe, a laugh. Then we arrived at Great Chinese takeaway shops Eden. We got off the bus All dobly were the borogroves, Delicious Cornish pasty shops And the gong-glubs outgrabe. and we had to get into our These are just a few. groups. By Keiran Maths shops, Then we met Mark at Shops Book shops, the entrance and he took Shops, Giant, exciting, toy shops. us across the bridge to The Shops, Scientific, explosive, chemistry shops, Core. Mark talked about Shops, Ice cream shops. safety and about ice skating. Pasty shops, Then we went to see the Sweet shops, Shoe shops, granite seed. It weights 70 Sports shops, Pink perfect perfume shops, tons and some of us tried to Singing card shops, Slow serving fish and chip shops, push it over. Meanwhile Class Last but best of all These are just a few. 1 were ice skating. So then I like Lego shops. Ice cream shops, By Deckard Leather shops, Amaxing blue butchers shops, CORNISH STORES Socks shops, VILLAGE SHOP Last of all and best of all A book shop full of adventures. and By Jessica POST OFFICE MK Computers For all your Grocery and every day essentials ♦ PC Upgrades and Repair Fresh fuit and vegetables daily ♦ Virus Removal and Protection Fresh local meat ♦ Custom PC Builds Hot pasties and drinks to takeaway ♦ Networking Open daily at 8.30am Web: http://www.mk-computers.co.uk ♦ Websites E-Mail: [email protected] THE BRIDGE, BOSCASTLE Phone: 01840 250447 01840 250344 Mobile: 07780 910578
Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Page 21 Harbour Happenings one of your local church 2011 wardens whose names (Also known as ‘The and telephone numbers Churches Summer Fete’) can be found on the back Once again Jane Castling has of the church magazine. MP kindly given us permission to hold this occasion on the Household Waste Valency Lawn and it will Recycling Centres th take place on Sunday 28 Vehicle Permit August. The format will be Scheme similar to last year with a st Family Eucharist service at From the 1 of February 10.30 followed by the fete this year those residents starting at 12.00. Professor owning certain commercial type vehicles Goodvibes has already been and trailers will require booked and we hope that a permit in order to visit the St Genny’s Silver Band Recycling Centres such as will also be able to join us. Bowithick Quarry. These The fete will be followed by sites are intended for the our tradition Songs of Praise disposal of household down by the inner harbour waste only. However, arm at about 4.15pm. The some traders are using collection taken at the Song them to dispose of of Praise will be donated to commercial or industrial the RNLI. waste and it is hoped This year at the fete, in that the introduction of addition to the traditional permits will prevent this ‘Doc Martin’, a tv comedy paper. The headline ‘Le Bon happening. stalls, we would like to starring Martin Clunes Filon’ translates as ‘the good introduce a ‘Home Product Permits, which are has made Port Isaac thing’. The article goes on to Market Street’. This will issued free of charge to an even greater visitor say that TF1 is making a 2nd householders, will enable be a collection of stalls attraction than its natural series of ‘Doc Martin’ and them to make twelve grouped together selling beauty and charm already that it is good publicity for visits during the twelve did - to the delight of Doëlan and the rest of this home produce such as month period from the some locals and distress beautiful corner of South cakes, preserves, garden date of issue. Only one produce, plants, knitwear, permit is allowed for of others. ‘Doc Martin’ Finistere. which is ‘rubbing paintings, needlework, each household. Vehicles is shown to umpteen its hands with glee’ as a huge photographs, crafts etc. hired for three days or places worldwide, with number of people now want Can you help by supplying less for the disposal of 3 countries having an to visit ‘Port-Garrec’ this some of the above or any household waste will not international scripted summer. The tourist office other item that might fall need a permit although format - Germany has at Clohars Carnoët, about into this category? The arts the hirer will be required ‘Doktor Martin’, Spain 5kms away, are having many and crafts items could be to complete a trade ‘Doctor Mateo’ and the enquiries about the region. sold on a 50/50 basis in waste disclaimer and French tv station TF1 is Colin says that the format order to cover the costs of present details of the hire hosting Doc Martin (say is the same as ‘our’ Doc agreement to staff on site. making the items. it with a French accent Martin, gauche blood-phobic For further information for maximum impact). doctor in picturesque coastal In previous years this regarding permits contact has been a most enjoyable Doëlan, in Brittany is the setting ...Plus ça change .... Cornwall Council, Waste fictional village of ‘Port- and rewarding day. Do Management, Council Garrec’ and actor Thierry please come and take part Hall, Truro, TR1 3AY. Lhermitte plays docteur in any part or all of the (Editor’s comment: Let’s hope this activities. If you would like is not a ploy to reduce the volume of Martin Le Foll. to take a more active role waste processed at Bowithick in order Colin Bond, who now to claim it is no longer viable and that then please contact Mike is should be closed ... and that it does lives in Brittany sent a Parsons (01840 250625) or not mean that flytipping will prevail.) clipping from his local
Page 22 Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Museum of Witchcraft Diamond Anniversary Boscastle Pottery The Friends of the Museum The Cornish Witchfinder: Est: 1962 of Witchcraft are holding William Henry Paynter by a day of talks to celebrate Jason Semmens: Paynter the 60th anniversary of The was a folklorist, antiquary Museum of Witchcraft. & bard of the Cornish A family run studio pottery, we are It is called Guardians of Gorsedd who collected probably the World’s largest established Cornish Magic and is being witch-stories & folklore dedicated Mochaware nakers. We can held at The Wellington during the 1920s & 30s. decorate our pots with the most delicate Hotel on May 14th 2011. His writings are the last trees and ferns as if by magic. In the 20th Century three great collection of Cornish So come and watch the trees grow! people in Cornwall had a Folklore. major effect on the worlds Ithell Colquhoun’s Magical OPEN ALL THROUGH THE YEAR of Witchcraft, Magic and Cornwall by anthropologist Nanette, Tim amd Roger Irving Little Folklore. Cecil Williamson Dr Amy Hale: Surrealist The Old Bakery, Boscastle collected magical artefacts artist, poet and essayist, Tel: 01840 250291 in his now world famous Colquhoun had a passionate Museum of Witchcraft, relationship with Cornwall NEED YOUR HOME MAINTAINING? William Paynter was which lasted over 40 years. the last great collector We look at her art, writings of Cornish folklore, and and magic and see how her KINGSLEY UGLOW Ithell Colquhoun’s love perspectives on Cornwall of the Cornish landscape intersected with wider influenced her art, her cultural movements such Will undertake any interior or exterior work writing and her magical as Cornish nationalism, the on your house including: practice. earth mysteries movement Decorating - Plastering Tiling The doors open at and the development of Renovation Work - Carpentry - Masonry 10.30am and the entrance Paganismin the latter half Stonewalling - Cornish Hedging fee is £10. The programme of the 20th century. Fence and Shed Building - Wooden Flooring includes: In the evening the All work guaranteed to a high standard Cecil Williamson - Life of Museum will host an Concrete bases and dwarf walls built for an Occultist by Kerriann Anniversary Book Launch conservatories at The Museum of Godwin & Joyce Froome: Phone: 01840 211054 Mobile: 07976 412374 Williamson founded The Witchcraft upper gallery. Museum of Witchcraft in The book is ‘The Museum 1951 and this talk looks at of Witchcraft ~ A Magical THE WELLINGTON HOTEL his fascinating life before History’ ~ a collection Phone: 01840 250202 and after the Museum’s of personal memories inception. celebrating 60 years ETC ** The ONLY hotel in Boscastle offering Fine Dining Restaurant Bright and airy Free house bar Beer Garden Live Entertainment every week All events catered for from 2 – 100 people
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Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Page 23 The Reading Room The door to The Reading way to combat the lethargy if Cornwall is a familiar also moving and tender in Room was quietly closed within me! location to the reader. parts. The writer used short and ‘The Keeper of the Key’ With a crowd of Some readers felt parts snappy sentences and there relinquished the role. The bookworms huddled round of the plot were implausible was a lot of dialogue. The users of The Reading Room me, I took The Key and whereas others felt had good characters were well drawn were filled with dismay unlocked The Reading Room. twists and turns that were and George, especially, felt and slopped away, sad and Together we set about unpredictable making it a very real. The situations were despondent, anticipating the exploring the shelves of The good page-turner. There was realistic, evoking sympathy void in their life. Reading Room. Before us was also a concern that too many for the characters, again, I broke away from the a wide selection of books. of the minor characters were especially for George. The group and the damp Cornish What would we chose? stereotypes. sort of non-communication that can happen in families mizzle hit my face as I At last we were ready to We each gave a score out was sensitively illustrated walked towards the cliff. The get started. If you look into of 10, for two aspects of the and real family issues were Reading Room was my lifeline The Reading Room right now novel and an average score tackled. The madness was to reading. It somehow, you can see how we got on. resulted as follows: dealt with skilfully and with enlivened and motivated me Storyline 6.5 The Reading Room insight and one bookworm to explore more and more Quality of writing 6.5 books. Books of all types and Reviews felt it enabled her to see how ‘A Spot of Bother’ by it might feel being on the genre - Books I would never ‘Rough Music’ by Patrick Mark Haddon edge. have chosen myself. What Gale would I do without it? Mark Haddon enjoyed Some of us laughed Patrick Gale lives in Suddenly I found my huge success with his first out loud at the humorous Cornwall on his partner’s resolve! I would not give up novel, ‘The Curious Incident scenarios and someone said farm near Land’s End. - I would carry on alone. My of the Dog in the Night- it reminded her of Adrian ‘Rough Music’ was written books would not stay closed time’. It was inventively; Mole, however, another at a time in his life when like the doors to The Reading written in a voice of fierce was reminded of the 1970’s he was intensely happy and Room. originality and it won him ‘Bouquet of Barbed Wire’! it was the first of his novels The Whitbread Book of the The bookworms had As springtime, in the written under the guidance Year Award. He followed mixed feelings overall little Cornish fishing of Patricia Parkin who, he it, some thought recklessly, about the novel. Parts were village, turned to summer said, encouraged him to take with a book of poetry which amusing; parts were witty the hustle & bustle of more risks than before. everyday life engulfed me. received mixed views from and carefully worded. It It was his tenth and best My books remained on the the fans of his first book. began with promise but it selling novel. It dealt with shelf, gathering dust and ‘A Spot of Bother’ let us down and became the issue of Alzheimer’s the yearning for them was seemed, in comparison, to be tedious. The characters and this is well conveyed pushed to the back of my rather unspectacular. It was a lacked background story and with a realism that disturbs mind. I had other more readable book about familiar the theme was hackneyed. and upsets. The novel pressing affairs to put my family relationships but not It was not a page- uses the structure of two time to, other demands outstandingly memorable. turner. However, it may narrative strands. This can to meet. I had no time to have sustained the initial be confusing at times, but it It was an easy read, indulge in reading. The gives the reader a compulsion sometimes humorous but realisation eventually came to read on. that summer was slipping Muts Cuts away and I had failed. I had The perspective was Qualified City and Guilds Groomer not opened any of my books. changed for the reader, in Remorse flooded over me. various chapters, by altering Gable Cottage I had to do something to the ‘voice’ from that of an Newhall Green change this but what? eight-year-old boy to a forty Near St Teath year old man and also a GOT IT! middle-aged woman. I had to re-open The Gale uses a mixture Reading Room! I would of real place names and become ‘The Keeper of the Ring Kerri on 01840 211786 fictional ones, which can Key’ myself. It was the only be confusing especially
Page 24 Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 The Reading Room continued from page 24 Joyce’s life experiences of Pickwick enjoyment had we been declining fortune. It also able to read it serialised in a portrays how Ireland was Antiques magazine spread over several dominated by faith. weeks. Joyce has a keen eye for The Old Mill Boscastle Storyline 6.6 the absurd as he examines Telephone: 01840 250770 Quality of writing 6.5 the dark side of the city and of urban life. It is ‘The Dubliners’ by James surprisingly modern in its Always good stocks of Joyce structure but still quite a Silver - Plate - Glass - Porcelain - Pictures James Joyce (1882- literary challenge. Small Furniture and much, much more 1941) was a prominent Irish The bookworms were If you are looking for a special gift or memento then do writer. He was born, raised glad to have tried this famous and educated in Dublin, book and, although ready to look us up. We have a wide selection which had a profound admit it was a well-written of small items that make ideal presents. impact on all his work. The piece of classic literature, We also like to buy old and interesting items! Dubliner’s is a collection of they found in depressing short stories in which he and unremittingly gloomy. aims to reflect the people of Dublin at a difficult time in When scoring the Wella Book its history. There is a lengthy storyline part of the book Keeping Solutions introduction but it was we looked at whether the necessary to put the stories collection of stories gave in context and setting. a vision of the people that For all bookkeeping requirements made up Dublin at that time. The stories are snapshots Sole trader; Partnership & Ltd Co accounts When scoring the writing we in time, enabling you to drop Year end accounts looked at the overall writing into a person’s world and get VAT returns & filing quality rather than at the Self assessment tax returns & filing access via their thoughts and individual stories. feelings. The writing gives PAYE and payroll a vivid sense of character Storyline 8 New business start up assistance Quality of writing 7.3 and location. By using a Tel: 01840 705004 for more information different voice in every story See you in The Reading Or email: [email protected] he creates a realism, which Room again soon. Keep Qualified, experienced bookkeeper (Manual and computerised systems) Insured and industry regulated. makes it any thing but an Reading! Fully compliant with legal requirements to be registered under the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 uplifting read. However, The Keeper of the Key this is understandable given Boscastle’s famous museum of witchcraft
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Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Page 25 RAF Davidstow Moor Memorial Museum days, quite remote from squadrons flying in and new laid egg on crisp toast’ everyday life. However, out or stationed there. - instead of canteen food. sometimes museums with The Polish air crews were A photograph of Daisy smaller collections, started particularly keen to take shows a young, attractive from the enthusiasm of an part in the missions, seeing woman with soft curls individual for his subject, them as contributing to and beaming smile. may mean more to us - as the day when their country Indeed, what I found most they say ‘less is more’. One would be freed. Daisy poignant, of all the exhibits, such museum is RAF Wallis, a SRN WAAF were the photographs. Davidstow Moor Memorial Corporal, was posted to Young servicemen and Museum; here, David Davidstow in December women in uniform smiled Keast’s passion for the 1943. She was one of the How often have we noticed out at the viewer and, history of RAF Davidstow many WAAFs sent to work a place of interest on our knowing the uncertainty of Moor Coastal Command is in the hospital unit. door step, yet needed a their future, I was amazed evident in his presentation nudge to visit it. RAF Daisy’s happy memories that they managed a smile of information, Davidstow Moor Memorial of her time in Davidstow for the camera. Another photographs, uniforms, Museum was such a place have remained with her poignant moment was old style technology for me. Often, on the way ‘all her life’. In her off-duty coming across a tiny chapel, and other interesting to Bodmin Moor, I had time she would cycle to tucked behind a curtain, objects. The Museum is driven passed the Museum Boscastle and surrounding with a small strained glass filled with collected and but never stopped. My district, accompanied by an window dedicated to the donated items - such as nudge came from Marion 18 year old airman, whose RAF. Stepping behind the the uniform, waiting on its Ferrett when she told me previous posting on a curtain, with the conflict coat hanger for its owner to about a letter received wireless course, had been to and horror of those days change into. When Marion by the Museum from Stornaway. In her letter she shut out; it is an oasis of first visited the Museum, Daisy Wallis, a lady in her wrote - ‘I would like to say stillness and peacefulness. she was so impressed by nineties. Daisy was writing “Thank You” to all the local The Museum is free to the work David and his to thank the local people village people for accepting visit (donations welcome) wife Pat, had put into its for the hospitality she had us and for their kindness and opens at 10.30am until creation and cataloguing of received, when stationed and to let them know how 4pm from Easter to the the history that she became at RAF Davidstow in the much we appreciated it’. end of October. It is full of a volunteer steward. 1940’s. Intrigued by this We can imagine what a information and there is so information I visited it. RAF Davidstow was treat it must have been, much to absorb that one an operational station, to receive an invitation to Often museums can visit won’t be enough. where aircraft flew daily, share tea with a villager, - ‘a GQ be thought of as large carrying bombs and depth establishments - such as charges. It was a multi- the British Museum and malcolm Barnecutt national air field having, the V&A - with collections amongst others, American, gathered from bygone We sell freshly Canadian and Polish baked pasties, handmade cakes, scones S.J.JOSE and pastries, a large range of breads, crisps CARPENTER & JOINER & handmade cookies, take- GENERAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE away teas, coffee, drinking chocolate Tel 01840 250069 4 Bridge Walk, Boscastle, PL35 0HE Mobile 07974 723382 Tel: 01840 250205
Page 26 Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 on this issue. Ruth and Alan Watson welcome you to: Every effort is being made regards saving the Camelford Leisure Centre ST CHRISTOPHER’S and we are exploring what cuts can be made and what HOTEL new sources of revenue can High Street, be found. Boscastle, PL35 0BD County Coucillor I am extremely Situated in the old, Glenton Brown writes: concerned at the Councils upper part of this cut back to its ‘Supporting beautiful harbour village, Through ‘The Blowhole’ People’ scheme. There are with its spectacular Tel: 01840 250412 I would like to thank 1000 people in need of coast and countryside everyone who has helped me their support in Cornwall ● 9 ensuite Rooms put on as much pressure as and on March 31st all these ● Bed and Breakfast possible onto the Cornwall cases will be dropped. ● Coffee & Tea making facilities in every room Council for Boscastle’s one At the moment I am not email: [email protected] and only car park. It was aware of an alternative yet a fantastic response to get the Coalition Government over 500 signatures on the has not cut its budget Jenni & Alan Sabin welcome you to petition within seven days! toward ‘Supporting People’ Also the well attended and Eric Pickles, Local The Spinning Wheel meeting at The Riverside Government Minister has Hotel and much other stated that for every £1 Bridge Walk, Boscastle work done by Ross Yates, not spent on supporting Peter Templar and Chris people will cost another Pavement Cafe & Bistro Daw. The outcome, whilst £5 or £6 further down the Lunches & Daily Specials not quite what we wanted, line picking up the social could have been far worse. cost of these cuts. Cornwall Hot & Cold Snacks A brief illustration of Council legally has to have Morning Coffee & Afternoon Tea charges is, 50p for one hour, a respectable amount in £1.80 for 2 hours and £450 reserves, but with £127 Beers, Wines, Ciders & Soft Drinks for a season ticket. Talk million currently in Kelly’s Clotted Cream Ice Cream of £675 and £900 have reserves, then I believe the disappeared. The lastest rainy day is here. 01840 250501 position re Cornwall ’s car Please do not hesitate parks is that a call in to a to contact me if I can be of screening committee has help on 01840770302 THE OLD MILL been accepted, and I will be Glenton Brown CC attending further meetings BOSCASTLE
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Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Page 27 The Boscastle Working Men’s Club Bellamy’s widow. th Mr Bellamy, as owner of This year marks the 10 such as snooker, billiards the land, had been elected anniversary of the opening and dominoes, as well as president of the club until of the Boscastle Community regularly held whist drives. his death when Mrs Bellamy and Recreation Centre. The second world war was voted in. She was re- Long term residents of years were recorded by elected as president each Boscastle will know that, events such as - March 1941 year thereafter, until her after much work and -‘black-out curtains to be demise in 1968. It is ironic fund raising, this building purchased’; January 1943 - that, at the 7th April 1945 replaced the club house ‘Mr C Ferrett leaving to join meeting, when Mrs Bellamy originally known as ‘The the forces’ and December was again ‘re-elected as Boscastle Working Men’s 1945 – ‘a collection be taken President’, there was a Club’. Nothing remains in aid of the Welcome Home lengthy discussion about of the club; however, its Fund’. In the main, life admitting ‘two ladies into Accounts and Minute books appeared to go on as usual, the club in the afternoon’. are in safe keeping in the with members attending The ‘matter was discussed at Boscastle Archives, under the billiards tournaments, length but it was proposed the custodianship of David held regularly by the that on no account were Ferrett. Looking back over Camelford and District ladies to be brought into the of these records, a picture Billiards League. Prizes for club’. This was ‘unanimously of life in Boscastle between ‘gambling’ and ‘bad the tournaments and whist agreed upon’! It was not 1923 and 1999 emerges. language’. These rules were drives varied from packets until January 1991 that a The land on which laudable, though we, in of cigarettes, chickens or proposal ‘that the club be the club was built was the 21st century, may find monetary prizes. 1951 saw open to lady members’ was originally owned by the them surprising; it was an the Christmas whist drive put before the committee Lord of the Manor, George all male preserve after all! giving ‘a goose as prize for and carried with ‘one vote Bellamy. He donated the There were few instances the highest score; 1st prize - against’. Clearly, the name of land to the village in 1922, of ‘bad behaviour’ recorded a chicken; 2nd prize – sherry the club could not continue so that the building could throughout the life time 3rd prize – one dozen eggs as ‘The Working Men’s be erected. The clubhouse, of the club; however, and consolation prizes of Club’. It was renamed firstly a simple corrugated iron when the occasion arose – Ladies prize 10 Craven A; ‘The Boscastle Snooker construction, consisted they dealt firmly with any Gents prize 10 Players’. Club’ and in September of one large room with transgressors. One entry in The income of the club 1997 ‘Boscastle Sports and a billiard table and two the minute book for August relied on membership Recreational Club’. smaller rooms. One of the 1945 states that ‘owing to fees, billiard table takings, Change was in the air small rooms was designated their (3 members) behaviour hiring out rooms to various for the club and in 1996 a reading room, where local while using the club (the) organisations, donations and a proposal to rebuild it as and national newspapers offending members (were) profits from tournaments. a ‘project to celebrate the were held for the benefit of to be excluded from the On October 1946 the club’s Millennium’ was submitted the villagers and paid for by club until such time as they income was increased by to the committee. It the club – in 1923 ‘daily’ knew how to behave’. It was the sum of £2:7:3d. Not a must have been with papers cost 3/- and ‘London’ not until January 1947 that very large sum by today’s some sadness that the old papers 4/- per month. The one of the ‘offenders’ was standards, but nevertheless members watched their original constitution laid ‘readmitted’ – no mention a very generous donation, clubhouse being pulled down that members should of the other two! In 1959 given by Mrs Stock of down. However, the village be 16 years or over. No letters were sent to the Tintagel. It was half of her supported the project and dogs or women allowed parents of young members late son’s share from the as Malcolm Biddick said at – a strictly male preserve whose behaviour was Boscastle Welcome Home the opening ceremony of (although in 1961 a dog ‘on unacceptable and in 1960 Fund. A new venture in the new building in 2001 a leash’ was permitted entry an offender was ‘suspended 1947 was three dances held - ‘This superb facility is for ‘for a trial period’ - but still for 6 months’ for striking in the club. They must you all. Please make use of no women were allowed). another member. Harsh have been well attended for it and support it in any way The club was guardian judgement when the club they brought in the sum of you are able’. of its members’ good was the centre of much of £25:12:0d. A regular annual Shirley Wakelin with co- behaviour; discouraging the village’s entertainment, donation came from Mr writer GQ
Page 28 Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Wooda Farm Concert Wooda Farm is a world violin, harmonium and apart, situated in 20 acres of guitar, together with a sweet woods and pasture, reached voice and considerable talent via a narrow lane off the as a song writer. The quieter main road to Crackington but sheer professionalism of Haven. Max Burrows, & Melissa’s accompaniment Gary Whitebread, have added hugely to the created an artists’ retreat for harmonics of the group the production of original and particularly to Ruth’ s work in music, art and newest piece, The Brook, film. The barn has been leaving the audience almost converted into a multi- too stunned to applaud. purpose auditorium, linked How can one adequately to an artist’s studio. The describe the adventure present incumbent, Sid finding one’s way to the Peacock, recently won a six barns, guided by flaming DAVID WASHER week residency to work on torches, to be met with his own projects and bring good cheer and a glass wine, Building Contractor together multiple talents for Gary’s culinary background a series of concert evenings. exhibited by the interval ‘Penlea’, Tintagel Road, Boscastle The first occasion collation of more wine, sea this year combined the salt bread sticks, walnut extraordinary gifts of Sid, and coffee cake, coffee and Tel: 01840 250635 his long time partner Ruth several kinds of tea? It could Angell, and pianist Melissa all sound a bit pretentious, Mobile: 07967 507457 Morris. As band members if it were not tempered and soloists all 3 have a by our hosts’ evident demanding schedule of enthusiasm and goodwill, engagements across the with certainly no thought UK. Even though well of profit, and the delight of acquainted socially and neighbours from St Gennys musically, they have an and Crackington, all of us extraordinary ability to hugging the secret of this devise a programme of lyric hidden occasion. entertainment, virtually See more of Wooda without rehearsal or music Farm’s work on their website scores, performing together www.woodafarm.co.uk or instinctively like swallows contact max@woodafarm. in the evening sky. co.uk and those of three It was the best thing remarkable young talents: I have heard in years. Sid: Their music is not easily www.sidpeacock.com categorized: imagine a meld Melissa: of folk ballad, crossover www.melissamorris.co.uk classical and Celtic jig, Ruth: half-heard grace notes of www.ruthangell.com More golds than the Olympics childhood songs, poetry The next concert date is and hymn and you might th 7.30 pm on Staurday 19 More awards be getting somewhere near March. Sid will be bringing Rooms with breakfast than the Oscars it. together The Macondo Sid has enormous verve, Village Band to give a night rhythm and drive; Ruth of wild tunes and irresistible 01840 250418 matches his energy with rhythms. Admission Free. superb technical skill on Do not miss it. www.orchardlodgeboscastle.co.uk CR
Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Page 29 Monica Eastman 13.05.1916 - 16.10.2010 to England, to a boarding At the war’s end, Mum In 1958, we moved to school on the north Kent returned to England on a Bristol- my father’s city. As I coast -Westheath House. troop ship. I was born in became a teenager and more Crying for three days Cheltenham, in a nursing independent, I can recall less solidly, the teachers lost home paid for reluctantly by about how life was for my patience with her saying my grandfather. For Mum, mother. Dad was earning her sobbing disrupted the having that long wished more money and through his school assembly. I wonder if for baby made up for the work, they went to dinner this was when Mum learnt hardships and the social dances. We lived in a larger, the fortitude she showed in disgrace. more comfortable house. later life. She said sleep was Fortunately, soon after Mum’s penultimate move her only reprieve. She felt my father joined us. War was to Guildford in Surrey in she lacked the sophistication had ended but Britain was 1963 where Dad’s career in of the other girls and was in recession and he was business progressed further.. Monica aged 17 behind in her studies. She unemployed. He considered Mum was proud of their Charles Bernard Taylor was enjoyed French and sport, rejoining his regiment, but beautiful house in Merrow Mum’s father. A Cornish particularly tennis and was employed as a travelling and of the wonderful garden, man, born of a schoolteacher swimming. She missed her salesman with Chivers – that Dad cared for lovingly. father in Penzance, he studied parents, who visited once “Jams and Jellies”. Monica After Richard and I left at the Camborne School every two years and by the and Andrew married in a home, Mum made a brave of Mines. As a young man, time of their second visit, registry office in 1947, and move, studying short hand he went by boat to India to they had become strangers. we moved to Langland Bay and typing at Guildford work as a mining engineer These visits happened in in South Wales. College. She then found in the gold mines at Kolar, summer holidays and the In 1949, Dad was work at the Ministry of then in the state of Mysore, photograph album shows offered work at the Chivers Fishery Agriculture and now part of Karnataka. Here Monica and her sister factory in Histon on the Food (DEFRA), a short he met Marie, one of seven Cynthia on the beach at outskirts of Cambridge walk away from home. She children from a well-to-do Newquay, and learning where we lived until 1958. made friends, had a career, family, part of the English to swim in Horsepool on Hard years for Mum -no financial independence and Raj. Trebarwith Strand. washing machine, no car, life of her own outside of her They had two children, By the age of 18, she no fridge, rationed food, marriage. She kept contact my mother, Monica and six had become a stunning bitterly cold winters and she with those friends right up years later Cynthia. looking young woman as had absolutely no experience until her death. Messages in An Indian ayah looked this photograph shows. of running a home. She cards recalled the fun they after Mum, taking her in Returning to India by boat, often felt depressed, she had together. She enjoyed secret to her “go down” she entered a swinging life later told me, pining for her buying and wearing clothes, where she enjoyed eating of fancy dress parties and Indian life style. In 1952 having her hair washed Indian food. She spotted tennis tournaments. After a my brother Richard was and set every week. Dad’s some ornaments from her year, she became engaged to born. I remember when work involved her in a high parents’ house, but never Roger Horsley. Photographs Mum went to a dance class social life; business meetings let on. I imagine from that of him only surfaced after in Cambridge, Dad made abroad, dinner dances, and loyalty that she loved her my father’s death in 1997. us tinned spaghetti on toast entertaining guests ayah. Her mother, Marie, At the outbreak of war in and we were allowed to Later in their seventies, lived a highly sociable life 1939, he joined up and left suck up the long spaghetti Mum and Dad had health of parties, the club and the picture. This marriage strands. We all went to see problems. Mum had tennis. It was a lonely was unhappy and there were Mum in a performance, several operations including childhood, with few books no children. wearing a black leotard and an unsuccessful knee and no paints, crayons or At the age of 30 Mum a full-circled yellow felt skirt. replacement operation. I paper so she talked to the worked as a secretary She looked fine! Another remember being with Dad flowers in the garden. Until in Madras, now called memory was our family on his own, cooking fry- the age of 10, she attended a Chennai, where she met my cycle rides, wearing knitted ups and visiting Mum at small school run by nuns for father, Andrew- a handsome pompom hats along the Aldershot Military Hospital. English children. young major in the Duke towpath of the river Cam, It was distressing seeing Then she suffered the of Wellington’s Regiment. stopping at what my brother Mum so unwell giving trauma of being sent back He won her and I was the described in his school news me my first inkling about result! as “beer places”!
Page 30 Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Monica Eastman The house sale went ahead who left to have a baby that was her last outing from and Mum went to live with but continued to visit, and home. mortality! A severed nerve her old friend from India Jackie, who was with her at meant she never walked During those fourteen -Joan Caplan, until Dad the end. years, we came to know again with any ease. She was was well enough to make bitter about this. Life was unimaginably each other well. We had a the move. Phone calls to difficult for Mum, her reach typical mother/daughter Dad wanted to retire Mum at that time revealed had shrunk to the items she relationship. Chris would to Cornwall but Mum was a certain amount of hilarity kept on the tables around often accompany me and basically a town person and and alcohol consumption- her. She kept control of Mum appreciated his male did not relish isolation from probably Mum’s last blast of things out of reach by her company and gentle teasing. shops and her social life. colonial style living! autocratic demands on her He used to challenge her I believe that Dad had an Their new home was carers. Her razor sharp mind to a bet on Andy Murray instinct that he might die a bungalow in Boscastle, was impossibly exacting and winning his match! before Mum and so would which they enjoyed this was often wearing. leave her in my care. Mum was not refurnishing from Julian She relied on television demonstrative about her Foye. Dad never regained his for companionship between Christian beliefs. But I know strength. He too had a failed visits of her carers, myself she said prayers for us all knee replacement. Mum did and our children. She and for her sister Cynthia. not drive at all by then. Dad looked forward to visits She had monthly visits from would take Mum out for from Richard and Julia from Michael Davey who brought lunch in his prized Mazda, London, sometimes with her communion. He told me to shop or to visit garden grandchildren Harry and she derived comfort from centres. Their favourite place James. My cousin, Lally, this. was Coombe Barton Hotel would bring my mother’s Mum’s end came at Crackington Haven. He sister Cynthia. Our daughter in October 2010 she died in 1997, leaving Mum Jo shared in caring for Mum contracted pneumonia and alone at “Greenbank”. and they had an ease of was admitted to Bodmin Mum appreciated local relationship often enjoyed Hospital where she survived bus rides with Age Concern between grandparent and three days. Her death was and made good friends with grandchild. Mum also peaceful, I am glad I was Marjorie and Allan Banbury, enjoyed the company with her. an Age Concern bus driver. of Michael and Gareth. Now, I can still hear my She survived breast cancer. She lived to see five great mother’s voice saying, in a Monica & Andrew at Greenbank Later, spinal arthritis caused grandchildren. Her interest in 1991 teasing way “Well Ros, you her to lose the use of her and pride in her expanding always could up make a Just before the move legs. Mum would never have family kept her going. A good story”. I answer, “Such planned for 1991, Dad fell managed to live in her own poignant memory is seeing an account as this cannot critically ill with appendicitis, home without home care, her delighted face as she give an impression of the real then developed peritonitis. and the support she received held baby Eliza, born the strength of your personality, He was in intensive care from her lovely neighbours, day before her own birthday. at Guildford Hospital for nor of the richness of a life” Lynn and Malcolm Biddick, She came to the wedding of RT. several weeks, then a long Among her carers she found Gareth and Tina. I think stay in a convalescent home. some dear friends: Lisa Kernick Curtains Bespoke Curtain Making All Styles of Heading including Eyelet, Goblet & Pinch Pleat Roman Blinds Made Your Own Fabric or Choose From Our Selection
Telephone 01566 785756 Four generations, Eliza, Jo, Monica and Ros in 2006
Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Page 31 be safely in the Scillies Camelford & District Bowling Club and for this years World Gig Lanteglos Short Mat Bowling Club Pilot Championships. The above two clubs have absorbing and skilful pastime. Also over the winter their headquarters at the If you would like more Torrent has had some Club House, Lanteglos information, please call our professional repairs done Road, Camelford (Phone Secretary, Neill Wright, 01840 212445). The Short At the recent AGM of the and she will be shipped on 01840 213801, or our Mat section constitutes Gig Club Mike Stickney out at the end of April. Chairman, Peter Buck, on the winter-time outlet for When the gigs 01288 355103. stood down as chairman, a the bowlers, using two position he has undertaken return, weather and tides Neill also gives coaching mats indoors from mid- lessons on Wednesdays from for five years. During this permitting we will be September to April. It holds time the club has expanded holding general rowing 11am till 1pm. Can’t wait to club afternoons on Sunday, see you at the club! with Men’s and Women’s on a Friday evening Tuesday and Thursday at FW A&B, and Veteran racing from Boscastle why not 2pm and club evenings teams. The positions, of come and have a go? on Monday and Thursday the teams, in the World Our web site is at 7.30pm. Friendlies and Gig Championships in the currently being updated club competitions are also Scillies, have also improved. but if you would like part of the curriculum if Mike has been the instigator further information members wish to partake. of new ideas and has spent about becoming The outdoor bowling many hours ensuring that involved in this sport season starts around mid- all aspects of the club have please give me a call on April and continues until run efficiently. The retiring 07879682796. September. Most members committee were pleased to Andy Jones Chairman belong to both sections but present Mike with a large this is a matter of choice. Upcoming Events half model of ‘Torrent’ The outdoor section also 30th April / 1st May- In 2010 fund raising includes friendlies and Isles of Scilly World competitions as well as the efforts and the generosity Championships club afternoons (Tuesday) of our friends in Boscastle Want to eat Fish and Chips, th and club evenings meant that Rival was 28 May - Looe Regatta while raising money for charity? (Friday). The green is professionally refurbished, 26th June - Rock Regatta, Hold a fish & chip supper open from12.30pm to on Friday 20th May whilst and over the winter a team Daymer Bay 9pm, Monday to Friday raising awareness of spinal of members have given nd 2 July - Weymouth and 10.30 am to 9pm on cord injury and supporting her a repaint, by the time Regatta Saturday and Sunday. SIA’s information and support you read this she should There is an Open Day services. on Saturday 30th April For more information or to when anyone interested in request a fundraising pack joining our vibrant club call Elizabeth Wright on 0845 can come along to the green 678 6633 xtn 229 or email and try their hand at this [email protected] or SPROULL answers on page 38 SOLICITORS visit www.spinal.co.uk Sproull Solicitors LLP D SCOTT ELECTRICAL ACCIDENT CLAIMS CONVEYANCING PROBATE WILLS 1, JORDAN VALE OLD ROAD BOSCASTLE CORNWALL PL35 0AJ BUSINESSES DIVORCE/CHILDREN INSTALLATIONS www.sproullllp.co.uk
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Page 32 Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 as well as a large part of and on Tuesday 90 men Pete’s Boscastle from where their assembled but had to wait produce was shipped. a few days as the cheque for 28 SEPT 1860 their fares had not arrived. Peeps TENNYSON IN It is said that for ten years CORNWALL trade has not been known at the Past He took lodgings at the so dull in Liskeard and it Red Lion Hotel, Truro will probably not improve & then to Perranporth, a for a while. No less that 18 0CT 1811 place he had visited before 1,000 men were advertised A PUBLIC WHIPPING fell off sideways and the & was enchanted with the for last week to proceed to At the Sessions, or knot ended nearly under fine scenery. He lodged at the north. Law Court, held at his chin to the amazement the Tywarnhayle Inn & 13 NOV 1818 LAUNCESTON, on of the spectators and the wandered about the sands AT BODMIN MARKET Wednesday last, Jonathan pain of the prisoner. & made an ineffectual A man named Walter, of Barnes was found guilty of th Many early 19 century search for the ruins of Lanivet led his wife on stealing oats, and sentenced crimes carried the penalty the old British church a halter and offered her to be publicly whipped. of death, mainly stealing near Perran which is now publicly for sale. An ex- TIN BOUNDS and killing a sheep, firing a nearly hidden by sand. He soldier called Seobey bid There was strong opposition hay rick or breaking in and returned to Truro and he sixpence for her and was to the proposal of ending robbing a dwelling house was regarded with interest made the purchaser and tin bounds on commons or and murder of the worst walking through the then led her off in triumph waste lands, in Gwennap, kind. Public executions streets. amongst the shouts of the Kea and Feock parishes in were done to deter people 18 SEPT 1873 crowd. Cornwall. and also drew many STRIKEBREAKERS FOR 12 JULY 1861 Bounding, one of the most spectators to watch and THE NORTH OPENING OF FALMOUTH ancient privileges of the relate what they had seen. Several collieries refuse to DOCKS tinners and dating from at 28 APRIL 1826 employ any union men, The docks at Falmouth were least the 12th century, gave SLATE OUT OF so a lot of colliers are opened in front of a large any man the right to search BOSCASTLE locked out, and this must crowd, by the entry of the for tin on unenclosed, A vessel from Clovelly be partly attributed to Danish barque “Frederick and sometimes enclosed, “The Narrow Escape” was the present drain of our the 7th”, she would have ground. completely wrecked in a miners and others from entered before but there 8 MAY 1812 creek near Tintagel, but the this county. The departures was an accident to the A PUBLIC HANGING crew escaped to the shore. from St. Cleer, Pensilva caisson, but was later got The prisoner Wyatt, Just before it happened it and Linkinhorne have been into its place & the valve convicted of the murder had just been loaded with so numerous that scores of being opened, it rapidly of Valentine, a Jew at slate at Boscastle from houses are tenantless and sank into the intended Fowey was publicly hung Messrs. Sloggatt & Co. consequently property is groove. Cheers were given at Bodmin, but as the Messrs. Roseveare & of very little value. On for the directors, engineer, executioner was about to Sloggatt owned the Nth Monday 50 men left Mr. Tilly etc. let the drop fall, he (Wyatt) Delabole slate quarry the station for the north HIGHFIELD MOTORS Proprietor: F Luffarelli Servicing, Repairs & Tyres at Highly Competitive Prices for all cars, motorcycles and vans MOT’s Class 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 7 Highfield Road Industrial Estate, Camelford, PL32 9RA Tel: (01840) 212666
Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Page 33 Travellers’ Tales return with….. A year out in La Alpujarra It has been more than three flow, and then draw the bota that can cope, and do, but in plots to take back home up years since we returned to an arm’s length away from reality I need, no, must have through the tiny, winding from our round the world you. I declined, Stephen got my hairdryer. alleyways hidden within the trip. Stephen found work, messy and plastered. And so Living ‘off grid’ here, villages. Waterfalls tumble & I returned to studying, we were introduced to the means no mains electric, down to the roadsides, the graduating with a BA locals: Francois, Juan, Paco so no hair-dryer, toaster, local pastors and their goats honours last summer. So and their first custom. kettle, well, nothing with criss-cross the mountains and then it was time for a new In less than a week we a heat element. We also track along the way to new challenge. were to take over the care have no mains water. The pastures. Irrigated terraces In November, we booked of four large dogs, the water comes from a spring and barren high peaks of a one way ticket to Spain and house cat, the farmhouse, further up the mountain the Sierra Nevada also line drove down to the Alpujarra (cortijo) and several acres which needs maintaining the way to our nearest town in Andalucia. The challenge of mountain which include & clearing of debris to for groceries. This journey, is to live ‘off grid’ up in the mature terraces of olive, keep water flowing down without landslides or road mountains for the next year. almond, grape, fig and a several overland skinny closures, which happen The Alpujarra is bounded terrace of orange trees, and pipes, eventually to the frequently, takes us about an to the north by the Sierra some obscure plum, cherry, tap in the farm. There are hour. Nevada, and the highest peak mulberry, pomegranate, several holding tanks on the Shopping here takes on a on the Iberian Peninsula, pear and some we haven’t way down the land which new meaning and timescale. the Mulhacen, a beautiful identified yet. There is a also need maintaining and Each butcher specialises backdrop to the Moorish large vegetable plot, herb clearing of frogs, dead birds in different types of meat. villages of the Alpujarra. To & flower beds to clear & and the occasional snake. If Bread comes only from the the south, bordering the maintain & a hen coop, that all this fails to bring water baker, wine comes from coast is another range, the Stephen wants to put back to the farm we have a river the bodega, straight out of Contraviesa. About eighty into its original use. running along the bottom of timber barrels, stamps & white Moorish villages stud We now live along a the land, where in the natural papers come only from the the landscape within this 4 kilometre, undulating river pool, we could bathe libraria and so on. It takes area of valleys & mountains track which takes us from & wash clothes. It can get ages to do a small shop and which stretch from the 3,000 feet and descends very cold in the winter and patience is truly a virtue and Lecrin valley in the west to to 2,000 feet in the valley our only source of heat is a a must. But it is interesting, Ugijar and the Laujar de of this mountain, and on wood burning stove, though and somehow good to go Andarax valley which forms to the farm. During the not in the most suitable part back to this. We buy our the eastern border. rains the track can become of the farmhouse, anyway sausages, almost by the it’s great for drying out the November - We arrived impassable; the land here is metre, each sausage hand tied dogs. Wood is in abundance at the farm late afternoon very porous and constantly with string, and all wrapped all over the farm and terraces in mid November, in time slips throughout the region. in paper, the different cuts and just needs chopping and for Stephen’s first taste of We unpacked our of meat, I haven’t identified collecting, Almond burns the local Costa wine straight belongings - lots of woollies, yet, and I’m not so brave to like oak, and the olive gives a out of a bota, a leather wine wellies, hats, a thick duvet take on the locally caught lovely smell when burning. bottle. Most rural Spaniards and hot water bottles and whole rabbit. The staple own one, it looks like a goat’s also all the summer gear, We settled in quickly and diet of pork, pork and more stomach. The locals had been in the summer months the got our bearings. We are only pork in its many guises is labouring all day to finish temperature stays a constant 50 kilometres away from the supplemented with a little repairs to the farm before 35°-45°C. Secreted away coast, but it feels like a world chicken, and ingenuity in we were to take over from amongst our baggage was a away from modern life. The the kitchen varies the diet the owners; they insisted hairdryer, I know I shouldn’t scenery along the way to get and dishes. Stephen start immediately have, and my bread maker, our groceries is endlessly The days have become with Spanish custom. The another no-no. However I beautiful, we drive through 2 weeks of really wet & idea is that your lips never hoped the generator might several of the century’s old cold weather - so early into touch the teat or spout; you just power one or the other ‘white’ villages where we our life here. I wasn’t quite tip your head back and draw if, or when, I got really meet the local farmers riding prepared for the weather the bota away from your desperate. In reality, on their donkeys, still the main turning so nasty, so quickly. mouth quickly and squeeze a arrival, to my utter horror, source of transport, and I also have not prepared direct flow of wine into your I found out the generator the most useful here in the a store cupboard. We are mouth, drinking at the same was broken. Now I like to mountains, collecting their miles away from anywhere, time, continue to squeeze the think of myself as a woman produce from their terraced but more than miles, we
Page 34 Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Travellers’ Tales Christmas, but the hind leg continued was nearly stripped bare and the dogs’ happy faces are isolated by the fact that gave the game away. We we can’t get out, or off this also knew there is a 4,000 mountain, even if we wanted euro fine if dogs are caught or needed to. Literally the killing. We were seriously last vegetable and eggs were worried. However we had used for last night’s supper, never met any of the many so we really do need to get goat herders’ packs of dogs out. I learned my lesson that protect their pastors’ in being prepared for bad livelihood, they are fearsome weather that literally isolates and we were told to take started to fit into the locale happens all too quickly, 3 us from all humanity – and some comfort that our and meet and share. days or so. A highlight is the the shops. dogs had not committed a We are beginning to host’s lunch, eaten under the December - We have 4,000 euro crime. When the feel very at home here; on olive trees and shared with stocked up as much as we skull of a goat turned up a New Year’s Eve we shared a everyone that beats the trees can. We do not have a freezer couple of days later, again meal in the nearest village. to shake out the olives into here, of course, so it’s back on the doorstep, it was still After the meal, and before the nets on the ground. to basics, planning ahead unnerving and we needed to midnight, we each peeled January has been kind and making everything find out what was going on. our own twelve grapes, then and warm to us, buckets from scratch. There are no We had always wanted to trotted down to the village have still come out to catch ready made meals here or pick oranges on Christmas square. Everyone in the the worst of the drips from even a call out service, and Day; we did, and have done, village square ate a grape for the roof to the farmhouse, on occasions we would have every day since, juicing each strike of midnight – for but it was brief, & best of all liked to pop around the them initially and making good luck in the coming the nights are really drawing local for a jar, some food, marmalade, now we can eat year. We finally got back out. friend’s company and some them off the tree as they are down the mountain track to really good music. Instead, February - We have becoming sweeter each day. our farm to four happy and on a clear night we have the collected the last of our We have been invited to warm dogs at 4am. All of us olives for pickling which company of a billion stars slept in. up here in the an unpolluted join new friends on another we are experimenting with January mountainscape, the mountain. We can never be – The big right now - recipe to follow, sure of getting out of the celebration here is ‘Three if successful We are having company of a pack of lovely th dogs to keep us safe from mountain due to the track. Kings’ on January 6 , this more meals on the terrace mostly the wild boar, and Snow started to fall here this is when people exchange and enjoying the peak of the then we have the local, very Christmas morning at about their gifts especially for the almond blossom that covers drinkable, Contraviesa wine 8am, however we made it children. In the local town the mountains surrounding & lots of peace & quiet. out with the dogs and had there was to be a parade from us. a lovely Christmas breakfast the church, and many people The reality of living ‘off I have had my first horse at midday on a terrace high on horseback throwing grid’ and in the ‘Campo’ ride in 12 years, and what up in the Contraviesa, in the sweets into the crowds lining was brought home to our a place to ride. From the sunshine. Everyone brought the streets. The track, or lack farm doorstep by way of a Contraviesa mountain range breakfast dishes to share, we of it, kept us at home and goat’s hind leg bearing no and down through olive all drank fresh orange juice away from the big festivity fancy ribbons. It was nearly and almond groves with and Champagne, and we of the Christmas calendar, the snow capped peaks of next year, maybe. the Sierra Nevada ahead of Our biggest harvest on me on the opposite range. the farm, the olive, is late this I rode with a friend to a year, times vary depending ranch where we stabled the on the altitude. Mid January horses for free, met our men we are helping neighbours in on a terrace in the brilliant the nearby village of Timar, sunshine overlooking the harvest their olives, we’ve mountains, drank the local learnt a lot about harvesting, wine and ate delicious tapas. pruning, and collectively Now how’s that for Thursday getting the olives to the press lunchtime? before the harvest is spoiled More next time. beyond redemption, which Deborah Halliday
Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Page 35 Boscastle Walking Week The th 4 Boscastle Walking Port Isaac Village Trail: Thursday 7th April 5hrs Strenuous. Follow in his footsteps with poetry Week, organised by the meet at Port Isaac cliff top Church Trail: Visitor Centre and the car park, 3.00pm. Cost £4. readings along the way. meet Boscastle Visitor Eat your packed lunch Boscastle Chamber of Trade 2hrs Moderate. Tour this Centre, 9.30am. Cost £5. and Commerce, takes place historic fishing village in the garden of The Old 4-Shrs Strenuous. A from 4th to 8th April. There now also famed for the Rectory. coastal & inland route is a range of walks and Doc Martin TV series. Valency Valley, Minster passing some of our Led by Peter Rowe, local Church & Old Road: activities with local guides historic churches. Bring historian & one of The in and around the village. lunch. meet: Boscastle Visitor Booking is advisable for Fisherman’s Friends Centre, 2.00pm. Cost £3. National Trust Cliffs and all walks as numbers are Cobweb Inn Meal Deal 2hrs Moderate. Through Carvings: limited. To book, contact 7pm the flower strewn, the Visitor Centre on meet Bossiney car park wooded valley and up to Wednesday 6th April 01840 250010. Updates 10.00am. Cost £2. hidden Minster Church. and further information Boscastle to Tintagel 2hrs Moderate. , Led by Return down the old can be found online at Coastal: Mike Simmonds. village road with its www.boscastlefestival. meet: Boscastle Visitor Poundstock Gildhouse: quaint cottages. Led by co.uk. Centre, 10.00am. Cost £4. Parish Councillor George meet Poundstock Church Findlay. Monday 4th April 3hrs ‘ish’ Moderate. car park, 3.00pm. Cost Stunning linear coastal £4.50. Napoleon Inn Meal Deal Pentargon Circular: walk with slate mining Tour with Cream Tea. No 7pm meet at Boscastle Visitor sites still evident. Centre, 9.30am. Cost £5. Dogs. Discover the history Reduced Winter National Trust Boscastle: of this recently restored 4-5hr Strenuous. A coastal Opening Hours at meet Boscastle Visitor 14thC Tudor Feasting hall. route past waterfall & Tintagel Castle Centre, 2.00pm. Cost £2. Climb Roughtor: maybe see seals, then Tintagel Castle, the most 2hrs Moderate. Walking meet Boscastle car park inland into the valley. visited site in Cornwall, Bring lunch. with wildlife. Led by Jeff entrance to car share, Cherrington, 3.00pm. Cost £3. is to be closed on winter Bossiney Circular: weekdays from the end of 2hrs Moderate. No Dogs. Trevalga Circular: the coming season. The meet at Bossiney Car Park, Far reaching views. 2.00pm. Cost £4. meet Boscastle Visitor castle and its links with 3hrs ‘ish’ Moderate. Across Centre, 3.00pm. Cost £3. Festival Dinner in the the legend of King Arthur fields to St Nectan’s Glen 2hrs Moderate. Outwards Waterloo Restaurant 7pm draws almost 200,000 & Waterfall (fee payable along the coast path, Friday 8th April visitors a year, many of them for entrance to waterfall). return inland through from overseas, particularly Thomas Hardy: Return via Rocky Valley & hamlets and farmland. America. the coast path. meet: Boscastle Visitor English Heritage are Meal Deal 7pm Centre, 10.30am. Cost £5. Wellington Meal Deal Welly Folk Night 9’ish in consultations but they 7pm followed by a Charity propose that many of Quiz their properties, including Tintagel Castle, which th Tuesday 5 April currently open every day Crackington to Boscastle between November and Coastal: March, would open only meet at Boscastle car park at the weekends. This entrance to car share. will probably involve 9am. Cost £5. redundancy for some of the 4-5hrs Strenuous. Linear staff. walk with amazing sea English Heritage have views, particularly from been hit by a massive cut the highest point on in the grant it gets from Cornish coast path. Bring Government. lunch.
Page 36 Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Cornwall Design Season Cornwall Design Season is a new partnership project developed by a group including Cornwall Council, Dott Cornwall, Falmouth University, and Cornwall Design Forum. The season is a show of “design stories” which will host two different The description of the exhibit says: Africa’s Rand gold mines for over are being exhibited in exhibitions over nine It may just be a drill, but it’s half a century, but after being been responsible for so much. removed from operation it lived iconic shipping containers weeks. The first will be throughout Cornwall. Revolutionising the mining on as a work of art, thanks to shown from 19 Feb – 20 world. The reason South Africa its use in a provocative 1913 Local, regional, national Mar and the second from is rugby mad. The inspiration sculpture by Sir Jacob Epstein. & international figureheads behind a famous dance track... Now a Tate Modern favourite, 26 Mar – 25 April. Torso in Metal from ‘the Rock from the world of design - The Cornish Rock Drill was Boscastle carpark is the created by James McCulloch in Drill’ provided the inspiration from Kevin McCloud to location for one of the 1881, and manufactured by the for The Chemical Brothers, who Holman brothers in the Cornish penned the song The Rock Drill’ Rick Stein were invited to exhibits. The first exhibit, help shape the project by mining capital of Camborne. It in its honour. nominated by Jane Darke achieved huge global success, In its heyday, the Cornish Rock answering the following and interpreted by Jeremiah and by 1896 over 1,000 were Drill was quite simply a vital question. Krage is titled ‘Holman’s being used in South African tool for metal and mineral ‘We are seeking nominations gold mines alone. Cornish extraction, without which we’d Rock Drill, Iconic Gold miners accompanied the drills have very few of the luxuries with a direct or indirect link Digger’. When I first to South Africa and quickly we enjoy today. Imagine to Cornwall that has made visited the exhibit, a ‘seam’ left their mark - locals were watching the rugby on TV while a difference to people’s lives; introduced to new traditions listening to The Rock Drill’ on of white light, suggesting such as wrestling, pasties, and your MP3 player... Would any transformed a business, a vein of precious ore, most popular of all, rugby. of it be possible without James industry, town or the whole was visible through the Holman’s Rock Drill was used in McCulloch and the Holman county; or possibly even hole drilled into the slate brothers playing some part? changed the world.’ slab. Alas on my second Nominations have visit it had disappeared - been interpreted as an perhaps damaged when the installation by local container was moved to its designers and artists. There final position? Hopefully are exhibitions at fifteen it will be re-illuminated. I different locations across wonder what the 2nd exhibit
Cornwall. Each container will be? PA
41 ape 42 em 43 saw 44 ra ra 44 saw 43 em 42 ape 41
aga 40 king 37 pencil 32 stye 31 intent 30 scandium 26
stomacher 25 aimed 24 tulip 22 certian 20 arc 19
negligible 17 yale 14 trip 13 put 11 louth 9 old 8 core 7
Down Down neigh 6 act 5 gun 4 identical 3 red 2 brighton 1
46 emma 47 algae 47 emma 46
tope 45 ring 44 alpheus 41 cia 39 nee 38 ink 36 ida 35
pity 34 gemini 33 pliant 32 altissimo 29 lit 28 occur 27
pegasus 23 trite 21 chile 20 hat 18 granite 16 urdu 15
Across identity 12 polo 11 reduce 10 col 7 brigantine 1 Answers to Crossword: to Answers
Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Page 37 The Sunny Algarve…out of season I suppose I always considerable distance with holiday makers, which The hotel itself was cherish the faint , yet from any other facility does mean that if you need beautifully situated in terms inextinguishable hope, required by any person not ask your way anywhere, it of scenery: the view from the despite the lessons of willing to spend the entire is fairly reasonable to hope restaurant could not have experience, that a holiday day and night within the that, assuming you have been better, an exquisite will live up to, maybe confines of the hotel? Why, the merest smattering of panorama of sea, cliff even surpass, the promises indeed? It might only be Portuguese, or, at least, a and sand. Unfortunately, of the descriptions in the disappointing if I could in phrase book or map handy, one cannot say the same brochure, on the website, or fact remember any of the you stand a reasonable for the food. I thought the souvenirs in the crevices details from the brochure, chance of getting a sensible I was a fairly indifferent of the working memory. which I couldn’t, so we answer. Whether or nor and unenthusiastic cook, I was not disappointed: were safe there. not you understand it is but I think I could have perhaps I am getting too For me the advantages another matter. easily found work in this easy to please,(who was of visiting a holiday resort The most surprising, establishment. The bonus that who said ‘nonsense‘?) out of season lies in the fact and really rewarding, aspect is that I lost half a stone in less critical and nit-picking, that many of the facilities of the holiday was the that weight: several garments losing my eye for spotting laid on for the delectation in the middle of winter it now fit me which were a the dissimilarities between of the high season visitor was not only possible, but little bit of a squeeze before. the fine expectations one are firmly closed, and extremely pleasant to lie, The charity shop’s loss is was led to have and the mercifully quiet. To me, in a swimsuit, sunbathing my gain. On the plus side, often minimal offerings the sight and sound of on the beach! Not only was any food we ate outside of reality. Probably, in an unlit, music-free and the beach within a stone’s the hotel in the small fact, it is simply due to closed night club is a source throw of the hotel, but it Portuguese cafes and bars memory loss. Although of considerable pleasure. was clean, beautifully sandy was absolutely delicious, - memory loss can have its Lines of barred gift shops, and, most importantly, and cheap! disadvantages, (ie trying all trinkets firmly behind virtually free of many other The most delightful to find one’s glasses: how shutters, safely beyond the members of the public. find of the entire holiday can they be so ingenious ken of cash or credit or Those few remaining readers was at, ironically, the only in finding a hiding place?) debit card, bring a warmly who suspect I do not like other establishment within it can also bring a glorious reassuring glow. Many of crowds can congratulate reasonable walking distance. freedom. If I had booked a the cafes remain firmly themselves on their This was a small café which fortnight in an attractively shut, but those that are perspicacity. I was however had a ‘Fado’ evening once situated seaside hotel, why open welcome one with relieved to note that,(not a week. ‘Fado’, from the would I be disillusioned open arms; there are no that I had any intentions Portuguese for ‘fate’ is a when confronted with, queues, there is no pressure of doing so myself), no- kind of song, usually with a recognisably the same hotel to free up your table for one else ventured into melancholy theme which is pictured from a favoured the waiting hordes. The the majestically crashing traditionally accompanied angle, but which proves streets are peopled with the breakers of the Atlantic. by mandolins or guitars. to be an (unmentioned) residents of the town, not Apart from risking a We were lucky enough portion of a foot in a purely to find this group of men scientific experiment to who clearly met every ascertain the warmth or week for the sheer pleasure otherwise of the water, it of singing and playing SUE WALLIS struck me that the ambient together: -and the public DESIGNER DRESSMAKER temperature of the Atlantic were lucky enough to be (01840) 250434 ocean on the south coast of invited. So, it was possible Portugal was remarkably to have a meal, a glass of ALTERATIONS similar to the ambient wine and be entertained by DRESSMAKING - LADIES these talented and devoted GENTS & CHILDRENS temperature of the Atlantic WEDDINGS & EVENING WEAR ocean of the north coast musicians. You cannot get SOFT FURNISHINGS etc ... of Cornwall in deepest luckier that that! January! AR
Page 38 Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Car Park Charges Date for your Diary Concert at Minster Some of Cornwall’s most But the idyllic setting of renowned musicians will be Minster Church, where the visiting Boscastle in June. concert is to be held, will not No one who appreciates only ring to Alastair’s music, beautiful music can afford on this occasion he will to miss this opportunity also be the accompanist for to hear Alastair Taylor, an three of the county’s much internationally acclaimed recorded singers, Sydney professional pianist and Mitchell, David Rashleigh copyright photo courtesy David Flower organist. and Gareth Rees. Last year when Cornwall Councillors, on behalf of Trained at The Royal The three soloists are Council published the the community, raising Welsh College of Music also acclaimed in the proposed new car park a number of objections and Drama, on graduation county where they have charging for comment there and asking for talks with Alastair Taylor won the raised thousands of pounds was very little response them. Although some prize for Best All Round for charity from their live appearances and sale of from Boscastle. However, talking did take place the Musician, leading to many CDs. this year Chris Dawe and outcome proved extremely concert tours across Europe Peter Templar organised a disappointing without any and Australia. Sydney Mitchell, like public meeting in order to concessions being made. But, although Alastair is a Cornish Bard and his beautiful bass- draft a letter to Cornwall The scale of charges is shown internationally acclaimed, below. Alastair has always kept his baritone voice is suited to roots firmly embedded in many singing styles from Cobweb Boscastle Cornwall where he gives oratorio to swing. Scale of Charges Season tickets & Permits gererously of his time David Rashleigh, tenor, All Year Season Ticket promoting and encouraging (All days 9am - 4pm £27 - Weekly often sings with Sydney in a Up to 1hour - £0.50 £135 - 3 months other musicians and singers. partnership lasting some 25 1 to 2 hours - £1.80 £247.50 - 6 months As Musical Director of years and the third soloist, 2 to 3 hours - £2.90 £450 - Annual Four Lanes Male Choir he led Gareth Rees, baritone, 3 to 4 hours - £3.80 Rover ticket accepted it to class winner at the last has delighted audiences 24 hours - £4.50 throughout the county and Coach rover accepted International Festival held Coaches - 24 hours - £10.00 in Truro. His energy knows beyond. no bounds: he is the Musical This feast of music will Director and accompanist take place at Minster Church PLEASE JOIN US FOR of Reduth Operatic Society on Sunday 12th June at AFTERNOON TEA AT Trust Singers and of the 6pm. Full details of tickets Redruth Operatic Society and where they are to be ST MICHAEL & ALL Junior Choir. He has also available will be advertised led the spectacular 200 at a later date. But mark it ANGELS CHURCH strong Cornwall Symphony in your diary now it should LESNEWTH Chorus to numerous sell-out be an evening to remember. concerts since its creation. JF SATURDAY MAY 28th 2- 5pm Boscastle Gallery TO CELEBRATE THE The Bridge, Boscastle NEW WINDOWS IN THE CHURCH, (01840) 250248 BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED Paintings by local artists BY ARTHUR BRADLEY BOSCASTLE A wide selection of prints and cards plus an unusual mix of gifts and gadgets.
Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010 Page 39 Opening Hours and Useful Phone Numbers Bottreaux Filling Station Emergency Services: Tel: 01840 250108 Coastguard, Fire, Police, Ambulance: Dial 999 Police Station: For non-urgent issues: eg to Monday - Friday 8am-6pm, report a crime or criminal damage, to request Saturday 9am-5pm police advice or attendence, to enquire about Sunday 9am-1pm lost property, to be connected to a police station, service or department: 08452 777 444 Doctors’ Surgery and out-of-hours emergency Boscastle Newsagent doctor: 01840 250209 Tel: 01840 250419 NHS Direct (24 hour helpline): 0845 4647 Cash machine during business hours Hospitals: Open daily at 6.00 am Bodmin - East Cornwall 01208 251555 Minor Injuries Unit open8 am – 10 pm, seven days a week Post Office at Cornish Stores Launceston General 01566 765650 Phone for opening hours Minor Injuries Unit open8 am – 10 pm, seven days a week Stratton 01288 287700 Tel: 01840 250344 Minor Injuries Unit open 24hrs, seven days a week Truro -Treliske 01872 250000 NatWest Bank Plymouth - Derriford 08451 558155 Dental Helpline: 0845 5000 230 The Mobile NatWest bank is at the harbour carpark on Thursdays NHS Emergency Dental Appt: 01872 354 385 from 2.15pm until 3pm. Boscastle Visitor Centre: 01840 250010 Local Churches: Mobile Library Church of England 01840 250359 Methodist 01840 214818 Tel: 0300 1234111 Catholic 01840 770663 Calls on alternate Thursdays Barn Park, Tintagel Road: 11.50 – 12.15 Harbourmaster: 01840 250200 Parish Council: website: www.boscastlecornwall.org.uk Camelford Library Chairman: 01840 250414 Town Hall, Market Place Clerk: 01840 210017 Tel: 01840 212409 email clerk: [email protected] Tuesday & Thursday: 10.00 - 5.00 Village Hall Bookings: 01840 250249 Friday: 10.00 - 4.00 Saturday: 9.30 - 12.30 Community Centre Bookings: 01840 250442 Cornwall Council: 0300 1234 100 Waste Tip, Bowithick Quarry Camelford One Stop Shop: 01840 214200 Sanding Road, Tintagel Environment Agency: 0800 807 060 Tel: 01840 770778 South West Water: 0800 169 1144 Open Friday to Monday Highways: 0300 1234222 April – Sept 9am – 6pm RSPCA: 0300 1234 999 Oct – March 9am – 4pm
Page 40 Boscastle Blowhole Winter 2010