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My Early and Older Days, by William Francis Allen Burnard. Edited and Annotated by Andrew Ross MA.

First Published in Australia 2008

Copyright Tryphena Publications 2008

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the copyright holder.

Tryphena Publications, 53 Tanti Avenue, Mornington Victoria 3931, Australia.

Frontispiece: Frank and Tryphena Burnard in 1930. 2

Contents

Author’s Introduction: Page 3.

Editors Introduction: Page 4.

Chapter 1: My Earliest Memories. Page 5.

Chapter 2: My Younger Days. Page 10.

Chapter 3: Reflections on School. Page 13.

Chapter 4: My Apprenticeship and Teenage Life. Page 15.

Chapter 5: More on Relationships. Page 22.

Chapter 6: My Marriage to the Fourth Girl. Page 24.

Chapter 7: The Last Years in Newquay. Page 31.

Chapter 8: How I Came to Boscastle. Page 33.

Chapter 9: My Work with the Church and Other Pastimes. Page 37

Chapter 10: Services at the Wellington Hotel. Page 43.

Chapter11: Stories about My Dogs and Cats. Page 47.

Chapter12: Some Reflections. Page 51.

Chapter13: Boscastle and its Bands. Page 53.

Chapter14: Conclusion. Page 54.

Chapter 15: Floods 1963. Page 57.

The End of My Story: Page 59. 3

Bibliography: Page 63.

Appendices: (not in online version.

Acknowledgements The photographs and other printed material are from the Burnard family collection held by the Editor. This work would not have been possible without the love and support given by my family Pamela, Miles and Perran, and my parents Mavis (nee Burnard) and Alf Ross, together with my brother Chris and his family, Erica, Natasha, Sophie, Stuart and Tamsyn. I would also like to thank Annie Hillermann and Steve Ainsworth for their friendship. I am also indebted to the Cornwall Online Census Project for data from the 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881 and 1891 censuses. Further thanks are due to Philippa Stout, the online Parish Clerk for St Teath, who gave me useful information on the Burnard family and to the FreeBMD project.

Foreword

It gives me great pleasure to write this book and it has given me much comfort as I sit by the fire and allow my mind to think back over the years of many happenings, some very interesting, others not so interesting. I have written this as I have kept indoors from the Arctic conditions of January 1963, comforted by loved ones who do their very best to make me happy and content. Words cannot express the full meaning of the word Love or Loved, the only way to understand it is to show appreciation to those who try to exemplify and carry its meaning to its full limits. My wish is to anyone who may peruse this book that something, however insignificant, may be of interest.

Introduction

For some considerable time, I have been thinking what I could write about my early days; how far my memory could lead me back over the years and the outstanding things I could refer to. The earliest memories I have are of when I was about three years old.

W.F. Burnard, Bridge House, Boscastle. Commenced December 1st 1962, completed February 1963 4

Editor’s Introduction

This is the second of my Great Grandfather’s books, which contains his recollections of Newquay and Boscastle in the early 20th Century. I have reproduced the book here essentially as it was written, apart from a few minor corrections. As the book was written in longhand, the occasional letter is uncertain. I have also included genealogical information on the Burnard and Ferrett families. Mornington, 2008.

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Chapter 1: My Earliest Memories.

I was born at Trewarmett, a small village situated between Camelford and Tintagel.1 My earliest recollections are of when my parents moved to Wadebridge when I was about three years old.2 My father was born at Mount Pleasant, Treligga and my mother was born at Trewarmett.3 My father had rather a complicated life. He went to work when he was seven years of age with a farmer at Upton, below Delabole. The farmer and his wife were remarkably nice people. His work was to drive oxen, which were slow moving creatures. His job was to carry the goad; this was a long stick with something at the end to keep the animals going for the man on the plough or whatever implement was in use. This was the beginning of how to learn farming in those days. My Father became very practical and was able to grasp things very quickly. It was not many years before he became master of his job as a farmer and knew practically everything as farm work was concerned. He was not in possession of his own farm because he did not have the money to buy one.4 He had to help his parents; that is why he had to go to work at such an early age. His parents were not in possession of the luxuries of life, on account of his father spending too much of his wages on alcoholic beverages. Consequently, the family purse was never overflowing, and had it not been for his loving mother being careful, the family would have had a very lean time. My father became a very fine ploughman as far as ploughing was concerned and could complete with prize ploughmen. During his farming days, as a matter of fact, he was master of his work. In his younger days, he worked amongst many tradesmen and, having a very keen eye, watched intently how various jobs were done. Carpentry, masonry and many other trades, his active mind was able to grasp the technicalities of many things. This was extremely useful to him throughout his life.

1 The 1871 census shows the Burnard family living at Trewarmett 7 years before the author was born. 2 The 1881 census shows the family living at Gonvena Cottages, Egloshayle. 3 I believe that the author’s mother was Mary Allen, who is shown living at Tregunnick in the 1841 census, aged 4. She was still living at Tregunnick in the 1851 census. The relationship needs to be confirmed by marriage records. So far, I have found that John and Mary were both married at Camelford in the June quarter of 1860 (ref 5c 51). The author’s father, John Burnard was living in Treligga in the 1841 census, aged 3. 4 The 1851 census shows him living at Fenterfriddle Farm, between Delabole and Trebarwith. 6

John Burnard, in centre of photograph, with left to right, Annie Ferrett(possibly), the Author and Matilda Burnard(probably). Taken about 1905.

After living at Newquay for a number of years, he was employed by an outstanding builder, who built a considerable number of houses on what is known as the Island and Pentire Estates. He became foreman over a number of men. He also worked for a contractor who built the Methodist Church near the Hotel Victoria and, on that large building project, he was given the craftsman’s job of building the stairway up to the gallery. The steps were made of concrete and were spirally built; it was an outstanding piece of workmanship. I could relate many other things concerning his capabilities as a craftsman. 7

Left to right: Annie Ferrett, John Burnard, a Friend, Tryphena Burnard, Jack Burnard and Edie Ferrett.

John Burnard aged 92 outside the Harbour road shop in Boscastle 8

John Burnard’s sister Jane Hooper aged 80 in 1923 9

Before I commence my story and things relative to myself, I will tell something about my mother. She came from a middle class family and she received a very good education.5 After leaving school, she went to learn the trade of tailoress and was very practical in this. She became very skilled and was very neat in doing many things. After my parents had lived in Newquay for some years, people found out what my mother’s qualifications were as a needlewoman and what she was capable of doing. Many of the higher classes gave her work and I quite remember an old lady asking her to make a garment for a Bazaar. This was a garment called a smock and was worn in the old days by drovers, the men who drove horses and wagons. My mother was very adept in the doing of many things as far as needlework was concerned. She made my clothes for many years, until her sight was somewhat fading. My mother was a good Christian. She loved her Lord and Saviour, but she was not narrow as far as her Christian principles were concerned and she was careful not to say anything unkind or disrespectful to anyone. She loved the Church and everything associated with it. Sunday services, prayer meetings, class meetings and many more things one could go on to relate, concerning past memories of my parents. 6

5 This goes against Mary Allen being his mother. The Allens were involved in farm labouring in 1841 and quarry work in 1851. 6 John Burnard lived a long and active life, dying in 1930. He is buried in Forrabury Churchyard. Mary Burnard was shown as a dressmaker in the 1861 census, when the family were living at Trelake. She appears to have died in 1900. WFB does not mention his sister Matilda, who was born circa 1864 and married in September 1903. He also appears to have had a brother Francis who was 8 months old in the 1861 census. Francis is not mentioned in the 1871 census, when the family were at Trewarmett and a Francis Burnard is mentioned in the Deaths Register for Camelford in September quarter 1862. 10

Chapter 2: My Younger Days.

I think I was about eight or nine years of age before I was sent to school, owing to an accident. I was always very fond of horses and dogs, horses especially, not knowing or thinking how some horses could be less friendly than others and could show this by biting very violently or kicking very forcibly. The consequence of this was that, on one occasion, I became the victim and sufferer. Had it not been for a very clever doctor and his care and attention at the time, I should not have been the writer of his book.7 I was sent to a private school which took boys and girls. The Mistress was a middle aged person who was a very strict disciplinarian, in fact, too much so. My mother, who had a very good education, taught me many things before I went to school. I was not altogether brilliant in comprehending things; the doctor who attended me on the event of my accident told my parents that my memory might be affected as far as being able to retain what I was taught. My mother had more patience than my schoolmistress. My schooldays were interesting and, sometimes, exciting. Interesting, because I became acquainted with children and their parents that I should not have met had I attended the council school. There were children of ministers, private and business people. All these had attended other schools before they came to this one to finish their education. Many of these children and their parents were very nice and I had the opportunity and invitations to visit their homes. There was one home I was very fond of going to, due to being friendly with the son who was about the same age as myself and who attended the same school . His mother was a most delightful person and allowed us to play in a room in the basement, where we could do just what we liked. Our favourite pastime was boat- making and we spent many happy hours together. Then there were many other families, very nice people, some who were associated with the churches, but it was mostly the boys who attended the Wesleyan Church and Sunday School who were my closest friends. Some of them were very fine pals; some of them are still alive and living in Newquay. I was also very friendly with some of the ministers at Newquay in those days, Wesleyan, Congregationalist, Free Methodist and Bible Christian. One minister who was a Bible Christian and a very nice man always stopped and chatted a while when we met, but I always rather resented at the time a question he would ask before we parted. It was this, “when are you going to give your heart to the Lord?” but he was such a friendly man and, as a boy, that is why I liked him.

7 He was kicked in the head by a horse. This resulted in a depressed fracture of the skull. 11

I was very fond of going to the Sunday School and the people who were connected to the Wesleyan Church were all very nice and friendly. The children and people who attended the school were, I should think, about 200, with two Superintendents and a good number of teachers who knew their Bibles well and who had a way of instilling into our minds the things that mattered and, to those who were interested, food for thought. I still have recollections of Biblical references related by the Teachers and Superintendents. One Superintendent was a very prominent business man in Newquay. He was a builder and built many houses in Newquay. When I was at Newquay in 1952, spending some time on my own before the season commenced, I met him at the Methodist Church and we had a long conversation. At the evening service, he called at the boarding house where I was staying and we walked to Chapel together. That was in 1952 and I believe he passed away in 1954, aged 90. His name was Mr James Vivian. The second Superintendent was called Bennett; he became a minister and was also an uncle to a minister named Bennett who lived at Wadebridge. I revere the memories of all who were associated with the Sunday School in those days. I was connected with a very fine Bible class at the school. The leader of the class was a very fine man and a great personality. He was loved by the class. This was when I was 19 years of age. Now I will refer to some things from those happy days which stand out in my memory. Sunday School anniversary occasions were events that, as children, we looked forward to. It was a most interesting event, the rehearsing of the hymns before the special Sunday, helping with the floral decorations and the fixing of two platforms on each side of the pulpit. The old Wesleyan chapel was built in the shape of a cross and as many of the children as was convenient sat on the platform, the first and second class of girls and boys sat with the choir somewhat above and behind the pulpit. It was a day of days for the School, every child and older scholars wore something in the way of new clothing, all the latest styles, new boots and shoes, all looking exceptionally smart. The grand finale was on the event of what was termed the “Sunday School feast”, when tea was provided for the young people and children and the general public. On this special occasion, which the school looked forward to, the custom was to meet at the school and form up in twos, certain boys and girls were given flags and the procession was led by a brass or silver band from Indian Queens or Bugle. How attractive it all looked, the bright faces and the colour display of the flags, large and small, together with the melody of the band, parading the principal streets and terminating in a field kindly loaned by a farmer. 12

The classes of children below the first and second carried mugs for their tea, these were wrapped in a sort of sling so that they were easier to carry. The first and second classes sat at tables. After arriving at the field, the children were formed into a ring and then sat on the grass. On these occasions, the grass was generally dry because the event took place in the month of June. A barrel or large tank of water was provided on the field, also a boiler, tea being made was passed around the ring in earthenware pitchers, steaming hot, and a large saffron cake or bun weighing about a pound. How the children enjoyed this, what was called a Sunday School treat, quite a number of the general public came too. After the tea was over, sports were provided for the young people, flat racing, three and four leg racing and high jumping. Prizes were given and so time passed until the termination of the events which finally came when the Band, who had provided very attractive music, were asked to take the lead of what was termed a serpentine march, in which everyone took part. I have forgotten to mention that what was most interesting of all to the lads who were teenagers and also the girls, but especially to the boys who liked to kiss nice looking girls was a large ring formed in which there was a large rush of young people. This was open for all who liked to join in, even if they were not connected with the school. The lads were open to kiss any good looking girl. A large ring being formed and, in the centre, a boy stood and looking for the best looking girl, he would walk towards her, the girl would run from him and eventually being caught, kisses were planted on her cheeks. Then the girl would walk to the centre and look for the boy she fancied best. This game was carried on until the word was given to close for the band that, by this time, was ready for the march. Someone who knew the proceedings would take the lead and the long line followed, the band forming into a circle, winding and winding, it looked like they had come to a cul de sac, but the one in charge could do what looked like the end and come peacefully out of what appeared to be a tangle. And so the end had come to a most delightful and enjoyable day for young and old. There might, on such occasions, be possibilities of romance amongst the older teenagers.

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Chapter 3: Reflections on School.

My day school years were not many, I think I was with the lady who kept the private school for five years, and I think it was in the year 1889 or 1890, after going to a larger school for 2 years, that my school days terminated. The lady with the private school closed her school, taking a large boarding house with a relation of hers and so those happy days at her school came to an end. There were some very nice boys and girls that I met with during that time, I think it was somewhere about that time that I became a member of the Boys’ Own Club that was conducted by a Wesleyan minister’s son. Again there were many nice boys who attended. There, we kept in touch with the religious side of life which delighted my mother’s heart. We were asked to write essays at times, often on scripture subjects. In fact, I am led to think that was the early beginning of my preaching days or, at least, gave me food for thought. But many changes transpired in my life meanwhile. One of my regrets, referring again to school life, is the occasion when I ran away from school. We had plenty of homework to do and, perhaps, I had not put in the amount of time and study this particular evening to present to the master the following morning. Another boy and myself were pals and we were somewhat of the same mind. At this school, the head master could use the cane, just as much as the lady teacher at the other school. All the boys that had to do homework put their books on the master’s desk when they entered school in the morning. On this particular morning, I said to my pal “I expect I shall get the cane this morning “, explaining to him why and, if it should happen, what I had made up my mind to do. I told him I was going to “run it”, this was an expression used by the boys, and I waited for the opportunity to go. Well, the opportunity availed itself and I had disappeared without the master’s knowledge. Eventually, when he discovered that I had fled, he said to the boys “where is Burnard?” One of them said “he’s run it sir.” “All right” said the master, “I’ll flog him when he comes again.” Flogging was not what he meant in the full sense of the word, but it was just an expression of his. He spoke to my father about it at the time and said that, if I would come back, he would do his best for me. But my will power was exceedingly stubborn in those days, although I was young, and the schoolmaster’s cane made it worse. But this was an expression of thought unduly considered; many things are done without consideration. As I think of those bygone days and the children with their different temperaments and what the schoolmaster or mistress had to put up with, I have 14

come to the conclusion that my master had not gone beyond what discipline demanded. He was a lay preacher with the Wesleyan church and one of the assistant masters was the same. When I attended school, we were taught to speak clearly, correctly and distinctly, to sound the H’s, especially in words such as he, his, has, when, which, who, what and so on. Also to read correctively, observing all the , : ; ! ? And also expressions in reading, as if the book was talking. In summing up, I have come to the conclusion that the days of school were very happy days and that, as children, we were not punished without a reason.

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Chapter 4: My Apprenticeship and Teenage Life

When I reached the age of 15, I was apprenticed to the saddlery trade for 5 years. It was a very good business, especially with a shop well stocked with all the saddlery requisites and a good show of fancy goods, together with many other lines that would be an addition to the business. I must, before I proceed with my business talk, mention the people connected with the Wesleyan Church who were very friendly with my Mother and Father and how they were interested in my welfare and future outlook as far as the business was concerned. They were very willing to give counsel and advice, not only during my apprenticeship, but after I had finished. Suggestions were made by some of the business people in the town of my starting my own business.

Newquay of those days was a small town with somewhere about 2000 inhabitants and most of the people were known to one another. There were three saddlers in Newquay when I became an apprentice to the trade, and there were large numbers of horses in the town and neighbourhood. In the town itself, many people outside of the hotels kept horses for hire and, during the summer, ran trips to various places, St Mawgan, Lawry’s Mill, Bedruthan Steps and many other places of interest. Numbers of people would go to these places during the summer months and those who kept the stables found it a paying concern. A considerable amount of money was made by such names as Burt, Prater, who ran a three horse bus to Truro once a week. Then there were others such as Hocking who commenced business with Pony and Jingles, a conveyance to carry four people, and bath chairs drawn by donkeys. Hocking and Hawkeys both became outstanding business names and Hawkeys also ran a coach building business. Why I am mentioning all this is because the saddler benefitted by it all. As far as the coach building was concerned there was quite a lot of leather trimming involved and the horses provided much work as far as the trade was concerned. I well remember when I commenced to work to become a saddler. After some preliminaries such as sweeping out the shop, cleaning the shop windows, dusting the counters and making everything look bright and tidy, I went to my bench. There was, at another part of the bench, another apprentice who had been to the trade for three years before I came and he was very smart and quick at the work, I mentioned before that there were three saddlers in the town, Jewell, Westlake and 16

Polkinhorne. Jewell was known to be the outstanding tradesman, having a practical knowledge in every department of the trade, harness maker, saddle and collar maker and maker of sporting goods and leather novelties. I happened to be lucky then, in having the opportunity of becoming apprenticed to him. I have included a photo of the shop as it appeared at the corner of the Commercial Hotel as it was called in those days.

This shows, from left to right, Burnard, Jewell and Henwood. My first job of work to commence with was to learn how to make threads for stitching or sewing, as everything was handmade and every piece of harness had to be made at a given time. For instance, a pair of traces was considered to be a day’s work, five feet nine inches in length at nine or ten stitches to the inch and one had to be very smart or active to do it. A horse’s bridle was also considered to be a day’s work. I could go on to enumerate the many parts of the harness and its limited time for the making. When I had made the threads properly, I was taught how to sew with two needles and an awl. This took quite a time to be quick in manipulating the needles and awl. Apprentice wages in those days were very small compared with the wages of today. I am referring to 1893, when I commenced the trade, as a matter of fact I 17

was paid 1/6 a week and 1/6 rise each year for 5 years8. This was the pay for all apprentices of other trades too, I think masons were paid 2/- , because it was a trade more exposed to weather conditions. After I finished the five years, it was the custom to work with other saddlers as an improver, preferably to a shop where there were a number of men employed, so I was lucky when I finished the five years to get a job at Penzance, where there were six men, the boss, his son and myself. The fixed pay for improvers was 15/- per week for 12 months and one was considered a fully qualified tradesman after 12 months as an improver. Those were the conditions of trades in those days. I have omitted to mention that during the five years apprenticeship and low wages, my mother saved money for me to buy tools, which every man was supposed to possess. I am still in possession of my tools, which I very much value.

Two of the Authors Saddler’s Hammers with Two Items Found by Him on Forrabury Common

When I commenced working with other men, I seemed to have entered into another world, my life seemed to have changed and I became acquainted with many people with different thoughts and temperaments, men of the world, men who had no room for religion. Yet those men had hearts of gold, as we say, they were always willing to do a good turn to anyone. Then there were those who were church members who came into the shop to see how I was getting along. It was in those days that I became associated with the Brotherhood society whose services were held at the Seaman’s Mission Hall at the Harbour. It was there that I became a member and was elected to the committee. I took part in the management and so I was kept in touch with the things that I had been taught.

8 This was one shilling and six pence in pre decimal coinage 7.5p today 18

Some of my teenagers were very fond, and lovers of, the feminine sex and, naturally, there were many girls to love and be loved by as there are today in this modern age. It may well have been that I was just as much attractive to the girls as I became attracted to them. The other fellow apprentice who worked beside me at the bench was very fond of girl friends and had rather a weakness for them. As time went on that weakness became an infection and I became infected by it and it was not long before I had many girl friends. I must confess I had a weakness for the feminine sex and I preferred their friendship rather than lads of my own age. Many a time I have walked miles to see a girl, or accompany them to their homes when, perhaps, they had come into Newquay to do some shopping. I must, however, make a confession, even if the reader has not any sympathy with me. I had a weakness for nice looking girls, and even if such a girl had a boy friend, I, in some way or other if the opportunity availed itself, tried to win her affection. Now, instead of waiting to think what the reader’s reply might be, I will answer myself. I am quite aware that I was absolutely wrong and it was necessary that I should pay the price for such deeds. I became attached to very many girls during my teen age days some were very affectionate and attractive and possessed of good looks, very natural in their make up, winsome, loveable. Naturally, those were the girls who had a fascination for me and waited for an opportunity to become acquainted with me, even if such a girl had a boyfriend, I don’t say this with any thought of conceit relative to myself. I will relate one or two stories, or it may have been three or four, it was just luck that I did not pay the price or receive a punishment. In this particular incident it was a lad with whom I was very friendly and was rather a nice companion. He was a carpenter and a very good tradesman and often we associated with each other as pals, but as I think as I am writing these lines, I at the time did not display the pal spirit. This is what happened at the time. We were walking together one night and met two girls whom we knew, but it may have been not altogether friendly. It was not very far from where the girls lived and my home was near where one of them lived. Before we said goodnight to the girls on this occasion, we made arrangements for an evening to take them for a walk and set a time for the meeting. One of the girls sort of fascinated me rather more than the other and that was the girl that attracted my pal, she was good looking and had ginger hair, the other was alright but I preferred the ginger haired girl. What was to be done? Well, I prided myself in being able to work things out, but more so for myself, without a thought, perhaps, for my pal. 19

Well, as far as my selfish mind was concerned, the inevitable must happen and I am beginning to think what the reaction is going to be over what I have been contemplating carrying out. Future events will answer to my regret. After saying goodnight to my pal and before the ginger haired girl had time to reach her home, which, as I have already said, was not far from my home, I made contact with her about her and the other girl, that I would meet them on an earlier date than had been previously arranged. By so doing, I could take his girl. Well, it worked to plan, but the consequence was that I had to take them both, that, I did not mind. The companionship was alright and a very pleasant evening was enjoyed. Meanwhile, my pal had planned things out and, making a guess about the time that we should return, he passed us but he did not speak. It was some time after before he and I met each other again and perhaps it is better not to relate what transpired. But still, I am happy to say, our friendship was not broken over this love affair. I think it was two years later that he went away from Newquay and came to say goodbye to me before he left. I enjoyed my young life and there is nothing that I would not mind living over again. Newquay, at about this time, was beginning to grow, many builders were getting busy building new houses and new people were coming into the town and occupying them. The place began to grow by leaps and bounds, as we say. The place has been growing ever since in its popularity. I have always loved Newquay because so many incidents in my life happened there. There are places outside the town too where I like going, which bring back happy memories of past happenings. I was brought up by my parents to be a total abstainer, not to taste or drink any alcoholic liquor and not even fetch any for anyone. Sometimes, youngsters were sent with a jug for beer by their parents. One day, when I was coming home from school, I happened to look in a carpenters’ shop to watch the men working. The owner of the shop was a builder and built 75% of the houses in Newquay in those days. The man said to me “here boy, get a pint of beer for me will you?” “Well” I thought, “what shall I do?” The man was a prominent member of the Wesleyan Church. I thought to myself, “Well, there cannot be anything wrong in fetching the beer, he being a Christian and one who holds a responsible position in the Church.” So I fetched the beer and he gave me some coppers for getting it. I was always one, in my very young days, to ask myself questions as to the rights and wrongs of what I did and that is why I fetched the beer, because I thought if the man in question drank it and he was a Christian, then I was not doing anything that needed reprimanding. There are still too many narrow minded Christians who find fault with little, insignificant things, what the Bible refers to as “straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel.” They make mountains out of molehills and think nothing of dishonouring 20

a person’s character. When I conducted services at the Wellington Hotel bar parlour some years ago,9 I explained why I had come. I told the men that my religion was not made up of “don’ts” that you must not do this or you must not do that. I well remember, as a small boy, a dear old man and his wife who were greatly respected in Newquay. They carried on business at a very old inn called the Sailors Arms. They were members of the Methodist Free Church and were people of noble character. I am not sure when I first tasted beer, whether it was in a bar or at Millbay Station with some lads or with some girls who came with their people to a house they had taken for the season at Porth, which was near Newquay in those days, but is now part of the town. As I am writing, I am led to think it was at Millbay Station. My mind at the time was asking, “Shall I? It is just a matter of friendship.” My answer to those who do not favour alcohol, to the narrow minded, is that it is wrong for those who cannot control themselves and whose homes have to suffer, to such it is wrong. An uncontrollable weakness must be mastered, and that can only be done by cultivating a very strong willpower, probably by God’s help. My life, as I have already mentioned, was complicated in many ways. I was associated, for some considerable time, with the Band of Hope, which was in direct contrast with what I have just been writing, the subject of intemperance. Band of Hope meetings were held in the old Bible Christian Chapel once a month and the building would be full with children and helpers. I made it part of my work to make the meetings as bright and attractive as possible, giving the young people something to do. Sometimes we would train them to a form of amateur plays, dialogues etc. I spent hours writing out scripts for them to learn, they were always very interested to come down to my little shop to rehearse. I did not touch or taste any alcohol all the time I was connected with the association. I very much enjoyed those meetings and the children were often coming to me to ask if they could do anything or take part in any way on the forthcoming meeting. I was president for a number of years and put my heart and soul into its management. I often gave addresses on excessive drinking and the effects it had on the nervous system, especially with some people who were weak in temperament and intellect. I am led to think that a portion of my life was governed by my mother’s prayers and being controlled by a guiding spirit. I thank God for such a mother, who led me into those higher principles of living of the Christ like life, which was not narrowness, but the studying of the things that mattered not the Don’ts of life, don’t do this or don’t do that, but self control in living, not fault finding, but showing Christian charity and love.

9 This is referred to in another book by the author (Burnard and Ross 2007, 62-65). 21

“Aspiring towards the Higher Life”.

The Author Outside the Harbour Road Shop, Date Unknown.

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Chapter 5: More on Relationships.

Now I will return to the days of my girl friends and love affairs, I would like to relate the story of an incident that happened when I was 18. As I have already stated, I was more or less, in my attitude with girls, a sort of girl stealer, sometimes from lads that I was friendly with and sometimes from fellows that I did not know personally. What I am now going to write about was a young man who I had not met or even seen face to face. The only time that I was able to see him was on a moonlit night and then he was quite a distance away. The girl in the story was one who I met quite by accident or, shall I say, unexpectedly. I think it was one Sunday evening, when I was walking down one of the main streets in Newquay and came into contact with some girls that I often talked with, and very friendly they were, but strangely enough I never went for walks with them. The girl that I am going to write about was with them, and quite naturally they introduced me to her. She was a very nice looking girl, well dressed and nicely spoken. There seemed to be something about her that made me think that she was the girl I had been looking for and, naturally, my conversation between times with the girls was more or less centred on her. It was evening and the light was beginning to fade and soon there was talk of going home, so I made the suggestion that I would take the girl in question to her home, which was about a mile and a half out of Newquay. Well, this was very pleasing as far as I was concerned and this would certainly set up a friendship. At this time, I did not have a girlfriend, having separated from one who, I must say, I loved very much and, many a time after, regretted our separation. This was caused by a very trivial matter, but I was always very opinionated and came to conclusions to quickly without consideration. I missed the happy times we had together. Well, the girl in question seemed to me to be the type who would help me overcome the slight depression that came over me after finishing with the other girl, who was such a charming personality. I could only blame myself for the dissolving of our friendship. Her name was Annie Grigg. The girl of this story was called Alice Wilson. She also had charm and I thought, relating to our conversation as we were walking to her home, that this girl would make a very suitable companion. Before we said goodnight, arrangements were made as to when we should meet again. A day and a time were fixed and I walked to meet her, and so another friendship began. She was a girl about the same height as myself, with a nice figure 23

and she carried herself with poise. She was dignified, a little reserved, but not unduly. We met pretty often and so spent much time together. As a matter of fact I preferred the friendship of girls to that of men. This girl made a delightful companion and we were attracted by each other’s company, consequently we met often and I did not mind the walk of a few miles on those evenings. The question was, what was the fellow who was in love with her as well thinking? It might have been that he was planning on getting his own back with me. Well, one evening, when the moon was shining very bright and everything was so peaceful around us, and we were getting near a sheltered seat beside the road where we were walking, the fellow that I hoped I should not meet came along the road. I did not know him, but the girl was not mistaken as she looked along the road, she knew the manner of his walk. His occupation was a clerk in the office of A. Stephens and Company, who sold corn and implements at Porth. I suggested to the girl at the time that we speed up a little in our walking. I did not want to be implicated in any way over a love affair as the question was, who was most in the wrong, myself or the girl? When I was introduced to her I did not even know that she had a boy friend. Well, what I was thinking at the time was that there might be a war of tongues or, even more strongly, fists flying in all directions, or, as things get carried to their limits in these days of what is called the modern age, pistol action.10 Well, none of these things happened; we sped up our walk and disappeared around a bend in the road. He retraced his steps and we were very thankful. It was close on two years that we were friends and very loving companions. Gradually, our friendship came to an end. I have to admit and blame myself for continuing the friendship so long without any thoughts of marriage, as I felt that at the age of 20 I was too young for matrimony. But, that is another of my regrets as I think back over the years, because members of the feminine sex naturally have visions of a home of their own with children and a loving father. There were four girls in my life that I loved very dearly, and the one that I have just finished writing about was the second on the list. As I believe I have mentioned, I had many girlfriends, four of them outstanding. The fourth one became my wife.

10 When these events happened, it was legal to carry a pistol for self defence, as long as the person carrying the pistol had a licence to do so. After 1903, a licence was also needed to buy a handgun. Up to 1946, self defence was still considered to be a valid reason to own a firearm. Despite (or perhaps because of) the availability of handguns, the homicide rate in the UK during these years was lower than today (Hicks and Allen, 1999, 14-16. The same source also shows a marked upward trend in the overall crime rate since the 1940s. Did people suddenly become less law abiding, or was the presence of legally held firearms for self defence prior to 1946 a factor? 24

Chapter 6: My Marriage to the Fourth Girl.

This happy event took place in 1903. Our meeting took place in a very unexpected way. Myself and a fellow who was a pal of mine had been contemplating going to Plymouth for a week to have what we called “a good time.” This was just before Christmas 1899. I made arrangements as to where we were going to lodge and so everything was in order. We were looking forward to what we called a Beano, whatever the word meant. My friend was not such a girl lover as myself, but we always got on alright together as pals. The long expected time came and we took a train from Newquay. I don’t remember the time of departure or the time of arrival at North Road Station, but I do remember the hearty welcome of the people we were going with. I am not sure if it was the same evening or the following evening, a young person had come to the house and we were introduced to her. A few comments were made and I thought she seemed a very nice girl. This is her photograph as she appeared in those days

25

We met each other several times during my stay in Plymouth and a friendship began. After I had returned to Newquay, a greater friendship began with letter writing, at first just informal, then a sort of warmth and affection. Something began to reveal itself; we began to think that we were really in love. We did not see each other much for the first 12 months, just now and again at weekends, as she was living at Plymouth.11 Although I had been associated with numbers of girls, this seemed to be the one who, from a human standpoint, was planned out for me.

Just after we met, Christmas 1899

Although I cannot entirely believe that one’s life is completely planned out from the beginning, if I did, that would do away with the idea of our being free will agents. As time went on, we began to think of each other not as friends, but to use the word in its ordinary way of expression, we were lovers. As time passed, it became more and more evident.

11 The 1901 census shows Tryphena Ferrett living at 2, Endsleigh Place, Plymouth. She was described as a cook domestic. 26

There were times when I spent a week at Plymouth, occasions which were looked forward to and much enjoyed. I well remember when she was at her house in Boscastle and my first time meeting her parents.12

The Ferrett Family at Forrabury in 1903

At the time of my meeting her mother and father, I could not have received a greater warmth of affectionate feeling had I been their son (although, again, I was a stealer, at the time of our introduction, she had a boyfriend). The Mother and Father were extraordinary people; I have often said that the father, as far as being a Christian, was a saint. The mother treated me with a mother’s love until the end of her days. My only expression of this is in the line of a hymn “Love so amazing, so divine.”

12 The Ferrett family lived at Forrabury. They were shown there in the 1891 and 1901 Censuses. The 1881 Census shows the family living at Tresparret, Tryphena was then aged 1, having been born at St Juliot. In 1901, the Ferrett family was Daniel, aged 52, Mary Jane, 45, Daniel T (living elsewhere, 23), Tryphena, 21, Charles H (Living elsewhere, 19) William J., 16, Frederick (living elsewhere, 15), Sidney, 11, Beatrice Anne, 6, Edith L, 4. They are all shown in the photo dated 1903, together with one male as yet unidentified. 27

The girl’s name was Tryphena, to make it shorter and easier to say, she was

The Reverend Price, who married us. known as Phenie, sometimes Phene. Our courting days extended just over three years. We became engaged the second year and were married the third year, in March 1903. Her age was then 23, myself 2 years older, 25. We lived at Newquay for 7 years, those were seven happy years, and we were associated with some very nice people and were members of the Congregational Church, where I was converted. The minister at the time was the Rev. J. Stevenson but I was not received into the church by him. Another man and myself were put on probation for three months before being received as members. During that time, the minister left to go to a church at Brighton, often from there, he would go to preach at the City Temple in London. We were received into the church at Newquay, the 28

other fellow whose name was Medway and myself, by the new minister, whose name was Mackintosh. He was a very fine, friendly man who, often came to see us. The previous minister’s wife had visited us often, but Mrs Mackintosh was rather reserved, although her husband made up for her. We were greatly respected by the members of the church. I should like, at this point, to refer to a business venture which did not prove a success. This was after our marriage; it was a part time affair. The shop was near our house, about a stone’s throw.13 My wife would look after the business as often as possible, half holidays from the saddlery business; I would put in the whole afternoon. I was working with a saddler called Jewell, he also was interested in the venture and hoped that it would materialise. There were times when I secured a covered wagon and horse loaned from a very prominent business man called Jenkin, who was the owner of the largest grocery and general store in Newquay and also a ship owner and Deacon of the Congregational Church. He would not charge me for the horse and wagon. I did country journeys once a week, this was somewhat helpful. There was held at Summercourt a noted Fair, which large numbers of people attended. Jewell and myself attended the Fair and it was a good time for saddlery goods. I also had a stall there and my wife was in charge. That was also very helpful as far as sales were concerned. The goods were fancy and ironmongery. I carried on the business for three years or, perhaps, longer, but profits did not increase sufficiently enough for it to prove a success. Eventually, I closed down with a loss of three hundred pounds, the stars did not favour me, yet the man that I worked for, whatever he touched was successful. Before I left Newquay, 5 or 6 years after I closed my own business, Jewell turned the working part of the saddlery over to me to manage it for him. That, I was very pleased with; to work as if it was my own. Another fellow was in the workshop with me.14

13 The family were living at 20 Deer Park in the 1901 census, but moved to Sydney Road some time after. 14 This man was called Carter. I have a photograph with the business name Burnard and Carter. 29

Carter and a Lady. Below: A Glee Party at Newquay. Left to Right, Brewer, Falsetto, E. Trewethy15, Bass, A Carter, Tenor, C. Burrows, Bass, W Carter, Tenor.

15 Perhaps Trethewey. 30

Jewell meanwhile had turned the main shop into a fancy shop selling sports goods and leather ware. The same shop, although Jewell is dead, still goes under the name of Jewells.

Mr Jewell aged 93. 31

Chapter 7: The Last Years in Newquay.

We lived in a very nice cottage in Sydney Road, a five roomed house and very nice rooms they were. There was a back yard and a fair sized flower garden. Our son Jack was born there in this house. 16 Two or three years before we left the town, we left this house for a larger one opposite what was called the Island Estate, overlooking the sea and beside the Main Street. There we took in paying guests, we had a number of visitors during the time we were there, and this helped us get back some of the money lost in the business venture. I loved Newquay, and my wife was not at all interested in leaving, because we were acquainted with so many nice people who were in business and also boarding house proprietors. We would often say later, if we could only go back to the town on Sundays to go to the Congregationalist Church, the place of my spiritual birth, and the out of the ordinary people who were members there. That was 53 years ago, and yet that hardly seems but a day.

“Time like an ever rolling stream.”

The time had almost come for farewells, as far as our associations with Newquay were concerned. I think I have already mentioned that another fellow and myself were organisers of the Brotherhood Society in the town. My principal part in its work was the getting of speakers. The services were conducted by different members, one who acted as a chairman, another who read the lesson and another to offer Prayer. The service was purely Evangelical. I well remember a three weeks Mission being held with some converts. In the getting of speakers, I was brought into contact with Ministers, Lay Preachers, private gentlemen who lived in Newquay. It was very interesting to meet these people because I always prided myself on being a good mixer amongst such people and I was always trying to find out what they were interested in. The Minister of our Church in the town, I think it was the last Sunday evening before we left, he mentioned in his prayer those who were contemplating a new business venture and gave God’s blessing. It brought to my mind our talks on the subject, strangely enough some years later he came to see us when we were living

16 Jack Burnard spent most of his adult life in Bude, where he worked at Cann Medlands Garage until his early retirement due to ill health. He died in 1967, whilst on holiday in Bournemouth. 32

at Valency House, we asked him to come in and we showed him around the house, which he thought was very nice. I have many happy memories of the people who attended the Congregational Church. They were all so friendly, at any social gatherings at the Congregational, there was no distinction of class, and everybody seemed as one. They kept in touch with the people who attended the Church when there was sickness and if the Father in a home was unable to work for a considerable time, an allowance was made of about 5/- a week, or it might be more according to how the family were situated. Relative to myself, I was for some time, somewhat run down in health and had to lie in bed for many weeks. The Minister came to see me and, during the time that I was confined to my home and not able to work, the Church allowed me 5/- a week, although I was a member of the Oddfellows Club and received the usual allowance from them. The Church did not consider that, it was a recognised practice for members who were sick, so that the family budget should not suffer. I have mentioned this because there are so many people who speak disparagingly of any Church. They do not know anything of the Good Samaritan- ship of the Church

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Chapter 8. How I came to Boscastle.

How did I leave Newquay, a growing and prosperous town? A town that was becoming important on the map. Had I remained with Jewell a little longer, he would have turned the whole business over to me. Why I think this is because the man who worked in the shop beside me, after a couple of years, it was transferred over to him. I don’t think he was in possession very long, because he fell over the cliff off the Headland. The circumstances of this were not really known and I have been told that there was something of a mystery attached to the events. My reason for leaving Newquay was due to some communications I had been receiving from a brother in law who had a prosperous Grocery and Drapery business in Boscastle, together with a wide country trade.17 We were writing to each other for twelve months and, eventually, my brother in law informed me that the Saddler in the village needed to give up business on account of ill health and that he considered this would be a good venture for me. Well, after deep thinking as to what was best to do, as I had already been unsuccessful in a venture, I came to the decision that I would trust to luck. My wife’s brother had already said that, if I did not come, he had made up his mind to add the business to his own and employ a Saddler to work for him.

Well, the time came when we had to bid adieu to the town and old friends and associates, Church members and Minister. We had already sent on our furniture by van the day before our departure. We caught the Coach at Central Square (in those days it was the Commercial Square). The Coach was a four horse conveyance, and to ride behind four beautiful horses was most interesting to me, especially having been connected with horses for so many years. We travelled as far as Wadebridge and then from there by train to Camelford Station, completing our journey by horse conveyance to Boscastle. We had already taken as our home Lynwood House and there we were met by my wife’s relatives.18

17 This was Daniel T Ferrett, who was running Burnard’s Stores at the time. 18 The photograph below shows the family at Lynwood House, quite possibly on this very occasion. 34

Group Picture at Lynwood House

Our life had opened up to fresh opportunities. It was not a case of building up a business, but just of getting to work. The first morning when I arrived at the shop, a man was there waiting for me with harness that he wanted quickly, and it was not long before I had fixed all my tools in order, my stock I unpacked later, when I had done my first work for the one who had been waiting. What work there was to be done; harness of all sorts to make, pair horse sets and four horse cart sets, collars, saddles and quite a lot of fancy goods. I had work enough for two men, but as I could work very fast in those days, I could keep it all going. Many a time I started work at 8 in the morning and finished sometimes at 11 at night, sometimes even 3 in the morning. I was about 33 or 34 and did not mind any other tradesman as far as work was concerned. I met many people who came, young and old, not all with work, but to see the new saddler. Those were exciting days. Now I will leave my trade talks and get back to our house at Lynwood. The house was beyond our expectations. It was nicely situated, an ideal house with very nice lofty rooms and large windows to let in the light. There was a long stretch of 35

ground along from the front door which my father set to work on, trimming the grass and planting. This house surpassed any that we lived in before, because it was more up to date and the rent was less than the house we left in Newquay, which was ₤ 18, Lynwood being ₤ 12.19 We lived at Lynwood for 5 years, we were contemplating taking paying guests and when the opportunity availed itself to go to Valency House down by the Bridge, we moved there instead. At Valency House, we worked up a good relationship with people of good class who came year after year. We looked forward to them coming every year. The turnover from this business eventually overtook the saddlery business as more and more cars came on the road. We closed the boarding house after 32 years of trading

Valency House Business Card.

19 Presumably for a year. 36

Valency House 1941

Two or three years after opening up the trade at Harbour road, one night someone broke in to the shop and helped themselves to many articles of the trade such as whips, leggings, horses’ bits, spurs, stirrups, sponges etc. The culprit was never found, although the Police were contacted all through Cornwall.

37

Chapter 9: My Work with the Church and Some Pastimes.

It was not very long before we had settled down to the many things we did that we became wholly wrapped up in Church work. I joined the choir, attended weeknight services, gave addresses and sometimes conducted services in the Chapel. Before joining the Free Methodist Church as it was called then, we attended the Bible Christian Chapel where my wife’s parents were members. The attendance there was larger than the other two Chapels, at evening services the Chapel would be full and there were good Ministers and Lay Preachers. They sent more money each year for missionary work than the other two Chapels and they also had a good Sunday School. After I had been connected with the Chapel for some time and was asked to become a teacher, I made a suggestion that, at Sunday anniversaries, a platform should be fixed each side of the pulpit for the children to be facing the congregation. This was acceded to and the children were very pleased. Here, I have reproduced an article sent by the reporter to one of the local papers.

A service was held at the Fore Street Church on Good Friday Morning. Mr W.F. Burnard gave an able address on “Reconstruction.” A profitable discussion followed, Miss L. Burnard, Messrs J. Banbury, N. Sandercock, and D.T. Ferrett taking part. Miss Mably presided at the harmonium. Mr Burnard read the Scripture lesson. Appointed leader for next week; Miss E.L. Ferrett.

After a few years, I was elected Chapel Steward. The Chapel at the time had a small debt which had been hanging over a period of years and for which interest was being paid. When the opportunity arose to get the money, I paid off the amount owing. Over a considerable period of time, I began to feel that three Chapels and an Anglican Church were not necessary in a village of about 400 inhabitants. Every Sunday, three preachers had to come to the Nonconformist Chapels. My contention was that one Chapel was quite enough and, as the building of the United Free Church was the best and most up to date, I decided, with the help of the leaders of the Wesleyan and Bible Christian Chapels, that the congregations should be consulted and that arrangements should be made for the closing of their Chapels. After much controversy, there was unanimous agreement. I have already mentioned the Village Schoolmaster, who sent out of the school boys and girls with intelligence of a very high order who were capable of taking up positions in the world of Business. 38

The Headmaster, Mr Elford, was a much esteemed personality and treated with the greatest of respect. He was well versed in the musical world and an excellent organist. A short time after he came to Boscastle, I became acquainted with him and we talked much, apart from other things, about the formation of a choir. I made it known to him that, if he would become conductor, I would make it my business to form a choir. It was not long before I was able to get about 25 to 30 performers. After many practices, Mr Elford came to the conclusion that, as the choir seemed to be well away, there was a possibility of their giving a performance of a very old cantata, it entailed quite a lot of work, very many practices. The time came when it was decided to give the first rendering at (what we used to call it in those days) the Middle Chapel, known now as the “Methodist.” Mr Elford was very pleased with the fine performance and, outside Churches getting to know about what the Choir had done, invitations were sent for the rendering of the same. Two of the places were Delabole Wesley, where, at the time, they were in possession of an excellent choir, and St Breward. At that time and on these occasions, I was in possession of a fairly decent baritone voice and I took part in solo singing. On occasions at certain performances, I sang “the Lost Chord’ and “the Holy City” and many other songs. The last performance that the Choir gave was at Forrabury Church. It was the “Crucifixion” and was greatly appreciated by a very large congregation. Mr Elford did not enjoy his retirement for many years, as he died at an early age, according to how we count time. In my association with Church work, I interested myself in visiting the sick and old people confined to their homes. Often, I had a little form of service, reading the Scriptures and singing to them, and saying a prayer. I have done this around the Camelford and Wadebridge Circuit and many homes in Boscastle. My visitations cover very many years, sometimes I would visit four homes of old or sick people of a Sunday afternoon, occasions when individuals were coming to the conclusion of, or nearing the end of their lives. These events were more interesting to me than holding formal services, because I felt that they perhaps had visions of the Eternal Land. What happy memories I have in reviewing the past and those recollections of living experiences, which stand like pillars on the horizon of life.

“There is a land of pure delight, where Saints immortal reign.”

On this day, January the 21st 1963, and this week, much prayer will be made on behalf of the Churches for unity. In my own opinion, there is nothing new in these talks of the present moment, and I am not altogether interested. I am inclined to 39

think that the controversy is more between the Anglican and Methodist Churches. I am led to think that if all the religious bodies and organisations were more concerned about their own individual activities and more interested in the salvation of souls and preaching the written word according to the teaching of the Bible, it would be more to the credit of the Bishops and the “High ups” of Methodism. My mind takes me back close on 70 years ago, when I was living in Newquay, when Nonconformist Churches exchanged pulpits so often. It made a change for the congregations and also for the Ministers. That was a form of unity. When I came to Boscastle to live, there were three chapels and the congregations were only enough for one. I, without any consideration of thinking myself different to anyone else, took things on my own responsibility to work quietly amongst the people who were Church members to convince them that it was advisable to close two chapels. It was a matter of much time and patience, but eventually the two Chapels selected were closed. This did not, however, bring union in the true sense of the word. The reader may ask, “Why?” Well, there were people who looked on those closed Chapels as their spiritual homes, where they surrendered their lives to the Christ, in other words, where they were converted. Many of these people disconnected themselves from the one Methodist community and terminated their affection and love for Church worship. This is one of the regrets of my life, when I think that I was responsible for this. Much is being said today about demolishing many Chapels and building one new one, which, perhaps, may be called the “Universal Church.” What I am about to relate now is much more in accordance with Christian unity than holding meetings in Trafalgar Square (as to the gathering of over a thousand on Sunday the 20th of January) and, I think, more important. These events took place in 1947. I was holding the position of Steward of the Methodist Chapel in Fore Street and, having the responsibility for managing the Church affairs, I took it upon my own responsibility to call on the Rector at the time. Much of our conversation was on the work of the Church and, after our meeting, which was a friendly visit, we became very great friends. Often, this clergyman would come to see me to discuss Church problems. He often came and gave addresses at the Chapel’s week night services and, at other times, acted as Chairman at the Chapel to special events. This in reality was unity in action. I have already mentioned my visitations to those who were sick and to the elderly and what I am going to refer to now is in connection with meetings that this clergyman had just started. He invited quite a number of people to gatherings at the Rectory. The meetings took the form of dealing with different subjects and questions were asked and debated upon. This made the meetings very interesting and although these were not formal services and there were no hymns, there would be a prayer and a Blessing at the end. 40

On this particular occasion, the Rector, before opening the meeting, had been meditating about a number of things and, as he told me afterwards, something seemed to come to him very convincingly to ask me to open the gathering with a prayer. I well remember the occasion; I think it was after my recovery from a very bad attack of the Flu and I was feeling rather weak from its after effects. When the Rector called upon me to open with a prayer, I stood up and, when I opened my mouth to pray, something happened. I seemed to have had a feeling that it would be impossible to pray in public again. To think of prayer or even preaching again, was like as if I had a load bearing me down. When I spoke the first word in Prayer, I had a feeling as if I had been bound by a cord and that the cord was severed and I was free. I seemed to have said words in my Prayer that had a most helpful effect on someone who was in the congregation that evening, something had troubled her, and now she was free. The Rector’s prayer was answered, in his asking me to pray, I was set free and the lady in question was greatly helped. These are memories that give me much joy in my meditations. My workshop has been a place of many happy experiences, especially during the war years, when people were troubled. Some of them related their sorrows and tribulations, and many of them said, and especially strangers, how different they felt in leaving the shop, to when they came in. I well remember one old lady; when she came into the shop, she said to me “something seems to tell me you are a Christian.” What made her think that, I don’t know, it was her first approach to me. I replied to her in the affirmative and a conversation ensued. It was about this time that the rector asked me to preach at Forrabury Church. The Church was full to capacity and, before the service; we had a little time of meditation at his study, then, going to the vestry, another prayer. The Rector also informed me that he had arranged for the hymn “the Lord is my shepherd” to the tune Crimond, as he thought it would give me inspiration. 41

The Author in Vestments 42

In the year 1961, another Rector invited me to assist him at the Legion Service, giving me preference to take any part, either to give the Address or reading the Lesson and the Prayers. Once again, this is an example of Christian unity in action. Now, I will turn to some events relative to the Saddlery business, which I gave up about 30 years ago. I should say that, when I commenced business in the village, I had about four hundred horses to cater for, that is, taking in the whole of the neighbourhood as well. There were not many cars or other motor conveyances in those days. During the summer months, a four horse coach came from Bude and, if there were any breakages to the harness, I did all that was needed. Often there were new parts which had to be made. Quantities of new harness had to be made soon after I came to the village; also leggings of all sizes and shapes, grooms’ belts, men’s body belts about 6 inches wide, brown bags, purse, black harness, saddles, many repairs to ladies’ dress baskets, portmanteaus (which were very popular at the time) and many other things too numerous to mention. An old time saddler was expected to have knowledge of everything connected with the leather trade. Finally, as far as leather is concerned, there is the making of bellows, which I have been producing for over 30 years and am still making. I have sent these to all parts of the world. I cannot assess or in any way calculate the number of bellows that I have made, but it would have to be several thousand. One of the other things that I have made is the old type ship now at the Methodist Chapel. I made it out of odds and ends, and not even to scale, because at the time, I thought it was just a temporary gesture. It was made from a 16th Century model which I copied from a shop window in Bournemouth. The ship was made as a gift ship for special efforts to get money for Church work. The gifts were put into the hull and on the event of the effort; someone had the honour of unloading it and taking out the gifts. It has been borrowed by many Churches around the Camelford and Wadebridge Circuit and even down as far as Penzance and other places west. It has been in demand for over twenty years and has had put into its hull many thousands of pounds. A short while ago it was enquired for by a Church at Callington and gifts to the value of ₤400 were put into the hull (this was in June 1963). I also spend much of my time in the production of watercolour pictures, but this employment of time I have to be in the mood for. I have been asked by visitors at the little shop of which I am still in charge to sell them certain ones, which I have done and have been offered very good prices. I have sold a few, but I rather prefer keeping them to look at, seeing that it has been a pastime at the age of 85. 43

Chapter 10: Services at the Wellington Hotel.20

What I am now going to write about has been already mentioned in my other book, but anything that brings one happy memories of past events merits repetition. The period when I held services at the Wellington Hotel is something that stands out very prominently in my memory and I still remember the joy and pleasure that it brought to the men at the time. This was shown by the way that they were keen to help in some way, either by distributing the hymn books or by arranging seats. After the conclusion of the service on one occasion, the men held a conference amongst them and decided that, when I had an appointment at the Chapel, they were coming up and joining in the service. They decided to sit together by themselves because they had found out that some members of the Chapel at the time were not altogether favourable towards my visits to the Bar Parlour. Well, the time came when I had an appointment. At the time, I had selected very well known hymns of Sankey’s21 selection, six hymns instead of five. 33 men came to the service, dressed very smartly and, Oh! How they sang. Some of the members who did not care to speak to me when I commenced going to the hotel were all smiles when such a number of men came to the service. This was followed, on another occasion, by the attendance of another 33 men and the hotel proprietor himself. I closed the meetings during August and September, hoping to start them again in October, but my wife was taken ill about this time, consequently I had to finish. The services were carried on for six months. There was one little incident that occurred at the time, but I don’t want the reader to think of it as anything important. It was relevant to my meeting with the Rector at St Juliot, who had accused me of taking away his congregation. I asked him how such a thing could happen when the services at the hotel were held on Friday evenings. His reply was that those who had attended the services enjoyed them so much that they did not want to come to Church. I made it known to him that his services should be, in a way, attractive enough for them to enjoy, even if they had come to the Wellington, Sometime after, when I met him again, he said “I am very repentant for what I said to you the last time we met, and I recall those words. It is my sincere wish that you still carry on the good work.”

20 This topic is also covered in the Author’s other book, Burnard and Ross 2007, but it is covered here in more detail. 21 Ira D. Sankey, the famous American hymn writer. 44

I am now going to reproduce an article which I sent to the Editor of a monthly magazine. He was a minister at Port Isaac, who had been to similar services and he had requested me to send him a report of the services.

The Word at the Wellington

What has happened and what is still happening is that fortnightly gatherings for Community Hymn Singing with, sometimes, a prayer and a brief talk are being held in the Bar Parlour. It is held to be outstanding by all who take part and its popularity is growing. It brings to the listeners thoughts concerning the nature and reality of religion, it gives them things to talk about outside of their ordinary conversation and it inspires them towards the higher things of life, and to the greater and more important. Guests at the Hotel, who often attend the gatherings, enjoy the social and spiritual atmosphere of the proceedings. The reader may well ask, “How did it all begin.” It had a very insignificant beginning. It arose through one who frequents the bar for a “refresher.” He said to me quite casually one evening when I was returning from a service at the Chapel, “Why don’t you come down with us sometimes with some Hymn books or Hymn sheets and let us have a nice sing song.” After a while this idea became uppermost in my mind and could not be ignored, so, acting on what was undoubtedly a call from God, I called at the Hotel one evening to meet the Proprietor. I was received with great courtesy and he agreed that my idea was a good gesture, it had his approval and he wished me success. First of all, I notified the Police, who put no obstacles in my way and gave me best wishes for the success of the new venture. This is not a stunt and it is different from some sporadic raids which sometimes take place at public houses by Christian Commando teams. Some people who like to be critical may say “why hold meetings in Bar Parlours?” The answer is, that if reference is made to Holy Writ, we shall find that, when our Lord was on earth, he moved among the people and that people followed him because he had something to convey to them. My contention is that, if a Christian has anything worth talking about, the best place or places to talk or to witness is in such places where Christianity may not always find a place in conversation, unless in reference to someone who has overstepped the mark or committed a misdeed. If a Christian has anything definite to offer, he must, without any respect for places, offer it. If a Christian has anything worth talking about, if he has anything positive to say, he must say it in God’s name. If anything in our faith matters, he must say it now. The Scripture says “now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation!” If we have found something enabling us to face life with a quieter mind or heart, and a surer touch, we must tell people, persuade them, convince them; that is leadership, and leaders are very much needed in this day and generation. There has not been enough cooperation between the representatives of the Church and those who are not Churchgoers. The business of the Church and Christian witness is not a matter of Ministers, Lay Preachers and Pulpits, but all who recognise themselves as Christians should realise their responsibility as Evangelists, to be able to speak the Word in season, with tact and with assurance and authority. Every Christian should seek to draw in somehow those who are outside the Christian Church into the loving enclosure of the Christian atmosphere. 45

I am led to believe that it is possible to bring God’s love into action by carrying something of the Christian spirit to the men and women who, before this beginning had no real conception of what the Christian Church stood for. If we have Christ’s love within our hearts, let us witness to its greatness, let us say with St Paul “I know whom I believe and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day.” John Wesley left four questions for his followers to ask themselves, the last being, “Have I found something which I feel a burning experience to tell others?” If we who call ourselves Christians have such an experience, let us carry it outside the Church walls, let us go into the highways and let us live it day by day. “Let us go to the Bar Parlour!”

The Proprietor of the Hotel at the time writes, This is definitely not a stunt, as Community Hymn Singing in the Bar parlour is often but a topic of conversation, breaking the otherwise monotonous topics discussed in these places. Had I refused, I feel sure that the “Inner Man” would be saying to me now “you have prevented a good deed from being carried out.” So, with a glad heart let’s carry on the good work enjoyed by so many.

These services were carried on for six months, once a fortnight, on Friday evenings from half past eight to nine. Always after the services were over, which was at 9 prompt, the men would ask if they could have their favourite Hymns, some Hymns that they could remember from their younger days. I was always delighted to accede to their request. On one occasion, one man, who had been in the Royal Navy and had done full service, asked for “Eternal Father strong to save,” an outstanding Hymn. It was a very rough night and I expect that he thought of the men who might be exposed to great dangers. The next day, or it might have been the day after, it was in the news that a boat, I think it was at Newlyn, was out at sea and capsized in a storm. Four men were drowned and one was washed ashore and saved himself by climbing a high cliff. I was led to wonder, had the singing of this Hymn had anything to do with this man’s life? The reader might well ask, however, why was it that the others were drowned? By the time that the men all had their favourites, it would usually be 10 o’clock when proceedings finished. The Proprietor’s Hymn was “God be with you till we meet again.” He said it was his mother’s favourite. 46

Article on Christian Unity. 47

Chapter 11: Stories about my Dogs and Cats.

First of all, there was Micky, the Pal and favourite of the home.

Micky was presented to me by my son Stan, when he was just a little handful. He was, although very miniature, a very loveable little creature. He very soon began to grow away and, as he grew up, he began to be a good house dog and he could bark authoritatively. He became very friendly and greeted all our friends with a loving affection, almost human in manner. There are people writing articles in the daily papers who try to impress on their readers that dogs do not have any memories. I can say unhesitatingly or without any fear of contradiction to such thoughtless writers that there are not many creatures that have more intelligence. The following concerns Micky. A lady who has spent her holidays at Boscastle on several occasions and who has come into the little shop on Harbour Road, where I spend my time in charge as salesman. This lady, who at times talked to and petted the dog, one day, asked if she could take him out. She did this a number of times and he grew very fond of her. One year, she did not come to the village for her holiday, but the following year she came again. Now I want to tell the reader of the test of memory. The lady came to the shop as usual to buy post cards. She did not speak to the dog until she did her purchasing, then she spoke to him. He was lying down half asleep, when all of a sudden he got up and came towards her as if he remembered her voice and he began his usual bark to her, as if he was actually speaking to her, and he would not be quiet until she had taken him out. She usually came at a certain time every day, and the very strange part was, if she had not come about this time, even if he was half asleep, he would get up from his resting place and go on to the doorstep and sit until she arrived. This was not a coincidence because it happened each time she was late or not her usual time. 48

The next event happened one evening when I took him out for a run. The time was ten o’clock. I walked as far as Penally Point and on returning and, as I reached the little shop, it came to a heavy shower of rain. Naturally, I went into the shop for shelter, it was now 10-30. I did not switch on the light, but sat down in the dark. I had not remained there very long before there were voices outside the shop, and then someone opened the door, and then closed it again. Then, a matter of minutes later, the door was opened again and two people came in and closed the door behind them. I was sitting behind the counter, they could not see me, and neither could I see them until they came to where I usually sat. Then, being able to see me, they said “are you closed?” I said, very abruptly, “yes,” then they said “can we look around?” “No,” I said. Micky, who was inside the counter by my side began to growl in a very deep tone, almost as if he were a much larger dog. By this time, I could see that it was two men, having heard the deep growl of Micky; they walked to the door and soon disappeared. I could not see their faces. Where they had been in the shop or if they had seen where the till was, I shall never know, but it was strange that they should have come opposite to where I kept the cash. Sometime after, I met the Policeman and told him the story. He told me never to go into the shop like that again without locking the door. Kim the Alsatian was a very much larger dog than Micky. He was convincingly a very powerful creature and a one person dog, although he was a pet and a friend, and a very loveable companion, children could caress him and play with him. I often took him out on evenings when it was perfectly dark, up Penally Hill and down through the Private Road without a lead attached to him. I was always in possession of a whip which had a very loud crack, and this I would crack when he was far from me, he would always respond to this and he would come and put his nose against my hand to let me know that he had heard the call of the whip. Once, when I had taken him down by the Harbour when it was dusk, not entirely dark, I must have stepped on something very slippery and fallen backwards. He must have heard me slip, as he came back to find out if I was alright and sniffed all over me. I often took him into fields where there were sheep, at first he thought to himself “this might cause a bit of sport,” so when he made the first attempt to run after them, I immediately stopped him and, after this, I had no need to say anything to him when passing through fields where there were livestock of any kind. We had a long patch of ground fenced in, where we kept fowls, often, he walked inside when I fed them and they often chased him, so he was glad to get out and away from them. Many other things could be said about Kim, but let it suffice to say he was my “Pal Kim.” 49

There is another incident to relate about him.22 One night he was aroused by someone unknown at the house where we kept him, a little way from Valency House. When I went to fetch him this particular morning, about half past seven, some neighbours said that the dog had been barking very loudly sometime in the night. The door had been lifted but could not be opened, which was good for the intruder, because opening the door might have cost him his life. The first dog that we had we called Fido, he was a smooth hair terrier, a very nice dog but a little higher on his legs than Micky. I have not much to relate about as we did not keep him very long, on account of our being very busy at the shop, the saddlery and the boarding house, where I also helped my wife. There was not much time for giving the dog sufficient exercise; consequently I gave him to a friend. There was one little episode in connection with Fido in which no blame could be put to the dog. My wife had taken some tarts out of the oven and placed them on the floor below. I think someone outside the door had spoken to her. The dog, being in the kitchen at the time, naturally thought that this was for him and began to taste them to see which tart was best. This is the only thing that I can remember in connection with Fido. Before I close my recollections about our pets, we have had quite a number of cats, some of them Persians. There was one of these cats which my son and I taught the art of boxing. Perhaps the reader may be inclined to think this is a little farfetched, but I can say, without any thought of exaggeration to make a story, that this is quite true. When the cat was growing up and began to become very playful, we put it through various exercises in cat fighting, making noises like cats growling, holding up one hand like a paw and putting it towards the cat with a snarl and the hissing sound that cats make when they are fighting. This cat we called Pud and it began to get rather proficient in this type of exercise. We were pleased with its performance; it would often make a dive at our hand with its paw and hold it with its mouth, but not biting hard or scratching. Often, when I was doing weeding and kneeling on the ground, Pud would jump and spring at my hand for a scrap, it would “frame up” in a position like a boxer. One day, the cat was sitting on the wall opposite the house; Valency House was where we were living then. Some visitors, who were passing at the time, stopped and began stroking the cat. This went on for perhaps a minute, when, all of a sudden the cat “framed up” with its head on one side and then, with a growl, put out its paw. The visitor stepped back quickly, exclaiming “the cat’s gone mad!”

22 This was originally later in the book, but seems more relevant here. 50

Chapter 12: Some Reflections.

There are people who say, sometimes, “Would you like to live life over again?” I do not see any reason why not, if it were possible, to go through life twice over. I have no regrets as I look back over the years, everything seems reasonable enough. I have lived a very happy life, an enjoyable life, sometimes exciting, sometimes romantic, exhilarating, some times when I was not so goody goody and free from blemish as many people thought. I don’t regret any weakness that I was subjected to, because it is a part of human nature. Life is made up of changes, our bodies change, our thoughts and desires change, our thoughts towards people change as we get more acquainted with them. I commence this chapter with thoughts about living life over again. The question is what do we term life? Is it just a daily routine of things, work, pleasure, rest and sleep? Can we not allow our minds, thoughts and desires to go beyond all this? We, as individuals, were born into this world for some reason, there is a reason why animals, birds, insects, even the minutest form of insect life not perusable to the human eye were all created. In the human body, there is continuous warfare between the healthy and the unhealthy germs to keep the body healthy and fit. Fresh air and exercise are the two greatest components to keep the body healthy, but there is another body beyond all that I have considered or referred to and that is the spiritual. The Prayer Book speaks of Bodies Celestial and Terrestrial. I will just make a brief comment relative to the spiritual body, which is called the Soul. My own conception of the Soul is what I have been taught to believe and what the Bible has to say, and that, to a certain extent, is brief. The soul is not perceivable, but it is that which governs the body, influencing us as to what is right and wrong. It is a spiritual being within every human being that lives forever, which cannot die and which goes into the Eternal Realm, a place which is from everlasting to everlasting, where time does not count, there is no beginning nor end. That is the Spirit World. This life is for a reason23 and let us do our very best to enjoy it and help everyone else in many ways to do the same, living consistently and unselfishly, not finding fault, always showing the friendly spirit, being kind, affectionate and loveable. I have found, during my lifetime that carrying out the aforementioned things is the greatest recipe for a happy and enjoyable life, whilst we live in this world.

23 Or season 51

I would like to end this chapter with one question for the reader. “How will you enjoy an Everlasting Eternity?”

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Chapter 13: Boscastle and its Bands.24

The village has been, for very many years, in possession of very good bands and, fortunately, up to date bandmasters, men who had a thorough knowledge of music and qualities that were needed for leadership, and as conductors, kind and sympathetic as instructors to beginners. Boscastle Brass and Reed Band was in existence when I came to live in the village 53 years ago. The Band Master was called Prout, he had perfect knowledge of conducting a band and I am under the impression that he conducted a very nice choir at Forrabury Church at the time. The Band closed a few years after we had settled down in the village and was not re-established until after the 1914-1918 War. Mr W. Hocking had returned from France with a leg wound. After being able to get around again, he was able to get a number of interested men together, and so another band was formed with about 25 performers. Having been connected with a band at Newquay and being very friendly with Mr Webber, who had a fancy shop and was also a photographer at the Bridge, it was through him that I became associated with singing. He taught me the art of solo singing and, at the time, I was in possession of a baritone voice. He had already joined the band and he invited me to come along as well. This I did and, with the other members of the band, we had very happy experiences, especially when we were asked to play at places outside the village. Often we were invited to play at Tintagel, at garden fetes and things connected with the Church. At Christmas time, we played at various houses and hotels at Tintagel. I well remember us paying a visit to the Rectory, where the Rector asked us to come in and we were regaled with Christmas fare, which we all enjoyed. Boscastle now has a very popular band which has entered contests (this is in 1963). Recently, at a band contest at Truro, where some good bands had entered, Boscastle won second prize in the 3rd section and second prize in fourth section, so the village is rather proud of its band.

24 See also, Knight and Knight 2004, 85-91 53

Chapter 14: Conclusion.

Now I am nearing the end of what I might term an apology for a book. I have expressed my thoughts in story form as if I was sitting down with friends and, in ordinary talk, told part of the story of my life. There may be something of interest to the reader, or it may be just a few thoughts to fill up a break or a lull in conversation, when someone is thinking of the next thing to talk about. This often happens when friends are gathered together. When politics are the subject of conversation, often it takes up a considerable amount of time without results. About six months ago I was the recipient of a long service certificate, after 40 years service as a lay preacher in the Camelford and Wadebridge Circuit, and other circuits, even as far as Liskeard. I did preaching appointments for 10 years before interesting myself in studying for the preacher examination at the quarterly meeting. In qualifying myself as a candidate for lay preaching, it was necessary to preach a trial sermon at a service where one of the Circuit Ministers was present, so that he could give a report at the quarterly meeting. The minister who was appointed relative to myself decided that a trial sermon was not necessary, as he had heard satisfactory reports about me. Three of us were passed as fully qualified lay preachers; one eventually became a minister. As I look back over the years travelling from one end of the Circuit to the other, I remember congregations large and small. One of the Chapels at Port Isaac practically full, a congregation of about four or five hundred with a large percentage of fishermen, men who loved Sankey hymns, and how they sang, the singing was an inspiration. Then there were smaller Chapels with the same spirit, where there were men and women who loved their Lord and put their heart and soul into the service. There were times when I conducted ten double appointments a quarter, that is morning and evening and, on occasions, afternoons as well. I also did sacramental services, visited Sunday Schools and addressed the children. I think the largest number of children I talked to was at Polzeath, when there were school children and their teachers evacuated in the neighbourhood during the Second World War. It was at a morning service and there were nearly 200 children and their teachers. There were Harvest Festivals and Sunday School Anniversaries, and on one occasion when I had a preaching appointment at Callington, I was asked to speak at the Brotherhood. After my address, I well remember one of the Brothers asking me very many questions. 54

Now as I am led to think about these many years of Service, I have to ask myself the question, how many men and women have I been the means of leading them into a closer fellowship with Jesus Christ. The Salvation Army, that great and noble organisation, would ask, have you been a soul winner for Christ? Well, there are questions that make one wonder. Has my preaching been in vain? I have always been evangelically minded, nearly always, at evening services, I made appeals, not only in words, but with Hymns such as “Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling” and “what will you do with Jesus?” Then there was that glorious old Hymn of Sankey’s, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine, Oh what a forecast of Glory Divine” and many other soul stirring Hymns. While I am pondering on how many I have led into the Kingdom of Light, I remember how some men who were outstanding men of God described me as being a “solid” or sound Christian. This has led me to a greater understanding of how effective my ministry may have been during those years of service. I have tried to do my best, with the help of God, to tell of his love, what it has been to me and what it can be to those who hear it. I thank God that I can tell of that great love from personal experience over 60 years or more. I have a tremendous debt of gratitude to my revered Mother for teaching me to read the Bible and for explaining its precious truths to me in my early years. The stories of Abraham and Joseph, of Cain and Abel, of Elijah and Elisha, of David and Jonathan, were part of my childhood heritage; the life and ministry of Jesus were reverently explained to me. The Bible is now generally admitted for the thoughtful Christian and is generally accepted for its authority as a book of religion. There have been those who have tried to destroy it, but it is still the largest selling book. In the solid interest of sound knowledge and common sense, we do well to proclaim far and wide that the Bible is much more than supreme literature. It is God’s book of revelation, making wise the simple. This book has emerged from the furnace of modern criticism more intelligible and more authenticated than ever before. It is universally acknowledged as the Book of sovereign truth, above party, class and nation, conclusive in its judgement and decisive in its appeal. The Reverend Frank Jennings, one of my outstanding Ministers, was one who knew everything about the down and outs, men and women who allowed themselves to be overcome by an uncontrollable weakness for alcohol. He lived with them at times, dressing himself as a tramp. He slept rough with them and dined with them. This is what he said. “In my 40 years or more of Christian Ministry, I have never met or known a man or woman, youth or girl, depraved or savaged in mind, 55

body or soul by reading the Bible. But I have met, in all parts of the World, multitudes of folk whose lives showed all the signs of heinous transgression by sheer neglect of Bible reading.” He goes on to say, “I plead with my readers to love, guard and read the Bible. Millions have thanked God for its living word. It has pointed them to Christ, enabled them to surrender themselves to the Holy Spirit of God, it contains all that the mind and soul needs in its teaching about God, the World, about sin and salvation, about time and eternity, about death and immortality. From the Bible we learn that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

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Chapter 15: Floods 1963.

Having been under the impression that I had almost come to the end of my story, Lo and Behold, without any warning, a mighty torrent plunges down the village, carrying almost everything before it. Some of the roads in Boscastle ran like swollen rivers when the melting snow sent a torrent down the hills, flooding houses in one door and out the other, through parts of the Wellington Hotel, Turner’s Garage and Burnards’s Stores, where hundreds of pounds worth of damage was done. One minute, everything was calm, the next, chaos, everywhere there was water, mud, stones, debris. Turner’s Garage was flooded with water and debris, Burnard’s Stores had six feet of water and mud in the basement. Cornwall fire Service managed to get through the flooded roads and spent the whole day pumping water from premises in dire need. The floods struck with lightning force and suddenness as people were sitting down to breakfast. Water, which had been building up on the high ground from thawing snow, swept without any warning, down the narrow river Jordan in a tremendous tidal wave.25 For a while, the village was completely cut off from Tintagel and Camelford, almost every field, gateway and narrow part was a swift running stream. Gangs of men from the Cornwall River Board fought by floodlight to get things under control on the Wednesday night. About five years ago there was a similar flood. At that time, a very popular man from the village lost his life in helping to save some bits of property that were being washed away by the stream.26 He was Bandmaster of the village and was well liked, not only by the bandsmen but also by the villagers. Boscastle has had its share of floods during the years and another serious one occurred in 1950. Again, it came with remarkable suddenness. A cloud burst about 5 or 6 miles away from the village caused a roaring torrent to come down the Valency Valley, carrying everything before it. Across from our house, there are two houses. The water was flowing in through the back doors and out the front, taking bits of furniture etc. But this was not all; there was what might have ended in a tragedy. A Mr and Mrs Beadon were the occupiers of one house at the time. (Both houses are the property of the Misses Beadon now, the mother is dead). When this near tragedy occurred, the two Misses Beadon were trying to save part of a fowl’s house from the torrent when both slipped in and were carried down the roaring, foaming river. Pieces of broken trees and large boulders were all being hurled

25 The winter of 1962-1963 was very severe. I recall seeing 2 metre high snowdrifts on Davidstow Moor that winter and that the seawater froze at Widemouth Bay. According to the Met Office (2008), the winter was the coldest since 1740 and snowdrifts up to 6 metres high were seen in the South West. (Ed). 26 The unfortunate man was Charlie Berryman. See Knight and Knight (2004), 90-91 for further details. 57

along the river, sometimes striking the banks with terrific force. The girls were being carried along almost side by side and were as far down as almost opposite the forge; where there is a little pathway, and it was there that someone did the rescue. One Miss Beadon was suffering from shock, the other needed artificial respiration, which was applied by a Mr W. Ferrett, who was a neighbour and who had served full time in the Royal Navy.27 I am not exactly sure whether there was any other damage done to property at the time, the river overflowed its banks and what caused this were branches of trees and bits of galvanised sheets, all this became built up against the archway of the lower bridge

1963 Floods At last there has been a new breakwater or mole as it is sometimes called, and it is a very fine piece of workmanship.28 It is built with very heavy blocks of stone and is capable of withstanding any of the Atlantic storms and the terrible seas and breakers which are well known all along the Cornish coast. The old mole was shaken by a mine during the last war, but I do not believe that this was the entire cause. Why I am led to say this is because some stones were lifted by heavy seas a considerable time afterwards and, if men from the manor estate had been sent to do the necessary repairs, I don’t think it would have been

27 I have reproduced this as written. Whether this is another version of the events related in Knight and Knight (2004), 90-91 or an event which actually happened in 1950, is not clear. If the Misses Beadon were involved in both floods, they must have been very brave to have lived where they did. 28 See Knight and Knight (2004), 39-41 for more information. 58

washed down. I say this because I saw what I thought at the time was minor damage.29 The Steward of the manor estate was not altogether a man with a vision. He was always for putting things off until something greater happened. I well remember reporting to him the state of one of the chimneys at one of the houses we lived in. His reply was “it will remain during your lifetime”, but it came down after we left the house and the person who purchased the house and the adjoining property had to have a new chimney built and also had to be responsible for damages to the roof where the chimney had broken through. The outer mole is a great protection against the terrific seas that batter the cliffs and rebound against the mole. This reduces the power of the sea by the time it has come into the Harbour. There is a lot of sand in the harbour again where children will be able to play. This is due to the rebuilding of the breakwater, before the old one was washed down; there was always a nice bit of yellow sand.

The End of My Story.

The incident that I am about to relate is, in a way, rather extraordinary and it is somewhat outstanding that two people should meet each other after a lapse of 73 years. It all happened through an article that I had written in the “Cornish Magazine”, a Falmouth paper. The two people were a Newquay man and myself, both saddlers. The Newquay man had gone to serve his apprenticeship about 3 or 4 years prior to myself, as far as our acquaintance was concerned, we just spoke to each other in passing. The article in a previous paper was asking a question about where certain shop in Newquay once stood. Myself being a Newquay man, I replied through the magazine. The saddler happened to read the article and it was through receiving a letter from him that a 73 year lapse was broken. This was about seven months ago. He is 89, enjoys good health and is interested in many things, especially singing and he has a remarkable singing voice for a man of his age. He retired from business many years ago and now lives at Sticker with his son. He came and spent an afternoon with me a few weeks past. There is another man who was in business for many years at Newquay and who was the Choir master of the Methodist Church. He is over 80 and my friend, whose name is Harry Clemens, is rather enthusiastic that I should contact the BBC relative to the three of us, whose ages would add up to 254 years, or even take part in a concert at Newquay, Wadebridge or anywhere that people are interested in singing. My friend Harry Clemens was a member of a good choir before he left Newquay. I was also a member and sang

29 Presumably after the mine had exploded. (Ed). 59

solo parts when Mr Elford was Choir Master. The man that I have referred to, Mr Batton, who was Choir Master at the principal Methodist church in Newquay, would get us in form. All this sounds rather exciting. When I lived at Newquay, a number of my friends were excellent singers with very fine harmonious voices. This is all connected with memories of the past which I should like to live over again, memories that are dear, memories that I revere, worthy of thought and love, sometimes exciting, again a long dream, an echo or voice in the distance, coming again to life with a thrill, a cheer. Now to finish my story. It is rather a coincidence that 73 years should pass into oblivion without our knowing each other’s whereabouts, Harry Clemens and myself and up to now, February 21st , 1963, we have only met together once, but our conversation then made up for much of the past, and much more correspondence has passed between us since. “Memories, Memories.” Memories that are past, memories that are near, Memories that come all round the year, Memories of choirs, orchestras and bands, Of large congregations who sing Hymns that stand, Of great preachers and simple, Billy Bray’s exposition of Christ’s love and his ways, Which are fascinating and bring good cheer, Of friendship, fellowship, of kindness and love. And resounding hallelujahs which come from above. WFB. The question is sometimes asked on TV, “What are your hobbies?” As a boy, I was fond of making small boats, drawing and painting pictures. As a teenager, I liked photography and doing my own developing, together with carpentry. Later in years, water colour paintings, Choirs and solo singing. Preaching I do not call a hobby, but a call from God. “In Praise of Boscastle.” It is Cornwall’s most charming village, according to many visitors whom I have had the opportunity to converse with over the years. One elderly lady told me that she had travelled many parts of the world, but had not seen anything to surpass its charm. Nothing artificial about it or anything to make it modern, the hills and valley are just nature in the raw. Shakespeare says, “Tongues in trees, books in the running streams, sermons in stone.” I finish with an article I sent to the “Cornish and Devon Post (07/07/1962). 60

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Bibliography Burnard, William Francis Allen and Andrew Ross (Ed.), 2007, History of Boscastle and Trevalga, Tryphena Publications, Mornington, Australia.

Hicks, J. and G. Allen 1999, A Century of Change: Trends in UK Statistics Since 1900. House of Commons Research Paper 99/1.

Knight, R. and Knight A., 2004 The Book of Boscastle: the Parishes of Forrabury and Minster, Tiverton.

Met Office, 2008, http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/education/secondary/students/winter.html accessed 23/09/08.

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