BOSCASTLE BLOWHOLE No 93 Spring 2016 £1

Sally Searle cooks lunch on a driftwood fire at Strangles Beach for a team of beach clean volunteers See inside on page 14 for the full story.

Also inside: Local Author publishes new book page 8 News from the Lookout page 10 News from School page 24 Reading Room page 28 Minster News page 40 Foreword I have just received an such a scam, though the ‘guess’ passwords. It is said Worst Passwords of 2015: 1 123456 email from FMPC clerk proliferation of this and that if you are using any of 2 password Adrian Prescott forwarding similar scams bear witness the ones in the following 3 12345678 the following information: to the fact that people can list, it will take a hacker less 4 qwerty ‘I have been advised that be duped. time to find your password 5 12345 company is phoning local I was reminded of an than it did for you to type 6 123456789 7 football individuals claiming to item I read online listing it! be able to rerate your 8 1234 the worst passwords of Current advice is to use 9 1234567 property to achieve 2015. In antiquity (ie over passwords or passphrases 10 baseball reductions in council tax 20 years ago), passwords of 12 characters or more 11 welcome and tax banding. They were used by secret societies with mixed types of 12 1234567890 require your credit card or for entry to specific characters. To make it 13 abc123 and £65 payment up places. Nowadays most more memorable try a 14 111111 15 1qaz2wsx front. I can confirm that of us use the internet and combination of 3 words we have checked this with 16 dragon are asked for passwords for you will remember linked 17 master Cornwall Council and numerous different sites, by a number or symbol 18 monkey Trading Standards and that to keep our information egg#floor-Turn1p is an 19 letmein this is a scam. Could you secure and to limit to example, though perhaps 20 login please pass on the message access it. not especially easy to recall! 21 princess within your area.’ 22 qwertyuiop Alas, criminals and Avoid using the same 23 solo It is hoped that we are hackers are using ever more password over and over 24 passw0rd all wise enough to ignore sophisticated software to again on different websites. 25 starwars Boscastle Blowhole Team Apology Sue was dismayed to learn that some of her The editorial team reserves the right to accept, Unfortunately, the festive customers thought that she reject or edit any material submitted for publication. gremlins were at work in was shutting up shop. The views expressed in the magazine are those of the the December edition of individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the Blowhole and they Happily this, of those of the team. The editorial team are: ran away with Sue Scott’s course, is not the case, the Philippa Arthan, Arthur Bannister, Heather Colne, Christmas advert. Due to hairdressing salon remains Audley Jarvis, Gloria Quinlan, Ann and Chris Rodda. the tight time schedule this in business and Sue would error was not picked up like to wish all customers a The next Blowhole will be published in June during proof-reading the belated Happy New Year. 2016, items for inclusion can be emailed to Blowhole. [email protected], please also use this email address for advertising queries Copies of the Blowhole are available by post at a cost of £3 per issue or £12 for the year. To subscribe either email boscastleblowhole@ yahoo.co.uk or phone 01840 250891 Cheques should be made payable to ‘Boscastle Blowhole'. Swiss skin care for Communications to the Blowhole can Styling irons Men and Women be posted to: 44 Clover Lane Close, Boscastle, PL35 0AL The Blowhole is published quarterly and printed by: Easyprint of Red Post, Nr Bude tel: 01288 381700 email: [email protected]

Page 2 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Running the sixteen years since their Cornish fairy making the and Minster Parish. London Marathon Uncle Arthur retired from pantomime complete. The Nanette felt that she duty after 37 years at the final scenes with the giant had to come to terms job! Colin is running to gave a funny twist on the with recent events in her raise money for Children story. personal life out and to with Cancer UK (charity Well done on another sort out all that it entails. number 298405) and great production and we She said that it was not a should anyone feel they look forward to the next decision she had taken would like to send him years must see event in the lightly but considered that support, you can call him Boscastle calendar. she would be unable to fulfil on 01840230111. We NC her role as a Councillor as wish him the very best of Parish Councillor she would wish and that luck. resigns the community deserves. Jack and the Readers will be sorry to Our thanks go to Beanstalk learn that Nannette Irving Nanette for all work she Jack and the Beanstalk Little has resigned as a has done for us in the years from the Boscastle Panto Councillor for Forrabury she has served the parish. Team was absolutely a brilliant night of Merv meets Merlin entertainment. The Village Hall provided the perfect atmosphere for a fun evening and luckily no power cuts on Thursday’s performance. The children were a real highlight, both their Colin Nicholls, the local singing and dancing was coal merchant, will be faultless. The plot gave running in this year’s humour in the form of London marathon on Ant and Dec, a dancing th Sunday 24 April. Colin is cow and the pantomime the youngest of Maria and dame. Perfect singing Nicky’s three sons, and he is and acting was provided best known for driving his by all the cast with West familiar blue lorry around End performances from the area keeping people Morwenna and Jo. Jack Merv Palmer stands alongside the new carving of Merlin stocked up with coal. played a believable hero at Castle Beach in Tintagel. In some news reports, the He has been running and a little romance with carving has appeared to be very large. In fact it is only of R&N Fuels with his his princess. Magic was head size as shown in this photo taken by David Flower brother Roger for the last also seen in the form of a in February 2016

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Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 3 Boscastle Gateway Toilets A Bus Shelter for Boscastle Finally the County Council have approved a much needed bus shelter for Boscastle so that students and other passengers are given some relief during inclement weather. The Food Art and Craft The Parish CouncilFestival is floundering! is seeking to employ a Despite an appeal for local craftsman to build volunteers, printed in an appropriate structure, the winter edition of the measuring approximately Boscastle Blowhole, there three metres by 1.4 were few attendees at the metres set on a concrete Food and Craft Festival plinth, probably but not meeting, held in January necessarily of timber this year. No one appears construction, providing it willing to take on the As reported in previous bank accounts, supplies, does the job. Chairman, Treasurer or editions of the Blowhole, cleaners, and insurances If interested in helping Publicity posts and so Cornwall Council will be etc, although the final lease the community, please the Festival is extremely removing all funding for agreement from Cornwall contact Cllr Caroline unlikely to take place. public toilets throughout Council probably will not Edwards by telephone If the meeting was too the county from 1st April be ready in time, due to the 01840 250051 or mobile close to the Christmas 2016, meaning that unless amount of toilet facilities 07966249815 and New Year festivities they are taken over by the currently going through for people to consider the local community public a similar process. To that Used Stamps October Food and Craft toilets will close. end a temporary tenancy Please continue to save Festival but there are now agreement with Cornwall any postage stamps which After some very tardy volunteers willing to Council will be signed are sent to raise funds lengthy negotiations fill these posts, the retiring whilst the official lease is for the Royal National with Cornwall Council a committee will be more drawn up to make sure the Institute of the Blind. group of volunteers made than welcome to hear from toilets are open April 1st. Cut used stamps off the up of Parish Councillors, them. Chamber of Trade and Although it is safe to say envelope, leaving around The saying ‘one local business people have that most people feel that a one centimeter of envelope volunteer is worth ten got together to set up Public toilet is a necessary or packaging around each pressed men’ holds true, a Community Interest facility that should be stamp. Stamps can be put although in this instance Company in order toto provided by the benefactor into the collection box in we do not even have one take over the running of of the car park it serves ie the surgery or through the pressed man (or woman). the toilets. Cornwall Council, we are letter box at 8 Pentargon GQ Boscastle Community where we are and really Road. Interest Company (CIC) have no option but to forge For all your foot on ahead and take them currently has 11 members NEATE health needs with remit of keeping the on ourselves to help keep Professional foot care in the toilets open, ideally at no Boscastle as the popular FEET comfort of your own home cost to the people who destination it already is Painful Callus Reduced Paddings & Dressings going into the future. actually live in Parish and Toenail Clipping Verrucae Treatment probably rarely use the If anyone feels they can Ingrowing Toenails Reflexology facility. contribute in anyway or Painful Corns Removed Everything you require to keep With the April deadline would like to be part of your feet pain free approaching rapidly, Boscastle CIC please get Claire & Simon Neate DIPCFHP Boscastle CIC is in the in touch: Nick Chater Tel Qualified foot health practitioners process of finalising07793 939332. Mob: 07968232344 / 07870508867 NC

Page 4 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Celebrating 25 years of the Founding of the Children’s Hospice South West

Anne Clark and Pam Jordan at the jigsaw table. copyright photos courtesy David Flower Dee Willis helped with the raffle On 1st March Bernice Lewis decided to donate the total than medical and nursing the day, around £680, go hosted an annual fund- amount of £365, to the care. They are committed to the charities Cancer raising Coffee Morning in charity. to enriching the short lives Research and Happy her home, ably assisted by The Children’s Hospice of the children so that Hospital Children’s Fund. organisers Vivien Hircock South West was the idea their families are left with Grateful Thanks and Marion Ferrett. of Eddie and Jill Farwell. precious memories of those Lynn Biddick wishes to Vivien and Marion have When their children precious lives. send many thanks to been organising this event were diagnosed with life- Camelford Young Adrian and Tracey Bright, for over twenty years, limiting illnesses and were Farmers Dung Run from the Cobweb, for their in memory of teenager admitted to the nearest On Feb 28th, members of generous donation. The Adrian Ferrett, who died hospice, which was a four the Camelford YFC helped couple decided not to send of leukaemia. hour drive away in Oxford, distribute nearly 400 bags their usual Christmas cards In the past, money they decided something of animal manure to keen in 2015; instead they gave raised was split between had to be done about it. 25 gardeners and crop growers Lynn a donation of £100 CLIC (Cancer and years on they have raised in Camelford, Delabole, towards her Macmillan Leukaemia in Children) enough money to open Tintagel and Boscastle. Coffee Morning funds. and the ‘Children’s three homes – Little Bridge All the proceeds from This brought the total Hospice South West’. House in Fremington, amount raised to £1170. This year, the Children’s Barnstable; Charlton Hospice is celebrating 25 Farm in Wraxall, North years since the foundation Somerset and Little Bridge of the charity and so the in Porthpean, St Austell. coffee morning organisers The homes provide more

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Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 5 Pattern for Baby Hats:

A Grateful Thank You to the Worthy Knitters On behalf of the Neo-natal Unit at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, Pam Jordon wishes to thank all Knitters from the Boscastle area who have knitted items for premature babies. Pam, who is a very proficient knitter herself, is the collection point for the knitted garments - most no bigger than doll-size. When Pam visited Treliske recently she delivered around 200 items. These included bonnets, coats, teddies and blankets. The blankets (sized 18ins × 22ins) are sometimes used rolled up as supports, so need to be soft and light. Anyone who wishes to contribute their knitting Twillick, New Road, Boscastle efforts to this worthy Erection of two new dwellings. The Council supported this application. cause can find a pattern alongside. Lacy patterned Juliotter Garden Club and crocheted items are not Meetings take place at the D SCOTT ELECTRICAL acceptable as tiny fingers Otterham & St Juliot Hall and toes can become at 7.30pm on the fourth 1, JORDAN VALE OLD ROAD BOSCASTLE CORNWALL PL35 0AJ trapped in them. Tuesday of each month. The following pattern Next meeting on 22nd INSTALLATIONS can be used as a guide for March is the AGM. knitting baby hats – sizes 2, For further information SALES & SERVICE 3, 4 being the most useful. contact Jackie Barton- All items can be given to Jenkins, Tel:01840 For all your electrical requirements Pam Jordon. 261359 or Paul Greatorex, Tel:01840 269178 TEL : 01840 250155

Page 6 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 BOSCASTLE Short John is replaced by Dave Boscastle: The Dog Poo Capital of North Mat Bowls Club Ferrett, John has remained Cornwall? as Vice Chairman. Mike the problems on Forrabury Th e club has had its most Th is has become an even Lawrence, our new club have happened overnight successful winter league worse problem lately singles champion, has been or under the cover of in its history, winning the during Autumn 2015 and elected Club Captain, with darkness but this does Northern Area Division the fi rst two months of Roy as Vice Captain. not excuse this happening One League with a massive Winter 2016: Forrabury, given the fact that there is point’s diff erence. Four of our players, John along the South East track Wakelin, Bob Banks, Mike from Forrabury Church, a Poo Bin on the corner Th is is the best the Lawrence and Roy Christie, even in the churchyard of Forrabury and Green club has ever achieved and regularly represented itself, on Green Lane, Th e Lane, neither does it excuse quite possibly the best any North Cornwall in Stitches, Paradise and Old the large number of dog Northern Area club has inter-area competitions. Road. Th is has mostly been owners who take their dogs achieved. Th is, despite the Keely Christie, just 2 caused by owners of a large up on Th e Stitches and yet fact that in terms of league days before her 12th dog. never bring a poo bag off playing members, we are birthday, competed in the Th e Stitches. probably the smallest club Are they visitors? Cornwall County doubles Hopefully this is in Cornwall. Probably not as this has competition. She was by far been a problem for months. something that can be In addition to this, two the youngest competitor However, it would be addressed by dog owners, of our members reached the narrowly losing her fi rst helpful if owners of rental to the culprits - YOU Northern Area Singles and game, a close one against cottages who welcome dogs KNOW WHO YOU Doubles fi nal; Bob Banks two County players then would inform their tenants ARE! It would be much singles, Mike Lawrence & winning her third game of the dog bin locations in appreciated if you would Bob Banks doubles. 13-4 against two regular Boscastle and also the fact clear up after your dog On a sad note players. that it is a legal requirement and make Boscastle a more Boscastle’s best known We are a happy and to clean up after their dogs pleasant place to live in and loved player, Mike successful club and (see fl yer below). and also a more pleasant, Burnard, died at the end welcome new members, Are they locals, perhaps cleaner place for visitors. of last year. Bravely, Mike with or without experience, recently arrived in the A concerned resident played his best game, a who ALWAYS cleans up young or older, to come village? Certainly some of after her dog. win against Poughill, only and enjoy it with us. three weeks before. He Contact: was well loved by all and a John or Shirley on 01840 testimony to this is many 250314 or people from clubs all over Dave on 01840 250414 North Cornwall attended his funeral. Typical of Mike http://www. he donated a magnifi cent boscastlecornwall.org.uk/ trophy to the club which bowlsclub/bowlsclub.htm is to be played for annually between his great friends Post Offi ce at Spar at Blisland, winners of the We will all be delighted to Premier Division last year have Post Offi ce facilities (& probably winners this in the village again. Th e year) and Boscastle. branch in Boscastle Spar is At the end of this season due to be open from March John Wakelin stepped 22nd. Th e Post Offi ce say it down as Chairman having will be ‘a modern open- held the post for 8 years; plan local-style branch as did Roy Christie as with extended opening Club Captain bringing the hours’. club to a successful winter We wish Iain and Becky season, the club is grateful all the best for their new for all they have done. venture.

Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 7 A Write Royal Retirement sale of the museum and had success with the CD, said ‘you should buy that Songs of Witchcraft and old boy’. And so he did. Magic, which he produced ‘I’ve been lucky enough with the help of old friend to run the Museum of Doug Bailey of Wildgoose Witchcraft for 18 years Studios and historian Joyce and have had access to its Froome. His love of folk fabulous library of over music spurred him on to 5,000 books’, he says. collect traditional English ‘Over the years many songs that have a direct link visitors asked if we had a to magic. Many years were spell book. We didn’t, so I spent singing in folk clubs decided to write one.’ and Morris dancing with ‘It’s taken me around the Kirtlington Morris seven years to collect the Side so he had a pool of information and put it well-known contacts to call together into a cohesive on to provide their talents book. I didn’t want it for the projects. It has gone to be a simple ‘how to’, on to be played on Radio but rather a collection of 2, Radio 3 as well as on spells and charms with Radio Cornwall. a discussion about their Producing this book origins, their effectiveness has not been as simple as Graham signing his new book and how they’ve developed putting his CD together. over the centuries. While He acquired a publisher st Graham King is best at midnight October 31 I focus on the Victorian about 5 years ago and, known as past owner 1996 after deciding to era, some date back to the with the contract signed, and curator of Boscastle’s totally change his lifestyle. 9th century and many of Graham sent them the Museum of Witchcraft He was a successful are still in use today, albeit manuscript and waited; but since his retirement businessman, designing with a few variations.’ He then nothing. Eventually, two years ago he has not and selling cameras to quotes examples where after many months, a highly just been idly travelling the photograph old and rare the Norse god Woden is edited draft was returned world in his campervan. books, but he became replaced with Christ in and he wasn’t impressed. He has recently completed tired of the constant more modern versions of The concept had been his latest project, The international travel that his the same spell, and he talks changed considerably, the British Book of Spells and career entailed and decided about Cornish farmers publisher had added his Charms, which has just to ‘jack it in and walk who still use charmers own material and, worst of been released by Cornish around Britain’. Knowing (sometimes referred to as all, the references had been publisher Troy Books. his love of folklore and the Cunning Men) to treat removed. ‘I eventually Graham took over the occult, a friend showed him ringworm in their cattle. decided to part company an advertisement about the Museum of Witchcraft In the past Graham has with them as I wasn’t SUE WALLIS DESIGNER DRESSMAKER (01840) 250434

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Page 8 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 A Write Royal Retirement continued happy with the way things title and it is well under were going,’ he says. way. Troy Books, a small but ‘My next book is about highly-respected Cornish a stroll I’m doing’, he grins. publisher of esoteric ‘I’m walking the 1200 books, heard that his miles from Land’s End to manuscript was available John O’Groats, taking in and approached him to holy wells, stone circles and ask if they could take the ancient churches along the project on. Troy produces way. I’ll be writing about fi ne limited-edition books the spiritual aspects of long that are widely collected distance walks and looking by members of the esoteric at the mysteries within the community so Graham was British landscape; starting The Old Coach House keen to take up their off er. on April Fool’s Day this Relax in the beautiful ‘Th e British Book of year. I thought that was appropriate.’ surroundings of this 300 Spells and Charms is already year old coach house, our most popular book It may be 20 years later with large, secluded and it’s not even out yet,’ but it looks like he’ll be mature garden and says Gemma Gary of Troy getting that walk around private parking Books. ‘Our promotional Britain after all. Tastefully refurbished en suite rooms video has sparked record- To order Graham’s breaking pre-orders from books go to www. Geoff & Jackie Horwell both the UK and our troybooks.co.uk or put Th e Tel: 01840 250398 www.old-coach.co.uk international customers British Book of Spells and and we have several outlets Charms into Youtube to eagerly awaiting the see his video. publication. Graham’s link KG Oakwood Building to the museum is defi nitely a draw for our audience.’ DANIEL ROOTS He is delighted with CONSTRUCTION the reaction so far . 01840 250644 / 07968 808135 Unfortunately he will [email protected] not be available for too much promotional work Roofi ng • Carpentry • New Build for the next few months Extensions • Renovations as he already has his next Kitchens • Bathrooms project lined up. Graham’s FREE QUOTATIONS Ramblings is the working

Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 9 News from the Lookout Flash, bang, wallop - what a picture! But alas there was no camera around to catch the moment when the Lookout was struck by lightning on Thursday 31st December. The flagpole ended up some distance away in the gorse, there was a serious hole in the wall and the doorframe was splintered before the repairs were done and twisted. That was only by the following Thursday. We would the visible damage! Our landlords, Thehope to man more The Wind Generator, National Trust, our evening shifts at CCTV, AIS, computer, insurers, BT, and a crack weekends during chart plotter and wind team of local workers soon this Summer but instrument were nowhere had holes filled and phones we need more Above: the wooden doorframe was near their best, the BT working so, apart from a watchkeepers. damaged, but, with the help of a telephone line was seriously few scorch marks and some Remember you crowbar, they managed to get the under the weather and obviously new paint and don’t have to walk door to shut. The hole in the wall sundry other bits of kit had cement, the old place looks up to the Lookout was yet to be repaired in this photo given up the ghost. as good as new. At the time to help our cause, Fortunately the two of writing the solar panels we are always human occupants of the are not too happy and we happy to welcome Lookout that afternoon have some issues with the volunteers as fund survived to tell the tale, more delicate electronics raisers to keep the admittedly one sustained but they will be resolved station going. some damage when a before the season starts in If you, or any commemorative plaque earnest. one you know, hurtled off the wall and In fact, the offers of help are interested in clipped his knee and both and support we received spending a few were left with ringing in from different parts of the hours each month their ears. county were astonishing, looking out for Soon our valiant ranging from individual others, then call maintenance team were donations to offers of spare our manager, on the case and thanks instruments from other Chris Evans on to their efforts we didn’t stations. And, as always, 01566 781449 MW flagpole back in action have to cancel any the backing we got from watches although we were the Cobweb, the Nap,and depending on the Mk I the Welly and the people human eyeball, binoculars of Boscastle kept our spirits and a mobile telephone up in the strongest wind just like the old days. and the wettest weather. Amazingly, the And it has been very company who make our windy and very wet so let’s wind generator shipped a hope for a brighter Spring new one from Germany and a dryer Summer this within 48hrs, without year and plenty of visitors waiting for payment, and for everybody. that was up and running

Page 10 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Harbourmaster’s News

Fresh Crabs and Lobsters landed daily in Port Isaac from our own boat ‘Mary D’. Available cooked, dressed, in a sandwich, boxed to take home or even alive. We also have a small seasonal selection of sustainably caught Cornish fish, mussels, oysters and smoked fish, locally roasted coffee, homemade cakes and lots more Call in for a crab sandwich or lobster salad and glass of wine Situated at the top of the hill near the Pea Pod Gallery Calum and Tracey Greenhalgh Fresh from the Sea 18 New Road, Port Isaac, PL29 3RE 01208880215 It has not been the easiest been down to a fishing www.freshfromthesea.co.uk winter and Scott left Beeny village/town called Pipa in in the harbour all through North East Brazil where and I know she sustained Stephanie’s son Ben lives some damage as a result with his Brazilian wife. I of the storms because she always think that parts of FAULKNERS was swamped at least once Pipa are a bit like Padstow PLUMBING AND HEATING and sea water got down or Boscastle were 150 years into the engine room ago as they still have and Full range of plumbing services which I know has caused use fishing boats with just problems. I myself have sails and these old wooden Installation, servicing & repair of Oil, LPG & just had my fishing licence craft look lovely; although natural gas central heating systems capped to 350 kilos a year each time I visit I see more which would be irritating and more 4stroke Yamaha Landlord Safety Certification but as this is just about the engines appearing. For what OFTEC Registered: 14288 maximum weight of lobster it is worth these engines are Gas Safe Registered: 222122 I can catch in a season I in my experience the most am not going to bother to reliable made anywhere appeal against the ministry and I guess we cannot halt 01840 250853 decision - the hassle in my the march of progress. So 07773 132221 opinion not being worth as spring comes and the the weight in argument. clock goes forward I will [email protected] Anyway after this and be mending my steel (not Storm Imogen I decided withy) pots and getting The Wellington ready for another fishing to take my annual holiday Hotel Boscastle and with all of my extended season. Chris Key Boscastle family have Harbourmaster WESTERINGS Spacious Self-Catering Pub Restaurant Hotel Accommodation The Long Bar The Waterloo Restaurant Open from 11.00 am for: Open from 6.30 pm for: - Open All Year - Bar Meals Award Winning Dining Shirley Wakelin Local Ales, Wines & Spirits Locally Sourced Produce Coffee, Tea & Cold Drinks Fine Wines

Forrabury, Boscastle Families Welcome Beer Garden Freshly Cooked Food Tel: 01840 250314 The Harbour, Boscastle, Cornwall, PL35 0AQ Tel 01840250202 Website: www.westeringsholidays.co.uk www.wellingtonhotelboscastle.com

Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 11 More Tales from A Cornish Garden and encourage other flowers has the luxury of Beyond the line of laurels vigorous than I’d expected. choice. Grass can be a bully, which protect us from From midsummer onwards squeezing out wild flowers an easterly wind there is it grew rank and coarse, that we would like to see a triangle of grassland, collapsing in the rain. growing with it. Because about a quarter of an acre, For a start, as soon as rattle, a partial parasite, where I decided to plant we stopped grazing and feeds on and weakens grass, a few specimen trees and mowing all the really making it less vigorous, establish a wild flower invasive perennial weeds it helps other plants to meadow. The land had simply took over and thrive, and so increases been inspected by a chap it turned out we had biodiversity. It does best from Cornwall Wildlife inherited docks, thistles, Trust who declared it hogweed and nettles. It yellow rattle “unimproved to semi- took a couple of years to garden, Sticky Wicket, in improved” which means it get most of them under north Dorset, but I didn’t had not been re-sown with strict control, during appreciate how it worked, modern grasses and had which time I also noticed or what you had to do to nothing but sheep’s dung that some grasses are a lot help it flourish. The key to to manure it for years. more welcome than others. success is getting hold of So wildflowers ought to The loveliest grasses have fresh seed and sowing it in thrive. But establishing a exquisite names: timothy, early autumn, not spring. wild flower meadow entails cocksfoot, fescue, hairgrass It prefers sun to shade and a great deal more than and sweet vernal; the one doesn’t flourish in very just letting the grass grow, you don’t want is couch dry patches. In flower as I was soon to find out. and I did seem to have it looks like a miniature The trees I put in, mostly quite a lot of that as well as dead nettle, with small lesser butterfly orchid varieties of British natives, perennial rye grass. yellow lippy flowers and where you can leave grass to have grown well with And then I discovered bright green jagged leaves. grow long until late July or little help from me. But yellow rattle. It’s an annual Its common name comes August. By then the rattle the ground between the flower, unusual in that it from the sound that the will have naturally shed trees requires much more feeds partly off the roots of seeds make when they are much of its seed. The rest managing. The idea was to grass, and so slows down ripe in the seed pod. There will be shed in the cutting. let the understorey grow the grass growth. I’d read are masses of them and Scything is the best way to long, and see what came about how effective it they really do rattle as you cut long grass, and I would up. But the grass was more had been at Pam Lewis’s brush past them. have done this if I could A farmer wanting a have found a scyther. But decent crop of hay would instead I use a mechanical Sails Café & Terrace not look on yellow rattle Allen scythe, a noisy, as a friend. But someone recalcitrant machine with a 6 Bridge Walk, Boscastle trying to control the grass long front cutter bar. Good Quality, Locally Sourced Homecooked Food at Affordable Prices DINE IN OR TAKE AWAY OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Bookings Welcome 01840 250501

Page 12 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 01208 72328 01840 212315 01208 72328 Lesser Butterfly Orchids in the meadow last year [email protected] [email protected] bodmin@sproulllp.co.uk 42 Molesworth Street 8 Fore Street, 42 Fore Street Then comes the real bugloss, ladies bedstraw, Wadebridge, PL27 7DP Camelford, PL32 9PG Bodmin, PL31 2HW hard work of using the buttercups, cat’s ear and www.sproullllp.co.uk hay rake to turn the cut magenta vetches .I’ve been grass into neat rows to get trying to encourage scarlet it dry enough to burn. poppies and cornflowers You need to take the dried amongst the ox-eye daisies grass off the meadow so because the combination that the ground, over the of red white and blue can years, becomes less and less look amazing, but annuals fertile, providing the right are not happy where the conditions for wild flowers ground is undisturbed and to thrive. The raking and it hasn’t worked so far. But turning and collecting undeterred, I shall have and burning is jolly hard another go this Spring. work; and it makes you It took ten years before appreciate just how hard the first butterfly orchid agricultural labourers used appeared. This year there to work in the days before were 64 of them. Beautiful machinery; it keeps you and delicate, this orchid is fit if it doesn’t kill you in one of the rarer gems to the process. I then run be found on our rapidly over the whole meadow diminishing grasslands. with the ride-on mower a Formerly widespread couple of times during late across much of England, September so it comes into this plant has been in spring with the turf tight decline since the 1930s and short , showing off the and is much reduced even bulbs I’ve planted – wild in its former strongholds daffodils and species crocus of Cumbria, Exmoor – to perfection. and Dartmoor. I was so The rattle has been encouraged and excited very successful. The grass by this spectacular success is getting thinner and that I have just ordered weaker and cowslips and have planted, ten little now flourish, along with plugs of southern marsh pignut, knapweed, ox-eye orchid. I shall be beside daisies, white and purple myself if they survive and clover, bird’s foot trefoil, flower this year. ladies smock, viper’s Pat Thorne

Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 13 Volunteering at our most local and The Big Dance comes to Boscastle remote beach – Strangles 2016

Introducing the Big Coach, will be bringing Dance, a community the creative process to her based performance piece, existing dance classes. If you choreographed by Akram would like to participate Volunteers turned up in great turn out for the beach Khan and delivered by please get in touch. And, their droves for the annual clean today, and can’t thank Morwenna Gee, working of course, please do come clean-up of Strangles everyone enough for their in collaboration with along and support the Beach between Boscastle help to keep our beaches The National Trust and children from the villages & Crackington Haven free from rubbish” Boscastle Arts Cooperative of Tintagel, Camelford and CIC. This is anDelabole on Friday May in North Cornwall. They The Old Rectory at St international dance project 20th. There will be a range were blessed by sunny Juliot was the Goldstar with the aim that 100,000 of dance performances warm weather and the Winner in 2012 making it dancers will participate taking place from 5.30pm, prospect of a tasty lunch at the most Sustainable Bed globally. Outdoor spaces with The Big Dance finale the end of their morning & Breakfast in the UK, such as Sydney Opera happening at 7pm. picking up the debris left and have been featured in House and The Houses of Please telephone or email by the winter storms. Local The Good Hotel Guide Parliament have featured for further information. Bed & Breakfast, The Old for the past 12 years. Chris in the past and this year we Rectory St. Juliot kindly and Sally Searle were on Tel: 07812 367 638 are bringing The Big Dance supplied and cooked the beach and helped make mgvocalcoach@hotmail. to Boscastle Harbour. their own home-grown & a fire from driftwood and com homemade sausages from cook their tasty sausages as Open to all ages, www.morwenna.me their rare breed pigs to well as tea & coffee. Sally Morwenna Gee, local support those who turned Searle remarked “I have up, helped clean up the helped with the Beach beach and carried the Clean in the past & felt it numerous bags of rubbish was entirely appropriate up the steep cliff path. that our Bed & Breakfast For the last few years should show its support the National Trust have by providing lunch and S.J.JOSE organised a spring beach by helping the clean up clean at Strangles, and this wonderful remote have a dedicated team of shoreline” CARPENTER & JOINER conservation volunteers There are localGENERAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE who turn out regularly to volunteering projects coppice woodlands, pull you can help with during up Himalayan Balsam your holiday. Please speak Tel 01840 250069 from river banks andrepair to Sally or contact our footpaths. Basil Stowe, local ranger: Basil.Stow@ Mobile 07974 723382 National Trust Ranger nationaltrust.org.uk commented: “We’ve had a SS

Page 14 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 ISTAN PARTRIC TR K CONSTRUCTION

EXTENSIONS • RENOVATIONS NEW BUILD • BATHROOMS Boscastle Village Hall skills. David’s strong voice on Saturday 5th March and guitar charmed the Phone: 07989 327 873 audience with satirical was filled with laughter FREE QUOTATIONS as Sweet n’ Sour strutted songs. Teresa, American their stuff in their aptly and proud, leapt on named Spring Fling show. the stage throughout to Boscastle Village Hall on share her forays into the Saturday 5th March was world of speed dating and Moorheat Services filled with laughter as Cornwall. Jeannie and Sweet n’ Sour strutted their Jude in their alter egos of Oil Fired Boiler, Aga & stuff in their aptly named Coco and Poppy, seemed Rayburn Maintenance Spring Fling show. vaguely demented and Replacement OIl Tanks This zany Northsurreal as they vied with each other. Rob is already Landlord Certificate Cornwall comedy Boiler Replacement & New Installations ensemble - Jude Alcock, gaining a name for himself with his witty word play David Richey, Teresa OFTEC Registered & 600a certificate to install oil tanks poems – “It’s Seventeen in Holcomb, Rob Barratt Tel: 01566 772262 and Jeannie Macleod – Aberdeen” is a classic based presented an extravaganza on hearing those very words of music, stand-up comedy in the weather forecast. He and spontaneous gags. likes to mention he has Literacy Tuition been booked in Australia. Improvisation shows There are quite a few adults out there who feel different to normal A highlight of the are not confident of their reading and writing stand-up shows as the evening was when all the skills, but they are understandably shy about performers have no idea group were on stage having coming forward. an impromptu sing off what is going to happen, Being retired, and having the skills, I would and neither does the using word association. One member started a like to offer private tuition to such people, audience. To be a success in free of charge and in strictest confidence. this field you need lateral song only to be usurped by another as they found a Just give me a ring on 01840 250186 to see thinking, inventiveness, what we can arrange. creativity and perhaps word that linked and led to be a bit quirky and the a new song. Interruptions SweetnSour gang certainly were frequent and hilarious have all these qualities by until it came to Jude the bucketful! singing Trelawney and the audience joined in with The audience played great gusto and brought a key role calling the house down. It was St out suggestions for Piran’s day after all! situations and genres making the improvised It is great to see a show games unpredictable at that really does fly by the every turn. The show seat of its pants, seeing this was interspersed with famous five doing what individual performances comes naturally- making showing their comedic people laugh and have fun. CM

Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 15 Dear Friends the new glass will look like allowance to repair any received. A memorial book Minster Church then do go and have a look defective stone work. The will be kept in Minster The eagle eyed amongst at Lesnewth Church where PCC and MCF have agreed Church to record the you might have noticed the PCC there did exactly that each body will raise names of donors (if they a notice at Minster about the same about 6 years half of this money to show wish to have their names a ‘Faculty’ to replace the ago). a collaborative approach recorded). windows. The new windows will to the maintenance of this In the meantime, if historic, local building. This work is because the not only let in more light, you would like further current lead in the widows but they will keep out more Over the next few information, and/or make is degrading. Therefore the of the water, and seal up months there will be more a financial contribution glass is starting to buckle, some of the gaps that the information about the towards the work, then crack and in two places bats are using to enter the scheme on display in the please do contact me a small piece has actually building. At the same time church building itself, as at The Rectory. Whole fallen out. Leaded windows as the glass being replaced well as a detailed plan of windows start at £96.00 need to be repaired every 75 we are going to be removing how much each window (the very small window – 100 years or thereabouts the heavy Victorian metal will cost. We are hoping near the Altar) and go up depending on the weather work that was inserted into that local people will feel to £1,680.00, with a lancet etc, and Minster is now at the medieval stone work that they will wish to costing about £300. the stage of needing work the last time the glass was contribute towards this This work will help done. replaced. This metal work work by either sponsoring to ensure the continued (called Ferramenta) is not a whole window, a single Together with Minster survival of Minster Church original to Minster Church, lancet, or even a single Community Fellowship for future generations to and the metal is cracking pane of glass – ANY (MCF) the PCC are cherish and worship in. the stone widow frames financial assistance would looking at replacing the Yours in Christ and causing much damage, be extremely gratefully Revd Robert S Thewsey glass at Minster with small, and water penetration into diamond shaped, ‘heritage’ the fabric of the building. glass which will bring more light into the building, and The total cost of the allow people to look out. work will be in the region (If you want to know what of £18,000, including an

Vacancies exist for adults and children (beginners or advanced) to have Piano or Keyboard Lessons to be taught in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere by a junior school teacher with over 20 years of experience of piano teaching in Cornwall. Parents are welcome to attend the lessons. For further details please ring Peter L Henry BA, LTCL 01840 770470

Page 16 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 A Methodist Ministers may well be different. All ye that pass by Contact Details: To Jesus draw nigh: View Full information helps Boscastle Methodist I am writing this article in us to make an informed To you is it nothing that Chapel: early March with Easter response to the situations Jesus should die? Rev Bryan Ede, just around the corner as which confront us. I am Your ransom and peace 38 Penmead Road, it were, at this time we are hoping that before too Your surety he is; Delabole PL33 9AP hearing in almost every long we shall have access Come, see if there ever Tel: 01840 214818 news bulletin something to some information which was sorrow like his. about the Migrant situation Roman Catholic Church: gives us the ‘pro’s and con’s’ Methodist Hymn Book No 188 Fr Storey in Europe, and comments of our relationship with It is worthwhile St Paul’s Church, from various persons about Europe to permit us to pondering the questions Tintagel how we should respond gain a full appreciation of Tel: 01840 770663 of life and seeking fuller in our British referendum the debate and enable us to Church of England: information in facing up to about our relationship with make an informed response Revd Robert Thewsey them. Europe. to the question from our The Rectory, Every blessing, Forrabury, As I watch the news individual perspective. Bryan Ede Boscastle bulletins or read about the The issue affects the future Church Easter Services PL35 0DJ Migrant situation I am for all of us. Tel: 01840 250359 25 March 10.00 am hearing that many people In so many aspects of Religious Society Boscastle, Paradise Rd. view it as a humanitarian life we seem to live with of Friends: Outdoor Stations of the crisis situation but that the headlines and small Quakers meet each Cross Sunday at 10.30am in our European response amounts of information, 27 March 6.30 am, the John Betjeman is to want to control and as a consequence are Lookout Dawn service, Centre, Wadebridge the numbers coming not confident enough then breakfast in Bos into our countries. The to make good choices. Village Hall Camelford consequences of this This you can test out for Spiritualist Church response are that many yourself by asking - What 10.00 am Forrabury and Lesnewth Eucharist Located in Camelford people are left to live in the significance of the Hall, Clease Meadows, we situations that all of us 11.30 am St Juliot & Easter Story of Jesus’ death hold services every Sunday would find squalid and Trevalga Eucharist and resurrection is for you at 6.30 pm. We have a repulsive. We are not and your approach to day Sadly, Edna Edwards, visiting medium every hearing enough about the by day living? For many week and our services a well-known and situation, dangers and of us the story has been are light and friendly, insecurities which are life changing in enabling respected long-term afterwards we have tea/ causing our ‘brothers and us to live life with an resident of Boscastle coffee and a chat if you sisters’ to move out of their eternal dimension. The has died recently wish to stay. home areas on perilous verse of a hymn written following a short Everyone is welcome. journeys to begin a new by Charles Wesley, but illness. For further information: life elsewhere. If we had a which is not found in Condolences to her www. full appreciation of the life many contemporary hymn family and her many camelfordspiritualistchurch. webs.com situation from which they collections, poses the friends. are fleeing our response question:-

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Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 17 Hazel Philippa Lee 7th January1934 – 28th December 2015 The Story of a Cornish Girl Born a Biscombe in Boscastle in 1934 1 sister, 3 brothers who were all born before Brought up in Island Cottage right by the sea Next to lifelong friends, Margaret and Jean A childhood spent swimming in the sea Climbing rocks and picking flowers in the Valency Valley With your beauty you became the carnival queen And at Camelford Grammar you excelled as a teen To help out your mum your studies had to stop First as a waitress, then helping in Muriel’s shop In 55 Les the biker came to town And a real life love story began Sadly, Boscastle born Hazel the Bridge Maidens. You were married in Minster in 58 Lee (née Biscombe) passed At a service at Randalls Timed to maximise a tax rebate! th away on 28 December Park Crematorium, Who would have known that after that very first kiss 2015. She will always be Leatherhead, Hazel’s son Would follow 57 years of marital bliss fondly remembered by her delivered this poem in A move to Ewell followed and a brand new abode friends Margaret and Jean, celebration of her life:- In the family home – 18 Danetree Road In 1960 the first baby came along A lovely boy by the name of John Pete’s Peeps Another son Nick born in 62 at the Past But no sign of a daughter, what would you do? 26 MAY 1873 Third time lucky for a girl, in 65 managers complain about Then another boy Tone born as Christmas arrived A Serious Shortage of the men and their loss of And there they were your 3 lovely boys Miners character for honest toil. Who consigned you to a life of football and noise About 40 miners left St. Scarcely anything can be Just on Monday last and Boscastle became the annual holiday treat more disheartening than more than that left the week the present prospects At your dear brother Percy’s Marshgate retreat previously. The effect of In the 70’s you worked in the chemists and soon of mine adventurers in the drop in tin is much felt this locality. There is You became instant friends with your dear friend June in the parish. Not a single not a single mine west You moved down to Babbacombe to be by the sea mine was paying dividends of Camborne paying But you missed your 3 boys and came back to Surrey before, so they are not dividends, if even paying At last female company – a daughter-in-law likely to do so now. Mine cost. When Tone married Emma in 1994 And finally 2 lovely girls to adore Your darling granddaughters Becca and Tor More female company when Charlotte wed John And girl power in the Lees was suddenly on Then the boys, football and noise came back With your precious grandsons Tommy and Jack You loved the days with the family together And fab memories of you we will treasure forever We will never forget how you brightened our lives Our amazing Granny, friend, mother and wife. Tony Lee, 20 January 2016

Page 18 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Michael lived in granddaughter. He was ichael urnard Camelford for a while very proud of his boys and M B where he met the love was delighted to become a 8th March 1948 – 13th November 2015 of his life, Barbara. They Grandad. were married at Lanteglos Devastatingly Michael Church in August 1981 was diagnosed with a and soon moved back to terminal illness which he Boscastle where they went bore with patience and on to have three sons – dignity. He was deeply Stephen, Ian and Peter. loved by his wife, children, The family increased again grandson, family and many when they welcomed into friends and will be sadly the family Stephen’s wife, missed by us all. Kimberley and Peter’s You could take Michael partner, Zoe. out of Boscastle, but never Michael worked at take Boscastle out of Delabole Slate Quarry and Michael! at Dairy Crest, Davidstow Now back in his beloved before returning to Trevillet Valley. and his former job as a slate Barbara and family Michael was born on helping with the harvest splitter. 8th March 1948 in the would like to take this festivals. In his later years opportunity to thank beautiful Valency Valley. On leaving school, Michael had more time to He was the only son and everybody who took us to Michael went to work at enjoy his beloved bowling, hospital, visited Michael, eldest child of Thomas the Prince of Wales Quarry. family, dogs, logging and and Gladys Burnard, gave flowers, helped with Here under the excellent gardening. meals and cakes/phone older brother to Margaret tuition of his father he Michael was blessed and half-brother to Peter calls, cards and donations became a very skilled slate in 2012 with his first for MacMillan Nurses and and Mary who lived in splitter, worked hard and grandson, Joshua, and was Plymouth. Bottreaux Surgery. Their enjoyed his work. looking forward to the donations raised £850. His sister Margaret In 1971 Michael imminent arrival of his first Rest in Peace fondly remembers the proudly became an uncle great fun they had growing to his first niece Julie or ‘Ju up together – exploring the Ju’ as he always called her. Pete’s Peeps woods, playing on their He was very proud and at the Past swing, swimming in the enjoyed being her uncle river, fishing and building and loved her very much. camps. 27 AUG 1874 Michael had many at the entrance of a narrow The Men-Gu Stone, As a child Michael interests, especially sports. street (Menacuddle) not far Saint Austell loved to help his Dad to He enjoyed playing cricket from the church. It seems it The search for the Men-Gu collect and chop firewood. with his good friend, the never had any inscription. stone – probably one of the He adored the Valley late Alfie Biscombe and he A few traditions respecting oldest relics of a former age and enjoyed his idyllic also liked a game of darts. this stone still exist. remaining in the county – childhood, despite having He used to play billiards Witches were burnt on it; was at first unsuccessful, it to go to school! and snooker and won all declarations of war and having been removed from Michael attended St. many trophies. In his later proclamations of peace the principal thoroughfare, Juiliot Church of England years he became interested were formerly read on this where it formerly lay School until it closed. He in bowling at which he stone; all impounded cattle (in the pavement), to a then went to Boscastle excelled and was pleased for which no owner could spot more conducive to Primary and later Sir James to be picked for North be found were brought its preservation. It is of Smith’s at Camelford. Cornwall Area Bowls Team, to this stone for a certain an irregular figure and Outside of school he which he represented on number of market days grooved, horizontally enjoyed ringing the bells many occasions and if unclaimed were then at St. Juliot Church and placed among other stones publicly sold.

Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 19 the village; appearing in The invitation to George Findlay Hollywood movies; odd Buckingham Palace to 27th January 1940-22nd January 2016 jobs: mowing a lawn; fixing meet the Royal family a car, building a wall. At was recognition, if it were Villa Nova George’s uncle indeed needed, of George’s joined them after his contribution to the efforts retirement, tenderly cared and sacrifices made that for until he passed away day. Perhaps one less- shortly before his 102nd known kindness was Jill birthday. and George’s spontaneous By now George had offer of accommodation to become a much respected the gravely-ill Jim Castling and recognised figure in his and his wife Jane, washed community culminating out from Valency House, in the role of Chair of the during the final weeks of Parish Council. Jim’s life. During the weeks that He was a devoted followed the disastrous husband and a proud flood of 2004 George’s father; Julian’s building presence was everywhere: of a new house with helping to salvage and his own hands echoes repair the broken village. George’s own philosophies The following is an edited Farmers meant he widened Bare-legged in shorts, well- and determination, and version of the eulogy his circle of friends and worn boots and luminous equal pride in Sonja’s presented by George’s acquaintances. Among postman’s jacket, his achievements as an official son-in-law Trever de them he met his wife Jill service to the community F1 pit lane marshal as well Pattenden at the Service Neale, also from a farming was invaluable. The sight as her vocational successes. of Thanksgiving on 4th family near Launceston. of George clambering into In the end, there was February: In April 1967 they the back of the Royal Volvo one challenge he could not to meet Prince Charles on overcome but he gave it a Alexander George married at Boyton an impromptu visit raised damn good try. We mourn Findlay was born on the 27th Methodist Church. The a smile. his passing but his presence January 1940 at Trehane farm at Trehane became the will always remain in the Farm, Trevalga, within the family home where soon Some say it was his finest hearts and minds if those parish of Boscastle where were born son Julian and hour. George though, I’m who knew and loved him. he spent his entire life. daughter Sonya. sure, felt it was all just part of a continuous duty to his So Dew Genness brave Born into a farming In 1988 George decided beloved home, a place he son of Kernow. Dew family his future was clear. to retire from farming knew and loved deeply. Gennes George. George enjoyed school and and focus on developing was a popular student, his other avenues of work and Rest in peace studies opening out an interests, for the benefit alternative view of life and, of family and friends, but as a farmer’s son, inheriting also for his community. a penchant for practical The family moved to Villa work and problem-solving. Nova on the outskirts of Boscastle with lovely views With younger brother across the sea. David and sisters Helen and Marion, along with George combined increasing responsibilities working his sizeable at the farm he developed and productive garden interests in his local along with Julian while community. He was a maintaining the house; handsome young man helping neighbours, and joining the Young offering advice to friends George Fiindlay at the harbour and family; looking after photo taken in 2004 by David Fllower

Page 20 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 JOHN MASSEY 1937-2015 John was born on the time loaded the vessel 15th November 1937 in which included a £15,000 Swansea, West Glamorgan. Grandfather clock strapped He was always proud of his to the bulkhead and set Welsh Heritage. off to return, only a half In 1955, John did his mile downstream they National Service with the managed to jam the barge Welsh Guards and became sideways on under a bridge a bandsman profi cient with that crossed over the River the clarinet which led to Liff ey, they succeeded in him being an ardent fan blocking the river traffi c for of jazz and later to attend a wait for the tide to turn. many jazz festivals. Th e Dublin Times made them famous for a day. I fi rst met John in 1963 when he came to Boscastle By then my family and I on his Lambretta to be a moved to Callington; John, winter warden at the Youth fed up with his nomadic Hostel, we got to know existence, asked us to look each other over a good few for a small house in our pints in the Cobweb. vicinity. We persuaded him, after much baulking, At this time John had to cough up £500 to a “12th share” of a fl at in purchase a quaint little South Street, Th e Barbican, cottage at Beals Mill near the pride and joy of the spending more time Plymouth. He was friends Stoke Climsland; it was sellers. He opened a shop together with many shared with many of the so called detatched, stream running in Tintagel selling leather interests, Helen was a keen “Barbican Oddballs”, which through the garden with goods and wool jumpers. sailor too with a half share of included the then un- a large shed, no telephone Th e opportunity camea catamaran. Helen retired famous Robert Lenkiewicz but a red phone box slap to move the business to from a very successful career who included Massey in opposite with a door which Boscastle into half of and had moved to settle at a massive mural in the was kept propped open as what had been Turners Horrabridge. Barbican. We visited the John’s “offi ce”. Garage which had been Lenkiewicz studio and all John sold his cottage developed by David I recall is this wild looking At this time John and business and moved Turners nephew, Chris character and dozens of started to collect and deal to be with his Helen at Dawe. John developed it paintings cluttering the in antiques - the large Horrabridge. Together they into his Antique shop with studio, which then he shed came in very useful. travelled widely, thoroughly stock which he bought at would sell to anyone with He became fi rm friends enjoying themselves. Less local and county auctions. £50, I was still a “struggling with Helen Hill who also than two years ago Helen In recent years we have potter” way beyond my had a large shed, which he was taken ill from which occasionally seen him on budget at the time. went on to fi ll, and that she did not recover. Helen friendship was to grow in the telly in the background was the love of John’s life Massey became a bit of his later years. on programmes such as and it was during this a sailor, he had friends who Flog It and Antiques Road bereavement that John crewed boats for owners John began trading from Trip. himself was diagnosed. to and from Plymouth to a stall at the Launceston During his years at the Mediterranean and the Pannier Market and John Massey, just Boscastle and Trethevy John Carribean. later very successfully at “Massey” to his many Tavistock Market. was a familiar face on the friends ,was larger than life, On one of his boat social circuit, a man who always cheerful with his ferrying trips he and his By 1976 my family had loved a party and people, distinguishing long beard, skipper had to take a barge moved to Boscastle Pottery. his penny whistle often braces and corduroy’s and to Dublin to collect a John decided to move and featured at music night at full of bonhomie. His consignment of valuable bought a delightful cottage the “Welly”. passing is a loss to us all. antiques for a Plymouth at St. Nectans Glen with As the years rolled dealer, they arrived on a garden that had been “Cheers John” on John and Helen were Roger Irving Little

Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 21 services, and as you have probably heard there is going to be a considerable investment on the railways. Cornwall Council have an annual gross budget of £1.1 County Councillor, billion per annum, and Glenton Brown writes: reduced funding from the I will endeavour to share government. £170 million some points from Cornwall pounds has been taken Councils recent budget. from our finances since It goes without saying we 2010. Plans are already in are in the sharp end of the place to deliver further cuts many cuts that are being of £103 million from April made on local government 2016. at the present time. The proposed re- You may well have distribution of county heard that council tax will councillors’ boundaries be increased by 3.97% has been put back as it was and this maybe the pattern impossible to work out for the next 2 or 3 years, the new areas before the CORNISH STORES the government is giving county council elections permission for the extra 2% in May 2017. Work will VILLAGE SHOP to be spent on extra social continue on a new plan in and welfare services within time for the county council For all your Grocery and every day the county. The council has elections again in 2021, essentials 250 statutory duties it is when it is likely there will required by law to service, be considerable reductions Fresh fruit and vegetables daily and overall still has a large to the 123 now standing. Fresh local meat staff of 5,500 people to It is an unknown quantity Hot pasties and drinks to takeaway fund. The organisationto how many councillors the council now work it will be reduced to at Open daily at 8.30am under 3 directors under this present time. It is of 13 service areas based on course possible that new THE BRIDGE, BOSCASTLE 60 offices throughout the parliamentary boundaries county. The business rate will be worked out before 01840 250344 will eventually be fully the next general elections. repaid to Cornwall which If I can be of any help will help to meet some please contact me on HIGHFIELD MOTORS of the cuts which have 01840 770302 or email Proprietor: F Luffarelli been imposed upon us. me on gbrown@cornwall. Cornwall will get an extra gov.uk £217,000 for its rural bus Servicing, Repairs & Tyres at Highly BLOCKED DRAINS Competitive Prices for all cars, motorcycles and vans CLEARED FAST MOT’s Class 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 7 24 hr call out Hedley Venning Tel: 01840 212666 01840 250113 Highfield Road Industrial Estate Camelford 07974 581836 PL32 9RA

Page 22 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Scott Mann, MP another service provider. I EU treaties do not cease to Westminster. have long said that BT has apply until the member in With the March budget too much of a monopoly of question has actually left. getting ever closer, I've this vital infrastructure, and The same applies to farm been campaigning again to this change will certainly subsidies as well. On top lower beer duty by another free up the internet market. of this, EU development penny. The government has Too long have people funding is not infinite, and been pro-active in cutting played ping-pong between there is no certainty that beer duty in recent years in BT and their service we will continue to receive order to support the pub provider when complaining it after 2020 if the current and brewing industries, about a poor connection, tranche delivers its desired and it's important that and if service providers can results. we keep this momentum install their own cables, I had a very enjoyable going In January a group of MPs then that makes them weekend back in Kernow North Cornwall has issued a critical report of more accountable for the to celebrate St Piran's Day seven beer breweries which BT, saying that not enough speeds they provide to their in Bodmin. I was joined by employ local people and was being done to roll out customers. local representatives and make some of the finest broadband. The industry I've been approached schools as we remembered ales in the country. It's regulator, Ofcom, has now by constituents who are St Piran's story, and it was where traditional bespoke ruled that BT's Openreach concerned that an EU fantastic to see so much skills are taught to aspiring division must open up Brexit could stop funding Cornish dress and culture apprentices and it's in its infrastructure to other in Cornwall. The day on display. pubs where people come internet providers. after the referendum, While in Parliament together because they This means BT must regardless of the result, we I recently met Boscastle lie at the heart of our open up its infrastructure so will still be a member and Primary School who were communities. Another that other service providers thus still receive funding. having an educational tour penny off beer duty will can install their own The referendum is not around the building. The help both industries and cables. This is a significant legally binding on our children asked intelligent likewise the cider industry development, because membership and it will and interesting questions, which has flourished in many rural properties take up to two years for and it is great to hear recent years, particularly in which have previously been us to leave once we invoke young Cornish voices in North Cornwall. denied broadband could Article 50 of the Lisbon soon be connected by Treaty, which states that

THEIR

Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 23 published. He spoke a great deal public saying how well behaved they about the need for resilience and were which was what we expect but perseverance which was brilliant pleasing nonetheless. as it is two of the main learning Whilst the older children were behaviours on which we work. He in London the younger children also read his latest story to the whole were finding Dinosaur bones at school. It is called ‘The Boy who Port Gaverne; real bones (they were Piddled in Grandad’s Slipper’; as you huge I was told) buried in the sand! might imagine, the children loved it. This was a joint visit with Port Isaac The main event for most of the School as part of their very exciting Year 3-6 children this term was our project on dinosaurs. When I was residential trip to London. We spent in Class 1 last week they took me News from School three days away travelling by train on Dinosaur Hunt where we found In the winter edition of the Blowhole from Exeter and visiting the Tower a fine specimen they have made in I mentioned that some of the children of London, The Natural History the valley area. They have also been were taking part in the poetry Museum, The London Eye, The learning how to classify animals competition at the St Austell Festival. Houses of Parliament where we and deciding which are herbivores, All of the children did very well with met our local MP Scott Mann and carnivores and omnivores. Katy winning her class and Gracie and Star Isabella coming second and third respectively in their classes. Well done to Katy, Gracie, Star, Sorcha, Rowan, Ziggy, Lamorna, Sophie, Annabell and Ruby and thank you to Morwenna Gee for her help in preparing the children for their performances. All of the children enjoyed a visit from Billy Bob Buttons (Edward Trayer) an award winning author of many books including the children’s favourite ‘I think I Murdered Miss’! He worked with the older children on developing plot and character and talked generally about the process of writing a story and getting it the Theatre where we saw Charlie The School Association organised The Still Point Treatment Room and the Chocolate Factory. We also a highly successful Safari Supper in Boscastle stopped outside Buckingham Palace February and I would like to thank Francilla Mangal-Smart BEd.Hons and watched a changing of the Caroline Edwards (chair of the ITEC qualified Holistic Massage Guard at Horse Guards Parade, 10 association) and the committee for Therapist Downing Street and the Cenotaph. organising the event and Morwenna Aromatherapy Massage We spent some time on the Hop on and Sean Gee, Miles Atkinson and Swedish massage Hop off buses and plenty of time on Shelley Ellis, The Wellington Hotel Hot Stone Massage Tubes/Underground and the huge and Tracey and Adrian Bright at Deep tissue massage escalators! We also managed to get the Cobweb for hosting the events. down to Greenwich where we cruised Thank you also to everyone who back up the river to Westminster attended the event – we do appreciate A range of treatments available, Bridge and finished off with a quick your support. tailored to your needs. flip through Harrods eventually The Year 2, 3 and 4 children Call today for a free consultation returning to Exeter tired but happy! visited the Farm and Country Day 07791 002 109 The children were brilliant during at the Royal Cornwall Showground Every body deserves a massage the trip and we had at least five this week. The event is organised comments from members of the by the Royal Cornwall Show

Page 24 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Association and the Cornwall Food and Farming group. The event is set out in the exhibition centre (the cattle shed) and is designed to inform the children about where their food comes from and what people in the countryside do: they saw and touched cattle, pigs and sheep; saw a chick hatch and held day old chicks, talked to a vet and looked at X rays of his dog, tasted ice cream, sat on some machinery, found out about moles and soil, the different types of grain that we grow and tried on the bee keepers protective clothing. Judging from what the children have been saying this morning the day achieved its aim. Janet Lathom and I have been training our cross country in preparation for the Landrake run on 11th March. The children will be running about 3 miles over farmland and tracks. The course includes a slope with a rope, a couple of ditched and a very wet marsh in which shoes are often lost, so it is quite a challenge. We will be ending the term with our usual egg rolling competition so I apologise in advance for the cheering that will reverberate through the village Sarah Duffy

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Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 25 The Food of My Childhood carrots and onions. There cheap. Reckon on about was always bread and we fifty pence a serving not Pat Thorne remembers conversation started me didn’t starve. Far from it: counting the mashed food from her younger thinking about my own the National Loaf and all potato and peas. This is days and gives us her childhood memories of that running about kept a traditional dish from recipe for faggots: food when I grew up in very us healthy. Auntie Gwen, Wiltshire, but I am giving For Christmas a couple different circumstances to like a lot of people in my you my own adapted of years ago I gave our our own two boys. For a childhood, was a dab hand recipe which is a tad more youngest son an expensive start, everything was on at make do and mend, and generous with the pork: Italian cheese grater ration, and even if you could always conjure up together with an almost had the ration coupons, a plate of butterfly cakes equally expensive lump of often there was little on the for Sunday Tea, no matter parmesan cheese. He’s a shelves to be had and this how scarce the ingredients. bit of a foodie and a good was especially true of meat. And you couldn’t have cook so I knew he would Dig for Victory was the cry, cake until you’d eaten your appreciate it and of course and every bit of land that bread and butter, no matter he was delighted. And then could be pressed into use how much you begged and was full of vegetables and whined. Ingredients we started to talk about 1lb Pig’s Liver soft fruit. Ah yes, the food of my how food has changed 1lb Fat Belly Pork – bone Like lots of other childhood – essentially since he was young; how and skin removed the food of the poor – the recipe for spag bol has families, we had no ½lb Lean Pork Loin developed into something home of our own and cheap cuts of meat, cooked 2 Medium Onions, that is almost authentically we shared a house with slowly for hours until all Chopped Fine Italian. It’s gone from spag my Auntie Gwen and flavour is released into a Sage Leaves bol to Spaghetti with Ragu Uncle Harry who had a delicious gravy; the stews, ½ Teaspoon Mace or Sauce for a start, and, big garden with rows and the steamed puddings, Nutmeg instead of the minced beef, rows of vegetables, a small the casseroles. And I 2 Medium Eggs stock cube and tomato orchard of apples, pears especially remember my 4oz Fresh Breadcrumbs puree concoction I used and plums and plentiful Auntie Gwen’s home-made Clove of Garlic, Crushed to make when the boys currant bushes as well as faggots, steaming hot and Caul Fat (your butcher were young, the list of gooseberries, strawberries sensational from the oven. may even give you some) ingredients and cooking and raspberries. All she Inspired by this seventy- Salt, Pepper time are now both much needed was a rabbit or year-old memory, I have Left over gravy, or Stock longer. “I always use freshly two – mercifully not on taken to making my own grated parmesan,” Nick ration, and she could make faggots. They’re not yet Method said, “But in a funny sort a rabbit stew to feed all of imbued with nostalgia, Put the meat, minced, of way I get nostalgic for us for a week. As each day but my golly they’re not into a heavy pan with the food of my childhood – wore on, the amount of only delicious, but have the onion, chopped sage remember the ready-grated rabbit meat diminished the virtue – just as in leaves, salt, pepper and stuff you used to buy? I and she simply topped it those far off not-forgotten garlic. Give it about twenty used to love that.” That up with more potatoes, days – of being incredibly

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Page 26 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 The Food of My play Boscastle Village Hall Childhood The Roving Crows Roving Crows are a highly minutes over a low heat acclaimed Celtic folk rock until all the fat has melted, band whose music, while stirring occasionally to having traditional Irish roots, prevent browning. Drain has been influenced by a range off the juice into a small of other genres including pan and mix the meat klezmer, reggae, jazz, rock with the mace, beaten eggs and tribal house. Amongst and enough breadcrumbs bands they cite as specifically to make a stiffish, easy to influential are Kila (Irish), handle mixture. Taste and the Waterboys (Scottish/ adjust seasoning– it needs Irish), The Afro Celt Sound plenty of pepper and for System and the Levellers. As Sainsbury’s might say, it this recipe I prefer ground is music in the Celtic folk white pepper to freshly Tom and the Crows, photo by Julian Trick tradition but `with a twist’; on Sunday night) and that at the initiative of the ground black. Put the caul or, as Paul himself put it fat into tepid water with year the band also took the Boscastle Artists CIC which to me after the gig, there Top Celtic Rock Band award is committed to supporting a tablespoon of vinegar are for him `no walls, no (no surprise there either). and encouraging live music, and cut, when pliable, barriers, except the ones we We were treated to theatre and similar events in into five inch squaresput around ourselves.’ They a range of their original the village. Suggestions for (or thereabouts – you perform at many national material, from high-energy future events are welcome; can always get it to stick and international festivals to haunting, introduced the CIC can be contacted together). Then wrap each and regularly receive airplay with panache and humour by phone or email or why on local and national radio one round a dumpling- by Paul, together with not drop into the gallery stations. After leaving us, they sized piece of the meat Christy Moore’s `Ride On’ opposite the Welly? were briefly touching base at mixture. Choose a shallow poignantly sung by Caitlin. Thanks go to Artists home in Gloucestershire and baking dish and grease Encores were of course at the gallery and friends then travelling on to play at with dripping or lard and demanded; the first was the who provided a bar and Disneyland Paris. lay the faggots in a row, elegiac `Brother’ written food during the event and just touching. Add the The band currentlyfrom personal experience donated raffle prizes, and a stock or gravy; they will consists of founding members of the early and unexpected huge THANK YOU also need to go into a medium Paul O’Neill (from Athy, death of a brother, and, in to Tom Trick who did a oven for about forty Co Kildare) and Caitlin order not to end on a sad very professional job of the Barrett (from Cheltenham minutes; they are very note, the fast and furious lighting throughout the gig. but of Donegal parentage) good tempered, provided `The Devil Went Down to Roving Crows said they together with Loz Shaw (also Georgia’ from the Charlie would be happy to fit us into you cook them slowly. I a music producer) on bass Daniels Band. their schedule again when like to drain off the gravy guitar, synthesizer and vocals The band were touring they visit Cornwall next, halfway through cooking and Tim Downes-Hall on Cornwall as part of the Carn and we would be only too and skim off any excess percussion. Paul writes the to Cove programme and happy to have them back! fat, mix this with the juice band’s original materials, is were invited to Boscastle Harriet Webzel (if any) that you saved lead singer and plays acoustic from the original cooking and electric guitar; Caitlin and this makes the basis plays fiddle and sings. Paul for a lovely onion gravy. and Caitlin met in 2007 and Serve with buttery mashed initially performed as a duo potato and peas. We eat before expanding the line- them hot and, when there up to become a band which has been carving out its BosCars are just the two of us, any Private Hire left over go in the freezer niche in the folk music scene since 2009. In 2011 Caitlin Airport Transfers but not for much longer took the `Top Fiddle Player’ Coach & Train Connections than a month. Caul fat award from the Irish Music Luggage Transfers for Walkers doesn’t take to being kept Association (no surprise to Friendly & Reliable, 24hr Service for ages. anyone who heard her play Telephone 07790983911 Pat Thorne

Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 27 retreat on a Land’s End HALF OF A YELLOW The Reading Room farm. Several of his novels SUN feature a wild Cornish by CHIMAMANDA Once again it was time for ‘Women in Love’ at the setting, including ‘Notes NGOZA ADICHE me to unlock the ancient time, but his peace was from an Exhibition’ Adiche is a Nigerian author Reading Room. I set out shattered when locals (discussed in a previous who rose to fame when her along my usual cliff path threw them out, accusing Reading Room) and ‘A novel ‘Purple Hibiscus’ and, as I walked, my mind Frieda of being a German Perfectly Good Man’. began to wander too! I had won The Orange Prize for spy and sending signals to ‘Lord of the Flies’ been saddened to hear of Fiction in 2004. ‘Half of a U boats via her washing author and Nobel Prize the recent death of a very Yellow Sun’ also won The line! Lawrence referred to winner William Golding unique author, Harper Orange Prize for Fiction the incident in his novel (1911-1993) was born Lee. She was unique in 2007. It is set in Nigeria Kangaroo (1923). at St Columb Major and because her fame came prior to and during the Also Virginia Woolf spent his last years in the from just one book ‘To Nigerian Civil War 1962 (1882-1941) took annual county. A novelist also Kill a Mocking Bird’. We -1970. It covers Biafra’s childhood holidays to St associated with the West had only recently read it impassioned struggle to Ives and the town features of Cornwall is Rosamunde and we will be sharing our establish an independent in ‘Jacob’s Room’ and ‘The Pilcher. She was born in thoughts with you today republic in South east Waves’. Most famously, Lelant. Her writing career in The Reading Room. I Nigeria. The effects of Godrevy Lighthouse began in 1949, with Mills began to wonder if she had the war are demonstrated inspired her book, ‘To The and Boon novels and ever visited Cornwall. She through the relationships Lighthouse’. her breakthrough came had not, apparently, but I of five main characters. in 1987 with ‘The Shell did discover many famous Of course, Daphne The novel carries the reader Seekers’, a family saga set authors that have strong Du Maurier (1907-1989) through the promise, in Cornwall. In 2002 she connections with our brought Cornwall to hope and, ultimate, was awarded an O.B.E. beautiful land. national and international disappointment of the literary attention. She Of course there are DH Lawrence (1885- Biafran War. The author’s grew up in London and many more, but I have 1930) lived near Zennor parents lived through these holidayed in Cornwall, reached The Reading with his German wife troubles and she uses their before settling in Fowey. Room! I must return to my Frieda between 1916 and experiences in her writing. Her novels are set in purpose and prepare for the 1918. He is said to have The bookworms found Cornwall and evoke visions arrival of The Bookworms. written to a friend saying, this book extremely of a Cornwall long ago. I do hope you will stay and ‘the sea was very beautiful, informative and we all share our journey through dark, dark blue, with heavy In the 1980’s novelist learnt much from it. I, for the books we have read white foam swinging at Patrick Gale (born 1962) one, felt an embarrassment since we were with you last. the rocks’. He was writing moved to his own writer’s at the realisation of how Christopher Key G H M Building Maintenance Solicitor Insurance Fire & Flood Damage Trebiffen, Boscastle, PL35 0BN Kitchens, Bathrooms Tel: 01840 250200 Fax: 01840 250900 Interior & Exterior Decorating Established 1997 Refurbishments serving the local community Free Estimates conveyancing & wills probate, general litigation, etc Phone 01840230380

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Page 28 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 ‘The Collector’ is The bookworms all The Reading Room continued the debut novel by John found it deeply disturbing. Fowles. The success of this One or two felt they were little I knew about the was disliked by some novel meant that Fowles unable to complete the Biafran war. bookworms as they felt could stop teaching and book. Many found it a it was at the expense of The opening chapters of devote himself full-time to compelling read which the depiction of external the book are very deceiving a literary career. drew them in by being both as it soon becomes a very events. He became an fascinating and disgusting serious and intense book. One bookworm felt it internationally acclaimed at the same time. The incident at the airport was a good example of a author. One bookworm felt the sees the thrust of the story work of fiction that co- depth of the description gain intensity. The images exists well with history. It tells the story of a of Miranda’s ‘new home’ so skilfully painted of the Although this was an lonely young man who helped the reader to happenings at that time are emotional and disturbing works as a clerk in City visualize her situation and alarming and emotionally read, most of us felt it was Hall and is almost obsessive understand how it felt to challenging. valuable to have had our about collecting butterflies for a hobby. However, it is be in her shoes. The plot Adichie unravels the eyes opened to the horrors not until the end do you was extraordinary and realities of war. She moves of such wartime situations fully understand just how psychologically interesting from the physical and literal and its long term impact abnormal he really is. This whilst extremely unsettling. into the psychological and on those touched by it. It was certainly not a happy It was felt that the emotional aspects. She has left a lasting impression book. young man was seeking a depicts the explosion of on many readers. validation that the world the North-South conflict Storyline score: 7 It is a book of three had failed to give him. He in a way that offers Quality of writing: 7 distinct parts. The first was obviously desperately historical context and part is written from the THE COLLECTOR lonely but with a disturbed, uses it as a stepping stone young man’s perspective. by JOHN FOWLES complex, obsessive mind. into the psychological and The second from the emotional effects of war on After leaving Oxford perspective of a young girl, Another bookworm individuals, relationships, University, John Robert Miranda, who is kidnapped could not help but get ethnic groups and the Fowles (31 March 1926 – by him and who becomes involved and liked the nation as a whole. This 5 November 2005) taught ‘part of his collection’! The quite ingenious way the focus on the internal English at a school on the third part is told again by book was compiled in process of the characters Greek island of Spetses. the young man. short sections. It was not a feel good book, but it Boscastle Walking Week – April 16th-22nd 2016 It gives an insight into the workings of a complex was one they were glad to Creative Workshops and dark mind creating have read and one that they In association with Boscastle Artists Cooperative a tension far greater than are unlikely to forget. The that found in a horror plot was very vivid and the novel. The book ends with style of narrative brilliant a final twist when Fredrick for a psychological thriller makes an amazing and novel. The characters were horrific revelation. skilfully crafted and it was MK Computers

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Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 29 on the author’s personal We discussed whether The Reading Room childhood experiences and it was written aimed at continued those of her neighbours. teenagers in order to get hard to grasp that it was a huge success. The primary themes messages across and we debut novel! As a result, in 2007, she are racial injustice and the thought it would be a Several bookworms was given The Presidential destruction of innocence. good manual on how to remarked that it was Medal of Freedom for her It also touches on class, bring up children. It was somewhat prophetic services to literature by courage, compassion and very evident that the father because, at the time it was George W. Bush. This was gender roles. put his utmost trust in written, it was a tale of pure followed by The National The bookworms rated his black housekeeper to fiction. However, in recent Medal of the Arts in 2010. this book very highly. influence the upbringing times such situations have of his children. She always refused to Most found it thoroughly hit our headlines. appear for interviews and enjoyable with vivid We did have to Storyline score : 5 retreated into a quiet life characters and interesting ‘look up’ the meaning Quality of writing: 5.5 out of the public eye until historical revelations. It of some phrases, for example ‘scuppermangs’ TO KILL A her death. was felt quite worrying meaning grapes! Also one MOCKING BIRD Until July 2015, To Kill to consider this was happening in America bookworm felt the writing by HARPER LEE a Mocking Bird was Lee’s lost the voice of the child only book but an earlier during our lifetime. Nelle Harper Lee was born occasionally. However, we draft of it was then released Concern was expressed on 28th April 1926, the all were glad to have read under the title of ‘Go Set how we might have been youngest of three siblings. this book and would urge a Watchman’. She is said had we lived in that place Her father was a lawyer everyone to read it. to have agreed to this at that time. Also, do we and her mother, sadly, Storyline score: 8.5 but there has been some hold beliefs now that we was mentally unwell. She controversy about her will not hold in the future? Quality of writing: 8.5 spent her childhood being ability to understand what One bookworm a tomboy in a small town All the Bookworms have she was agreeing to. One remarked how it brings to called Monroeville in enjoyed your company source claimed she would, mind how distant you can once again. Alabama. Here she began be from what is happening latterly, sign anything Thank you for joining her life-long friendship in other parts of the world. placed before her. us in The Reading Room with Truman Capote, It was thought that the She passed away in and happy reading until who also became a writer. timing of its publication February 2016 the next time. She went to University to was excellent when the study Law but ‘dropped This is a compelling events that followed are Yours truly out’ to pursue her passion novel about growing considered. The Keeper of the Key for writing. She moved to up in the 1930’s in the New York and took a job Southern part of The as a reservation officer for United States of America. an airline, just to pay her It was published in 1960 bills. Eventually ‘To Kill a and was awarded The Pulitzer Prize. It was based Mocking Bird’ brought her Fresh locally produced meats Barnecutt’s bread and hot pasties Wide range of groceries, fresh fruit & veg Gluten free products stocked Off Licence and Pay Point Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8am-6pm Saturday: 9am-5pm Sunday: 9am-1pm Tel: 01840 250108 www.bottreauxfillingstation.co.uk

Page 30 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 COASTGUARD REPORT Hello again readers since dog was rescued safe and the start of the new year well. Returned to Station we have had two callouts. 14:15. In attendance M.Smith, B.Winsper & 24/1/16: Paged by Bude CRT. Falmouth, 17:19hrs. Assist Ambulance crew. Casualty Boscastle Team are in Evac on the cliff path at desperate need of new Tregardock. Returned recruits as we have just five to Station 20:35hrs. In members in our team. We attendance L.Siford, need to get up to at least M.Smith, B,Winsper & eight as soon as possible. Bude CRT. Recruitment starts in April See also advert on below. 8/1/16: Paged by Thats all for now Falmouth 12:20hrs Assist please take care on our Bude CRT with a dog coastline rescue at Beeny Cliffs. The Les S iford Station Officer Boscastle Coastguard. CENTRAL GARAGE High Street, Delabole Stuart Biddick Tel: 01840 212388 Piano Tuner ~ Pianos for Sale GOOD FURNITURE & ALADDIN’S CAVE We Buy & Sell Second-hand Furniture Especially Pine, Old & New Open Monday - Friday noon - 4pm Give us a visit - without obligation You’ll be surprised what you’ll find!

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Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 31 most conspiracy theories CONSPIRACY THEORIES to simple ignorance, Chris Rodda discourses on Human beings, writes by US government what he defines as the the work of Rob Brother- Rob Brotherton, in (Rosewell incident, unknown unknown (we ton: Suspicious Minds: Why We Area 51) think we know the answer In a recent US experiment Believe Conspiracy Theories 3. The moon landings in but based on insufficient two groups of students (Bloomsbury 2015) have a 1969 were faked knowledge) and a desire were asked to clean up an desire to make sense out of 4. Princess Diana was to “join the dots” coupled office ostensibly belonging disorder, tie up loose ends, killed by MI6 in a plot with a general disaffection orchestrated by the to one of their professors. solve mysteries. We regard across all sectors of society: Royal Family or, Office One was messy, ourselves as rational, but not just little uneducated 5. She did not die but heaps of files and papers little we do is conscious. people buffeted by badly disabled lives scattered everywhere, Our unconscious mind outrageous fortune, but on in a secret Swiss including a number runs the body. Most sanatorium anyone experiencing doubt of sheets covered with feelings and reactions are about the official versions. instinctive, the higher 6. JFK was assassinated seemingly random dots. by CIA/FBI marksmen Whenever there is no Some students discerned functions of emotions and provable explanation, such aesthetics are irrational: 7. The Twin Towers images of familiar objects, a attack on New York as the recent disappearance why we prefer the Stones to sail boat, watering can etc., was organised by of Flight MH370, arch- the Beatles, the colour blue but most were regarded as George W Bush in conspiracy theorists like indecipherable. The other to red, or fall in love with a order to blame Osama David Icke excite an group were shown into particular person. bin Laden attentive audience. an orderly study, boxes I introduced his book to 8. President Obama is Some of his (and many neatly stacked, papers the Wellington Book Club not American others) beliefs appear filed properly. This group by asking its members Apart from the first laughably nutty – wearing identified an image in which of the following item, most if not all the a helmet made from practically every sheet they might statements they felt group gave some credence Bacofoil prevents aliens examined. be true: to the remainder. Now they controlling your mind, for 1. Aliens have taken In fact both sets of are definitely not a bunch instance – to the downright over the earth and sheets were identical – a of weirdos as conspiracy dangerous. The claim by few contained recognisable appear in human form theorists are often labelled, Dr Andrew Wakefield that shapes, the majority but rational, educated the MMR vaccine caused 2. Spacecraft crash just dots. The students people who reckoned autism panicked many assumed the tidy pile all landed in 1947 and dead aliens that most politicians were parents into refusal, even had meaningful images. are kept in secret untrustworthy, that in after his results were shown war the first casualty is to be faked, so hundreds Adrian & Staff welcome you to the truth and we are ruled by a of children suffered life- mutually beneficial alliance threatening illness. Cobweb Inn of government and big The universal illusion is BOSCASTLE, CORNWALL business. that our ordered society is FREE HOUSE  REAL ALES  BAR SNACKS  The author attributes always threatened by some  FAMILY ROOM  RESTAURANT  SUNDAY CARVERY  Lunch 12.00pm-2.30pm ~ Evening 6.00pm-9.00pm

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Page 32 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 CONSPIRACY THEORIES malign and all-powerful American and British enemy – modern versions servicemen died when include the Illuminati, a D-Day exercise went Elders of Zion, Bilderberg disastrously wrong. There Group etc. - secret were hundreds of witnesses. organisations intent on Yet, although there was a world domination. Since brief public announcement the dawn of literature the at the time there seemed sum of our fears can be almost a tacit agreement to expressed in a single story, keep the affair quiet. Only the desperate fight and in 1974, after pressure from eventual victory of the local researchers, was the hero underdog (Beowulf, US government persuaded David, Christ) over our to erect a memorial to the satanic foe. forgotten. It would seem a As incredible it might lot of people, for whatever seem that George W. Bush reason, patriotism or fear, connived at the death of could keep their lips tight thousands of New Yorkers compressed. in order to target Osama As my colleagues in bin Laden, it is on record the Book Group averred, the CIA offered similar perhaps you aren’t ideas to JFK in order to paranoid, they really are discredit Fidel Castro. out to get you. We learned of I have barely touched Watergate and, eventually, upon the myriad ideas Thalidomide. Thus you Rob Brotherton presents in cannot fool all the people an entertaining, readable all of the time, maintains and thought-provoking the author. I am less analysis of the issue: I urge sure. At Slapton Sands in you to make up your own 1944 nearly a thousand mind. CR

Rainfall totals measured in Boscastle SX 09697 90138 Dec 2015 Jan 2016 Feb 2016 Total rainfall in 180.8 196.8 122.2 mm Max daily rain- 20 32.6 26.4 fall in mm Date on which 30th 1st 6 max fell Number of days with no 5 4 6? rainfall Total rainfall Pictured above are the slate signs that the Parish Council for same month 110.2 179.2 105 have commissioned; the signs to be placed at the 3 main in 2014/2015 roads into the village. A glance through council minutes Total Annual Rainfall for 2015: 1331.4mm reveal that discussions on the welcome signs began in May 2012. The cost has not yet been minuted.

Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 33 Boscastle WI Report Boscastle WI was formed and had its first meeting on 8th January 1946. With its 70th birthday taking place in 2016, a celebratory meal was booked for that date, at the Riverside Hotel, Boscastle, where members enjoyed a two course meal. A birthday cake, made by Barnicutts bakery and decorated in the colours of the WI, was cut by our youngest member, ‘Suffragettes’ Jill Clark, Pam Jordon, Gloria Quinlan, Thelma Stewart Pat Stanton- Nikki Penfound, and past member and guest Val Gill. Nadin and Celia Lloyd at Forrabury Quiz Night. photo Bob Clerk Val, as our secretary for 3 the branch would be of ‘The Witchcraftdrink available and many years, was instrumental in celebrating in another 70 Museum’ but in 2015 he toothsome cakes and helping keep the branch years. donated the Museum to snacks (as well as being open. She has since moved Our 2016’s meetings the British Folk Society. reasonably priced!). from the district. Cards began with a journey to This journey to the Arctic Since we had achieved of congratulations were the Arctic Circle. January Circle was the celebration fourth place in last year’s received from Cornwall speaker, Graham King and of Graham’s retirement Forrabury Quiz Night Federation WI, Marshgate his partner Kerriann had and a long awaited three (and won the ‘Best Table’ WI and Val Gill. set off in their motorhome month holiday. prize), we didn’t have to Our president, Sue for a holiday to this They travelled inpress gang members to Viner, gave a short northerly destination. ‘Dickie’ (the motorhome) raise a team for this year’s speech saying she hoped For 18 years Graham had from Cornwall through 9 Forrabury Quiz. We went owned and been custodian countries and, with the aid ‘to town’ with our theme of of their slides; we journeyed ‘Suffragettes’, decorating Napoleon Inn with them - seeing ancient the table with chains and rock art, colourful painted padlocks, as well as the Boscastle buildings, whale watching Suffragettes’ colours of Tel: 01840 250204 and watchmen who sang white, green and purple. www.napoleoninn.co.uk as they walked around a Once again we won the A delightful 16th century pub full of character town. Graham was very ‘Best Table’ prize and this Delicious food using local ingredients impressed by the way many year came third in the freshly cooked by our team of talented chefs of those countries allowed Quiz (out of 12 teams). free parking and use of Camelford WI won First Real ales served straight from the barrel facilities, thus encouraging Prize. LIVE MUSIC Every Friday Night motorhome travel. Our February meeting Traditional Cornish singing from the Our monthly coffee saw last year’s committee BOSCASTLE BUOYS every Tuesday night morning was to the Four re-elected, with Sue Viner OPEN MIC NIGHT every other Monday Seasons café in Camelford. continuing as President We all agreed that it was and Jill Clark as Secretary Large, safe beer garden well worth the visit – with - by popular vote. Dogs on leads welcome every sort of hot (or cold) Members are looking

Page 34 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Boscastle WI overlooked when they continued fall into difficulties and forward to March’s meeting suddenly find themselves when David Lamond and homeless. Some sofa surf Peter Chisholm-Taylor with friends but this can (always a popular team) wear thin and all too soon return, this time to speak they can be sleeping rough, on ‘Collecting and Care with no address and no way of English Silver’. Our of getting clean making the ‘Coffee-Morningers’ willway back into work, or be visiting a venue in just claiming benefits, ever Tintagel (venue TBA) on more difficult. rd 23 February. St Petroc’s, started in the Should you be 1970’s, tries to offer help to interested in joining us at single people who are not HEDLEY VENNING any of our meetings, we covered by public bodies are a friendly bunch. We like Social Services who BUILDING CONTRACTOR get together every second are obliged by law to help Your local tradesman with 30 years experience Tuesday in the village hall families and the elderly. ------at 2pm, come along and get Socks, hats, gloves and • New Builds • Renovations to know us. You may even scarves are just a small way • Roofing • Plastering know some of us already. of helping, and Marshgate GQ • Stonework • Drain Clearance WI made a number of hats ------Marshgate WI and scarves last year while we enjoyed ourselves as Tel: 01840 250113 “The worst case of trench we knit and natter. With Mobile: 0797 4581836 foot I have ever seen”. Not, renewed interest it was as you would be forgiven decided to start knitting for thinking, an eyewitness and nattering again. The LOWER MEADOWS HOUSE report from the trenches rest of the meeting was Bed and Breakfast in the Heart of Boscastle of the First War, but a taken up with details of statement made by Corinna the Annual Meeting next A Family run B&B offering Langford, Community month, a look at events quality, comfort and a relaxed informal atmosphere Relations Manager for planned for the County, St Petroc’s speaking of a and arranging for our Paul and Jackie Stedman rough sleeper in Truro. donation to Bude food Lower Meadows House Corinna’s insight into this bank to be delivered. It Boscastle modern problem was an was also thought we might 01840 250570 eye opener to members of all try to wear odd socks Marshgate WI when she in a future meeting and www.lowermeadows.co.uk told how easily people, each send a donation to St Facebook Lower Meadows House especially the single, get Petroc’s. ANDREW LEEDS CHIMNEY SWEEP AND STOVE INSTALLATIONS Tel: 01840 250114 • Va c u u m & B r u s h • Stove Installations - no mess • Flue lining • Servicing & Repairs • HETAS certification • Cowls & Bird guards • 20 mile radius

Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 35 are looking forward to getting the boats back on the sea”. Golden Gear was in action in the Caradon 3 Rivers Race where we saw some amazing results Mens A 12th, Mens B 44th Ladies A 27th Ladies B 61st, a really brilliant start A big thank you to Bruce to the Racing Season. Matheson, who kindly let RowAbility the club use his barn at Dizzard for the second year RowAbility is a very to refurbish the gigs Rival exciting new project being From Blowholes of Spring 1996 and 2006 and Golden Gear. The gigs led by Boscastle and have been worked on in the Crackington Gig Club, in From 1996 Cherrington from the barn since last November. conjunction with Cornwall Roundabout The Parish National Trust to draw up Sports Partnership and John Starkey, the Club Council asked the County a leasing agreement for British Rowing. Captain presented Bruce Council to install a mini the ‘football field’. The and Penny Matheson with Nick Holmes is heading roundabout at Doctors lease will permit the Parish life membership of the up the scheme, with an aim Corner Council to construct a play club in recognition of the of giving disabled people Flood Alleviation The area for children whilst kindness....and patience! an opportunity to get into Parish Council considered giving the Football Club rowing. security of the pitch and Bruce gave Golden Gear details of the proposed their facilities. a dousing with Prosecco, to The project startsFlood Alleviation Scheme. wish her well and re-launch with an open day on the Village Hall We would The National Trust th her for her racing season. 14 April at Tamar Lake like to start a short mat shop will open on 20th 11am - 2pm followed by March at its current Club Captain John bowling club in the Hall fortnightly rowing sessions location at the Old Forge said, “it has been a great and are about to purchase for groups of up to 20 deal of work, taking all the necessary equipment. Belsham Court people starting 28th April. winter, getting all three From 2006 Properties At the For more information of our wooden gigs ready Launch of New Gig January meeting the contact Nick Holmes Council were told that for 2016. They have never ‘Torrent On a cold but [email protected]. Belsham Court properties looked better. By using sunny Sunday in February, co.uk have revised their plans for Bruce and Penny’s barn the new Boscastle and we have been able to take Check out the club the Bottreaux Garage site Facebook Page Boscastle Crackington Gig was them back to bare wood, to to include some affordable & Crackington Pilot Gig launched in Boscastle dry them out, and repaint housing. Club Harbour. them. We are very grateful Grand Finale of the Children’s Play Area to Bruce and Penny. And Website http://www. Cave of Harmony boscastlegigclub.org.uk/ and Sports Field now the season starts, we The cast and crew applaud Avril Sainsbury Representatives of the producer, director, designer Parish Council & Boscastle Michael Turner. Football Club met Jeff photo below courtesy David Flower

Page 36 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT? to which the only response give it to somebody I don’t Ann Rodda muses on a variety of things: can be, ‘I have no idea.’ like’. How do I know what the I had neglected to turn Fred, my cat, is I must confess that best is to choose as material the month over, or had watching, advising on most of our friends are so for an article for a parish turned two at once, I can’t style and syntax - ‘I would accustomed to the slightly magazine? I am aware remember which, so a whole suggest a colon, rather than chaotic arrangement that there are numbers range of my beloved friends a semi-colon’, he purrs, of our many items that of topics which would be and relatives had failed to or ‘gerundive rather than they simply courteously defi nitely off limits, so I receive my aff ectionate and gerund form,’ whatever sip their beverage, chat will refrain from listing devoted good wishes at the that is. Fortunately, he has politely and leave at an those. Naturally, those are appropriate time. just nodded off to sleep, so appropriate hour. What I will try to continue. could be better than that? the only ones which keep It is also irritating to go leaping to the front of my I had intended to Nothing to do other than into a shop of any kind with fi nish up any mercifully mind, or what passes for a list of fi ve or so items you write something on the my mind. Answers on a troublesome matter of what left scraps of beverage and wish to purchase, and to proceed to bed. What postcard, please. leave the emporium with, to do (usefully) in one’s spare time, if one is lucky enough could be nicer? Well, open For example, I am admittedly, fi ve or six items, another bottle, I suppose always pleased to meet none of which appeared on to have such a thing. It may already be evident that I to smoothe the demanding someone who does not your original list. Th is does transfer to upstairs, as have an e-mail number, or result, as you may imagine spend a portion of my time in purchasing items which those of us who live in who has no idea what it is. in one owning, and having charmingly old-fashioned I was also delighted to meet around the house, a variety many of my acquaintances consider odd, which they cottages call where we someone the other day who of artefacts you never knew sleep. Unless you also referred to me as ‘young’. you wanted, and which, in usually mean when they say ’interesting’, sometimes count the moments when Admittedly, he turned out fact, you don’t want. you drift off on the settee to be eighty-two. used as an alternative for One of the unwanted ‘why on earth did you buy during the more tedious So, forward. I can have consequences is that that?’ My response will moments of a television or some diffi culties when visitors, friends, people depend on how much I radio programme which sending greetings cards coming to the house have warm to the person making was recommended by some to friends and relatives. I a tendency to say, ‘Oh, the enquiry, ranging from ‘I nameless critic. Talking always take the precaution what a lot of interesting collect them’, ‘I like it’, ‘It of nameless critics, no, I’d of writing such dates on things you have. What is was cheap’ to ‘I’m going to better not. the calendar under the this? Where did you get AR mild delusion that it might that? What on earth did range of events including help me to get things right. you buy that for?’ A range Walking Week 2016 th Frustratingly, I found that of unanswerable questions, Th is will be from Sat 16 cream teas and special ‘meal April to Fri 22nd April, deals’ will be available. featuring coastline walks Contact the NT Visitor and walks amid woods and Centre on 01840 250010 Boscastle IT Services streams. or check out the website As well as walking, a visitboscastle.com •Microsoft certified & Apple authorised computer technician •PC/Mac sales & service, home or business THE •Hardware repair, software troubleshooting HARBOUR •Anti-virus/system maintenance LIGHT •WiFi/network consultancy & installation •Website design & construction We are approved stockists of famous brand names •Tuition & training including PACHAMAMA, DEAL, LAZY JACKS, NOMADS Contact Tim Ferrett at : We stock Ladies’, Men’s and Children’s Clothing [email protected] Come and Browse, we’d be delighted to see you TEL : 01840 250 106 MOB : 07976 046 810 tel: 01840 250374

Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 37 chocolatey treat! Tues 3 May: Footpath Tues 5 April: Beach improvements and erosion cleans, Sandymouth, management, Cambeak. A summary of our work stones up to Home Farm, (Northcott & Duckpool). Meet at Strangles car park over the last few months: allowing the paths to Meet at Sandymouth (Nr Crackington haven). (Grid Ref: SX134950) EX23 As many of you may have be passable again. Our carpark (Grid Ref: SS204 0LG seen, the wall opposite the volunteers have also been 100) EX23 9HW visitor centre has collapsed. out, coppicing the side of Tues 19 April: June and July: Himalayan Rangers have been out the river, continuing our ‘Crackington Cracker’, Balsam pull, Valency Valley. Balsam season starts again, building up the wall again responsibility to maintain Part of Boscastle Walking so help us remove this using local slate, much of a clear flow for the river to Week (Friday 17 April to invasive weed to allow our which came out the wall prevent flooding. Saturday 25 April). Meet Crackington Haven car native plants and wildlife originally, and the same We have also installed park . Grid Ref SX 096 to flourish. Bring wellies. walling style in order to of a new gate sat Willapark. 914, (Booking essential Meet in overflow car park keep with the feel of the The new kissing gate will on 01840 250010) Boscastle, (GR: SX100 913) harbour. (see photos on allow plenty of space for Sun 24 April: Footpath Best wishes, our blog – address below) walker with backpacks to The Ranger Team improvements, get through but stop any In early winter, we Boscastle. We will be Any questions: please curious cows from getting started off brushcutting the repairing steps and phone 01288 331372 meadow and paths around onto the headland. sections of footpath or email basil.stow@ the base of the Valency On the other side of around Forrabury and nationaltrust.org.uk valley, allowing the spring Boscastle we have been Willapark, as well as Check out our blog http:// flowers to have room to out on Beeny clearing and installing new fencing. northcornwallnt.org/ and come up in the not to burning patches of gorse. Meet at Forrabury ‘like’ us on Facebook distance future! Not long The removal of this spikey church (Grid Ref: SX096 www.facebook.com/ after this a combination of shrub allows for smaller 908 PL35 0DJ) NorthCornwall.NT heavy rain and high winds plants such as heathers, brought down a number foxgloves and grasses break of trees over the footpaths through, proving habitat in Peters wood, the trees for a range of insect, birds have been cut and safely and mammals. removed, allowing access Upcoming Events and along the path once again. Volunteer days Using some of the wood 25-27 March: The return of from fallen trees as well the Easter trail around the as the removal of some harbour from the Starting more dangerous trees, the at the visitor centre the ranger team and band of trail will lead children volunteers came out to (and big kids) around to create and extend the log look for clues to this year’s walkways from the stepping theme, returning for a PENNING PAINTING Private and commercial painters and decorators Building & Boscastle vs Queens Rangers JJJones Duchy 2 match, Property Maintenance played in Boscastle on Saturday February 27th 2016. Cornwall Devon Boscastle’s goalkeeper Rob Haddy, gets between two Queens players to put the ball behind for a corner. 01840 250047 01626 337596 Photo David Flower

Page 38 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Since the 1960s Cornwall’s an interesting comparison. The Cornish Language rapid population growth Of course the study Chris Rodda questions In Ireland Udaras from an influx of retirees of a region’s language and the economic validity of a (enterprise)-supported and second-home owners culture is important, the county policy companies demonstrated has meant accepting much timing unfortunate. Parish In the last Blowhole it was growth, but to be expected of its cultural direction councils have presently reported that the Parish after cash injection. The from London. In the bigger worries, and are Council had written to Irish language project was 2011 Census only 14% especially critical of money the County objecting to in early stages so too early of respondents described being spent on what some spending of ratepayers’ to measure any economic their identity as Cornish would call vanity projects cash to support the Cornish impact. or Cornish/Other. Given when services of tangible Language Programme. In The HIE report was the present government’s worth, leisure centres, reply, Julie Seyler, County based on companies where planned rise in immigration libraries and public toilets Culture Programme Gaelic was traditionally (52,500 new homes) over are being struck out. Manager, justified thespoken, so it was not the next twenty years there Any effort to generate expense because most of possible to gauge a before- will be further dilution. wealth in Cornwall’s the money (£150,000 and-after effect. I am It is relatively easy to laggardly economy should out of a total budget of therefore not convinced the generate jobs via grant be encouraged, but £180,000) came from methodology or analysis aid, qua the £90 million hitching to the Cornish central government. justified the claims made, establishment of the Eden Language bandwagon is She stated, “The council but readers should make Project. A recent report not the way forward. will be interested to know up their own minds after in the Cornish Guardian CR that recent reports show reading the reports. quantified the cost of that investment in Scottish Mark was careful to providing EU-funded jobs Gaelic has resulted in a say that “each language at £132,000 per head. I net gain of 40 times the is in a very different state could not find the cost of original investment.” and in a different context, job-creation in the Irish/ Interested to know I so it is difficult to make Scots reports I read (no wrote back to Ms Seyler comparisons.” The chief doubt buried somewhere asking for details of the difference is that the native within) but it would make reports she mentioned. languages of Ireland, Some while later Scotland and Wales have Mark Trevethan, the new evolved and remain in Kesskrifans Cornish Language Lead, constant daily use by a (Cornish for correspondence!) replied, announcing that significant minority (in Dear Editorial Team teams/hotels/pubs could County was applying for some areas a majority) of As a relatively new (hopefully) get in the habit a total of £750,000 five native speakers whilst in resident of Boscastle, i of listing their events?? So year base funding from the Cornwall it has long died was recently delighted often one only finds out government. With hoped- out. It is estimated that to discover a welcoming something has happened for additional funding fewer than five hundred group that meets regularly on reading the review of it and contributions from (0.1%) can converse at the village hall and then in the Blowhole, when it is the Council, businesses comfortably in Cornish so saddened to learn that they something one would have and voluntary groups the that the language would have done so for all of the liked to attend. benefits would accrue up have to be disinterred two years I have lived here to £25 million. and updated for almost I would be happy to everybody. The trick will and I could have been part help start this off in time The figure was based be to persuade people of it had I known it was for the next edition if it on the Irish government’s that speaking Cornish is happening!! seemed like a good plan, Gaeltachta reports and worthwhile in itself, not a I wondered if it and am sure that Lesley a Highlands and Islands tourist gimmick. might be possible to co- and the team at Boscastle Enterprise press release, ordinate a listings page Artists would help me to both of which appeared There is also a widening in the Blowhole where set it up. to show clear economic cultural gap between people from different kind regards benefits from the use Cornwall and remoter groups/societies/sports Harriet Webzel (Eglos of Gaelic in business. parts of the British Isles. View)

Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 39 Minster Community Fellowship – 2016 Further to my article in the autumn edition of Blowhole I can now confi rm that we raised £5225 during 2015 but our fundraising continues apace in 2016. We have made a contribution of £500 towards Minster Church’s 2016 running costs and have committed to paying the 2017 insurance for Minster Church. Plans for the restoration of the windows at Minster are progressing which is very exciting news. During May a story telling event is being organised at Minster for pupils of Bocastle card by Noemi Martinez Navarro Primary School. card by Kirsty Hosking We now have our Spring Summer Concerts at Minster cards based on original artwork After another series Originally an by Kirsty Hosking and Noemi of hugely successful English teacher in Martinez Navarro for sale. events in 2015 – France, Flossie came Th ese can be purchased from including the sell-out to England in 2000 various outlets around the Old Time Music Hall, to teach French at a village: Th e Cornish Stores, hosted by Johnny school in Stockton- Th e Farm Shop, Th e Picture Cowling - plans for our on-Tees. She returned Parlour and Sue Scott. Th ey popular fund-raising to France for a year are also available to purchase concerts are warming but, missing her on our website or from Liz up. life in England so and Garry at Forrabury House, On Friday, 24 June much, she returned phone 01840 250466. we will welcome the to settle in the area If you would like to assist hugely talented Flossie around Darlington in any way we would love to Malavialle. Flossie - hence her playful Flossie Malavialle hear from you and we can hasn’t been down this be contacted via our web site way for three years, The Old Manor House Restaurant Boscastle (details on next page) or by so this will be a great phone, Liz Benson on 01840 Tel: 01840 250251 chance for her fans Serving breakfast, lunches, evening meals, 250466. LB here to catch up. Homemade Cornish cream tea Enjoy your visit in the restaurant or our large sheltered tea garden. Dogs on leads welcome.

NEW FOR 2016… SHARONS PLAICE Opening soon Boscastle’s very own FISH ‘N’ CHIP SHOP Serving REAL FISH ‘N’ CHIPS cooked by professionals Served from the Manor House Cott age

Page 40 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Website: www.minstercommunityfellowship.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/minsterchurchboscastle combination of French, For those of you who Geordie and Yorkshire missed his last concert, accents! Chris brought his solo Flossie’s singing voice show ‘The Music of John is a blend of gutsiness, Denver’, celebrating the life sensitivity and crystalline and work of the legendary clarity. This, and hard singer/songwriter in his work, has led to a successful own unique way. Unlike singing career both in the “lookalike” tributes, UK and abroad. Since her Chris’s uncanny ability to first CD ‘Thistledown’ in recreate the sound of John 2002, she has launched a Denver has brought him further 11, encompassing widespread acclaim. It is a huge repertoire from well a testament to his talent Boscastle Gallery established folk songs to that Chris now has an jazz standards, from blues international reputation The Bridge, Boscastle numbers to Edith Piaf and Jaques Brel’s classics. (01840) 250248 For us, Flossie will be singing some French songs Paintings by local artists by Piaf and Brel as well as songs by the McGarrigles, A wide selection of prints & cards plus Beth Nielsen Chapman, an unusual mix of gifts and gadgets. Paul McCartney, Abba, Jimmy McCarthy, Tom Waits and more! Flossie’s powerful yet sensitive rendition of songs combined with her unique northern twang and Chris Bannister humorous banter promises and no surprise to learn a great night down at that he regularly performs Minster. in Aspen, Colorado to sell You can discover more out audiences. So we are about Flossie at www. very fortunate to be able to flossie-malavialle.co.uk welcome him once again to Boscastle. See you all there! On Saturday, 27 Chris’ website is: www. August, we welcome chrisbannistermusic.com back the talented Chris Bannister. Chris played at Tickets for both Minster last Easter and said concerts can be obtained it was “the most stunning via our website. Please and unusual location I’ve “like” our page to keep in ever performed in”. A true touch with all our news compliment indeed coming and events. Alternatively, from a much travelled tickets will be on sale professional musician. Last throughout the village. year the concert was a sell- Beer and wine will also be out and we strongly suggest available to enjoy whilst that you book tickets in listening to these talented performers. advance. AS/MB

Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 41 The April to May exhibition sees our contribution to Boscastle Walking Week with a stunning collection of new paintings by a number or artists, of the local places that News from Boscastle we all love. Artists…. If you know an artist who It has been a long and would like to exhibit – please a quiet Winter in our get in touch as, though the little gallery! But, despite diary is filling up quickly, the strong winds, the there is always room for more primroses and fluttering art in all our lives. St Pirans Flags tell us that Artists from previous Welly Exhibitions photos courtesy David Flower, l-r Sue The Studio: Our biggest news Gordon, Nick Eacott, Tracie Tuffnell, Jeanne Hampshire and Barry Hedges spring must be on the for 2016 is that we have been way soon. Thank you to joined by Camelford artist everyone who has come in Pip Lovelock (aka The Lonely to visit us – we are all really Painter) who has set up his grateful for your continued studio in the small workroom support! next door. Exhibitions: We are now When he is out painting hanging regular Exhibitions around the village, we hope in the Wellington Hotel it will encourage even more (THANK YOU to owner people to have a try at John Scott!) something new – and we have The March to April a great many artists who are Exhibition has a floral willing to show you whatever Pictures above and below right from previous Welly Exhibitions photos courtesy theme and features new that “something new” might David Flower, above Barry Hedges Owl below right St Nectan’s Glen by Jeannie paintings from a number be for you …. And we’re not Hampshire; below left, Liz Gregory collage from April - May exhibition of local artists – including all painters so the possibilities this new one from Ginny are almost endless.! Sewell: During April we have 3 workshops that we would love local people to join alongside the visitors who come to the village for Walking Week We will be advertising everything we have planned in the usual Boscastle way so keep checking the telegraph pole system for posters!! Ruth Puddick ARMCM GRNCM

VIOLIN & VIOLA TUITION • all ages, beginners to diploma • preparation for professional auditions • chamber music coaching Very experienced teacher, ex-BBC Philharmonic player Phone: 01566 781845

Page 42 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Winter refurbishments at the Museum of Moira Hart’s Witchcraft and Magic Fiendish Crossword It may have been quiet in Our exhibition for this the Harbour over winter year is entitled Glitter and 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 with all the wind and rain Gravedust: Halloween past 11 12 but we have been busy at and present. This will run

13 14 16 the Museum! for all of 2016 and includes a look at the history of 15 16 17 18 19 We have completely re-decorated and re- Halloween, magic on 20 20 21 22 vamped the upstairs gallery Halloween, Samhain (or 22 23 24 25 24 26 so it now resembles a the Celtic New Year), costumes, foods, films, 26 27 27 28 29 30 windswept wood at night. It is filled with unusual television. If it is anything 31 32 34 33 32 st entities: a Horned God, relating to October 31 33 35 34 35 a hare lady, Green Men, then it is in there! 36 37 38 39 40 Goddesses and lots of We re-open on March 25th and entry is free 41 42 43 42 mischievous piskies! It is an exploration of the magic (as always) for Boscastle 44 44 45 45 46 47 48 of the Cornish landscapes residents. Please just bring 49 50 47 51 and incorporates lots of proof of residence and you

52 44 53 54 local folklore (as well as can have a look around Pagan, traditional witch Boscastle’s (only) and Across Down and Wiccan beliefs). oldest Museum for free. 1 large dinosaur 1 vitamin b 11 where bees are kept 2 bird of prey Pete’s Peeps at the Past 12 friendly country 3 an opening 26 April 1875: When charm the eye in turn. For 13 run very quickly 4 north african river Newquay had Two the casual visitors there are 14 rats 5 relating to birth Hotels two hotels and the town is 15 foot lever 6 alternatively Not many thatched now about to undergo a 18 small amphibian 7 whipped cream dessert cottages are now to be complete system of deep 20 debatable 8 falling drops of water seen in Newquay, which drainage, to be followed has become a fashionable 21 shakespearean king 9 open sore by hopefully a good water watering-place. From 50 22 alcohol 10 killed supply. The population, to 60 houses are furnished 24 dark brown wood 16 far down including lodgers, is 1,600 and let to visitors in the whilst the deaths for the 26 man’s name 17 god of love summer. There are sand year 1874 were only 16 – 4 27 noisy disturbance 19 story beaches, east and west, a deaths from typhoid fever 29 encourage 23 letter of greek aplhabet mile in length; many large and 12 from other causes, 31 rim 25 mexican plant and weird caverns become thus showing a death-rate 33 loaf of bread 26 annoy accessible at half-tide, and of ten in the thousand. 34 written account 28 reddish brown wood rock, sea and landscape 36 african stork 30 simplified drawing 40 at a distance 34 pink 41 cooking range 35 medical practiotioner 42 horrified 36 colour 44 vase 37 angrily shout 45 bring together 38 river freight boat 46 pleased 39 polish lancer 49 tax 43 highest male voice 50 insect 47 system of rules 51 consumed 48 study 52 measurement of print 53 central theme 54 swelling on the skin answers on page 31

Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016 Page 43 Opening Hours and Useful Phone Numbers Bottreaux Filling Station Emergency Services: Tel: 01840 250108 Coastguard, Fire, Police, Ambulance: Dial 999 Police Station: For non-urgent issues: 101 Monday - Friday 8am-6pm, Doctors’ Surgery and out-of-hours emergency Saturday 9am-5pm doctor: 01840 250209

Sunday 9am-1pm NHS Advice : If you are feeling unwell and need a telephone health assessment, please call the NHS 111 service free of charge Boscastle Spar from any phone by dialing 111 Tel: 01840 250419 Hospitals: Bodmin - East Cornwall 01208 251300 Cash machine during business hours Minor Injuries Unit open8 am – 10 pm, seven days a week Post Office facilities Launceston General 01566 761000 Open daily at 6am Minor Injuries Unit open8 am – 10 pm, seven days a week Stratton 01288 320101 Cornish Stores Minor Injuries Unit open 24hrs, seven days a week Truro -Treliske 01872 250000 Phone for opening hours Tel: 01840 250344 Plymouth - Derriford 08451 558155 Dental Helpline: 0845 5000 230 NatWest Bank NHS Emergency Dental Appt: 01872 354 375 The Mobile NatWest bank calls at the harbour Boscastle National Trust & Visitor Centre: carpark on Fridays , from 1.45pm until 2.15pm. 01840 250010 or 250353 Local Churches: Mobile Library Church of England 01840 250359 Methodist 01840 214818 0800 032 2345 or 01872 272702 Catholic 01840 770663 Now visits every fourth Friday: Harbourmaster: 01840 250200 Due at Boscastle, Paradise Road 10.20 -10.40 Parish Council: Tintagel- The Old Post Office 10.55 -11.15 Chairman: 01840 250414 st nd th 1 April , 22 April, 20 May Clerk: 01840 230609 email: [email protected] th th th 17 June, 15 July, 12 August Community Centre Bookings: 01840 250442 Camelford Library Cornwall Council: 0300 1234 100 and Council One Stop Shop Camelford One Stop Shop: 0300 1234 111 Town Hall, Market Place Environment Agency: 0800 807 060 Tel: 01840 212409 Floodline: 0345 988 1188 Tues: 9.30am - 5pm Thurs: 9.30am - 1.30pm South West Water emergency: 0844 346 2020 Sat: 10am - 1pm SWW leak reporting 0800 230 0561 Waste Tip, Bowithick Quarry Highways: 0300 1234222 Sanding Road, Tintagel RSPCA: 0300 1234 999 Tel: 01840 770778 Western Power emergencies: 0800 365 900 Open Friday to Monday: 9am – 4pm Village Hall Bookings: Jo Kent: 01840 250879 Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Year’s Day Village website: www.boscastlecornwall.org.uk

Page 44 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2016