BOSCASTLE BLOWHOLE No 53 Spring 2006 £1 Copyright photos courtesy David Flower Grand Finale of the Cave of Harmony e cast and crew applaud producer, director, designer Michael Turner, full story on page 20 CONTENTS: Parish Council, page 8 Church & Chapel page 14 Wildlife Watching page 18 WI Anniversary page 27 Pickwick Papers page 30 Letters page 36 Gig Launch page 43 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2006 Page 1 EDITORIAL:EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES It is good to hear that the National ey would also like to see the A local government white paper Association of Local Councils relevance and importance of parish is due out later this year and David has stepped up its campaign to and village plans extended so that Miliband M P, the minister for further advance the role of parish by statute principal authorities have communities and local government, and town councils within the to take them into account in their says that he wants to see a double new neighbourhoods agenda. community strategies. devolution, not just to the e Association is calling on the In a recent House of Commons principal authority but beyond to Government to extend the power of debate several MPs from all sides of neighbourhoods and individuals. He well being from principal authorities the House said how important parish calls for parish councils to be beefed to the first tier. ey feel that the plans are and how principal authorities up with new powers through greater gaining of this power is crucial needed to take more notice of them. rights of representation in decision as it will enable parish and town One member remarked on the fact making. Surely what is needed councils to step outside the narrow that whilst Defra awarded grants for is nation-wide neighbourhood role and service provision they are their preparation they did not affect agreement to form a bedrock of directly responsible for and look planning decisions. commitment from national and local more widely at community needs. government. Boscastle Blowhole Editorial Team e editorial team reserves the right to edit, accept, or reject any material submitted for publication in the Blowhole. e views expressed within the magazine are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial team. e team are: Arthur Bannister, Daphne Rogers, Philippa Arthan, Joan Cork , Chris Rodda and Noel Ward e next Blowhole will be published in mid June. e deadline for copy is 22nd May Please ensure that your copy reaches us by then or we may be unable to include it. anks For advertising queries, contact Daphne Rogers 01840 250244 Copies of the Blowhole are available by post at a cost of £1.75 per issue, phone 01840 250483 Contributions to the Blowhole can be sent c/o Boscastle Post Office or by email to [email protected] e Blowhole is published 4 times a year and printed by Easyprint of Launceston Ron and Sharon welcome you to The Napoleon Inn Boscastle’s Oldest Pub Awarded bronze for the 2005 Pub of the Year by Cornwall Tourism ♦ Excellent Bar Food, Lunch & Evening ♦ Real Ales from the Barrel ♦ All food freshly prepared by our award winning chefs using local produce wherever possible Enjoy a glass of real ale at the bar, a meal in our garden with sea views, or dine in the bar or restaurant. Whatever your choice a warm and friendly welcome awaits you. Telephone 01840 250204 LIVE MUSIC EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT Boney’s Restaurant - open evenings, waitress service, best to book Page 2 Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2006 At the going down View of the Village of the sun - and in facilities. It is hoped that the School the car park - we will will be able to use the pitch - with the agreement of the Football Club - remember them in the winter, and, that at the end of the football season, the field will be available for summer sports until the new season begins. It is estimated that the play area will cost up to £50,000. Funds are in place for this amount with 35% of the total coming from Objective Arthur Bannister’s Regular Round-Up One. e remainder will come from of News & Views matched funding made up by the e following was emailed to Boscastle Flood Relief Fund, and the Parish Council’s website, contributions from the Lions Club boscastlecornwall.org.uk South West together with labour in Hello Parish Council, kind. As an ex Boscastle resident, I obviously e Parish Council will take on the take a lot of interest in the village, and costs of all insurance, maintenance, make several visits during the year. and daily inspections. It will also bear e other day I was contacted by a the cost of ROSPA training for those fellow member of the internet website undertaking the inspections. ‘Friends Reunited,’ Eric Snowdon. Old Printer Cartridges en within days I was contacted by another member, Angela Ferrett. Instead of throwing away your old We all went to Boscastle C.P. around printer cartridges, which will then end e memorial reads “Transfered the late fifties and early sixties. Eric up in landfill sites, causing pollution in 1958 to the National Trust has listed as many names as he could as they break down, donate them to through the National Heritage remember from his times there, and the WRVS. Used printer cartridges Fund in memory of those who died placed them under the Boscastle C.P. can be recycled and the WRVS are in the second world war” e car banner, in the hope that maybe, if collecting them to raise funds. park extension proposed by NCDC enough interest (or curiosity) could be To find out more, contact Maureen encroaches further into the Memorial aroused, perhaps arrange a reunion. Steege on 01840 250085 Fields. It would be nice if a short article Bottreaux Filling Station or advert could be placed in the Blowhole to prompt people to visit Tel: 01840 250 108 www.Friendsreunited.com Fresh locally produced meats With best wishes, Bob Ginger (formerly Fresh bread daily of e Chestnuts, New Road, now Wide range of groceries living in Cricklade, Wilts) Fresh fruit and vegetables Children’s Play Area and Sports Field MILLER’S PANTRY Off Licence Representatives of the Parish Council At The Old Mill Opening hours and Boscastle Football Club met 01840 250223 Mon-Fri 8am - 6pm Jeff Cherrington from the National Decorative Home Trust in order to draw up a leasing Sat 9am-5pm Accessories & agreement for the ‘football field’. e Sun 10am-2pm terms of the lease will permit the Unusual Gifts Parish Council to construct a play area Coffee + Light + Teas Support your local shop for children whilst giving the Football Lunches Bottreaux Filling Station Club security of the pitch and their Boscastle Blowhole Spring 2006 Page 3 New ‘Local Bobby’ Juliotter Garden Club Spring Programme 18th Cannon Found Meetings take place at Otterham Village Hall which is situated off the A39, at Marshgate, and start at 7.30pm. 28th March: AGM with refreshments and talks by members. 25th April: Karen Halliday from Rising Sun Nurseries shows us how to plant up for year round interest. Part of an exploded Cannon found in 23rd May: Nigel Eaton from RHS Valency Valley Rosemoor talks on using perennials A lump of very corroded iron found in the garden. in the Valency Valley has turned out Visitors and Member’s guests are to be the rear end and knob of a small, always very welcome at our meetings. late I8th.century cannon. For more information, contact David Nanette Little found the fragment Porter on 01840 261164. of an exploded ‘Falconet’ cannon while dog walking in the valley. It Police Constable 4117 Ed Burrows is Carn Awn Singers came from a heap of debris that our Neighbourhood Beat Manager, Carn Awn Singers recommenced had been cleared from the harbour (ie local Bobby), and he is based at practices at the end of February and following the flood and must have Camelford Police Station, Fore Street, are now working towards their first been in the harbour bed for over 200 Camelford, PL32 9PQ. concert of the season. ey will be years. is piece of local history can His work contact telephone taking part in a concert at St. Minver be seen in the pottery. RIL number is 01840 213709 and Church on Sunday 26th March at his email address is ed.burrows@ 7.30p.m., together with Wadebridge Community Events Diary devonand cornwall.pnn.police.uk Male Voice Choir and St. Minver Now available in the Visitor Centre, Ed describes himself: “I am 47 Band. Programmes will be available for all individuals & organisations to years old, born Salford ,educated at the door on the night. enter their events in, so that we all St Johns College Southsea. I joined know what’s on when, and can avoid If you are planning a concert and the RN at 19 and served as a Radio dates clashing. would like the Singers to take part or Operator in Diesel Submarines would like more information, please Call in to the Visitor Centre, or ring based at HMS Dolphin in Gosport contact Jane Sadleir, 01840 213796 Rebecca on: 250010 before gong to Dartmouth and then rejoining Submarines. I left after 13 years service and joined the Devon Ruth and Alan Watson welcome you to: and Cornwall Constabulary. “I live with my partner Caroline ST CHRISTOPHER’S and between us we have four grown up children and two grandchildren. HOTEL My grandson loves visiting ‘BOB’s CASTLE’. My interests include High Street, Boscastle, PL35 0BD sailing - I am currently restoring Situated in the old, upper a 1938 Hillyard - most forms of part of this beautiful harbour outward bound activities and I play village, with its spectacular the guitar to a very average standard.