The Port Isaac, Port Gaverne and Trelights newsletter No: 189 • July 1999 • Price 15p Whale stranding - a happy ending n Wednesday May 23rd the Port The Plymouth group On reaching Penberth OIsaac British Divers Marine Life remained on standby Cove we found that Rescue (BDMLR) group took a major in case the rescue went RSPCA officers and step forward when they graduated on into the evening. BDMLR colleagues from from training sessions with plastic, Contact had also been Cweek had rigged up a water filled dolphins and pilot made with BDMLR protective cover over whales to a major, real life whale Directors who were the whale to keep the rescue. ready to move further sunlight off and an equipment down from effective bucket chain ‘Whale ashore’ - the alert was Surrey if required. was in operation to received at 7.30am after a Minke BDMLR vet, James keep the whale’s body whale was sighted by a fisherman Barnett from Bristol, wet and his temperature heading into Penberth Cove near set off to the stranding down. By now news of Lands End. The whale had been site immediately. the stranding was being moving directly towards the shore covered by TV and radio and the fisherman had put his boat First reports received and many spectators across its course in an attempt to indicated that the were arriving together divert it - but to no avail. The whale was 20 feet or with newspaper photo­ whale became entrapped and then more in length, in graphers and reporters. stranded on large rocks deep into which case additional the Cove on a falling tide. lifting equipment The Port Isaac team set would be required. In to work. The actual Consulting Veterinary Officers at the event, the young Minke whale location of the whale presented a the Gweek Seal Sanctuary measured 14.7 feet, a healthy real challenge both in the moving of requested that the BDMLR trained specimen, weighing probably five the heavy equipment and then rescue group stand by. This set off tonnes. setting up the body support a pre-planned chain of events, blanket and lifting pontoons contact being made by the Port His body was set between very large needed to make an effective rescue Isaac group with the RSPCA Chief granite boulders and wedged firmly possible. The frequent training of Inspector for Cornwall, Les Sutton just behind its white bar flippers, its our group came into its own calling and also the Plymouth University tail flukes in deeper water. on considerable team spirit and BDMLR group who had been trained by the Port Isaac team back in continued on page 4 February. Within the hour sixteen BDMLR members were on standby with all equipment checked and loaded into the Rescue Trailer ready Big Fish Competition to move out. Fishing Competition is being entrants out to sea. At the end of The final decision on the viability of Aorganised to take place on a the day prizes will be awarded for mounting this rescue mission lay calm day during August in support the Biggest Bass, the Biggest with the RSPCA and the vet on site of Port Isaac 2000. At the time of Mackerel, the Biggest Pollock etc. together with Lindsey Turner, going to press the exact date and Animal Care Officer at Gweek Seal arrangements are not finalised but Keep an eye open for posters Sanctuary and BDMLR member, who what is for certain is that Port Isaac around the village and in next was also at the scene. Immediately 2000 will be providing their months Trio for the full details of the call out was established, the delicious refreshments at the this competition. Port Isaac group set off - Bob & ‘weigh-in’. Sandie Bulgin, Sam Littlechild, Jerry If you cannot wait that long then King and Nicola Williams followed There will be an entry fee and local contact the event organiser, Roy by Paul Pollington on his motorbike. boats will be available to take Speakman on 01208 880477. It was lovely to see so many familiar faces laughing and enjoying them­ selves all for a common cause. Please, a separate thank you to Steve Dingle who drove all the revellers home afterwards. It was Dear Trio has no vehicle to go to Wadebridge, such a relief for us not to have to Why oh why do the people of Port which costs £2.35 on public worry about the transport for a Isaac, householders and businesses transport, works out very change! alike, insist of putting out their expensive. Sian Fletcher rubbish on Thursday evenings! PS The headache on Saturday was I am sure that there are many more worth every minute. Thursday is the one night of the in Port Isaac who feel the same way. week when we can be guaranteed a Joan Murray Dear Trio fair number of visitors, yet we seem I am writing to express how I to delight in showing them the Dear Trio enjoyed my recent visit to Port village in the worst possible light. As a relative newcomer to the Isaac. Where do I begin The St Then as the evening wears on the village, I hope you have space to Andrews Hotel and the wonderful seagulls have a field day ripping the publish the following. As with any attention and services that Joy and bin bags apart and rubbish of every community, you must be prepared Phil provided to me. I felt like I was description is strewn throughout to put something into it and this on holiday visiting friends. Then of the village until the roadsweeper seems especially relevant in Port course, there is the Golden Lion. arrives the next day. Isaac. Yes, this is where I really understood what Port Isaac is all Surely it is not beyond most people There are those who seem to thrive about - it’s about her ‘people’. to put out their rubbish first thing on being one-step removed from They are unpretentious, warm, on a Friday morning - the bin men the ‘heart’. There are many ways to generous, interesting, intelligent do not come at the crack of dawn. support this special place instead of and, above all, genuine. During my As for businesses, it is their respon­ just moaning and complaining stay I met Bob M, Paul(Wheelhouse), sibility to keep the village looking about things you do not like. Nancy & Chris, Fred, Mike (Golden clean and inviting. Lion) and another Mike, Rob, Pat, The price of living in our beautiful Mary, Dennis, Dave and a few Everyone knows we have this village is not just to take but to give gentlemen named Phil (a popular problem. Let’s work together to as well and you will find that the name in Port Isaac). I am sure I sort it. village comes to you. Unless of have missed a few but not Name and address supplied course you enjoy being ‘outside’ - intentionally. Ed: This is just one of several letters in which case, why are you here? we have received this month on this Name and address supplied So I would like to say to all the su bject people that I met, ‘thank you for Dear Trio making my visit to Port Isaac a Dear Trio I just had to write to say a big thank memorable one’. I will be back. I I agree with Jill McDonnell’s you to all the people who made the hope your tourist season will be a comments (last month’s Trio) weekend of May 21st such a successful one. regarding the cost of refuse bags fantastic success. I don't think I Linda, the Yank for garden waste. To pay £10 for have enjoyed myself so much for them, especially for those on a ages and at 2.00am on Saturday pension etc, plus the fact that if one morning I wanted it to last forever! Dear of 'em the things our visitors say: The Post Office Q uestion: Where’s the beach gone Port Isaac that was here last year? Answ er: It will be back when the Just three of the services offered r y - T H E tide goes out! Lloyds, TSB & Co-operative Bank customers and along the same lines - can now use the Post Office for cheque ‘This beach car park was a lot encashments and cheque and cash deposits, bigger than this last time we were free of charge here!’ SWEB bills can be paid by cash or cheque, T H E DCT0O free of charge During the recent fire at the Vehicles can be taxed, on production of Pottery, firemen and hoses all over the place, a lady walks in and asks: insurance and MOT and Form V 10 or V 11 ‘Are you open?’ The PMG is delighted to announce that Port Isaac And the classic one, ‘What do you Post Office will be fully automated and computerised do here in the winter?’ within the year and that he and his staff will accordingly become cyborgs once their brains have Let us know the things you have been replaced by microchip drcuits. oiZat BtoSofal been asked or have heard. Garden refuse I RIO talk arden refuse - everyone is uly already, our third issue of Trio Gcomplaining about the high cost and we have a dilemma. of special bags to dispose of garden J waste, so we wrote to North It was always our original intention Cornwall District Council asking that Trio would increase to 12 them the following questions: pages and we budgeted accordingly • Is this rubbish treated in order to not increase the cover differently from household price.