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James Stevens No 10 returns home

The former St Ives Lifeboat, James Stevens No 10, is back home, following a restoration project carried out by St Ives RNLI’s mechanic and second coxswain, Robin Langford.

The lifeboat was in service in the port between 1900 and 1933, and had to be rowed to rescues — no engine power in those days. It was one of 20 lifeboats purchased by the RNLI from an 1894 legacy of Birmingham property developer James Stevens. He left £50,000 all to that charity, worth £6,400,000 today.

Robin purchased James Stevens No 10 on his 50th birthday and has spent a year and a half working on her, on a site in Hayle. She has been restored, refitted, and has a new engine. Photograph: John Chard

It is planned that she will then educational passenger trips around St Ives Bay, with any profit raised going into other local community projects. She will hopefully also offer free educational trips for local schoolchildren.

On a glorious late summer morning she returned to her home, to a warm welcome from locals and holiday makers.

Shanty Shout - back on song this winter

Details are still being finalised at the time of going to press, but the good news is that this year’s Shanty Shout is set to take place in St Ives, on 19th and 20th November (although organisers warn that plans remain subject to government advice at the time).

The event is organised by members of the Bamaluz Bootleggers, and members will be out and about at venues during the festival, as well as signing their own songs, of course.

Venues confirmed so far are: The Castle Inn, Golden Lion, Western Hotel, Pilchard Press Alehouse, Sloop Inn (Saturday evening only), Beer and Bird, and Bier Huis Grand Café. On each evening, you can visit these venues and catch a rolling programme of songs, sung by a number of performers. Groups confirmed so far are: A Capella Moonshine, Barrett’s Privateers, Barnacle Buoys, Bencoolen Wreckers, Bryher’s Boys, Cobweb Crew, Cousin Jack, The Drecklys, Figurehead, Mariners Away, Mevgissey Quaynotes, Old Gaffers, Seven Whalers, and Stuns’ls.

Keep up to date with preparations at stivesshantyshout.co.uk

New music from Molly

Fresh from some great live performances this year – including at the September Festival - Molly Hocking releases her debut EP this autumn, entitled UP.

It’s a mixture of original songs written after her experiences on The Voice, and during lockdown. It’s available on all streaming platforms and via mollyhocking.com.

And Molly has more live dates coming up. She’s at The Old Bakery, in Truro, in December, and will be supporting her Voice mentor, Olly Murs, when he returns to Cornwall next July.

Carbis Bay backdrop for Ainsley’s cookery show

Celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott has been in Carbis Bay filming new TV shows.

He’s making a second series of Ainsley’s Good Mood Food, the first series of which was on ITV earlier this year, in the Saturday morning cookery slot.

The series has been made by Rock Oyster Media, based in Plymouth, working with Round World Studios, which has production facilities within the Carbis Bay Estate. The company previously played host to French chef Raymond Blanc, again for a ten-part ITV series. The Carbis Bay studio specialises in cooking programmes, but can be set up for other ventures.

There is a book out this autumn to accompany Ainsley’s Good Mood Food.

The countdown to St Ives in December

St Ives in December will return this year, although it’s not confirmed yet to what extent the celebrations will be ‘as normal’.

At the time of going to press it was hoped that Santa’s arrival, usually on the lifeboat, will go ahead on 3rd December, and that the traditional New Year’s Fireworks will light up the sky.

If all goes to plan, Santa will travel by sleigh to Royal Square on the 3rd, and there will be street entertainment and carol singers. It is also hoped that Santa will be able to set up a grotto at the Kidz R Us Theatre on 4th and 5th December. There is confirmation, though, that the Treasure Trail and Christmas Shop Window Competition will both go ahead.

As in the past, St Ives in December will have a campaign to nominate a seasonal local hero. Nominate someone who you think deserves to be involved in activities such as announcing Santa’s arrival and maybe taking place in a lights switch-on. Email stivesindecember.co.uk or nominate on the Facebook page. St Ives December is across social media, also on Twitter and Photograph: St Ives in December

Instagram. Keep an eye on all these for updates as the Christmas countdown progresses.

All donations towards the celebrations are very welcome. During the past two years St Ives in December has seen its fundraising severely curtailed.

To make a donation via the organisation’s Go Fund Me page click tinyurl.com/vh8cs4nd

Events at the Library

Wednesdays 10:45am Rhyme Time – 30 minutes of music singing and stories for pre-school children *** Friday 29 October Spooky Tales Craft Activities from 2:30pm and Storytelling at 4pm by Coppice Theatre ** Saturday 6 November 10am to 12 noon Friends of St Ives Library Super Saturday Saturday 4 December 10am to 12:30 Friends of St Ives Library Super Saturday Make a Christmas Decoration *** Saturday 11 December Christmas Story Shadow Box day time workshop Ticketed events 10am and 1:30pm ****Friday 17 December Dark Nights Stories and Songs with Annamaria Murphy and the Story Republic – ticketed event 7pm, advance booking required Saturday 18 December 10am to 12:30 noon Friends of St Ives Library Super Saturday Carol Singing

***Ticketed events Limited numbers Advance booking highly recommended **** Book in person at the Library or via www.stiveslibrary.ticketsolve.com/shows

Please keep an eye on our social media channels @StIvesLibrary for latest updates or pop in!

Open for business

A support service for small businesses in Hayle and the surrounding area will be available at the Plantation Store in Foundry Lane until Christmas. The Hayle Pop-up Innovation Centre provides hot desks, printing facilities, space for meetings and access to business growth advice.

The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Cornwall Council, and forms part of the business outreach services offered by Acceleration Through Innovation 2 (ATI2), a business support programme led by the University of Plymouth.

It was officially opened this summer by Hayle mayor Steve Benney, and ATI2 programme manager Jo Hancock, who said: “The Pop-up Innovation Centre aims to support those business owners and entrepreneurs who are on their innovation journey, who are growing their businesses or have perhaps started a business during Covid.

“Starting a business is always challenging, even more so during a pandemic, and this is where ATI2’s on-site Business Innovation Advisors can really make a difference.

Is it time for a town crier comeback?

Oyez, oyez! St Ives Town Council is asking locals whether they think the position of town crier should be reinstated.

This photograph shows a previous holder of the post, locally-born Abraham Curnow, competing in the 1973 Town Criers Championship at Hastings.

It seems that, nationwide town criers are having something of a revival. The council asked people following their social media channels for their opinions.

On Facebook, Sylvia Rule said: “Abraham was a one-off. Not only town crier, used to keep the streets clean as well. I can still hear his ‘God Save The Queen!’. With his feet together, as if he was in the Forces. Yes, I think it’s nice to have a town crier.” Among other mostly positive comments (there were some questions as to whether the post would be paid for by the tax payer), Sarah Louise Busby said: “I remember Abraham very well from when I was a child. Fabulous character, and what a great tradition.”

St Ives

Let us let yours

Your Cottage, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1 Pet. But to us so much more than just a holiday let. We give you a team that lives and breathes your location (A kind friendly face , not a big corporation) And though we market your home on a national scale We’re just a quick call  away or a simple email While we offer advice and a few hints and tips So yours is the home on everyone’s lips Cherished and loved and enjoyed and looked after, As it’s filled full of memories, friendship and laughter.