Cornwall Today Feb18

win A ROMANTIC 3-NIGHT BREAK FOR 2 AT THE HELL BAY HOTEL, ISLES OF SCILLY meet GILLIAN BURKE & WILL YOUNG | celebrate THE ROYAL CORNWALL MUSEUM AT 200 | escape TO CONSTANTINE BAY

ALL HAIL THE CORNISH

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February 2018 £3.95

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welcome D

oes our cover make you salivate? Are you heading to your favourite pasty purveyor for lunch? If not, are you imagining the aroma of a freshly baked oggy and wishing you could? That’s the power of a well-shot cover, and on p60, we go behind the scenes with specialist food photographer Kate Whitaker, while learning about the inaugural Cornish Pasty Week. This culminates in the annual international Oggy Oscars; I’ve signed up for my seventh stint as a judge, so I’d better start buying bigger clothes.

While Cornwall’s beautiful landscapes inspire so many, I’m convinced that many stories appeal due to the human content behind them. This month, we present a plethora of interesting people based in the county, from BBC Winterwatch presenter Gillian Burke (p16) to Cornwall Hugs Grenfell campaigner Esme Page (p30), not forgetting Barbara Hosking, who celebrates her tenth decade by publishing

memoirs charting her journey from West Penwith to Westminster. Barbara was a lively, outspoken and entertaining interviewee; read the results on p18. And our Cousin Jack feature returns on p44, with the tale of a Cornishman returning home from New Zealand.

That said, there’s no shortage of pretty pictures in this issue.

Photographer Greg Martin explores the derelict Merther Church, near Truro, on p26, while David Chapman turns Bernard Cribbins on page 34, digging an ‘ole for the benefit of wildlife.

In February, our thoughts turn to love, so on page 6, we offer a selection of Valentine gifts. With its reputed aphrodisiac qualities, chocolate is food of love; on page 62, we meet a South American couple making the authentic product in Falmouth, while Amanda Foster-Searle explains the benefits of pure cacao on page 106. And don’t miss the opportunity to win a romantic break on Bryher – see page 4.

p60 Bude

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p112 Constantine Bay p118 Linkinhorne

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ON THE COVER: Pasties courtesy of Proper Cornish of Bodmin, shot by Kate Whitaker. www.katewhitaker.co.uk

map the on

Until next month:

p24 St Columb Major

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OntheMap

Kernow bys vyken!

p78 Launceston

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OntheMap

p26 Merther

p64 Mevagissey

p72 Flushing p80 Penzance p44 Perranuthnoe p50 Helston

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features 26 THE GHOST OF A CHURCH Greg Martin photographs the abandoned Merther Church, near Truro, and uncovers some of its forgotten history

30 CORNWALL HUGS GRENFELL Simon Parker meets Esme Page, the Truro woman who has brought Grenfell survivors and firefighters to Cornwall for R&R

FEBRUARY2018

contents

news and events

Editor Kirstie Newton

4 WIN A BREAK ON BRYHER

Audience Development Manager

6 MUST-HAVE

knewton@cornwalltoday.co.uk 01872 247458 Advertising Clare Burt, Head of Field Sales cburt@dc-media.co.uk 07739 162546

In conjunction with Trewithen Dairy, Hell Bay Hotel and Isles of Scilly Steamship Co

Carol Churcher. carol.churcher@dc-media.co.uk Design Edwin Andrews Managing Editor Scott Harrison Subscriptions 0333 202 8000, help@localworldsubs.co.uk Printed and bound by PCP Ltd, Telford Published by DC Media, High Water House, City Wharf, Malpas Road, Truro, Cornwall TR1 1QH. For terms and conditions regarding advertising in this and other DC Media publications: www.cornwalllive.com/ conditionsofacceptanceofadvertisements.html

Delectable Cornish Valentine gifts

8 NEWS & VIEWS Storm Eleanor, and New Year honours

12 THINGS TO DO IN FEBRUARY From lambing tours to global cinema

wildlife and heritage

Cornwall Today: REGIONAL MAGAZINE/ SUPPLEMENT OF THE YEAR, NEWSPAPER AWARDS 2014. Highly Commended – Regional Magazine/ Supplement of the Year, Newspaper Awards 2017, 2016 & 2013; Shortlisted – Regional Magazine/Supplement of the Year, Newspaper Awards 2015 & 2012; Winner – Magazine of the Year, Press Gazette Regional Press Awards 2009; Shortlisted – Best Designed Magazine of the Year (Consumer, sales below 40,000), Magazine Design and Journalism Awards 2008.

34 WILDABOUT: PONDLIFE David Chapman on improving your garden for the benefit of wildlife

40 PEACE AND HARMONY Inside St Austell’s Masonic Lodge

44 COUSIN JACK Returning to Perranuthnoe from New Zealand

46 SPEAK CORNISH WITH TANYA © DC Media 2018 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or made otherwise available on a retrieval system or submitted in any form without the express permission of the publishers. Cornwall Today is sold on the condition that it shall not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise without prior written permission of the publishers. Unsolicited material: do not send your only version of manuscripts and/or photographs/transparencies.

While every care is taken with material submitted (photographs/ transparencies/editorial) for publication, the publishers cannot be held responsible for their loss or damage. Views expressed by the writers herein do not necessarily represent those of Cornwall Today or DC Media. Availability and price of items are correct at time of going to press, but we accept no responsibility for any rejected items or unfulfilled orders.

A vyn’ta demedhi genev? Words of love

features 16 MEET ... GILLIAN BURKE Currently presenting Winterwatch on BBC Two, Gillian explains why she chooses to live in Cornwall

18 THE DISOBEDIENT CIVIL SERVANT All paper used to make Cornwall Today is from sustainable sources. You can help to lighten our environmental footprint by recycling this magazine, either by using a roadside collection scheme or a local recycling point. You could also pass the magazine onto a hospital, doctor’s surgery or charity. For more information on recycling visit www.recyclenow.com

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Barbara Hocking, 91, charts a fascinating journey from West Penwith to Westminster, via an African copper mine

22 A MURAL FOR ST COLUMB MAJOR Dick Twinney on the creation of a wall painting to celebrate the hurling tradition

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homes and gardens 72 THE SMART CHOICE The Flushing home that owes as much to Good Queen Bess as to Elizabeth II

80 WITHIN THESE WALLS The transformation of the historic Morrab Gardens in Penzance

83 NOTES FROM A CORNISH GARDEN February jobs: design your fantasy garden

84 NO TWO THE SAME The annual Hellebore Day in Truro

arts and crafts

wellbeing 100 MIND AND BODY Try this yoga sequence for beginners

50 PAINTING OUSIDE THE BOUNDARIES

104 MINDFUL MOMENTS

Shelly Tregoning on making work in Cornwall for a national art scene

Why mindfulness resembles wine-tasting

106 NOURISH KITCHEN

54 ART NEWS

The health benefits of raw cacao

Including Kurt Jackson in St Just, Tim Shaw in Penzance and a new project for Helston

108 THE EXTRA MILE Be good to yourself for Valentine’s Day

56 VIEW FROM THE HARBOUR

110 FASHION WITH ROO

Gallery owner Mark Hatwood asks: what gift will you give on Valentine’s Day?

Spring/summer 2018 trends: it’s all about denim

property and business 88 MOVING STORY A keen apiarist moves from Ealing to Truro

90 THE OUTSIDER’S GUIDE Amy Sheppard’s advice on relocating

92 PROPERTY ROUND-UP Including a Roseland “roundhouse” home

96 A CITY CAREER – IN CORNWALL You don’t have to live in London to be a stockbroker, says Redruth’s Darryn Richards

food

leisure

58 ALL HAIL THE CORNISH PASTY!

112 ESCAPE TO ... CONSTANTINE BAY

A whole week in honour of our finest culinary export, leading up to the Oggy Oscars. PLUS how we shot the cover, with Kate Whitaker

A holiday let with stunning north coast views

62 LOVE FROM SOUTH AMERICA Authentic chocolate made in Falmouth

64 MAY CONTAIN NUTS Peanut butter from Mevagissey

66 LIQUID LEARNINGS Lucy Robinson quaffs eastern European wines

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118 IN LINKINHORNE Charting the past and present of a parish

122 A MAVERICK’S MISSION A play tackling affordable housing issues

118 WHERE THERE’S A WILL ...

Life on Bodmin Moor, with singer Will Young

128 BACKALONG WITH PETE CROSS Why all the fuss about gin?

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must-have V A L E N T I N E ’ S D AY GOODIES TO HELP YOU CELEBRATE THE MOST ROMANTIC DAY OF THE YEAR

sparkling pink Brut Toast your loved one with a glass (or two) of Trevibban Mill sparkling pink Brut, with fresh red berry and cranberry notes. From vineyards near Padstow. £26, www.trevibbanmill.com

Radley London Treat a special lady to a chic bag by Radley London, whose spring/summer 18 collection will be available at Debenhams Truro from January. We love the Ellis Mews Medium Flapover Multiway, £199.

Jo Downs’ elegant Celtic Hearts collection is a romantic range of interior pieces, all richly detailed with glass-encased copper hearts which are cut, crafted, fired and finished at Jo’s Cornwall studio. Prices range from coasters at £11 to mirrors at £550, available at Jo Downs Handmade Glass Galleries in St Ives, Padstow, Fowey, Tintagel and Launceston, and online at www.jodowns.com Let there be light: page 78.

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handmade glass

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steak for the heart Why bear long queues and crowded bistros on Valentine’s day, when you could cook your loved one a restaurantquality steak with a little help from Etherington’s Farm Shop? From February 10 to 17, Etherington’s is offering a sumptuous heart-shaped sirloin steak (to feed two) and a bottle of Jack Rabbit wine for £15. Etherington’s Farm Shop, Wheal Rose, TR16 5DF. Tel 01209 899203, www.etherington-meats.co.uk

soft lighting for your Valentine’s dinner 2018 promises to be a big year for homewares store The Clementine, with new premises in Truro’s beautiful Sunday School building and a new signature brand, Liga. We love this tealight holder, made in Frankfurt to a design featuring all your favourite Cornish landmarks. Perfect for providing soft lighting for your Valentine’s dinner. www.theclementine.co.uk

If chocolate be the food of love, eat on.

Well known for its aphrodisiac properties, you can’t beat some good- quality sweet stuff. Try Rio Nuevo, made in Falmouth by South American husband and wife Andres Altamiramo and Sara Castaneda. Turn to page 62 for their story.

Rio Nuevo

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News &views

Read the latest news at www.cornwalllive.com

ELEANOR HITS HARD Storm Eleanor ripped through Cornwall in the New Year, leaving a trail of destruction in its path. The storm saw 30ft waves crash on to the north coast, 80mph winds, heavy rain and flooding to seaside and river properties. In Portreath, a 40ft section of harbour wall collapsed under the force of the spring tide, and four Newquay businesses lost their wooden booking kiosks and some small boats as huge waves and strong winds swept into the harbour overnight. In St Ives, the Porthminster Gallery had its doors blown open and wave after wave poured in, destroying tens of thousands pounds’ worth of art. Two footbridges were demolished in Perranporth, where wave power created a cliff of sand; and in Bude, waves flooded The Strand.

D I P D AY More than 250 swimmers took the plunge for Looe RNLI’s sixth annual New Year’s Day dip. Forming a long line along East Looe beach, members of the public joined the volunteer crew on a crisp and sunny morning, many wearing fancy dress as they ran into the sea to mark the start of 2018. Crowds of spectators watched the intrepid bathers from vantage points along the beach, seafront and Banjo Pier. More than £1,000 was raised in donations for Looe lifeboat station.

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BREAK A LEG A man about to propose to his girlfriend slipped and broke his leg on cliffs at Newquay – but popped the question anyway while waiting for help. Bristol couple John Dardis and Suzannah Newham went for a coastal walk near Mawgan Porth on December 2. Seconds before the big moment, John slipped on wet ground; undeterred, he went through with his proposal as he lay in agony on the soaking grass. His misfortune had a happy ending when Suzannah said ‘Yes’. Paramedics, the Cornwall Air Ambulance and members of Newquay Coastguard soon arrived, and medics fitted a splint and gave John some painkillers. He later posted a picture on Facebook of his ankle in a cast next to a bottle of champagne. Valentine’s Day: page 10.

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news & views REMEMBERING JESSIE

NEW YEAR HONOURS

A total of 15 people from Cornwall made it on to the 2018 New Year’s Honours list. Among them were elections statistician Professor John Curtice, who grew up in St Austell and was given a knighthood. He has been predicting election outcomes for 38 years, and his exit poll after the 2017 snap election stunned many when it suggested Theresa May was set to lose her Commons majority, despite the Tories having had a massive lead in the polls. Chef-restaurateur Rick Stein (pictured) has been appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in addition to his OBE; Hall For Cornwall co-chair Rosemary Squire OBE was awarded a Damehood for services to theatre and philanthropy; and there were MBEs for Camborne Foodbank founder Donovan Gardner and Truronian John Larke, founder of Cornwall’s International Male Choral Festival. Callington man Terence George Bolt was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for volunteer work, including with Age UK and Volunteer Cornwall. Paul Walker, chief fire officer of Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, received the Queen’s Fire Service Medal.

SEEKING RNLI RECRUITS

The family of a decorated swimming teacher who became one of Britain’s oldest graduates have paid tribute to a woman “born before her time”. Jessie Power, 102, was born in Hayle in 1915, and spent her later years in Reskadinnick, near Camborne. Twice county champion swimmer, Jessie worked as a swimming teacher at Carn Brea Leisure Centre and returned to education aged 86, completing a higher national diploma in fashion design at Cornwall College. She created her own designs under the brand Miss Neno, her mother’s maiden name. Her daughter Jill said: “She was wonderful, and born before her time. We’re all very proud of what she achieved. Even as her sight deteriorated, she was still sewing using a magnifying glass, such was the passion she had for it.” Jessie died on December 9, and leaves three children, three grandchildren, seven great great grandchildren and a great-great-great-grandson. Photograph: Greg Martin

The RNLI is seeking new recruits to spend the summer working on some of Cornwall’s most popular beaches, as lifeguards and face-toface fundraisers. Both roles are essential in supporting the RNLI in its work to reduce the number of people who drown on Britain’s coasts. RNLI lifeguards patrol more than 240 beaches around the UK and Channel Islands, including Perranporth, Fistral and Sennen.

Successful lifeguard applicants will receive training in search and rescue, lifesaving and casualty care techniques. Fundraisers will work alongside lifeguards to provide beach visitors with important safety advice, playing a vital role in saving lives by educating the public on risks at the coast. Search Facebook and Twitter for #BestSummerJob or visit www.summerjobs.rnli.org/ CORNWALL TODAY

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news & views

HISTORIC LISTING FOR FERRYSIDE The Cornish holiday home where Daphne du Maurier wrote her first novel has been given Grade II listed status. Ferryside, on the River Fowey in Bodinnick, was bought in 1926 by the du Maurier family who transformed it into a second home.

The author wrote The Loving Spirit, published in 1931, at

the former boatyard. The distinctive house and its quay have been listed by the Culture Department on the advice of Historic England as “an important survivor of Cornwall’s maritime heritage”, as well as reflecting the home’s connection to du Maurier.

RESTORING RHODA MARY A JustGiving crowdfunding page has been set up to raise funds to rescue the remains of a Cornish schooner currently lying in the banks of the Medway river in Kent. The Rhoda Mary is a West Country topsail schooner built at Point in Devoran in 1868. Andrew Mullen hopes to raise £5,000 to transport her back to Truro for restoration. “Merchant schooners were once a familiar sight around the Cornish coast, carrying Cornishmen on trading journeys around the globe and famed for their elegance and speed,” he said. Donors have left messages of support on the JustGiving page, one reading: “In honour of the fearless little man with the indomitable spirit, my uncle Ev, who bought the Rhoda Mary in 1927 and chugged all the way from Padstow to Chatham. May she live again!” www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/andrew-mullen-rmp

To express your views: Send letters to: The Editor, Cornwall Today, High Water House, City Wharf, Malpas Road, Truro, Cornwall TR1 1QH email: knewton@cornwalltoday.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/cornwalltoday Twitter: @Cornwall_Today

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SUPERMOON The first supermoon of 2018 aligned perfectly with the star in the festive lights on Penzance’s Alverton Road.

Photograph: Greg Martin.

CORNISH PREDICTIVE TEXT APP Language app company Swift Key has added Cornish to the list of languages for which it can predict text and correct spelling. The Cornish language office at Cornwall Council estimates there are about 300 people who speak the language fluently, with thousands more able to hold basic conversations. Kernewek with Tanya Brittain: page 46.

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things to do

february

Take in a movie

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23 & SATURDAY 24 The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour returns to the Hall For Cornwall, Truro on February 23 and 24, with two collections of new adventure films starring the world’s top explorers on mind-blowing journeys in wild and remote parts of the globe. Highlights include The Frozen Road, in which Yorkshireman Ben Page embarks upon a solo bikepacking journey in the Canadian Arctic; Into Twin Galaxies, which sees adventurers Ben Stookesberry, Sarah McNair-Landry and Erik Boomer on an extreme kite-skiing mission in Greenland; and Dreamwalkers, watching four Dutch friends attempting to be the first people to highline in the desolate Faroe islands.

For more information and to book tickets, see www.banff-uk.com

Visit a garden FEBRUARY 10 & 19 It’s never too early in the season to visit a Cornish garden, with many awakening from their winter slumber. Caerhays Castle gardens, on the balmy Roseland peninsula, open to the public on February 19 ahead of an ambitious replanting schedule, while the subtropical Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, pictured, near Penzance reopen on February 10.

Study thriller writing FEBRUARY 19 TO 23 Jon Stock, best-selling author of To Snare A Spy and other espionage thrillers, will be writer-in-residence at The Nare from February 19 to 23. He will be tutoring and talking about creative writing skills based on his experience as a journalist, newspaper editor and author. Aspiring writers who sign up to this four-day break will hear the story behind To Snare A Spy and, during two relaxed morning workshops, discover the tools required to write thrillers. Topics will include characterisation, plot twists and narrative style. From £309 per room per night; call 01872 501111 or email stay@narehotel.co.uk

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Pet a lamb FEBRUARY 23 TO 25 Cornish farmstay The Olde House, near Polzeath, is inviting families to experience lambing first-hand this month. Lambing tours will take place during half-term, from Saturday, February 10, and a Lucky Lambing weekend will run from February 23 to 25. Children will be able to feed the newborns, learn about the process from the farm team, and have lots of cuddles with fluffy lambs. For more information visit www.theoldehouse.co.uk

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Celebrate Geevor Be bee-friendly SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17 The Eden Project hosts an event organised by the Bee Improvement and Bee Breeders Association (BIBBA) on Saturday, February 17. Sustainable Beekeeping: A Future Without Imports reflects the increased interest in native and near-native honey bees not only among beekeepers, but also the general public. Many beekeepers now realise the benefits of working with bees that are hardy, productive, healthy and best suited to their local conditions, rather than imported races bred for much warmer climates. European studies have shown that locally adapted bees perform better than imported ones; scientists will present research relevant to native/near-native bees, while BIBBA president and bee farmer Jo Widdicombe will discuss the principles of practical bee improvement, and Roger Patterson will suggest ways of helping the wider beekeeping community to achieve a more sustainable culture that avoids importing unsuitable bees and queens. www.bibba.com/eden Moving Story: page 88.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3 The church of St John the Baptist at Pendeen was built in 1849, by miners from Geevor using picks and shovels, and is an appropriate venue for a free event celebrating the industrial heritage of the Penwith village on Saturday, February 3. In Voices Of The Tin Coast, former miners and volunteers from Geevor will read a selection of tales and quotations from Geevor’s oral history transcripts, with musical performances from Buccas Four and Jan Beare. Geevor closed in 1991; less than 30 years ago, it was still a working tin mine and a focal point of the community. It is hoped this event will rekindle some interest in its role. Donations are welcome and will go towards the Cemetery Project, Pendeen Church and Geevor Tin Mine. www.geevor.com

Pamper yourself SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10 The Merlin MS Centre holds its popular Pamper Day event, on Saturday, February 10, at Hewas Water, with a range of treatments including Reiki, holistic massage, relaxation therapy, reflexology, gentle muscle release, Jin Shin Jyutsu, hand massage and more. The ticket price of £35 covers a booked 40-minute session and lunch with a glass of bubbly or juice. The Merlin MS Centre is an independent charity offering therapy and support to those with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s, cerebral palsy, stroke and ME/chronic fatigue syndrome. On average, the centre’s facilities are used by 70 people daily. Attendees must book and pay in advance for their treatments.

Call 01726 885530 or e-mail tamsin@merlinmscentre.org.uk

Play a tune

Hear Hawes & Catlow

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) returns to Cornwall to deliver a series of workshops for all the family. The Family Orchestra has been designed to enable families of all shapes, sizes, ages and experience to share the joy of making music with each other. These sessions give the chance for musicians – new, rusty or experienced – to work and play together, creating new pieces of music from scratch. There are no auditions and you don’t need your own instrument – just turn up and play on the handheld percussion provided, or sing!

Sunday, February 18, and once a month until June, from 10am to noon at St Mewan School near St Austell. Cost per session: Individual £5, up to £10 for a family of four or more.

For further information, contact Esme James on 01202 644737 or at ejames@bsorchestra.co.uk

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Acoustic duo Kit Hawes and Aaron Catlow use the fertile ground of the traditional music of the British Isles as their starting point, and have worked with many artists including Seth Lakeman, Afro Celt Sound system, Mad Dog Mcrea, Sheelanagig and Roni Size. Their debut album, The Fox, explores the relationship between fiddle, guitar and voice, and has been released to critical acclaim. See them at the Acorn, Penzance on Monday, February 19. Tickets £10, box office 01736 363545.

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features

MEET ... BBC’S GILLIAN BURKE

(page 16)

T H E D I S O B E D I E N T C I V I L S E R VA N T A MURAL FOR ST COLUMB MAJOR

(page 18)

(page 22)

T H E G H O S T O F A C H U R C H AT M E R T H E R C O R N WA L L H U G S G R E N F E L L

(page 26)

(page 30)

CORNWALL TODAY

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M E E T...

THE CO-PRESENTER OF BBC WINTERWATCH ON THE SATISFACTION OF LIVING IN CORNWALL Portrait by Hannah Couzens

I

often say that moving to Cornwall was the best decision I never made. I had been working as a natural history filmmaker in Bristol but, after a decade in the industry, it was time to start a family and my then-husband suggested the move. For years, we had visited close friends on the Lizard and had slowly come to know this beautiful peninsula with its sheltered, winding creeks on the east side and towering, wave-battered cliffs on the west.

Not long after moving here, we were given a box set of the original Poldark series. This was long before the new Poldark had been mooted. The series was very much ‘of its time’, and certainly not a reliable historical source, but I was hooked nevertheless. For me, it was my first glimpse of the rich and deep seam of a proud and distinct Cornish identity.

At the same time, I also started working for a small youth charity helping deprived

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communities around West Cornwall. This work took me inland, away from the tourist spots, and along the old mining spine of Cornwall. I became fascinated with the history of the land: how the landscape had changed; and how communities swelled and shrank with the changing fortunes of the mining industry.

A most moving tribute to Cornwall’s mining history was the Man Engine production. Set to run again this year, the 11-metre-tall Man Engine is the biggest mechanical puppet ever to have been built in Britain. As he journeyed west in the summer of 2016, from Tavistock to Geevor, bigger and bigger crowds gathered to meet him and sang traditional folk songs. I took my kids to see him when he arrived in Redruth, Cornwall’s mining capital. I’m very much a people person, and it made my heart swell to witness a community taking pride in its rich heritage and honouring the pioneers of the past.

I’m also a lover of nature, however, and as such, Cornwall is a rare example of a landscape where the peak of industrial activity is now behind us. While the land is still heavily worked for farming and development there are pockets where, if given half a chance, we can learn how the natural world can right itself after such intensive activity.

In my work with the BBC’s Springwatch, I’ve had the pleasure and privilege to report on conservation success stories like the discovery of St Piran’s crab, a species of hermit crab that was all but wiped out following the Torrey Canyon oil spill of the 1960s, but has finally re-established itself here as a viable population.

Cornwall is also host to the Cornwall Beaver Project. These went extinct in Britain in the 1600s, but could thrive here once more. It’s not just wildlife enthusiasts who are excited by the prospect; beavers offer a natural solution to a whole host of manmade problems, from soil erosion,

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habitat and species loss to cleaning up our waterways.

These animals are also nature’s answer to flood mitigation, and Cornish villages hit by flash floods in recent years could also benefit from their presence. The project, a partnership between the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Exeter University and farmer Chris Jones, is still in the experimental phase but you can visit Woodland Valley Farm during the spring and summer months to see these charming little animals at work.

But, of course, it’s Cornwall’s dramatic coastline that is the main draw not only for visitors and locals alike, but for a growing community of biologists and environmental campaigners, supported by an army of dedicated volunteers and skilled amateur naturalists. This is clearly the place for committed conservationists, and I think much of it is down to the uniquely Cornish way of doing business. There is a close-knit community of people who share a common passion and concern for the natural world, and it is full of beautiful examples of generous sharing of knowledge, expertise and resources.

One such collaboration is between the Cornish Seal Group Research Trust, British Divers Marine Life Rescue and the Cornish Seal Sanctuary. The British grey seal population is of global importance; CSGRT focuses on monitoring populations here, while BDMLR responds to animals in distress and rescues. Then the Seal Sanctuary steps in when these animals need rehabilitation and, once back in the wild, the Seal Group is on hand once again to track progress.

Partnerships like these are not just heart-warming but essential in making positive and lasting changes in our environment. From beach cleans to bioblitz surveys, and campaign groups such as Surfers Against Sewage which is effecting policy changes all the way to Westminster, for me it’s this collective ‘rolling up of sleeves and mucking in’ that makes Cornwall a very exciting place to be right now.

Gillian Burke will co-present Winterwatch from January 29 to February 1 on BBC2.

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FORMER CIVIL SERVANT BARBARA HOSKING HAS WRITTEN HER MEMOIRS AT 91, AND HAS PLENTY TO SAY

Words by Katie Weston, author portrait by Hero Johnson

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“I

’m Cornish through and through – there’s no English blood in me.” This strident statement sets the tone of the conversation with Barbara Hosking, who at 91 has published her memoirs. Exceeding My Brief: Memoirs Of A Disobedient Civil Servant details a life journey beginning at a humble farm in Penwith and ending at a flat in Westminster, just five minutes away from Parliament.

Born in 1926, Barbara headed for London at 21, to pursue her dream career in journalism. Little did she know that she would work at an African copper mine, serve as press officer to Harold Wilson and Edward Heath, become deputy chairwoman for Westcountry Television, and pioneer breakfast television in the 1980s. Throughout all of this, she has stayed true to her roots, becoming a Cornish Bard in 1992 with the title ‘Myrgh An Ayrdonow’ (Daughter of the Airwaves), and retaining a delightful Cornish burr which becomes marked whenever she warms to a subject (which is often). “I have really tried to

keep my accent,” she says. “The urban accents are not so beautiful. With Cornwall, it’s more earthy, more country.”

Living such a full and interesting life has made Barbara an engaging raconteur, so it comes as no surprise that she should have been encouraged to write by her nearest and dearest. “After giving anecdotes about bits of my life while chatting over dinner, friends and family asked me to write it down. Having started it, I thought I’d better be honest and do my life,” she says stoutly, “and the most important part is Cornwall.”

Born “to candlelight and water ... imprinted with a huge love of rough seas and a strong wind”, as a child Barbara lived in Penzance, where her father ran a dairy.

Her mother was keen to preserve Cornish traditions, so she and her siblings were pushed through the hole in Mên-an-Tol and sent to the woods with May Horns.

Seeing a poem published in The Cornishman at the tender age of ten ignited an interest in journalism, while

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her involvement in the Youth Parliament in Cornwall gave her a valuable insight into current affairs and politics. Despite her ambition to write, she struggled to find a job as a journalist on home turf: “It was impossible. I went to every editor in the West Country and none of them wanted me.”

And so, like so many Cornish youngsters of her own and subsequent generations, Barbara sought her future in the Big Smoke. She joined the typing pool at the headquarters of the Gaumont and Odeon cinema chains, took an adult education course in the English novel, and found employment with the Labour party at Transport House.

Then one day, in the autumn of 1955, she received a “heaven-sent” telephone call from an old schoolfriend, asking her to join her on a trip to Africa. An acquaintance who attended Camborne School of Mines was working as manager of a copper mine, and needed two “sensible young women” to run the office and organise entertainment at weekends. Barbara jumped at the chance, spending three years there – driving an ex-field ambulance and discovering an unexpected skill with a rifle - before coming to the end of her contract and returning to London and Transport House.

As a senior information officer in the Prime Minister’s press office, Barbara worked under Harold Wilson and Edward Heath. Of the former, she says: “I rarely saw him, but I have never been in a place where everything was so totally dominated by one man.” She had greater contact with Heath, leading to some frank exchanges: “Ted Heath used to always wear this very old shapeless cardigan, and I would tell him he

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needed to look smart and wear a tailored one. Some press officers would have thought that wouldn’t be a job for them; I think that you can make what you like of the job and can take it to another stage if you wish. My responsibility was to make sure I did my very best for them.”

At Westcountry Television, Barbara was proud of the fact that “no MP was ever more than 20 minutes from a TV studio”, and was keen to ensure that executives visited the entirety of the patch, regardless of the extra cost involved (including board meetings in the Isles of Scilly, and programmes in the Cornish language). She was disappointed at the subsequent decline in the use of regional independent TV. “The BBC is marvellous, but they don’t have to earn their own money. In the great days of local TV and radio, we had an insert from one of our stations every night. Now you’re lucky to get five minutes.” Despite this slump, she believes that local reporting still plays an important role. “In a democracy, we do need more regional news input.”

Barbara writes frankly about her burgeoning awareness of her sexuality – she has lived with her partner, Margaret, for 20 years - something which has drawn much attention since the book was published. She jokes about “coming out” at the age of 91: “If I don’t like it, I shall go back in again,” she laughs.

More seriously, she adds: “I seem to have been taken up by one or two groups who think I’m a great ambassador, which has made me a bit nervous. I haven’t quite come to terms with the new life yet.” She seems genuinely surprised that the spotlight should fall on this aspect of her life more than any

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OPPOSITE PAGE: BARBARA AT WORK WITH THE INDEPENDENT BROADCASTING AUTHORITY (IBA); IN AFRICA THIS PAGE: AT HER 75TH BIRTHDAY PARTY WITH EDWARD HEATH; MYRGH AN AYRDONOW IN HER BARDIC ROBES

other: “I always assumed that friends would have known. You don’t go around talking about sexuality - it’s a private thing.”

Nonetheless, having lived through an era when homosexuality was illegal, she is understandably proud at the progress made: “We’ve made huge strides, with sitting MPs now openly gay.”

During her time at the Labour Party Press Office, she almost ran as a candidate for Stroud, but stood down upon deciding that she was not suited to life as a member of parliament.

Plus: “I am not in my heart truly a supporter of Labour.” She describes herself as “a Cornish liberal”, while admitting ruefully: “They are no longer the force that they were – I hope they come back and get stronger again.”

She speaks willingly of her views on the current political scene, professing a desire to see a stronger government with one or two key policies, along with a less divided Labour Party. Of Theresa May, she says: “I feel great sympathy for her because she has the most difficult group of people – it’s a bit like herding cats in Cabinet. I would tell her that she needs to be more open and trust people more, as the majority of people in this country don’t know what’s going on and if we owe money. She should send fewer reassuring messages and put a bit more beef into them.

“I still find it so difficult to believe the Cornish voted for Brexit so strongly,” she adds. “I used to know the fishermen well and, going back a generation, they were always having fights with the Breton fishermen. So I think that was the basis for it. People would probably change their mind with a second referendum, but it’s done now and we’ll have to deal with it.

As a nation, we are much more volatile than people think.”

She also thinks that accusing millennials of failing to save for a house is unfair, believing that more support should be provided for first-time buyers. “They should be living their life to the full, and the government should be giving them cheap accommodation to get a starter home,” she says with conviction. “They should spend their money on ice-creams or whatever they like. Young people work hard enough to get a degree, they should have time to enjoy themselves.” She is thrilled that Cornwall now has its own university: “This has been a great help to Cornwall in that respect, along with the likes of Tim Smit [co-founder of the Eden Project], and chefs Rick Stein and Jamie Oliver – they have come in to provide opportunity and work for Cornish boys and girls.”

These days, she visits Penwith at least once a year and loves to walks along the cliff paths. “I used to walk all the way to Penzance, Cape Cornwall, St Ives … now I do it on the bus!” she chuckles. When she can’t be here, as a subscriber to Cornwall Today she has a monthly delivery of news and views.

Exceeding My Brief begins with Barbara’s account of raising £3 million for the relatives of those who perished in the Penlee Lifeboat disaster in 1981, spurred by her love of her homeland. But when asked for her proudest achievement, out of the endless list of accomplishments made over her lifetime, she answers without hesitation: “My book. Who would have known, at the age of 91!”

Exceeding My Brief: Memoirs Of A Disobedient Civil Servant

by Barbara Hosking is published by Biteback, £25.

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CELEBRATING THE SPORTING TRADITION OF HURLING Words by Philip Tremain and Dick Twinney

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id you know that St Columb Major has a place in the Guinness Book of Records? Its traditional Shrove Tuesday game of hurling appears in those esteemed pages as the game with the largest pitch: the whole parish, stretching some 20 square miles.

A Cornish tradition fiercely maintained, hurling – not to be confused with the Irish sport of the same name – was once played right across Cornwall and records exist of matches between parishes up until the latter part of the 19th century. At St Columb, the earliest recorded reference is from the 16th century.

The game begins at 4.30pm on Shrove Tuesday in the Market Square, from which the two goals are equidistant, two miles apart. The teams consist of the townsmen, who live in the town itself, and the countrymen, who reside in the rest of the parish.

There is no matching of numbers, and in recent times the townsmen have considerably outnumbered the countrymen, who nevertheless fight their corner as underdogs.

After reciting: “Town and Country, do your best, for in this parish I must rest,” the ball is thrown up. Play continues up and down the streets for up to an hour, shop windows barricaded as protection against the ball,

a silver shell on an applewood core about the size of a cricket ball and weighing just over a half a kilo. It is dealt (passed) between the hurlers, and large scrummages take place but all usually in good humour, with respect shown to older and very young participants.

In order to win the game, a hurler has to place the ball in the appropriate goal (stone troughs, probably old cross bases) or carry it over the parish boundary, involving a run of what could be several miles. Once the play leaves the town, everything gets more serious as the hurlers work with their team-mates to deny the opposition. When a winner emerges, he is carried victorious by his friends back to the town to declare “Town ball” or “Country ball” as appropriate.

At 8pm, the winner returns to Market Square to declare his victory, before hurlers of both teams tour the pubs, drinking ‘silver beer’ poured from large jugs in which the ball has been dipped. After ten days to recover, on the following Saturday week it happens all over again; it’s far too much fun to only take place once a year!

We will leave the final word to CE Vulliamy who, in his 1925 book Unknown Cornwall, enthused: “Across the slopes of the moors, and through the fields beneath them, the men of Cornwall played their game of Hurling, the manliest, most glorious and exciting game that was ever played in Britain. It was a Homeric game, a game fit for heroes.” We will forgive CEV the use of the past tense; if he could visit St Columb Major today, he would know that his words still apply.

Philip Tremain was born and has lived his whole life in St Columb. He won the ball for the townsmen in 1976.

PHOTOGRAPHS: DICK TWINNEY AND MURAL BY EMILY WHITFIELD-WICKS; HURLING IN ACTION BY TERRY BARNECUTT FOR THE CORNISH GUARDIAN CORNWALL TODAY

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good despite all my misgivings. That I was being helped by our daughter Jodene was a bonus – she turned out to be a fine artist, painting the town and country goals with their milestones and much of the flora depicted.

The finished painting features more than 100 hurlers and St Columb Major residents from 1910 to the present day, and is probably the largest framed original painting on an outside wall, certainly in Cornwall and possibly in the UK. I’m extremely proud of the finished result, especially as it features so many of our friends who are no longer with us. It has been a privilege to portray such an important part of Cornwall’s history.

compet

To see more of Dick’s wildlife artwork or purchase prints and paintings that have appeared in Cornwall Today, call 01637 880606 visit www.theartofdicktwinney.com Visitors are welcome at his St Columb studio by appointment.

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Competition

To be in with a chance of winning a limited edition print St Columb Major – Cornwall’s Home of Hurling, email us by February 28 (with ‘Dick Twinney St Columb Major - Cornwall’s Home of Hurling’ in the subject line) at competitions@cornwalltoday.co.uk co m

’m primarily a wildlife artist, writes Dick Twinney, specialising almost entirely in portraying Cornwall’s natural world, but over the years I have tackled many different topics, some involving people as subjects. These turned out to be minor disasters, so when I was approached by my friend, Paul Wills – mayor of St Columb Major and town councillor – to paint a mural featuring many hurlers on the wall adjacent to the town hall, I was apprehensive to say the least.

I explained there was no way I could paint such a large artwork in my traditional, highly detailed style, from a ladder, over the winter period, at my age, no matter what. I did say, however, that I could possibly attempt an original painting on a 4ft x 8ft marine ply panel in acrylics and this was agreed upon. Initially I was hoping to paint it in my studio, but it wouldn’t fit, so it ended up in our bedroom on two metal trestles (I have a very understanding wife) where it sat for six months or so while I worked on it.

I’d hoped to complete it in time for the first hurl of the year, which is always Shrove Tuesday; but the enormity of the project and the work involved made this impossible, and it was eventually finished, framed, fixed to the wall and unveiled by two of St Columb Major’s oldest hurlers, nonagenarians Denis Ellery (winner, 1947 and 1950) and Henry Tinsley (winner, 1944) on May 6, 2017.

Although it was very stressful and definitely a one-off project, it was also enjoyable in many ways, especially when it was nearing completion and I finally realised it was looking

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LEFT: PHOTOGRAPHS BY TERRY BARNECUTT FOR THE CORNISH GUARDIAN RIGHT: PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF PHILIP TREMAIN

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OF A CHURCH MEMORIES OF FAITH IN THE HAMLET OF MERTHER, NEAR TRURO Words and photographs by Greg Martin

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lmost invisible on Google Earth, in a tiny hamlet at the bottom of a dead end, yet only a few miles as the crow flies from Truro city centre, lies one of Cornwall’s most remote churches. If you’ve never heard of the St Cohan’s church in Merther, you are not alone; it was the lack of visitors that ultimately sealed its fate.

Built around 1370, Merther Church enjoyed a loyal congregation until the end of the 19th century, even benefitting from an impressive restoration in 1844. But it seems money for church renovations dried up, and a wooden shed-like structure was built on top of the tower to house the bells and presumably save the cost of rebuilding.

Perhaps predictably, it was soon deemed structurally unsafe to ring the bells and, as the population dwindled in Merther, it grew in nearby Tresillian, where a Chapel of Ease was rebuilt in 1904 to become the Holy Trinity Church. Two of St Cohan’s bells, the font, a Jacobean pulpit and a statue of St Anthony were removed and rehomed in the new parish church.

With no graveyard at the Holy Trinity Church at that time, Merther Church had only one use left and became a mortuary

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chapel in the early 20th century. With so little use and no money for upkeep, the church soon fell into disrepair and in 1928, historian Charles Henderson described it as “a ghost of a church” in an article in the West Briton.

That same year, Canon Alan Dunstan was born; in an article he wrote for the Royal Institution of Cornwall shortly before he died in 2004, he recalled attending the last ever service in Merther Church. “What was called the ‘annual service’ continued for two years into the next incumbency, and as a schoolboy, I attended what proved to be the last of these on July 25, 1945. The service was held in the south aisle of the church which looked dilapidated and dusty, but a striking feature was the painted texts on the walls.”

These painted texts were also referenced by Canon Miles Brown in an article written for a Truro Diocesan news leaflet in 1962. By this time, the church had been left open to the elements, the roof lead having been removed to help the war effort, and had been officially declared a ruin. “Ivy covers the walls, brambles fill the churchyard, while a determined tombstone or two struggles to keep its head above the tangle.

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The wooden top stage of the tower has gone, slates are off from the roof of the nave, and plaster and rafters and rubbish cover the floor. Pillars and arches are green with wet, and the sanctuary gives nourishment to mould and moss. In the spandrels of the arches remain the painted texts dear to the heart of a past age. One, facing the window opening by which entrance was gained, read CORNWALL TODAY

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‘How dreadful is this place’, which carries a meaning the original painters could not have envisaged.”

Today, the story of Merther Church would crumble away like the building itself, were it not for research done by by Reverend Dunstan as well as local historians Peter King and Nick Jeans. Very few images exist of the church intact, but Peter King has spent years collecting old postcards of Cornwall and, growing up on Merther Lane, made it his mission to find the rare few of the church.

Nick Jeans has written a history of Merther Church and recalls first visiting it with his mother in 1964, and seeing inside the entrance an original Lord Kitchener recruitment poster from the First World War. His wife now tends the churchyard at Merther and once a year, at Easter, a small group holds a service in the grounds outside the church; although still technically ‘open’, having never been formally closed, the building is considered very unsafe to enter.

It is hard to imagine what the future might hold for this building, which has almost been completely reclaimed by nature. I put the question to the Diocese of Truro. A spokesman replied: “Although no plans have been finalised as to when the closure might happen or what the future of the building will ultimately be, we are certain the PCC [parochial church council, which owns Merther Church] will ensure the next phase in the church’s life is appropriate.”

Wondering whether looking into the history of Merther Church’s demise might give us a warning of what is to come, I asked whether we might see a lot more churches in a similar state in the next 100 years. “From time to time churches do

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF MERTHER CHURCH ► 1370 Merther Church is built, according to Lakes Parochial History

► 1844 Restoration of Merther Church including new square pews and diamond-shaped window panes

► 1866 The parish of Merther is made a vicarage ► Turn of the century: A wooden structure is built on the top of the church tower to house the bells – it is removed in 1930s

► 1904 The Chapel of Ease at Tresillian is rebuilt as the ► ► ► ► ►

Holy Trinity Church and becomes the successor over Merther Church 1928 Merther Church is described as ‘a ghost of a church’ in an article in the West Briton by Charles Henderson July 25, 1945 The last ever service is held inside Merther Church 1962 Canon Miles Brown writes that Merther Church is ‘now officially declared a ruin’ 1970 The central arches are collapsed, bringing what remained of the roof down, after fears that it would collapse on people exploring the church 1998 A surveyor deems it hazardous to allow unrestricted access to the site and recommends repairs estimated to cost £25,000 - £30,000

reach the end of their unique mission,” said the spokesman.

“In this case I understand it was because a new church had been built, nearer to where the majority of parishioners lived.

Obviously there is sadness with that, but the church, like any other institution, has to be realistic and evolve to reflect broader changes in our society.”

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C O R N WA L L HUGS GRENFELL A PERSONAL RESPONSE TO A PUBLIC TRAGEDY Words by Simon Parker

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ednesday, June 14, 2017 should have been just another day for the people of North Kensington.

But as we all now know, the fire that engulfed Grenfell Tower left 71 people dead, scores injured, and countless bereaved and traumatised. As a nation, we sympathised, put our hands in our pockets for some change, and hung our heads in shame that such a disaster could happen in 21st century Britain.

In Truro, 300 miles away, Esmé Page shared a sense of inadequacy felt by millions up and down the land. But Esmé decided to do something. As she watched the catalogue of human misery revealed on TV news reports, she experienced a light-bulb moment that would result in Cornwall Hugs Grenfell (CHG) – a voluntary organisation offering those affected a chance to escape the constant physical reminder of the charred tower. It would galvanise accommodation and activity providers in the county to offer time, space and respite to bereaved relatives, survivors, friends of victims and members of the emergency services.

By the end of 2017, 175 people had benefited from their

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MAIN IMAGE: TOWER SURVIVORS HANAN WAHABI AND DAUGHTER SARA IN MOUSEHOLE, TAKEN AS A GIFT BY PHOTOGRAPHER CHRIS YACOUBIAN. INSET FROM FAR LEFT: QAIS ON HIS FIFTH BIRTHDAY AT PORTHTOWAN; THE AL SADI FAMILY AT THE EDEN PROJECT; KEARNI STROKING AN OWL AT TRURO PREP SCHOOL

generosity. Last November, 45 people (including 29 children), bereaved survivors and neighbours of Grenfell Tower, visited Porthtowan. The trip included accommodation, activities and therapeutic support worth around £35,000 – all donated by local and national businesses such as food retailers, transport providers, clothing stores, choirs and therapists.

Esmé grew up and went to school in Newlyn and Penzance.

While her expertise is in counselling, it was perhaps as a mother that she felt a deep empathy for those who had been in the tower, lived nearby, or fought to save trapped families. I met Esmé, who is married with two sons, in the kitchen of her Truro home. It was there that she watched the disaster unfold.

“We get up at about 6.30am,” she said. “I turned on the radio and heard the terrible news about Grenfell, though at that stage no one knew how terrible. A little later, I saw Dany Cotton, the London Fire Brigade commissioner, speaking about the emotional wellbeing of firefighters. And it really struck me this must be of a magnitude that went way beyond anything she or her crews had experienced before. At that point they weren’t talking numbers of casualties, but from the TV pictures

we could see it was enormous.”

In that moment, she came up with the idea of CHG. “I didn’t really think it through,” she said. “It arrived – plop! – like a divine download, and that was that. However, before I told anyone else, I had to think it through – I suppose I was resisting the huge implications of taking on something like this.”

A couple of days after the fire, Esmé was on Porthcurno beach with her family. It was a warm June day and the water beckoned. “I went in for a swim,” she said. “It was a stonking day. The sea was an amazing turquoise colour and the sun was shining on the Logan Rock. I looked around at all the natural beauty and knew it could help those who suffered as a result of Grenfell. I realised Cornwall could act as a sensory antidote.

“These people had breathed in the smoke, it stuck in the backs of their throats, they fought their way out, they’d seen the most appalling horrors, every one of their senses had been involved in that trauma. And it was in that moment I knew I had to do this. So I drafted some words, chose a name summing up the response so many of us had – to hug people who had suffered so much – and posted it. It all happened very quickly.”

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CHG’s mission is easy to grasp, and within 24 hours of that While Grenfell has receded from the headlines, the campaign online post, Esmé had received more than 100 offers of help continues. “What’s really important to realise is that this is a from local businesses and individuals. “I wanted it to be simple lifetime journey for them,” says Esmé. “You don’t go through to access, respectful, not patronising, and easy to donate to,” that loss and trauma and get better in six months. Grenfell is said Esmé, who is helped by Aisling Algeo, Liz Scambler, Katie part of their lives now and they will have to weave that thread MacDonald, Ruth Putnam and a small team of volunteers. through their whole lives.” CHG’s immediate needs are for More than 80 Grenfell families and 30 firefighter families individual and group accommodation, particularly in halfhave been registered for holidays, to be matched with those terms and August; patronage of a public figure with a love offering services. By liaising with 250-plus accommodation of Cornwall and a knowledge of trauma and bereavement; providers, and 140-plus business sponsors, CHG – which is significant benefactors, and an administrator for a year. Esmé apolitical and not faith-aligned, although Esmé is Christian – is urges interested parties to visit the website and click the able to offer two types of holiday (accommodation in individual appropriate button; pledges will be entered directly onto a holiday lets and group holidays) and cater for different spreadsheet, cutting down on valuable admin time. recipients (firefighters and Grenfell survivors, people from “This is a fast-paced project,” said Esmé. “To scale it up evacuated blocks, the bereaved, displaced and traumatised). to meet the demand and to continue turning hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of pledges into well-crafted Group holidays have taken place at the University of Exeter’s holidays for Grenfell survivors and Penryn campus and at Towan Valley firefighters, we have specific needs.

Resort in Porthtowan. GWR donated I am enormously grateful to those train tickets, First Kernow gave free who support the vision – it’s a big ask, bus passes, and Megabus provided a especially as the times we are asking luxury coach and driver for a week to for coincide with peak holiday periods. take the families on outings.

But so many businesses are back on In December, the Gwel an Mor board for 2018, and as we are already resort in Portreath welcomed more seeing from guests’ testimonials, the than 50 firefighters and ambulance experiences, natural beauty and bank workers and their families for a of new memories each holiday offers week-long festive break arranged are providing hope and resilience to

by Redruth Rotary in a bid to create help them face and plan for the future. happy memories in restorative Cornish surroundings; Esmé gave a “Saying ‘thank you’ isn’t enough speech on their last evening. to acknowledge the generosity “Cornwall Hugs Grenfell offers and the heart of businesses and a channel for everyone’s generosity individuals who often don’t have ABOVE: ESME PAGE (LEFT) WITH LONDON and kindness,” said Esmé. “Cornwall much. Cornwall has done something FIRE BRIGADE COMMISSIONER DANY COTTON isn’t just a lovely, fluffy, sunny holiday really significant for the wellbeing of place; we have strong core skills and a large number of people and that is competence here, along with great business sense that can something everyone in Cornwall can be really proud of.” provide kindness with practical legs.”

In the longer term, Esmé hopes CHG will set up a lasting relationship between Cornwall and Kensington, much like regions Hundreds of services have been offered, including therapeutic had and still have with Second World War evacuees. “Those massages, surfing, sculpture classes designed for people wartime children still come back in their seventies and eighties suffering PTSD, sound meditation, singing workshops, forest because Cornwall is their place of resilience, the place they came school, archery, fencing, paddle-boarding, zip wire, swimming to feel better,” said Esmé. “I feel we have again tapped into that in the sea ... or simply having some time and space to reboot. vein of Cornish kindness and goodwill – but rather than it being “If you go to the area around the Grenfell tower, it is a burden to Cornwall, it is an outlet. It is blessing Cornwall just as impossible to get away from the tragedy,” said Esmé. “There much as it is blessing Kensington because CHG offers a channel are memorials everywhere. Mums and dads have to walk for everyone’s generosity and kindness. their children to school past pictures of their dead friends. The blackened tower is visible from across a wide area.”

“Every business and individual involved says how enriched they feel by having helped others – from the chef who made a Nothing can take away the horror of that day, but Esmé and load of fish pies, and the people giving surfing lessons, to the her team believe a hassle-free holiday break can be part of the Harbour Lights restaurant in Falmouth whose staff delivered 60 long healing process. “They can walk on the beach and feel the portions of fish and chips to the beach and saw families enjoy sand between their toes,” she said. “They can jump into the eating them. When you ask these people, who have suffered water and feel it fresh on their skin. They can see beautiful sights so much, what they are taking away from Cornwall, they all instead of the constant reminder of what they’ve been through. say ‘love’. And at the end of the day, all of us are just simple “It’s not just a holiday. So many are living in temporary hostel creatures, who simply want to love and be loved.” or hotel accommodation. It’s very tiring, and the childrten can’t concentrate on their school work. This is an opportunity to live in a proper home for a week, and eat around a family table.”

Visit www.cornwallhugsgrenfell.org

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W I L D A B O U T C O R N WA L L : P O N D L I F E FA R M D I A RY W I T H M AT T H E W DA L E

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PEACE AND HARMONY IN ST AUSTELL N AT I O N A L T R U S T : M A K I N G S PA C E F O R N AT U R E

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FROM NEW ZEALAND TO PERRANUTHNOE S P E A K C O R N I S H W I T H T A N YA

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R O YA L C O R N W A L L M U S E U M A T 2 0 0

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ABOUT C O R N WA L L PONDLIFE Words and photographs by David Chapman

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BELOW: TOADS LAY SPAWN IN LONG STRANDS WRAPPED AROUND VEGETATION

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BELOW: THIS IS A FEMALE TOAD WITH A MALE ON HER BACK. THEY ARE IN AN ‘EMBRACE’ AND HE HOPES TO FERTILISE HER EGGS WHEN SHE ENTERS THE POND

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have been a very fortunate man. For the last 23 years, I have lived on our smallholding in Cornwall with my wife, Sarah. There are doubtless many people around the country who would be envious of such a lifestyle (mind you, they haven’t met Sarah!).

Being passionate about wildlife, I have strived to improve our land for anything and everything that might choose to live alongside us. I am convinced that the best way any of us can increase the biodiversity of our surroundings in a single act is to dig a pond. You don’t need a smallholding to do this; in fact you don’t even need a large garden. A pond can be fitted into the smallest of gardens.

Over the years, I have created four ponds on our land, and though they are all still holding water I have learned a few lessons about what to do and what not to do, from research and experience.

In many ways, February is the start of the year for a wildlife pond. It is when wildlife activity begins, most notably with the arrival of spawning frogs. For that reason, you might think it is too late to dig a pond in February. Not true; dig now, and you might not get spawning frogs this year, but hopefully you will next year.

Phrases like ‘too early’ or ‘too late’ are just designed to delay the hard graft, which is digging a hole!

So decide where you want a pond and get a spade out.

INSETS: WE SECURED THE SLEEPERS WITH SEMI-CIRCULAR FENCE POSTS; WE LINED THE POND WITH FLEECE AND THEN A POND LINER; AT THIS STAGE THE POND LOOKED VERY ATTRACTIVE BUT THOSE POND PLANTS SOON GOT OUT OF HAND SO WE HAVE SINCE DUG IT OUT AND PLANTED MORE MODESTLY WITH ONLY SLOW-GROWING NATIVE PLANTS

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Location is important. To be productive for amphibians, your pond should be close to the cover of long grass, maybe a hedgebank, a rockery or maybe a pile of logs.

Remember that our amphibians go to ponds to spawn; they don’t live in the water all year round. For the rest of the year, they like to hide in moist places under logs and they hunt for insects, slugs and worms.

Given the choice, I think a sunny spot is best for a pond.

Dragonflies like sun and shelter. Amphibians like damp, cool places rather than full sun, but you can provide shading in the form of logs and plants around your pond.

Any pond is better than no pond, but I would make it as large as you can in the space you have. When digging, you need to plan for some shallow-sloping edges to the pond to allow animals access in and out – I’d recommend a few shelves of differing depths. I’m also a firm believer in having the centre of the pond as deep as you can, as it will be less likely to need topping up in summer and a greater variety of habitats will be available to the pond creatures. Deeper ponds also need clearing out less frequently. You’ll find the surface of the pond warms up quite significantly in summer, and some creatures like to avoid that by going deeper.

Clearly, if you have pets or children, you’ll need to consider their safety when determining the depth and location of the pond. You could fence it off or put a

BIRDS NEED WATER, THIS GREENFINCH IS BATHING IN OUR POND

safety net over the top if you wish. I made our garden pond about one metre deep by using railway sleepers to boost the depth at the front, and I banked up earth at the back to allow access for wild creatures.

Once the hole is dug, you can easily measure the dimensions of liner required and make sure you use some form of underlay to protect the liner from punctures.

With liner in place, fill the pond with water and let the liner settle before ‘dressing’ the edges. When filling the pond for the first time, it is best to use rainwater but it doesn’t really matter if you use tap water. Subsequent topping up is also best done with rainwater, but a small amount of tap water won’t do any harm.

It is worth considering where the pond will overflow in periods of heavy rain. Use a spirit level and a plank to anticipate this when digging the hole. It might be that you could create a marsh garden adjacent to the pond.

You will need some oxygenating plants to prevent algae building up, but do not import anything non-native. Some pond weeds, such as parrot’s feather, will quickly swallow up your whole pond. Do not plant bulrushes as their roots are strong enough to pierce the pond liner. I would choose a few native marsh plants for the edges and maybe a native water lily, such as the fringed variety, for the centre of the pond. The pond might look bare for the first year, but time soon passes and nature will work its wonders.

THE FRINGED WATER LILY IS A NATIVE SPECIES

INSET RIGHT: WE ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A SMALLHOLDING AND RECENTLY HAD THIS VERY LARGE POND CREATED, IT HAS GIVEN US HOURS OF PLEASURE

ABOVE: FROGS LAY SPAWN IN LARGE CLUMPS CORNWALL TODAY

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Once we overdid the planting of our garden pond. We found someone who was clearing out theirs and took some of the unwanted plants. There was a reason why they were unwanted – the same reason she was clearing out her pond! Within two years, our own was swamped with a mass of huge plants. The wildlife didn’t mind too much, but we could hardly see any water. Lesson learned – we cleared the pond, didn’t offer the plants to anyone else and didn’t make the same mistake again.

Outside the pond, the single most critical factor is to provide an unkempt area for wildlife to get access to the pond without exposing itself to risk – say, an area of long grass, wildflowers, rocks, logs etc, hopefully connecting the pond to a hedge which will act as a wildlife corridor.

With all that done you are ready to sit back and

prepare to be fascinated by the wonderful and bizarre creatures which will now feel welcome to your garden.

LOOK OUT FOR: (IN PONDS) ► We have only three species of amphibian in Cornwall: common

frog, common toad and palmate newt. Frogs spawn from December to February, laying large clumps of eggs. Toads spawn mostly in February and lay strings of eggs entwined around vegetation in the ponds. Palmate newts lay eggs singly attached to vegetation and spawn in March/April. ► It’s too early to see insects such as dragonflies visiting the pond, but there will be aquatic insect activity. Look for water boatmen upside down under the water’s surface, diving beetles and dragonfly larvae, which enjoy snacking on the odd tadpole!

ABOVE: A PALMATE NEWT, TOGETHER WITH WATER BOATMAN

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W

farm diary WITH MATTHEW DALE

e do live in a strange world. Rather, we do live in a very strange part of the world, where herd mentality hysteria and false news predominate over common sense and scientific evidence. One of the most recent examples of this was the move to ban glyphosate – the ingredient found in the weedkiller Roundup. There is no scientific evidence to show that it is carcinogenic, but because the Greens held the balance of power in Germany, it was used as a political lever to get them on-side.

Glyphosate is a vital tool on most farms and the loss in food production in Europe would be huge. Its ban would also mean higher carbon emissions from tractors and a host of other negative impacts to the environment. But what would I know? I’m only a simple farmer.

More recently still, the Soil Association, the governing body for organic producers in the UK, published a “damning statistic”, claiming that pesticide use had doubled in the UK since 1991. Well, yes, that is true – but only half the story in my view. Pesticide use per acre or hectare has actually halved in that period, a fact I’m proud of and one you’d think the Soil Association would celebrate too. It’s just that

more acres are now cropped, as livestock farming has become uneconomic, so more fungicide and the like is used nationally.

As you might be able to tell, I take a lot of this personally.

Most farmers do. We also worry that misguided or poorly informed, politically-led decision-making on how we produce food could have potentially huge ramifications: outcomes such as food shortages or a vast increase in exports, and prices, as we are unable to grow the produce here effectively.

I was at my annual National Register of Spray Operators refresher course today. Any farmer who applies crop protection products has to have full training, pass an exam, have machinery tested each year and attend the NROSO training courses. The overriding concern in the room of 30 farmers was not only the growing burden of regulation, but how we are going to be able to continue to feed the ever-growing urban population. Answers, please.

Restronguet Barton is a working farm on the picturesque south coast of Cornwall, with holiday cottages, a Caravan Club site and a wedding venue.

Find it on Facebook @RestronguetBarton

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BEHIND THE DOORS OF ST AUSTELL’S MASONIC LODGE

Words by Richard Whitehouse, photographs by Tom Last

ABOVE: A SQUARE AND COMPASS EMBLEM ON THE DOOR OF THE TEMPLE; THROUGH THE PEEPHOLE INTO THE TEMPLE

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t’s one of the most prominent buildings in St Austell town centre, but for most who live in the town what lies behind its doors is a mystery. Cornwall Today was recently given the chance to peek behind the facade of the grand Masonic Hall in South Street.

It was built and opened in 1900 as a home for St Austell Freemasons, although the first meeting of the Peace and Harmony Lodge No: 496 was on March 23, 1844, and minute and treasurers’ books have been kept since then. In fact, the Lodge was represented for the first time, by special dispensation, at the Provincial

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Grand Lodge Meeting held at Falmouth in 1844, when Sir Charles Lemon was installed as the Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Cornwall.

The first meeting at the St Austell Masonic Hall in South Street was held in December 1900. Today, the building is home to four separate Craft Lodges, Peace & Harmony and its three daughter Lodges: Tewington Lodge No: 5698 consecrated in 1938, St Denys Lodge No: 8250 consecrated in January 1969, and Carlyon Lodge No: 7392 consecrated in 1973.

Before the road was changed, steps led to the entrance

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with its beautiful pillars. Inside, a stunning and unique winding stairway leads upstairs to the Lodge temple.

The windows are beautiful and leaded with stained glass, displaying numerous and various Masonic symbols. The block work at the front of the building is hand- carved with various symbols and the dates 5900 AL – Anno Lucis, or Year of Light, a reference to the creation of the world – and 1900 AD. In 2017, the Freemasons marked their 300th anniversary and to celebrate, lodges were encouraged to open their doors to the public. More than 200

people went along to look inside the St Austell Masonic Hall. Mike Eslick, a member of the provincial communication team, said: “From the moment we opened the doors of the Lodge, we had a constant stream of both men and women who were extremely keen to visit and ask questions, clearly showing that so many people have a very keen interest in Freemasonry. It was a pleasure to show everyone around this wonderful building and give them a complete insight into the running of a Lodge, and Cornish Freemasonry in particular.”

LEFT: ST AUSTELL MASONIC HALL

LEFT: CEREMONIAL SWORD

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WILDLIFE & HERITAGE

news

ST AUSTELL FOOTBRIDGE TO GO St Austell residents have lost their fight to protect one of Cornwall’s oldest railway footbridges. The town’s station was opened in May 1859 and had been recognised since 1996 as a Grade II-Listed heritage asset of special architectural interest. The riveted iron lattice footbridge is dated 1882 and is decorated with the Great Western Railway monogram. It is supported by pairs of cast-iron columns with enriched bases and capitals, and is one of three listed station footbridges in Cornwall along with St Erth’s and Redruth’s. A Network Rail spokesman said: “Network Rail invested £500,000 in 2014 to enable construction of a new fully accessible footbridge … which benefits people with children, heavy luggage or shopping, and those with mobility issues.” The old footbridge has been donated to a heritage railway in Wales, where it will be renovated and maintained in perpetuity.

OUT ON THE EDGE Cornwall Wildlife Trust will host the UK premiere of celebrated film-maker Ian McCarthy’s award-winning film Wild Cornwall – Out On The Edge on Thursday, February 8, at the Poly Arts Centre in Falmouth. The film, which won a Silver Dolphin Award at Cannes, follows the turning year in Cornwall, showcasing the county’s ‘wild heart’ – the dramatic lives of species including breeding peregrines and seabirds on the cliffs, dolphins, seals and basking sharks in the ocean, and bats and otters hunting in the streams which flow from moor to sea. Ian McCarthy has been behind the lens on some of David Attenborough’s biggest landmark nature series and this personal account shows Cornwall’s wildlife as never seen before. “With its long and rugged coast, high rocky cliffs, surf-battered beaches, sheltered inlets and tree-lined estuaries, Cornwall has a unique wild beauty,” he says. “This is a film about the lives out on the edge where land, sea and sky meet.” Tickets are £10 including a complimentary glass of wine kindly supplied by The Greenbank Hotel. Call 01326) 319461 or visit www.thpoly.org

CORNISH BUILDINGS GROUP LECTURE Deborah Boden, director of the Cornish Mining UNESCO World Heritage Site, will deliver the 2018 Winter Lecture for the Cornish Buildings Group on Thursday, February 15, at Carnon Downs Hall. For details, email cornishbuildingsgroup@gmail.com 42

BACK IN COMMUNITY HANDS Villagers in Godolphin Cross, near Helston, have bought their chapel and hall after a generous helping hand from the prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. Residents appealed to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Emir of Dubai and head of the global Godolphin horseracing empire; he agreed to cover the shortfall needed to buy Godolphin Methodist Church, which was put up for sale by the Mount’s Bay Methodist Circuit. The building was used for events such as Scout meetings, coffee mornings, gardening club and evening talks. By applying for a Community Right to Bid, which gives town and parish councils and community groups the chance to bid for local assets, the association was able to secure six months to raise £100,000 to cover the purchase, fees and any urgent remedial work. Fundraising is now under way for the work needed to convert the chapel into a warm and welcoming community centre, including roof repairs and a new kitchen.

More information about Community Right to Bid is available at www.cornwall.gov.uk/communityrights

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M A K I N G S PA C E F O R N AT U R E JOINED-UP THINKING ON THE LIZARD: THREE LANDOWNERS, ONE COMMON GOAL Words by Alex Raeder, Natural Environments Lead, National Trust South West

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he marsh fritillary butterfly, the nimble-footed Dexter cow, the acrobatic Cornish chough and the tiny rare beetle don’t know how lucky they are to live on the Lizard. These happy creatures are blissfully unaware of the fact that they fly and munch their way across several land boundaries in the course of a day.

Ownership of much of Britain’s most southerly peninsula is shared between the National Trust, Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Natural England. And fortuitously for those animals, birds and insects, there is a shared philosophy too. All three organisations have nature conservation at the very top of their list of priorities, aware that a likeminded approach to land management is crucial. Working together to reduce fire risk to the precious heathland, or creating wildlife corridors, not only makes sense but also an important difference.

If you studied a colour-coded map of the Lizard to see who owned what, you would get a sense of the patchwork affair that it is. Sections of cliff grazing or pasture that might belong to the National Trust very often abut areas managed or owned by the other two. Not that you – or those handsome, docile Dexters – would notice, thanks to the successful working partnership that links each zone to the next.

The best example of farm management without subdividing fences is Lizard Downs, where Rowland Hill’s Red Devons graze seamlessly from the coast at Kynance

(National Trust) to the inland heaths (Natural England). Fertilisers and sprays are banned and traditional, non-intensive farming practices adhered to, resulting in an ownership boundary that you couldn’t follow on the ground if you tried!

As the National Trust’s general manager, Alastair Cameron, says: “We view the Lizard as one country, not lots of separate little islands. If each farm were managed differently, the piecemeal effect would be obvious to even the untrained eye.”

This knowledgeable triumvirate meets regularly to share differing perspectives, new-found discoveries and future plans. Involving the community is high on the agenda too, with a focus on supporting the local economy. Some decisions need more consideration than others – what’s good for the beloved chough might not be ideal for the rare moth – so three heads are better than one.

This linking of the Lizard goes even further, with fruitful partnerships being forged with other organisations, including the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the University of Exeter, the RSPB and the NFU. It all goes to show how, by working in partnership with other organisations and landowners, we are able to maximise the benefits to nature by collectively making our wildlife habitats bigger, better and more joined-up.

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CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: ROCHELLE SEWELL WITH DAUGHTERS SOPHIE AND RUBY, HUSBAND PETE AND FATHER-IN-LAW PAUL. PHOTOGRAPH BY GREG MARTIN.

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erranuthnoe Beach reminds us of home. Which is a lovely thing when home is some 11,000 miles from here. The jagged coast with its finger-like headlands framing a wide sweep of sandy beach could be found on many stretches of the New Zealand coastline. The fragility of the land facing the rigours of the pounding ocean is another familiar sight. We too are an island nation surrounded by sea.

But what we would never see in our home town is the history we find here in Cornwall.

We’re a family from New Zealand, who have travelled around Britain with our two young daughters (aged seven and five) for the experience of a lifetime. Critical to our sixmonth trip were the five precious weeks that we spent in the village where my father-in-law, Paul Sewell, was born and raised. His 50 years spent in the north-west of England cannot change the fact that he will live and die a Cornishman. We stayed in our family cottage, adding our New Zealand vowels and intrepid experiences to quiet village life.

From the moment we left the brambled lane and into the village proper, the rich fabric and history of Perranuthnoe was evident. Those who’ve visited before will know that the village is comprised of stone cottages with lichen dappled slate roofs. Stone walls sit alongside the narrow lanes, which are occasionally interspersed by low picket gates leading to

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narrow paths and front doors. In many respects, Perranuthnoe is the same small agricultural village it’s always been.

The village church is a distinctive historical local landmark.

St Piran and St Michael Church sits in its glory above the cluster of cottages. Its square turret with its barbican edging and oversized clock face can be seen from some distance away. The pub is distinctive too. Not content with simply being another whitewashed stone public house with an elaborate swing sign and cosy ceilings, someone decided to paint it pink. My five-year-old thought it was marvellous.

Her parents enjoyed it too. The food is award-winning and the staff are a perfect blend of professional and old Cornish charm. The selection of beer from independent breweries brings it up to speed with London trends but the traditional flavours are still on tap. It wasn’t unheard of for our children to ask if we could go to “the pink pub” for a family outing.

During our time in the UK we learnt a new mantra: “It’s not the wrong weather, it’s simply the wrong choice of coat.” This past year has certainly not been a record-breaking heatwave, and the arrival of storm Ophelia back in October hit the South West with passion. That said, we had the right coats, and as Perranuthnoe is positioned on the South West Coast Path, we were well placed for excellent walks in any weather.

Locals will tell you that the path out toward the end of

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c

A KIWI FAMILY EXPERIENCE IN PERRANUTHNOE Words by Rochelle Sewell

Cudden Point and beyond into Prussia Cove is special. Try it at dawn and you may spot grey seals on the rocks below. Then of course there’s St Michael’s Mount, accessed via a coastal walk towards the west or into Marazion via the A-road. This magical coastline is full of spectacular places to walk or stop and contemplate. It’s dog- friendly, as evidenced by the influx of canine friends to Perranuthnoe in late autumn, but is also a place to spot birds of prey and unique sea birds off the rocky outcrop known by the charming title of The Grebe.

The beach was on offer for us too, even though we deliberately chose to be in Perranuthnoe in October as we were keen to avoid school holidays. The water was a cool 15˚C and perfectly accessible with a full wetsuit. Fortunately, we’d packed four sets of neoprene in our suitcases.

The rock pools provided hours of fun for our children who love the traditional method of fishing for small blennies using cotton reels and pins for a line. The sand at Perranuthnoe is often dampened by the incoming tide and is perfect for digging holes and constructing sandcastles. For warming up after the beach, we found two excellent cafés serving hot chocolates and coffee. With cold children, it’s the little details that count.

My husband recalls milking a cow in the series of whitewashed barns in the centre of the village. These days the barns

are occupied by a café, a gift shop, a dog grooming service and two galleries. There’s even an artist in residence who’s open for visitors all year round. It’s a bit like having the bohemian artist groove in our midst that’s made St Ives so popular for decades, but without the overbearing influx of visitors. It feels like our little secret, especially at this time of year.

During our final weeks in Perranuthnoe, we spoke to everyone from an elderly neighbour to a passing surfer in the lane. And we made it a priority to pull up a stool next to a local at the bar. When home-schooling was over for the day, our children wandered through the fields in their wellington boots and sought friends while they built sandcastles and splashed around at the beach.

We savoured the local vegetables and fresh produce for which Cornwall is known, and we didn’t correct our hosts for calling cauliflower broccoli or swedes turnips. We will forever delight in the West Country accent and traditions. We ate Newlyn ice cream and visited the fish markets at dawn to try species we never see in southern hemisphere waters.

And as we made new friends we enjoyed shared meals of authenticated Cornish pasties and cream teas – jam first, then clotted cream on top.

Perranuthnoe, you are our home away from home. We’ve enjoyed your warm welcome.

Are you a Cousin Jack, or a Cornwall fan living abroad? Share your story by emailing knewton@cornwalltoday.co.uk

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H

ow are those New Year resolutions going? Well done (chons da), if you’re still fully committed in February.

What does February have in store? For me, it’s all about frosty mornings, clear skies, half-term mayhem, Brittany, my birthday and, talking of commitment, Valentine’s Day. Gone are the days of embroidered hand-crafted declarations of love containing pieces of human hair (probably a good thing), and in are instant digital messages accompanied by a few suggestive and abbreviated words.

Put the romance back into Valentine’s Day this year by sending your sweetheart a message in Cornish? Here are a few phrases to help boost your chance of romance: Rag ow melder | For my sweetheart Dydh Sen Valentin Lowen | Happy St Valentine’s Day A vyn’ta mos yn-mes genev? | Will you go out with me?

My a’th kar | I love you A vyn’ta demedhi genev? | Will you marry me?

Gans oll ow herensa | With all my love Dhyworth estemyor kevrinek | From a mystery admirer A wre’ta dos omma yn fenowgh?

Do you come here often?

Kyrgh dha gota, ty re dennas!

Get your coat, you’ve pulled!

Having a birthday a couple of days before Valentine’s Day was fun when I was a teenager. I could pretend that the pile of red and white envelopes stashed in my school bag were Valentine’s cards, which of course none of them were really. Looking back, nothing much changes. I was glad to leave that sort of peer pressure in the past.

I’m currently battling with the past tense of Kernewek.

When you’re learning a new language, you inevitably reach

a point where you can no longer get away with using text book phrases in the present tense. I’ve been forcing myself to write songs in the past tense of Cornish language for a couple of projects I’m involved in.

I’m off to Brittany this month to collaborate with Breton musician Dom Duff on a piece of music for the arrival of Saint Piran - in the form of a 3m-tall statue - at the La Vallée des Saints in Carnoët in July. Currently being carved from Carnsew stone in Mabe, the statue is a joint project between Cornishman David Paton and Breton Stéphane Rouget. Saint Piran has a millstone wheel around his neck, bearing the proverb (in the Cornish language) of the Breton sailor: “Oh God, my boat is so small and the ocean so big.” Saint Piran is the 100th statue to join the communion of saints in Carnoët, and will make the cross-channel journey aboard an old fishing vessel. I hope the seas will be calmer and the weather warmer by then.

I was walking my dog up near the Cheesewring on Bodmin Moor recently. It was snowing lightly and bitterly cold. It got me thinking about life on Caradon moor hundreds of years ago, well before central heating, instant hot water and proper roads. I was thinking about stone cutter Daniel Gumb, who was born in 1703 and lived for over 50 years in a cave on Stowes Hill. These days we’d call his cave an eco-house; it would feature on George Clark’s Amazing Spaces as a small subterranean bolthole, with an open fire and a slab of granite for roof. It must have been reasonably cosy, as he had a wife and several children there. His story is a songwriter’s dream, which is why you can catch up with Daniel Gumb on the next Changing Room album.

Don’t forget to send Valentine’s Day messages to me @TanyaB_Music in Cornish of course #kernewek #Cornish

Kornel GET YOUR COAT, YOU’VE PULLED Words by Tanya Brittain

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learning

years of

T

200 2018 MARKS THE

‘antimony and bournonite wo hundred years ago, on ROYAL INSTITUTION OF from Endellion’.

February 5, 1818, a group of men CORNWALL’S BICENTENARY and women gathered at the County “RIC 200 is a year-long celebration of the Library in Truro. When they left a few hours past, present and future of the Institution and later, they had established a society of learning and we’re planning a range of exhibitions and events culture that still exists and thrives today. to showcase the different ways in which Cornwall has made The Royal Institution of Cornwall (RIC) runs the Royal Cornwall an impact on the world,” said museum director Ian Wall. “The Museum and the Courtney Library – both of them housed in county’s 450 recorded minerals, for example, represent 15% of the impressive Grade II-Listed building in River Street that the all those found in the world – and more than a third of them are RIC has owned since 1919. To date, more than half a million deemed ‘rare’ or ‘ultra-rare’. objects have been collected and exhibited there, showcasing the “There’s a lot to be extremely proud of in our past, but the outstanding contribution Cornwall has made over the centuries RIC isn’t just about looking after our heritage; it’s about helping to science and the arts. to forge our future too, through inspiration and education. Our Penzance-born and Truro-educated Sir Humphry Davy, famous workshops, lectures and activities reflect our ongoing aim and inventor of the Davy lamp which protected miners from methane vision and we look forward to opening our doors to thousands gas, was among the illustrious Cornishmen of the time who of visitors in 2018.” were advancing science on a global scale.

“It’s a measure of the extraordinary ferment of activity in Cornwall in the early 19th century that the RIC was the first such body to be established outside Britain’s major cities,” said current ► Monday, February 5: An anniversary launch for RIC 200 will be held for RIC trustee and celebrated author Philip Marsden. “AL Rowse members and invited guests. described the period as the ‘pullulating, crowded, most creative ► Tuesday, February 6: The museum reopens to the public. epoch in [Cornwall’s] history’. The Industrial Revolution had ► Thursday, February 22: Dr Simon Naylor – a historical geographer at produced a hunger for Cornwall’s minerals and – to those who

diary dates

devised efficient ways to extract them, to smelt and transport them – the returns were vast.”

One of the first actions the new institution took in 1818 was to buy equipment for a laboratory that it set up for mineral analysis.

Samples were left of the different rocks brought in for assessment by those involved in the local mines and so the RIC’s mineral collection was born. Among the specimens donated were ‘native gold from Carnon’, ‘a large quartz crystal from Tintagel’ and

the University of Glasgow, who grew up in west Cornwall – will deliver a lecture on Cornwall’s Scientific Past examining the RIC’s work in the context of the development of science in 19th-century Cornwall in particular and in Britain more generally. The paper draws attention to some of the crucial scientific projects that the RIC was involved in, such as the production of a Cornish fauna, the study of the weather and the survey of the county’s prehistoric remains. ► For more information, visit www.royalcornwallmuseum.org.uk

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ART WORLD GALLERY Falmouth

To place your Art Listing in next month’s issue please contact a member of our team on 01872 247393 and they will be happy to help In Love

by David Jamin

Acrylic on canvas, 30x30cms

gallery

Open: Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5.30pm; Sunday, 11am to 4pm.

Address: 62 Church Street, Falmouth, TR11 3DS. Email: info@artworldltd.com Web: www.artworldltd.com

TEL: 01326 219323 THE ROUND HOUSE & CAPSTAN GALLERY

Sennen Cove, Penzance

FEBRUARY

guide 2018

Art World Gallery was established in the centre of Falmouth in 2000. With views across the harbour, it is the perfect place to come and browse the finest collection of French, Italian and, of course, Cornish artists. Gallery staff ensure a friendly and informal environment, and are always happy to help and advise. Art World Gallery can also supply a home or business consultancy service, providing practical and creative advice on choosing and placing artworks to complement your surroundings.

Below the Crowns by Michael Praed This circular gallery is a showcase for Cornish creative excellence. Two floors feature an ever-changing display of paintings, sculpture, photography, ceramics and jewellery. Paintings by Paul Armitage, Romi Behrens, John Piper, Mark Poprawski, Michael Praed, Michael Strang, Neil Pinkett and more. Sculpture and ceramics by Phil Booth, Colin Caffell and Jane Smith.

Open: Friday to Monday, 10.30 - 4.30.

Daily during half term week.

Address: Sennen Cove, nearPenzance, TR19 7DF. Email: roundhouse.gallery@btconnect.com Web: www.round-house.co.uk Twitter: @Capstangallery Facebook: Roundhouse & Capstan Gallery

to advertise in the next issue of Cornwall Today call 01872 247393

TEL: 01736 871859

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art

A R T I S T S H E L LY T R E G O N I N G ART NEWS

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VIEW FROM THE HARBOUR

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PA I N T I N G O U T S I D E

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FALMOUTH GRADUATE SHELLY TREGONING HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR SOME OF THE COUNTRY’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS ART PRIZE EXHIBITIONS. WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF MAKING WORK IN CORNWALL FOR A NATIONAL ART SCENE? Words by Mercedes Smith, photographs by Steve Tanner

BOUNDARIES

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J AN UARY MAN . OI L ON LI N E N

O FF B A L A NC E. M O NO PR I NT

LOVE STORY. OI L ON LI N E N

T H E J O UR NEY. M O NO PR I NT

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his month, Shelly Tregoning’s work will be on show at London’s Mall Galleries as part of the Columbia Threadneedle Prize exhibition – one of the most respected and influential open art competitions in Europe.

It’s the second time in as many years that she has been selected, from an entry list in the thousands – no mean feat.

Add to that her recent selection for the National Open Art Competition, the Discerning Eye Exhibition in London, and the Royal West of England Academy shows in Bristol, and you begin to see the reach and potential of her work.

Her loft-style work space, at Helston’s Cornubian Arts and Science Trust (CAST), could be any London studio, with its huge canvases, and views only of the sky through slanted roof lights. But it is not. It sits in a small town near the remote Lizard peninsula, a world away from the urban art scene which is showing such interest in her painting. Here, amid a Cornish art scene typically understood to be concerned only with landscape painting and abstract art, Tregoning is making a very different kind of work. And she is not the only one.

“There are many successful, wellestablished artists here, making different and original work that, over recent years, has broken away from what’s expected,” says Shelly. “Cornwall has an important legacy of landscape and abstract painters, but there are plenty of highly respected artists here making many other kinds of work. At the moment, Cornwall lacks a serious platform for exploring other genres, but it doesn’t necessarily follow that there is no audience here for new genres.”

With few regional galleries willing to show less typically ‘Cornish’ work, inevitably some of the talent nurtured here must look away from (or even leave) Cornwall in order to succeed. Shelly’s first offer of a solo exhibition, for example, came last year from the Arusha Gallery in Edinburgh. And the problem for artists such as Shelly is twofold: Cornwall galleries, understandably, rely heavily on visitors who hope to buy work associated either with the locale, or with the art history of the area; conversely, urban or national level galleries often expect work made in rural locations to be irrelevant to the national art scene. “There is a presumption that relevant painting is an urban pursuit, and anything else is labelled ‘provincial’. I think young artists in Cornwall are constantly

struggling against the attitude that work made away from cities is provincial, dealing only with provincial ideas.”

So where does that leave emerging new painters in Cornwall, with an eye on the wider national, or even international, art scene? “To get our work out there – to show alongside nationally recognised artists as it were – new artists like me are entering national prizes and competitions, where our art has a chance of being shown to a broader audience. During the shortlisting process, selectors have no reason to know where our art originates from, and that can be an advantage. It removes preconceptions, and means our work is being judged at a national level, purely on its merits.”

Why then, does she think she has earned inclusion in so many important, national prize exhibitions? “My painting responds to wider conversations about what’s happening in the world right now. There is nothing sentimental about my work,” she says with a self-depreciating laugh.

“What I mean by that is that you need a certain edge to make your work relevant. Also, figurative work like mine may have a more urban appeal. My work typically presents people in interiors, rather than people in the landscape; indeed, what my work really explores is the interior of people, their deeper identity and selves. That is a universal theme right now. My work is not about ‘place’. A great deal of work made in Cornwall is about defining a ‘sense of place’, but mine is not.”

While the difficulties of painting in Cornwall and aiming to reach a national audience are clear, what if any are the advantages of working here, away from the urban centres that dominate the contemporary art world? “One advantage,” says Shelly, “is that here, I am less influenced by what I might feel the national art scene expects me to create. That pressure can be confusing, and counterproductive. Down here we receive less outside influence, less information, so I can focus completely on what I want to do. My hope is that more artists here will feel encouraged to paint new subjects in new ways, and that new galleries and curators will emerge here to showcase new kinds of work.”

See Shelly’s work at the Columbia Threadneedle Prize Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London, from January 31 to February 17, or visit

www.shellytregoning.net

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ART news A T R I U M

GALLERY

Atrium Gallery, located at Lemon Street Market in Truro city centre, invites its visitors on a journey across the UK throughout February, exploring coastal, harbour and aerial landscapes with artists Alasdair Lindsay, Mick Manning, Colin Moore and Dave Nelson. The print show is a perfect opportunity to start your own art collection; each artist exhibits nationally and offers a unique interpretation of the British landscape. 01872 273631, atrium@illustratedliving.co.uk

CC OO RN NT WE MA PL OL R A R Y

A rich and diverse mixed exhibition of paintings, ceramics and sculpture runs throughout February at Cornwall Contemporary gallery in Penzance. Beautiful and serene figure paintings by renowned Norwegian artist Kristin Vestgard, who studied at Falmouth College of Art, are accompanied by Neil Pinkett’s stunning Cornish seascapes, the vibrant abstracts of Maggie Matthews, dynamic abstracted landscapes by David Mankin and bronze sculptures by Antonio Lopez Reche, among others. Winter opening hours are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 10am to 5pm, all other days by appointment. www.cornwallcontemporary.com 54

K U R T

JACKSON

Kurt Jackson’s exhibition Cot: A Cornish Valley continues until February 17 at the artist’s studio in St Just in Penwith.

Follow Cornwall’s most westerly valley from the source of its stream on exposed heathland to the coast where it enters the Atlantic Ocean. Spread across three galleries and made up of a diverse range of media including immense canvases, small intimate studies, film, ceramics and sculpture, this ambitious body of work sees Jackson explore the impact the Cot Valley’s watercourse has had on its surroundings: the hamlets that sprung up around its banks, the crops it propagated, the changing wildlife it nurtures, and the industry that relied on its current to turn the mills and pan for tin, before becoming a barren post-industrial landscape and its recent regeneration.

Open Wednesday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 1pm. www.jacksonfoundationgallery.com

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S H AW

Having shown at Anima-Mundi in St Ives, sculptor and Royal Academician Tim Shaw moves to The Exchange in Penzance with What Remains. Drawn from personal experience, the exhibition features two installations that address head-on the global presence and effect of terrorism, and the pervasive sense of hidden powers having control over our lives.

Mother, The Air Is Blue, The Air Is Dangerous is an immersive experience using video and sound, offering a visceral insight into Shaw’s experience of an IRA bombing as a child in Belfast; while Soul Snatcher Possession is a sculptural installation portraying an ambiguous meeting of figures, the air taut with menace. February 10 to May 12, www.newlynartgallery.co.uk

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RACE, PLACE  & DIVERSITY BY THE SEASIDE

CT RY EP MH EE NR HAETE R E The gallery at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, near Penzance, celebrates its first anniversary with an artist-led exhibition staged in partnership with Newlyn School of Art. Cypher combines the work of 13 artists who worked together on a year-long professional practice programme at the innovative and dynamic school, and reveals the vigorous way personal expressions are shaped in a variety of media: installation, projection, video, sound, drawing, painting, photography and collaborative works all illustrate the most effective ways to communicate the artists’ preoccupations. The upper gallery will be transformed into a reading room so the artists can share the way they research and develop their ideas.

January 27 to February 4, including a symposium with artists and curators on February 3 and 4. www.tremenheere.co.uk

G R O U N D W O R K

Look out for Groundwork, a season of exceptional international contemporary art in Cornwall opening over the May bank holiday and running until September. The project has been organised by Helston-based arts organisation CAST (Cornubian Arts and Science Trust), in partnership with Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange, Tate St Ives and Kestle Barton. With an emphasis on moving image, sound and performance, the programme will include presentations of new commissions and acclaimed works at locations across West Cornwall. Artists will include Oscar-winning filmmaker Steve McQueen, with locations ranging from Gwennap Pit to Par Beach (pictured). Visit www.groundwork.art

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British Asian photographer Suki Dhanda, whose portraits of subjects for The Observer and The Guardian include Blue Planet presenter Sir David Attenborough, former Prime Minister Tony Blair and artist Yoko Ono, returns to Plymouth College of Art - where she began her photography journey with Race, Place And Diversity By The Seaside. Dhanda shoots on film using an analogue camera, and focuses on ethnicity, people and place. This new body of work celebrates the fact that people from a multitude of backgrounds have historically congregated at the British seaside with their families and loved ones to take in the views, walk along the shore and swim in the sea. The exhibition will explore the changing face of Plymouth’s population, and seek to uncover and celebrate the diverse community of people who have made the city their home. February 7 to March 22. www.plymouthart.ac.uk

L O V I N G

VINCENT

Congratulations to the team behind Loving Vincent – including Cornwall-based artist Sarah Wimperis – which has been nominated for a BAFTA award in the Animated Film category. It’s up against Coco and My Life As A Courgette, and the winner will be announced on February 18.

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VIEW FROM THE HARBOUR

VALENTINE’S DAY Words by Mark David Hatwood, portrait by Hilary Stock

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hen I was a teenager, Valentine’s Day was all about me, me, me. Now I’m older, I know should be about giving than receiving. That said, I wonder how many of us will give something that truly lasts a lifetime.

Physical gifts are lovely, but on significant dates like Valentine’s Day, have you considered giving up something that you know irritates your life-partner? Some of the best gifts I’ve given are those that enhance my relationships in the long term, rather than on the day. And no matter what our income, thoughtfulness is something we can all afford, isn’t it?

Anyway, if you do decide to give a physical gift on the 14th, what better way is there to say “I love you” than a piece of art that will last a lifetime? We may not all be lucky enough to live in Cornwall but, thanks to the internet, a piece of Cornish art is just a mouse-click away.

I’ve prided myself on the Harbour Gallery’s web presence, and feel all galleries should use it well these days, but thanks to websites like Etsy and ArtFinder, browsing and buying

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work online from the artist has become so much easier.

So why not browse Cornish art and support an artist or gallery this Valentine’s Day? It’s a great way of supporting local trade during the shoulder months, too.

Finally, I’d like to feature one of THG’s best-selling artists: Ben Taffinder. His powerful impasto palette knife work and choice of contemporary colours immortalises the exciting Cornish landscape, but it’s his still life work that sells in droves. Ben is often compared to one of his heroes, Welsh painter Kyffin Williams, and for me it’s his choice of colour that will see his work lift him onto the world stage in the near future. Still only in his mid-thirties, he is definitely one to watch in 2018. See more at www.theharbourgallery.co.uk/project/ben-taffinder/ Cheers and gone!

Mark David Hatwood FRSA is the owner of the Harbour Gallery in Portscatho.

Tel 01872 580807, www.theharbourgallery.co.uk Facebook TheHarbourGallery, Twitter @HarbourGallery

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food

A L L H A I L T H E C O R N I S H PA S T Y !

LOVE FROM SOUTH AMERICA F R E DA’ S P E A N U T B U T T E R

FOOD NEWS

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LUCY’S LIQUID LEARNINGS T H E S AV V Y S H O P P E R

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MAKING THE CUT: RIB-EYE STEAK

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CORNWALL TODAY

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THE FIRST FULL WEEK DEDICATED TO CORNWALL’S FAVOURITE FOODSTUFF Photograph by Kate Whitaker

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urning the spotlight on Cornwall’s favourite food, the first Cornish Pasty Week will be celebrated throughout the county and beyond. Seven days of activity will begin on Sunday, February 25, culminating in the ‘Oggy Oscars’ – aka the World Pasty Championships – on Saturday, March 3 at the Eden Project.

The Cornish Pasty Association (CPA), which counts many of Cornwall’s pasty companies among its members, will be working with those who make and sell pasties to offer a week’s worth of fun, special offers and information.

Community groups and schools will be treated to crimping and pastymaking workshops, pub quizzes to competitions, and a social media campaign will aim to spread the hashtag #pastysmile.

On Monday, February 26, at the beginning of Cornish Pasty Week, lovable characters Mr and Mrs Pasty will travel by sleeper train up to the Big Smoke to take the #pastysmile to the capital. They will board an opentop London bus and tour the sights, posting selfies from Buckingham Palace, the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament – where, in the afternoon, Camborne and Redruth MP George will host a Cornish pasty reception.

CPA chairman Jason Jobling said: “It’s about time the Cornish pasty had a whole week to itself. This humble dish may have its origins down the Cornish mines, but it is now worth over £300 million to the local economy.”

The CPA was formed as a collective of producers who were concerned about products being sold nationwide as ‘Cornish pasties’ which bore little resemblance to the genuine article.

The association now administers the PGI designation granted in 2011 by the European Union; today, the phrase ‘Cornish pasty’ is a protected trademark, and to use it, products must abide by a clear set of rules determining ingredients (roughly diced

or minced beef, sliced or diced potato, swede/turnip, onion and seasoning to taste), shape (like a capital D) and crimp (towards one side).

An array of authentic Cornish, and open savoury pasties, will be on display at the the seventh annual World Pasty Championships on March 3.

Pasty makers from Cornwall, the UK and around the world will converge upon the Eden Project to compete for pasty-shaped trophies crafted from clay. Regular categories – amateur, professional, junior and company for both Cornish and non-Cornish pasties – all return, and a new Pasty Ambassador will be chosen.

In 2017, the Cornish Pasty professional category was won by Canadian Gerry Ramier, who runs the Piskie Pie Company in St Catherine’s, Ontario in the shadow of Niagara Falls.

Gerry cooked his pasty in Cornwall to ensure it was eligible for the Cornish category; he plans to defend his title, as well as entering non-traditional pasties in the open savoury professional category.

“It was an absolute blast to attend last year’s championships, and I’m looking forward to coming back,” he said. “In addition to my Cornish pasty, I’ll be submitting entries which will boast the beautiful and delicate flavors present in Niagara in the springtime as well as a homage to a traditional dish from Quebec.”

Anyone can enter the World Pasty Championships – registration closes at midday on Thursday, March 1, or beforehand if maximum numbers are reached. Adults £10 per category, juniors £5. Dust off your family recipe, and prepare to do battle!

For more information about Cornish Pasty Week, visit www.cornishpastyassociation.co.uk or Twitter @cornishpasties1 For more details about the World Pasty Championships, visit www.edenproject.com/pasty

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o celebrate National Pasty Week, we enlisted the expertise of food photographer Kate Whitaker – who regularly shoots for magazines such as Delicious, Waitrose and Good Housekeeping – to produce the perfect pasty cover.

Myths abound as to how food is made to look lush for the camera – every trick of the trade bar cooking it. For example, are raw turkeys really basted with creosote to give them that ‘just roasted’ look? “I’ve never done that,” says Kate (which isn’t exactly a ‘no’), “although I have seen Marmite used many a time along with other strange and secret concoctions.”

We are in Kate’s studio in Gooseham, just north of Bude and a mere valley away from the CornwallDevon border. Once a garage, it has been extended and converted into a studio flooded with natural light. Surfaces are piled with props, from marble chopping boards to sturdy pieces of slate, coloured backdrops and glassware. Kate reaches out to the wall and pulls at a hidden drawer, revealing far more space than you’d realise, containing yet more utensils.

As in any sphere, fashions change. The industrial look – metal, concrete and stone - is very on trend.

“Painterly stone, concrete and zinc are very on trend, as are handmade ceramics. I think the flaky rustic wood look is finally on its way out.”

We’re looking for contrast – grey or blue will make the golden pastry stand out; orange, which would be too samey, is ruled out. The designer has asked for steam; Kate wrinkles her nose, which is code for “naff”. She wants one whole and one cut open, with oozy bits: “Basically, it has to look yummy.” To this end, to ensure good pastry and an appetising filling, Kate has ordered pasties in from Proper Cornish, having worked with them successfully before.

To the gentle soundtrack of a Spotify list reminiscent of Radio 2 – Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac, the Doobie Brothers, “nothing too dominating” – Kate lines pasties up, getting them to sit nicely, shooting from overhead and below, against a variety of backgrounds including baking paper and tea towels. We see the results instantly on screen, and email test shots back to the office for discussion.

What do you think of our choice? www.katewhitaker.co.uk

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QUALITY CHOCOLATE, BROUGHT TO YOU FROM FALMOUTH VIA SOUTH AMERICA Words by Katie Weston

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hat connects Ecuador to a sea view flat in Falmouth? Ethically traded bean-to-bar chocolate, of course.

Husband-and-wife team Andres Altamiramo and Sara Castaneda launched the Rio Nuevo brand at the Jubilee Wharf Christmas Fair in Penryn. Such was its success that, at the time of going to press, the pair were in the process of moving the business to a larger space and setting up a workshop.

Sara, 28, hails from Colombia and first came to Cornwall to study for an undergraduate degree in marine and natural history photography at Falmouth University.

While teaching at a secondary school in south London, she met Ecuadorian economist Andres, 34.

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“We decided to move here in search of a better lifestyle,” says Sara. “I loved the land and seascapes. I knew there was a real sense of community here, and when we made the decision to leave London, we knew this would be the place we’d move to.” They now live in a flat near Gyllyngvase beach; the scent of chocolate hits you as soon as you walk through the door.

A mutual love of chocolate, and a shared desire to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and their families, had led them to consider entering the trade – and Cornwall’s creative vibe was the catalyst they needed. “Falmouth’s pace of life, landscape and creative community inspired us to start working towards the dream we’ve had for a very long time,” smiles Andres.

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While visiting family in South America, Andres’ sister introduced them to a cocoa farmer. Having sorted out the paperwork, they now import beans from him directly. “The farmers live in very remote areas and, without a car, it’s almost impossible for them to travel to the nearest city,” says Sara. “We know the area well, we know the language and we can make those connections.”

Handcrafted by the pair themselves, the dark chocolate uses only natural ingredients, including roasted cocoa beans and unrefined cane sugar. There are no preservatives, soy or dairy, making it perfect for vegans and those with any dietary requirements.

After receiving sacks filled to the brim with raw ‘cacao’, Andres and Sara dry and ferment the beans to form nibs.

It takes days to hand-grind these nibs, working in weekly micro- batches to produce up to 50 delicious bars at a time.

The chocolate is available in an array of percentages and flavours, including naturally ground cinnamon, peanut and even brandy.

“My favourite’s the 72% one – or maybe the cinnamon one, I just can’t choose!” laughs Sara laughs.

Andres adds: “Mine’s definitely the peanuts - we eat a

lot of them in Ecuador.”

His roots are clearly important to him; Ecuador’s cocoa beans are some of the finest in the world, and are considered a rare delicacy. “It’s our heritage, and we do not want to lose it,” he says. “Ecuadorian beans are fruity and floral, and not as bitter as other beans. Only the really high-end chocolatiers can get them.”

The reception has been favourable: “We feel very encouraged by the comments we’ve received, with people appreciating the effort we’ve put in. We tell people that it just takes a small piece of the chocolate to satisfy you.”

Their project expands from Falmouth, with packaging printed in Redruth and moulds designed and produced in Wadebridge. The pair are planning to attend lots of upcoming events to showcase their product, including Mazey Day and a variety of vegan festivals.

Sitting in a room fragrant with the aroma of raw cocoa beans, I dare to ask: “Do you ever get fed up of eating chocolate?” They grin in reply: “We do love chocolate, but sometimes we eat so much that by the end of the day, we need a lot of herbal tea!”

rionuevochocolate.com

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A MEVAGISSEY CHEF IS TAKING ON THE PEANUT BUTTER MARKET Words by Kirstie Newton

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n Antipodean campervan tour is an unlikely start for a business venture, but it was during the holiday of a lifetime that Lisa and Andrew Newsham, of Mevagissey, had the brainwave of launching a new Cornish food product: peanut butter.

The couple had run the Market Square Café for five years. “We’d just given up – Andrew had gone back to plastering, and I was working as a chef in Lobb’s Farm Shop,” Lisa recalls. “Neither of us wanted to be doing that for ever – both are tough trades.

“We’d both turned 50, and celebrated by touring New Zealand in a campervan named Freda. Every time we go away, we take peanut butter, but as this was a long-haul trip we decided to buy some there.

It was a mission to find a good one – there was a rare brand that you had to buy in high-end delis.

“It got me thinking that there was nothing like that here. Peanut butter is either cheap and cheerful, or sold as a health food. I thought you could make your own – and Andrew said of all the hare-brained schemes I’d come up with, this one could actually work.”

Once home, Lisa began experimenting with different flavours and textures and attended an Oxford Innovations growth hub workshop. Freda’s Peanut Butter – named in fond remembrance of their Kiwi steed – was launched in April 17. “I gave up my job in May, and have been full-time ever since. We’re now stocked by 50 shops. I’m no saleswoman but it wasn’t a tough sell at all – there’s nothing else like it

in Cornwall, or even nationally.”

Flavours include original (in crunchy and smooth), Cornish sea salt, chocolate (good warmed through with ice cream), and smoked chipotle chilli. “That’s good in stir-fries and satays, or coconut curry,” says Lisa. “One chap told me he has it on his porridge in the morning – that’s a step too far for me.”

A surprise best-seller is toasted coconut peanut butter. “It’s the sweetest of them all – peanut and coconut work well together.” While the more exotic ingredients have to be sourced abroad – peanuts from Brazil, coconuts from Sri Lanka, cacao from Peru – others are sourced locally where possible: honey from Alice Bees, Cornish Sea Salt and chillis from South Devon.

The peanuts are roasted in Lisa’s kitchen, then ground in a commercial food processor. Additional ingredients are mixed in, then the end product is hand-poured into sterilised jars – up to 25 jars a day – with Andrew sticking on the labels after a hard day’s work as a plasterer.

It’s onwards and upwards in 2018, with plans to move production into larger premises, and for Lisa to step out of the kitchen to grow the business by visiting more food fairs across Cornwall and beyond, as well as developing online sales. Watch this space!

Find Freda’s Peanut Butter on Facebook and at stores around Cornwall including Great Cornish Food in Truro, Bailey’s Country Store in Penryn, Lobb’s Farm Shop and more.

ABOVE: LISA AND ANDREW NEWSHAM AT THE GREAT CORNISH FOOD FESTIVAL. PHOTO BY SALLY ADAMS

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17/01/2018 10:33:30

Words by Lucy Robinson

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LOOK TO THE EAST FOR WONDROUS AND WALLET-FRIENDLY WINES

s 2018 begins to settle itself in, I would like to highlight a drinks trend to look out for – and an affordable one at that.

When asked where most of the wine you buy from Europe comes from, you might say France, Spain, or Italy: but with Brexit sadly pushing some prices above what we’re used to, and supply-related problems due to a dismal summer bringing in lower harvests, you might like to consider the other European countries producing quality but extremely affordable wine which is quietly but solidly marching its way on to UK shelves.

We all love a boozy bargain, obviously, and we certainly miss the days of the three-bottles-for-£10 deals. What if I told you there are still stonking wines to be found midweek for as little as £5.95? If you give yourself a little time looking on the shelves of your supermarket, off-licence, national chain drinks shop or independent drinks merchant, you’ll find wallet-friendly wines in the £5-to-£10 bracket to really take notice of.

These are usually made from grapes you’ll recognise: Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir; but also from worryingly unpronounceable varieties, and all from countries within Europe that may surprise you.

Georgia, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Macedonia, Turkey … far away in the east of Europe, more usually associated with the news or cheap holiday destinations. Yet these are the countries where wine production first began over 8,000 years ago – and they never stopped, either.

Consider this year, as a brilliant and affordable alternative to the safe, big brand you might normally reach for, a juicy, smooth and easy-drinking Pinot Noir from Romania (average bottle price £6); a wonderfully crisp

Sauvignon Blanc from Slovenia, with a noticeable difference from your usual Southern hemisphere go-to (£7-8); or a beefy Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Bulgaria or Turkey, barely different from a trusted Aussie equivalent (£8).

You could be a little more adventurous and search out the more unpronounceable grape types, which really are just a different take on your better-known Merlots and Pinot Grigios. They are out there right now, waiting to be discovered. Try getting your tongue around the indigenous grape Fetească Neagră (fet-ay-ASH-ka nay-AG-ra) from Romania – a red wine similar to Merlot (£6); or Grüner Veltliner (GROON-er velt-LINN-er) from Hungary (£7), a white grape that wonderfully rivals Sauvignon Blanc.

Don’t be afraid of these foreign words. Just pick up the bottle, read the notes on the back and if it sounds delicious and similar to what you are used to drinking, it will be, but perhaps slightly different and yet exciting, interesting, and new. Isn’t that a good thing? Put it in your basket and get it home to open and enjoy!

Aldi, Asda, Majestic, Waitrose and M&S are just a few wellknown stores to pick up really interesting Eastern European wines that will amaze your taste buds without hurting your pocket, and any local independent merchant will be happy to show you to these newer lines on their own shelves.

Meanwhile, for the prosecco lovers worried about a possibly paucity due to low harvests, seek out Pignoletto (peen-yoLET-o) (£8-9) as a worthy alternative and new addition to your love for Italian fizz – perfect for Valentine’s Day too.

Make 2018 the year to try to learn more about what you are drinking. Enjoy yourself and excite your taste buds while watching the pennies.

Yeghes da!

Follow Lucy Robinson on Twitter @WineFoxCornwall 66

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COUSCOUS-COATED SALMON Recipe by Amy Sheppard, photograph by Howard Shooter

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his salmon makes a great dinner or lunch, and is quick to prepare when you have unexpected guests.

Spicy couscous is full of flavour and yet won’t overpower the fish. Most supermarkets now do their own packet version. Covering the salmon in couscous traps in the fish’s juices and keeps it lovely and moist in the oven. This goes really well with new potatoes and vegetables, or just a simple salad.

FEEDS 4 100g packet of spicy couscous • 165ml boiling water 4 salmon fillets • 3 tbsp plain flour • 1 egg beaten

► Heat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas mark 6 ► Put the couscous into a bowl and pour the boiling water over it.

Cover the bowl with cling film and leave for ten minutes. Gently separate the couscous with a fork. ► Coat the salmon fillets in flour and then dip into the beaten egg. ► Place the salmon in the bowl of couscous and gently press down; turn over and repeat, so that the salmon is coated. ► Put all the couscous-coated fillets on to a non-stick baking tray and bake in the oven for 15 minutes, until the couscous is crisp and golden and the salmon is cooked through.

Recipe from The Savvy Shopper’s Cookbook

by Amy Sheppard (Ebury Press) www.thesavvyshopperscookbook.com

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to advertise in the next issue of Cornwall Today call 01872 247393

18/01/2018 12:48:34

 





food news

Compiled by Kirstie Newton

1.Kids get loved-up Let your kids get romantic during half-term, with Philleigh Way’s new Children’s Valentine’s Baking Course. Your child will bake delicious heart-shaped cookies and create hand-made moulded chocolates, learning a variety of techniques. The perfect half-term entertainment! The course takes place on Tuesday, February 13 and spaces are limited, so book quickly.

2.Alcohol meets architecture The Wild Wine Club visits Kudhva at Trebarwith Strand on March 24. Participants will explore the influence of architectural design on wine-making, focusing on wineries with architecture at the heart of what they do, and asking how production has informed the design of the building.

For an unforgettable experience, go all-out and book one of the four Kudvhas – a Triffid-style off-grid pod that sleeps two. www.wildwineclub.co.uk 68

3.A special fish supper Two doyens of the Cornish food and drink scene – renowned seafood chef Ben Tunnicliffe and wine expert Jon Keast – join forces on Friday, February 23, to host a special fish supper at Scarlet Wines near St Ives. Ben’s four-course feast, featuring fish landed at Newlyn alongside other seasonal ingredients, will be paired with the perfect wines from Jon’s hand-picked portfolio of more than 300 wines. £40pp; call 01736 753696 to book.

4.New kid on Bude block Bude has a new kid on the block with a refreshing approach. Temple, in Granville Terrace, is the brainchild of William Head and Keda Farisse-Hall, of wedding caterers Beautiful and the Feast, and their friends Conrad and Karen Allen, who work in the fashion industry. Together they offer a relaxed, all-day dining experience that combines food and retail, from breakfast to evening feasts. The menu features a regularly changing seasonal menu of sharing plates inspired by global cuisine, and quality coffee to sip while browsing goods including handcrafted leather, Scandi homeware brand Hay and organic skincare from Honest. www.templecornwall.com

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MAKING

THE CUT

UP THE STEAKS THIS VALENTINE’S DAY Words by Vicki Mayrick

 5.Food festival takes break The popular Great Cornish Food Festival will take a break in 2018. The event has taken place on Truro’s Lemon Quay in September every year since 2004, drawing around 40,000 visitors each time and generating an estimated £3m for the county’s economy. Ruth Huxley, managing director of event organisers Cornwall Food & Drink, said: “This move has taken a lot of soul-searching. We know how well-loved the Great Cornish Food Festival is by those who visit and those who take part … However, we also know people are keen to see it evolve even further and, with food events becoming more prolific, we want the Great Cornish Food Festival to continue to be something really special in the food-lover’s calendar. That means taking a bit of time to review everything, making sure we’re adapting to changing tastes and habits and ensuring that it will stand the test of time long into the future.”

6.KCF in Calais An award-winning company set up by Eden Project chefs is heading to France to help refugees. Keep Cornwall Fed (KCF) was established in 2016 by Stuart Millard and Mike Greer to lessen food poverty in Cornwall, and has since dished out more than 3,000 free meals. Stuart is travelling with chef Kalum Rowden to the Calais area to link up with Refugee Community Kitchen, an organisation which helps feed refugees in and around the northern French city. They will offer their cooking skills over five days to the big effort to feed people in desperate circumstances.

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hether you’re in a new relationship or celebrating your fortieth year together, take Valentine’s Day into your own hands with a sumptuous, home-cooked steak dinner.

Steak is a wonderful thing, but since it’s cut from the finest beef, cooking it with precision can be a daunting prospect. Etherington’s guide to choosing and cooking the perfect cut, along with recommendations for accompaniments, will ensure there are no mistakes this February.

Firstly, pick the best meat you possibly can. Head butcher Simon recommends a cut from Tregullow Ruby Red beef. Reared just two miles from Etherington’s Scorrier HQ, each animal is grass-fed - resulting in tender, well-textured beef, known for its excellent marbling and flavour.

The consensus behind the butchery counter is that rib-eye should be the cut of choice on Valentine’s Day. The rich marbling of fat throughout gives guaranteed flavour and succulence, making it the richest, beefiest cut available. Up the steaks by opting for a cote de boeuf, a very thick piece of rib eye cooked on the bone and perfect for sharing.

To get the best results, bring the cote de boeuf to room temperature, brush lightly with oil and season with salt and pepper, before searing for two minutes on each side. Transfer to a pre-heated oven (200°C) and cook for 16 minutes for rare, 20 minutes for medium. Place discs of herb butter on top of the beef for the last five minutes of cooking. Serve with shoestring fries or creamy mashed potato, and a glass (or two) of full-bodied, fruity wine. Enjoy!

Etherington’s, Wheal Rose, Scorrier, Redruth TR16 5DF 01209 899203, www.etherington-meats.co.uk

17/01/2018 10:15:08

DESIGNER GERMAN KITCHENS WITHOUT THE DESIGNER PRICE

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR OFFER

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WHEN ORDERING YOUR NEW KITCHEN DURING DEC OR JAN

*TERMS APPLY

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18/01/2018 09:51:31

homes & GARDENS

A HISTORIC SMART-HOME

(page 72)

JO DOWNS’ CHANDELIERS

(page 78)

A NEW LOOK FOR MORRAB GARDENS T R U R O ’ S H E L L E B O R E D AY

(page 80)

(page 84)

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HOW A HISTORIC HOME HAS BEEN REWIRED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A THOROUGHLY MODERN FAMILY Words by Kirstie Newton,

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photographs by

Sally Adams

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EACH BUTTON ON THIS SIMPLE KEYPAD CAN BE PROGRAMMED TO TRIGGER A PRESET OF THE USER’S LIGHTING, HEATING AND MUSIC PREFERENCES – YOU CAN EVEN TURN OFF THE BATHROOM LIGHT FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR BED

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ave you heard the story about the woman who promised to marry a sea captain, on condition that he move her beloved home, brick by brick, the 300 miles from Sussex to Cornwall? He did, so she kept her promise, and they both lived happily ever after.

No fairy tale, this – it’s all true, and the house in question is Kiln Quay, on the foreshore of the River Fal at Flushing, directly opposite Falmouth. And when you step into the courtyard of this delightful Tudor home, it’s easy to see why American heiress Anna Joan Beach was so keen to keep it.

Her beau was Captain Geoffrey Edward Wheatley Cobb, who was stationed in Falmouth at the time of his proposal.

They married in London in October 1921, three years after completing the move and rebuild of the 15th-century timber-

framed Wealden Hall home. Its neighbours include the gabled houses built by Dutch engineers who renamed the Cornish village of Nankersey after their home town in Holland.

Today, the house is as beguiling as ever. Pass through the gate to discover a delightful walled garden, with an armillary sundial as a focal point. The current owners have done their best to keep the overall character that so entranced Anna Joan Beach, but from the moment you tug on the misleadingly old-fashioned doorbell, it becomes clear that this is a home that has been remodelled for the 21st century. While the house is Good Queen Bess, the tech is most definitely Elizabeth II. The owners’ previous home being mock Tudor, Kiln Quay held much appeal. As it had a holiday let at the time, they were able to spend a few nights in the house to see if it was the right home for them; they subsequently bought it in April 2014. While the house had been maintained sufficiently to function as a holiday let, there was much work to be done – complete rewiring, chimney repairs, new bathrooms.

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Although refurbishing a Grade II-listed property came with its challenges, it also presented an opportunity to start afresh. Having already updated their previous home, the owners knew exactly what they wanted in Flushing; despite its traditional exterior, this is a a thoroughly modern smart-home.

Having taken advantage of the refurb to lay miles of crucial cabling, they set about installing the

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technology that would enable them to do so many things at the simple touch of a button. They enlisted the help of Truro-based The Smart Home Co, which specialises in automated living. The number of devices connected to the internet is growing exponentially, with an app for this and a remote control for that; The Smart Home Co employs Control4 home automation to bring all the kit together so you can use one simple menu screen to control everything in your home, from wherever you are.

Director Jess Carter walks me round the home, pointing out the manifold touchscreens, speakers and gizmos designed to make life so much easier, and definitely more impressive.

Starting at the front door, that antiquated doorbell looks very much in keeping but as well as ringing a brass bell in the hallway, it is also rigged to trigger a high-definition video intercom, which ‘rings’ on the various touchscreens around the house. From there you can see, and if required speak to, whoever is at the door – the postman with that package you’ve been waiting for, or an unsolicited caller.

In the kitchen, where you might usually find a bank of light switches, there’s a simple keypad. Each button can be programmed to trigger a preset of your preferred lighting, radio station and so on, so when it is pressed the room will be lit and heated to your personal spec, playing your choice of music. If you have the voice-activated digital assistant Alexa, you can even ask her to do it for you.

You might compare this to the fact that increasingly in cars, you can set the seat to your favourite setting – from steering wheel height to proximity to the pedals, and heated seats. “Why have this level of technology in your car, but not in your home?” asks Jess.

The LED lights consume minimal energy and are motion-activated to turn on and off as required. “Most people have a few buttons in their kitchen, each linked to a specific light, and might spend some time turning them on and off until they get the

right one,” says Jess. “That doesn’t happen here. It’s all about convenience – you don’t have to leave a room to see who’s at the door or turn off a light. You can even turn off the whole house from your bed.”

Each room in the house has a touchscreen which allows the user to access multiple TV and radio channels (including online streaming), lighting and heating. If you’re leaving the room for a while, one button can switch everything off. It’s all designed to be “straightforward and logical”.

The brains of the system live in the “rack room”, where a dedicated equipment cabinet contains all the kit that runs the entire house, including Sky boxes, heating system interfaces, movie server, video distribution, networking, automation processors and a bank of hard drives containing the music and film library.

This is Techno Central, enabling all resources to be available anywhere in the house, while keeping all the ugly stuff discreetly out of sight (a peek in the attic reveals miles of brightlycoloured cables).

“It’s like a telephone exchange but for data,” explains Jess. “There is no need to have all those boxes in rooms. What we do is make the technology disappear into the house so it doesn’t look like a bolted-on afterthought.” Centralising the technology also reduces the need for multiple remote controls; never again will you pick up the wrong one, or lose one down the back of the sofa.

There are tiny little plastic bumps around the house, some painted to blend into the historic woodwork.

These are thumbnail thermostats. “In a typical home, a single thermostat dictates the temperature across the whole house,” Jess explains. “Larger homes now have zoned heating controlling individual areas, but this still means having digital thermostat panels in each room. By completely integrating the heating controls into the automation system, we are able to reduce ‘wall clutter’ and provide control of heating, lighting/ shading, security, CCTV and all the entertainment systems from a single panel in each room.”

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A THUMBNAIL THERMOSTAT BLENDS IN WITH AN ANTIQUE WOODEN PANEL

AN OLD-FASHIONED BELL PULL IS RIGGED TO TRIGGER A HIGH-DEFINITION VIDEO INTERCOM ON SCREENS AROUND THE HOME CORNWALL TODAY

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The crowning glory is the drawing room, with its Dolby Atmos cinema system Perhaps the crowning glory is the drawing room, with its Dolby Atmos cinema system. Jess pushes a button; the lights dim and a 126” screen drops down within the fireplace, while the room fills with sound from 11 speakers and three subwoofers that are discreetly positioned around the room for surround effect. A pretty church pew has been cleverly re-engineered to house the electronics in this room. As we switch off, the lights come up slowly, nudging us gently out of the cinematic experience. It’s at precisely this point that I find myself slack-jawed with envy, ready to move in myself.

Regardless of whether you are controlling the systems in the house from one of the touchscreens, using an on-screen menu on a TV, or via your smart phone or tablet, you always see the same user interface. “However you interact with the home automation, you are always presented with the same menu layout” says Jess. “This enables us to make everything so simple to use, even my six-year-old can do it.”

There was very poor internet available in this rural location, so The Smart Home Co. deployed a lightning-fast 4G mobile internet solution. To ensure reliable operation from mobile devices, the house is covered by a seamless, intelligent WiFi network that constantly monitors the connection and adapts it to provide the best possible performance at all times.

Jess demonstrates how he can turn a bathroom light off from a bed with the simple touch of a button, or call the family to dinner by pressing an intercom button from the 76

kitchen – no bellowing up the stairs. In fact, you can talk to people in different rooms without leaving your own space, which prompts the polite question: isn’t such interaction part of enjoying life? “We sometimes get that feedback,” Jess replies. “Some people don’t like the removal of human interface, in the same way that some people prefer vinyl records.” Verdict: each to their own.

For all its modernity, Kiln Quay has been updated sympathetically, with many stylish touches perfectly in keeping with its vintage pedigree, from the stained glass windows in the dining room to the wood panelling in the entrance hall, and the carefully chosen, period-style radiators.

It’s just one job out of many for The Smart Home Company; Jess and his business partner, Steve, are also working on a superyacht project in Barcelona. “Every job is different, with its own set of objectives – be it reducing waste or energy consumption, or prioritising convenience – which keeps it interesting,” says Jess. “We are also looking to expand into eHealth and assisted living – for example, using technology to allow elderly people, or people with conditions such as dementia, to continue living independently in their own homes for as long as possible. There are so many benefits.”

The Smart Home Co, Health & Wellbeing Innovation Centre, Truro | 01872 859047 | www.tshc.co.uk Facebook and Twitter @yourhomesmarter

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THE NEXT

big

thing

JO DOWNS LAUNCHES HER NEW CHANDELIER LIGHTING COLLECTION

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Words by Mercedes Smith

aunceston-based designer Jo Downs has specialised in fused glass for more than 20 years, and launches a major new strand to her trailblazing business this month. Having made her name with wall-mounted installation work, branching out in 2016 to include architectural glass, Jo now expands her portfolio to include spectacular, hand-crafted chandelier lighting at the cutting edge of contemporary glass design. The launch marks the beginning of a new creative partnership with Chesterfield design company Northern Lights; however, each piece is cut, crafted, fired and finished at Jo’s Cornwall studio.

“Each year, we look for the next big idea, and we challenge ourselves to make it a

Jo Downs Handmade Glass, Pennygillam Way, Launceston, PL15 7ED.

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reality,” says Jo. “Over the last 12 months, I have been working solidly on perfecting these chandeliers. That has meant long nights at the kilns, and numerous test pieces that failed - but finally succeeded, quite spectacularly!

The result of all that experimentation and investment has been a really beautiful and varied collection of pieces.

“I fell in love with fused glass because I could see its unlimited potential. Every new collection we make, every new concept we take from design to creation, teaches me and my team something new. The chandelier collection is the next step in that creative journey, and I am beyond excited to be launching it.”

From her trademark ocean-inspired motifs to geometrically inspired collections, these new works update the classic concept of the chandelier for the 21st century. Jo will unveil them at her Launceston studio gallery on Friday, February 9, and Saturday, February 10, alongside an equally new collection of wall-mounted arc and panel lights.

For further information, contact interiors@jodowns.com or visit

architecture.jodowns.com

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15/01/2018 15:56:29

ask

a designer

DE-CLUTTER YOUR HOME IN TIME FOR SPRING Words by Elaine Skinner of Camellia Interiors

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pring-time heralds the start of deep cleans, and is traditionally the time of year when most people think of either moving home, extending or starting any renovation projects, usually because they need more space.

It’s wise to tackle the clutter before you go down either of those paths. This can be a big job if you’ve accumulated a lot of stuff. Here are some handy tips to make it less daunting.

► Break it down into bite-size chunks. Focus on one thing at a time: a room, a space or even a zone within a room (like your kitchen cabinets). Make a room plan and work systematically through it, tackling bathrooms, bedrooms, cupboards, hallways, kitchens and living rooms. ► Start by putting things away. This might be items that have crept out of their storage spaces, like a coffee cup in the bathroom or a pile of post in the kitchen. Tidying up is a crucial step to enabling you to take stock of your home. ► Apply the six-month rule. If you haven’t used something in the last six months, put it in a box and store it. In my experience, these tend to be things I don’t really love, haven’t used or that might need further tinkering. You’ll be surprised

how much this empties your space to begin with. After six months, look at the contents of the box and either recycle, mend, trash or donate them. This lapse in time really helps to focus the mind – if you didn’t miss it, you don’t need it. ► Cast a critical eye over your home and belongings. With less clutter around, you’ll suddenly gain more storage space, making it much easier to see what needs mending, cleaning or painting. This maintenance stage is vital if you let your holiday home, particularly if you want to maximise your rental income for the main season.

With an organised, clutter-free and clean home, you can zone in on any problems with the property layout or lack of space. And remember, if you can’t face doing this yourself, any good interior designer will be able to look objectively at your problems and design bespoke solutions to suit your needs.

Got an interior design dilemma?

Contact Elaine at info@camelliainteriors.co.uk

www.camelliainteriors.co.uk

and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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17/01/2018 10:07:37

walls WITHIN THESE

A NEW PROJECT CELEBRATES THE HERITAGE OF A MUCH-LOVED PENZANCE GARDEN Words by Liz Norbury, photographs by Charles Francis

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LEFT: TOP TO BOTTOM: MELISSA HARDIE AND MIKI ASHTON LOOK ROUND THE DOOR OF THE GROUND FLOOR ROOM NOW USED AS A WOOD STORE LEFT: THE GARDEN AND BANDSTAND IN SUMMER RIGHT: UNUSED FIRST FLOOR ROOM WHERE SOME OLD TOOLS ARE STORED, THE FIREPLACE WAS STOLEN

To find gardens to visit this month, go to:

gardens Morrab feb18 kk ED.indd 3

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donkey once lived in a shed on the ground floor of the gardener’s house in Morrab Gardens. “The gardener never got up on time,” says present-day head gardener Joe Palmese. “So the people he worked with used to do something to annoy the donkey – and the gardener would come downstairs, angry because of the noise the donkey was making!”

This was back in the mid-Victorian era. The gardener’s house, originally built as stables at the top of the sub-tropical Penzance garden, is still standing, but it is semi-derelict now, its inner walls crumbling within the granite exterior. “Ever since I’ve worked here – and I started in 1989 – the end part has been condemned. We used to store chairs from the bandstand there,” says Joe. There are stories that the lazy gardener haunts the building, he adds with a smile, although he admits he has never had any close encounters of the ghostly kind.

Now the building, adjacent to the well-known Morrab Library, is set to be transformed, with the award of a £70,000 Heritage Lottery Fund development grant to Penzance-based educational charity, the Hypatia Trust. The Hypatia team is working with the Friends of Morrab Gardens and Pengarth Day Centre – which is based in the gardens – on an imaginative plan to create a horticultural resource and community learning centre.

Melissa Hardie, founder of the trust, describes how the Gardener’s House project was born: “I was walking to the library one day, and Joe was standing outside the stables. I said: ‘This is a beautiful

www.ngs.org.uk

15/01/2018 15:46:14

THE FRONT ELEVATION JOE PALMESE WITH DRAWINGS OF THE PROPOSED ALTERATIONS TO THE STABLES

OVERGROWN FIRST FLOOR DOORWAY

building. Are there any plans to make something of it?‘. Joe does a lot of work with schools, and he said there had been a plan to have a classroom for when it’s pouring with rain outside – but there was no money to do it. I thought this was a good opportunity for the Friends of Morrab Gardens; and the Hypatia Trust could put forward finance and ideas. I made a plan to take to the Friends, to see if they were interested.

They were, of course!”

Along with a classroom, the initial plan included an archive celebrating the garden and the part it has played in the history of the town. Morrab House, now the home of the library, was built on a prime site overlooking Mount’s Bay in 1841. The formal gardens laid out in the meadow below were acquired as a public park by Penzance Borough Council in 1889.

Miki Ashton, who has a background in design and has worked with the Hypatia Trust for several years, became project co-ordinator. “Miki is a very strategic thinker, and very tech minded,” says Melissa. “She was the ideal person for this very special project.”

Sensitive restoration of the fabric of the building is an integral part of the plan, as Miki explains: “We’re working with Studio West Architects in St Just, who are used to renovating old buildings and using them for new purposes.

“Joe is a very important part of the project: I wanted to make sure he has a good working environment and storage for his equipment. There will also be a community space where the classes for children – and other events like lectures – can be held, a meeting place for the Friends, and a shop with plant sales outside. It’s a very exciting thing to be involved with.”

Another important feature will be a reading room which will house the Hypatia Trust’s important collection of almost 4,000 horticultural and botanical books, along with ephemera

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relating to gardening. The room will be named in honour of American academic Dr Elspeth Pope, who left a substantial sum to the trust.

“Dr Pope’s legacy enabled the trust to match-fund any grant applications we might make, and I’m sure she would have been absolutely delighted with this plan,” says Melissa.

There are plans to digitise the collection, allowing online public access to it for the first time, thanks to seed money from the Tanner Trust, a charity which helps organisations like Hypatia with digital projects.

Melissa is also grateful for the assistance of De Facto Development Consultants in Falmouth, who wrote the funding bid for the development grant. “If our business plan ticks all the Heritage Lottery Fund boxes, we will get further funding of more than £700,000,” she says. “It has been so much fun building a plan for something which can be a lasting tribute to the garden.”

Joe is looking forward to having space to display the garden’s fascinating collection of old tools. “We’ve got things like bell jars, which used to be used for propagation – I took them home for many years to keep them safe, because I didn’t want them to be smashed,” he says.

Above all, he is excited by the prospect of having a classroom, where he aims to inspire the next generation of garden visitors – and potential gardeners. “We already have an area in the garden where I teach children about wildlife and plants in good weather, and this will be somewhere where I can teach them in bad weather. It’s lovely to see kids getting involved in gardening.”

For more information about the Gardener’s House project, visit www.hypatia-trust.org.uk

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notes

Cornish gardener from a

WHY WINTER IS A GOOD TIME TO START PLANNING YOUR DREAM GARDEN Words by Dan Grigson, notesfromacornishgarden.co.uk

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any gardeners tuck themselves up at night with dreams of prize-winning vegetables or pristine lawns. No doubt you have your own horticultural fantasy. It seems gardens are dream spaces and places of fantasy, even when they’re not your own.

Whenever I see an unloved space, I want to love it, and I want the owner to love it too. It is that owner’s chance to build his or her own wonderful fantasy, if only they could be persuaded. In London, where parking outside my own house was usually impossible, I didn’t just dream of a drive; I fantasised – and still do – about building an amazing garden worthy of comment, one whose transformation you can read about in these articles.

Last month, I covered the first idea in that transformation; it was called ethereal gardening. To recap, this is the use of sunlight shining primarily through grasses in a classical or fantasy setting. The explicit intent is to evoke a feeling of ethereal magic so persuasive that the demi-god Pan would feel compelled to pull up a sundial and play you a merry tune, right up until you set the dog on him because you could bear it no longer.

So how do we go about putting theory in to practice? At the moment, I imagine my garden as a series of carefully

composed still-life photographs that you have to discover one by one as you walk through it. The structure is both picture frame and partition, and it is also what makes the garden a fantasy rather than, say, contemporary.

The first thing to do start making this a reality is to track the sunlight and the way the falls as it moves around the garden, particularly that lovely early-morning and late-afternoon light.

It’s best to do this in both winter and summer, as the low winter sun and deciduous trees cause dramatic changes. This all makes planning rather a headache.

As if this weren’t complicated enough, there is another thing to consider: the views from windows inside the house. It’s the intersections of these two views, both inside and outside, that inform the structure and the frames for your light-catching focal points, the very ones in which demi-gods like to loaf about so much.

So February’s jobs are to write down your garden fantasy, track that sun and be brave enough to get rid of any plant or object that doesn’t fit with your dream. Let me know how you get on!

Dan Grigson is a professional gardener based in Manaccan. www.notesfromacornishgarden.co.uk

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HELLEBORES ARE AS INDIVIDUAL AS HUMAN BEINGS, ACCORDING TO ONE TRURO BREEDER Words by Kirstie Newton, photographs by Charles Francis

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LEFT: HELLEBORUS X HYBRIDUS

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ellebores, says breeder Wendy Perry, are like children. “I can recognise them all, and tell you who their grandparents are – in fact, they often resemble their grandparents more than their parents,” she muses. “When you cross-breed, you never quite know what you’re going to get. There are 30 seeds in each flower, and one might grow with the best attributes of the father and mother plants, while another might have the worst – just like with people.”

Wendy’s annual Hellebore Day, at Bosvigo Gardens in Truro, is an eagerly awaited event which sees fans of the colourful perennial descend upon her delightfully tucked-away Regency home. This year’s open day takes place on Saturday, February 24, and Wendy advises early arrival: “People start queuing from around 9.30am, and the best selection of blooms is definitely to be had in the morning.”

Visitors will see around 700 species and sub-species of hellebore in flower. Sometimes referred to as the Christmas or Lenten rose, the genus is thought to originate in the Balkans, and flourishes in colder climates; hence it is a reliable source of colour and foliage during the winter months. Expect to see contrasts from deep purples to pale pinks, slate grey and almost black.

All have been raised from seed from hand-pollinated parents, meaning no two hellebores will be exactly the same, and they are only sold when in flower so you know exactly what colour you are getting.

Wendy was introduced to the plant around 20 years ago. “I used to buy plants from Elizabeth Strangman, one of the foremost hellebore breeders in this country.

That started me off, and I got hooked. It’s fascinating.”

Wendy had already been running a modest hellebore day for a few years when tragedy struck in 2004: her daughter, Hannah, was killed in the Boxing Day tsunami while on holiday in Khao Lak, Thailand. A former pupil at

ABOVE: HELLEBORUS X HYBRIDUS. BOSVIGO DOUBLE

Truro High School For Girls, Hannah, 36, was a teacher and had been married just a few months when the couple were hit by the 32ft wave. Her husband survived, and Hannah’s body was recovered a month later; she was cremated in Thailand and her ashes were brought home and scattered at Chapel Porth beach.

“When it came to the next hellebore day, I said: let’s see if we can make some money out of this,” recalls Wendy. Initially, takings were used to help Thai fishermen to rebuild their lives after the destruction, with two boats commissioned in Hannah’s name. For the past few years, the event has raised thousands of pounds for Cornwallbased disaster relief organisation ShelterBox, enough to sponsor a dozen boxes – each one sent out with Hannah’s name sewn into the tent lining. Wendy is ably assisted on the day by a team of friends and volunteers.

All proceeds from the sale of food, drink and tombola tickets go straight to the charity; visitors are asked to make donations, and Wendy also gives a percentage of the proceeds from hellebore sales.

The spring garden will be open, dotted with the last of the snowdrops, and food will be on sale all day in front of a blazing log fire, in the 18th-century kitchen.

There has been a residence on this site since the early 12th century, when it was inhabited by Hippolytus de Bosvigo; much of the current building dates back to Georgian times, and at the height of mining it housed the assay offices. “Ross Poldark could have ridden up the drive – with his shirt on – tied up his horse outside, brought his tin in to be assayed and gone to the kitchen for a dish of tea while he was waiting,” smiles Wendy.

Bosvigo Garden Hellebore Day takes place on Saturday, February 24, from 10am to 4pm. From March to September, the garden will be open on Thursdays and Fridays from 11am to 5pm. Entry: £5. 01872 275774, www.bosvigo.com

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garden news

The secrets of camellias

Learn the secret of camellias from expert Jeremy Wilson at the Cornwall Garden Society’s (CGS) February lecture.

Jeremy has enjoyed a varied horticultural career that has included tending a Capability Brown wildflower meadow for Cambridge University; managing a large collection of species rhododendrons for English Heritage at Belsay Hall in Northumberland; and planning and designing 10- to 20-acre gardens at private estates in Hampshire and Oxfordshire. His own nursery, Strete Gate Camellias in Devon, has an impressive collection of more than 500 varieties, including 100 varieties of scented plants. The Secret of Camellias will be his subject on Tuesday, February 6, at 7.30pm at the Alverton Hotel in Truro, while Scented Plants will be his focus on Wednesday, February 7 at 2.30pm at the Shire Hall in Bodmin. www.cornwallgardensociety.org.uk The Lost Gardens of Heligan raised more than £7,000 by opening on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. More than 3,000 visitors came to walk off the festive excesses with a winter stroll through

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Tresco New Year count

The 2018 Tresco Abbey Garden New Year flower count saw 306 exotic plant species logged as in bloom. The count, completed by head gardener Andrew Lawson, curator Mike Nelhams and garden students, is an annual tradition stretching back more than 150 years, and celebrates exotic flora from more than 80 countries: proteas and aloe arborescens from South Africa, acacia from Australia, Peruvian passion flowers, sophora microphylla from New Zealand and bomarea caldesii from Ecuador are just some that flourish in the archipelago’s mild climate. New in 2017 was a dendroseris litoralis, originally from the Juan Fernandez Islands 400 miles off the coast of Chile), which has flowered for the first time – a stunning addition to the ever-growing collection. www.tresco.co.uk the historic 200-acre estate. The money will be split between four local charities: Cornwall Air Ambulance, Cornwall Blood Bikes, Beth’s Inspiration and People And Gardens.

17/01/2018 10:19:04

property & BUSINESS

MOVING STORY: FROM EALING TO TRURO THE OUTSIDER’S GUIDE ROHRS & ROWE

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A C I T Y C A R E E R I N C O R N WA L L

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MOVING STORY FROM EALING TO TRURO

Interview by Katie Weston

Name: Emily Scott Age: 35 Moved from: Ealing Moved to: Truro Job: Digital Content Librarian Hobby: Beekeeping

I lived in Ealing, on the outskirts of London, for 10 years and have lived in a few other cities too Truro is definitely the smallest. Four generations of my husband’s family live in Cornwall, and we thought it would be nice for our one-year-old son, Tommy, to grow up with his cousins. I work from home three days a week as a digital content librarian, posting new content and managing webinars and webchats for a membership organisation; my husband, Drew, works in IT, while my son goes to Naturally Learning Nursery.

In my spare time, I’m a keen beekeeper. I took four exam modules with the British Beekeeping Association, in subjects including honey bee management, diseases and behaviour. They were quite difficult and technical with lots of revision – it was like going to college all over again!

There’s more room for keeping bees outdoors in Cornwall. Finding space in London was a bit of a problem, and I had to keep mine at a nature reserve.

Here, you can have them in your garden, and they can find flowers anywhere within three miles.

We had to leave my bees behind in London with an apiarist friend. It would have been stressful for them to come all this way, and you can’t just transport them in the back of a standard car. I’m looking at buying a new hive in the spring; in the meantime, I’m going to try and make a solitary bee shelter with bamboo tubes in the garden, and plant lots of beefriendly flowers.

There is some concern about the potential extinction of bees. What can you do? If you live somewhere bee-friendly, look after nature generally and plant lots of pots. They tend to like blues and purples, like lavender; herbs too, especially rosemary and mint all the nice-smelling ones.

In Cornwall, efforts are being made to breed the Native Dark Bee, which came close to extinction in the 20th century. You have to keep the hives separate to make sure the queen doesn’t mate with other breeds.

Cornwall is a really good location for achieving that because it’s more isolated.

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I share my beekeeping journey on my blog, Adventures in Beeland. There’s plenty of bee activity to write about in Cornwall – I’ve visited the bee boles at Heligan, and Mount Edgcumbe is England’s first native honey bee reserve. There’s a seminar at the Eden Project in February, and I’m going on an apiary visit in March.

I’m always surprised by how much honey people give me, especially considering I already have so much of it! Fortunately, it lasts for years and never goes off.

My favourite thing about Cornwall is the saffron buns – I never knew they existed before! So many bakeries and market stalls sell them here and they’re just so tasty. I also love how you can get to the sea so easily.

Before moving we used to visit Land’s End, St Michael’s Mount and lots of coastal villages twice a year, around Christmas and summer time. It amazed me how you could walk to the end of the road, turn a corner and just have this magnificent sea view right in front of you.

Read Emily’s “beekeeping bumbles” at www.adventuresinbeeland.com/about/ and visit her Pinterest board www.pinterest.com/hughippos/bee-fun

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G E T A L I F E – I N C O R N WA L L

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ilver Birches is a fine detached Edwardian house in one of Truro’s most desirable addresses, just a stone’s throw away from its attractive city centre. It enjoys an exceptionally private setting, its spacious accommodation over three storeys retains many beautiful period details, and several rooms boast superb views over the gardens to the cathedral and beyond. There are four bedrooms and four bathrooms, a spacious dining room and wonderful kitchen area incorporating conservatory, generously proportioned south-facing gardens and, enviably for Truro, two garages plus ample courtyard parking for several cars. Truro is Cornwall’s’ hub for both shopping and business, with good restaurants and bars, a fine selection of private and state schooling, and a mainline railway station providing a direct service to London Paddington. The north and south coasts are easily accessible from Truro, offering easy access to lifestyle opportunities including surfing and sailing.

Silver Birches, The Avenue, Truro. £950,000.

All enquiries to Rohrs & Rowe,

www.RohrsAndRowe.co.uk

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THE OUTSIDER’S GUIDE MOVING TO CORNWALL - BUYING A HOUSE Words by Amy Sheppard, portrait by Amy Cassidy

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e tried to move to Cornwall three years ago, having just spent two years renovating our house in Buckinghamshire. It had taken every bit of time and money we had; two years of painting in the evenings, apologising to visitors about the state of the house, and watching YouTube videos on how to lay tiles, plaster walls and fix damp problems. All this with two toddlers. You’d think by the time we had finished, we would want to sit back and enjoy the home we’d created. We didn’t. The paint had barely dried when we got estate agents round to value the house.

It became apparent towards the end of our renovations that this wasn’t going to be our forever home. It was unsaid for quite a while, but the facts were before us. My husband was working long hours in a job he hated. He missed school sports days, class assemblies and parent’s evenings, and this had become the norm. Our house had doubled in value, thanks to a rise in the market and the renovations; we wouldn’t have been able to afford to buy it even on twice our earnings.

When we decided to sell, it went under offer within a week.

We were completely unprepared and were launched into our Cornish property search much quicker than anticipated.

Obviously, we both had in our heads a ‘must-have’ list of what we wanted from the house and the area; we just didn’t know, at the time, that we wanted all the wrong things.

When you relocate to a new area, there is generally something pushing or pulling you. It was definitely the pull for us. The pull was feeling that Cornwall was where we belonged, but we didn’t really have the push. Although my husband disliked his job, we liked where we lived, our house, our friends and the town. It made our search that much harder.

We were looking for perfection, something extraordinary that would be a clear indicator that we were doing the right thing.

The house had to be bigger than one we were selling; it had

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to have the potential to run a business from there; it had to be interesting and in the heart of a village ... you get the idea. We were completely unrealistic about what was available and what we could get on our budget. We also forgot all the reasons that we were moving – to improve our quality of life, not for a pretty façade. Inevitably, after three months of searching we gave up and took our house off the market. It was a relief; at times, I’ve wondered if we subconsciously sabotaged our own search, as we just weren’t ready to move.

One abandoned search and over two years later, we own a house in a seaside village in Cornwall. Not the Grade 2 period cottage I thought I’d be living in, but a boxy 1970s’ house that’s a bit a rough round the edges, but only two minutes’ walk from the beach. I wouldn’t have even viewed it a few years ago, but it was by far the best house we’d seen and, actually, the best house we’ve ever lived in.

For those of you thinking of buying in Cornwall, here are some tips to keep you on the right path:

1 ) B E O N T H E S A M E P A G E. If you’re moving with your partner, make sure you fully understand each other’s reasons for moving. It’s a stressful time and it’s easy to lose sight of your original dream. Talk about how you picture your new life. Are you in a town, near a beach, in the middle of nowhere? This will strengthen your search criteria.

2 ) W H A T Y O U D O N ’ T N E E D. Working out what you don’t need from a property/area is just as important as what you do need. Do you really need four bedrooms if the fourth is only going to be used at Christmas? Do you need a big garden? What will you use it for?

Questioning your criteria will help you to find out which are most important to you.

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3 ) W H E R E T O B U Y. Most people will begin their Cornish property search in the area where they go on holiday. There’s nothing wrong with this, but areas with an abundance of holiday homes tend to be considerably more expensive and may be very quiet in winter, with limited yearround amenities. Consider up-and-coming holiday areas and properties in neighbouring villages.

4) FUTUREPROOF YOUR P R O P E R T Y. The housing market in Cornwall generally moves slower than in other parts of the country.

Properties can take longer to sell and don’t always see the same annual price increases as the South East. Make sure the home and area you choose will work for you for several years. Are you expanding your family? Can you extend? If you have children, will the area work for them when they are teenagers? Considering these things now will ensure you don’t have to move house again in a few years’ time.

Follow Amy’s Cornish adventure on Instagram @welliesandwetsuits

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NR CONSTANTINE BAY

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PADSTOW

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GUIDE PRICE £525,000

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IDLESS | NR TRURO | GUIDE PRICE £1.15M

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ST JUST IN ROSELAND | £545,000

NR PORTSCATHO | £695,000

Beautifully presented contemporary residence with stunning sea and coastal views across St Just creek and Carrick Roads to Mylor Harbour. Reverse-level contemporary accommodation finished to extremely high standards. Openplan living room with vaulted ceiling, woodburning stove and large balcony.

Four well-proportioned bedrooms, one en-suite, and family bathroom. Fitted kitchen. Parking. Garden. EPC - E.

Generous double-fronted house on good-sized plot with outstanding views over beautiful Gerrans Bay to the front and expansive vistas over the surrounding rolling countryside to the rear. Spacious living accommodation with five bedrooms and four reception rooms, plus separate annexe suitable for holiday or long-term letting. Large paved parking area. Lawned gardens with vegetable plot. EPC – E.

ROSELAND PENINSULA | £995,000

NR ST JUST IN ROSELAND | £1,650,000

South-facing smallholding just over half a mile from the idyllic Pendower Beach.

Far-reaching coastal views of Portscatho and Gerrans Bay to the south, and countryside views to the west. Three double bedrooms, all with full en suites; fourth bedroom plus family bathroom. Planning for additional accommodation in two traditional buildings, plus a range of agricultural outbuildings and a 0.7acre paddock. 2.8-acre field by separate negotiation. EPC – F.

Stunning character ‘roundhouse’ home with multi-award-winning five-star self-catering cottage business, set in beautiful countryside close to the sea, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Three luxury holiday barns all with bedroom, quality en suite, living room and kitchen, plus detached outbuilding with potential for further accommodation (subject to planning permission). Mature and private gardens circa ¾ acre. EPCs: C, D, D and E.

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www.htiddy.co.uk 17/01/2018 10:27:54

TEDxTruro @ YouTube Green for go

The Cornwall Sustainability Awards were presented in December, celebrating all that’s good and green in the county. Coastline Housing and Kensa Heat Pumps scored a triple whammy, taking the awards for best contribution towards the creation of a sustainable energy economy, best individual contribution for Ralph Retallick, and the highly desired Overall Winner gong. Coastline and Kensa’s renewable energy programme has seen old and inefficient night storage heaters in bungalows on four sites in Cornwall replaced by Kensa’s Shoebox bijou ground-source heat pumps connected to microdistrict heat networks. Other winners included Camel Valley Vineyards (best-managed small business), Keep Cornwall Fed (best-managed micro business), St Austell Brewery (best-managed large business), the National Lobster Hatchery (best contribution towards creating a sustainable food economy from nature to plate) and the Jackson Foundation Gallery (best contribution to the built environment – retrofit).

Cornwall Business Awards

The 13th Annual Cornwall Business Awards will be held at St Mellion International Resort on April 19. Businesses are invited to enter by midnight on February 16. Last year’s awards saw Redruth software development company Headforwards scoop three awards: Most Dynamic Growth Business, Young Business Person and the coveted Winner of Winners. www.cornwallbusinessawards.co.uk

A sold-out audience of 300 people and a live stream audience of hundreds more were challenged, inspired and entertained at TEDxTruro in October, and now thousands more can enjoy the TEDxTruro talks via YouTube. Talks covered topics on a theme of Beyond Barriers, from robotics to depression and period poverty to inclusion. Search for TEDxTruro 2017 at www.youtube.com

Cornish lithium at Tregothnan

Foot Anstey has recently advised Tregothnan Estates on its agreement with Cornish Lithium to explore for and develop lithium in hot spring brines on its land. Tregothnan has a rich history of mining successes spanning centuries, with tin, copper and china clay being supplied from its mineral deposits in Cornwall to markets all over the world. Estates director Andrew Jarvis said: “This is a historic deal, the likes of which we have never entered before. We will be providing Cornish Lithium with unique access to a comprehensive set of mining archives compiled over centuries of mining activity which will give them an unprecedented advantage in locating the best mineralised sites.” Cornish Lithium CEO Jeremy Wrathall added: “While our current focus remains on lithium, this agreement means that if we discover other minerals, these too can be commercially developed.”

People, Planet, Profit

The Eden Project hosts Unlocking Cornwall’s Future Focus Event on February 20, on a theme of “People, Planet, Profit.”

Speakers include serial entrepreneur and communications specialist Ed Gillespie, co-founder of Futerra and a director of Greenpeace UK, who helped Unilever in its award-winning Sustainable Living Plan; and Simon Phillips, founder of the Change Maker Group and an expert in organisational culture change and professional development. The event is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and is therefore free to attend. 9am to 1.30pm; to book, call 0800 600 3660 or contact hello@unlocking-potential.co.uk CORNWALL TODAY

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career A CITY

I N C O R N WA L L

YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORK IN THE BIG SMOKE TO BE A STOCKBROKER, SAYS REDRUTH BOY DARRYN RICHARDS

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Words by Sue Bradbury

arryn Richards grew up in Redruth. He still lives there with his family and has always been very proud of his roots. He’s smiley, friendly and brimming with enthusiasm for everything he does - which is just as well, as his working day can be very long. On the flip side, though, the rewards – both personal and financial – are often huge.

So what job does this cheerful Cornishman, with his endearing accent, youthful disposition and boundless energy, do? Darryn is a stockbroker. Not only that, he’s a very successful stockbroker who has never worked in the City.

Since leaving Redruth School with a good clutch of GCSEs and A Levels, Darryn has spent 23 years in a profession that is more likely to be associated with high-rise office blocks and the hustle and bustle of London life than an elegant Georgian townhouse in Lemon Street, Truro. But with all the hi-tech equipment necessary to make global investments at his fingertips, Darryn proves you don’t need to be City-based to succeed in finance. Financial wizardry of that sort can happen in Cornwall too. Even better,

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at the end of the working day, you can pop down to the beach for an adrenalin-pumped surf or a relaxing glass of something chilled as the sun sets on another stunning seascape.

Not that Darryn always had this career in mind. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” he admits, “then three trainee opportunities came along: one with the South West Electricity Board (SWEB), another with a local accountancy firm and the third with Westlake & Co, a stockbroking company with an office in Redruth. Dad thought I should go for SWEB but I loved economics at school, so I chose the investment management option and fell in love with it.”

As the youngest of six trainees, Darryn had his work cut out. Initially little more than a tea boy, he was determined to learn all he could in a cutand-thrust world that demanded perseverance, dedication and a determination to always go above and beyond.

“My boss, Eric Langman, was old-fashioned in the sense that he was rigorously strict,” remembers Darryn. “He was tough and often scary and intimidating, but I credit him with giving me the

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brilliant career start that got me where I am today. I learnt so much from him and, when he retired, it was his influence that got me promoted to head of office at 29 – the youngest person in the company’s history to hold that role.”

Prior to that, Darryn had spent seven years combining a very busy day job and fatherhood with additional study. He passed his Masters with distinction at Cornwall College - former principal Dr Alan Stanhope became a friend and client - and won the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and Industry Student of the Year Award, and is now a fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute Securities and Investment and a Chartered Wealth Manager (as well as being a black belt in the combat sport Muay Thai).

In October 2009, Darryn turned down a directorship at Rowan Dartington (who had taken over Westlake & Co) to join Brewin Dolphin – an award-winning FTSE 250 wealth management company that was opening a new base in Truro and wanted him as head of office. “I love my client work and didn’t want to be promoted out of it.”

When Brewin Dolphin closed the Truro office three

years ago, Darryn commuted to Plymouth; now it has returned, he is delighted. “My clients are spread around the globe because once I start working with a family, the relationship tends to expand with subsequent generations who may have moved out of the county to other parts of the country or abroad,” he says. “I’m responsible for millions of pounds of investments which I manage on a daily basis and, while many people might think you can only do that sort of job if you’re willing to work in the centre of London, my career is absolute proof that it doesn’t have to be that way.

“My wife and I married young and were always determined to raise our three children, who are now 21, 19 and 14, in Cornwall. I feel very lucky and privileged to be doing what I’m doing but am a firm believer in hard work and continued learning. You don’t have to move away to achieve your dreams but you do have to put the hours in. That, in my opinion, is the key to professional success, quality of life and personal happiness.”

With his ready laugh and cheerful demeanour, this Redruth-boy-made-good obviously practises what he preaches.

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wellbeing

MIND AND BODY: BEGINNERS’ YOGA M I N D F U L M O M E N T S : W I N E TA S T I N G N O U R I S H : R AW C A C A O THE EXTRA MILE

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FA S H I O N W I T H R O O

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TRY THIS YOGA ROUTINE Words by Jess North of YogaGrace, photographs by Greg Martin

1. S T A R T

BY SITTING C O M F O R TA B LY

Use cushions or folded blankets to raise your hips higher than your knees, or even sit on a chair. Make sure your spine is nice and tall and shoulders relaxed. Place one hand on your belly and the other on the centre of your chest. Close your eyes. Inhale into your belly then up into your chest. Then exhale from your belly and then your chest. Repeat 10 times and notice if there’s any changes to how you’re feeling with this simple breath practice.

C AT / C OW

2. C A T / C O W

Come onto your hands and knees. If you don’t have a yoga mat, use a blanket or towel under your knees. Inhale, look up and lengthen the spine, dropping the belly. Exhale and round the spine, looking down towards your navel.

Repeat five times.

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3. L O W L U N G E

Place your left foot between your hands, making sure your knee is over your ankle.

Reach both hands up towards the sky and lift your heart. Hold for three deep breaths, then repeat on the other side.

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ould you like to address some of those aches and pains that bother you from time to time? How about feeling less stressed, and sleeping better too? If so, it might be time to try a yoga class! There are so many teachers and classes to join, from those that make you move around and sweat, to candlelit ones where you feel so serene you’re almost sleeping. It’s worth trying a few different styles until you find the one that suits you best.

Have a go at this beginners’ sequence to give you an idea of what to expect. If you have a yoga mat, perfect; if not, a non-slippery surface is good to practise on. Use a folded towel or blanket to kneel, sit or lie on too. Take a moment to check in with yourself before you start; ask yourself: “How am I feeling today, in my mind and body?” This simple sequence should take around 20 minutes, then ask yourself how you feel at the end – hopefully calm, grounded and more relaxed in your body and mind.

Jess North has been practising yoga for 18 years and teaching for three. She teaches classes in the community and in offices in and around Helston and Falmouth, as well as on retreats and at events around Cornwall. She loves sharing yoga with everyone and encourages young and old, men and women to come along. www.yogagrace.co.uk www.facebook.com/yogagrace.co.uk www.instagram.com/jess.yogagrace Clothing by Pepper & Mayne, www.pepperandmayne.com

PLANK

4. P L A N K !

5. D O W N W A R D FAC I N G D O G

Most yoga classes will include one of these guys, and it’s not the easiest pose. Start on hands and knees, wrists under shoulders, knees under hips. Press your hands into the floor, lift your knees up and reach your bottom high to the sky! Keep your knees bent and feel as though you can find length in your spine, from your tailbone all the way down to the crown of your head, imagining space between each vertebrae. Hold for three to five breaths.

D O W N WA R D F A C I N G D O G

Everyone’s favourite! It’s a great pose for building core strength and warming up the body. Place your wrists underneath your shoulders, lift your knees and press back through your heels. Your legs should feel like they’re really working. Draw your belly button in, look up and give yourself a big smile! Hold for ten seconds and gradually work your way up to holding for 30 seconds, a little longer each day.

F O R WA R D B E N D

6. F O R W A R D B E N D Walk your feet up to meet your hands. Have your feet hip distance apart and parallel. Look up and lengthen the spine then fold down, with a nice crisp fold at your hips. Keep a slight bend in your knees. Hold for three breaths.

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7. U P W A R D S A L U T E Roll up to stand slowly and then reach your hands high. Lift your heart, look up and take three big breaths, filling your lungs with air.

U P WA R D S A L U T E

TRIANGLE POSE

8. T R I A N G L E P O S E Step your left foot forward and your other foot back, turning your right foot out to 90 degrees.

Keep your front heel in line with back instep.

Both legs are straight, but if your legs are tight, you might need a slight bend in your front knee.

Reach your left hand out in front of you and then bow forward, letting your hand rest on your leg, maybe on your thigh or on your shin. Reach your other hand up and if you can, look up. Hold for three breaths then repeat on the other side.

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INTENSE SIDE STRETCH

9. I N T E N S E SIDE STRETCH

Left foot forward and right foot back, a slightly narrower stance than for Triangle pose. Your back foot is turned in to 45 degrees. Place your hands on your hips and turn both hips so they are facing the front of the room. Inhale, lift your heart then exhale and fold forward, keeping a nice straight spine. Hold for three breaths then repeat on the other side.

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10. S T A N D I N G T W I S T

Place your left foot firmly on the floor, evening out the weight between the toes and heels. Hover your right foot in the air, keeping it flexed. Bring your left hand to the right knee. If you feel a bit wobbly here, just keep the other hand on the waist. Balances can be tricky when you first start, but they do get easier! Find a spot to focus on and hold for three breaths. If you feel OK, try reaching your right hand back behind you – try taking the gaze back behind you for a bonus point! Repeat on the right foot.

11. S E A T E D SPINAL TWIST

This is a lovely pose for the spine and digestive system. If you only do one pose, make it this one! Sit on the floor with our legs out in front of you. Bend the right leg and place the foot on the floor. Inhale the spine nice and tall, then exhale and wrap the left arm around the right knee, turning towards the back. Bring the other fingertips down to the floor to support. Use the inhale to lengthen your spine tall and your exhale to gently twist from your belly, deepening the twist. Hold for five breaths before gently unwinding back to the centre and repeating on the other side.

12. K N E E S TO CHEST

Lie on your back and bring your knees in to your chest. Hug them in and gently rock side to side for about 10 breaths. Then begin to make small circles for five or so rotations, before switching direction.

S TA N D I N G TWIST

S E AT E D SPINAL TWIST

KNEES TO CHEST

S AVA S A N A

13. S AV A S A N A

Lying down and relaxing! For some, this can be the most challenging of all poses especially if our mind is very busy, but it’s the most essential part of your yoga practice and one every class will include. The idea is to stay awake but relaxed. Make sure you feel comfortable, cover yourself with a blanket and stay warm. Set a short alarm if you want to. I’d recommend three to five minutes, but even just one minute can be beneficial. Inhale for a count of three and exhale for a count of six; repeat 10 times. Then allow the whole body to feel very heavy and imagine you are sinking down into deep relaxation. Enjoy your rest – namaste!

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Mindful

moments

THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN MINDFULNESS AND WINE TASTING Words by Joanna Hulin

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ou might be surprised to learn that the principles of wine tasting mirror those of practising mindfulness.

Unfortunately, this isn’t an excuse to reach for the bottle to alleviate any unwanted feelings or emotions, or to overindulge; but the principle of really looking at the liquid, examining every colour, shade and fragrant smell before taking the tiniest little sip, is where the compassion lies.

To apply this deliberate, conscious awareness is the same as practising mindfulness in order to be more present in our daily lives – which is why I spent the afternoon with Debbie Warner, sales manager at Bibendum Wine and founder/ sommelier at the Wild Wine Club. I was a complete wine novice, so Debbie had her work cut out guiding me to notice the delicate floral aromas of Trevibban Mill’s Merope and the mouth-watering, juicy, lemon flavors in the Camel Valley’s Annie’s Anniversary Brut.

Debbie’s wine expertise goes further than merely than studying the scent and flavour of wine. She could tell me about the rich free-draining soil that is so specific to the Camel Valley’s Darnibole vineyard, and which was recently awarded Protected Designated Origin Status – the first and currently the only vineyard in the UK to hold this prestigious status.

When you pay attention in this way, bringing your deliberate awareness to your experience, you are practising mindfulness. I was fully participating in the experience of tasting the wines by engaging my senses and curiosity; when doing so, it was nearly impossible to get distracted by any mind chatter or worry, past or future. I was fully present, fully focussed, enjoying and savouring the experience I was having, right there in that moment.

Mindfulness is rooted in Eastern philosophy and meditation

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practices, and was popularised in the west by Jon KabatZinn, founder of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) therapy, in the late 1970s. He defines mindfulness as “…a means of paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally”. Kabat-Zinn’s studies concluded that through simple mindfulness practices, a vast range of health benefits are experienced: stress, insomnia and anxiety are lowered, mood is improved and even chronic pain is claimed to be reduced.

If we pause and consider where our minds are most of the day, most of us might realise we operate in an ‘automatic pilot’ mode a lot of the time. The best example I use to describe this in my experience is that of driving from A to B. So often I arrive at my destination with absolutely no recollection of the detail of the journey. It’s almost as if I enter a foggy headspace, full of thoughts of the past or fantasies of the future, rather than being aware of the reality around me.

How often do you pause to notice the details of your experience? Do you ever stop deliberately, take a deep breath and apply the wine-tasting process to any of your daily activities – even the seemingly mundane, everyday experiences, like washing up or walking the kids to school?

Pause right now and pay attention to what you can see – notice detail of your surrounding – the sky, the trees, even if it’s inside your living room. How are you holding your body?

Is there tension in your shoulders, neck or jaw? So often our body holds clues to where our mind is at. Relaxing the body, relaxes the mind. Address your thoughts, feelings and emotions – non-judgementally. Notice where your head is at – the simple act of doing so often gives those thoughts or feeling less power.

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from the automatic pilot headspace most of us find ourselves in. It won’t fix any of the external complications, or make the to-do list shorter; but cultivating the habit will help us to remain present, grounded and calm in the face of life’s wonderful complications – perhaps getting those everyday tasks and responsibilities done more efficiently and making decisions with more clarity.

To practise being ‘mindful’ is pretty easy; forming the habit can be tricky, though. A simple way to get going is to choose one simple activity – your morning shower, drinking your first coffee of the day, eating your lunch, walking home from work – something that doesn’t require doing anything differently in your routine except from noticing the detail of that experience.

Set yourself the challenge to do that daily activity mindfully.

Really engage your senses and experience the taste, smell, texture, colour, feel of that experience. For just a few precious moments, be aware of what you are engaged in, free from the mind chatter that distracts you from being fully present in every moment.

The beauty and charm of Cornwall is abundant and you never know, in being more mindful, you might just notice something you hadn’t before or perhaps you’ll just feel a renewed sense of awe at all this gorgeous country has to offer. Even if it is starting with the grape!

Debbie could tell me where in the world the grapes were grown and pretty much the journey of the grape from seed to glass. Applying this level of curiosity to the food we eat in our daily lives is mindfulness in action. Pausing to consider what we are eating has come from, can help us make more considered food choices: healthier, more ethical.

Mindfulness in action is simply remembering to slow down, to pause, to notice non-judgmentally and to escape

Joanna Hulin of Horizon Inspired offers mindful inspiration, articles, one-to-one support and retreats. Follow her on Instagram @horizoninspired or visit

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he month of February is probably best known for St Valentine’s Day on the 14th. Alongside flowers and champagne, chocolate is often given as a gift to someone you love. Did you know that, prior to 1840, chocolate was only consumed as a beverage?

During the 1840s, Belgian chocolatiers, and the Cadbury brothers in England, created what we now know as chocolate by combining cocoa butter and sugar and pressing into moulds.

In 1849 the Cadbury brothers created the first box of chocolates, and in 1861 produced the first heart-shaped box, covered with images of cupids and rosebuds and launching a Valentine’s tradition.

We all love chocolate, but do you know that there are different forms? For instance, there is cacao and cocoa – they may sound similar, but they are different in taste, nutritional benefits and cost.

Cacao

► Cacao is the purest form of chocolate you can consume, raw and less processed than cocoa powder and is only cold-pressed to process it.

► Cacao butter is the fattiest part of the fruit, white in colour and with a rich

buttery texture. This is removed, and the remaining fruit is used to produce raw cacao powder. ► Cacao contains more fibre and calories than cocoa powder as most of the nutrients remain intact.

Cocoa

► Cocoa is the term used to refer to the heat-treated form of cacao, which we

all know as being cocoa powder (not to be confused with drinking chocolate, which has added dried milk and sugar). ► Cocoa is processed by heating at a high temperature; some health benefits remain in the powder but in much smaller measures.

CHOCOLATE Words by Amanda Forster-Searle

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What are the health benefits of cacao?

► Full of antioxidants (cacao powder is known to have a higher content than cocoa)

► May lower insulin resistance ► Protects your nervous system due to high levels of resveratrol, a potent ► ► ► ► ► ►

► ►

antioxidant also found in red wine, known for its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier Shields nerve cells from damage Cuts your risk of stroke May lower blood pressure Reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease – the antioxidants found in cacao help to maintain healthy (but not toxic) levels of nitric oxide (NO), which relax blood vessels and reduce blood pressure.

Guards against other toxins – cacao contains far more antioxidants per 100g than acai, goji berries and blueberries, which can repair the damage caused by free radicals and may even reduce the risk of certain cancers.

Boosts your mood, by increasing levels of certain neurotransmitters that promote a sense of well-being. The brain chemical phenylethylamine is found in chocolate, and is the same chemical released when we experience deep feelings of love Provides minerals: magnesium, iron, potassium, calcium, zinc, copper and manganese.

Is an excellent source of nutrients: monounsaturated fats, cholesterol-free saturated fats, vitamins, minerals, fibre, natural carbohydrates and protein

Now you can indulge in making a simple raw chocolate treat, knowing that by using a recipe which uses raw cacao and only natural sweeteners, it not only tastes delicious, but is good for you too.

Ingredients for the brownies ► ► ► ► ► ►

2½ cups loosely packed pitted dates 1½ cups walnuts 6 tbsp raw cacao (or cocoa powder) 1½ tsp pure vanilla extract 2 tsp water ¼ tsp salt

Ingredients for the icing

► ¼ cup raw cacao (or cocoa powder) ► ¼ cup pure maple syrup (or coconut nectar) ► ½ tsp pure vanilla extract

Method

► Combine the dates, walnuts, cacao/cocoa, 1½ tsp vanilla, water, and salt

in a food processor until completely smooth, scraping down as needed (it may seem dry at first, but don’t add any extra water). ► Lightly grease an 8-inch square cake tin (or line the tin with greaseproof paper). Transfer mixture to the tin and press down very firmly until the mixture is evenly distributed. ► In a separate mixing bowl, combine the icing ingredients. Stir until the mixture forms a paste. Spread evenly over the mixture in the cake tin. ► Refrigerate brownies for at least two hours, to set. Any leftovers can stay covered at room temperature for a day, up to two weeks in the fridge, or up to two months in the freezer.

Amanda Forster-Searle is a nutritionist, stress reduction & wellbeing coach and reiki energy healer at Nourish in Ladock, near Truro, & co-owner of Sandalwood & Sage Healing. www.nourishkitchen.net www.facebook.com/NourishKitchen

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alentine’s Day is an occasion for getting up close and personal with someone who cares about you. One interpretation of this is to book a session with a personal trainer!

Although it may cost you a little more than a gym membership, you’ll receive a programme that is tailored to you, giving lasting results. I train most of my clients at their homes, which is a great way to keep motivation high. Even if they don’t feel like it, I am there, pushing them to work hard, and they always feel better for it at the end of the session.

A client’s journey will begin by meeting me to discuss their goals over a cup of coffee, and to see if they feel comfortable with me. This is important, as clients need to share confidential information with me. Goals established, we agree times and places to train; some like to train outside and against the beautiful backdrop of Cornwall, while others prefer to work in the comfort of their own home. This has proved especially popular with mums, as we can train around their children (and pets!). Nearly all of my clients have felt very nervous on their first session with me, but have soon begun enjoying themselves and have found a love of exercise they’d never imagined.

From my own perspective, I feel truly blessed to work with so many different people who are striving to hit their targets. I thoroughly enjoy our sessions together; we share many laughs and even some tears, but on the whole, they have all felt the benefit of working with a personal trainer. Here are some of the reviews left on my Facebook page, Total Fitness Coaching: “I have been working with Becky since January.

I’ve lost nearly a stone but even better than that I feel amazing. She has written a programme that fits around my busy life with two kids and work. She is really motivational but best of all realistic. I really enjoy my workouts!”

“Five minutes with Becky is like an hour in the gym! She pushes you that little bit further, until you’re drenched in sweat, legs like jelly and ready for a hot shower … “ “I had a double lung transplant, and Becky is helping me reach my goals with a bespoke training plan. I feel fantastic and am very lucky to have such a fun and committed coach who is professional, competent and motivating.”

So this Valentine’s Day, treat your body and mind to a gift that will bring you positive changes. Get in touch so we can begin your fitness journey.

Becky Miles Total Fitness Coaching | 07807 580204 | www.facebook.com/totalfitnesscoaching

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WITH ROO CROSS

fashion W H Y I S I T SO DARK?

ABOVE: Levi’s 90s Baggy Real World Black Jeans £99

Got any fashion dilemmas you’d like to share?

Email me and I can help.

RIGHT: Bellerose Denio Cardigan £95

shop@roosbeach.co.uk

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irst of all: a belated Happy New Year! I hope you had a joyous time and managed to find time for relaxation within the festive madness. I signed up to RED – Run Every Day in January in aid of the charity Mind. Just call me Forrest Gump! This seemed like an excellent idea on December 30 amid a post-Christmas food stupor, watching Little Women with a large glass of wine in one hand and a wodge of Kettle Chips in the other.

However, the reality is harsh; mid-January, everything hurts and whichever end of the day I go running, it’s always pitch-black.

January in the UK is always a hard month.

It’s unfeasibly long, no one’s got any money, it’s cold and mainly dark, spring seems an eternity away and then, just to really add to the misery, storm Eleanor comes along. The only way to get through it is by firmly looking forward, taking it in bite-size pieces, broken down into small pockets of lightheartedness. For example:

► Plan holidays. Get those flights booked and some sunshine in the diary. It makes all of the above worthwhile. ► Go to the cinema. It’s cheap, not weather dependent, doesn’t have to involve eating or drinking lots, and if you see the right film – Pitch Perfect 3 for me – it’ll lift your spirits. ► Experimental cooking. My current obsession is Tom Kerridge – he’s lost 13 STONE! His recipes are amazing, actually taste good and don’t involve too much quinoa or kale! ► Music. Make playlists. I’m curating upbeat running music with the help of my son, whose taste in music and ability to use modern technology is far superior to mine. ► Start wardrobe planning.

Shake it up a bit, and emerge from hibernation just ever so slightly updated.

On to SS18: what does it look like? Well, there are a good number of stripes, blue features heavily, and the Pantone colour of the year is Ultraviolet – think baby lilac with washed-out denim. We have a smattering of floral, some obligatory tropical and, of course, there’s yellow.

Now that’s got to get you excited on such a grey day!

The decade of the season is the 1990s. Try a new denim silhouette, and forget about skinnies – we’ve all worn them for years. We dabbled with the flare and I’ll put money on the bootleg coming back before we’re much older. However, those brilliant experts at Levi’s have brought us the ‘Baggy’ for SS18, and it’s just perfect: slightly high-waisted and tapered to the ankle, amazingly flattering over the bottom and, to top it all, there’s a hint of acid-wash blue. Take me back NOW.

You can find us opposite the beach at Porth, just outside Newquay. Keep an eye on the website or sign up to the newsletter for up-to-date information

roosbeach.co.uk

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leisure

E S C A P E T O . . . C O N S T A N T I N E B AY WO O F G U I D E TO FA L M O U T H O N T H E WA T E R

(page 112)

(page 116)

(page 117)

BOOKS: LINKINHORNE

(page 118)

T H E AT R E : H E N RY DA R K E MUSIC: WILL YOUNG

(page 122)

(page 24)

BACKALONG WITH PETE CROSS

(page 128)

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O

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NS V W TA IBR ph ord ot s b NT AT og y IN IO ra Kir ph st N E s b ie BA S I N y Y N To ew m to La n, st

CO

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nter Beach Boys, a stunning modern glass-fronted house in Constantine Bay, and you get an instant feel for the scale of the property. The entrance atrium, with its swing doors, high ceilings and log burner, gives the impression of a luxury hotel lobby, and indeed Beach Boys sleeps 14, with six bedrooms and five bathrooms. Go upstairs, past the neon surfboard art, and you discover this home’s USP: an open-plan living space with superlative coastal views.

We discovered Beach Boys a few months ago, when looking for places to drive with a Tesla hire car. The property appears on Tesla’s handy map of destination chargers; with their interest in renewable energy, owners Nigel and Maria Freeman had installed a charger in the garage. The couple bought the original property in 2012. “We’d been looking for a place in Rock for seven years, and had been gazumped a couple of times,” explained Maria. “Then estate agent Jackie Stanley recommended this place, and it ticked all our boxes: it was a good size with plenty of space, had a garden and was within walking distance from the beach, which took my breath away – it was unspoilt and uncommercialised.”

The property needed some work, and experienced renovator Nigel took up residence and project managed the rebuild with local tradesmen in 2016 while Maria held the fort at home with their three sons (Harvey, Ed and Monty) and a renewables farm. All the major walls stayed up, and the property remained reverse level, but with extensions either

side. Bedrooms were added upstairs: a stunning master suite to the left and a double with en suite to the right, both with king-size beds and sea views. Downstairs are four more bedrooms: a king, double, twin and a children’s room with two sets of bunk beds, making this the perfect venue for a family gathering.

A spacious garage was added – there is also ample parking space outside – plus a cinema/games room with built-in Sonos sound system, full Sky Movies and Sport, and even a ping-pong table. Outdoor appeal includes a hot tub, a mirror-heated pool, double wet room facilities, a southfacing courtyard and – last but not least – a trampoline dug into the garden, a thrilling prospect for our seven-year-old.

Although the Freemans live out of county, they have a trusted housekeeping team in DFL from Wadebridge. We were also met by the lovely Ross, who let us in and showed us round. A thoughtful touch was the welcome hamper filled with goodies, including wine, chocolates and local treats.

Close by are the superb Constantine Bay Stores, which are stocked to the gunwhales with essentials, from milk to daily newspapers, and plenty of local produce – you need never run out of anything. We stocked up on dinner here – simple pizza and salads, followed by home-made fruit crumble.

It was a pleasure to work in the capacious, well-stocked kitchen with its 3.1m freestanding island and funky porthole windows; you’ll find every cooking utensil and dish you

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could wish for, although you might have to open every single drawer first (there are also glasses for every possible drink and occasion). There are two fridges and a freezer here, and another downstairs in the utility room. Should you wish to be catered for, Maria recommends Newquay outfit Chef In My Home, aka Dean and Victoria Dawes. “I celebrated my 50th at Beach Boys with friends and family. They laid the table, cooked three courses of delicious food for 14 people and washed up. Brilliant.”

We headed down to Constantine Bay for a paddle at sunset, but there are plenty of others to choose from –

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Treyarnon, Booby’s etc – and drove over to Trevose lighthouse, a landmark of the north Cornwall cost. Trevose golf club is right next door, and the Treglos Hotel is just around the corner with spa facilities. Should you be seeking retail therapy or gourmet cuisine, Padstow is a mere hop, skip and jump away.

But truly, it would be easy to hole up here for a week and just gaze at that view from the balcony, glass of wine in hand; or cosy up with a book, watching the storms roll in with the logburners lit. Could it get any better? www.beachboysconstantine.co.uk

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classic cottages WELCOMING THE MAGNOLIA

Words by Kayleigh Hardy of Classic Cottages

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lowering magnolias traditionally mark the beginning of spring in the UK and hopefully we’ll be seeing a few in Cornwall this month, usually coupled with daffodils and some seasonal foliage. The Queens of the Garden spread their branches high above the other plants and flowers, commanding the rest of the garden into life this February.

Inspired by the magnolia, explore Cornwall’s great gardens this spring. Discover the ancient magnolia at the heart of the Lost Gardens of Heligan, see how the sculptures at Tremenheere reflect the nature around them and wander the maze of paths around the Trelissick estate with pretty views of the Carrick Roads.

Each location brings different plants, animals and stories from throughout history. Walk in the footsteps of leaders in the mining industry, sculptors from all over the world and local Cornish people, who slowly recovered and rebuilt many of these places into the botanical havens they are today.

For a taste of spring right on your doorstep, choose one of our holiday homes with some glorious greens in sight from the bedroom window. Melody Farm has an entire lake and woodland pathways to embrace the coming of warmer weather. For colder days there’s also an indoor heated swimming pool for little ones to splash around in and a hot tub for grown-up evenings

under the new moon with a glass of bubbles. This family holiday cottage sleeps 10 so you have plenty of space for an extended family to gather together in celebration of a special birthday or anniversary.

Get a little closer to Mother Nature this spring and go glamping. Our glamping sites all have en suite bathrooms, running water and proper beds, but you still get all the perks of camping. The Roseland Valley Retreat is a riverside haven with a cabin and safari tent bedroom to relax in. You won’t need to leave the site as there are plenty of woodland pathways and a spring meadow to explore. For cooler evenings, snuggle by the woodburner with a cup of tea. And what could be more tranquil than a hot outdoor shower with a view of the river and woods? Our guests have described this place as an enchanting, secluded retreat where they could really relax.

Spring is the best time of year to be outside; whether you prefer your gardens to a little wilder or planned and trimmed, nothing beats a good stomp through the Cornish countryside or along a clifftop with the wind in your hair and the sun shining down (hopefully).

Classic Cottages have been holiday cottage specialists for the West Country since 1977, finding homes that make great holidays. www.classic.co.uk

ABOVE: MELODY FARM (BY ELLIOTT WHITE) IS THE PERFECT PLACE TO GATHER FAMILY TOGETHER

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guide

A GUIDE TO FALMOUTH from Emma Grigson at Dog Friendly Cornwall www.dogfriendlycornwall.co.uk

A

bustling harbour town with a rich maritime heritage, quirky independent shops in the high street - what’s not to love about Falmouth? It’s also very dogfriendly, particularly in the winter. There are some great things to do and places to visit on a day out with your pooch. Here’s our guide, with lots of suggestions from our followers on Dog Friendly Cornwall.

DE WYNNS You can spot this dog-friendly cafe on Church Street thanks to its original bowed window, which gives a sense of its history as a 19th century tea and coffee house. Find great coffee, cream teas (served with Tregothnan tea, grown on the banks of the River Fal) and an extensive sandwich and salad menu, including locally supplied crab. www.falmouth.co.uk/search/eat_and_drink/de-wynns/

W H E R E T O S T AY ?

D AY S O U T A N D B E A C H E S

THE GREENBANK HOTEL One of Falmouth’s loveliest hotels, with its own beach (dogs permitted) and gardens, and now dog-friendly rooms – a wonderful choice for those who can afford a little luxury. www.greenbank-hotel.co.uk THE CUTTY SARK This delightful Georgian townhouse overlooks the quay yet offers all comforts of a traditional inn.

It has a relaxed and welcoming feel, and the bedrooms are all individually styled, featuring modern artwork by talented local artists. Dogs are welcome in all areas, including bedrooms, with water bowls and treats readily available. Dog owners can get a special 10% discount on food and accommodation by using the code BUDDY10. www.cuttysarkfalmouth.co.uk WELLINGTON HOUSE An Edwardian guesthouse with views over the Carrick Roads or Falmouth Bay, depending on which room you are in. The house is actually named after an Old English sheepdog who once lived in the house. www.wellingtonhousefalmouth.co.uk

FAL BOAT TRIPS Explore the area is by taking a boat trip available up the Fal and the nearby Helford River (pictured) dogs are welcome on most services. Sail up the Fal to Truro via Trelissick Gardens, or across the Carrick Roads to St Mawes and the Roseland peninsula beyond. Head to the Prince of Wales pier in the town to book on the day, or visit www.falriver.co.uk TRELISSICK GARDENS Visit these National Trust gardens by boat or by car. Dogs are not allowed in the formal gardens, but there is beautiful parkland around with fields stretching down to the water’s edge, and woodland walks by the creeks of the Fal river, passing the King Harry Ferry. Trelissick’s cafe has dog-friendly outdoor seating, and doggy treats are available here or in the car park kiosk. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/trelissick PENDENNIS CASTLE Dogs on leads are allowed around most of this Tudor castle which looks out to its twin in St Mawes across the Carrick Roads. Enjoy the magnificent keep, grounds, tea room and shop as well as historic exhibitions. www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/pendennis-castle

W H E R E TO E AT ?

STABLE PIZZA This restaurant, in a restored building on Arwenack Street, has a fantastic reputation for pizzas, pies, salads and ciders, and dogs are allowed in the downstairs area. stablepizza.com/locations/the-stable-falmouth HARBOUR VIEW Enjoy everything from chicken liver parfait to traditional fish and chips on Falmouth’s main street, near the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, with – you guessed it – harbour views. www.harbourdining.com/menu/ 5 DEGREES WEST A modern bar and grill located on Grove Street. The bar area is warm and spacious, with a really wide-ranging menu offering options for even the fussiest eater, and a good reputation for food and service. www.5degreesfalmouth.co.uk

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BEACHES Falmouth draws a hard line on dogs on Gyllyngvase, Swanpool and Maenporth in the summer – the summer season ban comes into force at Easter. There is a small dog-friendly beach called Sunny Cove, below the footpath between Maenporth and Swanpool (be warned – it is also an unofficial naturist beach).

A short drive away, you can find Durgan, a river beach on the North Helford; or, across the King Harry Ferry, there is also Carne beach, Porthluney, Porthcurnick (home to the famed Hidden Hut beach cafe) and Gorran Haven. Check out river beaches at Mylor (the lovely Cafe Mylor is dog friendly) and Loe beach (good for watersports) and the Pandora Inn pub.

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ON THE

WAT E R Words by Sarah-Jayne Leverton

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he next OSTAR and TWOSTAR race has been announced to take place in 2020. The event has been brought forward 12 months (it normally takes place every four years) to mark the 60th anniversary of the race.

For those who don’t follow single-handed sailing, the joint OSTAR (single-handed) and TWOSTAR (double-handed) yacht race is a dramatic adventure from Plymouth Sound to Newport, Rhode Island. It has certainly never been a boring event, with today’s sailing superstars such as Ellen Macarthur and Pete Goss using the race as a springboard for greater things. However, by anyone’s standard, the last event in 2017 really was one to remember.

Competitors experienced the worst conditions in the entire history of the event, with several boats severely affected. Those who attended our Marine Conference back in November will be familiar with Mervyn Wheatley’s tale about his mid-Atlantic rescue 13 days into the 2017 OSTAR after his boat, Tamarind, was rolled by a huge wave and suffered significant damage.

It was a culmination of unusual weather patterns that lead up to this tense situation. A particularly cold spring had left several icebergs to the east and south of Newfoundland. This contributed to a series of low pressure systems that came racing across the North Atlantic, bringing with them strong winds and heavy seas.

In the early hours of June 9, 12 days into the race (when competitors were roughly mid-Atlantic), the Met Office recorded a pressure reading of 964mb – 15mb lower than the disastrous Fastnet Race storm of 1979, when 15 people died.

On this occasion, 60-knot winds and 15m seas ripped through the OSTAR and TWOSTAR race fleet, leaving boats battered and bruised and, in some cases, seriously damaged, with some boats being abandoned altogether.

The best documented of these rescues was that of my friend Mervyn, largely due to the arrival of one of the world’s most luxurious cruise-liners, the Queen Mary 2, coming to his rescue.

Despite this exciting response to his distress call, anyone who attended the conference could see the genuine emotion that Mervyn, a hardy ex-Marine and established single-handed sailor, felt when he talked about the decision to abandon his boat, and his fear that his family were unaware of his fate.

The second boat to suffer serious problems was Happy, skippered by Wytse Bouma and Jaap Barendregt, after it was

dismasted. Like Mervyn’s boat, Happy was one of the boats to have taken part in the AZAB race back in 2015 – Fastnet provided the marketing for the event, and I specifically remember typing up their boat’s biography in the event programme, mainly due to the optimistic name! They were successfully rescued by a Dutch barge, headed to the Bahamas.

“It isn’t quite the Queen Mary, but the hospitality shown by the crew is overwhelming,” quipped Jaap, adding: “It is sad that we had to abandon and scupper our beloved Happy, but we felt we had no other realistic and safe option.”

The next boat to meet its final resting place in the midAtlantic was Furia, which struck a floating object, causing severe flooding and the subsequent sinking. Skippers Mihail Kopanov and Dian Zaykov were rescued by the survey vessel Thor Magna, heading for Halifax.

Finally, Illumina 12 sustained serious keel damage and was eventually abandoned by Michele Zambelli, who was picked up by helicopter and flown to Halifax. Amazingly, Illumina 12 was found in November, washed up on a beach in Ireland – thousands of miles away from where it had been abandoned.

With the 2020 event now on the horizon, is a race for fun and glory worth the potential sacrifice?

My answer, of course, is a resounding yes. Races such as the OSTAR, TWOSTAR and the AZAB are the last truly great adventures in this modern age. Certainly, the individual stories of the last OSTAR sound like they belong in a film script. The skippers mentioned in this article are experienced yachtsmen, with years of training and the very best communications equipment. They are used to the dangers and uncertainties that the sea brings; how sad not to be given the opportunity to utilise that talent.

I might add, though, that this is not a race for the fainthearted, or for the inexperienced. However, these last great adventures should be kept alive for those with the knowledge, expertise and sheer grit to take on such a race. The fact that amateur sailors take part almost made me write that it’s a huge adventure for the ordinary sailor … but in reality, these sailors are far from ordinary.

If you would like to watch Mervyn’s captivating talk about his OSTAR adventure, please go to www.fastnetmarketing.co.uk/blog CORNWALL TODAY

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IN LINKINHORNE A NEW BOOK CELEBRATING A VILLAGE IN SOUTH-EAST CORNWALL Words by Shaun Hocking

HURLERS CHEESEWRING

BY SUE ROWLANDS

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ne of Cornwall’s largest but least known parishes is the subject of a major community book.

Linkinhorne - a mostly rural area on the edge of Bodmin Moor, close to Liskeard - has a fascinating story covering thousands of years of human history.

The project began in January 2017 when a group of people from the villages of Upton Cross, Rilla Mill, Minions, Plushabridge and Linkinhorne itself gathered to discuss a research and writing project. The aim was to study every aspect of parish life from the earliest times to the present day. The result is Linkinhorne: The Story Of A Cornish Parish, a 400-page, fully illustrated book spanning millennia. Reynard March-Willet, who recently left Callington Community College, was commissioned to create some 80 line drawings to illustrate each of the chapters.

Project leader Simon Parker, a journalist for the Western Morning News, stresses that it is a “reading book, accessible to all” and covers a vast range of topics.

“Starting with the very ground we walk on – the geology of the hills, valleys and moors – the story moves from

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prehistoric times, through the medieval to the Civil War period, the Victorian and industrial era, the 20th century and into the present,” said Simon. “There are sections on place names and their meanings, on the mining boom, on agriculture, and the many trades carried on, with chapters about businesses, bus companies and quarrying.”

Other sections include everything from chapels and churches to the Women’s Institute, along with social clubs, the horticultural society, murders, sport, schools, inns, poaching, milling, plus a few notable “characters” from the past. The artistic life of the area takes in Sterts Theatre, poet Frances Bellerby, Caradon Looms, novelist EV Thompson and more. The book was due to be featured on BBC Radio 4’s Making History programme in January.

“The book is an accessible and very readable collection of short chapters,” Simon continued. “Some are detailed essays, while others are personal reminiscences. Each is an evocative description of some aspect of life in this diverse and picturesque parish.”

There have been other books about Linkinhorne over the years. In 1727, William Harvey conducted a survey of

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S I M O N PA R K E R

PETER SHARP B Y E M I LY W H I T F I E L D - W I C K S

the parish, while in the 1980s George Bishop collected a huge number of archive and family photographs for his book, A Pictorial View Of Linkinhorne, while poet Charles Causley met old Mollie Magee “At Linkinhorne, where the devil was born”.

“This started as a fairly small idea, but as the weeks went on, the interest grew and grew,” said Simon.

“We hope people living in the area today, along with people whose families may have had Linkinhorne connections, will find it a hugely interesting, informative and entertaining read.”

As contributor Peter Sharp puts it: “The book includes everything from academic archaeology to exploding trousers – but you’ll have to get a copy to read that particular story.”

Linkinhorne: The Story Of A Cornish Parish is published by Scryfa at £10.

It is available from The Book Shop in Liskeard or direct for £10 (inc. p&p) – call Simon Parker on 07779 091465 or email simoncharlesparker@btinternet.com

T O S E E I N L I N K I N H O R N E PA R I S H : ► St Melor’s church and holy well. Spouting clear water from

a tributary of the River Lynher, the well was considered to be a good remedy for horses’ sprained legs. ► The Darley Oak. Possibly 1,000 years old, this ancient oak at Darley Ford unsurprisingly inspires plenty of folklore.

The hollow in its trunk was once a venue for unusual tea parties, while anyone who passed through the hollow and circled the girth would reputedly find their wishes granted.

Its acorns were used as good luck charms during pregnancy.

It is one of 50 Great British Trees selected by The Tree Council in 2002 in honour of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. ► The Hurlers and the Cheesewring. Three fine late Neolithic or early Bronze Age stone circles arranged in a line, Hurlers Stone Circles are said to be the remains of men petrified for playing hurling on a Sunday. In contrast, the Cheesewring is a natural geological formation of weathered granite slabs. Wilkie Collins described it in his 1861 book, Rambles Beyond Railways: “If a man dreams of a great pile of stones in a nightmare, he would dream of such a pile as the Cheesewring.”

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mazing Waves is a stunning coffee-table book of breathtaking images from the world’s top surf photographers, perfectly capturing the beauty and majesty of our ocean waves across the globe. Produced by Orca Publications in Newquay, the book includes waves in Indonesia, South Africa, Hawaii, Tahiti, Ireland, the Maldives, Canada and not forgetting Cornwall.

Pictured is ‘Porthole’, Mike Lacey’s unusual view of Porthleven from 2016. The collection also includes work by Cornwall-based Roger Sharp, editor of Amazing Waves and Carve magazine. £24.99, from mainstream bookshops and online at www.shop.carvemag.com

Pictured: Porthleven by Mike Lacey

Words by Kirstie Newton

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CORNWALL IN PHOTOGRAPHS Gabriel Fuchs £16.99, Amberley From turbulent seas in Portscatho to cosy sweet cottages in Zennor, from instantly recognisable landmarks to hidden gems, Cornwall In Photographs shows off the county in its entirety. Fuchs found his passion early in life, shooting on a Kodak in the 1970s and later specialising in nature and reportage. His crisp portraits – 130 in total show the county as a vibrant, up-and-coming location, with a handy map should you be inspired to seek out the real, three-dimensional spots. A Swiss/Swedish citizen, Fuchs spends time regularly in Cornwall, enjoying its scenery and micro-breweries.

THE HISTORY OF BRITAIN IN MAPS Phillip Parker £25, Collins This fascinating tome reveals the journey of how the land has changed from the early centuries to the modern day, from pre-Roman paved roads and Mappa Mundi to the Beeching cuts in the 20th century and EU referendum voting patterns in the 21st. Each map comes with a thoroughly detailed explanation of its history, including a 1576 map of Cornwall completed by Christopher Saxton. Parker explains how crucial the map was considered in the 16th century, when Cornwall’s distance from the capital had led to its neglect, resulting in resentment and revolt led by such characters as An Gof and Perkin Warbeck, and the Prayer Book rebellion.

PLOP Sasha Harding £7.99, Booths Print From Penryn artist Sasha Harding comes this charming picture book for children. A scruffy, lovable dog finds a pretty necklace while frolicking on a beach. When it splashes into a deep rock pool, how will he ever get it back?

Enter a friendly seal... This tender story about newfound friendship and patience is Harding’s first book for children, in the wake of many paintings and novels.

ALICE OSWALD – WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE Acclaimed poet Alice Oswald, has joined Falmouth University’s School of Writing & Journalism as writer-in-residence. She will deliver workshops and individual tutorials to students, as well as a public talk on February 23. Her collections include The Thing In The Gap-Stone Stile (1996), which received a Forward Poetry Prize for Best First Collection, and Dart (2002), the outcome of years of research into the history, environment, and community along the River Dart in Devon. Her latest anthology, Falling Awake, won the 2017 Griffin Prize and the 2016 Costa Poetry Award. For more details, visit www.falmouth.ac.uk/events

Reviews by Lilly Moore

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A M AV E R I C K ’ S

MISSION

HENRY DARKE’S FIRST FULL-LENGTH PLAY TACKLES THE THORNY ISSUE OF HOME OWNERSHIP IN CORNWALL Words by Kirstie Newton

THE CUDDY IN 1911

T

he lack of affordable housing for young people in Cornwall is a subject that refuses to go away, and it’s the focus of a new play. Booby’s Bay has been described as “a passionate, comic fable” about “a maverick’s mission to turn the tide”.

Above a secluded Cornish cove, former fisherman Huck is holed up in an empty second home. The holiday season is fast approaching, the sharks are coming, but he refuses to budge.

As Booby’s Bay fills up for the annual surfing competition, Huck wants to shake things up; he’s got media connections and intends to make a political stand. “I’m untameable,” he says. “Like the wind. Or Heathcliff. Or Bruce Springsteen during his Nebraska period. As long as all these houses are empty, I’ll be a freewheeling, holiday home-breaking hobo – 122

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the Beast Of Booby’s Bay.” “Huck represents an idealistic way of looking at the world,” says playwright Henry Darke, who grew up in the north coast village of Porthcothan, “but his idealism is contrasted against the reality of life.”

If the name Darke seems familiar, it’s because Henry, 36, is the son of the late playwright and poet Nick, a man with a strong Cornish heritage and a keen social awareness. “A sense of passion and identity was inevitable with Nick Darke as my dad,” says Henry. “I saw all his plays at least seven or eight times, and they had a real emphasis on actors rather than visual effects, costumes or lighting. We write about similar things, but the way we write is different – the times are different.”

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Booby’s Bay is Henry’s first full-length play – his one-act play Highfliers was selected for The Royal Court Theatre Young Playwrights Season. He’s also had hits on the short film circuit with film Big Mouth, a 15-minute piece about deaf teenager Bud (reviewed by The Telegraph as “angry, scruffy, vital”), and The Lobster Trap, about a boy finding purpose on a fishing boat, shot at sea with real fishermen.

Much of his work draws upon his formative years west of the Tamar – a typical coastal childhood. “My dad taught me how to fish, and I was connected to the environment,” he recalls. “I had jobs in restaurants and labouring before heading to London and film school.”

Booby’s Bay is about what it means to be disempowered in a world that feels profoundly unjust. Henry now lives in London, and was inspired by the London riots of 2011, which he describes as “born out of political uprising and a sense of feeling disenfranchised – the play is a rebellion against the way middle-class media reacted to them as brainless looters”.

In the course of our interview, Henry comes across as an earnest young man, and readers who own holiday or second homes might wish to stop here. “In the past five years, I’ve seen Cornwall change in terms of identity but also in the way it views second homes,” he says. “People are more openly critical of the influx of people buying up and selling on housing; selling up in London and buying two houses in Cornwall, one to live in and one to rent out; buying holiday homes to stay in a couple of weeks in the year, and renting out for several grand a week.

“All of that makes it difficult for young people to get on the housing ladder. Some can only just afford to rent, let alone consider home ownership. The people from my village that I grew up with, my age, live on an estate; as soon as a

house they can afford goes on sale, they are outpriced by someone from outside.

“It’s a natural human need to want to leave something for your children, but there’s a lack of regeneration in Cornwall, and social justice requires sacrifice.”

Booby’s Bay premieres in February at London’s Finborough Theatre, which has supported the play from its initial draft stages, before moving to Bristol and finally Cornwall in March.

All three promise to be very different due to the physical limitations of the venues: while the Finborough is a pocketsize 50-seat theatre above a pub in Earl’s Court, the Wardrobe in Bristol can accommodate 100 in the round. Cornwall, however, will offer the most unusual experience. Booby’s Bay will take over The Cuddy, a small, nautical-themed holiday home which was built by Henry’s great-grandfather in 1911, and now belongs to his aunt. Audience numbers will be limited to 20 per performance, with participants following the action from living room to kitchen and outside to the beach.

Henry is currently writing his second and third full-length plays: Chippy, set in post-Brexit Padstow and written in rhyming couplets; and London-based Service, about how easy it is to fall through the cracks in society. Both continue the common threads of people and place, identity and social injustice.

Will he ever move from London back to Cornwall? “I haven’t really given that much thought,” he admits. “My son is two and I feel like home is very much here right now.”

See Booby’s Bay: January 30 to February 24, London’s Finborough Theatre; March 1 to 3, Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol; and March 8 to 10, The Cuddy, Porthcothan, where a limited number of free tickets are available – e-mail kirstyc@hallforcornwall.org.uk CORNWALL TODAY

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Will WHERE THERE’S A

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SINGER WILL YOUNG SAYS LIFE ON BODMIN MOOR HAS HELPED IMPROVE THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WHICH LED TO HIM LEAVING STRICTLY Words by Lee Trewhela

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Y

ou’ve got to love Will Young – the Cornwall-based pop star who has sold over eight million albums – not just for the exquisite voice and wry humour but for his unflinching honesty. I spoke to the singer as he prepared to host a Christmas carol concert in Truro to raise funds for a Cornish charity he loves. He spoke to me about his mental health issues, which led to his much-publicised Strictly walk-out, as well as the fact that he is seriously thinking about giving up his pop career to train as a therapist.

Not many pop stars would give so generous an interview: but then, Will has never been your run-of-the-mill entertainer. Since winning Pop Idol in 2002, he has done things very much on his own terms. Indeed, he is currently most excited about Homo Sapiens, the hugely popular LGBT podcast he co-hosts; and he’s preparing for rehearsals for Strictly Ballroom The Musical, based on the film by Baz Luhrmann, which opens in the West End in March. “That’s the great irony of life - I’m going to have to spend months talking about Strictly again!”

Ah, Strictly. Will walked out of the 2016 series, but didn’t speak publicly about why until he revealed on a mental health podcast that he was suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) due to issues going back to being separated from his twin at birth and a difficult time at school. “It’s got to be the right context to talk about mental health issues,” he told CornwallLive. “I couldn’t really start talking about PTSD while doing a samba.

“It’s very hard to actually look after oneself and have the courage to say no to something, and to walk away from the money and that level of exposure. It’s quite a lot easier to carry on suffering. I very much relate to people who have physical and mental problems and have to carry on working.”

Will, whose last album 85% Proof in 2005 was his fourth No 1, told me he wished he’d come straight back to Cornwall after leaving the show, having spent a few days in London.

“When I came back about three days later I went to my local butcher in Wadebridge and he said: ‘Don’t worry, Will, you’re safe now. We’ll look after you!’ Isn’t that lovely?

“Cornwall has definitely been an escape for me and has helped with my mental health. I feel very much accepted as part of the community now, as I’ve been here for 12 years.

The people are so welcoming and lovely.

“My house on Bodmin Moor is like stepping back into Poldark. It actually looks like Poldark’s house. I love to watch the series and spot places in Cornwall and also spot the mistakes – there are quite a lot of them, not just the odd wayward accent but cocks crowing at night: that sort of thing.”

Will is certainly ensconced in Cornish life. “I love the Hidden Hut. My whole family always goes there and our favourite beach is Constantine Bay near Padstow. I love the Hawksfield development at Wadebridge too. My friend sells old cars there and looks after mine. And the Royal Cornwall Show is a must – it’s in all our diaries every year. In fact, I wrote an article comparing the Cornwall show with Amy Winehouse as two examples of being authentic.”

He is also patron of the Shires Holt Horse Sanctuary, near

his home. “I got involved with the charity about a year and a half ago. I’ve got some land and I wanted to put rescue donkeys on it to keep the grass down, but then I discovered how bad the situation was for ponies on the moor. Because no one can identify who owns the ponies and the laws that govern them are very muddy, ponies are not being neutered and are having too many foals. This is bad for them, and the foals are dying. Winter is the worst time for the ponies, hence the need to raise awareness and funds.”

When will fans get another Will Young album? “I’ve stopped that for the moment. I’m taking an elongated break. Actually, I don’t know if I’ll go back to it. I like to do things that get me excited and I’m not particularly interested in the pop career any more. I don’t like to feel tied to a job.

If I want to change my job at 50, I will.

“Money doesn’t bring happiness. I want to concentrate on writing, acting and the podcast. I’d also like to be a psychotherapist, concentrating on voice and sound therapy.

The voice is such an important tool, but we know so little about it; it’s a box of delights. Working with the voice – which I discovered through acting – can help with conflict and resolution as well as parenting and building confidence … I could definitely see myself moving to Cornwall full-time and becoming a therapist.”

He’s certainly busy enough to ignore the pop life. The Home Sapiens podcast, with film director friend Chris Sweeney, has been described as an LGBT version of Woman’s Hour and is proving extremely popular. “We’re driving around the UK collecting people’s stories - we wanted to get out of London and get a more national voice, especially in rural areas like Cornwall where life can be difficult and isolating for the LGBT community.”

He was surprised to find that Cornwall is pretty progressive. “There’s a gay night at my local pub in St Breward. A lot of walkers go past my house and one day I was outside when a group of men approached. I got talking to them and found out it was the Cornwall Gay Men’s Walking Group. Who knew?!”

www.homosapienspodcast.com www.shiresholt.com

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Cornwall connects

C O R N WA L L H I S T O R I C C H U R C H E S T R U S T THE CORNWALL HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST (CHCT) HELD ITS ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY AT SCORRIER HOUSE, KINDLY SPONSORED BY SAVILLS. IN 2017, THE TRUST ASSISTED RESTORATION PROJECTS AT 16 CORNISH CHURCHES AND CHAPELS, DISTRIBUTING £111,500 IN TOTAL. FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.CHCT.INFO Photographs by Charles Francis

TOP ROW: SAVILLS TEAM WITH CHCT CHAIRMAN CAROLINE TETLEY: PIERS OWEN, ANNA SHARP, EMMA TRELAWNY, CAROLINE TETLEY, BEN DAVIES AND DAVID JENKIN; SCORRIER HOUSE SECOND ROW: MATTHEW OWEN, GILBERT MCCABE, KITTY JENKIN WITH BABY ALFRED OWEN; JESSICA FRENCH, GEORGE HEXT, SCOTT FRENCH AND DEBORAH HEXT; GEE ASHWORTH WITH HER GRANDFATHER, RAFFLE PRIZE WINNER JOHN ASHWORTH THIRD ROW: LADY SARA AND SIR ROBERT OWEN; SAVILLS TEAM: DAVID JENKIN, EMMA TRELAWNY, ANNA SHARP, BEN DAVIES; LENA AND ROBERT KINCAID BOTTOM ROW: CHARLES AND SUE FERGUSON; ROSS PASCOE AND JAMIE ROBERTSON; FELICITY ROBERTSON RECEIVES A MINCE PIE FROM FATHER CHRISTMAS ON DEPARTURE; ALICE RANDLE AND ROSEY FERGUSSON-TAYLOR OF SAVILLS OFFERING CHAMPAGNE TO GUESTS 126

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By Hannah Beech

Where’s it to?

Can you guess the identity of this popular Cornish location, as portrayed by illustrator Hannah Beech? Look out for cheeky clues hidden within the picture. To be in with a chance of winning an A3 print (unframed), email your answer to Competitions@ cornwalltoday.co.uk See more of Hannah’s work at hannahbeech. com or pick up a print from her Etsy shop, MerryAndBrightUK

Wonderful Cornish words

by Adam Jacot de Boinod

Can you guess what the correct meaning of the following words from both the Cornish language and Cornish dialect:

A) a large, clumsy shoe B) a call used to pigeons C) a thick slice of bread

Competition winners (Dec 2017)

Adam Jacot de Boinod was a researcher for the television series QI and is the author of The Meaning Of Tingo And Other Extraordinary Words From Around The World, published by Penguin Books.

Dick Twinney: S East, Faringdon | Pete Cross: SJ Jones, Northwich; C Snape, Stoke-on-Trent; M Houghton, Isle of Man; A Eades, Hockley | Cedar Croft: B Cressey, Penzance.

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WITH PETE CROSS

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NEVER MIND YOUR SMALL-BATCH CRAFT GIN – PASS THE VERMOUTH

s ever, I’m struggling with the zeitgeist. Macaroni Cheese is suddenly ‘Mac ‘n’ Cheese’. The word ‘very’ is fast disappearing from our everyday vocabulary in favour of ‘super’ (I’ve found myself doing it. It’s ‘super’ hard to fight it). Oh, and everything’s being ‘curated’ these days, for some reason.

And what’s going on with gin? It’s everywhere. A normal, beer-loving friend of mine said to me recently: “Come over for a gin!” “What?” I replied. “Why?” Middle-aged men did not used to say such things to each other. “Actually I find the tonic’s just as important as the gin itself,” he continued, in an attempt to elaborate, but only confusing me further. Isn’t that a bit like saying that your prawn jalfrezi’s just as much about the rice?

Lovers of gin seem to be proclaiming that they’ve always loved it, but I know several people who definitely never used to touch the stuff a handful of years ago. Gin is a drink I’ve always associated with a) posh people, b) the Seventies, and c) posh people in the Seventies.

I remember that when my upwardly mobile parents had dinner parties in the Seventies. Mother would pop to Walter Hicks in River Street (Tesco still being the stuff of dreams to Truronians back then), and purchase a bottle of gin. This was because she knew that one or two of her friends might just ask for a G&T (while the other ladies carried on quaffing a more traditional dry Martini, or perhaps a Tio Pepe). The men, meanwhile, still relatively unreconstructed, would without exception be enjoying a Double Diamond, having graduated from the ubiquitous Watney’s Party Seven. Next morning, the 14-year-old me would get up, come downstairs and wonder why the entire house smelt of fags and pine needles (I know, I know; it’s juniper in gin. But they’re not a million miles from each other – certainly not smell-wise).

Gin’s been reinvented now, of course. No longer just vodka with pine needles, it’s all artisan, hand-foraged botanicals now. It seems that in every corner of the country, there’s a hipster earnestly running a small-batch craft distillery and 128

praying that the novelty doesn’t wear off any time soon (it’s hard to imagine that ever happening, but I did read recently that vermouth’s going to take over any day now). The number of gin distilleries has apparently more than doubled in the UK since 2010, and Cornwall’s producing more than its share. The UK now spends over £1bn a year on Mother’s Ruin.

I’m not exactly sure why it’s suddenly so cool – humans have had a unique and complex relationship with gin over the centuries. I think that its roots in the gin-soaked alleys of 18th-century London has something to do with it. No matter how upmarket it’s all become, gin will always have a sort of working-class, historical street cred.

Personally I have no palate worth speaking of, and so I’m really not qualified to speak with any authority on the subject of posh gin. I am not nearly sophisticated enough for such things, which is why I’d shun any bottle of fine champagne in favour of a cheap bottle of Merlot. So please ignore me. I’ve had a gin and tonic probably fewer than a dozen times my whole life, and all of them in the past five years.

That said, I had a gin experience at last year’s hugely enjoyable, inaugural Great Estate Festival at Scorrier House.

They’d reinvented their delightful walled garden as a ‘gin garden’, and I partook in a glass of something local, and expensive, with some doubtless exclusive and desirable mixer.

It was rather a perfect moment: sitting in deckchairs in that lovely garden, drinking trendy gin. Not life-changing, but very enjoyable. And definitely less pine-needley than I remember.

Ah, but give me a lovely pint of brown beer any day. As long as it’s from the cask.

And well-hopped.

And served at cellar temperature.

And Cornish of course. In a straight glass.

The second anthology of Pete’s Backalong columns, Notes From A Cornish Shed – Another Shedload is out now in paperback and eBook.

Facebook: Pete Cross Backalong www.petecross.co.uk

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