Cornwall Today March 2018 by DCMedia

March 2018

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love the vibrant colours of spring. For example, nothing says Happy Mother’s day like a beautiful bunch of narcissi, the kind you can smell before you even enter a room. On a recent visit to the north, I couldn’t help but notice that the daffodils were barely in bud, while here in Cornwall, our mild, wet winter has been bringing out blooms for weeks. Small wonder, then, that the county has long been renowned for expertise in this field, so much so that one breeder is credited with taking daffodils to the Dutch. You can read the story of St Keverne man PD Williams on page 88, or see an exhibition at Falmouth’s Spring Flower Show this month. March is a great month to be in Cornwall, not least because the place comes alive on March 5 in celebration of

St Piran. In Falmouth, stonemasons Stephane Rouget and David Paton are busy carving a statue of Piran to join fellow saints in Brittany In July (page 14), while on page 74, Lucy Robinson suggests Cornish tipples to toast our adopted patron saint. Non-alcoholic beverages are available; Emma Fowle charts the rise and rise of Cornish-grown tea on page 66, followed by 10 places to sup around the county. Finally, we look back at Cornwall of yesteryear. I visited Causilgey Manor, near Truro, home to the Women’s Land Army during the First World War, now an upmarket B&B; Alan Davis revisits Cornwall in the time of cholera; in anticipation of World Water Day; and you can vote for your favourite museum exhibit on page 26.

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Until next month:

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March 2018

contents

30 THE SKY’S THE LIMIT Inspiring the next generation of astronomers and astronauts, at Truro High School For Girls 34 THE MUSIC MAKER Meet Gareth Churcher of Cornwall Music Service Trust 36 A STADIUM FOR CORNWALL The case in favour, by Truro and Penwith College

news and events

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.

4 NEWS & VIEWS A ﬂurry of excitement over snow, and a shout-out for sausage dogs

8 THINGS TO DO IN JANUARY Be a chorister for the day, or get muddy in an endurance challenge

136 BACKALONG WITH PETE CROSS Penzance’s Jubilee Pool – the sea, but not as we know it

Editor Kirstie Newton knewton@cornwalltoday.co.uk 01872 247458

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

wildlife and heritage

Audience Development Manager 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

40 WILDABOUT: THE COMMON LIZARD

Where and how to ﬁnd it in Cornwall

45 DICK TWINNEY The Gift: a male kingﬁsher

48 AN EVIL EPIDEMIC Cholera in 19th-century Cornwall

52 COUSIN JACK Jazz pianist Alﬁe Hole in New York and Seoul © DC Media 2017 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.

features 14 THE GIANT’S CROSSING A statue of St Piran takes shape near Falmouth

20 SOUL IN SPADES Porthleven: working port, food haven, eco-hub 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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24 MUST-HAVE Perfect gifts for Mothering Sunday 26 HERITAGE OBJECT OF THE YEAR Which of the nine exhibits shortlisted by Cornwall Museums Partnership will win the public vote?

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homes and gardens 78 A SNAPSHOT IN TIME Memories of the Women’s Land Army at Causilgey Manor, near Truro

84 A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP March is National Bed Month, so make sure you get some decent shut-eye

88 CORNWALL’S DAFFODIL KING How PD Williams from St Keverne inﬂuenced daffodil growing in the Netherlands

art and crafts

wellbeing

58 THE EDUCATIONAL HEART OF ART IN ST IVES

108 HEAL ME One woman’s journey to diagnose and treat chronic pain, with therapies alternative and conventional

St Ives School of Painting celebrates 80 years

60 DRAWN TO THE VALLEY

112 MINDFUL MOMENTS

Open studios in the Tamar Valley

Don’t postpone that art class

62 ART NEWS Ahead of the curve in Falmouth, and after the storm in St Ives

114 NOURISH KITCHEN

64 VIEW FROM THE HARBOUR

116 FASHION WITH ROO

Spring-clean yourself Pretty in pink

Try something new, says Mark Hatwood

property and business 94 TRURO’S BEST-KEPT SECRET

The Hideaway – secluded urban living

96 MOVING STORY From Shepherd’s Bush to Bude

98 THE OUTSIDER’S VIEW Amy’s guide to moving with kids

104 A CLEAR VISION An invention to help the partially-sighted

food

66 TIME FOR TEA How Cornish tea is taking the capital – and the world – by storm, plus ten places to sup in county

70 WORLD PASTY CHAMPIONSHIPS We catch up with past winners of the Eden Project’s Oggy Oscars

72 HEAVEN IN HELL BAY A divine recipe from the Isles of Scilly

74 TOASTING ST PIRAN Lucy Robinson recommends Cornish tipples

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leisure 122 ESCAPE

Sea swimming around West Penwith

125 THE WOOF GUIDE Staying safe on the South West Coast Path

126 CORNWALL MY HOME A new CD of songs by Harry “Safari” Glasson

128 THE RAILWAY CHILDREN Actor Craig Johnson on playing at the Minack

132 TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL Encouraging eco-sense through literature

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News &views SCILLIONIAN SETS SAIL Scillonian III starts its 2018 sailings to St Mary’s on March 19, following annual maintenance works and upgrades carried out in Penzance Dry Dock. Passengers will notice some exciting new additions to the ship, including WiFi for the first time, and a new coffee shop in addition to the ship’s two cafés. Book your crossing at www.islesofscilly-travel.com

R O WA N T R E E T R I U M P H The battle to find a song to represent Cornwall in the Interceltic song contest in Ireland in April 2018 was won by The Rowan Tree. The band fought off stiff competition from other shortlisted bands Hireth, Black-Eyed Nancy and Tir ha Tavas to win with their song Tresor (Treasure). They will now compete with other Celtic nations at the Pan-Celtic Festival in Letterkenny, Ireland in April.

Leading landscape theatre company WildWorks returns to The Lost Gardens of Heligan in July to continue its commemoration of the First World War centenary. Its one-day event in 2014, 100: The Day Our World Changed, focused on an unknowing generation walking into battle in 1914; this companion piece, 100: UnEarth, looks at the

LET IT SNOW There was excitement aplenty when snow fell in Cornwall on February 6. By 7am there were early reports of snow in Truro, Hayle, Goonhavern, Falmouth and Praze. The last time the Duchy had any proper snow was back in 2010, so while there might have been little more than a light dusting that didn’t settle for long, we feel justified in shouting about it. Pictured: Carn Brea by Sally Adams; Penzance seafront by Greg Martin

devastating aftermath of conflict, telling the homecoming stories of those who fight and live through war. It takes its inspiration from the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, a love story exploring grief and tragedy with a deeply moving ending. Running from July 3 to 22, the show will form part of 14-18 NOW, the UK’s centenary arts programme. Tickets will be available via the Hall For Cornwall from March.

WILDWORKS

RETURNS TO HELIGAN

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news & views

SHOUT-OUT FOR SAUSAGE DOGS More than 500 sausage dogs are being sought for a worldrecord attempt to set a record of the most dachshunds on a beach. The Cornwall Dachshund Walkers group has enjoyed success organising mass dachshund dog walks, and on March 25 at Perranporth, it hopes to organise the biggest gathering of the breed ever seen, in a bid to break a record set in Wales. Organiser Pixie Davis – owner of four daschunds - started the group back in 2015 to encourage owners to meet up for group walks. With four dogs of her own, Pixie said that it is their “quirky personalities” that drew her to the breed. The event will also raise money for Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD).

CALLING ADVENTURERS It will be cold, it could get windy, and it will definitely be wet! Cornish sailing charity Turn to Starboard is calling for intrepid individuals prepared to spend 24 hours in a life raft. On Friday May 18, a team will be floated out into Falmouth Harbour to battle the wind and waves. The day-long challenge aims to raise funds for a sailing charity supporting Armed Forces personnel affected by military operations. To be part of the challenge, contact Neil Triggs by April 23 on 01326 314262 or email neil@turntostarboard.co.uk

INFLUENTIAL ENGINEERING The Eden Project and the RNLI Lizard Lifeboat Station have been named as two of the top 200 influential projects and people, past and present, illustrating how civil engineering has shaped the world and transformed lives for the better. The list was drawn up by an expert panel to mark the 200th anniversary of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). Richard Fish, chair of ICE South West, described the Eden Project as “an amazing feat of civil engineering”, adding: “The visionary concept … can only be described as ambitious; but to set it in an abandoned clay pit, and to build the space age biomes to house it, required extraordinary imagination and drive.” Of the lifeboat station, he said: “It is much more than a shed and a slipway; its reconstruction in 2011 was a major civil engineering project and a logistical challenge, as well as a modern building in a spectacular setting.” World Pasty Championships at the Eden Project: page 70.

HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH Behind St Michael’s Mount in Mount’s Bay, the Penlee lifeboat is dwarfed by HMS Queen Elizabeth, the UK’s largest-ever warship. Photo: Greg Martin.

C O R N WA L L ’ S S PA C E C R E D E N T I A L S One of the UK’s leading space scientists believes Cornwall could play a crucial role in the next stage of space exploration. Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE, presenter of The Sky At Night for the BBC, said: “When people think of the space industry they think of the US or Russia, but the industry is booming globally and the UK is playing an important role in that boom. Scattered across the country are centres of excellence in space, and here in Cornwall, the Goonhilly site with the University of Exeter is one of them. The site has a long history in space tech and a very bright future putting Cornwall on the map as a global player in the field.” Dr Aderin-Pocock was speaking at the Cornwall Lecture on February 5 at the Hall For Cornwall. The event was organised by Stephens Scown LLP and the University of Exeter. Reach for the stars: page 30.

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news & views MULLION HARBOUR SEALED OFF

A TENDER TEHIDY MOMENT

A picturesque Cornish harbour was sealed off in January as hundreds of tonnes of rock are poised to collapse into the popular beauty spot. The cliff above the western side of Mullion Cove has cracked and is in danger of falling down into the historic harbour. The National Trust, which owns the area on the Lizard peninsula, has said it is too dangerous for people to walk near the cliff, which could collapse at any moment. In a statement on its Facebook page, the National Trust said: “Another victim of the weather! … Further falls are imminent, with potentially hundreds of tonnes of rock on the move. Until we can get the stability of the slope assessed, it is too dangerous to access this part of the harbour.”

They say love is blind, and that might be the best explanation for this interspecies smooch. This tender moment between a squirrel and a swan was captured on camera by amateur photographer Kevin Bowers at Tehidy Country Park near Camborne. “They touched beak to nose, looked at each other, and the squirrel turned round and got back to picking up food in the area, while the swan kept swimming in the area for a while after.” Ahhhh.

A30 UPGRADE TO VIEW

PLASTIC-FREE C O R N WA L L Cornwall Live has joined Surfers Against Sewage to launch Plastic Free Cornwall as a rallying cry to every town, business and individual. The impact of marine litter on our beautiful coastlines has galvanised many people in Cornwall to take action to reduce their plastic footprint. Penzance was named the first SAS Plastic Free Coastlines-approved community in the country in December, followed by Perranporth, with eight more communities across Cornwall currently working on SAS’s five-step programme to become plastic free. SAS wants to create 125 Plastic Free communities by 2020; chief executive Hugo Tagholm said: “To see the whole of Cornwall taking action to reduce its plastic footprint would be great. We may not eliminate single use plastic, but to see a dramatic reduction in straws and water bottles and to see more refillable water stations would be fantastic.” To sign up to become a community leader, go to www.sas.org.uk/plastic-freecommunity-leaders/ www.cornwalllive.com 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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Businesses, residents and road users in Cornwall can see detailed plans of the proposed A30 upgrade from Chiverton Cross to Carland Cross. The improvement to the eight-mile stretch aims to help improve journey times by unlocking one of the last bottlenecks in Cornwall. Highways England announced the preferred route for the £290 million scheme in July last year, and has since been working with landowners along the route to develop the design of the scheme. Subject to approval, construction is planned to start in spring 2020. Information is available to view until March 12 at County Hall in Truro, libraries in Truro, St Agnes, Perranporth, Redruth and Newquay, and online at www.highways.gov.uk/A30Chiverton

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Retallack Rampage SATURDAY, MARCH 3 Challenge your strength, endurance and washing machines in Cornwall’s toughest mud run at Retallack Resort on March 3. The course has more than 40 obstacles to overcome, which promise to test the endurance and skills of mud runners and fitness enthusiasts alike. Entrants must be aged 16 and over, and can tackle either a 7.5km or 15km course. Entry starts from £35, with a 10% discount for teams of eight or more. Entry starts from £35. Call 01637 885210 or visit www.retallackresort.co.uk/cornwalls-toughest-mud-run/

A quaint beer festival

St Piran’s Day MARCH 4 & 5 Every good Cornishman knows March 5 is St Piran’s Day. One of the best known celebrations is the St Piran Play, leaving Perran Sands Holiday Park, Perranporth at 2pm on Sunday, March 4. It wends its way through the sand dunes, recreating the saint’s life at locations including the St Piran Oratory (a recently excavated church associated with the saint), and a Celtic cross thought to be one of the oldest in Cornwall. On March 5, a St Piran’s Day march will take place in Truro, leaving St George’s Road at 1pm and processing through town to High Cross for speeches and free pasties; and Cornwall Community Foundation hosts a ‘shout’, a mass singing of the Cornish anthem Trelawny, in pubs across Cornwall and Scilly at 9pm. Find participating pubs at www.cornwallfoundation.com 8

MARCH 8 TO 11 The Dark, The Light And The Saison combines all the things Cornwall does best: real ale, live music and delicious food, all in the quaint surroundings of St Agnes’ 17th-century Driftwood Spars inn, in stunning Trevaunance Cove. From March 8 to 11, the three-day beer festival is a free event showcasing some of the world’s finest craft beers, with tasting sessions hosted by brewer Pete Martin, and musical sets from the Carl Morris Trio and Ella Squirrel. For more information call 01872 552428 or visit www.driftwoodspars.co.uk

Merlin spring fair SUNDAY, MARCH 25 The Merlin MS Centre in Hewas Water hosts a Spring Fair on March 25, including craft and food stalls, an Easter egg hunt and fun activities for children of all ages. All funds raised on the day will go to the charity, which helps people with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy. Donations of Easter eggs and raffle prizes welcomed; visit www.merlinmscentre.org.uk

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Treat your mum SUNDAY, MARCH 11 Trengwainton, near Penzance, hosts a free card-making event. Drop into the bookshop and make your mum a card as special as she is, then top off her day with a tasty treat in the tea-room. Don’t forget to visit this warm and luxuriant garden, crammed with award-winning magnolias and rhododendrons and tender exotic species from around the world. March 11, from 11am to 4pm. Standard admission applies. For more information please call 01736 363148 or see www.nationaltrust.org.uk/trengwainton

No Finer Life Falmouth Spring Festival MARCH 15 TO APRIL 2 Shake off the winter cobwebs by sampling the colourful array of early-season ideas as part of the Falmouth Spring Festival, from March 15 to April 2. Sponsored by the University of Exeter, the festival invites visitors and residents to celebrate and experience Falmouth’s green spaces, inspirational coastline and exciting open-air venues. Around 40,000 freshly-picked local daffodils will be distributed by primary school children on March 15, while 200 volunteers will roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty by painting, cleaning, planting and landscaping numerous areas around town. Further events include the annual flower show on March 24 and 25 at the Princess Pavilion, and the four-day Folk & Cider Fayre on Events Square across the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. www.falmouth.co.uk

Be a Chorister for a Day SATURDAY, MARCH 3 Learn about life as a Truro Cathedral chorister on March 3. From 10am and 12.15pm, boys currently in Years 2, 3 and 4 will be able to take part in a range of activities including singing with the choristers, plus a rare opportunity to climb to the top of the cathedral tower. Winners of the Best Music Act in the 2017 What’s On Cornwall Awards (WOCAs), the choristers are aged eight to 13 and are awarded scholarships for Truro Prep School. For more information, call 01872 245004 or email christophergray@trurocathedral.org.uk

MARCH 9 & 10 No Finer Life is a musical theatre show written by Graham Harvey, for 20 years the agricultural story editor of The Archers and writer of more than 600 episodes. Set in the Oxfordshire countryside at the end of the Second World War, the plot follows a young Somerset Land Girl who sets off in search of a best-selling author in the darkest days of the conflict. The story moves between the 1940s and the present day, reflecting that the love of the countryside, the need to protect it and issues of national identity, are timeless. See it at The Poly, Falmouth on March 8, The Acorn, Penzance, on March 9 and Sterts, near Liskeard, on March 10. www.nofinerlife.co.uk

Duchy Ballet at 20 SATURDAY, MARCH 17 Duchy Ballet returns to the Hall For Cornwall to celebrate its 20th anniversary with The Nutcracker on March 17. On Christmas Eve, a little girl falls asleep and awakens into a fantastical world where toys become larger than life, and her beloved Nutcracker must defend her from the Mouse King. This production includes a new variation of the Kingdom of Sweets, accompanied by Truro School’s Senior Jazz Orchestra. Since its launch in 1998, Duchy Ballet has introduced classical ballet to a local audience and hundreds of young dancers. Tickets £21. www.duchyballet.co.uk

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Oggy Oscars FEBRUARY 25 TO MARCH 3 The seventh annual World Pasty Championships take over the Eden Project on Saturday, March 3, as the climax of Cornish Pasty Week (February 25 to March 3). As well as judging the best offerings from professional, amateur and junior chefs, in traditional and open savoury categories, there will be entertainment from Britpop group Dodgy as well as Cornwall talents 3 Daft Monkeys and Hedluv + Passman. Entries close on March 1; get your crimping thumb ready! Visit www.edenproject.com/pasty

Hazel O’Connor SATURDAY, MARCH 17 Carnglaze Caverns, near Liskeard, presents an evening with singersongwriter Hazel O’Connor. The star of the film Breaking Glass, which recently celebrated its 35th anniversary, O’Connor is best known for hits such as Eighth Day and Will You. She will be joined by saxophonist Clare Hirst (Belle Stars, Communards, David Bowie) and Sarah Fisher (Eurythmics) on keyboards. March 17, £21. www.carnglaze.com

Titanic Stories THURSDAY, MARCH 8 The National Maritime Museum in Falmouth launches its new major new exhibition for 2018 on March 8. Titanic Stories presents rare and never-seenbefore objects and items, as well as retelling the personal stories of many of the survivors, victims and descendants of the disaster, including those from Cornwall. As many of the lifeboats that formed such a big part of the story of RMS Titanic have been largely forgotten by history, a 30ft replica of Lifeboat 13 is being built at the museum, in a gallery on view to the public. www.nmmc.co.uk/titanic-stories

Bands night FROM MARCH 9 Beer and live music are a perfect match, and Brewery Beats returns to St Austell Brewery’s visitor centre, showcasing live local talent each month. Five-piece metal band Nervosa, pictured, will rock the stage on March 9, with husky-voiced country/pop/rock singer-songwriter Josh Curnow on April

13, Honey on May 18 and Led Zeppelin tribute act Dazed And Confused on June 8. Each gig kicks off in the Hicks Bar at 8pm and tickets cost just £5 from the Visitor Centre in Trevarthian Road. Call 01726 66022 or visit www.staustellbreweryvisitorcentre.co.uk

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features

THE GIANT’S CROSSING

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P O R T H L E V E N : S O U L I N S PA D E S

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M U S T - H AV E G I F T S F O R M O T H E R ’ S D AY H E R I TA G E O B J E C T O F T H E Y E A R

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GIANTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CROSSING A STATUE OF ST PIRAN HEWN IN CORNWALL WILL TAKE HIS PLACE ON A HILLSIDE IN BRITTANY Words by Kirstie Newton, photographs by Sally Adams

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ome time around the fifth century, so legend has it, the heathen Irish tied St Piran to a mill-stone and rolled it over the edge of a cliff into a stormy sea. The waters calmed instantly and the saint floated safely over to land upon the sandy shores of north Cornwall, where he founded a new oratory church on the dunes in the parish that now bears his name: Perranzabuloe, from the medieval Latin "Perranus in Sabulo" – Piran in the sand. Fast-forward 1,500 years, to a quarry near Falmouth, and you’ll find St Piran about to embark upon another journey. Stonemasons Stéphane Rouget and David Paton are chiselling away at a six-tonne lump of Cornish granite; in May, their completed 4.5m statue will be transported on board La Nébuleuse, a historic wooden tuna fishing boat, to Brittany in France. There his arrival will be celebrated over three months, as he is carried through the region by steam train and shire horses before taking his place as the 100th statue to go on display at La Vallée des Saints in Carnoet, south of Morlaix. You might have heard of some of the other saints, who have given their names to towns and villages: St Malo and St Brieuc, for example, and from closer to home, St Tudy, St Kea and St Columb. Together, these gigantic stone figures symbolise not only the ancient myths and legends of sainthood and their lasting mark on our cultural heritage, but also a determination to maintain the historic materials and skills used in their creation. St Just-based David first heard about the project while working on a restoration of the Grylls monument in Helston. “I was giving carving demonstrations, and someone mentioned it to me,” he explains. “I was working

with Stéphane at the quarry, and as a Breton, he was the perfect link with the project. When he got in touch with Sébastien, we discovered that he was planning to extend the project to the Celtic nations – Cornwall, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and the Isle of Man – and was about to travel over to Falmouth in search of a quarry and some artists to work on the first contribution. It was a serendipitous moment.” St Piran’s statue will represent a meeting of Celtic minds - while the figure is made of Carnsew stone, the base will use Breton granite, with Irish for the mill stone (a crowdfunding campaign for the latter offered a “vial of granite dust from the sculpture” for £10). The full design can be seen on a miniature maquette. Unusually, the millstone has been placed around St Piran’s neck. “Originally, we wanted to do a cross because it’s iconic for the Christian faith,” says Stéphane. “But from the side it’s just a line. We wanted a strong silhouette. The millstone around his neck gives that, and is quite cross-like from a distance.” Adds David: “It’s inspired by who he was and how he got here. The base is like his coracle, and the millstone his balance. A portable altar is tucked into his belt at the back. It’s symbolic rather than a literal interpretation. It’s not about pleasing everyone, more about a wider narrative.” The finer details are finished by hand. “There’s a romanticism about that,” says Stéphane. “We’re lucky to have the time to indulge ourselves in the old ways - in Brittany, they take a month to do this, while we have taken a year, working a couple of days each week. When carving with a chisel rather than a grinder, you feel it better.” All 100 statues are paid commissions. “There is a list of 1,000 saints, and people can pledge money towards each

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one,” says Stéphane. “When the necessary total is reached, the saint goes into production. Villagers have clubbed together to fund the saint bearing their name.” St Piran has been sponsored by the owners of a rose vineyard. “They even had a millstone in their garden – it was meant to be. They visited the quarry with their car club, and drove their classic Morgans down to the statue.” But The Giant’s Crossing, as St Piran’s journey has been dubbed, is about so much more than a sculpture, impressive as it is. At the heart of the Vallée des Saints project in general is the survival of the granite industry, and the skills connected to it. In Brittany, the project is used as a means to train apprentices. Although physical, this isn’t exclusively a male trade; stamina and technique are every bit as important as brute strength. Stéphane and David are working out of Trenoweth Quarry, which has been worked since the 1840s. Its blueygrey, very hard, fine-grained stone is known colloquially as Buckle & Twist, and is used primarily to create memorials – David has carved many of these, as well as the gates to Falmouth University’s Woodlane Campus. Quarry owner Tim Marsh sold them his “best lump of granite”, a 22-tonne behemoth which has been hewn down to six tonnes, using old tools and techniques. David has worked in stone for 25 years, including 13 years in Cornwall. In 2009, he completed a PhD in cultural geography at the University of Exeter in Cornwall. “It’s rare that anyone goes to a working quarry unless it’s to buy a piece of granite, so this project has great potential to bring the tradition to the public,” he says. “Traditional skills are used here on a daily basis. The workers understand that the whole process from extraction to craft is in danger of

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extinction in Cornwall, and there’s the impetus to not let that happen.” Originally from a village close to St Brieuc, Stéphane has been in Cornwall for 12 years. He initially worked in London as a graphic designer, but “it wasn’t for me. Cornwall is a home from home, very similar landscape-wise to where I come from”. He retrained with stonemasons including Baz Mayhew and Richard Holliday. “My interest was always in letter cutting; as a graphic designer, you sit on your bottom and work with your brain. It’s not tactile. In stone carving, my body is the main ingredient and I need to use it.” David feels the commission has enabled the pair to become part of an ongoing story about St Piran and the Cornish identity. “What’s wonderful is that we are not Cornish by birth, but by working in this quarry, you become part of the landscape, learning the skills that have been grown in this landscape over centuries. That’s really exciting. You spend time engaging with materials and you become part of it. That’s how stories evolve and are shared.”

information and diary dates ► March 3: Last open day at Trenoweth Quarry ► May 5 and 6 (bank holiday): Breton market at the Prince of ► ► ► ►

Wales Pier and craning of St Piran onto the boat at North Parade, Falmouth May 11: Departure of the boat towards Paimpol, Brittany July 27 to 30: St Piran’s procession to La Vallée des Saints, Find on Facebook: The Giant’s Crossing/La Vallée Des Saints www.stephanerouget.com, davidapaton.org

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A MAQUETTE OF THE FINISHED DESIGN

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here’s something rather exceptional about Porthleven. With its sweeping beach, iconic clock tower, whitewashed picture-postcard seafront cottages and arguably the best reef break in the county, it’s Cornwall at its finest – a place so special, you almost don’t want to tell people about it. Set in the middle of the magnificent Mount’s Bay coastline, famous for its treacherous seas and countless shipwrecks, the village exudes charm, confidence and authenticity. It has soul in spades. Porthleven’s picturesque working harbour, which faces directly into the merciless prevailing winds, was built during Napoleonic times, but remains largely unaltered by the ravages of the Atlantic. This spectacular out-of-season vantage point for storm-watchers is in stark contrast to the family-friendly stretch of golden sands and rockpools so popular during the summer months. In its heyday, the port was a major player for imports,

PORTHLEVEN: WORKING PORT, FOODIE HAVEN AND ECO-HUB Words by Sarah Norman 20

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exports and boatbuilding, and had a thriving fishing industry. The demise of the china clay and tin industries meant change was inevitable, but Porthleven has evolved, capitalising on its unspoilt beauty and natural resources to become a desirable year-round holiday destination. Its fishing fleet, though reduced, still lands its catch daily, and much of it is sold to the village’s plethora of pubs, restaurants, and cafés. “Fishing as a whole has scaled back from what it was in the 1970s, but we still have two or three full-time fishermen, and many do it part-time,” says Julian Waring, from the Fishermen’s Mission. “It is a wonderful thing for the restaurants to see these fishing boats in the harbour, and going out and bringing back their catch. Seeing this helps people understand that fish can be expensive because fishermen are risking their lives every time they go to sea, sometimes single-handed.” One of the Porthleven’s most notable – and often controversial – architects of change is businessman Trevor

Osborne. He bought the Porthleven Harbour Company 41 years ago, along with a number key business premises which he leases to the likes of Origin Coffee, Rick Stein and award-winning Amélies. He also owns Porthleven Holiday Cottages, which manages a portfolio of more than 40 luxury holiday homes. Anxious to safeguard its economic future, Mr Osborne’s vision for the village was one of gradual regeneration, growing its reputation as a food and arts destination and creating jobs for local people. His determination hasn’t wavered during the past four decades, despite encountering vociferous opposition to some of his proposals. “The village has a certain charm, the most southerly port in the country, in the swoop of Mount’s Bay, but 40 years ago, it was dying: derelict, and on its knees, full of small businesses run by people who wanted to retire but couldn’t sell,” remembers Mr Osborne. “A lot of people in the village were getting quite old and

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Anthony Worrall Thompson BY GREG MARTIN

Jude Kereama BY KEITH RICHARDS

Julian waring

Trevor Osborne didn’t want things to change, and the fact that it was falling apart didn’t give them any encouragement at all to accept the need for change. With everything I do, I always ask: will it be a change for the better? I think most people would say that it’s better, but a handful of people yearn for the decay.” Most recently, he faced a barrage of criticism over his plans for a new Innovation Studio on the harbour car park, a scheme rejected by Cornwall Council’s planning committee in October – despite being recommended for approval by planning officers. Resolutely sanguine, Mr Osborne is appealing the decision and simultaneously pursuing tentative plans to convert a former fish warehouse into an arts hotel. Rick Stein’s decision to open a restaurant in the village wasn’t initially met with a chorus of approval either, with some dissenting voices concerned the chef’s franchise would be detrimental to other food outlets in the village. Fast22

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Rick Stein forward four years, and his presence has undoubtedly helped cement Porthleven’s position as one of the county’s top fine food destinations. “Porthleven was always on the rise, but when Rick Stein came it was the icing on the cake,” says Jude Kereama, chef patron of Kota and Kota Kai, both overlooking the harbour. “Some were cautious about it and didn’t want another restaurant here, but someone like Rick Stein, who has such a great reputation, is going to attract a clientèle we didn’t have here before. The food scene here is fantastic, and we are now really busy at times of the year which used to be very quiet.” Add to the mix the annual Food and Music Festival, now in its tenth year, and you realise Porthleven is a village with ambitions of gastronomic grandeur which belie its size. More than 30,000 people are expected at this year’s event, which

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runs from April 20 to 22. Its patron, restaurateur Anthony Worrall Thompson, will be joined by a roll-call of culinary A-listers, including Gidleigh Park’s two-Michelin-starred Michael Wignall, Josh Eggleton from the historic Pony & Trap in Chew Magna and Tom Brown, former head chef at Nathan Outlaw At The Capital in Knightsbridge. From closer to home, you’ll find Fifteen Cornwall’s head chef Adam Banks, and Ross Sloan from the Mount Haven at Marazion. “It’s ten years since the first festival and this one is going to be ten times bigger,” adds Jude. “It’s the best chef demo line-up we’ve ever had. It’s going to be phenomenal.” It’s not all about food, with live music on the Lime Kiln stage and buskers around the harbour during the day. By night, the Shipyard Sessions will host bands from across the county, including People’s String Foundation, Rosie Crow and Flats & Sharps. There’s also a packed schedule of familyfriendly activities, including circus skills and craft workshops. The festival’s theme this year is anti-plastic, in a bid to encourage attendees to ditch single-use plastics amid deepening concerns about their effect on the environment. Stallholders and suppliers have to sign up to a Green Charter when booking their spot, and many of Porthleven’s shops and cafés have already started selling reusable bamboo cups and refillable stainless steel bottles. The campaign is being led by Refresh Porthleven, the action group recently formed with the ultimate goal of a drinking water fountain in the centre of the village. “We were all horrified when we realised the amount of plastic that there is in our seas and knew we had to do something,” said group member Julia Schofield. “The support we have had from the food festival has been fantastic. We’ll have a stand there and will be selling as many reusable cups and bottles as possible.”

Porthleven Food & Music Festival runs from April 20 to 22.

porthlevenfoodfestival.com

► Porthleven was developed primarily as a harbour of refuge

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► ►

for ships which were caught in storms in Mount’s Bay, a motion that was pushed through by four Acts of Parliament. To this day, it is Britain’s most southerly working port. Wing Commander Guy Gibson spent the majority of his childhood in Porthleven, his mother’s birthplace. Gibson is most famous for his role as leader of the Dambusters raid in the Second World War. The South West Coast Path runs through the village. The stretch from Porthleven to The Lizard is described as ‘exceptionally beautiful’, boasting rare heathers and wildflowers and enjoying spectacular views. The oldest watering hole in Porthleven, the Ship Inn, is allegedly built above old smuggler tunnels, and is rumoured to be haunted by the ghosts of a French prisoner of war and a former pub landlady. Tregonning Hill, which is visible from the village, is an extinct volcano. It’s also where china clay was first discovered in Britain. At low tide, to the west of the harbour, lies the ‘moonstone’ or ‘Giant’s Quoit’. This 50-ton rock is thought to have been brought to Porthleven on an iceberg, having floated down from northern Europe. Porthleven lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Porthleven is one of the most popular – and challenging – surfing locations in the county.

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must-have DELIGHTFUL GIFTS FOR MOTHERING SUNDAY

perfumed post There’s something very special about receiving scented flowers on Mother’s Day. Scilly Flowers offers options to suit every pocket, from a cute gift box of 12 stems of scented narcissi (£11.50) right through to a Luxury Mother’s Day Bouquet (£36) combining soft cream scented narcissi with pink roses, spray chrysanthemums and wispy eucalyptus foliage. Alternatively, a box of 100 narcissi will fill the whole house with glorious scent for £28. Price includes first-class postage. www.scillyflowers.co.uk

hug a mug The elegant curves of this beautiful typography mug, by Truro hygge fans Nordic House, simply demand that it be cradled in your hands. A wonderful gift for a special person in your life. www.nordichouse.co.uk

squares & scarves David Watson collaborates with British artists to create ladies’ silk scarves (and pocket squares for men). We love this one by Judy Joel, who lives in Mousehole and never tires of painting the village and people. Things to look out for include Judy’s mother in the crowd with her black dog; and Judy always paints people naked, then adds their clothes, but occasionally “forgets” to dress a character! Scarf £160, pocket square £45. www.davidwatson.uk

smile please Commemorate this special time in your life with a family photo shoot. Photographer Suzanne Johnson offers two types of session: mini (half-hour) and lifestyle (one hour). Mini sessions are held on set dates at Gylly Beach in Falmouth in February, July and November, or at Kennall Vale in April for bluebells and October for autumn colour (£49 with mounted print and hi-res download). Lifestyle sessions can be booked any time, anywhere (£99 with two mounted prints and five hi-res downloads). Suzanne keeps the sessions moving, giving the kids activities and capturing the organic moments as they happen. “At no time do I ever encourage saying cheese and forcing a smile!” www.suzannejohnson.co.uk 24

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sheepish slippers

the simple things

Perfect for year-round comfort, Celtic

Doris & Dude is a Newquay company with a love for the simple things in life: fun in the great outdoors, and comfort without compromising the planet. Its extensive collection of bamboo fabric socks fuses bright colours and funky designs – a small and simple token of affection for your loved one, male or female. £5.50, www.dorisanddude.com

& Co of Newquay offers handcrafted British sheepskin slippers available in an array of different colours and styles. www.celticandco.com

plush creatures

mirror mirror

Designed in Launceston and lovingly made by hand, each adorable Charlie Bear has its own extra-special touches and handembroidered finishes. From cuddly creatures to fairy-tale favourites, there are more than 2,500 of these collectable treasures, with 200 new characters each year. From £20. www.charliebears.com

(featuring one magnifying side and one regular) features the owl from the poem The Eve of St Agnes. The card insert features the first two lines of the poem and comes in a small presentation box, making it a perfect gift this Mother’s Day. £15, www.eveofstagnes.com

This beautiful compact mirror

mococu Alison Fleming is a cacaoista based in Hayle, and her Mococu collection of organic, vegan raw chocolates is both delicious and beautiful. Just as cacao was first used by the Mayans as a love offering to the gods, these gifts are designed as love offerings for your friends, family and lovers. The Discovery range contains eight flavours to explore, from the familiar sweet orange to the exotic cardamom and geranium. At £24.95, this is a real melt-inthe-mouth treat. www.mococu.co.uk

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The Berlin Wall

Californian stamps

Mevagissey bank note

object

of the Year 2018 HELP DETERMINE THE WINNER BY VOTING IN OUR ONLINE POLL

The East Looe Silver Key

Beattie Well Tank Engine

ur museums are a secret treasure chest of objects that uncover the key to Cornwall’s rich past. There are more than 100 museums scattered across the county, and every collection has at least one object that catches your eye, tells an amazing story and leaves a lasting impression. Devon and Cornwall Media has partnered with the Cornwall Museums Partnership to find Cornwall’s Museum Object of the Year, and we need your help to discover which museum deserves this worthy title. Cast your vote in our online poll; the entry with the most votes will take the prize at the 2018 Cornwall Heritage

Huer’s Horn

Awards, to be presented on Tuesday, March 20, at Scorrier House, Redruth. “Cornwall’s museums house collections which connect people to Cornish culture and Cornwall to the world,” said Bryony Robins, museums development officer for Cornwall Museums Partnership. “The objects they hold have fascinating stories to tell about Cornwall’s past; they help us reflect on the present and imagine what the future may hold. We believe all museums have at least one object within their collection that tells a story – that is iconic, or weird and wonderful.”

Vote before 5pm on March 1 at www.cornwalllive.com www.cornwalllive.com/special-features/welcome-object-year-2018-1078449

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Bilbo Surfboard

Whale’s Ear Drum

1.Huer's Horn,

National Maritime Museum, Falmouth The huers were the men who stood on the cliffs scanning the sea for shoals of pilchards. They sheltered in their huts, and when a shoal was sighted they shouted “Hevva! Hevva!”, meaning “Here they are!”, through their horns, thus signalling those below to organise the boats and nets ready to catch the fish.

2.Beattie Well Tank Engine,

Bodmin & Wenford Railway

The Beattie Well Tank Engine is a real working piece of history. Built in 1874, 30587 is one of the longestsurviving locomotives in the country. It works as well today as it did in the 1800s, hauling carriages of passengers throughout the year, taking them on a journey back in time from Bodmin General station.

3.The Berlin Wall,

Cornwall's Regimental Museum, Bodmin This colourful chunk of the Berlin Wall was collected in November 1989 by a Cornishman, Major John DudartAberdeen, at that time deployed in Berlin. He tasked his soldiers to “demolish and recover some of the Wall as a memento of the times”; today, it connects Cornwall to a historic event, helping us to understand more about the events that shook Europe from the 1940s onwards.

4.Californian stamps,

King Edward Mine, near Camborne These heavy lumps of iron go up and down and crush the rock into tiny pieces, separating valuable tin from waste sand. A pioneer for the new method of tin mining, King Edward Mine was one of the first Cornish dressing plants to be designed from scratch to utilise this new equipment.

William Henry’s 19th century scrapbook

5.The East Looe Silver Key,

Old Guildhall Museum and Gaol, Looe In 1878, the ladies and gentlemen of East Looe – at that time a separate town to West Looe – were gathered to witness the event of swearing in the town’s new town mayor at the Guildhall. He was presented with this beautiful silver key.

6.Mevagissey bank note,

Mevagissey Museum

The slip of paper is evidence of a privately-owned bank in the small fishing village in the 1800s. Philip Ball & Son founded a bank in Church Street, Mevagissey, in 1807, issuing £1 and £5 bank notes. Those on display in the museum are dated 1823 and 1824.

7.Bilbo Surfboard,

Newquay Heritage Archives and Museum The board was possibly shaped in Newquay by the European Surfing Company Ltd, which became the largest surfboard producer in Britain at this genesis stage of the sport in the UK and Europe (1960s). This board has been recognised by surfing authority Roger Mansfield, surfing consultant and author of The Surfing Tribe, as being one of the earliest Bilbo boards.

8.Whale's Ear Drum,

Padstow Museum

This is a great curiosity from the days of whaling, following in the tradition of mariners’ industrious craftwork while at sea. All parts of the whale were utilised and discarded, apart from the ear drum which, in this instance, was decorated as a face.

9.William Henry's 19th century scrapbook, Perranzabuloe Museum William Henry was Perranporth’s first postmaster, as well as being a preacher and owner of a seine fishing company. He put together the scrapbook in the early 1880s, and it is full of cuttings, mementoes, family and local events, weather conditions and the varying fortunes of the fishing industry. It also includes invoices and advertisements for local shops. CORNWALL TODAY

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education

R E A C H F O R T H E S TA R S THE MUSIC MAKER

(page 30)

(page 34)

A S TA D I U M F O R C O R N WA L L E D U C AT I O N N E W S

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the skyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the limit PUPILS AT TRURO HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS ARE HOPING TO BE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ASTRONAUTS Words by Kirstie Newton

hat did you want to be when you grew up? A nurse? A journalist? An astronaut? Perhaps you thought the last one was pie in the sky, but students at Truro High School For Girls are being encouraged to reach for the stars. Schoolchildren from across Cornwall visited Truro High in January to meet planetary scientist Dr Suzie Imber, winner of the BBC 2 series Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes? An associate professor in space physics at Leicester University, Dr Imber was one of 12 competitors in the Bake Off-style series, which tested not only their

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INSETS FROM LEFT: TRURO HIGH PUPIL INDIA TAKES A LOOK AT THE SUN THROUGH A SOLAR TELESCOPE. BERNIE PETTERSEN; PUPILS LEARN ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE WAYS ASTRONAUTS EAT IN OUTER SPACE

scientific knowledge and performance in weightless conditions, but also their ability to remain calm under pressure, to multi-task in challenging situations and to work as a team. Dr Imber, 33, delivered talks to all ages, from pre-prep to sixth form and an evening session with grown-up would-be spacemen and women. Her main prize from the series was a formal recommendation to join the European Space Agency from former astronaut Chris Hadfield; she will now continue her work on a spacecraft to be launched towards Mercury in October, while preparing for the next round of applications for a place in space. Students explored a wide range of topics, from the possibility of life on Mars to the need to pursue hobbies and become “well-rounded people” (Dr Imber is also a keen rower and mountaineer). “I want to show them some of the opportunities you get if you pursue a career in science,” she said. “It can be interesting, and fun, yet research has shown that from a young age, children decide that science is daunting and not for them. I hope they can see that it’s not out of reach.” She also hoped to be a role model for female students.

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DR IMBER LED SPECIAL LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS WITH ALMOST 500 CHILDREN FROM SCHOOLS ALL ACROSS CORNWALL

“The gender balance isn’t great, but there is no reason why it should be skewed towards a male-orientated profession, and we are looking to improve this. The facilities at Truro High are incredible, and I can see so much enthusiasm about astronomy in this room. From this young age, it will be with them for the rest of their lives.” Truro High runs a popular teatime astronomy club, run by the school’s science department in conjunction with the Roseland Observatory and its director, Brian Sheen. In 2017 two pupils collected grades A and B in their astronomy GCSE, despite only being in Years 9 and 10. Last September, the school took delivery of the UK’s first land-based solar observatory, which will enable pupils to safely record the progress of sunspots on a day-by-day basis across the face of the sun. In the future, they should be able to produce a daily space weather forecast similar to that offered by the Met Office.

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PUPILS CREATE A 2M HIGH TOWER ALONGSIDE DR IMBER USING ONLY PAPER AND PAPER CLIPS

The handover was observed by one of the world’s foremost space scientists: Professor Richard Harrison, head of Space Physics Division and chief scientist at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL), as well as being the principal investigator for space instrumentation for the European Space Agency. Professor Harrison had donated the equipment to the Roseland Observatory, and was thrilled to see it welcomed into an enthusiastic new home. “I’m part of a group that advises the government on space weather,” he explained. “Sunspots show us how active the sun is, which can have an impact on our environment, interrupting magnetic fields and possibly even resulting in the loss of space craft or high-flying aircraft. When they post data online, the girls will be part of a world-wide monitoring network, which will be exciting for them and extremely valuable to us.” The data will also be shared with Cornwall Wildlife Trust to test suggestions of a correlation between sun

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SIXTH FORMERS RECREATE AN ANCIENT ASTRONOMY EXPERIMENT WITH THE TEAM FROM THE ROSELAND OBSERVATORY

spot activity and whales beaching on local beaches. Professor Harrison has been in the industry for 37 years, and began his love of space in the garden with his brothers and a Patrick Moore book, against the backdrop of the Apollo missions. “Could there be a more inspirational time? For them, it’s ancient history, but there is far more open to students today than there was when I was a child, with the space industry growing all the time. And with Cornwall being rural and the skies so much darker, where better to start?” Brian Sheen – affectionately dubbed “Mr Space” by Professor Harrison, who met him during the solar eclipse of 1999 – is on the Education Committee of the Royal Astronomical Society, and works regularly with the school to enthuse the girls on the subject of space science. When British astronaut Tim Peake was resident on the International Space Station, the group recreated a space pod the size of his

PUPILS ARE AMAZED AS THEY TAKE A LOOK AT 2015’S IMPRESSIVE SOLAR ECLIPSE. PHOTO: BERNIE PETTERSEN

sleeping quarters. “For some of them, hearing Dr Imber speak will have been a life-changing hour,” he said. “It will live in their brains and develop, and they will take it forward in years to come. I hope they will have a much better idea of their place in the universe, and take a responsible attitude towards looking after it.” Truro High headmaster Glenn Moodie adds: “My hope is that girls at Truro High will believe that everything is open to them. While there is still an element of gender stereotyping, in a single-sex school girls are free of those social and societal pressures. We have many more girls taking physics than in a co-ed school – they are 70% more likely to do so. They can also enjoy ballet, play football and do textiles. They don’t have to choose.”

www.trurohigh.co.uk

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THE

MUSIC MAKER COMPOSER, TEACHER, BARD – MEET GARETH CHURCHER, HEAD OF CORNWALL MUSIC SERVICE TRUST Words by Kirstie Newton

hree years ago, the provision of instrumental teaching in schools was under threat when Cornwall Council took the decision to close Music Cornwall. Not to be beaten, a group of peripatetic teachers banded together to step into the breach. Leading the charge was head of brass Gareth Churcher, now head of Cornwall Music Service Trust, an independent charitable organisation which employs 120 music teachers and therapists and provides more than 1,000 hours of music education each week, the length and breadth of Cornwall. Gareth, 34, has been richly rewarded for his efforts on the Cornwall music scene. In 2014, he was made a Cornish Bard (name: Gwirer Ilow, or Music Maker), and in 2017 he became the latest recipient of the Trelawny Plate. Next year, he will take the helm as artistic director of the biennial International Male Voice Choral Festival. I meet him at the trust offices, based in Truro School where he was previously head of music. Of the accolades heaped upon him, specifically the Trelawny Plate, he says: “It may be given to one person, but I couldn’t have done it without the engagement of the staff and the general public. It was a leap of faith. The teachers agreed to effectively loan us their first month’s pay so we could use it to set up, and pay it back to them over 12 months. “The alternative was to go it alone, with the schools taking liability for independent staff coming in and out, and tax implications, which seemed unlikely. We decided to employ our staff, and take care of the safeguarding issues, giving parents and schools the security of knowing we were doing things properly. It paid off – we have a sustainable business model and are building up reserves that can be ploughed back into giving music education to those most in need of assistance.” 34

Gareth is indubitably a busy man. He’s musical director of the St Keverne Band, with whom he has grown as both musician and man, joining as a fledgling trombonist (having learned piano from the age of five), winning three national finals and two BBC Radio 2 Band of the Year contests, and meeting wife Claire (they have three children). “It’s a really important lesson that while you need that basis of formal music education, it should be completed with informal, social learning. I didn’t have my first trombone lesson until I was 17 – I learned so much by playing with others.” In 2019, he will join an established festival committee and patrons, plus more than 300 dedicated volunteers, to deliver the International Male Voice Choral Festival. The 2017 event saw 2,000 singers from 60 choirs of all ages and nationalities – including Australia, the USA and Russia – taking part in 50 events in 40 venues across Cornwall. Gareth even won classes that year, as director of the Eight In A Bar and Truro School Barbershop Choirs. “Gareth gets his energy from a boundless passion for music,” says festival chairman Bruce Taylor, “and we feel honoured that he is taking the helm of our fantastic international festival alongside his many musical commitments – he is the perfect fit for the role.” For his part, Gareth hopes to apply his trademark drive to build upon past successes, creating a sustainable framework for male voice choirs in Cornwall, forging links with the community and education sectors and providing more seminars, workshops and masterclasses. At the same time as setting up the trust, Gareth completed a master of fine arts degree with Falmouth University specialising in musical composition; his work has been performed at site-specific events including Kestle Barton and Tate St Ives, and by international ensembles. “I wanted to write, perform and conduct my own work – it’s a passion. You

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THE T R E L AW N Y P L AT E

can find it on YouTube, performed in France and even New Zealand.” He’s currently involved in a pilot study in Bugle of the beneficial impact of music on the language skills of young children, as well as studying for a PhD, again in Falmouth, as part of an innovative project which involves composing music specifically for online ensembles. “Gabrieli and Palestrina wrote for two choirs in a cathedral. I’m composing for the virtual environment and trying to tackle delays in the ether. I’ll be using the ensembles to try it out – so when they are engaged on their iPads, they will also be engaged in music making. It’s really exciting.” While music might not be seen as important as maths or literacy, there’s no doubt it plays an important role in our lives. “If there wasn’t music in the world, how bad would it be?” asks Gareth. “We play the radio in the car, hear music on TV adverts. We live in a world where the first things that go are the arts, and yet the creative industries produce 20% of our GDP. Central government should have a strategy - how much bigger could it be if it did?”

information ► March 24 and 25: Cornwall Flute Festival, Truro School.

Featuring Ian Clarke, Tim Carey, Just Flutes and Wonderful Winds. Weekend ticket £60; a grant from the Cornwall Music Education Hub means students aged 18 and under in full-time education can attend for £40. Email kwhetter@cornwallmusicservicetrust.org ► May 20: Magic Music In May at Polgwynne, Feock. ► The ninth biennial Cornwall International Male Choral Festival will run from May 2 to 6, 2019. www.cimcf.uk

Bishop Jonathan Trelawny was born in the parish of Pelynt in 1650 and ordained in 1673. He was one of seven bishops charged with high treason and imprisoned in the Tower of London for refusing to implement King James II’s Declaration of Indulgence granting religious tolerance to Catholics. In 1688, he was held for three weeks, then tried and acquitted. He died in 1721 and was interred in the family vault at Pelynt Church. Bishop Trelawny’s story was immortalised in The Song of the Western Men - Cornwall’s unofficial national anthem, fondly referred to simply as Trelawny – by the Reverend Robert Stephen Hawker. A 300-year-old pewter dinner plate originally belonging to the bishop is kept in the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro. The Trelawny Plate Award is made biennially to the person judged by a panel “to have contributed most to the spirit of Cornwall”, and recipients are presented with a replica plate - created by the St Justin company from Penzance and donated by the Bishop’s descendant, the 14th baronet Sir John Trelawny - at a special Service of Thanksgiving and Commemoration at Pelynt Church. The Trelawny Plate was first awarded to Bishop Bill Ind in 2007, then to ShelterBox founder Tom Henderson (2009), Lady Mary Holborow (2011), Prof Alan Livingston (2013) and Mike Shepherd of Kneehigh theatre (2015).

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say yes

to the stadium

THE STADIUM FOR CORNWALL WILL NOT ONLY BE A VENUE FOR SPORT – IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE NEW FACILITIES FOR TRURO AND PENWITH COLLEGE Words by Richard Whitehouse

he partners behind the Stadium for Cornwall are asking for £6 million of public money for the project. Those with no interest in sport have asked: why should they support it? One answer is that while it’s true one of the core functions of the stadium will be to provide a new home for the Cornish Pirates and Truro City, it will also play an important role for Truro and Penwith College, which is providing £2m of the £14m needed for the first phase of the project. The 6,000 capacity stadium will include conference and hospitality facilities, which college students will be able to use. College director Martin Tucker has been leading its work on the stadium. “We have been involved in this for a long time,” he said. “We see it as a no-brainer, a superb opportunity. It is a facility that we will be investing in, in the first instance, to expand our current facilities in hospitality and business, increasing the volume of training and education we can provide.” On the hospitality side, training chefs could have the opportunity to work in professional kitchens for trade fairs, conferences and functions including match-day hospitality. There are also plans for a restaurant which will be open to the public during the week. The college plans to have a business centre with modern facilities at the stadium, which will continue the work it 36

is doing with Cornwall’s professional community. “We are delivering bespoke training for a range of businesses, upscaling their current workforces, and we have an apprentice programme,” said Mr Tucker, adding that at present, the best regional facilities are at Sandy Park – the Exeter Chiefs stadium. “Wouldn’t it be great to have conferences here in Cornwall instead, and invite businesses from around the UK to come here as well? They might stay a little longer and then we can really promote Cornwall.” A health and wellbeing programme run by the college – deliberately separate from its sporting operations – has proved to be a benefit for staff and students, by showing those taking part that physical activity does not have to require sport, and can have benefits not just physically but for mental health as well. Mr Tucker hopes this kind of programme could be rolled out across Cornwall, and not only improve the county’s health but also ease pressure on local health services. “We see the stadium as being a catalyst for this. It could improve the aspirations of people and can also play a part in improving the health and wellbeing of people in Cornwall.” As a sports fan – Mr Tucker is a former rugby player and a director at the Cornish Pirates – he hopes the new sporting facilities will raise the aspirations of young sportsmen and

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COMMUNITY PLAYER OF THE YEAR PRESENTED TO MATT EVANS BY TRURO AND PENWITH COLLEGE PRINCIPAL MARTIN TUCKER. ©IKTIS PHOTO/SIMON BRYANT

women in Cornwall. Its elite sports programme has provided players for the Cornish Pirates and the Exeter Chiefs; former students include Jack Nowell, who is currently scoring tries not just for the Chiefs but on the international stage for England as well. Mr Tucker looks forward to the stadium hosting football and rugby for men’s, women’s and junior teams as well as hosting international level games. He envisages a matchday experience whereby junior rugby teams would take to the pitch in the morning to play against each other before joining their families in the stands. They would then be followed by a colts game or two lower-level teams facing each other, before finishing with the Cornish Pirates playing the likes of Bristol to a packed stadium. The most important thing for the Stadium for Cornwall now is whether it will get a “yes” in April when Cornwall Council considers the proposal of providing £6m. Stadium partners will go with Conservative MPs Derek Thomas and Sarah Newton to meet culture secretary Matt Hancock, to see whether the Government will deliver on promises made previously by David Cameron and George Osborne to provide funding. If the council votes yes, the stadium will be underwritten to the value of £300,000 a year for the first ten years. Mr Tucker urges Cornwall to be bold, ambitious and confident about backing the project. He uses his experience as lead director for the college’s Penwith campus as an example: “When I took the job in 2008, it was absolutely falling down. There was no confidence in the college, nobody wanted to go there. With a lot of hard work with the staff and huge help from Truro, plus £30m of investment in the campus, the numbers are through the roof and the results are exceptional. “It was the biggest investment in Penzance in a long time and some might have seen it as a risk. People asked, why are you investing this money in Penzance? But we were determined that it was the best thing for Penzance and the best thing for young people in the area. “Sometimes you have to take a risk and we wouldn’t have been able to do what we have done in Penzance, in Truro and now in Bodmin with Callywith unless we had done that. The same applies with the stadium and I hope that people will back us.”

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E D U C AT I O N N E W S CASTLES IN THE SAND

STEPPING ST M I C H A E L ’ S W AY A community art project in West Penwith will see schools creating animated films to promote learning and appreciation of a historic pilgrimage route. Led by Penzance community interest company Tough Dough, Stepping St Michael’s Way celebrates the 12.5-mile walk from Hayle Estuary to Mount’s Bay, with the aim of promoting health and wellbeing, encouraging creativity and providing opportunities to engage in the cultural arts. Participants including artist Janet McEwan, writer Annamaria Murphy and historian Professor Michelle Brown will lead art and filming workshops, talks, tea treats, film screenings and a public walk scheduled for May 7 (Bank Holiday Monday). The project began in September 2017 and will end in July 2018 with a spectacular red carpet event. The project received a £24,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and further support from Cornwall Heritage Trust, FEAST, St Aubyn Estates, Cultivator and Cornwall Council. The first animated film was made by St Uny C of E School as part of Stepping St Michael’s Way; watch it at www.toughdough.co.uk

Students from Plymouth College of Art built sandcastles on Looe beach as part of the BA (Hons) extended degree course. Some 50 new students aged 18 to 60 worked together to create sand sculptures as part of the eighth annual competition during their induction to the college. The new students include Joe Bedford, 27, who worked as a chef at a two Michelin-star restaurant in Italy before joining the college to study filmmaking, and Yasmin Anderson, 22, who worked in fire and aerial acrobatics with Penryn’s Swamp Circus before joining the college to study jewellery.

ANY QUESTIONS? Falmouth University will host Any Questions? on Friday 9 March at its Penryn campus. Chaired by Jonathan Dimbleby, the BBC Radio 4 programme provides an opportunity for anyone over the age of 14 to challenge high-profile panellists such as politicians, policy makers, writers and thinkers. A limited number of free public tickets are available on a first come, first served basis. To book a place visit www.falmouth.ac.uk/events/any-questions

APPRENTICESHIP GAMES 2018 A ground-breaking event for apprentices and their employers will take place at Cornwall College St Austell during National Apprenticeship Week 2018 on Wednesday, March 7. The inaugural Apprenticeship Games will pitch companies against each other in a bid to find the region’s Apprentice Team of the Year. The challenges will test a variety of skills, such as problemsolving, gaming, general knowledge and culinary abilities, and will put the team’s leadership, teamwork and communication capabilities to the test. To ﬁnd out more or to enter a team, call 0800 731 7594 or visit www.cornwall.ac.uk/apprenticeshipgames

C O R N WA L L T E A C H E R AW A R D S The 2018 Cornwall Teacher Awards take place on May 4 at Truro Cathedral. Categories include head teacher, teaching assistant, sports teacher and governor of the year. Guest speaker will be Lisa Mannall, regional schools commissioner for the South West. For further details, visit www.cornwallteacherawards.org

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wildlife & HERITAGE

W I L D A B O U T C O R N WA L L : T H E L I Z A R D

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I N S P I R E D B Y C O R N WA L L – D I C K T W I N N E Y M A K I N G S PA C E F O R N AT U R E

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S P E A K C O R N I S H W I T H T A N YA C H O L E R A I N C O R N WA L L

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C O U S I N J AC K : FA L M O U T H M E E T S S E O U L C U R ATO R ’ S C H O I C E

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ABOUT C O R N WA L L THE COMMON LIZARD Words and photographs by David Chapman

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inter in Cornwall is usually very short, and though we still have some cold days to come it’s surprising how temperatures can rise when the sun comes out in March. After all, we do reach the spring equinox this month. What’s also surprising is how microclimates can form: so in the shelter of a Cornish hedge or deep down among dry bracken, particularly on a south-facing slope where the sun shines, the temperature can be several degrees warmer than we might think possible. Small creatures know these places, love them and return to them time after time. You might think it’s too early in the year to see reptiles, which are cold-blooded and need the heat of the sun to warm up before they can become active. Well, think again. Last year, I was watching an adder near Lizard Point in mid-February, and common lizards are not far behind. Lizards are fascinating creatures. There are some 3,000 different species of lizard globally, but in mainland Britain we have only three native species, all of which occur in Cornwall. As well as the common lizard, we also have the sand lizard (which is found at only one location in Cornwall, where it was introduced), and the slow worm which, being legless, looks more like a snake than a lizard. This prompts the question: what features help us to tell

LEFT: COMMON LIZARDS CAN CLIMB VERTICAL SURFACES; IN PRIME CONDITION A COMMON LIZARD HAS A VERY LONG TAIL

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a lizard from a snake? One is the ability of all lizards to shed their tails; another is the ability to blink, since snakes donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have eyelids. Lizards and snakes are all reptiles, and as such are cold-blooded, which means they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the same control over their body temperature as warm-blooded creatures. This simple fact enables us to predict their behaviour to some extent. All cold-blooded creatures need to warm up by basking in the sun before they are able to go about their daily business. On hot, sunny summer days, this process can be undertaken quite early in the day and last for a relatively short period of time;

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also, they often head underground in such weather due to the danger of dehydration. So midsummer is not necessarily a good time to look for lizards. In spring and autumn, there may only be a few suitable days for reptile activity, but when it is warm they will emerge from their holes in the ground to bask, and because of the lower temperatures they will be more lethargic and need to bask for longer, giving us a better chance of spotting them. If you do get a close look at a common lizard basking, then you may notice that it changes its entire body shape to maximise the impact of the sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heat. It

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LEFT: LIZARDS CAN SHED THEIR TAILS AND SURVIVE TO TELL THE TALE! BOTTOM LEFT: THIS COMMON LIZARD IS BLINKING, SOMETHING SNAKES CANNOT DO BELOW: COMMON LIZARDS VARY IN COLOUR FROM BROWN TO GREEN (AS IN THIS EXAMPLE)

actually flattens itself so that a greater proportion of its upper body surface is exposed to the sun. Only when the lizard has reached a body temperature of about 30Ë&#x161;C will it happily go off to hunt, but even at lower temperatures it can still dart off in a hurry when it needs to! Unlike slow worms, common lizards have legs and are able to accelerate quickly. This is obviously one of their main forms of defence against predation. Natural predators include the buzzard, hedgehog, fox and badger, but the greatest predator of the common lizard is probably the domestic cat. Apart from a quick escape, the common lizard has one survival strategy which it employs only in emergencies: the ability to shed its tail. When a predator seizes a lizard, it is most likely to grab its tail as the lizard turns to flee. In this situation, the muscles around the base of the tail contract, forming an area of weakness between the body and tail which encourages the tail to break at a point where some vertebrae have evolved special fracture planes.

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When separated from the body of the lizard, its tail spasms for several minutes, keeping the attention of the predator and allowing the lizard to get away. The remaining stump will soon heal over, and will grow back after a few years. Because this takes so long, it is quite common to see lizards with tail stumps, and some have even been recorded with multiple tails where the stump has grown back incorrectly. One of the reasons we have fewer reptiles than in mainland Europe is the lower temperature we experience in summer. As a result, the birthing process of the common lizard is different to that of most continental lizards. On mainland Europe, many lizards lay eggs in sandy soil where the sun keeps them warm, just as the sand lizard still does in Cornwall. Our common lizards have evolved to carry the eggs for longer, and they lay them when they are almost ready to hatch. The eggs are little more than flimsy membranes and the young break free as soon as they are born, leading to the belief that common lizards give birth to

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live young, hence their alternative name ‘viviparous lizard’ (viviparous originating from the Latin words ‘vivus’, to be alive, and ‘pario’, to give birth). Common lizards can be found throughout Cornwall, on hedgebanks and sand dunes, in heathland and rank grassland, around the coast path, basking on boardwalks in nature reserves, even climbing on fence posts near rank vegetation. They like south-facing surfaces which are out of the wind. Keep your eyes peeled and you might spot one. ABOVE: IT IS THOUGHT THAT LIZARD POINT GOT ITS NAME BECAUSE THE HEADLAND IS SHAPED LIKE A LIZARD’S TAIL ON A MAP; IT IS ALSO A GOOD AREA TO SPOT LIZARDS, BEING THE MOST SOUTHERLY POINT IN THE UK. TRY KENNACK SANDS, CROFT PASCOE OR WINDMILL FARM BOARDWALK.

LOOK OUT FOR: ► Goat willow. These beautiful yellow ﬂowers unfurl during March, and attract a lot of insect activity.

► Stonechat. The colourful male becomes even more obvious

in spring, perching on top of vegetation around the coast to establish his territory. ► Peacock butterﬂy. As well as reptiles coming out of hibernation it should be possible to see some butterﬂies in March, including peacocks.

ABOVE: GOAT WILLOW BLOSSOM LEFT: PEACOCK BUTTERFLY

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I N S P I R E D B Y C O R N WA L L W I T H D I C K T W I N N E Y

THE GIFT: MALE KINGFISHER

construction of the nest and during incubation. When the chicks have hatched, however, all energy is directed to supplying the nestlings with food. Once they have grown to a decent size, they require between 12 and 18 fish a day. This is no mean task for the hard-working parent birds, especially as they have fairly large broods of six or seven, resulting in over 50 fish a day just for the youngsters and another 15 or so for their own requirements.

compet

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

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aving spent most of my time in the Cornish countryside over the years, I have somewhat neglected our inland waterways and associated wildlife. Recently, I have been trying to set the record straight, particularly as regards wading birds and waterfowl. We have numerous beautiful rivers here in Cornwall which run through many diverse habitats, so I’m spoilt for choice when it comes to location. We’re fortunate in that the whole county is covered in waterways of various sizes, all journeying from inland sources towards our coastline, both north and south. One of my favourite walks, which I do several times a week, is along a small waterway close to my studio in St Columb Major. It’s a tiny stream that runs into Porth reservoir near Newquay, and it attracts many water-loving species – including kingfishers. The male, as depicted here, can be identified by his all-black bill – the female has an orange underbill. This one was glimpsed on my local river with a small fish, a stickleback, to be presented to the female head first as part of the birds’ courtship ritual. This bonding behaviour goes on for some time. As soon as the male bird appears, the female will begin to beg for the fish with quivering wings and chirping calls. Courtship feeding continues throughout the

To enter the prize draw to win a signed, limitededition print of The Gift: Male Kingfisher, email us by March 31 (with ‘Dick Twinney: Kingfisher’ in the subject line) at competitions@cornwalltoday.co.uk

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M A K I N G S PA C E F O R N AT U R E NATURE’S FEAST AT PENTIRE HEADLAND Words by Alex Raeder, National Trust Environment Lead in the South West

pring is an exciting time for coastal meadows, including those at Pentire. After decades of frugal offerings, nature’s table has started to serve up a bit of a spread on this dramatic north Cornwall headland. Cornsalad is the star of the menu – narrow or broadfruited. To follow, how about some weasel’s snout, a side dish of fig-leaved goosefoot and a generous sprinkling of black mustard? The birds are licking their beaks, and while it might not be a feast for human tums, it should certainly feed our minds. This wild plant display would once have been unremarkable, but intensive farming methods have taken their toll over the past 50 years. Harsh pesticides and autumn ploughing knocked important species out before they even had time to seed. Visitors to these wonderful cliffs were given a large helping of uniform crops with only the meanest peppering of flowers. But that was then, and this is now. The National Trust acquired Pentire in 1936, following a campaign by local people eager to save it from being parcelled up into building plots. In 2015, the trust decided a new approach to land management was needed at Pentire, one which put nature first. The new farmer was encouraged to think not of ‘nuisance weeds’ but of ‘useful

arable plants’, and in just a short amount of time, nature has bounced gloriously back. It’s because of this that the landscape is changing, becoming wilder, less cluttered and more appropriate for an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. By simply taking the foot off the gas, we have seen the flora and fauna make a remarkable recovery. A recent survey showed Pentire to be one of the best sites in the UK for arable flowers, so it just goes to show what can be done. The headland is already supporting more wildlife, large numbers of goldfinches gathered in the fields over winter and last spring, and skylark numbers were higher than they have been for many years. There was great excitement last year when an endangered tiny broad-fruited cornsalad plant was discovered. We called in experts to identify it, and they were as thrilled as we were. Broad-fruited cornsalad is a slender plant with five white petals, best identified by their seed, which resembles a grape pip. It may only grow in ten sites in the UK. Pentire has a namesake headland to aspire to. A few miles down the coast, West Pentire near Newquay often puts on a display of wild poppies and marigolds – once seen, never forgotten.

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Kornel OFF WITH HIS HEAD! Words by Tanya Brittain

hile trying to work out how to translate the idiom ‘mad as a March hare’ into Cornish, I started thinking about children’s stories and nursery rhymes. There are so many gruesome tales recited by children, in cheerful ignorance of their meaning. Take Three Blind Mice, for example. The rodents represent noblemen who were convicted of plotting against Queen Mary, the farmer’s wife. According to the history books, they were spared the carving knife and burned at the stake instead. Bonus. Ring A Ring O’ Roses is well known for depicting the symptoms of the Black Death, which was responsible for the demise of millions of people in the 14th century, wiping out 60% of Europe’s population in the process. So, it’s less about skipping daintily around a rosebush suffering from hay fever, and more about the common symptoms of the plague: ring-shaped skin rashes and sneezing. People were believed to have filled their pockets with sweetsmelling flowers and herbs to cover up the bad smells, hence the term ‘a pocket full of posies’. Most of the UK seems to have succumbed to cold viruses at the moment, so I hope you’re surviving the dark winter months. As March arrives, the days lengthen we venture outdoors again. This month we’ll be busy spring-cleaning and behaving slightly strangely, like wild hares. The mad march hare is synonymous with the Mad Hatter in Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland, another curious tale. Mar muskok avel kevrannor yn mis-Meurth As mad as a March hare Maga feri avel hok | As merry as a hawk Re bo dubennys! | Off with his head!

Shakespeare used the phrase ‘Off with his head’ many times in his plays. For example, in Henry VI Part III, Queen Margaret says “Off with his head, and set it on York gates; so York may overlook the town of York.” Lewis Carroll put the phrase to best effect, however, when he included it in Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland in 1865. While the playing cards argue noisily over hedgehogs, the Queen of Hearts stomps around shrieking: ”Off with their heads!” every two minutes. Baa Baa Black Sheep is thought to have something to do with the Great Custom tax on wool from 1275 and is loaded with political content. Mary Had a Little Lamb is a rare example of a nursery rhyme with a clear and innocuous origin. Written by Sarah Josepha Hale in 1830, it was inspired by a girl named Mary Sawyer who took her pet lamb to school. HERE’S THE FIRST VERSE IN CORNISH: Maria hi a’s tevo oen | Mary had a little lamb Mar wynn avel an ergh | Its fleece was white as snow Hag yn pub le may kerdhi-hi And everywhere that Mary went An oen eth war hy lergh | The lamb was sure to go It’s not a perfect translation due to the rhyming form and the meter of the original, but the context is roughly the same, much like all translations of English into Cornish. There’s still time to make 2018 the year you start learning more about Kernewek. Follow my journey into Cornish language @TanyaB_Music #kernewek #Cornish

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WITH WORLD WATER DAY ON MARCH 22, WE REMEMBER HOW POOR HYGIENE AND SANITATION ONCE SAW CORNWALL STRICKEN BY CHOLERA IN THE 19TH CENTURY Words by Dr Alan Davis

ABOVE: TRURO FROM KENWYN, CIRCA 1850 TOP RIGHT: HAYLE, ST IVES IN THE DISTANCE CIRCA 1850

veryone has heard of cholera, a highly unpleasant, often fatal form of gastroenteritis caused by the bacterium of the same name. It occurs mainly in Asia and Africa, and epidemics spread readily in areas of poor hygiene and sanitation; infection is characterised by diarrhoea and dehydration, loss of essential minerals and, all too frequently, rapid death. The disease once had a stigma and notoriety second only to that of smallpox, but improvements in living conditions, and the development of a vaccine in the late 19th century, mean that outbreaks are now uncommon in the developed world. It is hard, therefore, to imagine that Cornwall was once devastated by cholera. The earliest recorded British case was in 1831 in Sunderland, and such was the terror this caused that Boards of Health, the first recognisable bodies to acknowledge the science of Public Health, were set up in London and then countrywide. Quarantine restrictions were imposed in seaports, including Falmouth, in an attempt to stop the introduction of the infection into mainland Britain. But by this time cholera had already reached Ireland, so the town of Padstow, with its frequent Irish trading ships, was in a state of anxiety. Even at this early stage, it was appreciated that poverty, malnutrition and poor sanitation were instrumental in the spread of the disease. The then mayor of Truro, Dr Clement Carlyon, wrote in the Royal Cornwall Gazette: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The evil falls, with almost exclusive severity upon the lower

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orders of society, on those whose food, whose clothing, whose moral characters and whose dwellings are the most wretched.” Conditions were particularly dire in rural areas where the diet featured barley bread, mugwort tea, and turnips sometimes “fried in grease that had been stolen from the mine engine”. Slowly but surely, cholera spread throughout England, with 595 cases (of which 181 died) recorded in Exeter. The infection crossed the Tamar when a woman travelling from Devonport died at Lostwithiel on July 19, 1832. Preventative measures were introduced, concentrating on hygiene, safe disposal of bodies and the removal of unsanitary toilets and pigsties, but within a month cases were reported in Newlyn, Hayle and Padstow, where more than 100 people were to be affected. By the end of that year, the county’s death toll was reported as 308, with more than 50 in Penzance. Apart from the poor, it was evident that infants and the elderly were particularly at risk (life expectancy was drastically lower, with half of the population failing to reach the age of 20). On an individual and family level, the effect was devastating. Treatment methods were totally ineffective, with no concept of the rehydration therapy we take for granted today. The standard medical

regimes at the time were blood-letting and the administration of mercury, which almost certainly added to the likelihood of death. As a result, the letters pages of the local newspapers were filled with anecdotal suggestions for remedies. These included Morison’s Pills, developed by the eponymous Scottish “quasi-physician” and featuring gamboge, a highly-coloured resin derived from a far Eastern tree, whose main use today is in dying the distinctive robes of Buddhist monks. A dramatic and reportedly successful treatment was that of a tin miner who was immersed by his colleagues in the water cistern of a steam engine, at a temperature of 112 degrees Fahrenheit, from the neck down for a quarter of an hour! Clearly the science of bacteriology was in its infancy. The cholera vibrio was not isolated until 1886 by Robert Koch, and hospitals did not have meaningful microbiology departments until well into the 20th century, hence the diagnosis of cholera could not always have been accurate. Some cases were no doubt due to gastroenteritis caused by more common bacteria or by viruses. These were sometimes labelled English cholera, as opposed to the more virulent (and foreign!) Asiatic variety. On the other hand, the diagnosis of cholera was almost certainly underreported by the authorities on a regular basis as they sought to minimise panic in the general population. Nevertheless, in the final quarter of 1832 the epidemic CORNWALL TODAY

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appeared to die out. This may have been simply due to the fall in ambient temperature rather than any medical or political intervention. Relief was no doubt followed by a degree of complacency, for it seems that living conditions for the masses underwent little change. Sure enough, the summer of 1849 saw cholera return to Cornwall with a vengeance. St Germans was badly affected, with 236 deaths, though seemingly from a population much larger than it is today. The village of Mevagissey was also severely hit, with 125 deaths in a population of around 1800. Many of these were children. The writer Charles Kingsley was among many to highlight the ongoing poor sanitation there, exacerbated by the pervasive stench of rotting fish. People were evacuated from the village to camps in nearby Portmellon, and this forced eviction and quarantine appears to have added to the climate of fear and friction throughout the county. The eminent former Truro physician Dr CT Andrews describes a dispute between the occupants of Newlyn and Mousehole, when the latter were prevented from travelling through Newlyn (and so effectively cut off from the outside world) due to the anxiety of spreading cholera. A battle ensued and the police were forced to intervene. By the end of the year

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a total of 833 fatalities were recorded in Cornwall, though it appears that the county fared better than the rest of the country; nationwide there were almost 28,000 deaths. Over the next five years there were sporadic outbreaks of cholera, but the importance of sanitation and cleanliness was slowly being absorbed. New drainage systems were constructed in Truro - the West Briton reported: “There are backlets [in Lemon Street] in such a disgusting state as not to be paralleled in the very worst parts of the town” – as well as Helston, Bodmin and Saltash. Edward Sharp of Truro campaigned against the unhygienic and haphazard piles of rubbish, while Sir Richard Vyvyan tried to mobilise the House of Commons into political action. Surprisingly, though, one oversight persisted until 1854, when John Snow identified a drinking-water pump in London’s Broad Street as a source of infection. He famously removed its handle and the outbreak was stopped. Finally, the paramount importance of a safe water supply was realised. Today it is difficult to imagine such squalid living conditions, or such a rampant and foul epidemic affecting Cornwall. But up to four million cases a year still occur worldwide, with maybe 140,000 deaths. Also, the panic generated when the Ebola virus threatened to escape its African confines and affect our continent illustrates that we are not so far from disaster and disorder as we might like to think. Yet while proximity to such catastrophes sharpens the mind, distance enables us to dismiss them. Here we take the provision of unlimited clean water and sanitation for granted, yet worldwide, 800 children die every day for the lack of such fundamental amenities. One tenth of the world population still does not have access to safe water; a third of the people on our planet have no access to a toilet. Cornwall’s cholera epidemic now seems like a remote and bygone footnote in history. But for all too many people elsewhere on the earth, lethal infections like it are still an everyday fact of life - or death. Dr Alan Davis is co-ordinator of the Mid-Cornwall WaterAid support group. WaterAid has teams in 34 countries, and since 1981 has improved access to clean water and sanitation for 24.9 million people. To ﬁnd out more and donate, visit

www.wateraid.org

OPPOSITE PAGE AND ABOVE: SCOOPING AND CARRYING WATER FROM AN UNPROTECTED SOURCE NEAR LACUA VILLAGE, LUNGA DISTRICT, NAMPULA PROVINCE, MOZAMBIQUE, OCTOBER 2017. PHOTO: WATERAID/ CHILESHE CHANDA LEFT: A HOUSEHOLD CLEAN WATER CONNECTION IN KIBONDE MAJI, DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA, SEPTEMBER 2017. PHOTO: WATERAID/SAM VOX

► Alan Davis is co-ordinator of the Mid-Cornwall WaterAid support group. He wishes to thank Angela Broome and Sarah Lloyd-Durrant at the Royal Cornwall Museum for their assistance. ► WaterAid’s aim is to provide the poorest people on the planet with safe water, sanitation and hygiene. See www. wateraid.org for further details.

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JAZZ PIANIST ALFIE HOLE HAS TRAVELLED FROM CARNON DOWNS TO SEOUL VIA NEW YORK Interview by Lilly Moore

hat started as a dream for young Cornish jazz prodigy Alfie Hole is now a reality. Alfie, 23, grew up on a farm near Carnon Downs, between Truro and Falmouth. He featured in Cornwall Today in 2014, when he was awarded a scholarship to New York’s New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, and has since performed at some of the most prestigious jazz venues and festivals around the world.

HI ALFIE, W H AT A R E YO U U P TO N OW ? Right now, I’m sat in the airport at New York, waiting to go to South Korea. I’ve spent the last six months living in Seoul; my girlfriend, singer Keumbee Lim, is from Korea. We met in New York and had been writing music and performing there for a while. An opportunity arose in Seoul for us to co-write an album for Keumbee to release under a small but prominent indie label, working with a really cool roster of musicians. Plus I wanted to learn more about Keumbee’s culture. I’d been learning Korean for a year or so, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to improve.

T E L L U S W H AT YO U ’ V E B E E N U P TO SINCE WE LAST SPOKE Quite a lot! New York is the central hub of jazz, and when I first moved here, I spent every night hanging out at Smalls, a tiny basement club in Greenwich Village. All the famous jazz musicians would play there after finishing their main shows across the city, followed by a jam session until 4am. So in the early hours of the morning, I would meet with my idols, the people I grew up listening to, and play music with them on that cramped stage. I was lucky to become friends with many of them, and to learn from old-school greats and modern jazz musicians. I think my playing style has changed vastly as a result.

T H A T M U S T H AV E O P E N E D U P S O MANY OPPORTUNITIES Yes, one of my all-time favourite modern jazz pianists, Aaron Goldberg, became my mentor. I played on his piano and learned directly from him about his views on playing and composing. I now work for him, transcribing his original material by ear to sheet music, and I helped with arrangements for his upcoming album. I was also a research assistant on a six-volume educational book series on jazz rhythm, to be published this year.

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YOU’VE ALSO PERFORMED AROUND THE WORLD Over the last few years I’ve been lucky to play at some of the most prestigious jazz festivals in Europe. I spent three weeks at Marciac in south-western France, and a week of headline shows at Berne in Switzerland. I was also one of the headline acts at a small but renowned two-day jazz festival at Iford Manor in Wiltshire. I recorded an album for a short film in Norway, did a few performances in Dubai and ran a jazz workshop at Sgoil Chiùil Na Gàidhealtachd, the top school for traditional Scottish music.

D O Y O U O N L Y P L AY J A Z Z ? No, I’ve done a fair amount of work outside of jazz. I’ve been working with keyboardist Chuck Leavell, who has worked with The Rolling Stones and The Allman Brothers, for three years now. I headlined in a band at The Bitter End, New York’s oldest rock club, where Bob Dylan made his name; and I’ve been hanging out with Taylor Swift’s musical director, David Cook, learning about the production behind her music. All of this differs immensely from straight jazz, but I wouldn’t be in such a good position to play other contemporary music without my background, which taught me how to play by ear and be spontaneous. But jazz will always be my biggest hobby and passion!

W H AT, I F A N Y T H I N G , D O YO U M I S S A B O U T C O R N WA L L ? So, so much! If I thought I could achieve my musical goals in Cornwall, I would be living there! I grew up on a smallholding, and feel most comfortable in that environment with my family around me - it’s the best place to write music. But I wanted to explore the American jazz I’d grown up listening to, so I moved to Boston when I was 18. It was my first time living in a city; I loathed it and was ready to move back to Cornwall and forget about my dream. But I moved to New York, and the vibrancy and energy excited me so much, I ended up falling in love with it. Still, nowhere is like Cornwall. The excitement I feel the day before I travel home is one of the best feelings ever. I try and come back twice a year: Christmas and summer. I’m very lucky that Rick Stein’s book me to play in Padstow each year – the first time was for the 40th anniversary party, and I’ve since performed every Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. It’s a really enjoyable gig to play. Last time, I played with Keumbee, and we had a lot of fun. It also gives my family a chance to hear me perform, as I’m usually playing on the other side of the world.

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12/02/2018 16:08:03

C U R ATO R ’ S C H O I C E THE NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM CORNWALL BUILDS A FULL-SIZE RECONSTRUCTION OF A TITANIC LIFEBOAT

arch sees the National Maritime Museum Cornwall open its highly anticipated new exhibition, Titanic Stories. Among the exhibits on display are documentary and personal photographs, letters, newspaper cuttings, compelling items such as a handkerchief waved from a lifeboat, and a First-Class passenger list found in the pocket of a victim. In addition, the museum’s boatbuilding workshop hosts a full-size recreation of the 30ft Lifeboat 13, constructed by local boatbuilder Andy Nancarrow with the help of museum staff and volunteers in the museum’s boatbuilding workshop. The Titanic sailed – and sank – on April 5, 1912. It carried 14 lifeboats of the type the museum is reconstructing. The number 13 (unlucky for some!) was chosen partly because there’s a very good account – written by the English schoolmaster Lawrence Beesley – of what happened in the boat and how it nearly came

to grief. But Lifeboat 13 also helps us examine some of the Titanic myths, such as “women and children first”. By looking at who was in the boat, we begin to see a more complicated picture. The exhibition will present a luggage label for every named person (55 in total) on the boat, displaying their name, age and why they were on the Titanic. Of those 55, 24 were crew (all male) and 21 were third-class passengers, with nine second-class and one first-class. There were 11 male passengers, 14 female and six children, thus telling a story that challenges existing assumptions. The in-house build is part of a programme of reconstructions of historical craft, which aims to keep traditional skills alive. Titanic Stories runs at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall from March 8 until January 7, 2019.

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R O YA L C O R N W A L L M U S E U M DISCOVER THE UNEXPECTED Words by Sue Bradbury

tep into the Royal Cornwall Museum and prepare yourself for discovery. With a new layout in the main gallery and an easy-to-follow route from pre-historic Cornish finds and stories through to the modern day, there’s never been a better place or time to learn about Cornish heritage. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, and Dr Jayne Wackett, collections and exhibitions manager, couldn’t be more excited about all that’s on offer for visitors of every age. Previously a lecturer in medieval history at the University of Kent, she arrived at the museum just over a year ago and immediately set about creating an interactive experience that’s designed to engage and enthral. The re-design makes the most of the architecture and creates a feeling of light and space. Across the floor is a large 1818 map of Cornwall – the first to be developed through trigonometry and therefore the product of both scientific and artistic talent. It’s part of the vinyl flooring, so feel free to walk on it while studying the impressive detail. The Trewinnard Coach remains a captivating centerpiece. Built in the 1750s, it drew crowds when it first appeared and continues to be a focal point of interest. Jayne has removed the barriers that once surrounded it, instead creating life-size Georgian characters from across the social spectrum to reflect the different onlookers who would once have gawped at its magnificence. “I’m hoping children will make up stories about them,” she said. “They represent people both rich and poor from the time that the coach first rode through Cornish streets. It must have been quite a spectacle for everyone watching, whatever their personal lives and background.” With the aim of inspiring imagination and exciting curiosity, there are a few objects on display that can be handled. Some are specially-made replicas and others – including a cannon ball - are real. There are timelines and information about the

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men and women whose discoveries have advanced scientific progress, and touch-screen technology means there is plenty of opportunity to find out more in an instant. Climb the museum’s impressive staircase and find more treasures. There’s a ‘secret life of objects’ store where you can see the difference conservation work makes and try your hand at putting a skeleton together; a gallery that is themed around Cornwall’s strong sense of place; a new cabinet that showcases an 1818 copy of the West Briton and its report of the RIC’s launch; a Poldark’s Cornwall exhibition that will, in the spring, be replaced by local children’s artwork, and another large gallery dedicated to worldwide wonders. “Cornwall has made its global mark in many different ways but, thanks to collectors, the world has also come to Cornwall in the last two centuries,” said Jayne. “Before the age of TV and the internet, their adventures meant Cornish people were able to find out about other cultures. Even today, when most of us can tap on a screen to source photos and videos, it’s still a thrill to gaze at exhibits like the actual leg of an extinct giant bird called the moa, marvel at the intricate beauty of an eastern wedding garment and look closely at Lord Byron’s sword. One wall is also covered floor to ceiling with significant works of art in the salon style much used two centuries ago.” It’s not an exaggeration to say that wandering around the Royal Cornwall Museum is as surprising as it is instructive. From the flint arrowheads of early hominids and Iron Age spindles to Richard Lander’s medicine chest, fine art, dinosaur remains, Bronze Age gold lunula and a mummy, it’s an Aladdin’s Cave of wonder and magical revelation. Visit and be inspired. Open Tuesday to Sundays inclusive, 10am to 4.45pm. For more information, visit www.royalcornwallmuseum.org.uk

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ART WORLD GALLERY Falmouth

Des Fleurs Dans Les Cheveux by David Jamin 73x92cms 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.

gallery

to advertise in the next issue of Cornwall Today call 01872 271451

TEL: 01326 219323 THE ROUND HOUSE & CAPSTAN GALLERY

Sennen Cove, Penzance

MARCH

guide 2018

Open: Monday to Saturday, 10.30am to 5.30pm (closed Sunday). Address: 62 Church Street, Falmouth, TR11 3DS. Email: info@artworldltd.com Web: www.artworldltd.com

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, 10.30am to 4.30pm, and daily during half-term. Address: Sennen Cove, near Penzance, TR19 7DF. Email: roundhouse.gallery@btconnect.com Web: www.round-house.co.uk Twitter: @Capstangallery Facebook: Roundhouse & Capstan Gallery

To place your Art Listing in next monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s issue please contact a member of our team on 01872 271451 and they will be happy to help

TEL: 01736 871859

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T H E E D U C AT I O N A L H E A R T O F S T I V E S D R AW N T O T H E V A L L E Y ART NEWS

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BELOW: PAINTING CLASS AT ST IVES SCHOOL OF PAINTING IN THE 1940S

IN THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF EVENTS CELEBRATING ITS 80TH YEAR, ST IVES SCHOOL OF PAINTING SHOWCASES THE TALENT OF STUDENTS AND TUTORS ALIKE WITH BACK-TO-BACK EXHIBITIONS Words by Mercedes Smith

n the trenches of the First World War, two young officers made a solemn vow: if they survived the Western Front, they would pursue their dream of living and painting in the art colony of St Ives. In 1938, Borlase Smart and Leonard Fuller fulfilled their dream by opening the St Ives School of Painting. Both were already experienced artists, trained under Julius Olsson RA and at the Royal Academy respectively, and the school they founded became the educational heart of the town’s artistic community. Many famous works of 20th-century art were produced at Porthmeor Studios, which housed the school, and today the St Ives School of Painting is associated with Cornwall’s most distinguished artists - including Peter Lanyon, Sir Terry Frost and Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, who attended its classes in the 1940s and ‘50s. Today it remains a vibrant, progressive school of art, and continues to attract both local and visiting students, thanks to its history, diverse range of courses, and unrivalled location on Porthmeor Beach. This spring the school marks its 80th year, and celebrations begin with consecutive exhibitions at St Ives’ Penwith Gallery, firstly by students of its one-year Porthmeor Programme and

then by its professional artist tutors. Together, these shows demonstrate the unique influence of location, and of people past and present, who have come together over time in the school’s historic studio space. “I have been very conscious of the history of the school throughout my course,” says Porthmeor Programme student Jacqui Porter, “and the great artists who went before me - the fact that they too were once students, who struggled, who developed their work, and found inspiration from each other as they studied.” Fellow student Sandra Hoeft agrees: “Knowing that great artists painted here certainly contributes to the special atmosphere of the place.” The history of the school is not the only influence on her work, however: “It is always such a thrill to be in St Ives. The town, the coast and countryside are inspirational. It is impossible not to be creative when surrounded by such beauty.” Textile artist Judy Stephens exhibits work which is the result of her commitment to a year of monthly tutored weekends. “The view of blue sea from the school’s window was enough to justify the five-hour drive from my home near

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ABOVE: WORK BY TUTOR LIZ HOUGH, SUNFLOWERS III, OIL ON CANVAS

LEFT: ST IVES SCHOOL OF PAINTING FOUNDER LEONARD FULLER AT HIS EASEL. IMAGE COURTESY OF THE ST IVES SCHOOL OF PAINTING

Cardiff,” she explains. “It is the most beautiful and evocative working space imaginable.” The Porthmeor Programme, which offers developing artists of any age the chance to study for a year with some of Cornwall’s leading professional artists, is an inspirational idea, in an inspirational location. It is also an opportunity for students to form a socially bonded, mutually supportive group, in a setting that is rich in visual stimulation, and important to the history of British art. “Learning how to make charcoal with my group, in an open fire on the beach, is one of my most magical memories from the Porthmeor course,” Judy says. “I felt a direct line down the years from Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth and Patrick Heron, though they probably never did any such thing! I have produced diverse work here - paintings, prints, drawings – but have decided to exhibit my newest textile work, which includes rust marks I made using an iron bar found on Porthmeor Beach. Who can argue that it isn’t from the wreck of the Alba – as painted by Alfred Wallis – and still visible at low tide?” Porthmeor Programme tutor Liz Hough says the school has real connections with the history of the St Ives Modernists.

ABOVE: LIFE DRAWING CLASS AT ST IVES SCHOOL OF PAINTING, 2017. PHOTOGRAPH BY BOB BERRY LEFT: WORK BY STUDENT JACQUI PORTER: CORNISH COAST 2, MIXED MEDIA

“We use art history to help students build a creative vocabulary, and a fuller understanding of their own work. Ultimately, though, the emphasis here is on finding your own voice. We have honest group discussions, drawing on each other’s experiences, and offer a ‘dovetailing’ of exposure to different art practices and processes, from drawing to landscape and portrait painting, abstraction, printmaking, film and conceptual art.” The Porthmeor Programme exhibition, on show from March 9 to 16, is made up of work by 17 participating students, and is followed from March 23 to April 6 with an exhibition of work by the school’s highly regarded tutors. On its opening night, artist and tutor Ilker Cinarel will give a special one-man performance, and over the duration of the show a series of scheduled events includes live painting demonstrations by tutors Alice Mumford, Gary Long and others, and talks by Liz Luckwell, Marion Taylor, Liz Hough and Hilary Jean Gibson. See both exhibitions at Penwith Gallery, Back Road West, St Ives, TR26 1NL. For further details, visit www.penwithgallery.com and www.schoolofpainting.co.uk

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BRINGING THE TAMAR VALLEYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PRODUCE TO LIFE THROUGH ART Words by Laura Joint

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LEFT: KATHY LOVELL’S COPPER AND SILVER EARRINGS BOTTOM LEFT: TESSA SULSTON WORKING ON THE PAINTING

rom daffodils and bluebells to strawberries and apples, the Tamar Valley’s rich market gardening heritage is being celebrated in an exhibition by artists who live and work in the valley. The exhibition, entitled Growing In The Valley, is organised by the Drawn To The Valley group of professional artists in partnership with the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and runs from March 10 to 18 at the Tamar Valley AONB Centre at Drakewalls, near Gunnislake. A section of the exhibition is dedicated to the valley’s famous daffodils, to coincide with the AONB’s Heralds of Spring Project. The project, which was awarded £10,000 of National Lottery funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), is finding and mapping the historic varieties of daffodil that can still be found dotted around the valley. Last spring, more than 100 old varieties were located, and volunteers are out and about again this spring, looking for more. Quite apart from the survey work, the project is also highlighting the emotional connection people have with the spring spectacle of daffodils in the valley. Daffodils once covered huge areas of the Tamar Valley, all neatly grown in rows and packed off to markets across the country. But when the fields had to be converted to grow food during the Second World War, most of the daffs were pulled up and thrown aside. Many were tossed into nearby hedgerows and woods, which is why you see so many cropping up in seemingly random places. Drawn To The Valley artist Tessa Sulston, who runs Callington School of Art, can often be found wandering the valley, taking inspiration from the surroundings. It was on one such day that she discovered a daffodil wood not far from her home: “It was a few years ago and I stopped to take a photo of it,” she recalled. “I was struck by the strong perspective – it looked a bit like a Hockney painting – but it was only recently that I looked at it again and thought I should paint it. I’ve used a lot of gold and silver and, like most of my work, it’s mixed media,” said Tessa, who taught at Magdalen College School, Oxford, for 20 years before moving to Cornwall to set up her own school of art. Tessa’s ‘rediscovery’ of the photo has led to her doing some digging into the history of the daffodil wood. She has traced the owners and discovered that it’s called Treragin Wood. Most of the daffodil

varieties are actually quite modern but there also some older Tamar varieties that the owners are hoping can be accurately identified. Tessa digitally converted the photo to black and white and printed it on to the paper – to stunning effect. She has also used her photo to create other pieces for the exhibition, as she explained: “I was in Japan recently and I found this wonderful, hand-made, textured paper. You can see and feel the threads of wood and they look just like Cornish lanes meandering through the countryside.” A few miles outside Callington, meanwhile, another Drawn To The Valley artist has also been busy using art to capture the area’s market gardening history. Kathy Lovell lives near Cotehele, so it’s no surprise to learn that her smallholding is home to an apple orchard boasting local varieties. Kathy makes unique pieces of jewellery using very fine copper and silver. She’s also a photographer. Examples of her apple-inspired work will be at the Spring Exhibition – including photographs and the apple earrings she makes from the metals. “Our little apple orchard has been very inspirational for my work,” said Kathy. “The orchard was already established when we moved to the Tamar Valley about 12 years ago, and one of the trees had an apple that I thought was beautiful in every sense of the word, colour, taste and smell. I took it to be identified at a National Trust apple day at Cotehele and was thrilled when Mary Martin at Cotehele said that it was an old Tamar Valley variety called Devon Crimson Queen, quite often referred to as Queenie.” For the Tamar Valley AONB, it seems only natural to join forces with local professional artists to showcase the area’s history and natural environment. Charlotte Dancer from the AONB said: “One of the reasons the Tamar Valley was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1995 was due to its high visual quality and artistic appeal, so it’s great to be involved with this exhibition, especially as our daffodil project is taking place at the same time.” The exhibition is open 10am to 5pm (2pm Sunday).

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 Taking space at the Crypt

Taking Space’s forthcoming show at the Crypt Gallery in St Ives features the work of two newcomers to the group. Clare Hughes and Helen Mahood have lived in the county long enough for its beguiling appeal to have found expression in their paintings. Clare’s portrayal of tin mines reflects her fascination for the ruins of our vanishing industrial past, while Helen’s passion for the sea is evident from her loose, expressive brush-strokes, capturing the dramatic coastline in all its moods. Open daily, 10.30am to 4.30pm. Pictured: Crashing Wave by Helen Mahood.

 After the storm

1 CRASHINGWAVE

2 SLIPWAY BY KIRSTY ELSON

In the aftermath of flood damage caused by Storm Eleanor, the Porthminster Gallery in St Ives will re-open its (new) doors to launch its 2018 show season with New Beginnings: After The Storm. This selling exhibition will showcase a diverse selection of original contemporary artworks by six artists new to the gallery, working at the leading edge of ceramics, glass and mixed-media. Most are showing for the first time in St Ives and Cornwall, and include delicately drawn, muted landscapes by recent Falmouth graduate Rosie Smith; the charming, nostalgic beach-combed mixed media sculptures of Kirsty Elson; and wheel-thrown raku creations by former cage fighter and kickboxer turned celebrity potter Nam Tran, a contestant in last year’s BBC TV series, The Great Pottery Throw Down. Until Saturday, March 17. Closed Sundays. www.porthminstergallery.co.uk

news ART  On home turf

3 SO HAPPY I COULD BURST BY MARLY JACKSON

Artist Marly Jackson holds her third exhibition at the Old Lifeboat House, Porthleven from March 17 to 23. Marly lived in the village between the ages of three and 25. “It holds a huge place in my heart and will always be my home.” Marly works in painting and photography having studied marine and natural history photography at Falmouth University, and uses a carefully selected colour palette to create an individual sense of atmosphere and emotion within each piece. www.marlyjacksonartworks.co.uk

 Ahead of the Curve

Cornwall is ahead of the Curve, according to three Falmouth artists. Painter Sue Davis, ceramicist Jane Smith and screen-printer Lesley Harry have collaborated on the Easter exhibition Curve, focusing on the arcs, coils, bends and curves in their work as well as the creative tension between the power of monochrome and emotional force of colour. March 27 to April 7, Falmouth Poly Spring Gallery 10am to 7pm (except Sunday). Pictured: Cobwebs of Time by Sue Davis.

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 10 years of Leach

In March 2008, the fully restored and rejuvenated Leach Pottery reopened to the public after closing its doors in 2005. This year marks the tenth anniversary of this important milestone, and a series of events, exhibitions, talks and creative sessions launches on March 23 with an Open Weekend and runs until November. Two new exhibitions begin on March 24: Reunion - Potters From The Time Of Bernard Leach (until July 1) and 10 Year Anniversary, telling the story of the pottery’s renovation and renewal, in the Cube Gallery (until March 2019). Visitors from TR26 and TR27 postcodes can register for the annual Leach Pottery Locals’ Pass. Look out for a Spring Seconds Sale on Easter Saturday and Sunday. www.leachpottery.com

 Fresh off the press

The Limekiln Gallery in Calstock presents Fresh Off The Press, new work by members of Mary Gillett’s print workshop. Until March 16.

 The bigger picture

Visitors to the Eden Mediterranean Biome are now greeted by a huge and colourful artwork created by staff and volunteers. The monumental piece represents the home of the famous biomes and six of its growing international projects dotted around the globe. The stunning 200 square-foot work is made up of 450 individual canvasses worked on with acrylic paint by members of the team, inspired by Eden-related projects in China, New Zealand, Australia, United Arab Emirates, USA and Northern Ireland. Led by artist, teacher and gallery owner Jeanni Grant-Nelson, the project was completed over just four hours, from blank canvas to an eye-catching work now gracing a previously blank wall in the Link Building between the two biomes.

5 KILN FIRING BY MATTHEW TYAS

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 Inspired by Hepworth

A new collection of paintings by artist Kate Lockhart takes over Morvah Schoolhouse Gallery for a week from March 18 to 25, a celebration of colour and light inspired by the beautiful garden arrangements and evocative, deeply organic sculptural forms of Barbara Hepworth. Working from sketches and photos taken in the artist’s sculpture garden in St Ives, Kate’s homage to Hepworth’s vision is a loving expression of respect and admiration. Open Thursday to Sunday 11am to 3.30pm, Morvah, near Pendeen.

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 TEN PLUS 10

An exhibition of ten figurative works and ten abstract works by artists not usually associated with St Ives will be on show at Belgrave St Ives in Fore Street from March 5 to 26. Works are drawn primarily from the gallery collection, and include examples by John Bratby, Joyce Cairns, Fred Crayk, Francis Hoyland, John Kingerlee, Antoni Malinowski, Derek Middleton, Alastair Morton, Fred Pollock, Guy Roddon, Gary Wragg and others.

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VIEW FROM THE HARBOUR Words by Mark David Hatwood, portrait by Hilary Stock

had a long chat with an artist the other day about achieving their dreams. We all have them; but sometimes, like a horse, the more we follow them, the more they back off. Run after them, and they’ll bolt. If doors open easily, we should step through them. Conversely, if they don’t, we should take stock and reinvent. Walking away from a dream may seem crazy, but I try to think of it as walking towards something new and exciting and the proverbial horse may follow. Trying something new can bring perspective and successes well beyond those we thought we might have achieved in our dreams. My advice: shed the blinkers of ‘how it’s done’ and create a new rulebook. After all, it’s how many of our heroes achieved their goals in the past. At the end of March, over the Easter weekend, we have the first of our hugely popular pop-up exhibitions. Held in Portscatho’s historic fisherman’s shelter, these three-day exhibitions have become a firm favourite. This year, we kick

off with the inimitable Robin Mason. Graduating from North Warwickshire School of Art in 1992, Robin won his first award, the Winsor and Newton Award, in 2003 in the Open Pastel Exhibition. He became a friend of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) in 2003 and an associate of the RBSA in 2006 but it’s his stunning combination of classic and contemporary art, using both oils and pastels, that has made him one of our most celebrated artists. Robin will be in the Shelter for a preview drinks evening on Saturday, March 31, from 6pm, and again on Easter Sunday and Monday. Everyone is welcome. You can also find him here: theharbourgallery.co.uk/robin-mason Mark David Hatwood FRSA is the owner of the Harbour Gallery in Portscatho. Tel 01872 580807, www.theharbourgallery.co.uk Facebook TheHarbourGallery, Twitter @HarbourGallery

| CORNWALL TODAY

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09/02/2018 17:07:53

food

TIME FOR TEA

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W O R L D PA S T Y C H A M P I O N S H I P S H E AV E N I N H E L L B AY

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LUCYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LIQUID LEARNINGS FOOD NEWS

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IT’S TIPPED AS A HOT TREND FOR 2018. MEET THE CORNISH GROWERS, BLENDERS AND SELLERS WHO ARE MAKING SURE TEA REMAINS THE NATION’S FAVOURITE HOT DRINK Word by Emma Fowle

ea is having a moment. Fashion aficionados at Vogue and food experts at the BBC are all talking about the humble cuppa, and sales of green and speciality teas are on the rise. All of this is good news for Cornwall, as home to the UK’s first and largest tea estate, as well as the muchloved Cornish cream tea. Whether you’re looking for luxury single-estate blends or a trendy new tea with built-in health benefits, you don’t have to go far to find the perfect brew. On the banks of the Fal, the Tregothnan estate was the first in the UK to establish an outdoor tea plantation: “Similar to how you would find it in India or China, the way tea really should be grown,” says marketing manager Bella Percy-Hughes. Its high-end single estate teas, prized for their traceability and exclusivity, are sold at some of the country’s top hotels, including Claridges, recently named in Vogue’s list of Best Afternoon Teas in London; and its Christmas pop-up shop in Covent Garden – dubbed the Cornish Embassy due to the influx of Cousin Jacks it attracted – was so successful, the team is now in talks to set up a permanent home in the trendy Seven Dials district nearby, as well as outposts in Heathrow airport, Canada, Kuwait and China. So what does tea grown in Cornwall have to offer the Chinese, who have been growing and drinking the stuff for more than 2,000 years? “People are really interested in what

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a truly English tea looks like,” says Bella. “Visitors from the Far East love the fact that we’ve taken their national drink, made it our own, and given it a home here in Cornwall.” Tregothnan’s London tea room plans include hi-tech, selfservice tables, ready-primed with freshly brewed house blends that will cut down waiting time and let customers plunge straight into meetings or catching up with friends. “People think that with luxury teas, you have to wait for your drink,” says Bella. “This will be ready-brewed. It’s not stewing, and it’s kept hot, so you can just sit down and drink. It’s the way forward.” Experts at BBC Good Food agree. Among its 15 food trends for 2018 is a prediction that tea shops will make a highstreet comeback, and with good reason. Despite there being a coffee shop on every corner, tea is still the UK’s number one drink, with 165 million cups drunk daily, and sales of speciality and green teas are on the rise. This may be due to an increasing interest in the health and environmental impact of what we’re consuming: “People want to know where the things that they’re putting into their bodies come from they want it given to them straight,” says Bella. “People are discovering things about tea bags and what goes in them: for example, they are often made using unrecyclable glues. We can tell you exactly where the leaves are plucked, who they were plucked by, how they were processed. You can come

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Recipe:

Lemon Gin Tea Toddy A boozy comfort blanket from Tugboat Tea, using the Lemoncillo blend: green tea with lemon and chilli.

Ingredients

2 tsp Tugboat’s Lemoncillo blend 1 tsp brown sugar or honey 1 mug of freshly boiled water 1 glug of gin 1 slice of lemon Boil your water and brew your Lemoncillo for five or six minutes and strain. Add your sugar or honey, glug of gin, slice of lemon and perhaps even a little freshly grated ginger.

and see how it’s done. We’ll tell you all about how it’s packed and the materials used.” The Cornish Tea Company has also launched a new range in response to demand for plastic-free tea bags. The Looebased company is one of the fastest-growing tea suppliers in the UK and one of the few to be British-owned. All of its teas are hand-blended in Cornwall, and its new Fusion range includes green and herbal teas alongside an organic version of the best-selling Smugglers Brew, packaged in a plastic-free, cellulose-based tea bag designed to decompose in 30 days. It means environmentally-conscious Cornish consumers are spoilt for choice when it comes to teas that not only taste great, but are good for us and the planet too. Discerning tea shoppers in Truro have long recommended Tugboat Brews, which moved from the Pannier Market into new premises on New Bridge Street in September 2017. Jess and Mike Richardson started selling coffee over ten years ago, slowly branching out into tea and creating their own blends. The walls of the shop are lined with more than 50 types of tea blends – black, white, green and herbal – with evocative names such as Gen Ma Cha Tea (described as ‘toasted loveliness’) and Cornish Afternoon Tea (subtitled simply ‘tea and cake’). “Tea does seem to be gaining a wider audience,” Jess says. “People are interested in more choices, new ingredients and new blends. We joke about ‘blends with benefits’, but actually it’s very real – people want to benefit from what they are

drinking. They want to choose what those benefits are, and they want to enjoy what they are drinking.” Tugboat’s Lemoncillo blend proved popular over the winter months, packed as it is with antioxidants and immune-system boosters such as green tea, echinacea, fennel, chilli and liquorice root. It can even be made into a flu-fighting hot toddy by adding a splash of gin (Cornish, of course). Back over at Tregothnan, experiments are under way to meet consumer demand for healthier teas, this time focusing on caffeine, and the challenge of creating a decaf brew that hasn’t been through an extensive process. “It’s not a natural thing, and we don’t make a decaffeinated tea at the moment for those reasons,” says Bella. But with growing demand for low- and no-caffeine black teas, Tregothnan is pioneering a new brew made from the branches of the tea bush, which are naturally lower in caffeine but still make a really decent cup of tea. The team is excited about the prospects. Whether the fashion and food writers turn out to be correct in their predictions for the next big thing, there’s no sign that the average person is about to abandon the cup of char any time soon – which is good news for the tea-makers, growers, blenders and drinkers of Cornwall. The Tregothnan estate holds its annual charity open weekend on April 21 and 22, in aid of the Merlin MS Centre. Find it on Facebook: The UK’s Largest Charity Garden Opening CORNWALL TODAY

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the best places to...

drink tea in Cornwall

WHETHER IT’S A TRADITIONAL CREAM TEA, A WARMING CUPPA AFTER A WALK ON THE BEACH OR HIGH TEA AT A LUXURY HOTEL, HERE’S OUR GUIDE TO THE BEST PLACES TO DRINK TEA IN CORNWALL. Compiled by Emma Fowle

1. Hotel Tresanton, St Mawes For old-school glamour, you can’t beat afternoon tea at Olga Polizzi’s Hotel Tresanton. Enjoy a selection of scones, pastries, finger sandwiches and tea whilst overlooking the beautiful estuary at St Mawes.

2. The Dwelling House, Fowey

The oak beams in this 13th-century house were salvaged from ships wrecked off the North Cornwall coast, and the house blend of tea, supplied by Ilfracombe-based Kamellia Budd, is called Smugglers Choice. Perfect after a blustery cliff-top walk to nearby Hawker's Hut.

5. The Minions Tea Rooms, Minions At 300 metres above sea level, the Minions tea rooms and village shop are the highest in Cornwall. Refuel after a yomp across Bodmin Moor or a visit to the nearby Cheesewring and the Hurlers stone circle. Dogs welcome.

6. Bone China, Truro

Originally a Georgian merchant's house, this traditional English tea room and B&B, complete with mismatched furniture and vintage crockery, is the perfect stop after wandering Fowey's pretty harbour and boutique shops.

There's not a cream tea in sight at this funky tea, tapas and cocktail bar in Truro. For something a little different, order the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, which comes with a selection of savoury and sweet treats that include quiches, tapas-style dishes and boozy jellies.

3. The Scarlet, Mawgan Porth

7. Cook Book, St Just

For a luxury adult-only option, head to Cornwall's only eco-hotel and spa. Breathtaking views over Mawgan Porth beach accompany handmade cakes, scones and sandwiches, Tregothnan teas and a glass of champagne. Booking required. 68

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4. Rectory Farm and Tea Rooms, Morwenstow

Peruse the papers or browse the books in this peaceful second-hand book shop and café that is also a mobile phone and WiFi-free zone. Enjoy Tregothnan teas and savoury cheese tea options. Picnic hampers available to order.

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ABOVE RIGHT: PHOTOGRAPH BY HANNA LITTLE

8. Polpeor Café, Lizard Point Perched on Lizard Point, Polpeor is the most southerly café in mainland Britain. It's not glamorous, and the toilets are in the nearby National Trust car park, but it's a small price to pay for views to die for.

INSET TOP: TRESANTON INSET LEFT: AFTERNOON TEA AT THE SCARLET OPPOSITE PAGE: AFTERNOON TEA AT THE BEACH AT BUDE

9. The Waymarker, Constantine

12. The Beach at Bude

This award-winning perennial favourite boasts a whole cream tea menu. Try the traditional, gluten-free options, two different types of savoury scones or the chocolate cream tea with Baileys and chocolate chip scones. All 100% Cornish.

With beautiful views across Summerleaze beach, enjoy afternoon tea on the terrace at this luxury boutique hotel. Book in advance and swap your tea for Prosecco if you really want to make an afternoon of it.

10. Woods Café, Cardinham Woods

Take high tea on the terrace, or by the fire in the cosy bar. Homemade scones, macaroons, brownies and cucumber sandwiches accompany the Tregothnan teas, or alternatively upgrade and treat yourself to a glass of champagne. Book in advance.

Nestled amongst the trees, this family-run hideaway serves a range of Tregothnan teas and homemade cakes. With miles of walking and cycling trails on its doorstep and a large children's play area right outside, it's a great place to refuel or simply sit and relax.

11. Dolly’s Tea Room, Falmouth Perched above the Falmouth Bookseller, this cool, quirky bar with vintage interior is a tea room by day and gin bar by night. Loved by the university town's arty residents, be sure to try its cream tea with gin-infused jam.

13. The Alverton, Truro

14. Talland Bay Hotel, Bude Serving cream teas, high teas and even a ‘G & Tea’, all with a stunning view over Talland Bay, this four-star hotel counts high-street queen Mary Portas among its fans, and serves a range of teas from the Cornish Tea Co., all blended by hand in Cornwall. CORNWALL TODAY

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he World Pasty Championships, dubbed the Oggy Oscars, return to the Eden Project on Saturday, March 3 for a seventh year. We caught up with some previous winners to find out what difference winning such a prestigious accolade had made to their lives and businesses.

GRAHAM

GERRY

Graham Cornish

CORNISH PASTY PROFESSIONAL, 2012 The winner of the very first professional categories, both Cornish and Open Savoury, Graham was (and still is) the brand development manager at Ginster’s of Callington. His Cornish offering was based on a family recipe; the following year saw the introduction of a Company category in the championships, allowing the big names to do battle with their high-street products. This year, Graham has launched his own range – cleverly 70

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called the Cornish Cornish Pasty Company – which is now on sale at the Eden Project. “The Cornish pasty is based on my mother’s recipe, the one I won with, using skirt beef, potatoes and swede from local farms,” he says. “There’s also a cheese and onion variety with chives and a dash of English mustard, and a vegan option with Puy lentils, basil and passata. “Winning the competition made a big difference to me. I’ve had a lifetime of making pasties and I thought, ‘Perhaps I do know something about this after all.’ My mother had passed away, and I was chuffed to win with her recipe. I see it as the pinnacle of my pasty-making career.”

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Gerry Ramier

CORNISH PASTY PROFESSIONAL, 2017 Gerry runs the Piskie Pie Company at the heart of Niagara’s wine country in Canada. Last year, he entered the Cornish Pasty Professional category, cooking his pasty in Cornwall as required by the rules – and won. “It was all a bit overwhelming,” he admits. “It came as quite a surprise indeed, and I was truly humbled by it. There was a noticeable upswing in business, and I’m looking forward to our upcoming market season, with pasties baked in our new kitchen space.” He adds: “Proper pasties are few and far between here – I picked up a truly dreadful one in Niagara Falls last week. I feel we are making a positive change in that, as anyone who tries an authentic Cornish pasty never goes back to the awful ones.” Gerry plans to defend his title on March 3, as well as competing in the Open Savoury Professional category with recipes inspired by his native Ontario and neighbouring Quebec.

Vanessa Farr

CORNISH PASTY AMATEUR, 2017 It started out as a fun trip for a group of friends from Bristol, and has turned into an annual pilgrimage. “When we attended the first world pasty championships in 2012, most of us had never been to the Eden Project, and some of us had never baked pasties before,” says Vanessa, current holder of the Cornish Amateur title. They’ve been every year since, and turned out to be a talented bunch. Vanessa is joined by her friend Don McKeever, reigning Open Savoury Amateur champion with the “Boeuf BourguignDon”, and her niece’s friend Megan Packer, holder of the Open Savoury Junior award with a barbecue chicken pasty. “I don’t think a year has gone by when one of us hasn’t brought home a trophy – statistically, it is ridiculous,” laughs Vanessa. While her friends veer towards the Open Savoury categories, Vanessa is a firm follower of the traditional Cornish: “If I have to choose one in a shop, it’s always Cornish without question – it’s the original.” With a holiday home near Padstow, she has a penchant for oggies produced by the Chough Bakery (company winner, 2016), and credits them with a key ingredient: “Like them, I always include a dab of clotted cream.” While some aim to triumph, others – namely Vanessa’s husband – take pride in producing the most disgusting pasty possible. “It usually involves cabbage, and he once wrapped fish, chips and mushy peas in pastry. He can’t make it this year, due to a wedding in Goa.” What a shame… Registration to enter the World Pasty Championships closes at midday on Thursday, March 1, 2018, or beforehand if numbers reach the limit. Entry costs £10 per category (£5 for the junior categories). Visit www.edenproject.com

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MAKING

THE CUT A GUIDE TO MEAT BY ETHERINGTON’S

Words by Vicki Mayrick

oast dinners are magical. They create a portal for time travel. Inhale deeply and instantly, you’re transported back to childhood, to Sunday evenings spent watching the Antiques Roadshow and digging into what seemed to be the best meal on earth. However, after decades of eating a similar variation of meat, veg and gravy, perhaps it’s time to take inspiration from the wonderful food cultures around the world and get a little adventurous with our roasts. For a Caribbean twist, rub your traditional roast chicken with jerk seasoning and serve with roasted sweet potatoes, red peppers and onions. A simple spiced apple sauce can transform pork, and a soy, chilli, ginger and lemongrass marinade will change the way you eat roast beef forever. Taking inspiration from India, Masala Raan (yogurt and spice lamb leg) is a great way of injecting spice into your cooking. The trick with this dish is leaving enough time for the spices to penetrate the meat. Combine garlic, fresh ginger, fresh coriander, chilli flakes, brown sugar, the zest of a lemon and a pinch of saffron before whisking into natural yogurt. Using a sharp knife make deep cuts all over the lamb and then rub the spice and yogurt mixture and leave to marinade in the fridge overnight. Before cooking, bring the lamb to room temperature, cover with foil and place into a pre-heated oven at 180°. For medium, cook for 25 minutes per 500g, plus an additional 25 minutes (uncovered). Spice up potatoes by coating them in garam masala and curry powder before roasting. Opt for spiced baked cauliflower rather than steamed, and finish with an accompaniment of homemade garlic and coriander naan breads. Etherington’s, Wheal Rose, Scorrier, Redruth TR16 5DF 01209 899203, www.etherington-meats.co.uk

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Recipe by Richard Kearsley, Hell Bay Hotel, Bryher

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H E L L B AY N O U G AT PA R FA I T Ingredients

here is still time to enter our competition to win a romantic three-night stay on Bryher, Isles of Scilly. The prize includes three nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast at the idyllic Hell Bay Hotel, and return Skybus flights courtesy of Isles of Scilly Travel from a departure point of your choice from Land’s End, Newquay or Exeter. To enter, visit the website of competition partner Trewithen Dairy before March 1: www.trewithendairy.co.uk/win To tempt you further, here’s a lip-smacking example of the cuisine on offer at the Hell Bay. Head chef Richard Kearsley uses seasonal ingredients sourced as locally as possible, including Bryher crab, lobster and farm vegetables all bought just a stone’s throw from the kitchen door.

45g whole almonds 45g hazelnuts roasted & chopped 1 vanilla pod 4 eggs 56g butter 100g sugar 60g mixed peel 60g glace cherries 500ml Trewithen Dairy double cream 2 tbsp of honey 1 terrine mould or metal pastry ring or frame

Method

► Toast the nuts off in the oven until golden brown, then chop ► Whisk the eggs, sugar and vanilla over a simmering pan of water ► ► ► ► ► ►

to make a thick sabayon Add the honey and butter Place the sabayon in the fridge to cool for 10 minutes Chop the glace cherries and fold into the sabayon Semi-whip the double cream and fold into the sabayon Whisk the mixture until it thickens and place in your mould Freeze until needed

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Words by Lucy Robinson

TOAST A TASTE OF TRURO ON ST PIRAN’S DAY

t Piran is the patron saint of tin miners and Cornwall’s adopted saint. His black and white cross is emblematic of the county and adorns an everincreasing plethora of beverages produced here. Like many towns and villages across the county, the city of Truro will celebrate St Piran’s Day on Monday, March 5, with a parade beginning at St George’s Street at 1pm and walking through the city to High Cross. Following speeches, be quick to claim your free pasty. You might then wish to seek a tipple or two for the purposes of toasting our beloved saint in the comfort of your own home.

Truro is blessed with an excellent selection of independent drinks shops selling Cornish-made drinks. I for one will be toasting St Piran with two of our finest and most famous liquid exports: gin and beer. Be sure to pop in and see me behind the counter at the new Johns Liquor Cellar in Lemon Street Market. You’ll be blown away as you walk in to see, stocked from floor to ceiling, hundreds of bottles of gin, rum, vodka, whisky, brandy, tequila and liqueurs. Unsurprisingly, a fair amount of this liquor is produced in Cornwall. Almost every gin producer in the county is represented: Tarquin’s (complete with its popular glasses), Trevethan, Caspyn, Curio, Jynerva, St Ives, Colwith Farm and friends … and more to come, no doubt, as it seems the number of Cornish gins rises almost weekly. I look forward to welcoming you, and will joyfully talk you through all of the liquid Cornish fayre. My gin choice for St Piran’s Day simply must be Wrecking Coast Gin from Tintagel. This classic London Dry-style gin could not be more Cornish if it tried, cleverly blending clotted cream with 14 botanicals. It boasts wonderful notes of strawberries and juniper, with a stunning creamy finish on the palate. Garnish with fresh strawberries and enjoy with your St Piran’s afternoon tea. If you would prefer to raise a glass of classic Cornish ale, look no further than the brilliant Red Elephant Beer Cellar in Quay Street, where you’ll find a constantly changing range including seasonal specials and limited editions. Shelves groan with local ales, world beers from Europe to the USA, and an ever-increasing selection of delicious craft beers with amazing can art. Most of the county-produced ales are bottleconditioned beauties from brewers such as Cornish Crown, Tintagel, Padstow Brewery and Falmouth-based Verdant, hugely respected in the craft beer world and best-known for their limited releases – be quick, as this brewery has quite a following now. The Red Elephant team – Declan, Mark and George – all know their stuff and will help you in your beer purchasing decisions. There’s a discount for CAMRA members and a regular’s loyalty card. If you’d prefer to pop open a bottle of Cornish fizz, look no further than Truro’s fine wineries: Chapel Wines, The Art of Wine and the Cornish Food Box in the city centre, or The Great Cornish Food Store up by Waitrose. Enjoy celebrating this most Cornish of days, and however you choose to toast St Piran, do not forget to say “cheers” the Cornish way as you raise your glass. Yeghes Da!

Follow Lucy Robinson on Twitter @WineFoxCornwall 74

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

food news

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1. 15 years at the helm Congratulations to Michael Smith, executive chef at Porthminster Beach Café, who is celebrating the start of his 15th season at the beach-side restaurant overlooking St Ives Bay. Originally from Victoria, Australia, Michael came to Cornwall in search of a great food scene and Britain’s answer to the beach lifestyle; he fell in love with St Ives and made it his home. He was quickly recruited by the owners of the café, who recognised the time was right to take the food at the white-washed, Art Deco-style eatery up a notch or two. Over the years, Michael has worked hard to give the Porthminster an international reputation, remaining a constant presence in the kitchen throughout. He is also responsible for dreaming up Porthminster Beach Café – The Cookbook, and has been a driving force behind the annual St Ives Food & Drink Festival, which will run from May 11 to 13. www.stivesfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk

2. Heligan feast nights Heligan gardeners and chefs have united to grow and create delicious dishes which will travel just 157 yards from soil to plate. The first of five feast nights, on Friday, March 9, will focus on heritage root vegetables, from bull’s blood beetroot to chestnut mushrooms. Feast nights will continue throughout the year. Tickets cost £25; to book, call reception on 01726 845100.

3. Russet Squire returns Artisan cheesemaker Curds and Croust has announced the return of its cider-washed Cornish brie, the Russet Squire, having spent the last 12 months perfecting the recipe. Each cheese is hand-crafted before being washed with Cornish cider and left to mature, giving it a distinctive orange glow which deepens with age into deep russet tones. The Russet Squire joins a range including Miss Wenna, a creamy soft brie; Boy Laity, a rich, bold and buttery camembert; and The Truffler, an earthy truffle brie. www.curds-croust.co.uk

4. Spring tasting supper The head chef at the Talland Bay Hotel, Nick Hawke, will share the delights of the new season, including Cornish lamb, with a Spring Tasting Supper on Thursday, March 22. Tickets cost £55 per person and include a specially selected wine with the main course. Call 01503 272667 to book. New for 2018, the Talland Bay Hotel has also introduced a threenight Taste of Talland package, which includes a glass of prosecco on arrival, a three-course dinner in the Terrace Restaurant on your first night, Nick’s new seven-course tasting menu on the second night and a Chateaubriand sharing plate on the final night, plus a Talland Bay Afternoon Tea. www.tallandbayhotel.co.uk

5. Cornwall’s ﬁrst single estate distillery Work is on schedule for Cornwall’s first single estate distillery to open its doors over Easter. Colwith Farm Distillery, at Lanlivery near Lostwithiel, is being built by fifth-generation farmer Steve Dustow. Visitors will be able to tour the facility and see how King Edward potatoes grown on the family farm and taken from plough to bottle, to be turned into award-winning Aval Dor vodka and distinctive Stafford’s Gin, as well as sampling the end product. Tours will last approximately 45 minutes (up to 20 people) and will cost from £15 per adult. For more information visit www.colwithfarmdistillery.co.uk CORNWALL TODAY

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homes news Helen Round

Jo Downs

Homewares designer Helen Round opens her first shop and studio at the Barrow Centre in the stunning grounds of Mount Edgcumbe Country Park on the Rame peninsula. As well as showcasing her designs, distinctly influenced by the landscape and fauna of Cornwall, Helen hopes to host regular workshops and offer apprenticeships in the craft and textiles industry. Don’t miss the launch day on Saturday, March 3 from 11am to 5pm, for a glass of bubbly and the opportunity to see the team at work. www.helenround.com

Jo Downs’ much anticipated Big is Beautiful sale runs from March 9 to 11. Get 20% off large interior pieces at Jo Downs Handmade Glass galleries and online. Make a real statement with grand-scale feature pieces from huge bowls, mirrors and art frames to beautiful panels and multi-piece wall installations. This special event includes the launch of new additions to Jo’s spectacular Shoaling Fish collections; her six-piece Mini or larger Reef and Ocean collections will now be available in original Aqua and new Lagoon, Marine and Caspian colourways. www.jodowns.com

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15/02/2018 15:30:27

homes & GARDENS

A SNAPSHOT IN TIME SWEET DREAMS

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ASK A DESIGNER

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NOTES FROM A CORNISH GARDEN C O R N WA L L â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S D A F F O D I L K I N G

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OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP: POSSIBLY MS TREJEWETH, AND AN UNKNOWN SOLDIER, LEAVING THROUGH A BRIDAL ARCH OF PITCHFORKS HELD BY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE WOMEN’S LAND ARMY, IN WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN A MOCK WEDDING. BOTTOM: ROBIN SPENCE AND BRENDA WEEKLEY, CURRENT RESIDENTS AT CAUSILGEY MANOR

TIME A SNAPSHOT IN

A MANOR HOUSE NEAR TRURO HOUSED MEMBERS OF THE WOMEN’S LAND ARMY DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR; NOW IT’S A LUXURY B&B

Words by Kirstie Newton, photographs by Sally Adams and AW Jordan, courtesy of the Royal Cornwall Museum Image Archive

ucked away close to Truro and one of the A30’s busiest roundabouts – the notorious Chiverton Cross – is Causilgey Manor, in the tiny hamlet of Tregavethan. Today, it is a tranquil B&B, but black and white images from the archive of the Royal Cornwall Museum reveal a rich and fascinating history as a training centre for the Women’s Land Army during the First World War. Young women wearing dairy aprons gather CORNWALL TODAY

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MEMBERS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR WOMEN’S LAND ARMY PLAYING LEAP FROG

for a group shot, some wearing black armbands suggesting a wartime loss. Some pictures suggest an idyllic life in direct contrast to the conflict, as girls play leapfrog in the courtyard or laze in oak tree branches. These tableaux were reproduced from a collection of glass plate images taken by Truro photographer AW Jordan. The glass plates are fragile, and in many cases originals – once broken, the picture is lost for good. For this reason, the Royal Cornwall Museum has made these, and a host of other images, available online as part of a photographic archive uploaded by volunteers. The Tregavethan collection sparked an investigation that would result in the reunion of the photographs with their original location. “We couldn’t figure out where the house was,” recalls Sarah LloydDurrant, who was the museum’s digital access officer. “It was named as Tregavethan Manor, which didn’t help. But our clever volunteer did some research, and discovered Causilgey, which looked very similar to the house in the pictures. It had been sold recently, and we were able to arrange a meeting with the new owner and visit the property. It was amazing to walk in the footsteps of pioneering women who put on a pair of boots to muck out horses and saw logs, and gained a freedom they had probably never felt before. “Most people associate Land Girls with the Second World War, partly because there aren’t that many images portraying the lives of those in the first. We think Jordan was trying to compile a booklet to promote the Land Army; these are snapshots in time of a group of young women joining up, from the first photo in their civvy gear with suitcases to the last, taken from the same position, but in uniform. It’s a lovely document of the lives of these women, whose names are written on Jordan’s original contact print.” The stout granite walls remain, as does the lone oak which once played host to Land Girls on a break. But inside, the house couldn’t be more

different. The Garden Suite, with an American queen-size bed and green silk counterpane, dormitory, is unrecognisable as the former dormitory with its twin row of camp beds. The dairy is a breakfast room, although it still bears some of the blue and white tiles – possibly Delft – featured in the glass plate from a century ago. Indeed, says Sarah, “Seeing them enabled us to see that we’d developed the image the wrong way round.” Even the view has changed, with the Royal Cornwall Hospital now breaking the line of the horizon. “I told one guest it was Treliske Castle – he believed me,” laughs Brenda Weekley, who runs the B&B with her partner, Robin Spence. They are an entertaining pair, she a fun-loving Floridian, he a Scot with a way in the kitchen. They met in 1989 at a Hallowe’en party in Pensacola; together, they visited Cornwall, fell in love with the county and vowed to relocate. Not wishing to tie themselves down by buying a home, the couple set out in search of a landlord who would allow them to fulfil Brenda’s dream of running a B&B from a rental property. “We love to travel and we like travellers,” says Brenda. “We also like to entertain, to cook and to eat.” They engaged a property manager, who found Causilgey: “We walked in, and the romance began. It felt like home – a match made in heaven.” The interior now bears their stamp: the quirky VW campervan sliced in half and converted into a bar (well stocked with Tarquin’s gin); colourful artwork in every room by Massachusetts painter Domingo (George Benson is a big fan, apparently); and individual touches gleaned from auction houses, including a Polynesian chandelier in the “Palm Parlour”. Robin and Brenda have renovated historic homes before, and have a keen eye for detail; that’s not to say the house doesn’t have its modern touches, however. Robin is mein host, happiest in the well-appointed kitchen, and guests can enjoy a

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ABOVE: THE SLEEPING QUARTERS FOR THE WOMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LAND ARMY, WITH RULES AND A TIMETABLE PINNED TO THE WALL ABOVE THE WASHSTAND

THE COOL ROOM, WITH FULL MILK PANS ON SLATE WORK SURFACES, A WOODEN CENTRAL TABLE WITH FRESHLY-MADE BUTTER, AND EGGS PLACED BY THE WINDOW. THIS IS THE PRESENT DAY BREAKFAST ROOM (FAR LEFT). CORNWALL TODAY

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RIGHT: THREE MEMBERS OF THE WOMEN’S LAND ARMY RELAX ON A TREE BRANCH AFTER THEIR PASSING OUT PARADE. BELOW, CENTRE: WOMEN’S LAND ARMY MEMBERS IN ‘DAIRY’ UNIFORM, WITH ALFRED MARTIN, OWNER OF TREGAVETHAN FARM, AND HIS WIFE (FAR LEFT). BELOW: A VW CAMPERVAN NOW FORMS A QUIRKY FOCAL POINT IN CAUSILGEY MANOR’S LIVING QUARTERS

ten-course dinner by arrangement. The story has also united neighbours. Jennie Thomas, née Tinney, first saw one of the photographs courtesy of her grandmother, Kate Northey, who features in it. “My family has farmed in Tregavethan since 1840 – six generations, including my brother,” she explains. “I tend to be the family archivist, and when my great-aunt Olive died, she left hundreds of photographs. This one was captioned ‘Tregavethan Cheese School’, but I had no idea where that was. In fact, we live less than a mile away.” She thinks the women were learning to make a Cheddar-type cheese, quick and simple to produce in large quantities, as part of the war effort. Standing in the former dairy, she says: “We’re so lucky to be able to visit these places, and be where she was.”

The Royal Cornwall Museum’s image archive is constantly being updated. To see a full range of images, including underground mine shots and Cornwall’s towns and villages from yesteryear, visit www.imagearchive.royalcornwallmuseum.org.uk Do you know someone who appears in these images? If so, email Karen.bell@royalcornwallmuseum.org.uk Causilgey Manor B&B will feature on the Channel 4 programme Four In A Bed, with Robin & Brenda’s episodes running from February 19 for five days. The daytime series pits B&B owners against each other, competing to be crowned best value for money each week. Missed it? Catch up at www.channel4.com

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aving trouble sleeping? Look at your bedroom. A good night’s sleep needs the right setting, and that means a clean, peaceful and welcoming room. Many of us are unknowingly sleeping (or not) in a bedroom that’s simply not fit for purpose. Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to transform your den into a space that’s conducive to a restful night.

TRY THESE TOP TIPS:

► Your bed is by far the most significant element of a good night’s

rest. You should select the best mattress for you, offering the correct support and comfort for your weight and build. If someone else is going to be sharing the bed, spend extra time finding one that’s mutually comfortable. Consider both the mattress and the base – make sure they work well together. And bear in mind that most beds should be replaced after around seven years. ► Paying attention to bedding hygiene reduces increased waking from health problems such as allergies and asthma. Waking up feeling un-refreshed with a stiff neck or shoulder ache could also be a sign your pillow isn’t supporting you in the way it should. Change duvets after five years; pillows should be replaced every two to three years and washed every three months. ► Make your room completely dark at bedtime. This can be achieved with a blackout blind or curtains, an additional window dressing or even an eye mask. ► Maintain an ambient temperature in your room. If you’re too hot or too cold, you won’t sleep soundly. A cool temperature of around 16 to 18°C is ideal.

► De-clutter and create a space that’s clean, neat and simple. Simply ► ► ► ► ► ►

relocating the laundry basket, stacking up some books or blitzing your bedside table can make a real difference. Make your bedroom a no-tech zone. That includes TVs and computers, which will urge you to switch on when you can’t drift off, leading in turn to even more disturbed sleep. LED displays are particularly troublesome, emitting blue light that interferes with the body’s natural rhythm. Switch off your mobile phone or tablet and adjust alarm clocks with a digital display. Avoid treating your bedroom like an extension of the rest of your house. Don’t use it for work, watching TV, eating, and even talking on the phone. Save the bedroom for sleep and sex. Add special touches which will help you feel more connected and peaceful. Family photographs, plants, flowers and ornaments will create a room that’s pleasant and relaxing. Avoid using certain colours when decorating. Bright reds, yellows and oranges are jarring, while browns and whites are boring and drab. Choose soft, muted tones to make you feel calm. Certain smells can affect your mood, leaving you more calm and relaxed. Invest in some essential oils to help you drift off – lavender and geranium are naturally calming. (Remember, these should not be used in pregnancy or children’s rooms).

The Sleep Council is an impartial advisory organisation raising the awareness of the importance of a good night’s sleep to health and wellbeing. It is part of the National Bed Federation, the trade association for British bed manufacturers. For more detailed advice, visit sleepcouncil.org.uk

BELOW: BOUTIQUE SILK DUVET BY THE FINE BEDDING COMPANY

www.finebedding.co.uk

MARCH IS NATIONAL BED MONTH, AND THE PERFECT TIME TO CONSIDER YOUR NIGHT-TIME ROUTINE

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ask

a designer

FRESHEN UP YOUR HOME FOR SPRING Words by Elaine Skinner, design director of Camellia Interiors

pring has almost sprung, so it’s the perfect time to refresh your property. If you’re thinking of selling your home (and statistically, the period between February and May is the hottest time for buyer searches) or looking to maximise the rental price of your holiday let, redecorating should be high on your agenda.

► Add pops of colour. If your rooms have taken a lot of wear and tear, they will need repainting. A property can be given a radical makeover with even a simple fresh coat of paint – but 1970s’ magnolia is not the answer. Why not incorporate splashes of paint colour in the various rooms of your home, to give it some personality? Opt for the new neutrals (blush, silver grey or pale blue) to give your home character and make it memorable for the right reasons. ► Move or change your furniture. Bulky items could be making the rooms feel cramped, so consider replacing them with smaller pieces. I instinctively rearrange pieces in rooms to make the flow much better. My family usually laugh at me, but it makes a huge difference and has an instant effect on making the space relaxing and more harmonious. ► Sofa, so good! If it’s tatty and past its best, replacing your sofa will make a huge difference to your living room. Be bold and pick a vibrant colour or print that will make you smile. Make sure it’s well-made and the fabric is durable with a high rub count. ► Update your cushions. A vibrant cushion can transform 86

an entire room’s decor and deliver a bold colour statement. Updating your cushions is the easiest way to update your home for spring. Cushions require the least commitment to a new look and if you change your mind on your new style, simply replace the covers! ► Let the light in. Make sure your windows are properly dressed with blinds or curtains, as naked windows or heavy drapes make a place feel impersonal and run down. Buy cheap ones if necessary, but remember that if you do invest in custom-made curtains, you can take them with you or sell them to the buyer. ► Go for maximum impact. The kitchen is the most valuable room in a house, worth the most per square foot and can make the difference when buyers are unsure. Repainting or replacing the kitchen cabinet doors is very effective and relatively cheap to do. ► Bring the garden inside. There’s one easy way to welcome spring. Plants and flowers bring colour, life and light to a room and also smell wonderful, as does that fresh fruit bowl on your kitchen counter. Next month: take a look at the outside of your property. 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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LEFT: KNAUTIA MACEDONICA BELOW: ANIGOZANTHOS

RESPONSIBLE PLANTS Words by Dan Grigson, notesfromacornishgarden.co.uk

y garden has coped rather well living in a wet, windy cloud this winter. The lawns are only lightly squelchy, and it is blessedly sheltered in spots. The attractive 10ft trampoline hasn’t blown away, not even once. Things have kept growing too. The knautia macedonica has pushed up pinky red pin cushions all winter, and my Australian anigozanthos (kangaroo paw) has sat steadfast, looking a picture of health despite the damp and air temperatures reaching -4˚C. But the cold monsoon of the Cornish winter is over, and I don’t know about you, but I am very pleased to be back in the garden. Soon, it will be time to hit the garden centres again – full of good-value little pots of herbaceous magic. I get carried away every year and always end up buying too much, because I visit just about every garden centre I know, repeatedly, throughout the year. I still have over 40 plants waiting to be assigned from last year’s over-zealous excursions, so this year I have decided to exercise a little more control. We all buy what we buy for any number of reasons, but I speculate that most people don’t divvy up their plant choices based on responsibility! No one walks into a nursery and asks for a ‘responsible’ plant for their patio, or shouts across the bedding: “Here, Mabel, does this petunia look responsible to you?” When planning our move to Cornwall, my wife Emma and I had idea that if we shared responsibilities – like getting the

children ready for school and so on – this would help with the smooth running of the home. It turns out, as I’m sure many of you had already guessed, that this was not the case. It felt disjointed, like the proverbial “too many chefs in the kitchen”. It left us both feeling like something was amiss. We had lost the responsibility, accountability and clear lines that gave us a sense of control and clarity. So it came as a relief when we finally divided up our jobs. In a funny way, I think we can apply the same idea to the garden. Consider the list of jobs to be done; if we clarify each plant’s responsibility in the garden, it would go a long way to helping us make better, more informed choices – not just on this year’s spring splurge, but in the way we understand the garden as a whole. To help you find what your plants are responsible for, here’s a simple list: Evergreen structure • Repeat planting Summer show-stoppers • Spring interest Summer interest • Winter interest • Colour Need more of it • Need less of it And if in doubt, remember one thing: Mother Nature nearly always repeats plants in groups and so should you. Dan Grigson is a professional gardener based in Manaccan. www.notesfromacornishgarden.co.uk

Learn the craft of creative garden design from award-winning exponent Andy McIndo, who will give the Cornwall Garden Society’s March lectures. Andy has more than 40 years’ experience in retail and production horticulture, and as managing director at Hilliers Nursery was responsible for 25 consecutive gold medal-winning exhibits at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. His special interests include hardy shrubs, trees, herbaceous perennials, flower bulbs

and garden design, and he has authored books on all of these subjects. The Creative Shrub Garden will be his subject on Tuesday, March 13 at 7.30pm at the Alverton in Truro, whilst Designing and Planting a Small Garden will be his focus on Wednesday, March 14 at 2.30pm at the Penventon Park Hotel in Redruth. For further information, visit www.cornwallgardensociety.org.uk

CORNWALL TODAY

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HOW CORNISHMAN PD WILLIAMS HELPED TO ESTABLISH THE DUTCH DAFFODIL INDUSTRY Words by Jean Carr

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affodil breeder Percival Dacres Williams was feted by his horticultural contemporaries as Cornwall’s Daffodil King. In the fields surrounding his home at Lanarth, St Keverne, on the Lizard peninsula, he perfected more than 500 registered new varieties and thousands of daffodil seedlings before his death in 1935. These were eagerly snapped up by wealthy collectors and bulb merchants from Holland and America, and his large cupped ‘Carlton’ is still the most widely sold daffodil of all time. Dutch daffodil merchant Matthew Zandbergen (1903-1990) regarded PD, as he was affectionately known, as “the world’s most successful breeder of his time”, while bulb importer John Scheepers, director of the Horticultural Society of New York, planted a trial collection of 64 daffodil varieties from PD in 1927 and promised: “I shall leave no stone unturned … to advance in this country the new craze for finer daffodils.” He was as good as his word. Three years later, Mrs Paul Davis of Greywoods, Nashville, Tennessee, ordered 79 different varieties to be shipped by parcel post via Plymouth, New York and Washington. The total bill was £736, equivalent to around £33,600 today, requested by PD to be paid in gold. Just how important PD’s daffodils were – and still are – to the Dutch and American daffodil market is only now being documented with the unpacking of long-neglected boxes stored in Lanarth’s attics during the Second World War when the house was requisitioned for evacuees. These contain letters, telegrams, invoices, bulb catalogues, stock and order books, photographs and evocative botanical paintings by visiting artists commissioned by PD to record his latest Cornish-bred daffodils in full bloom. Some of these varieties have disappeared from current bulb

To ﬁnd gardens to visit this month, go to:

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Inset: PD WILLIAMS Top left and above: OZAN catalogues, but thrive anonymously in gardens worldwide. A tantalising selection from the Lanarth archive can be seen at a free exhibition, Cornwall’s Daffodil Gold Rush, in Falmouth in March. The display traces how daffodil fever spread in the late 19th century from the Isles of Scilly to mainland Cornwall, creating a golden harvest from West Penwith to the banks of the Fal estuary and steep slopes of the Tamar Valley. PD was well placed to capitalise on this trend. He was 26 when he inherited Lanarth in 1891 from his father, George Williams of Scorrier, descendant of mining tycoon John Williams. PD’s cousin was JC Williams, who inherited Caerhays in 1880 when he was just 18, and is best known for the rhododendrons he planted on his estate. As wealthy landowners, the cousins used their capital, contacts and time to travel at home and abroad to transform their horticultural passions into high-profit ventures. They founded the Cornwall Daffodil Spring Show in 1897 to showcase their own commercial daffodils and those of other local growers. In 1903 P.D was appointed High Sheriff of Cornwall; the Census of England and Wales in April 1911 records a substantial household at Lanarth which included three

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children, a Swiss governess, eight domestic servants and visitors including three bulb and seed merchants. During the 1920s and 1930s, fortunes were made – and lost – by the post-war demand for daffodil flowers, new varieties and a growing international market for bulbs. PD’s handwritten invoice to Mrs Paul Davis prices just one Brunswick daffodil bulb at £10, or £457 today, and one Plantagenet bulb at £20 or (£914). PD was noted as “having an intuitive, almost mystical approach to breeding”. He tucked a rabbit’s tail in the top pocket of his jacket as an aid to pollinating his daffodil flowers. His Cornish-bred bulbs were shipped to Europe, America, New Zealand and Australia. His flower displays consistently won top awards at the Royal Horticultural Shows and internationally. He was visited at Lanarth by wealthy American daffodil collectors such as Mr and Mrs Kenyon L Reynolds from Pasadena, California, so eager to tour “the land of daffodils” they brought their own car with them on the SS President Harding, which docked at Plymouth. PD was mobbed by Dutch bulb growers at the London RHS shows, and just months before he died in 1935 he gave a “thrilling lecture” on British Daffodils – Past and Present at the International Daffodil Conference. During the Second World War, Cornwall’s daffodils were grubbed up, the fields used for growing food, and the Lanarth bulb business never really recovered. PD’s son Michael continued to supply bulbs, including St Keverne, a new

daffodil he registered and still popular in Cornwall’s daffodil industry today. Michael did not marry and left Lanarth to his godson Paul Tylor, whose wife Sue is collating the attic finds. The correspondence, invoices and catalogues chronicle the lucrative Dutch and American business links. Matthew Zandbergen, PD’s Dutch agent, originally visited Lanarth in the early 1920s as an interpreter for his father Gerrit, a bulb merchant from Sassenheim. Matthew later recalled: “We visited Lanarth frequently during flowering time and introduced his new varieties to growers in Holland. We exhibited his flowers in Dutch shows and forced some 200 new varieties of his seedlings every year. Many were bought by Dutch growers at fabulous prices to be tested in Holland, the best to be resold back to the English bulb market. “Our regular visits were both interesting and educational as the famous breeders … used to meet there to discuss aspects of their favourite flowers.” It is estimated that over ten years, some 2,000 different daffodil seedlings from Lanarth were transferred to Holland to be tested. Discussions on the merits of PD’s seedlings took place over lunch or dinner at Lanarth and “so fast and furious would be the chatter” that what with interpreting Matthew would often miss the main course, scrounging what he could at the end of the meal. In the Lanarth Archive is a gold Gouden Medaille awarded to PD in April 1931 at the Haarlem Daffodil Show, and a graphic black and white photograph of the prizewinning Lanarth daffodils. Four years earlier, in March 1927, a wooden box of Lanarth cut daffodils had been shipped from Plymouth to New York

Left: DAMSON PAINTED BY EA BOWLES IN 1930 Above: GOUDEN MEDAILLE CERTIFICATE Right: LENDRA (LEFT) AND CARTHILLIAN PAINTED BY EA BOWLES IN 1935

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on the White Star liner RMS Olympic, consigned to the care of the Chief Steward in the cool room. The flowers were delivered to the 522 Fifth Avenue offices of John T Scheepers, whose Beauty From Bulbs catalogue was the premier source for imported flower bulbs in the USA. Scheepers’ telegram to PD confirmed: “Arrived splendid condition, awarded gold medal” at the Horticultural Society of New York spring flower show. PD commissioned fashionable botanical artists Frank Galsworthy and EA Bowles to record some of his daffodils. The Lanarth Visitors’ Book records they both stayed between March 25 and 31, 1927, and added doodles and sketches to their signatures. Some of the paintings found at Lanarth include one that finally revealed the name of a daffodil no longer listed in bulb catalogues, but growing at Ince Castle, Saltash – and no doubt anonymously elsewhere in Cornwall and the world. Castle owner Lady Alice Boyd has a collection of named heritage and miniature daffodils, but for years had sought the origin and name of this mystery daffodil which fills the borders of her drive each spring. Sue Tylor explains: “Donald Duncan, the heritage daffodil specialist at Poolewe, in the north-west Highlands of Scotland, suggested it might be one of PD’s, so Lady Boyd brought them to Lanarth. I didn’t recognise them at all. We set off up into the woods to see if they existed in the wild and could not find anything remotely similar. Then I remembered the boxes of old botanical watercolours in the very top rooms. “Botanical paintings are done precisely to scale, and one of Frank Galsworthy’s daffodils seemed to match the colour, shape and measurements of the Ince Castle flower. We stuck

the daffodils Lady Boyd had brought on to plain paper, in the same position as the painting, and measured them. The really long stem and beautiful flower with a greenish tinge matched the Lanarth daffodil painting of Ozan. It was listed in PD’s stock book as registered in 1916, and was in the 1933 RHS Classified List of Daffodil Names. It appears to have gone out of fashion and been dropped by bulb catalogues.” PD’s rediscovered Ozan, together with other Lanarth-bred daffodils, can be seen in March at the Falmouth Spring Flower Show at the Princess Pavilion, Gyllyngdune Gardens. Show president Ron Scamp, himself a renowned daffodil breeder who has registered 450 new Cornish-bred varieties, says: “Once I have enough stock, I will include Ozan in our bulb catalogue. PD’s contribution to the daffodil world is unrivalled; his bulbs and seedlings helped establish the Dutch daffodil industry and are still grown all over the world. To discover that his personal papers and the botanical paintings still exist is thrilling, and will add enormously to our Cornish daffodil history.”

Information ► Cornwall’s Daffodil Gold Rush runs from March 2 to

31, 10am to 5pm (closed Sundays), in the foyer of the Municipal Buildings, The Moor, Falmouth, TR11 2RT. Entry is free. Call 01326 315559. ► The 2018 Falmouth Spring Flower Show takes place on March 24 and 25 at the Princess Pavilion, Gyllyngdune Gardens, Falmouth TR11 4AR. Call 01326 211222 and see FSFS Facebook for updates.

Below: AN ENTRY FROM THE VISITORS’ BOOK, APRIL 4, 1930 Below: PD WILLIAMS Right: NARCISSUS PORTHILLY BY FRANK GALSWORTHY, MARCH 27, 1927

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property & BUSINESS

TRURO’S BEST-KEPT SECRET

(page 94)

MOVING STORY: FROM LONDON TO BUDE THE OUTSIDER’S GUIDE TO MOVING WITH KIDS ROHRS & ROWE

(page 96)

(page 98)

(page 100)

T H E A G E N T ’ S V I E W : J O H N B R AY A CLEAR VISION FOR BUSINESS

(page 102) (page 104)

CORNWALL TODAY

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SUPERIOR APARTMENT LIVING WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE CITY CENTRE

Words by Kirstie Newton

nyone who drives through Truro regularly will be familiar with Tregolls Road, the busy artery connecting traffic from Bodmin and St Austell with Falmouth and Redruth. Just a stone’s throw away sits the Hideaway – apartment living within walking distance of the city centre and a large park, yet in leafy isolation. There are few opportunities like this in Truro, and you could quite easily pass it by, as its name suggests. The Hideaway was once the site of Tremorvah House, a gloriously Gothic Victorian manor house built in 1845 by Sir Philip Prothero Smith, four times former Mayor of Truro and Under-Sheriff of Cornwall. Following his death, his widow sold the house to ship owner Richard Chellew, whose estate passed to the Diocese of Truro in 1929. The building was latterly known as the headquarters of Cornish Mutual Services, and was acquired by a consortium of local hoteliers, owners of the adjacent Alverton and the Greenbank in Falmouth. Sadly, the house had fallen into disrepair and was considered beyond development, so it was pulled

down. The plot came onto the market complete with planning permission and an architectural design for 14 apartments, which is how Paul and Helen Stephens bought it in December 2016. Helen is creative director of Absolute, specialists in graphic design, branding and interiors. “Paul used to develop, but took a break after the recession and worked with Wetherspoons for us,” she says. “He was getting itchy feet and looking for a property to develop when this came up. He went to see it and phoned me straight away. We didn’t even know it was there. Having bought it, we started work pretty much the next day, digging out the groundworks for the basement car parking.” The Hideaway confirmed an under-one-roof approach already tested by Saltwater, nine coastal apartments in Newquay’s Pentire district. Absolute was able to manage all aspects of the development, from build and interior design to branding and marketing. Accessed by a private tree-lined driveway, each apartment features bespoke fitted Omega kitchens, spacious open-plan living,

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contemporary Roca bathrooms and en-suites, and private terraces and balconies overlooking landscaped gardens. “The Hideaway is not traditionally Cornish, not coastal,” Helen explains. “I wanted it to feel like a city dwelling but a homely, welcoming environment. We did a lot of research from the beginning on what would add value, from Britishmade Omega kitchens right down to the smallest details, like door handles.” Passing footfall was never an option for advertising the Hideaway, so a buzz was created by an enigmatic campaign using leaflets and bus stop posters, teasing: “It’s Truro’s best-kept secret – but not for long!” This certainly seemed to work: two apartments sold off-plan, with a penthouse going even before estate agents had been instructed; three more went into negotiation following the launch party at the end of January, with viewings booking left, right and centre. “The launch was quite an emotional day for us,” says Helen. “I was worried no one would come, but

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we were run off our feet and had some amazing comments. Some people came just out of curiosity, but others came with a view to buy, which was fantastic.” If you fancy a slice of the Hideaway, don’t hang about. The apartments are due to be ready for occupation by the beginning of March. Prices range from £368,500 to £785,000, via two estate agents: Simon Milnes in Truro and David Balls of Newquay. Jonathan Mundy, director of Simon Milnes, says: “There is nothing else in Truro like this. It’s a step up, a class act. The location is private and tranquil, the build design is high end with no cut-backs. There’s plenty of apartment living in Truro, but this is special.” And look out for more development projects under the Absolute banner. “Working together has definitely made us look at joined-up thinking – and we’re still married at the end of it,” laughs Helen. “Having one team with a cohesive outlook means quicker completions, perfectly matched interiors and marketing dovetailed to fit the brand and spread the word. It has definitely worked on these two developments – with Saltwater, 70% of the apartments had sold before we’d even set foot on site, largely thanks to our marketing campaign.”

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MOVING STORY

FROM LONDON TO GOOSEHAM Phiotographs by Kate Whitaker

Kate Whitaker Age: 38 Moved from:

Shepherdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bush, London Moved to: Gooseham, near Bude Profession: Photographer

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I moved to Cornwall four years ago, having lived in London for 14 years. I now live near Bude, with my husband Michael, our three-year-old son Johnny, and our mischievous terrier Badger. I’m from Dorset originally, and studied BA Photography at The Arts Institute in Bournemouth. I started out as an assistant in interiors, but soon fell into food photography when a full-time job came up. I’d always enjoyed cooking at home but I discovered there was so much more to learn … and eat! I regularly shoot for magazines including Delicious, Jamie, Waitrose and Good Housekeeping. I’ve shot more than 30 cookbooks, product packaging for M&S and now, I’m glad to say, many Cornish clients too. Unlike advertising, when food can take hours to assemble and tweak, editorial work is far more relaxed and fluid. The aim is to be inspiring without looking unachievable, and everything is cooked fresh in-house and eaten. Don’t ask how much weight I’ve put on over the years. Shooting food has its challenges. Christmas always comes in August, which means every oven on and up high – without fail in the middle of a heatwave. You have to shoot quickly or melted cheese congeals, chicken skin wrinkles and ice cream melts. It all looks best when fresh. Some dishes taste great but lack colour, which is why you see them garnished with fresh herbs or greens, whereas salads are instantly pretty, with lots of colours and shapes.

never actually want to leave Cornwall. We are a bit out in the sticks here but you’d be amazed what you find – there’s a hive of creative activity. As a teenager, I was always experimenting with food, I’m not the best at following recipes, so we usually end up with adaptation. I’m exposed to wonderful recipes all the time, but I still get stuck in a rut like anyone. We don’t eat rubbish or premade stuff; I’ll always cook from scratch, and very simply. As I learned from Mitch Tonks, simple can be beautiful. That really stuck with me. www.katewhitaker.co.uk

Mike and I were looking to buy a house in London, but it was looking like big house, big mortgage – getting on the treadmill. So without really knowing how to make it work, we decided to buy where we actually wanted to live. My parents had moved to Altarnun just before I moved to London; my little sister moved with them and married a Cornishman. So it became “home”, and I just loved it, especially the area north of Bude. We just need to ship my other sister and brother here for the clan to be complete. We looked online for properties in the area near the coast with a decent-sized garden. This was the only place we viewed. It’s in Gooseham – near Morwenstow, where the eccentric Reverend Hawker lived, and just a valley or two away from the border with Devon at Marsland. For the first year, we continued to live and work in London, renting the barn out to friends. Then I shot Fifteen Cornwall for Delicious magazine, and that was the catalyst for more work and our relocation in 2013. My studio is a converted garage. In the absence of the prop houses you find in the city, I’ve built up my own, ever expanding, collection of props sourced from antique markets, charity shops and car boot sales – Bude car boot throughout the summer is brilliant. Trends are shifting towards modern and handmade ceramics, so I’m lucky to have super-talented potter Rebecca Proctor living locally. It couldn’t be a greater contrast to where we were living, in the middle of Shepherd’s Bush. I loved London. I had a great time there. But I’m a country girl at heart. I was always looking for the opportunity to move out, and I’ve never looked back. move out and I’ve never looked back. I’m still up in London quite a bit so I get my fix of city life but, although I enjoy it when I get there, I

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G E T A L I F E I N N O R T H C O R N WA L L

illsborough Farm is a magnificent cliff-top property north of Boscastle, a picturesque grade two-listed former farmstead comprising a principal residence plus two very high-quality letting properties, all enjoying amazing views over the cliffs, coastline and surrounding countryside. Quite simply, the property provides a dream scenario of an exquisite and characterful coastal home with income opportunities, all offered in exceptionally good order. The key ingredient is the location, which is what makes this such a rare and special place to live. The four-bedroomed Old Farmhouse has charm aplenty, and potential for B&B income; the Boathouse is a gorgeous detached, self-contained cottage annexe with floor-to-ceiling glazing on its seaward elevation, while the Hayloft is a fabulous example of a traditional detached Cornish stone barn conversion, with potential as an excellent and lucrative holiday let. Hillsborough Farm, near Boscastle. £975,000. All enquiries to Rohrs & Rowe,

www.RohrsAndRowe.co.uk

15/02/2018 13:48:14

The

outsider’s Guide to... MOVING WITH KIDS

Words by Amy Sheppard, portrait by Amy Cassidy

hen I was eight, my family moved from the southeast to a little village in Cornwall. I’ve now got two boys of my own and ten months ago, we did the same thing when the kids were nine and seven. So I’ve done it from both sides – I’ve moved to Cornwall as a child and as a parent, and I can tell you: it’s much easier as a child. As a parent, I’ve spent the past year trying to analyse my children’s looks and moods, to detect even the slightest whiff of unhappiness or regret in their little faces. It became a mantra. “Are you OK? Are you sure?” A psychologist would no doubt tell me my incessant enquiries may have projected feelings of unease that weren’t there to begin with! When we first made the decision to move to Cornwall, my children were my main concern. I worried about whether they’d find new friends, whether they’d cope with losing the old ones. Would they find it too isolating, boring? I spent hours trying to consider the potential needs of teenagers who are currently only small children. Picturing a life you’ve not yet lived is virtually impossible. Not only that, it clouds your judgement and makes it difficult to make rational

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decisions about your real life. So why did deciding to move to Cornwall after having kids make it harder? Schools, for one thing. Have you ever tried to get your kids into a UK school midway through primary? If you have, you’ll know that there are hardly any places. You will almost certainly be turned down on your first application. I managed to get both of my children into the village school on appeal. Thankfully, the area I live in is used to incomers, and the head teacher was incredibly supportive. Three weeks before we moved, I had a school place for just one of my children, we didn’t have a completion date for the house we were buying and we were living temporarily in a tiny, damp bungalow with most of our belongings in storage. One by one, through luck rather than judgement, the pieces began to fall into place. The day we finally got into the car with two children, two cats and a whole lot of bedding was one filled with relief. The kids? They were absolutely fine.

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Based on my experience, here are some tips: ► Children’s ‘things.’ Their toys, books, keepsakes, even

For them, it was just a wonderful adventure. In photos taken just before we moved, I look terrible. The stress was intense. I wish I’d know then what I know now: that it was all going to be OK. It’s always a gamble when you change the course of your children’s life. I don’t feel that much different to when I was 17 – a little bit wiser, maybe, but not much more qualified to make big life decisions. Nobody knows what the future holds. All I had was an overwhelming desire to give our children adventure and excitement, and we felt that Cornwall was our opportunity to do this. I honestly feel that wherever you are or whatever you do, if you are focused on their needs you can’t go far wrong. My biggest fear was my children turning around to me, six months after moving, and saying: “Why did you do this to us?” As it is, we’ve been here for ten months and they’ve never been happier. Follow Amy’s Cornish adventure on Instagram

@welliesandwetsuits

►

posters, are really important to them, far more than I realised. It goes beyond material things. It’s what makes their rooms and their lives safe and familiar. It is often the most unlikely objects. Let them help you pack and make sure they understand exactly where their things will be. We took our children to all the houses we viewed in Cornwall. They were old enough to understand that the house had to meet the needs of the whole family. Their input was important and made them feel part of the decision-making – even if their first-choice house was because the owner had a baby tortoise! We visited the school we hoped to get them into, about a month before we moved. It was a bit risky as neither of them had a place there. But it enabled the boys to picture where they’d be and meet some of the children. Give them something to focus on. We promised the children new pets when we moved. My eldest got guinea pigs and my youngest got some much longed-for fish. At a time when you can offer them few assurances about what their new lives will look like, this is a promise you can keep. Whether it’s bunk beds, a tree house or a cat, talk to them about it, research it with them and let them choose. It’s possible to get your child into a school with no places, but there are no guarantees. The head can extend the class size beyond 30 for junior-age children. For younger children, you can appeal. Appeal boards will take both practical and emotional considerations into account, so make sure you include everything. Attend the hearing if you possibly can, as you’ll have a final opportunity to get your point across.

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DAYMER BAY | TREBETHERICK | ROCK | GUIDE PRICE Â£1.5M AERIAL VIEW OF DAYMER BAY

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ST MABYN | NR WADEBRIDGE | GUIDE PRICE Â£825,000

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P R O P E R T Y TA L K Words by Josephine Ashby, sales director at John Bray & Partners

ith spring around the corner and Cornwall welcoming its first major influx of visitors this year, it’s a perfect time to put your property on the market. But are you going to choose the best agent, or simply one who talks the talk? It’s not a trivial question. Agents are not all the same, and you typically pay between 1% and 2% commission, which could add a cool £7,500 to £15,000 on a home selling for £750,000. In return, your agent must do more than simply compile a few details and hope for the best. As sellers move on average only once every eight years, so agents should help at every stage, from the first appraisal of a home to the day the removals men arrive. So begin by shortlisting three or four agents. Choose those with offices in your area and who sell homes like yours. Before selecting ‘the one’, ask each of them:

► HOW MANY LOCAL HOMES THEY HAVE SOLD RECENTLY?

Note how long it took them to sell and whether they cut the asking price before a buyer emerged. ► HOW CAN THEY CAN HELP YOU? Selling is stressful, especially at a time of changing personal circumstances such as divorce, family illness or a move into a school catchment area. Judge whether an agent has the professionalism and calm to minimise this pressure – or would they indulge in frenzied activity to add to it? ► HOW DO THEY FIND BUYERS? Do they have a ‘private list’ of people looking for homes like yours (the best agents will)? Ask if they accompany buyers to viewings and have a system for

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giving you their feedback. Check whether they work evenings and weekends if buyers are only available then, and ask their recommendation as to when photographs should be taken to show off your home at its best. ► HOW WILL THEY MARKET YOUR HOME? Over 90% of property searches start online, so ask how many people visit each agent’s website, what property portals they advertise on, and whether they use social media. Check how many brochures they would print and where they would go. And what about advertising in local papers and publications such as Cornwall Today? ► WHAT ASKING PRICE DO THEY RECOMMEND AND WHAT IS THEIR COMMISSION? Most homes sell for about 95% of the asking price in today’s market, but do remember that an experienced agent with a proven track record might obtain a higher price and get a quicker sale than a bullish agent who starts high and doesn’t chase up buyers. ► FINALLY, WHAT WILL THEY DO IF YOUR HOME DOESN’T SELL QUICKLY? Good agents will think outside the box: they may suggest presenting the house differently, re-photographing, or perhaps letting your home for a short period to provide extra income until a sale goes through.

If this sounds like a job interview … well, in a way, it is. You are in charge of selecting the best person to sell the biggest asset you have, and paying them to do it. Good luck!

Got a property question? Contact Josephine Ashby direct at sales@johnbray.co.uk, visit www.johnbray.co.uk or ﬁnd us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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clearvision

a C

A NEW ASSISTIVE AID FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE Words by Lilly Moore

an you imagine the frustration of opening the wrong tin and potentially wasting perishable food? For visually impaired people, this is a real problem, and a Falmouth entrepreneur has invented a threedimensional label that she hopes will take off. Conceived by Falmouth University graduate Hannah Scoones, Band-its act like elastic bands, stretching around bottles, cans or aerosols. Raised shapes – triangles, squares, lines and domes – around the side of the band enable the user to recognise the everyday household items they have banded, and the items are brightly coloured in neon yellow, red, green, orange and blue, making them stylish as well as easily identifiable. An indented line on one side lines up with a nozzle, so the user can feel which way to spray a substance – such as hair spray or furniture polish – without causing damage or harm. Made from silicone, Band-its offer good grip and are extremely tactile: soft and squishy, rolling them out in your hands can be therapeutic; and sustainable, easily cleaned in a dishwasher or with regular soap and water. Hannah, 26, graduated from the Sustainable Product Design course in 2014, and was driven by an interest in creating environmentally friendly items. Having started out

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designing furniture, she discovered a passion making small essential products; Band-its developed from her final-year project. “I believe that people should be enabled to live as independently as possible, and that good design can help bring that about,” she says. However, Hannah also believes that functionality should not come at the expense of attractive design. In her second year, she visited a mobility shop for research purposes and was surprised by what she found. “The products were unlike anything you see in a shop on the high street,” she explains. “They were practical but not especially desirable, due to their bland aesthetic. I was keen to prove that assistive aids didn’t need to be ugly. “Roger Coleman, from the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design at the Royal College of Art, asked his neighbour, who had multiple sclerosis, what she most wanted from a new kitchen to be designed around her needs. Her answer: ‘I want the neighbours to be jealous!’ This story showed him, and me, how important it is that we design for the whole person and not just to meet a functional need. Aesthetics and emotional attachments to objects are important for everyone.” Band-its spent three years in development,

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business news

with Hannah enlisting volunteer testers including members of Blind At Sea, the Mylor-based charity providing waterbased activities for visually impaired people. With the help of a business mentor guiding her through a crowdfunding campaign, Hannah raised £5,000 towards her business launch in April 2016. She was subsequently named as one of Cornwall’s 30 Under 30 young professional talents for that year. Business has since blossomed. In October 2017, Band-its were featured on the website of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), who recommended as an essential product for everyone to use. Online retail orders have grown; Band-its currently sell at ten in a pack for just over £15, with range expansion promised – bigger packs and sizes, different designs and styles.

Two sisters behind a pain-relieving bikini device invented for women with larger breasts braved TV’s most intimidating judging panel on the BBC show Dragon’s Den. Lucy Cox and Lerryn Ryall, of Illogan firm Halto, created fake weighted bikinis for male judges to experience what some women go through when choosing swimwear. “Of the hundreds of entrepreneurs who apply for the show, only a handful get one of the coveted 10-minute slots, with a few others settling for a couple of minutes under the banner of ‘side-show’,” said Lucy. “We needed to pull out all the stops. Peter Jones in a bikini would have been publicity gold; unfortunately, he refused point blank. Luckily Tej Lalvani stepped up and experienced the halter ache first hand, which was great entertainment all round.” Lucy and Lerryn were not funded by any of the four Dragons but received high praise and left the show with their heads held high.

www.bandituk.com

The Cornwall Business Show takes over the Royal Cornwall Showground near Wadebridge on Thursday, March 15. A record number of exhibitors will showcase the fantastic range of products and services on offer in the county. As well as engaging seminars, the show will provide free advice for business owners to help them develop and win new business through social media, as well as free headshot photography and snippet video interviews that can help gain additional profile and be shared across various media platforms. cornwallbusinessshow.co.uk/

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To view or request further information:

01326 270212

www.htiddy.co.uk

ST MAWES | ÂŁ895,000

Impeccably presented, quality refurbished and maintained detached 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom contemporary residence. Grandstand location enjoying spectacular views towards Percuil River, Summers Beach and Place. Within 400 metres of central village amenities, cafes and restaurants. Open plan living space with bespoke kitchen and full range of appliances. Accommodation in brief: Open Plan Quality Kitchen with Full Range of Appliances, Dining Room and Lounge. Master Bedroom with En Suite Bath / Shower Room. 3 further Double Bedrooms. Family Bathroom. Detached Workshop / Studio. Detached Garage. Landscaped Surrounding Gardens with Decked and Patio Areas. EPC - D.

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wellbeing

HEAL ME: ONE WOMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S JOURNEY

(page 108)

NOURISH: SPRING-CLEAN YOURSELF MINDFUL MOMENTS: ART CLASSES FA S H I O N W I T H R O O THE EXTRA MILE

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(page 116)

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ONE WOMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S JOURNEY TO DIAGNOSE AND TREAT CHRONIC PAIN, WITH THERAPIES BOTH CONVENTIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE Words by Julia Buckley, photographs by Elena Ray

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he truth is, I never wanted to move back to Cornwall. I’d grown up on the north coast, but once I moved away for university and work, I decided I was a city slicker. I remember coming home for a weekend while I was working in London. We went to St Ives – to the beach and the Tate, and then a café. I ordered a coffee and it took so long to arrive I almost went into meltdown. I decided there and then I would never come home. I was too busy for Cornwall. And then I developed chronic pain. It was an accident at work in 2012 that did it. I was typing away one day when I reached for a cup of coffee. The theory is – because nobody has ever known for sure – that a tiny joint in my neck slipped out and crushed a nerve. Whatever it was, it changed everything. It felt like my neck had just gone under a lorry, and a bonfire had kindled under my shoulder blade. My right arm was on fire – a burning that billowed from top to bottom – and my armpit seemed to have had a carving knife rammed up it. I knew instantly that whatever had happened was life-changing. About one in 10 people who have an accident will develop chronic pain, where the nervous system gets hypersensitised, telling your brain you’re still in pain, even when your injury has healed. With an inferno raging in my arm, and doctors unable to do anything about it (the current treatment is to tell patients to “accept” and “manage” it), I couldn’t cook, clean or wash my hair. And as the weeks and dragged on, I realised

living alone in London wasn’t sustainable. That’s how I ended up moving back to Cornwall, to my childhood bedroom with its pink carpet and walls pockmarked with Blu Tack from my 1980s posters. It took a while to realise but, in a way, being back in Cornwall is what saved me. I couldn’t walk much to start with, but being driven to the beach – Polzeath and Daymer Bay were my favourites – reminded me that there was beauty in the world. When the pain got so bad that I wanted to scream, I could lie in the garden and listen to the chatter of the birds. If I was well enough to go out, sitting with a coffee in the sunny courtyard at Relish in Wadebridge meant everything to me. Cornwall made me happier, but it didn’t make me better. After two years following medical advice, I was ready to give up completely. I was at Boscastle one day, looking over the cliff at the sea churning beneath me, when I decided something had to give. So I went on holiday to LA – a last-ditch attempt to try and find some joy in my life – and something happened. I was housesitting for a friend in North Hollywood and booked a massage with a guy called Kevin. He said he was guided by angels – a claim so ridiculous that I laughed. Ninety minutes later, I walked out feeling better than I had in the past two years. My pain wasn’t gone, but my pain levels had plummeted. By the end of my stay in LA I’d seen Kevin six times and was working a couple of hours a day. It was such a seismic change

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– I’d been told by my doctors I’d never work again – that once I got home, I wanted to go further. If a guy with a Jesus tattoo on his bicep could do so much more, so much faster, than my doctors, I thought, surely there’s someone out there who can get me even further? I’d been a travel journalist before my accident, and had spent much of the two years since my injury reading up on the science of pain. Since pain is in the brain, not the body, all I needed was to psych myself out of my pain. I wanted to look at other cultures and traditions which use the mindbody connection to heal. At least, that’s what I told myself. Underneath, I was praying that someone would point their finger at me and magic me better. I went to five continents over the next two years, going off for a week or two, then months of recovery at home. Cornwall was my stabiliser throughout. I’d always lived for travel, feeling heartbroken when I had to come home from a trip; but now I found I was missing the cliffs and fields, desperate to come home. Living slowly, as you do with pain, I found myself slipping into the rhythm of the land. The slow hibernation as winter came around. The lambs born over Christmas, fattening up for Easter. The long summer evenings – they all began to mean something to me. My childhood cat

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was 20 now, her life winding down as I tried to restart mine. We unspooled together; she died just after I got home from Bali and another failed treatment. As the travels continued and the treatments got more extreme – because my life felt worthless to me, and it was worth trying anything – I missed Cornwall even more. In South Africa, I stood naked in a bucket of chicken blood, washing myself with the guts and rinsing my hair with gore, and calmed myself by thinking of the waves slapping on the cliffs at Polzeath. In Haiti, scaling a waterfall before a vodou exorcism, I thought of the coast path at Mawgan Porth. In Lourdes, bathing in freezing water at the famous grotto, I thought of Madron Well, where I’d gone to ask for healing, “clouties” or fairy ribbons hung from the trees above a tiny spring. In Brazil, I ached to go home. Going to Brazil was something I hadn’t wanted to do but had felt I had to, in order to leave no stone unturned. I was there for Kevin’s guru and Oprah’s favourite faith healer – a man called John of God. He could channel spirits, his followers said, like King Solomon and dead saints – spirits who could heal any illness. He did it by scraping people’s eyes with a knife or ramming medical clamps up their noses. Those of us who didn’t want that could simply meditate.

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I spent two weeks there, hating every minute. Every day I meditated, wishing I could go home. I despised everyone there, and cried myself to sleep every night. And then on the last day, one of John of God’s acolytes handed me a pot of white chrysanthemums mid-meditation, and said “Congratulations.” I got up at the end of the session and realised I was pain-free. It’s a cliché that you re-evaluate your life after something like this, but that’s what I did. I returned to work, but not to London. I wanted to stay in a place where leaving the office means getting into clean air, where a lunchtime walk takes me across farmland, where the working day ends with a walk on the beach. Having been snobbish about medical care in London, I found a consultant at Treliske – Stephen Adcock – who was leagues ahead of everyone else I’d seen in terms of his understanding of the mind-body connection. And when I got offered my dream job – travel editor at the Independent – I said I’d only do it if I could work from home. They said yes. My 18-year-old self would be horrified, but I chose Cornwall. Today I work overlooking the fields I grew up with. With a pot of white chrysanthemums beside my desk.

did you know? ► 28 million people in the UK live with a chronic pain condition

► 44% of Americans know someone who’s been addicted to prescription painkillers

► 24 million opioid prescriptions were written in 2016 on the NHS

► Three-quarters of the UK population think alternative therapy can be effective, despite lack of evidence

► Male doctors are twice as likely to ascribe female pain

to psychological causes, and half as likely to prescribe adequate pain relief ► Women with chronic pain have to see 12 doctors before they ﬁnd one who will adequately treat their pain ► Women with coronary heart disease receive better treatment if they present with symptoms more common to men – presenting naturally, they’re more likely to die ► Once a pain patient has been off work for two years, it’s unlikely they’ll ever return

Heal Me by Julia Buckley is out now, published by W&N (hardback £16.99, eBook £8.99).

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SPRING-CLEAN YOURSELF Words by Amanda Forster-Searle

t this time of year, many of us give our homes a spring clean, and spend more time tidying and planting in the garden. It’s also the ideal time to nourish your body by spring-cleaning from the inside. Here are some ways you can help your body to embrace the changes in the season.

Juices and smoothies

► Include cleansing smoothies and juices for breakfast.

These will help your gut, and are a great way to kickstart healthy habits for the fair-weather months. Try to stick to the 80/20 ratio for vegetables and fruit, to ensure you don’t load your body with excessive fruit sugar. ► Consuming raw vegetables is a great way to increase the quality of your nutrient intake because no vitamins are lost in cooking. Try snacking on cucumber and carrots, or spiralising courgette or sweet potato for a salad. The more colours of the rainbow you eat, the vaster the amount of essential nutrients you absorb. 112

► Try adding natural herbs and superfoods to boost their powerful health beneﬁts. Fresh mint leaves help to combat cramps, turmeric and black pepper reduce inﬂammation, ginger aids the digestive system, and a teaspoon of glutamine will support the lining of your gut. Other superfoods such as maca powder, spirulina, wheatgrass and matcha powder will pack in additional nutrients. ► The recipe featured here, from Natasha Corrett’s Honestly Healthy Cleanse, is a perfect example of a smoothie that aids digestion while feeling rich and indulgent.

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Cacao, cinnamon, pear and fennel smoothie ► ► ► ► ► ►

170g pear, cored 50g fennel 1 tbsp raw cacao powder 240ml almond or oat milk 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon Simply blend until smooth, and enjoy.

Give your gut a break

► Removing common foods that can irritate the gut lining can help

persistent digestive symptoms, whether you suffer with IBS or simply have a slow digestive system that needs some TLC. Try removing common aggravators – sugar, alcohol, gluten and dairy – for a sustained period of time. ► Sugar feeds harmful bacteria in the gut which can then lead to discomfort and bloating. Try going sugar-free for a week, remembering that sugar is not only present in sweets and chocolate but also in breakfast cereals, energy drinks, dried fruit and many low-fat foods. To satisfy a sweet tooth, snack on fruit such as apples and berries, which will provide plenty of gut-cleansing soluble ﬁbre, or try oatcakes with almond butter and cinnamon to give you an energy boost and balance your sugar levels. ► Avoiding alcohol will also help to support your gut, because alcohol is an intestinal irritant. It also depletes your body of zinc which is essential for a healthy gut lining. Instead, be sure to drink plenty of water which will help to support a sluggish bowel.

► Wheat and gluten can also cause problems for those with sensitive

guts. Those who suffer with IBS are more likely to have nonceliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), meaning that gluten-containing foods trigger symptoms such as cramps and bloating. Try gluten-free oats, brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat ﬂakes (from the rhubarb family) and millet instead, to stabilise your blood sugar levels and give your gut a welcome break.

Cleansing herbs

► Gas, bloating and discomfort can sometimes indicate an overgrowth

of bad bacteria in the gut. This is especially true if your diet has been high in sugar and low in probiotics and prebiotic plant foods (such as cruciferous vegetables). ► Herbal teas can help to calm the digestive system. The best choices are fennel, chamomile, peppermint and nettle. Try to drink a cup between every meal. ► Try making more vegetable soups, minimising heavy carbohydrate meals and drinking more water to help your digestive system have a wellearned break. ► If you suffer from symptoms such as bloating, heartburn, fatigue, brain fog, candida overgrowth etc, these may be attributed to a “leaky gut”. A specific nutritional assessment and plan will help understand the causes of your symptoms, and find the best way forward to helping you thrive again. Please contact me to find out more about how I can help you.

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

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n an adult world of seriousness, deadlines, strategic ambitions and pressure, when was the last time you ‘got creative’, just for the fun of it? I haven’t picked up a paintbrush since school, let alone attended an art class, but recently I found myself sitting at a table, stabbing joyfully at a piece of wool until it somehow alchemised into a cheeky little pig figure, all in the name of mindful expression. Redruth artist and teacher Tina Varcoe is on a mission to bring into adulthood the joy and creativity we once all allowed ourselves to enjoy as children. She set up Scribble Inc. – subtitle: “No-pressure creative sessions for grown-ups” – and runs regular art classes for adults with

a different arty theme each week from her home in Redruth. On the morning of my art class, I just wasn’t feeling it. It was Monday morning, my inbox was full of emails from the weekend eagerly awaiting reply, and three other creative projects I’m working on were calling for me to give them attention instead. It crossed my mind to postpone until another time, when perhaps I would be feeling a little more up to it. I caught myself indulging in thought processes that told me how rubbish I was at art anyway (a belief I’ve probably reinforced and carried with me since school), and how everyone else was likely to be so much better than me (when really, what does that matter? Who cares?). Catching this mental chatter in the act, I chose to ignore it, hopped in my car and made my way to Redruth.

DON’T POSTPONE THAT ART CLASS Words by Joanna Hulin of Horizon Inspired

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I was greeted warmly at the door by the rather fabulous Tina. One of my fellow art club attendees made me a cup of tea and I took my seat around a large table piled high with different-coloured wool. We were going to be ‘needle felting’, something I hadn’t heard of until that moment. According to crafty website wistyria.com, it’s “a process which uses barbed needles to interlock wool fibres to form a more condensed material”. Essentially, you stab carefully at bunches of coloured wool while shaping it into a desired figurine or shape. I decided on a pig and the process began. Natural and friendly discussions flowed around the table as we all seemed to get into our own flow state, working on our little projects, yet encouraging each others’ creations as they formed. Somehow two hours had passed and all our creations had come to life. By the time I left I was feeling great, almost as if the serious, multi-tasking headspace I had greeted the day with had been unravelled. There is something in creative expression, just for the sake of it, that is so liberating. Finding a flow state in a creative project, without judgment, is mindfulness. To deliberately bring your awareness to your experience (which was certainly aided by the use of barbed needles in that session!) and to practice nonjudgment of what you are creating is mindfulness in action. It made me wonder: why do we put joy and creative expression of this kind at the bottom of the to-do list? And why wait until we feel creative to create? It’s in the creating we become more creative! It’s much the same with meditation, mindfulness practice and even gratitude practice. It’s when we are too busy to meditate that we would most benefit from it, just as it’s in our dullest, most glum moments that we would most benefit from being deliberately grateful. I was inspired to dig a little deeper into this relationship between mindfulness and creativity and I found, paradoxically,

that both creativity and mindfulness require a level of controlled focus alongside a contradictory freedom in our thinking. Both require us to lay our thoughts to one side, to experience or create rather than to analyse and rationalise, become overcome by our emotions or lost in thought. The neuroscience behind mindfulness, meditation and creativity is fascinating, claiming that the parts of the brain that are activated during meditation are the “newer” parts, rather than the “reptile” parts responsible for fight-or-flight responses, or what we might identify as stress. I was also surprised to learn that Disney was the first large corporate organisation to openly use meditation in the workplace, with employees showing a significant increase in creative output and in finding ‘creative solutions’ to problems as a result. Practising mindfulness through art helped me to recognise the old thought patterns that were trying to convince me that I was hopeless at it. It helped me rationalise the false thought pattern that creativity was pointless whereas racing to my desk would, in a fight-or-flight sense, keep me alive. The creative process itself allowed me to enter a flow state of creativity, spending time in great company and finding joy in the moment. When I got home that afternoon, a refreshed, forwardthinking and more creative version of me answered the emails and tackled the other projects. And for that – alongside making new friends, enjoying myself and gaining a cheeky pig keepsake – I am so glad I didn’t postpone.

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

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fashion

WITH ROO CROSS

P R E T T Y I N P I N K ...

ABOVE: ZAP jumper, American Vintage £130

Got any fashion dilemmas you’d like to share? Email me and I can help.

RIGHT: VAC long cardigan in Dew by American Vintage £145

shop@roosbeach.co.uk

y favourite Brat Pack movie, released in 1986, has to be Pretty In Pink. I was obsessed with it in the heady heights of my teenage years, and in love with Molly Ringwald. It epitomises the Eighties for me, and I love it that my girls sit and watch it now. Pink is such a seemingly emotive colour. It defines little girls (rightly or wrongly), and is a marketeer’s dream. I’ve always loved pink in every shade; back then, I wore it bright, paired with black and a slick of magenta sparkly lipstick; in the ‘90s, it was neon. Then I had a break from pink. First I became a student and wore black, oversized, androgynous clothes with clumpy DMs and enormous jumpers; then I went travelling and wore far too much batik, followed by a ‘grown-up’ phase in advertising, flouncing about in very short skirts, high heels and jackets – oh, Lord! Having a son first and then a daughter, I just couldn’t wait to buy pink for her: little accents paired with denim pinafores, perfect Baby Gap mini-jumpers and Zara baby

leggings. But as soon as Molly had an opinion, she dictated what she wore and pink was never on her agenda. She was a tomboy through and through, and stomped around in her brother’s Batman outfit and heavy boots. She was determined and headstrong, with a killer sense of humour from the start - she still is! Betsy came along three years later, a gorgeous bundle of crazy, blonde curls. The opposite of Molly, she let me indulge my inner love of girliness, never happier than when dressed as a fairy, princess or generally clad head-to-toe in pink. She wore wings and leopard ears on a daily basis, and sparkly, ridiculously expensive Lelli Kelly shoes. How funny that two siblings can be so different. Now in their late teens, they are peas in a pod. Molly is entering the student phase with so much more style and confidence than I had, and Betsy is, quite frankly, a force to behold!

As we emerge from a rather dull winter, I find myself surrounded by shades of pink and I realise how much I’m warming to this colour once again. Its softness and femininity make it so easy to wear – you just need to find the right shade. Steer away from anything too blue, too bright or too blancmange. Say no to slogans and bold pink prints, and just wear it in its natural, pareddown, soft and warming way. Try a deliciously cuddly pink jumper worn with pale denim and a simple grey T-shirt underneath, or an oversized, unstructured cardigan to give you a pale, soft, pink hug on the coldest, dreariest pre-spring day. Let yourself remember how good it is. Revisit, feel feminine and pretty - it’ll put a smile on your face. Molly turns 19 next week and I’ve just ordered her the most gorgeous pair of pink trainers. I think she’s going to love them!

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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THE

extra mile WITH BECKY MILES

ONE WAVE HITS CORNWALL

ental health has been hitting the headlines in a big way recently, and links are being made between physical exercise and keeping the mind healthy. The NHS has started signposting patients to running groups as a way of treating depression, and England Athletics hosted a series of #runandtalk events across the UK in a bid to encourage those suffering with mental health problems to open up about their feelings while running. In Newquay, another group has been set up with the aim of providing a safe environment in which people can open up. Launched in Australia in 2013, OneWave is a not-for-profit surf community that aims to tackle mental health issues with a simple recipe: saltwater therapy, surfing and bright colours. Participants swim or surf while wearing fluorescent clothing. The colours serve not only to make people feel happy, but also to make an invisible issue visible, and help to start conversations about mental health. The campaign has been taken up by local girl Lauren Turner, whose OneWave Newquay journey began when she travelled to Australia and met movement founder Grant Trebilco, who suffered with mental health issues for a decade before being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. One Friday morning, he decided to dress up in a shirt and tie

and go surfing at Bondi to try and spark conversations about mental health. “His story inspired me to support and help people struggling with their mental health within my local community,” said Lauren. “OneWave are letting people know it is ok to not be ok, and ask for help and they hope their recipe helps makes things that little bit easier. With Grant’s encouragement, I found the confidence to bring the model back to Newquay, where we launched in 2017. The group has since grown in numbers, and I’ve been touched and humbled by members’ strength and courage on their own mental health journeys. If just one person has benefited from this group, then the hard work has been worthwhile.” Lauren recently qualified as a mental health first aider and is looking for OneWave champions who can help support the growth and development of the project. So, if you surf and have an interest in supporting people with mental health, get on board with the “good vibe tribe”. OneWave Newquay’s first birthday celebration is being held on Friday, March 23 on Great Western Beach. Pull on some colour and “free the funk” with some salt water therapy! For more information, visit the OneWaveNewquay Facebook page.

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

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Cornish Coasts A NEW FOOD AND GIFT OUTLET IN POUNDSTOCK, NEAR BUDE Words by Katie Weston

magine indulging in a cream tea while looking out at magnificent rural views stretching out all the way towards Lundy Island. That’s just what Cornish Coasts Caravan and Camping Park, conveniently situated just off the A39 Atlantic Highway near Bude, has to offer. Sisters-in-law Karen and Liz Probets recently showcased a variety of local goods, ranging from The Wrecking Coast’s clotted cream gin to Jacky’s Cakes from the Tamar Lakes, meat from Swannacotts Manor and coffee from Cornico of Wadebridge, as part of their official launch party at the beginning of February. Having moved in 2010 to escape the rat race of London, in April 2017 the Probets added to the campsite’s offer by creating a new farm shop and café on the site of an old barn and garage next to the picturesque site at Poundstock. The conversion was managed by Kevin Probets, Liz’s husband and Karen’s brother; architects from Bazeley Partnership modelled the building’s exterior, while Karen and Liz designed the interior themselves, including leather sofas acquired from an auction at the Strand Hotel in Bude. All of the shop’s produce is from Cornwall, in a bid to support independent businesses during a time where crops can suffer from the harsh winter weather. “It’s nice to give something back, especially after the January slump,” says Liz, over a mug of green tea. “There are no big chains here, it’s all independent businesses and we need to support each other.” “We were turning people away on a regular basis out of season, and we felt we needed to address this,” adds Karen. “We’re now really proud that we can be open for local people all year round, welcoming them in for a drink, or bite to eat. The campsite is one of the most established in the area and runs from Easter to October, closing in the winter to give the

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ground time to recover. The shop – once housed in a small annex to the Probets’ main home – will remain open during this time, providing a welcome revenue stream. While plenty of visitors drop in while using this popular holiday route during the summer months, the café has many customers living locally, who prefer to sup a latte out of season, when it’s less busy. It’s certainly a cosy haven during the winter months, serving hot chocolates, flavoured teas, porridge and shelter from the occasional 60mph gust of winds. “Every week, more and more new people are coming in – and whenever they visit, they always come back,” says Liz. Catering for a range of customers, the chefs certainly do not scrimp on ingredients, using only fresh produce. The menu includes vegetarian burgers, handmade pizzas, full English breakfast and, of course, the Cornish cream teas. Head chef Steve Honey says: “People care increasingly about food provenance, and cooking with great local produce just makes my job more enjoyable, knowing I’m using the best ingredients available, and serving people who appreciate the extra effort.” In the adjacent farm shop, shelves groan with local produce such as Cornish sea salt, confectionery and alcohol. If you fall in love with the café’s stylish crockery, you can buy your own here. Upstairs is a whole different ball game. If you’re camping and have forgotten any essentials there’s no need for them to panic, as you’ll find everything from washing up liquid to tent pegs and WD40 here (husbands have been known to while away many a half-hour there while the wife drools over the Cornish gin). “So many products come through Cornwall now, so there are lots to choose from. We’re always looking for something a bit different,” says Liz. “There’s also food and drink from Devon too – we don’t discriminate!”

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leisure

ESCAPE ... FOR A SEA SWIM WO O F G U I D E TO FA L M O U T H

(page 122) (page 125)

M U S I C : W I L L K E AT I N G S I N G S S A FA R I T H E A T R E : T H E R A I L W AY C H I L D R E N D I A RY DAT E S

(page 126)

(page 128)

(page 130)

B O O K S : A N E N V I R O N M E N TA L M I S S I O N BACKALONG WITH PETE CROSS

(page 132)

(page 136)

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swim SEA

C O R N WA L L

DO YOUR BEST MERMAID IMPRESSION ON A THREE-DAY SWIMMING TOUR AROUND CORNWALL Words by Hayley Spurway

“I

feel like we’re a pod of dolphins”, exclaimed fellow swimmer Rachel as we streamlined through crystal-clear waters, leaving Logan Rock in our wake and setting a course towards the Minack Theatre and the pearly shores of Porthcurno. Clad in neoprene and bright-coloured swimming caps, we didn’t look anything like dolphins. However, on a swimming tour with Sea Swim Cornwall, we were fortunate to be seeing some spectacular parts of the county from the territory of the marine life that resides here. We’d started our weekend at one of Cornwall’s most beautiful swimming locations – the Art Deco Jubilee Pool in Penzance. It was here that we met the rest of the ‘pod’, alongside whom we’d be dipping and diving along various parts of the coastline – searching for sea horses in the Helford River, encountering seals off the shingle banks of Piskie Cove, and ending up beached in the sun on the white sands of Porthcurno. Not only did we get to see a lot more of the county than I’d anticipated under paddle power, the experience was punctuated by plenty of cake and pit stops in some of Cornwall’s stellar cast of seaside cafés and pubs. Sea Swim Cornwall is the brainchild of Jo Brown and Thomas Foreman, both swim coaches and surf lifeguards with a string of National Surf Life Saving awards to their names. Having explored much of Cornwall and the Isles of

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Scilly by front crawl, they’re passionate about wild swimming and the stunning county where they live – hence the idea to run small-group tours to encourage others to swim, safely and supervised, around some of Cornwall’s most remote shorelines. Now I do like a swim. But I’m no Rebecca Adlington. So I was relieved to discover that my swimming buddies included a mix of abilities, from super-slick triathletes to those of us who braved a more occasional dip in a lake or the ocean. With just eight of us in the water accompanied by the two guides on paddleboards, there was no pressure to keep up with the head of the pack (a young, English Channel swimmer who didn’t even wear a wetsuit), and you can fall into your natural pace. Whether you undertake two shorter swims or one longer swim each day, you need to be competent swimming around 5km in open water. But rest assured there’s plenty of time to pause and marvel at seabird colonies, sea caves and sea life along the way. As well as being tailored to the abilities of the group, each trip is also tailored to the unpredictable Cornish weather. Following two choppy swims between Penzance and Mousehole on our first day, we retreated to the shelter of the tranquil Helford River on day two. Far from the white horses galloping across Mount’s Bay, here we slipped into calm

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waters and swam past sub-tropical gardens and eelgrass beds where seahorses and rare gobies hide. After hot chocolates and a hearty lunch in the cosy Ferryboat Inn, we were fighting our way back into our wetsuits in another downpour, this time casting off from the rugged little Prussia Cove in search of seals and sea caves. Thanks to Jo and Tom’s knowledge and planning, there was always somewhere serene to take a dip, whatever the weather Gods threw at us. Despite our spirits not being dampened by the rain, it was a treat to wake up to wall-to-wall sunshine on day three, in time for the most beautiful swim of the weekend. Soon to be swarming with tourists and the Poldark filming crew, Porthcurno beach was still deserted when we took the plunge into glassy cerulean water in the early morning light. The water was so clear that we could see ripples in the white sand far below us, as we hugged the cliffs and swam from the shadow of the Minack Theatre towards the towering Logan Rock. It was only as we rounded the immense rock stacks and looked back towards the land that we stopped to marvel at the territory in which we were immersed. It’s no wonder that we felt like dolphins as we headed for shore, gliding through the water with our friends. Back on the shore, bringing our bodies back up to temperature with lashings of cake and coffee, fellow

swimmer Ruth explained that she’d signed up for the holiday to be able to safely swim some long distances in new places. “I wanted to have a guide for safety support and knowledge of distances,” she explained. “It was great to be able to swim with like-minded people in a relaxed environment. It’s not just about getting your head down and going fast; it was lovely to search for sea horses or take a pause and bob about while out at sea. Swimming to Logan Rock was my favourite part,” she added. “I’ve seen it so many times and never thought that swimming to it and back was so achievable.” Gazing out to Logan Rock in the distance, it hardly felt possible that we’d swum all that way. In fact, basking in the sunshine, feeling like a tired and happy mermaid, I realised that in the three days of swimming adventures I’d explored more of the Cornish coastline than I’d ever experienced in a single weekend.

The lowdown ► Sea Swim Cornwall run trips from June to September.

As well as organised tours they also run private trips and bookings: www.seaswimcornwall.co.uk ► Jubilee Pool, Penzance: www.jubileepool.co.uk

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classic cottages

BLOOMING LOVELY: EXPLORE CORNWALL’S GARDENS THIS SPRING Words by Kayleigh Hardy of Classic Cottages

ornwall is renowned for its beautiful beaches and clifftop walks but there’s more to do than going coastal. At the heart of Cornwall’s wild countryside is an impressive collection of gardens and stately homes; all are hidden gems and make for the ideal day out in the spring. March brings out the early spring blooms at Caerhays Castle and gardens. The estate is open for a limited amount of time, from mid-February until June, so visiting early in the year means you get to see the blooms at their freshest. At this point the garden will be transitioning into its vibrant summer colours. Each plant, tree and flower is individually labelled so you can make plans for your own garden as you wander. Many of the plants here were found overseas and brought to the estate by Victorian plant-hunters to sell to the enthusiastic owner while he was building the garden. While visiting, you can take a tour around the castle and find out more about the history of the garden and the loving restoration of the building – there are lots of interesting stories to hear. For another lost treasure that has been restored, visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Explore the winding paths in

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search of the hidden characters scattered through the trees and beds, such as the giant woman sleeping in the earth. The wilder parts of Heligan are perfect for little ones to play and discover nature in their own way. Something not to miss at this time of year is the blossoming magnolia that towers above you on your journey out into the rest of the garden. If carefully preened gardens are not quite what you’re looking for, discover Cornwall’s wild west. Stay in Moorland View in St Just and feel like you’re on the edge of the world. The huge picture window perfectly frames the stunning moorland surrounding this property. Relax by the toasty wood-burner with a good book or lace up your walking boots and get out in the fresh air. Moorland View is a cosy retreat for two to enjoy springtime in Cornwall. Whether you stay for a weekend or a week, you’ll feel refreshed and rejuvenated after a break to this beautiful bolthole. Classic Cottages have been holiday cottage specialists for the West Country since 1977, finding homes that make great holidays. www.classic.co.uk

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he South West Coast Path offers beautiful walks around Cornwall, but it does include areas which are close to steep cliffs, and it is important to keep humans and dogs as safe as possible. In the event that your dog gets into difficulty on the coast path, the advice is to call 999 just as you would for a human. A key reason for this is that often owners can get into difficulty when attempting to rescue their pets. A spokesman for the Bude Coastguard Rescue Team explains: “Coastguard rescue teams are tasked to rescue dogs so that their owners don’t attempt it themselves. We would always advise that all dogs – especially those unfamiliar with coastal territory, or prone to running off - are kept on a lead when close to cliff edges.”

Here are some points to remember when walking with your dog on the coast path to help keep you and others safe.

► If you dog has a tendency to run off out of sight (to chase ► ► ►

►

rabbits, for example), and doesn’t have excellent recall, keep it on a lead when walking close to cliffs. Keep your dog away from cliff edges. These areas are often home to rabbits, and there have been a lot of cliff collapses. If you are unfamiliar with an area of coast path, or in any doubt at all, keep your dog on a lead. Clip on a short lead around sheep, cows and horses, irrespective of how well trained your dog is. However, if cows look agitated and come towards you, and you fear for your safety, let go of the lead so you can both get away independently. If your dog is ‘friendly’ and likes to run up to people to greet them, keep them on a lead, particularly near steep cliffs. People who don’t like dogs might step aside instinctively, with disastrous results. Be aware that many sections of the Cornish coast path are located in areas of mining heritage, so there might be uncapped mineshafts hidden in the undergrowth near the path. Keep your dog close. If you see a dog in trouble, call the coastguard (dial 999). Don’t try to rescue it yourself.

For more walks and ideas for dog-friendly days out visit

www.dogfriendlycornwall.co.uk

guide

KEEP YOUR DOG SAFE ON THE SOUTH WEST COAST PATH Words by Viki Wilson of dogfriendlycornwall.net

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C O R N WA L L

MY HOME A NEW COLLECTION OF SONGS BY HARRY SAFARI GLASSON, RECORDED BY WILL KEATING Words by Katie Weston, photographs by Clare Bird

raggy shores, kestrels gliding on the breeze, soft Sennen sand and engine houses scattered around Carn Brea are just a few of the lyrics penned by Harry “Safari” Glasson and captured by the voice of Will Keating on a new album. Cornwall My Home celebrates Harry’s repertoire and is named after his most famous number, beloved of male voice choirs. Born in 1951 near Praze-an-Beeble, close to Camborne, Harry began writing poems and Cornish dialect in his twenties. He toured Cornwall for around 30 years and visited America six times, but scaled back performing after being diagnosed with cancer of the vocal cords. Now 66, he still plays the guitar and sings, with the aid of a valve inserted into a hole in his neck. Will met Harry as a member of the Falmouth shanty group The Oggymen. The pair hit it off immediately, becoming good friends. “The way he can paint pictures with words – he’s an amazing lyricist,” Will enthuses. He speaks of Harry as a mentor: “Without his support, I don’t think I could have done it – arriving to concerts with only my guitar and 27 songs was quite daunting to say the least,” Will chuckles. Indeed, the recording represented a significant change in 126

career for Will. When a family bereavement prompted him to reassess his priorities, he made the decision to give up a job at Skinner’s Brewery and forge a path as a solo artist with his acoustic guitar, stomp box and delightful hearty tones. But changing careers is not a new experience for him, with previous posts in the Royal Navy, as a scuba instructor in Thailand, and even a three-day stint as a binman. “I’ve always been good at taking the leap,” he grins. With his confidence and enthusiasm, Will sweeps others along with him, from patient wife Estelle – “She knew I needed to change” – to those who contributed to a crowdfunding campaign, raising more than £3,000 towards production costs. Staff at Falmouth University lent him the use of a recording studio, and Brendan McGreal of Cornishunderground came on board as co-producer: “Since I’ve started this process, everyone I’ve met has been so supportive. It’s really inspiring.” The CD also includes two live tracks recorded at St Senara’s church in Zennor, and special guest appearances from Truro High School for Girls’ Prep Choir, Helston Town Band and of course, The Oggymen. Award-winning banjo player John

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HARRY “SAFARI” GLASSON (LEFT) AND WILL KEATING

Dowling came on board by chance: “I really do believe in fate,” says Will. “At a pub in Devoran I saw a sign about learning the fiddle with Anna Dowling, so went to a lesson. It turns out her husband is one of the best banjo players in the world, and was so interested in my idea that he decided to get involved.” The title track features twice on the CD: in English, with choir and orchestra, and in Cornish as Kernow Ow Thre (translated by Matthew ab Dewi), stripped back to solo vocal and acoustic guitar. The final stanza declares: “This is my Cornwall, and I’ll tell you why: because I was born here and here I shall die.” Hearing a room full of people singing these words with feeling is a stirring experience; and while Will was born in Somerset, this doesn’t stop him joining in. “In Harry’s eyes, it’s fair game for anyone who loves Cornwall. The sound is from home and hits the heart.” He’s keen to pass on his love of Cornish culture and heritage to the next generation, by offering local students an opportunity to take part in the album, and visiting primary schools to teach them through Harry’s songs. He can often be found busking in Falmouth with his four daughters,

Madeleine, Freya, Delilah (who sings on the album’s prelude) and Lily: “It’s a good way of putting them in touch with the Cornish culture.” This is Will’s second recording, the first being Home From The Sea, an EP celebrating Falmouth lifeboat’s 150th anniversary in 2017, featuring singers from lifeboat stations around Cornwall and with all proceeds going to the RNLI. In 2018, he hopes to make a third recording, on the theme of the black American soldiers who were welcomed to Cornwall with open arms during the Second World War – in 1944, 7,500 troops from the 29th US Infantry Division embarked upon the beach at Trebah for the assault landing on Omaha beach, part of the D -Day landings. Will also plans to visit Australia and take Harry with him: “My idea is to take the songs everywhere I possibly can, nationally and internationally.” It’s clear he’s a man of boundless energy and ambition. “I’ve got ideas spinning around all the time, and there are always lots of things on the horizon.” Hear Will Keating perform on the following dates: Monday, March 5 at The Watering Hole, Perranporth; Easter weekend, Falmouth Folk & Cider Festival; April 20 to 22: Porthleven Food Festival; and on the Isles of Scilly in May and July. He will also host at the Waterside Café Folk Club, Penryn on the second Wednesday of each month in aid of the cancer charity PANTS. For further information, visit willkeatingcornwall.com CORNWALL TODAY

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ention the Railway Children, and most people of a certain age will think fondly of Jenny Agutter, waving her flags in a valiant attempt to save a steam train from impending catastrophe. They might equally remember Bernard Cribbins as the amiable stationmaster Perks, the role taken by Craig Johnson in the Minack Theatre production. “I grew up watching Bernard Cribbins – he’s a brilliant actor, so those are large shoes to fill,” he says. “But while most people remember key scenes from the movie, not many could tell you the actual story,” says Craig. “It’s very interesting, full of political intrigue.” Indeed, the play owes less to the much-loved film than it does to the original novel by E Nesbit. The Railway Children is the tale of an Edwardian family whose lives are turned upside down following the mysterious disappearance of their father. Forced to leave their privileged London life, siblings Roberta (Bobbie), Peter and Phyllis move to the country with their mother. At Three Chimneys Cottage, they forge new friendships, embark on adventures and discover a secret that will affect their lives forever. The book was published in 1905, against the backdrop of the Dreyfus affair – the turn-of-thecentury French scandal of an innocent man falsely imprisoned for espionage and finally vindicated – and the Russo-Japanese War, which divided opinion among Brits and is echoed in the Russian exile taken into the family’s care. For the Minack production, the action has been shifted from Yorkshire to an unnamed rural Cornish station manned by Perks. “He’s jovial and funny, with lots of audience contact, which I like,” says Craig. “But there’s an edge. He has to be organised and in control.” It’s produced by the creative team behind the Minack’s highly acclaimed version of Goodnight Mister Tom, directed by John Brolly and featuring a roll-call of Cornwall’s acting talent: Rebecca Hulbert (WildWorks, CubeTheatre), Steve Jacobs (last

THE MINACK PRESENTS A THEATRICAL PRODUCTION OF E NESBIT’S CLASSIC NOVEL Words by Kirstie Newton

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seen as Scrooge with Miracle Theatre), Kyla Goodey (Wildworks, Kneehigh Theatre) and Jason Squibb (currently working on The Trench in Bodmin), plus music by Ben Sutcliffe (People’s String Foundation) and members of the Minack Youth Theatre. “It’s great working with youngsters,” says Craig. It amazes me how good they are, how professional. They learn their lines way before the adults – they have so much dedication and energy.” Craig Johnson is a familiar face. Having come to Cornwall as an education outreach officer for what was then Looe Monkey Sanctuary, he joined Kneehigh in 2000 – working with luminaries such as Emma Rice and Carl Grose - and has never looked back, performing with a variety of Cornish theatre companies and with his own touring one-man children’s shows under the name of Squashbox. He’s extremely familiar with the Minack and its unique location. “It’s my home turf, and has been very important to me over the past few years,” he explains. “I first played there with Kneehigh in 2001, and every summer as Squashbox for around ten years. It’s the most fantastic place to perform, with the sea behind you. You might have a beautiful, idyllic sunny day in August with an audience of 800 from all over the

world; or a blustery, rainy day when the show must go on, with everyone huddled down together against the wind. Sometimes a pod of dolphins goes by and you can sense you’ve lost the concentration of the crowd, so you just have a break and enjoy the spectacle for yourself – you can’t compete with that.” Squahsbox has many returning productions, including Skillywidden, Universarama and the Sea Show. Craig is currently working on a new one, Myths and Monsters, based on Greek legends. “I do everything: research it, design the sets, make the puppets, write the music, play the instruments. I love working as part of a team, but by myself, I have a strong vision of what I want a show to be – my sense of humour, the morals I want to get across. I can change things on the hoof to adapt to my audience. I love being my own boss.” The Railway Children runs at the Minack Theatre, Porthcurno from April 3 to 14 at 2pm and 7:30pm. Adults £14/10, children £7/5. Tel 01736 810181, www.minack.com

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Calling all ukes

Endelienta Based at the beautiful St Endellion church and campus just above Port Isaac, Endelienta grew out of the St Endellion Music Festival, with the aim creating a year-round arts programme for this place of cultural and spiritual pilgrimage. It now offers concerts in a wide range of musical genres, exhibitions, workshops, reflective days and the popular North Cornwall Book Festival, whose artistic director is the novelist Patrick Gale. The 2018 programme includes worldfamous Flamenco guitarist Juan Martin (March 16); the Dante String Quartet, one of the UK’s finest ensembles (June 22), a recital by the internationally acclaimed tenor Mark Padmore, artistic director of the St Endellion Summer Festival, in September and the North Cornwall Book Festival in October. endelienta.org.uk

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If you’ve got nimble fingers and a keen ear for melody, don’t miss the third Cornwall Ukulele Festival on Saturday, March 3 at Heartlands. More than 200 four-string strummers gathered last year to take part in workshops, jams, watch performances and share songs. Traditionally the sound of the dancehall and vaudeville, the ukulele is quick to learn. The festival is organised by Cornwall’s Dancing Flea Orchestra, and will feature bands from Camborne, Constantine, St Merryn, Looe, Lostwithiel and Liskeard, plus Penzance-based Music Box providing ‘Dr Uke’ advice and repair sessions. Doors open at noon; adults £3, under 12s free.

Björk Björk’s sold-out show at the Eden Project will be held on Saturday, July 7 and not on Wednesday, June 20 as previously announced. All existing tickets are valid for the new date, or a full refund can be requested before midnight on March 12; email boxoffice@ edenproject.com

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Cornwall Music Festival Now in its 108th year, the Cornwall Music Festival returns to Truro Methodist Church from March 12 to 17. The competitive festival was launched in 1910 by Lady Trefusis, who wished to celebrate and nurture Cornish music, and was originally composed of 16 classes. The current president is her grandson, Lt Cdr Nicholas Trefusis, and the festival has expanded to 750 entries in 168 classes covering everything from operatic aria to folk songs, school choirs to barbershop choruses, handbells to brass, spoken word in both English and Cornish, and poetry. Highlights will be the Flute Concerto Class on March 14, with the evening final accompanied by the Melagari String Quartet, and the choir evening on March 16, with more than 300 participants competing in individual classes and a Championship Choir sing-off to conclude. Audiences are welcome; for syllabus details and ticket prices, visit www.cornwal lmusicfestival.co.uk

Edgelarks Award-winning duo Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin return under the new name of Edgelarks, with their fourth studio album, which build on the roots of their previous work - from the traditional music of the British Isles to Indian classical slide guitar, and the stomping roots party of Philâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beatbox harmonica. See them on Thursday, March 29 at The Acorn, Penzance. 01736 363545, www.theacornpenzance.com

The Lost Boys Founder member of Cornwall musical collective The Changing Room, singersongwriter Sam Kelly is currently touring with his new band, The Lost Boys. As a young child, Sam was enraptured by the folk tales and songs of his Irish grandfather, and has dedicated his life to rediscovering and renewing the sounds of his Gaelic heritage. Wednesday, March 7, Old Bakery Studios, Truro. www.samkel ly.org

National Learn To Play Day Trevada Musicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Camborne store will be offering free taster lessons in store on Saturday, March 17. Sessions are available to adults and children, with the chance to try a variety of instruments including strings, brass, woodwind, percussion and voice. Book your slot early to avoid disappointment cal l 01209 714353.

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TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL

LOOE AUTHOR ELLIE JACKSON HOPES HER BOOKS WILL CARRY AN ENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE ACROSS THE GENERATIONS Words by Kirstie Newton

he increasing amount of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans is a trending topic, and no more so than in the coastal county of Cornwall. Looe-based author Ellie Jackson has created a series of books that present the issue to children, using lovable sea creatures to impress upon young minds the importance of caring for the planet. Ellie’s first book, Duffy’s Lucky Escape, follows the adventures of a sea turtle who mistakes colourful plastic bags for food, and is rescued, rehabilitated and released by an aquatic hospital. Her second, Marli’s Tangled Tale, is based on the true story of a puffin that became caught up in the remains of several balloons; a third, due for release at the Porthleven Festival in April, charts the travails of a seal who gets trapped in ghost fishing nets. All the stories are aimed at children aged two to 11, and include simple tips on cutting down on single-use plastics,

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and how to do a mini-beach clean. A graduate in environmental science, Ellie was inspired to write while working as a geography teacher in Australia. “I attended a turtle release on Magnetic Island in Queensland with my two children, then aged three and five,” she recalls. “It was quite an event, attracting islanders and visitors. I was struck by how, despite taking a year to recuperate, the turtle took just seconds to remember its natural environment and way of life. The children asked lots of questions, so we visited the turtle hospital to find out more. Once they had made the link with plastic pollution, they were running around, picking up so much rubbish on the beach, we could hardly carry it all. To them, each piece represented a turtle’s life.” Having launched the first title in Australia, Ellie and her husband returned to their native UK in 2016. “We’d returned for a family event, and my sister lives in Looe. Unexpectedly, we fell in love with the UK all over again; my husband returned to Australia for a month, just to sell up. Initially, I was worried that I had a book about sea turtles that wouldn’t be relevant to the UK market, but I was surprised to discover that five out of the seven species are regularly found here, with some drifting off-course in the Gulf Stream.” All the books were illustrated by fellow mums – the first by Australian illustrator Liz Oldmeadow, and the sequels by Launceston artist Laura Callwood. “It is very important to teach children about these devastating global issues by means of an engaging story and beautiful pictures, rather than overwhelming them or using shocking images of creatures trapped in nets or plastic. We guide young readers through the issues in a fun and friendly way, together with further information on how they can make changes to their own lives.” Both books have been used in local schools as a springboard into discussing these issues in class, followed by literacy work and beach cleans. “The children are

even using their persuasive writing skills to write letters to local companies, asking them to make a change to their use of single-use plastic items such as straws,” adds Ellie. “The motivation of the children has really helped to raise this issue; the school, the mayor and Looe Marine Conservation Group are all working towards Looe becoming a straw-free town, and there are several businesses on board.” Cornish marine charities including Surfers Against Sewage, #2MinuteBeachClean and Fathoms Free have given the books their seal of approval. The book is being translated into many different languages, including Cornish, and is stocked by museums, libraries, primary schools, bookshops, aquariums and the National Trust. Ellie is also a keen speaker, and with World Book Day on March 1 she will be visiting schools in Launceston, Bude and Falmouth, as well as running a workshop at Falmouth Art Gallery. Ellie recently worked with fashion designer Linda Thomas and Keep Britain Tidy to raise awareness of the problem of balloon releases. Having created the Wave of Waste dress in September from the fabric of bodyboards discarded in Newquay, Linda was inspired by the story of Marli and volunteered to make clothing under the banner 99 Dead Balloons, using metallic helium balloons donated by the 2 Minute Beach Clean community in Bude. The dress was modelled by Ellie’s daughter Lilia, eight, at the end of the Banjo Pier, while Ellie had her own super-hero cape. “If we teach the children, they will teach the parents,” she concludes. “We adults are very set in our ways and habits. When plastics first appeared, they seemed like a good idea, and now we are addicted. We need the younger generation to push us into making changes; then they will grow up with different habits, like reusable bags and coffee cups. I firmly believe hope is not lost.” For further information, visit

www.duffytheseaturtle.com

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Words by Kirstie Newton

THE FAIRIES OF JENNY’S FIELD Gilly Sloper Austin Macauley, £5.99

THE MAN WHO LIVED TWICE David Taylor Matador, £7.99 Colonel George St Leger Grenfell is one of the most intriguing heroes in 19th century military history. This incredibly brave Cornish soldier of fortune fought on four different continents before taking part in the American Civil War. The highest-ranked of the 50,000 British citizens engaged in that tumultuous conflict, Colonel Grenfell has a unique place in the Confederate Valhalla. This new historical novel reveals the story of this courageous but deeply flawed cavalry officer. Taylor is a successful author who wrote for The Guardian before joining the BBC, where he worked as a reporter on Panorama, edited long-running radio and TV current affairs programmes, and was series producer of Great Railway Journeys. Reader Rick Stein says: “Every detail you know is spot on and the story riveting.”

THE SORCERESS AND THE POSTGRADUATE Clive Heritage-Tilley Troubador, £9.99 An Oxford University student gets more than he bargained for when he steals an intriguing object from the Pitt Rivers Museum to further his studies. It’s 1497, and Albrecht Durer produces the four witches engraving. But there were really five women, not four, and they were sorceresses. All were condemned to death, but it was decided that the youngest English girl, Constance, should be saved and the four sorceresses cast a spell to suspend her in time. With the help of his new assistant, the student embarks on an adventure of magic and mystery, in search for secrets locked in the history of time. Based in St Buryan, Clive previously taught photography, and this has inspired his filmic and visual fantasy adventure. 134

Camborne author Gilly Sloper’s debut novel, The Fairies Of Jenny’s Field is a charming story of when a school art class takes an unexpected turn. The drawings of three children merge and a portal to a whole new world opens, bringing magic and adventure. Teaching assistant Gilly remembers the moment when one of her students inspired her to write her novel: “It was his innocent question, ‘Do you believe in fairies, Mrs Sloper?’ that prompted a strong memory from when I was eight years old. The fairies that lived in the Jenny’s Field of my childhood were very real to me then.”

A CORNISH CELTIC WAY Revd Nigel Marns £15 This new guidebook charts the 125-mile pilgrimage route created by the author, running from St Germans in the east of Cornwall, to St Michael’s Mount in the west. The route takes in the traditional Saints’ Way and St Michael’s Way, and links churches established by Cornwall’s Celtic saints. Reverend Marns will lead monthly walks, a walking festival in May and a five-day organised pilgrimage along a section of the route in September. “The book is intended to help people to be inspired, question and explore their own spirituality,” he said. “Where better to do that than the heart of our Cornish coastline and countryside?” All profits from the sale of this book will be put back into the Cornish Celtic Way project. Visit cornishcelticway.co.uk

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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 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) someone who feasts or lives upon the industry of others B) to work hard C) the youngest of a litter of pigs

Competition winners (Jan 2018)

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 | Where’s It To? (St Michael’s Mount): F Haward, Exmouth

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Answer: B

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WITH PETE CROSS

PENZANCE’S JUBILEE POOL: IT’S THE SEA. BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT…

’ve always liked Penzance: fascinating buildings, unrivalled maritime heritage (not every Cornish town features in the title of a world-famous opera), and that long, wonderful seafront from which you can see everything from St Michael’s Mount to Newlyn. And right on that seafront, a fabulous thing. Understated, discreet, yet architecturally significant, and encapsulating all that’s best about Cornwall: Penzance’s spectacular Jubilee Pool. The pool was almost annihilated by the awful storms of 2014, but its recent refurbishment has just won the National Institution of Civil Engineers’ 2017 People’s Choice Award. OK, that’s a bit of a mouthful, and you could argue that the cards were always stacked in Jubilee Pool’s favour as it locked horns with such sexy opposition as the East Midlands airport runway refurbishment, and various motorway improvements in Scotland. But no, Jubilee Pool’s win was surely deserved, especially when you consider that it was a result of a community coming together. A year ago it was transferred into community ownership, and 40,000 people used the facility in 2017. There’s something uniquely thrilling about a cold-water municipal swimming facility, and in particular about Britain’s outdoor lidos (what’s left of them). They’ve been part of our social landscape since the 1930s, and many are an Art Deco joy. It’s also about a certain identifiable subculture associated with them: that small hard core of locals who use them on a regular basis, regardless of the time of year, like the old lady you often see in the surf on your local beach all year round in her floral swimming hat, one-piece cozzie, clutching a wooden bellyboard, knowing that she’s done this all her life, and that it’s clearly the secret to her longevity and general joie de vivre. A lot of us fancy the idea of the occasional cold-water plunge. On Christmas Day, I watched people on my local beach going for a dip in the Atlantic when the water was a soul-sapping 10˚C. I even had a go myself 15 years ago. “That was brilliant!” exclaimed my wife, exuberantly. “Let’s

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do it every year! Make it a thing!” “A thing?” I replied. “Why would we do that? We’ve done it. We can tell people we’ve done it. It was awful. Why would we make it a thing?” For many years I lived a five-minute walk from a huge lido in Tooting Bec, south London (the largest freshwater pool in the country, apparently). Upon discovering it, I was swept up in the moment, vowing to pop along there for an early-morning constitutional before work at least twice a week. It would set me up for a day in the office, be a great way to keep fit, and somehow seemed a more appropriate fitness regime for this gym-averse Cornish boy, a long way from home. I went twice that first week, once a month later, and never returned. The reason? Because it hurt. It was mind-numbingly, bone-chillingly cold. And that was in July. Penzance Lido is just as cold, of course. Colder, probably, with its regular Atlantic refill (it looks like they’ve got that covered, actually, with an innovative and highly anticipated geothermal heating system in the pipeline. Yes, really!). But there’s something unique about this place. You can simply sit there and look at this aesthetically pleasing piece of architecture (while enjoying a coffee from the new café), and it thrills you. It’s partly the huge scale of the thing. But it’s also something to do with the taming of the elements, touching the wild, and the delicious subliminal thought that some sort of sea creature might have become stranded in there. I’m sure they have mechanisms in place to ensure that you don’t end up brushing up against a Portuguese man ‘o’ war, but that’s not the point. It’s the sea that you’re looking at in there – the actual raging briny – but a tiny bit of it, decanted for a few hours, and harnessed for our delight. 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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