MyCornwall - October/November 2021

12 AUTUMN ACTIVITIES • TOP 10 COFFEE SHOPS • ODE TO HUMPHRY DAVY

My

FUN IN

FABULOUS FALMOUTH ROUND RUGGED

ROCHE ROCK

PLUS

Cornish Gothic

A New Anthology myCornwalltv

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2021 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 68 £3.25 t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 1 n

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

Hello and It gives me great pleasure to wish you

“dynargh”

(welcome)

the

October/November

to

edition

this, of

myCornwall, and my first in the editor’s chair. I’m thrilled and honoured to take the reins from Alex Saunders; I’m sure you’ll join me in thanking her for her sterling work over the last five years, and wishing her well in her new career as a teacher.

If you love Falmouth as much as I do, you’ll find plenty in this edition to take your fancy. Turn to p20 for a major focus on how the town has coped during the last 18 months (short answer: admirably), and how it sees its future (bright); and on p56, learn more about Henry Scott Tuke, a founding father of Falmouth Art Gallery and a leading light, albeit controversial presence, on the town’s artistic scene at the turn of the 20th century.

It’s the time of the year when the days grow shorter, meaning hot drinks and roaring fires appeal. We’ve chosen a selection of Cornwall’s best coffee shops (p75) and dog-friendly pubs with fires (p18) – but the truth is, there are so many, it’s impossible to pay tribute to them all.

While you’re there, why not curl up with a good book? If you don’t mind the dark side, a new anthology of Cornish horror stories (p39) might be right up your street.

All this, plus a musical tribute to Penzance genius Humphry Davy (p34), a tour of the mysterious Roche Rock (p31) and a whole host of art and food features to tickle your cultural and culinary tastebuds. I hope this warms your cockles during the autumn months, and I look forward to seeing Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth.

Image courtesy of Beautifully Handcrafted in Cornwall

you again in December.

Oll an gwella (all the best) Kirstie Newton

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20

6

News: Tour of Britain

12

Things to do in October/November

16

A day out at The Regal

18

Dog-friendly Cornwall: Pubs with roaring fires

20

A focus on fabulous Falmouth

28

Adore My Store: Truro Wool

30

The Want List: Atishoo Gallery

31

A history of Roche Rock

34

Celebrating Humphry Davy in music

39

Cornish Gothic: a new anthology

42

My Cornish World: Air Operations Officer Steve Garvey

46

Art News: exhibitions from Polzeath to Porthleven

50

A Very Important Piece: Lizard Art

52

Through the eyes of: Chris Insoll

54

Maker focus: Ceramicist Susy Ward

56

Art focus: Henry Scott Tuke at Falmouth Art Gallery

58

Artist focus: Catherine Hyde at Lighthouse Gallery

60

Meet the Maker: Karen Berg of CCA

62

Gallery focus: Tremenheere

66

Food Bites: Award-winning pasties

68

Dish of the month: One-pot blackberry crumble

70

Meet the chefs: Longstore Truro

72

Sweet, sweet music: 8 Track Rum

75

10 of the best coffee shops

80

Weekend Away: Una St Ives

82

Experience: The Falmouth Hotel

EDITOR Kirstie Newton kirstie@mycornwall.tv

CONTRIBUTORS

01209 314147

thatsmycornwall.com myCornwall magazine, Krowji, West Park, Redruth, Cornwall, TR15 3AJ

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

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Riders pass Beelzebub (Darcey Ball) and the Archangel Michael (Sennen Richards-Fardell), characters from the historic Ordinalia trilogy, near St Just. Photo by Jon Rowley

A Wheely Good Day The Tour of Britain began in Cornwall on Sunday, September 5. Some of the world’s best cyclists left Penzance and rode a circuitous 111-mile route to Bodmin, passing through many Cornish towns to the delight of massed crowds.

Among the riders were former BBC Sports Personality of the Year Mark Cavendish MBE, UCI World Road Champion Julian Alaphilippe and Belgian cyclist Wout van Aert, who

seized the victory in

this opening stage, and would later be crowned champion at the finishing line in Aberdeen on September 12.

He described the Grand Depart as “a tough stage,” adding: “It was almost overwhelming seeing the amount of crowds at the side of the roads. It’s nice to see people outside again, especially in a crowd together, and it’s nice to see people are so crazy about cycling. It makes it more beautiful when we win.”

Riders from Cornwall’s own Saint Piran team were also in the peloton. Team principal Richard Pascoe described the event as “a lifetime’s ambition to get a grassroots team

into

the

premiership...

accomplished in six years.” n 6 |

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mission

The build-up to the big day saw a raft of cycling-related announcements including the granting of planning permission for a new £7 million state of the art Cornwall Cycle Hub. In a partnership between British Cycling, Cornwall Council and Sport England, the hub will be built on councilowned land near the Newquay Aerohub Business Park, as a destination for riders to enjoy a range of exciting, fun and exhilarating cycling activities in 54 acres of enhanced natural environment.

The site will provide a national standard closed road circuit racing track and European standard BMX track. Trained staff will provide coaching to develop skills and bike handling for all ages and abilities, from the youngest child learning on a balance bike to someone who has been referred through their GP, or someone who wants to learn how to ride their e-bike safely.

In addition, 10 community cycle tracks are to be built throughout Cornwall. Walking and cycling charity Sustrans is working with schools that will house the tracks for use by the wider community too, in a project funded by Cornwall Council and British Cycling. Some schools have also purchased fleets of bikes that can be used on the

| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

track, and staff will be trained to lead cycle sessions. Locations include Penzance, Camborne, Falmouth, Truro, Newquay, Bodmin, Liskeard, Charlestown and Stratton.

Seven tracks have already been completed by specialist track builders; the remaining tracks will be built during the autumn.

Sustrans’ Active Travel Officer, Nick Ratcliffe, who co-ordinated the cycle track programme said: “These tracks will provide these communities with somewhere safe and local for people of all abilities to learn and enjoy. They will help to encourage greater cycle confidence and develop bike handling skills. I hope that the tracks not only generate enthusiasm for more active lifestyles in the community, but also develop local talent.

Maybe a future Olympic star will start their cycling career on one of these tracks.”

This cycle track programme is one of many cycling projects being implemented by Cornwall Council that have been inspired

by Tour of Britain’s approaching visit.

Cornwall Council portfolio holder for transport Philip Desmonde said: “We’re building a home for cycling in Cornwall so the inspiration and legacy of the Tour of Britain will benefit Cornwall’s residents for years to come.” l

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Bloomin’ Lovely The

Great

Callestick

Sunflower

Weekend, over the August bank holiday weekend, raised £3,460 to be split between three charities: Farm Safety Foundation’s Yellow Wellies, Children’s Hospice South West and the Hall For Cornwall. Members of the public were invited to pick the beautiful blooms, and those left over were harvested to be used for sunflower oil. The farm hopes to repeat the event next year. l

Piran Saves the Day A pet cat helped lead rescuers to its 83-year-old owner when she fell 70ft down a ravine near Wadebridge. Police were searching for the woman when a member of the public heard Piran’s persistent miaowing. Rescuers found the victim close by, where she had fallen down a drop and into a stream "with incredibly difficult access and uneven terrain". Fire crews hoisted the woman to safety on a stretcher, and she was taken to hospital by air ambulance. "Piran the cat saved the day," said Bodmin Police of the rescue, which happened near Wadebridge. l

Dawn Flies the Flag Actress

and

Falmouth

University

chancellor Dawn French is among 24 leading figures in the arts, education, communications and law, all portrayed wearing masks by photographer Joanna Vestey. Boasting an emblematic St Piran flag face mask, French sits alongside actress Juliet Stevenson, author Philip Pullman and artist Grayson Perry and his psychotherapist wife Philippa. The exhibition runs at the Stables Café, Blenheim Palace until December. All profits will help deliver a school-based programme of art as therapy. l

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

New multi-use trails

A new off-road trail for walkers, cyclists and horse riders has opened near Portreath as part of a project to open up links between the town and Redruth, and to encourage active travel. The Tolgus Trail begins near the Cornish Gold Centre, passing through the site of the former Tolgus Tin works and runs parallel with New Portreath Road, passing through historic mining landscape. On the Rame peninsula, the Looe Valley Trails project has published details of a recommended route between Looe (pictured) and Cremyll, covering Downderry, Seaton, Portwrinkle, Crafthole and Freathy along the way. The project team are keen to hear the views of members of the public; visit letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/looe-valley-trails l

CREATIVE & CULTURAL LIVING

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADVERTISE IN OUR 2022 ART GUIDES PLEASE CONTACT JENI SMITH

TEL: 01209 494003 • EMAIL: JENI.MYCORNWALL@GMAIL.COM t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 9 n

Visit Alfords, your local Amtico Recommended Retailer

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

St Dennis church

by Charles Francis

12 16 18 20 28 30 31 34 39

TWELVE THINGS TO DO IN CORNWALL OUT & ABOUT SPECIAL DOG FRIENDLY CORNWALL FABULOUS FALMOUTH ADORE MY STORE THE WANT LIST ROCHE ROCK CELEBRATING HUMPHRY DAVY CORNISH GOTHIC

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3 1 2

Things to Do 1. BREAK A LEG!

over 60 live events. Expect al fresco

to represent a broad spectrum of Redruth

pop-ups,

studios,

residents and their experiences. Hear

creative courses, imaginative talks and

the tale of Emily Knuckey, delivered from

performances in beautiful surroundings.

Redruth to the Bodmin court wrapped in

venue. First to tread the freshly varnished

Enjoy folk-rock from Winter Mountain,

a carpet; the ballad of fierce cross-dresser

boards

aka

Francis;

Gracey Briney; the memories of the West

auditorium is the world premiere of

experience impulses and soundwaves

End Stores’ Christmas grotto; and the

Fisherman’s Friends: The Musical. The

from

state-of-the-art

story of Robin Knight and his revolutionary

cast has been announced, and includes

wearable technology with sound artist

duvet demonstration. “Redruth’s Fore

actor Calum Callaghan (Mr Selfridge) as

Justin Wiggan; and see literature brought

Street is full of riches and tales that are

Danny, a fish-out-of-water music manager

to life on the beach as Scary Little Girls

important to hear - delightful, poignant

who stumbles across a group of shanty-

make their Scilly debut. Paint The Day

and entertaining,” says Sue. Listeners

singing fishermen in Port Isaac. Local

on Tresco encourages budding artists of

will take a self-guided route, supported

talent includes Drop The Dead Donkey

all ages and abilities to pick up materials

by an illustrated map, at their own pace;

star Robert Duncan, originally from St

and explore the islands, with submitted

download the walk onto a smart device at

Austell; and Edward Rowe, aka Kernow

artwork to be judged and exhibited; and

HistoricEngland.org.uk/SoundWalks

King, star of the BAFTA-winning film

Talk Scilly will include wildlife expert Lucy

Bait. Star of stage and screen Susie Blake

McRoberts’ account of Wally the walrus’

4. MIRACLE THEATRE: EVERYMAN

also joins the company as pub landlady

visit. www.visitislesofscilly.com

When your time’s up, how will you account

The Hall For Cornwall in Truro is due to open this month, following a three-year, multi-million-pound transformation of the of

the

Cornwall

Playhouse

Maggie. See it from October 13 to 30;

workshops,

open

singer/songwriter plants

using

Joe

for your life on Earth? That’s the lofty

tickets from £15, call 01872 262466 or

3. REDRUTH SOUND WALK

www.hallforcornwall.co.uk

Embark on a journey of discovery in

century English morality play updated by

Redruth via a new immersive sound walk.

former Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and

2. CREATIVE SCILLY

question at the heart of Everyman, a 15th

Historic England has been working with

presented by Cornwall’s Miracle Theatre.

Autumn visitors to the Isles of Scilly

the National Trust, Sound UK and local

Everyman works hard and plays harder. He

will enjoy Creative Scilly, a three-week

artists to bring hidden high street histories

has success, wealth, good looks and is living

celebration of art, literature, poetry,

and stories to life in six UK locations. In

the dream - until Death comes calling. As

music, theatre, comedy and spoken

Stret an Levow/Street of Voices, Anna

he attempts to justify his life choices, who

word. From October 9 to 30, this tiny

Maria Murphy, Sue Hill and Ciaran Clarke

will speak in Everyman’s defence before his

cluster of wild little islands will host

have applied their collective imaginations

time runs out? This is an intense multi-media

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

5

7

6 8

experience with live music, projection, choreography and a high-energy cast of four. Recommended age 15+. The play will be toured with The Fleapit, an intimate and safe performance space with separate audience booths. Individual seats £20, booth (seats seven) £120. Venues include the Royal Cornwall Showground and St Ives Guildhall. www.miracletheatre.co.uk

5. HALLOWE’EN

October 31), an after-dark experience and paranormal tours. Learn about the inmates who lived and died in the jail – and be warned, sudden drops in temperature have been reported on previous tours! www.bodminjail.org

6. OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL Witness

intrepid

human-powered

challenges and mind-boggling marine and mountain wildlife, all from the comfort of

As the clocks go back and the nights draw in, our thoughts turn to the dark side! Halfterm coincides with Hallowe’en, meaning many family attractions are offering spookythemed activities – for example, the National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth presents Silhouettes and Shadows, a programme of crafts and trails from October 23 to 31 www.nmmc.co.uk. Meanwhile, the Headland Hotel in Newquay - the setting for the 1990 film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches - has hired its very own Grand High Witch to preside over a particularly spooky season of afternoon teas. Think white chocolate mice, pumpkin cheesecake and treacle tart www.headland.co.uk

a cinema seat. Redruth’s Regal Theatre

For a super-scary grown-up experience, Bodmin Jail offers Ghost Walks, scary movies (including Hallowe’en on

including a coveted mountaineering first

hosts two breathtaking film festivals this autumn. The Ocean Film Festival returns on October 27 and November 11, with a selection of short films starring wild seafaring voyages, extreme watersports and marine conservation from the least explored depths of the planet. Visit the volcanic Kuril Islands, between Russia and Japan, with ragtag Russian marine biologist Vladimir, and follow university friends Lucy and Mathilde as they tackle an ambitious kayaking trip along the Inside Passage, down the coast of Alaska and Canada. The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour arrives on November 9 and 10, on K2 and a raucous running expedition in Tajikistan. Visit www.oceanfilmfestival.co.uk

and www.banff-uk.com Redruth Regal: page 16

7. JOIN THE AUTUMN SEED SEARCH One of the easiest ways to help Mother Nature is by potting up a seed and growing a native tree - and you’re never too young, or too old, to learn how to do it. Autumn is the perfect time, and Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Cornwall Council are hosting a countywide seasonal seed search. Simply take a container (eg. a yoghurt pot), plus some good quality peat-free compost and gritty sand for drainage. Then pull on your wellies and go seed hunting! Collect a variety of seeds, plant them in pots and look after the saplings until they are strong.

For potting and storage advice, and to let the Trust know how you got on, visit www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/seedsearch

8. THE ST BURYAN SESSIONS The new solo album by award-winning singer/songwriter Sarah McQuaid will be launched on October 15 at a very special benefit concert in – and for – St Buryan Church, where it was recorded and filmed.

The St Buryan Sessions were conceived when Sarah’s gigs and tours were CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

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cancelled due to COVID-19. A successful crowdfunding campaign financed a live recording of songs that span her 24-year career, in the lovely medieval church near her home in rural west Cornwall.

No entrance fee will be charged on the launch day, but there will be a voluntary retiring collection for church funds. Two further Cornwall dates feature in the subsequent six-week tour: Praa Sands Community Centre on October 30 and Sterts Studio near Liskeard on November 28. sarahmcquaid.com/tour

9. LOOK TO THE SKIES It wouldn’t be November without a flash of colour in the sky. The Cornwall Drive-In Firework Spectacular takes place at the Royal Cornwall Showground near Wadebridge on Sunday, November 6. Simply buy your ticket online, arrive in good time, park up, enjoy great hot food and drink and marvel at an impressively large display. www.fireworkscornwall.com.

with lantern parades, Santa grottoes and shopping sprees. The charitable Cornwall Christmas Fair returns to the Eden Project on November 10 and 11, featuring an enticing mix of gifts, home accessories, clothes, jewellery and mouth-watering produce. Tickets include a meal and free admission to Eden, with all proceeds donated to Cornwall Community Foundation, which supports Cornwall’s struggling communities (last year’s online auction raised an impressive £50,000). Wednesday 5pm to 9pm: £28; Thursday 10am to 4pm: £15. www.cornwallchristmasfair.com

ales to choose from, and Jah Hemmings

The Shipwreck Treasure Museum in Charlestown will open its underground tunnels from October half-term through to early January. This year the tunnels will be transformed into an Arctic wonderland by a group of creative artists and a leading snow and ice special effects company. www.shipwreckcharlestown.co.uk

Travel and Comedy in the Danger Zone,

Alternatively,

Flambards hosts a Hallowe'en Fireworks

11. KILHALLON COW PIE & BEER FESTIVAL

Spectacular on Wednesday, October 27,

Liberate your inner Desperate Dan at Kilhallon Barn, near Par, on Saturday, October 23 with James Kittow Butcher & Grazier. Beer lovers will be treated to a selection of more than a dozen special real

during half-term week. www.flambards.co.uk

10. CHRISTMAS IS COMING The festive season begins in November, n 14 |

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

from Moor to Sea Food Company will be creating mouth-watering pies to enjoy, with ingredients including beef reared on the farm. There will also be a dash of live music during the evening. From noon until 10pm. Tickets cost £5 (includes a special festival glass) and are on sale at www.jameskittow.co.uk/events-experiences

12. TRIGGER HAPPY PENZANCE Remember Dom Joly, he of the enormous mobile phone with the Nokia ringtone?

“HELLO?? I’M ON THE TRAIN!” He brings his latest show,

Holiday Snaps:

to Cornwall this autumn, his first UK tour since 2011. Dom will be talking about his exploits as a serial globe-trotter and seeker of dangerous travel spots, from North Korea through the Congo and Syria to Chernobyl. The best-selling author will meet fans after the show to sign copies of his latest book, The Hezbollah Hiking Club. Tickets £20.

Sunday, October 17: The Acorn Penzance, http://theacornpenzance.com; Thursday, November 11: Launceston Town Hall, 01726 879500, www.crbo.co.uk

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It “went dark” for 535 days thanks to the pandemic, but the Regal Theatre reopened to great fanfare on September 2.

No one could be more pleased to be back in business than the hardworking staff who worked tirelessly to bring the Redruth stage back to life.

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

“To say my team and I are thrilled that our theatre is back up and running is an understatement,” says theatre manager Helena Tondryk-Wilde. “It’s a hub for the local community and the wider area. It’s important for us all to have access to live entertainment, and the Regal brings an array of shows to Cornwall.”

Originally built in the 1930s in the fashionable Art Deco style, the venue has been reconfigured over the years and underwent extensive refurbishment in 2015. The theatre auditorium has a dual purpose: as well as presenting live theatre and entertainment, it also boasts the largest cinema screen in Cornwall.

Since 2015, the Regal has been committed to bringing a wider variety of live shows to the stage. Comedy is a speciality, with the likes of Jimmy Carr, Sarah Millican and Jim Davidson playing to packed houses.

Strictly dancers Pasha Kovalev and Oti Mabuse have graced the stage, as have all types of musicians from Port Isaac shantymen Fisherman’s Friends to folk pin-up Seth Lakeman, ‘70s rockers Showaddywaddy to Philly soul group The Stylistics, and some of the very best tribute bands touring the world today.

The Regal also supports local talent, with regular productions from Redruth’s exceptional amateur dramatics groups. In December, RAOST presents Ray Cooney’s frolicking farce Out of Order, while in January, RAMPS offers traditional panto with Dick Whittington.

The cinema, meanwhile, operates under the Merlin banner and shows all the latest blockbusters (think James Bond!), as well as visiting events including Banff Mountain Film Festival (November 9 and 10).

“There’s pretty much something for everyone, from national comedians and rock’n’roll bands to tribute bands and even a psychic,” says Helena. “We’re so pleased to be back in business, and we hope audiences will come out to support us.”

To find out more, call 01209 216278, find @regalredruth on Facebook or visit www.merlincinemas.co.uk/regal-theatre COMING SOON: November Friday 19th: The Abba Reunion Tribute Show | Live Music Tuesday 23rd: Sindhu Vee - Alphabet | Comedy Thursday 25th: Psychic Sally | Variety Friday 26th:The Drifters | Live Music December TBC: RAOST presents Out Of Order January 2022 12th-16th: Dick Whittington - pantomime presented by RAMPS Friday 28th: An Evening of Burlesque Look out for future productions: • Comedian Simon Evans (February 10); • Live music from Brit Award-winning vocal group Blake (February 18), musical theatre medley act Beyond the Barricade, Disco Inferno and One Night In Dublin; • Variety from Chippendale-style act Forbidden Nights and Circus of Horrors, blending burlesque with bizarre. t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 17 n

The Gurnard's Head, Zennor © Paul Massey.

The Gurnard's Head, Zennor © Paul Massey.

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

5 DOG FRIENDLY PUBS WITH ROARING FIRES Words by Victoria Carpenter

I

t’s that time of year when it is lovely to go for a bracing walk with the dog and then snuggle down in a cosy pub by the fireside. Here is a list of some of the best dog friendly pubs with roaring fires.

pub near Helston, then you should give it a go! It is extremely dog friendly having won awards for its consideration of canine customers and the food is wonderful.

There are lovely walks along the coast path and Dollar Cove, next to Church

You can find many more of our favourite dog friendly pubs, restaurants and cafés at www.dogfriendlycornwall.co.uk The Watering Hole, Perranporth After a walk beside the surf, you can take a short stroll and enjoy the UK’s only bar which is actually right on the huge beach at Perranporth. Let your dog snuggle down by the woodburner while you enjoy watching crashing waves from the cosy warmth (and safe distance) of the pub. There are lots of other dog friendly venues in Perranporth too, including a dog wash by the car park. www.thewateringhole.co.uk The Gurnard’s Head near Zennor This award-winning pub has an excellent reputation for food and is very popular with walkers due to its dog friendly credentials.

As a result, you usually need to book a table in advance and make sure you reserve one of the dog friendly tables. It’s well worth

Cove is dog friendly all year round. halzephron–inn.co.uk The Golden Lion, Port Isaac A spot for Doc Martin lovers and friends of Fisherman’s Friends. This pub is very dog friendly with a lovely fire and you can also enjoy some really beautiful walks around the coast path. Take note of the tide times if you’ve decided to park on the beach though! thegoldenlionportisaac.co.uk the planning, however, as you can enjoy some spectacular views on nearby walks along the magnificent stretch of coastline from St Ives and Zennor towards Pendeen.

This is also very close to the Poldark film sets near Levant mine and Botallack. www.gurnardshead.co.uk

The Halfway House, Kingsand This gorgeous, cosy little pub is a short stroll from the beach in the really beautiful village of Kingsand on the oft-missed Rame peninsula. The pub itself has a fireplace, candles, really fabulous food and a great atmosphere. They are very dog friendly and this is a beautiful part of the world to explore

The Halzephron Inn, Gunwalloe

if you’re looking for some new adventures.

If you haven’t heard of this award-winning

www.halfwayinnkingsand.co.uk. l

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© 3 Deep Ariel

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

It’s been a busy year for Falmouth. On the one hand, it appeared on the world stage during the G7 global summit in June; welcomed tens of thousands of staycationers and day visitors to the vibrant town and its many glorious beaches; and enjoyed a successful Falmouth Week in August, with eight days of fleet racing for 150 boats from Shrimpers to Sunbeams.

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© Falmouth Town Team

© Clive Hall © Falmouth Town Team

O

n the other, it has faced the various challenges posed by a global pandemic: shop and venue closures during lockdown, the spike in Covid that followed half-

term and G7, and the more recent staff shortages caused by the pingdemic.

In the face of turbulent times, the town has adopted a defiantly can-do attitude.

Richard Wilcox and Richard Gates are Business Improvement District (BID) and Town Manager respectively. Commonly known as “the Richards”, they have worked as a double act for over a decade, latterly from the Old Post Office on the Moor, the public and private sector meeting in the middle. Half an hour in their company is akin to sitting in the path of a juggernaut, such is their energy and enthusiasm for Falmouth, and their successful partnership has seen them co-opted onto advisory boards for other Cornish towns.

“We’re passionate about what we do,” says Richard G. “Whether it’s a positive opportunity or challenging situation, we take that passion and drive to give a sense of leadership to the town. Any town or city can be improved with good engagement from businesses, the community and the voluntary sector. Falmouth does that very n 22 |

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well, which helps us move through the challenging times.”

realm thinking, and I’m looking forward to seeing how we can use it to shape policies.”

While the past 18 months have indubitably brought their challenges, from furlough to changing legislation about where you can eat and with how many people, the Richards are more inclined to focus on how many of those obstacles have been transformed into opportunities. Falmouth was the first town to create a toolkit for businesses to deal with Covid, which was subsequently rolled out to other Cornish towns.

Falmouth found itself at the eye of the publicity storm when Covid 19 spiked after May half-term and G7. “We had to deal with the fall-out, including the political fallout of who was to blame: G7? Visitors?” says Richard W. “For us, it was simple: it’s here, let’s just get on with the operational response.” This included volunteers handing out lateral flow tests, and social media campaigns on Spotify and TikTok to encourage the younger demographic to utilise pop-up vaccination clinics. During busy periods, stilt walkers and pirates rather than burly security guards were hired to remind people to keep left, and an advertising van is still being driven around, reminding people what to do to stay safe.

“The spirit of collaboration and innovation has been superb,” says Richard W. “We’ve seen some brilliant examples of how to address these challenges.”

Many hospitality venues took advantage of temporary pavement licensing to set up extra tables outside, including in Church Street car park. This has been extended until 2022, and has been well received. “It works really well, and lends a Mediterranean feel to the town,” says Richard G. “We’ve always encouraged it, but this has been the biggest positive of the past 18 months: it has enabled many businesses to carry on trading.”

“It’s great to see quiet, forgotten bits of pavement filled with food and drink,” adds Richard W. “This should really influence public

| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

Richard W. draws attention to the raft of new businesses that launched during and despite the pandemic, often dealing in upcycled or second-hand goods, plasticfree or micro-breweries. “That diversity of businesses makes the high street more dynamic and sustainable.”

These include Inspire Makers, a shopfront for 50 micro-craft businesses in Old High CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

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© Ian Cocklin

Street. “I didn’t choose to open during the pandemic, it just happened,” laughs owner Vicki Glaister. “The regeneration of the High Street in particular has been appreciated by residents and visitors alike. I’ve heard many say they haven’t been up here for a few years, and isn’t it great? They love all the independent shops and the brewery yard.”

In fact, Vicki feels the support for independent shopping will stand Falmouth in good stead for bouncing back. “I have a background in high street retail, and have seen the race to the bottom of mindless shopping,” she says.

“While lockdown has led to online shopping for boredom relief, it has also made people appreciate the shopping experience and enjoy seeing what’s out there – mindful shopping, if you will.

“I’ve lived around the UK and have seen how a cookie-cutter high street can result in vacant retail units when chain stores close. With the exception of M&S, this hasn’t impacted Falmouth in the same way, because it doesn’t have many chains.

Independents offer something different, which makes for an attractive and vibrant place to be. They are also able to pivot more easily in times when change is needed.

“I feel very strongly that Falmouth has a lot of potential, and have never felt n 24 |

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so passionate about anywhere else. It has a very proactive BID, and a lot of people with ideas; while there hasn’t been much time to act upon them with everything going on, I think that’s about to start now.”

On the other side of town stands the National Maritime Museum Cornwall.

In early spring 2020, installation of a major temporary exhibition, Monsters of the Deep, was in full-swing – couriers and lenders were travelling across the country to deliver the final loans, and the marketing campaign had rolled out. Then Coronavirus hit.

The museum was awarded grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England’s Cultural Recovery Fund which were used to fund the necessary Covid 19 safety measures, reopen its doors and stay afloat. “Our visitors have helped too – every person that buys an admission, enjoys a coffee in the café or buys a keepsake from the gift shop ensures our future,” says Richard.

Summer

2021

presented

its

own

challenges. “It has been a daily struggle to ensure we’ve had enough staff available to be able to remain open, but with the help of our wonderful staff and volunteers, we

“It was a shocking blow for the museum, for our community and for the industry as a whole,” says chief executive Richard Doughty, “and one that arrived just days before we were due to open our most ambitious exhibition to date.

have managed to get through the whole

The last 18 months has been the most challenging time in the organisation’s history. The lockdowns have led to just over nine months of closure and once we could reopen the capacity restrictions meant that we couldn’t generate the income we need.

For a museum reliant on admissions, spend in the shop and café as well as donations it’s been incredibly difficult.”

and

| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

summer season with no hiccups.

“We hear every day how businesses and organisations have adapted and innovated through the pandemic, and so have we. Our education workshops adult

lectures

are

now

both

available in-person and virtually and we’ve reformatted aspects of our family education programmes to either be solely online or a blended approach. It means we are now reaching new audiences across the country, and beyond, connecting CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

Argal Farm Shop

The Falmouth Hotel

Argal Farm Shop celebrates it’s 10th birthday in November. Stacey and family took on the shop with the main principal of sourcing local produce and products where possible endeavouring to provide an enjoyable, inspiring and friendly shopping experience. If you enjoy quality fruit and vegetables, local butchered meats, cheeses, really good pasties, pies and cakes then pay us a visit. Lots of vegan, vegetarian and gluten free choices too. The shop is open Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 11am-5pm.

Thank you to all our loyal customers for supporting us over the last 10 years.

Argal Farm Shop, Higher Argal, Falmouth TR11 5PE T: 01326 372737 • G @ArgalFarmShop • A argal_farm_shop

The Grey Lurcher

Four years on the High Street

Enjoy a taste of grandeur at the “Grande Dame of Falmouth”, oozing with Victorian splendour, spacious interiors, and stunning sea views, for one of our superb Cornish cream teas. Delight in our locally made scones, accompanied by Cornish clotted cream, and homemade jam, or alongside a selection of traditional finger sandwiches, cakes and pastries in our elegant Castle beach restaurant. To book your table please visit www.falmouthhotel.co.uk, select dining and choose English cream teas.

For our restaurant lunch and dinner reservations please also visit our website and select dining at The Falmouth. See page 82 for Autumn/ Winter special offer breaks.

The Falmouth Hotel, Castle Beach, Falmouth, TR11 4NZ T: 01326 312671 W: www.falmouthhotel.co.uk G @TheFalmouthHotel A @thefalmouthhotel

Stitches & Cream

Falmouth, and one move later, The Grey Lurcher is building on its homewares and lifestyle pieces.

After a move at the end of the first lockdown and the renovation of the shop and courtyard garden, The Grey Lurcher is worth popping into. It houses a selection of homewares and lifestyle products that just might tempt you.

Alongside, cards, Bath and beauty products, there is also a selection of jewellery and accessories, cushions lampshades and interior pieces.

Building on the success of Annie Sloan paints and products the shop also stock the new. Ornithology Milk Mineral paint another local brand for furniture painters.

The Grey Lurcher, 20 High Street, Falmouth T: 01326 618240 www.greylurcherfalmouth.com

Stitches and Cream is a small family run business selling high quality and contemporary dress fabric, sewing patterns, a wide range of kits, and we stock natural fibre yarns that we love to use ourselves.

We are committed to supporting other local and British small producers and creatives. Being able to tell the story and heritage of our products is important to us, and our customers.

So if you need help choosing the right yarn or fabric for your next project come in and talk to us as we love talking about knitting, crochet or sewing, and get a real kick out of helping people.

Or if you fancy trying something new we offer small and select workshops for you to learn new skills, and develop existing ones too. We also offer cake!

16 High St, Falmouth TR11 2AB • info@stitchesandcream.co.uk www.stitchesandcream.co.uk t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 25 n

© Falmouth Town Team

© Falmouth Town Team

them with our stories and collections for the first time.”

He is optimistic for the future. “We have to be. We remain as ambitious and as dedicated as ever to our programme of events and exhibitions, while keeping a very close eye on how the pandemic evolves.”

Of course, while Falmouth relies on visitors for some of its income, the happiness of its residents is also crucial.

Also in the Old Post Office, town clerk Mark Williams has spent the last few years overseeing the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP), which has enabled community groups and individuals to influence the policies that will govern future planning applications.

When the plan was launched, a major concern was housing, in particular the conversion of family homes into houses of multiple occupation (HMOs), as well as the building of new accommodation, largely in pursuit of the student pound.

Several applications had been turned down at a local level, only to be passed on appeal by inspectors across the Tamar.

The NDP, which went to a public vote in August and was passed by a whopping 94% of voters, is a bid to prevent this from happening again. n 26 |

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© Falmouth Town Team

“The NDP has given residents a voice and ownership of what’s happening in their community,” says deputy mayor Cllr Kirstie Edwards. “It’s empowering, and it makes policy more accessible to the lay person.”

The survey also highlighted areas that locals would like to see improved. These included the pedestrianisation of Church Street, which proved popular during the pandemic; the redevelopment of Church Street car park as an appealing destination for pedestrians to sit and admire the waterfront view; and the rejuvenation of the centenarian Prince of Wales Pier. There are also hopes to maximise the potential of a green corridor between Swanpool and Tregoniggie Woods. “The future vitality of town centres doesn’t rely on retail alone,” says Mark, sagely.

After an on-off presence in town due to Covid 19, students are back, bringing with them a youthful joie de vivre to university campuses at Tremough and Wood Lane.

Again, lessons have been learned and some lockdown measures have proved enduringly successful.

“Although the pandemic presented considerable challenges, our staff worked extraordinarily hard to provide the best possible experience for our students last year,” says Falmouth

| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

University Provost Professor Eunice Ma. “Although students are once again immersed in our in-person resources and receiving face-to-face teaching, we have harnessed the best of digital learning to deliver a 'digitally enhanced approach', which provides an inclusive, creative and flexible learning experience.”

The university is one of the partners behind the Falmouth Book Festival (October 14 to 17), in collaboration with Falmouth Bookseller and the team behind the Port Eliot Festival literary line-up. It fills a gap where the Falmouth Oyster Festival has been cancelled due to ongoing coronavirus concerns, and in the long-term, organisers hope it will sit right up there with the likes of Cheltenham or Hay-on-Wye. Falmouth Bookseller owner Ron Johns is excited by the project. “We had a festival in town a few years back but now feels like a great time to revisit the idea and create something impactful and with a real legacy.

It should give a real boost to the town, especially after such a long time without festivals like this in our lives.” l Words by Kirstie Newton Photographs courtesy of Falmouth Town Team

CHECK OUT A FESTIVAL The inaugural line-up of the Falmouth Book Festival (October 14 to 17) looks promising, with award-winning writers Max Porter and Monique Roffey alongside Cornwall-based authors such as Raynor Winn (pictured), Charlie Carroll, Catrina Davies, Nina Stibbe, Cathy Rentzenbrink, Wyl Menmuir and festival patron Philip Marsden, as well as illustrator Rebecca Cobb and Bafta-winning film director Mark Jenkin. Venues include The Poly, the Cornish Bank and Princess Pavilions. www.falmouthbookfestival.com SEE AN EXHIBITION Tattoo: British Tattoo Art ran to huge acclaim at the National Maritime Museum in 2017, challenging long-standing myths and preconceptions about tattooing (eg. class, gender and age), while celebrating the astonishingly rich artistic heritage of tattooing in the UK. After touring nationally, some key artworks return from October 16, including The 100 Hands: silicone arms tattooed with original designs by 100 leading UK tattoo artists.

At Falmouth Art Gallery, as well as big-

hitting shows on Henry Scott Tuke and Freud-Minton-Ryan, you can see Thanks For The Apples, which sees new work by nationally and internationally acclaimed contemporary artists, inspired by and displayed alongside hidden treasures from Cornish museum collections.

ENJOY A SHOW You’ll find a wide range of activities in Church Street. Take a pottery workshop with Karl Owen at The Poly, or see Owdyado Theatre’s Twisted Tales Vol 2 on October 22. https://thepoly.org Alternatively, head to The Cornish Bank for an impressive and eclectic line-up, from comic Tony Law (October 16) to contemporary UK jazz from the Ishmael Ensemble (November 24).

EAT YOUR FILL The Greenbank Hotel offers a variety of options. Enjoy fine dining in the two AA Rosette Water’s Edge restaurant with executive chef Nick Hodges, cosmopolitan drinks in the stylish bar, sink a few on Cornish time in the cosy Working Boat pub while admiring the harbour views. www.greenbank-hotel.co.uk

REST YOUR HEAD Known as the ‘Grande Dame of Falmouth’, The Falmouth Hotel first opened in 1865 as Isambard Kingdom Brunel expanded the Great Western Railway into Cornwall.

Its castle-like Victorian architecture, spacious interiors, seafront location and award-winning food has ensured its place as one of Cornwall’s best known hotels.

Its guests add up to a mini-Who’s Who of the great and the good, the famous and the fascinating, the triumphant and, occasionally, the tragic. Will you be next? www.falmouthhotel.co.uk EXPLORE A CREEK The Fal wends its way through the Cornish countryside, with myriad creeks shooting off to tiny hamlets, picturesque churches and thatched pubs. Why not base yourself at the heart of one? Creekside Cottages specialises in self-catering holiday accommodation by the waterside in Falmouth and surrounding area, including Flushing, Mylor and Restronguet. www.creeksidecottages.co.uk

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

TRURO WOOL

Owned by Julie Cowan, independent yarn shop Truro Wool is the only Cornwall finalist shortlisted for Best Regional Independent Store South West of England in the 2021 British Knitting & Crochet Awards

T

o say I’m chuffed to be nominated for an award is an understatement. We’re down to the last five in a huge area; the others are in Devon, Somerset

I'm supported by a fantastic community of

knitters like instant results, and buy chunky

knitters and crocheters from near and far -

wool that enables them to finish quicker. In

some people make a special visit to the shop

contrast, the further you get into your knitting

when they are on holiday. In 2018, the team

career, the more satisfaction you get from the

and Wiltshire, and while the whole industry

created over 15,000 hand-knitted and crochet

making process, however long it takes.

gets behind it, all nominations and votes have

poppies to commemorate the centenary of the

come from our customers. It’s a proper pat on

end of the First World War, which became the

the back. We’re very hopeful, because lots of

Bridge of Remembrance on Truro’s River Walk.

our customers have told us they’ve voted for us.

Buying wool and knitting are two different addictions. New yarn releases endorphins, and I have jokingly imposed a “wool ban” on some

I operated throughout lockdown by click-and-

customers, if I suspect they are buying lots of

collect and delivering yarn. We built a new

wool but not knitting with it! One customer

website and started an email newsletter. Our

even told me she has her wool on display,

I started knitting when I was seven. My gran

Knit and Natter social group moved online

like my shop, so she can look at it and stroke

knitted clothes for my dolls, then taught me

and later outside at Sunny Corner; one-to-

it. During my courses, I set homework so

to knit - I must have got too demanding!

one tutorials and courses took place over

participants have something to aim for: “I must

Opening a shop became my dream, and

Zoom, and the group sessions are now dual-

do this for next week, or Julie will be cross!”

eight years ago, when my children had left

participation, with some attending in person

home and my employer wanted to put me on

and others online. It means people can take

shiftwork, I thought: why not now?

part even if they don’t live in Truro, or don’t

That’s why it means so much. It shows people appreciate what you do.

I now stock more than 1,000 yarns, from budget man-made to merino wool dyed in the foothills of South America. There are so many different types of yarn: 100% recycled, cotton and bamboo, solid colour and sparkles, even selfstriping and patterning, which can produce complex-looking jumpers and socks, all very simply from one ball. We also sell accessories, such as knitting needles and buttons.

During the pandemic, we turned increasingly to native breed British yarns: Shetland, Blue-Faced Leicester, Jacob. I also stock small-batch

yarn

dyers

from

Cornwall,

including Perran Yarns in Goonhavern and Madder About Wool near Launceston, while Frangipani of Helston specialises in wool for knitting traditional Cornish ganseys - hard-

want to miss out while on holiday.

What really struck me is how much people

My son also knits. He made the woolly seagulls flying around the display. The pattern is sold to raise money for the Fishermen’s Mission, and we’ve donated over £100 so far.

use knitting for mental well-being. It’s almost

October and November are our busiest

meditative – taking that time to stop, and get

months. People start to knuckle down and

in the moment and the rhythm of it. It’s also

make Christmas presents. We also have a Knit

sociable: for Knit and Natter, I suggest people

and Natter weekend at the Budock Vean in

bring something simple to do and enjoy the

November, a huge get-together with around

conversation. It’s also an act of love: people are

20 of us. We get quieter in December, just as

often making things for other people, whether

everyone else gets started, although we do

it’s a relative or for charity.

sell vouchers and also things that might make

If you knit or crochet, you want to talk about

suitable gifts, such as knitting baskets. l

it and show people. People often bring their

Truro

projects into the shop, and there’s a lot of

TR1 2AF. Tel: 01872 270661 (Monday

banter and laughter. It’s also seen as a very

to Saturday).

safe environment in which to talk, especially for

@TruroWool, www.trurowool.com

women – although I do have male customers, and men make excellent knitters.

Wool,

St

Mary’s

Street,

Truro,

Facebook & Instagram:

The winners of the British Knitting & Crochet Awards will be announced on

wearing fishermen’s sweaters with patterns

We see people of all ages, thanks in some part

October 28. For further information, visit

individual to families or villages.

to the Tom Daley effect! I tend to find younger

www.letsknit.co.uk/awards

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THE WANT LIST

Atishoo Gallery 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Located in the beautiful village of Charlestown, a short walk up from the harbour opposite the old chapel, Atishoo Gallery is full to the brim with an eclectic mix of original art, crafts, prints, homewares and jewellery, all designed by UK based artists and designers and at a variety of price points. Atishoo is owned by artists Liz Hackney and Paul Clark, who have their own artwork on display. Paul also offers a bespoke picture framing service by appointment; he has been a framer for over 25 years and is known for the excellent quality of his craftsmanship.

1. Life Is A Journey Campervan, small framed print by Becky Bettesworth, from £39.50. 2. Blue lobster cushion, from £29.50 3. Stay Wild, small framed print by Becky Bettesworth, from £39.50. 4. Deep Blue Sea large lentil pendant, from £75 5. Go With The Flow compact mirror from £9.95 6. Large Seaspray heart pendant from £79 7. Framed seahorse print from £26.50 8. Mackerel Shoal apron from £19 9. The Lonely Pine Tree, Charlestown, print by Liz Hackney, from £15 Atishoo Gallery, 71 Charlestown Road, Charlestown, St Austell PL25 3NL Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 4pm.

Tel 01726 65900, email info@atishoogallery.co.uk or visit www.atishoogallery.co.uk

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

A spectacular geological phenomenon that has long been the focal point of the surrounding communities, Roche Rock is associated with numerous myths and legends. Discover the history of this striking landmark, and the truth behind the stories that cling to these enigmatic ruins like moorland mist.

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

"

The granite outcrop rises like a huge molar into which has been inserted the early fifteenth century chapel of St Michael, long roofless and with a hermit's cell below it."

John Betjeman 1964 The history of Roche Rock is a delightful tangle of folktales and half-remembered truths regarding lepers, lords, giants and hermits. It has always drawn people (and tall tales) to it, and yet remains firmly off the typical tourist trail.

The nearby village of Roche, indeed the whole parish, has been named after this strange group of rock formations.

Since at least 1201, the area has been known as La Roche, meaning ‘the rock’ in French. In the past, fairs and cattle and horse markets were held in the shadow of the outcrops several times a year; it was also a campsite for gypsies and, as far back as the Middle Ages, was considered a place where evil spirits would congregate.

The highest outcrop of these black tourmaline granite rock formations likened by the poet John Betjeman to “a molar” jutting up through the sparse vegetation - rises to 20m (66ft) above the surrounding moorland, and was probably formed around 270 million years ago.

Today it is crowned by the ruins of an ancient chapel, but before that structure was built, it is thought there was a simple hermit’s cell on the rock, home to a monk or priest called Ogrin. The 12th century poet Beroul mentions the priest and his hermitage in his telling of the romantic tale of Tristan and Isolde: according to legend, Ogrin gave shelter and counsel to the starcrossed lovers as they tried to escape the wrath of Isolde’s husband, King Mark.

The chapel we see today was built on the rock more than 600 years ago in 1409 by the Tregarrick family, who owned the manor in which the rock stood at that time.

Sturdily constructed using locally quarried granite, the building is a feat of medieval engineering. It hugs the topography of

the outcrop, using the natural stone as an intrinsic part of its structure.

The two storeys of this now roofless, floorless ruin once provided accommodation for the chaplain on the ground floor, with a small chapel above dedicated to St Michael. Just like St Michael’s Mount, it is thought that Roche Rock was once a site of pilgrimage and that a beacon would be lit on its heights to guide weary travellers across the lonely moors to its shelter.

The windows still frame staggering views of the surrounding clay country, and are decorated with finely carved mouldings, as are the doors. Old etchings hint at other buildings on the rock, long since disappeared. The chapel can still be accessed by some rather rusty ladders; according to historian William Hals, writing in the 18th century, there was once a stonebuilt flight of stairs leading to the doorway, but this was subsequently pulled down and the stone reused in the village.

One of the most memorable legends connected to Roche Rock is that it was the home of a leper. This story may have some truth in it, as it is said that Sir John Tregarrick, lord of the manor and MP for Truro in the 14th century, and his family were the chapel’s last inhabitants. Some say Tregarrick was weary of the world and wanted to live on the rock in solitude and peace, others that he had contracted leprosy and was forced to hide away from the community. His daughter is said to have cared for him, bringing him meat and bread every day and collecting water for him from a well at the base of Roche Rock.

This well, supposedly named after her, is called Saint Gundred’s or Gunnett’s well, and has a strange myth all of its own. The folklorist Robert Hunt wrote about it in 1896, claiming it never runs dry and the level of the water “ebbs and flows as the sea”. Richard Carew wrote a verse about this strange marvel in 1602: “You neighbour-scorner, holy proud, Go people too Roche’s cell, There, hermits, may you dwell.

Is’t true that spring in rock hereby Doth tide-wise ebb and flow?

Or have we fools with liars met?

Fame say it; be it so.”

Although Roche Rock was clearly once a site of important religious significance, stories like this one illustrate the many traditional folktales that are attached to this atmospheric place. It is a lonely spot, well suited to wild imaginings.

The rock was also said to have been a meeting place for witches, while yet another myth has the moans of a giant emanating from the stones on stormy nights. But perhaps the most famous former occupant was Jan Tregeagle, said to have been a 17th century magistrate and Cornwall’s answer to Sisyphus. There are various versions of his unfortunate story, but most agree he was an evil character who sold his soul to the Devil.

After his death, Tregeagle was doomed to repeat a number of impossible tasks for all eternity, such as making a length of rope from sand and emptying Dozmary Pool on Bodmin Moor with a holey limpet shell. At night, he would find himself being hunted across the moor by the hounds of hell, and on one occasion they chased him all the way to Roche Rock. Legend has it that he took refuge inside; the ungodly hounds couldn’t enter the chapel walls but it is said Tregeagle’s terrified howls can still be heard on the wind.

These days, myths and legends aside, Roche Rock makes a beautiful spot for a picnic, especially with the surrounding nature reserve, and its precipitous rock faces often attract brave climbers. The outcrop stands in the heart of clay country, a part of Cornwall often overlooked but boasting dramatic scenery, much of it shaped by its industrial past. It’s worth spending a day exploring this unusual landscape, and there’s no better starting place for such an adventure than Roche Rock. l Words and photographs

by Elizabeth Dale

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Humphry Davy Statue, Penzance

by Mike Newman - ocean-image.com

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

Humphry Davy Truro’s Three Spires Singers perform a new work about the revered scientist, written by Cornish composer Graham Fitkin

C

hemist, inventor, Enlightenment Man: Sir Humphry Davy is one of the most famous sons of Penzance, and this month he

will be celebrated by another. When the Three Spires Singers of Truro decided to create a new work to celebrate their 40th anniversary,

renowned

composer

and

Cornishman Graham Fitkin was the natural choice, and Davy the perfect subject.

The resulting piece, Humphry Davy – The Age Of Aspiration, is a joyful union of Science and the Arts, and will be performed in November at Truro Cathedral with actor Samuel West as narrator and countertenor Rory McCleery in the titular role.

The singers will also be joined by Cornwall Girls’ and Boys’ Choirs, as well as over 50 musicians from the Three Spires Orchestra.

A leading light in the minimalist and postminimalist genre, Graham has been commissioned by orchestras and artists around the world, from the Hallé in Manchester and the BBC Philharmonic to the Tokyo Symphony and New York City Ballet.

His cello concerto, written for Yo-Yo Ma, was premiered at the BBC Proms in 2011, and he has composed for dance, film and digital media, as well as running his own ensemble.

A busy man, he does most of this from Cornwall’s far west. Hailing from the hamlet of Crows-an-Wra in West Penwith, he attended Humphry Davy secondary school in Penzance and now lives near Land’s End with his wife, harpist Ruth Wall.

Having previously collaborated on projects with Tate St Ives and the Minack Theatre, he was thrilled to join forces with the Three Spires Singers in their landmark year.

“As most of my work is for institutions, festivals and venues in major cities across the UK and abroad, it’s always a delight when someone down here asks me to do something,” he says. “It means I feel more involved, both with the commission but also with my community.”

Working locally comes with specific benefits.

“A lot of halls have their own characteristics, often built in, which means a performance in Berlin might not be the same as in Tokyo - but while I do my best to find out, it’s often the case that I don’t get to visit. In contrast, I know Truro Cathedral well, and enjoy writing for it,” Graham explains.

“Also, a commission for a large orchestra might only see a couple of rehearsals before a first performance, meaning I might simplify or modify my ideas to take that into account. With this one, I can relax because I know the Three Spires will have time to learn and practise some of the techniques I’ve included, and have them embedded. I can even drop into rehearsals to check on progress, and advise and adapt accordingly.”

Davy was born on December 17, 1778, the son of woodcarver Robert Davy and his wife Grace. Having attended school in his home town and Truro, he developed a love of chemistry and worked as a lab assistant, during which time he experimented with gases, largely by inhaling them. In this way, he discovered the properties of nitrous oxide as both anaesthetic and "laughing gas", while carbon monoxide almost led to his early demise.

“He would note how he felt for each experiment, and whether he’d had a

glass of wine or a full meal. He also experimented on his friends. Great fun, very informative but incredibly dangerous,” says Graham. Having secured a post at the Royal Institution in London, Davy’s renown grew as the inventor of the safety lamp, discovered electrolysis and isolated iodine. He also wrote books on fly fishing and travel, and was knighted in 1812. He died in 1829 in Geneva, where he was buried.

Graham turned to Kresen Kernow (Cornwall’s historical archive in Redruth) and the Royal Institution in London for his own research. Both yielded letters, research notes and background from which he wove the text of this new work.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the process,” he enthuses. “Most people might not know much about Davy, or only know the one thing: the miner’s safety lamp. But the other stuff is just as extraordinary if not more so. People flocked to his public lectures because he was so entertaining.”

The work also serves as a commentary on the society of the late 18th century: the industrial revolution and the rise of capitalism and consumerism, the disenfranchisement of the poor and Wilberforce’s abolition speech from the House of Commons. “It’s the first time you’ll have heard a House of Commons rap,” laughs Graham. It all adds up to a lot of information, and yet Graham was aiming for "a single, monolithic piece: a huge challenge”.

The choir was founded for the Three Spires Festival in 1981, when around 60 singers were directed by the late Richard CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

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English and celebrates life. It’s written with the same love and care as a eulogy at a funeral, and I found it incredibly moving, but also refreshing.”

Graham was commissioned in 2016, and before a single note was written, the fundraising wheels were set in motion, both by choir members and through grant funding applications. “For an amateur choir to commission at that level and expense is a massive undertaking,” says Three Spires chair Lora Wicks. “Minimalist music doesn’t normally put bums on seats, so we are really sticking our neck out. But it’s exciting to be doing something new.”

Graham Fitkin

With singing viewed as a potential means of spreading covid 19, choirs suffered more than many activities during the pandemic. Having been restricted to online participation since March 2020, the choir returned to rehearsing together on September 6, in a school hall with open windows and well-spaced seating.

“It’s a big part of our lives, both musically and socially,” says Lora. “Rehearsing via Zoom just isn’t the same, but it was better than not singing at all, and it kept the tribe together.”

Lora has also kept the choir up to date via a number of podcasts, including two in conversation with Graham about the emerging work. Fellow Cornishman Petroc Hickox, performing with revered musicians including violinist Nigel Kennedy and percussionist Evelyn Glennie. While the festival is long gone, the choir remains, with 125 members at last count, and is today led by Christopher Gray, director of music at Truro Cathedral.

Performing new music gives the choir a

While it is well known for performing the blockbuster works associated with large choirs (eg Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, Verdi), the group is no stranger to commissioning new music. In 2013, it premiered A Secular Requiem by Truro composer Russell Pascoe, which is scheduled to return to the cathedral in March 2022.

“So it’s nice to be doing something

For Christmas 2019, a new carol was written especially for the cathedral choir, with lyrics by the choristers set to music

by Sasha Johnson-Manning. “It’s one thing commissioning a Christmas carol; it’s a much bigger statement to go for a 40-minute piece, for choir, soloist, narrator and full orchestra,” says Chris, with pride.

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“balanced diet” of musical styles and eras.

“There’s so much choral repertoire along religious themes, partly because before concert halls and opera houses opened, music came out of the church and was

different.

Graham

has

a

distinctive voice of his own, unlike other composers you might have heard. It’s for a sophisticated palate and the choir will find it challenging to start with, but it will become intuitive after a while.”

What about the audience? “Some people will come to the concert because it’s a bit different, and they’ve heard the Verdi Requiem before; others will be interested in Humphry Davy - his life and legacy,” says Chris. “I think all will find it appealing, not least for the narrative text spoken by Davy. Where church texts are often written in Latin and concern death, this is in

| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

patron and will host a pre-concert seminar with Graham, former Tomorrow’s World presenter Vivienne Parry and science historian Dr Patricia Fara on October 16 (venue to be confirmed).

Once premiered, all involved hope the

written for it,” Chris explains.

completely

Trelawny, of Classic FM, is the choir’s

piece will go on to have a long and fruitful life. “One of the biggest thrills is that we are bringing a new musical work into being in a way that is meaningful to the people of Cornwall,” says Lora. Adds Graham: “This is only the beginning of the life of this particular piece - I’m very excited.”

Humphry Davy – The Age Of Aspiration will be performed on November 20 and 21 at Truro Cathedral. The programme will also include Poulenc’s Gloria and Ravel’s piano concerto in G played by Cordelia Williams. www.threespiressingers.org.uk l Words by Kirstie Newton

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Christmas YOUR GUIDE TO

in

Cornwall 2021

IF YOU WOULD TO ADVERTISE OUR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TOLIKE ADVERTISE IN OUR IN CHRISTMAS IN 2022 ART GUIDES PLEASE CONTACT JENI SMITH CORNWALL 2021 GUIDE PLEASE CONTACT JENI SMITH TEL: 01209 494003 • EMAIL: JENI.MYCORNWALL@GMAIL.COM TEL: 01209 494003 • EMAIL: JENI.MYCORNWALL@GMAIL.COM n 38 |

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

A new short story anthology plumbs the depths of Cornwall’s darker side

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

mariner inherits a skull that screams incessantly along with the roar of the sea; a phantom hare stalks the moors to deliver justice for a crime long dead; a man witnesses a murder in the woods near St Ives, only to wonder whether it was he himself who committed the crime. Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson find their Cornish Riviera holiday scuppered by a series of horrible murders in what Holmes describes as “the strangest case I had ever handled”.

These chilling yarns are all set in Cornwall, and come from the pens of Victorian Gothic luminaries such as Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Arthur Conan Doyle and a host of underappreciated and forgotten writers from the past two centuries.

Together they form the anthology Cornish Horrors: Tales From The Land’s End, edited by Joan Passey and published by British Library. The collection capitalises on the surge in interest in the likes of Winston Graham (Poldark) and Daphne du Maurier (Rebecca), and explores Cornwall’s rich folklore and traditions in a journey through mines, mythology, shipwrecks, seascapes and the arrival of the railway and with it, tourism.

A teacher and researcher at the University of Bristol specialising in transhistorical Gothic fiction, Joan was partial to chillers from an unusually early age. “My dad had to give special permission for me to have an adult library card when I was eight, because I’d already read every Point Horror and Goosebumps book in the children’s section,” she laughs. “I was reading Stephen King far too young, and have dined on a steady diet of Gothic horror ever since.”

As an undergraduate, she studied at the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus, with lectures in the Daphne du Maurier building. “I fell in love with Rebecca and Frenchman’s Creek at the same time I fell in love with living in Cornwall,” she says.

In her third year, she took the Gothic unit with Professor Nick Groom - “the Prof of Goth!” - and wondered whether there was a Gothic Cornwall before du Maurier. Her persistent digging led to an undergraduate dissertation on the use of Cornwall as a

Gothic space, followed by a PhD to define a Gothic Cornwall (with the intriguing title Corpses, Coasts And Carriages).

“The Gothic has been a really rich field for study since the 1970s, with lots of work on Welsh, Irish and Scottish Gothic,” says Joan. “But despite a wealth of narratives, many by some of the most famous authors of the 19th century, a Cornish Gothic hadn’t yet been considered.

"I started by Googling, and relied a lot on word of mouth – at conferences, people would recommend their favourite Cornish Gothic wonders. I trawled through archives with increasingly elaborate search terms, and found many short stories while working as an intern at the wonderful Royal Cornwall Museum. Those included in the anthology are just a few of what turned out to be hundreds, and I’m finding more all the time.”

With its Celtic roots, myths and legends and lively history, particularly during the Civil War, Cornwall had long been viewed by both locals and outsiders as a land of mystery and otherness. While we take a more educated stance on this in the 21st century, with the Cornish being granted EU minority status in 2014 to celebrate and protect their unique identity, opinions were less kind in the 1800s.

In her introduction, Joan explains how the Cornish were seen as “ungovernable miners, fiery Celts and potentially even smugglers, wreckers and pirates”. Of a group of Cornish miners encountered on his overseas travels, Robert Louis Stevenson, no less, wrote: “A division of races, older and more original than that of Babel, keeps this close, esoteric family apart from neighbouring Englishmen …

This is one of the lessons of travel – that some of the strangest races dwell next door to you at home.”

Rather than repelling would-be visitors, this reputation had precisely the opposite effect: “Tourists flocked to this strange, frightening land on England’s doorstep.”

In 1859, when Isambard Kingdom Brunel built the Royal Albert Bridge and extended the Great Western Railway into Cornwall, it saw a sudden influx of visitors who were as fascinated by the locals as they were appreciative of the “Mediterranean” climate.

While the income from tourism filled the void left by the increasing decline of mining, there were concerns – then as now – that the hordes would spoil the very things that made Cornwall so special. For that reason, authors hurried down west, eager to see it before it was changed irrevocably. Joan points out how many stories “feature the county somewhat rejecting the unwary visitor”.

Some tour operators were only too happy to exploit Cornwall’s newly discovered dark side; among the ghoulish experiences on offer was a special train transporting rubbernecking visitors to Bodmin Jail for a ringside seat for the latest round of hangings.

Why haven’t these stories been collected before? “Historically, Cornwall has been somewhat marginalised and occluded from literary and cultural histories,” says Joan, “for reasons including sheer distance and inaccessibility, historical administrative neglect, a radical and tumultuous reputation throughout the 19th century, and perhaps just bad luck!

“Humphry Davy offered Samuel Taylor Coleridge a tour of Cornwall the same summer William Wordsworth offered a trip to the Lakes. What would literary landscapes look like if Cornwall had become the nation’s heart of Romantic poetry?”

While renowned anthologist Denys Val Baker collected a number of Cornish Gothic tales in the 1970s, Joan admits: "There has been very little love for this rich, bountiful and very particular genre of fiction.” She predicts a sea-change, with the forthcoming release of Gothic Kernow by Ruth Heholt and Tanya Krzywinska (Anthem), as well as her own Cornish Gothic (University of Wales Press). “Poldark led to a renewed popularity in Cornwall’s brooding coasts, and Mark Jenkin’s Bait offered a modern spin on the haunted county. Hopefully there’s much more to come!” l Words by Kirstie Newton Illustrations by Sandra Gómez, with design by Mauricio Villamayor Cornish Horrors: Tales From The Land’s End is published by British Library, paperback £8.99.

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

An insight into the work of the Cornwall Air Ambulance crew In August, the Cornwall Air Ambulance crew was tasked to 124 emergency incidents across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Air Operations Officer Steve Garvey takes us on board a busy summer day shift, to offer an insight behind the numbers and the types of incidents the lifesaving team are called out to.

“The early shift starts at 7am. On Friday, August 6, I was working alongside critical care paramedic Stuart Croft and pilot Richard Dixon. We had barely finished the morning briefing and helicopter checks when the red phone rang at 7.15am.

First call of the day was a motorbike accident on the A38 near Bodmin. We were fortunate to be able to bypass all the morning commuter traffic and land right next to the road within 10 minutes. The motorbike rider suffered an open fracture on his ankle and was visibly in a lot of pain.

As a team, we administered ketamine to

control room for updates and to make sure we knew exactly where the aircraft from Devon was. We landed side by side in a As we lifted from the hospital to head back field at the top of the town, just as the call to base, South Western Ambulance Service came through to stand down. Sadly, both (SWASft) control room radioed in with casualties died from their injuries before we another job. We flew straight to Wadebridge could get there. to help an elderly woman who was found unconscious at home. Depending on The final tasking for the day shift came as where an incident takes place, we can’t soon as we lifted from Polperro: a cardiac always land as close to the patient as we arrest in Fowey. Pilot Richard landed in a would like. On these occasions we rely on playing field, about a five-minute run from our colleagues from the police, ambulance the site to the patient’s house. The survival service or sometimes even passers-by to rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests is get us where we need to be. This patient’s fewer than 1 in 10; sadly, despite our best vital signs were poor, so we worked to efforts, the patient did not survive. transfer her to Royal Cornwall Hospital as We returned to base for the first time all quickly as possible. day at 3pm. Our priority is always to refuel Following the handover at Treliske, it the helicopter and restock the kit bags, as was 12.30pm – time for lunch (or so we we never know when the phone might ring thought). The next call came through again. It’s relentless at times, particularly before we lifted, this time a violent incident in the summer when it’s busy and you’re in Polperro. With reports of two casualties, on back-to-back jobs - it can be very Devon Air Ambulance was also tasked to demanding. Some days you can’t always the scene. Stuart and I were prepared for help everyone, but when you do make a the type of injuries we might encounter, difference in someone’s life, that is what makes it all worthwhile.” l such as a traumatic arrest. an operation - a flight which took just 18 minutes from the scene.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are still wearing PPE when we treat patients. Often his foot and put his leg in a splint. Due this involves changing into a full protective to the nature of his injury, he needed to suit at 1,000ft in the air! In the helicopter, be transferred to Derriford Hospital for we maintained contact with the ambulance the patient, which allowed us to manipulate

Cornwall Air Ambulance is a charity which relies on the generosity of supporters to fly and save lives across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Find out more at cornwallairambulancetrust.org

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ART HOUSE GALLERY Always on the lookout for new talent, Art House Gallery features a diverse mix of mediums, blending representational and abstract styles.

The exhibition evolves all season with fresh and dynamic work.

Their collection includes more than 20 of the most respected artists working in Cornwall today.

Open times: mostly 11:30am-4:30pm • Private views are available Art House Gallery, Island Square, St Ives, TR26 1NT T: 01736 794423 M: 07512 978 730 E: theahgallery@gmail.com n 44 |

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www.thearthouses.com

| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

Image courtesy of the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society Tuke Collection.

46 50 52 54 56 58 60 62

ART NEWS VIP THROUGH THE EYES OF...

ART FOCUS MAKER'S FOCUS ARTIST PROFILE MEET THE MAKER GALLERY OF THE MONTH

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INSPIRE MAKERS, FALMOUTH Have you ever wanted to learn new skills or try different crafts? Are you curious about how artists and makers do what they do? Inspire Makers on Falmouth’s Old High Street is delighted to report that its workshop programme is now fully up and running! A wide range of “kitchen table” based classes are available to inspire you to find your own creative path. Half- or full-day sessions are hosted by the artists and makers showcased in the shop, and are designed to give you an introduction to various art forms and the confidence to carry on exploring at home without needing a large outlay on equipment or materials. So if you’re a budding jeweller, glass fuser, bookbinder or artist of any kind, see what sparks your imagination! l Inspire Makers, 5 High Street, Falmouth, TR11 2AB. Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm.

Tel. 01326 531176, www.inspiremakers.com/workshops

COVER STAR: MATT JOHNSON, SEASALT CORNWALL Matt Johnson is an illustrator based in Falmouth. His artwork focuses on Cornish landscape and nature and he is currently working on his first illustrated book, all about Cornwall’s fishing history. Matt designs prints and illustrations inhouse for the fashion brand Seasalt, as well as freelance artwork for customers such as the RNLI, Bloomsbury Publishing, Jacobi Jayne and Digital Arts. The St Mawes garden scene on this issue’s cover was created for Seasalt, and featured in their 2021 calendar. It is also currently available as a greeting card at www. seasaltcornwall.co.uk l To see more of Matt’s work and to buy prints, visit his website: www.mattillustration.uk or find him on Instagram: @mattillustrationuk His prints are also now available at Olde Rope, 5 The Moor, Falmouth, TR11 3QA

ANDREW BARROWMAN AT THE CUSTOM HOUSE, PORTHLEVEN Landscape artist Andrew Barrowman prefers to paint en plein air, using oils as his chosen medium. His paintings often start with ideas found while walking his dog, making quick sketches and colour notes in a small sketch book. "Painting outdoors on location helps me learn more about my subject, but there are often distractions: changeable weather, rising tides, changing light and insects biting!” he says. “It’s all part of the experience of creating a painting. I often come home tasting the salt on my lips from the sea spray thrown into the air as the waves crash against the rocks.

When painting inland, I usually return covered in mud or scratched by brambles after tumbling over with all my painting gear!” l See Andrew’s work at the Custom House Gallery on Porthleven’s harbourside from Saturday, October 16 to Monday, October 25. n 46 |

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

www.cornwall-art.co.uk

TRELISSICK GALLERY

Our Autumn/Winter Members Exhibition opens on the 2nd October and will run until January 2022.

www.cornwallcrafts.co.uk

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PORTHMEOR ART COLLECTIVE St Ives School of Painting has introduced the next phase of a free youth programme, giving local and national young artists the opportunity to exhibit work in Cornwall’s cultural heart. The Porthmeor Art Collective is a free online programme for 13- to 16-year-olds which can be accessed around the UK. Spearheaded by emerging Cornish artist Caleb Richards, 25, the programme explores art from a contemporary perspective, including how it contributes to pop culture and influences the way young people see themselves and the world around them. “When I was in my teens, I craved this insight and encouragement when scribbling spooky faces in my bedroom,” he says. “With this course, I hope to offer useful tips and tricks, and help participants develop a pragmatic process they can use every time they approach a new piece of work." The project will run on Tuesdays from October 12 to November 9 at 4.30pm. The exhibition will take place on November 21 from 11am to 3pm. l Visit http://schoolofpainting.co.uk/young-artists/ or Instagram @ porthmeor_youngartists

THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS The paintings and prints of Suzy Sharpe are on show at The Old Coastguard hotel in Mousehole from October 16 to January 5. Suzy’s latest body of work has a particular focus on owls and other British birds. Imagine the magical momentary glimpse of a barn owl, the barely heard hoot of a tawny owl, the distant flock of lapwings passing an estuary, or a cloud of 200,000 starlings overhead. Contrast that with the roar of the busy rush-hour traffic and the hectic human landscape of wind turbines, power cables and plastic navigated daily by wildlife. Mancunian Suzy has lived in Cornwall for 27 years, having studied Fine Art in Plymouth and an MA in Authorial Illustration from Falmouth University. She is now a part-time lecturer on the Art & Design Practice BA (hons) course at Cornwall College. Her studio is based on her smallholding, where she occasionally runs workshops. l www.suzysharpeartist.com/ocg

EARLY WINTER WORKS AT WHITEWATER CONTEMPORARY As part of the gallery’s ongoing Featured Artist series, Whitewater Contemporary in Polzeath presents a new collection of paintings by Virginia Ray throughout October. Virginia’s mixed media landscape works are inspired by the dramatic weather and rich industrial heritage of West Cornwall, and include materials taken from the land itself - slate, tin, copper and stone dust – so each work engages with Cornwall’s natural elements and celebrates the rich materiality of the land. The collection is informed by walks on which Virginia records her sensory impressions of the unique scenery, retracing the footsteps of those who once populated this working mining area. Then from November 1, artist Suki Wapshott presents a new exhibition of work, inspired by her love of literature and the spectacular surroundings of her home in Polzeath.l Whitewater Contemporary, The Parade, Polzeath, PL27 6SR. For further information and to take a virtual tour of current gallery exhibitions, see whitewatercontemporary.co.uk

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

The Customs House Gallery Porthleven

˜

˜

Improve your skills and meet like-minded people with pottery classes and workshops in Redruth, Cornwall.

These sessions are a great way to further explore the world of pottery.

everything and those who just want a few fun hours making a mug, plate or bowl.

I have three types of weekly workshops; on the wheel, for those who want nothing more than to learn to throw and are focused solely on that; general, for those who want to try

My studio has a relaxed and happy atmosphere, 10am12noon and 1pm-3pm Tuesday to Friday. 10am-12noon and 6.30pm-8.30pm Mondays, and 10am-12noon weekends

G10 Percy Williams Building, Krowji, West Park, Redruth, Cornwall TR15 3AJ Text: 07855 102 598 Email: susywardg10@yahoo.com www.susywardceramics.com

ROCKY BEACH, PERRANUTHNOE

an exhibition of original paintings by andrew barrowman CREATIVE & CULTURAL LIVING

SATURDAY 16TH TO MONDAY 25TH OCTOBER 2021

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADVERTISE IN OUR 2022 ART GUIDES PLEASE CONTACT JENI SMITH

OPEN DAILY 10.30AM TO 5PM

TEL: 01209 494003 EMAIL: JENI.MYCORNWALL@GMAIL.COM

W: WWW.CORNWALL-ART.CO.UK T: 01326 569365 E: HELLO@THECUSTOMSHOUSEGALLERY.CO.UK

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VIP

A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE

LIZARD ART, TRELOWARREN

Autumn show: Until October 31 Book Launch and Little Picture Show: November 3 to 21 Lizard Art, Trelowarren Estate, Mawgan-in-Meneage, Cornwall TR12 6AF Found within the ancient cobbled courtyard at the heart of the Trelowarren estate, the Stable Yard Gallery is an idyllic place to soak up the creative culture of the Lizard.

The old converted stable barns house the popular Pantry and New Yard Restaurant, and are also home to Lizard Art co-operative which brings together the work of some of the country’s most southerly-based artists.

After successful Spring, Summer and Autumn Exhibitions in 2021, Lizard Art is looking forward to celebrating the launch of a new book, Lizard Uncovered, which features a compilation of words and images from each of the current members. This is a real personal insight into the artists’ work and their influences, and with Christmas round the corner, makes a perfect gift for fellow creatives.

The launch coincides with the annual Little Picture Show, from November 3 to 21 - a lovely intimate exhibition of smaller works, curated collectively to create a cohesive and immersive show that allows each member’s work to shine. Expect a broad range of different media from each artist, including more experimental work. It’s a must-see, and again a great opportunity to grab a special painting, print, drawing or sculpture for a loved one (or yourself!) from one of the collective professional artists of the Lizard.

Our artists are looking forward to welcoming you to this special exhibition, so please tell your friends and make a date to explore this hidden gem on the Lizard.

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

COWHOUSE GALLERY

The gallery is run by a group of local artists and craftspeople and offers a wide range of original arts and crafts at very affordable prices.

A stroll away is Perranuthnoe Cove with breathtaking coastal walks looking towards St Michael’s Mount in one direction and to Prussia Cove the other.

CREATIVE & CULTURAL LIVING INSPIRE MAKERS

Open daily 10-5. Lynfield Craft Centre, Perranuthnoe TR20 9NE T: 01736 710538 • www.cowhousegallery.co.uk

JACKSON FOUNDATION Kurt Jackson – Wheat: From Plough to Plate For many years the building that houses the Jackson Foundation was part of Warrens Bakery. It was here that their lorries were serviced, repaired and maintained.

In this exhibition, Kurt Jackson traces the journey of a staple crop - wheat from ‘field to fork’ in media spanning paint, sculpture, poetry and film.

Located towards the top of Falmouth High Street, Inspire Makers is a creative space showcasing the talent of over 50 Cornish artists and craftspeople. There is a wide range of contemporary work from both wellknown and emerging makers, across jewellery, ceramics, textiles, painting & prints, stationery, and homewares. There is also a pop-up gallery which hosts a year round programme of short exhibitions by Cornish artists, and a dedicated workshop space which offers classes to inspire people to become creative themselves. Check our website for details on what’s coming up.

Opening Times: Tues to Sat 10am-5pm Inspire Makers, 5 High Street, Falmouth, TR11 2AB • T: 01326 531176 E: create@inspiremakers.com • W: www.inspiremakers.com A @inspire_makers • G inspiremakers

Robin Hanbury-Tenison OBE – Echoes of a Vanished World An explorer and a Founder of Survival International, this exhibition is a collection of his photographs from the 1950’s-1970’s.

There is nothing self-conscious or patronising here. Instead, there is a deep admiration, a sense of wonder, respect and desire to share what he sees with a world that has grown increasingly out of touch with the things that really matter.

LIZARD ART A stunning gallery located at the heart of the timeless Trelowarren Estate, run by a cooperative of exciting and diverse professional artists all sharing an enthusiasm for living and working on the Lizard peninsular. Seascapes to abstracts, prints, crafts and cards with various media to suit all tastes.

Open Wed - Sunday 11am - 3pm

Kurt Jackson - Kenidjack: A Cornish Valley From August 28th. A sister exhibition to 2017’s Cot: A Cornish Valley - this show is a stunning collection of paintings and sculpture that follows a stream from its source on the moors above St Just down through the valley and into the sea, taking in the sights, sounds, history, heritage and wildlife along the way.

Lizard Art, Trelowarren Estate, Mawgnan-in-Meneage, Cornwall, TR12 6AF T: 01326 221778 • E: admin@lizardart.co.uk www.Lizardart.co.uk • Facebook: Lizardart Instagram: @lizardartgallery

Open Tuesday - Saturday.

North Row, St Just, TR19 7LB T: 01736 787638 www.jacksonfoundationgallery.com

Autumn Exhibition 8th September- 31st October Winter Exhibition Little Picture Show & Book Launch 3rd - 21st November

MARTIN JOHN FOWLER

SHARON MCSWINEY Martin John Fowler is a professional working artist based in South Yorkshire with strong connections to Cornwall. Displaying in several local galleries, Martin’s work looks to capture Cornwall’s rugged and wild coastal areas, often en plein air when possible, and as a result has had his work exhibition both nationally and internationally in solo and mixed exhibitions. www.martinjohnfowler.com

We have moved to a new gallery space exhibiting handcrafted metalwork, jewellery & paintings. Inspired by the sea unique metal seaweed wall pieces & silver limpet jewellery capture the Cornish coast.

Sharon McSwiney, Gallery on the Square, Island Square, St Ives TR26 1NX Tel: 01736 448293 • www.sharonmcswiney.co.uk

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

THROUGH THE EYES OF...

CHRIS INSOLL Chris Insoll trained as an accountant before following his love of art. He founded the Portscatho Art Society in April 1984, opening The Gallery Portscatho in River Street the following year. In 2000 he launched The New Gallery, an artist-run space specialising in the work of established West Country artists, most of whom also exhibit in London. Chris paints figurative and abstract work, which can be found in collections including the Royal Cornwall Museum and Falmouth Art Gallery.

Tell us about one of your favourite locations to paint, and why it inspires you...

I’d choose the harbour and bay at Portscatho, which has continued to provide me with inspirational material for 40 years.

It changes with every season: from a small deserted cove with old chains and outdated harbour equipment rusting into history, into a mass of visitors, boats and children, all rushing around in the pursuit of pleasure.

What do you particularly enjoy focusing upon when you paint?

I often surprise myself by what I find. Most recently, after a swim at the end of a hot day, I tried to account for a mass of small children and their parents jumping off the jetty into the water. Jetty jumping is a traditional activity which continues to this day, despite the newly installed chains.

Describe the sounds, smells and feelings of your location The sounds are the shrieks of the holidaymakers. The remnants of a fishing expedition quietly rotting in a small boat contributes toward the smells, and the feeling is that of an observer, slightly detached, of the British on holiday during the gradual lifting of Covid-19 restrictions.

What colours do you like to use?

Colours are suggested by the subject, and I use as many as possible to paint around the subject rather than just copying a view.

What do you think about while painting en plein air?

Each panel is a gambit and may well come to nothing. En plein air painting can encourage me to be too literal, and yet I need a constant supply of information from working outside in order to help me paint the much larger canvasses in my studio.

What are the challenges of working in this way?

My main challenges can be broadly described as weather and visitors. For anyone working outside, the weather can be an issue. However, a clear blue sky holds little interest in comparison with clouds together with the blacks, blues and greys associated with the sort of skies which Constable painted outside, and which are so admired for both their observation and inventive composition.

Visitors contribute to the crowds in the summer months. Crowds change the landscape as beaches and harbours become a different subject, which is

sometimes quite a welcome challenge as in my recent study of the jetty jumpers in Portscatho. I often enjoy painting people at their leisure. As I have got older, I have become less worried by interested parties peeking at my work - I sometimes get a sale, occasionally their sympathy.

What do you love most?

I live nearby and am able to get out whenever the conditions are right for whatever I am doing with regard to my en plein air studies.

At present, I’m painting from almost the same place each time I go out, and am trying to explore the graduations of light in different conditions. These studies contribute to my much larger and ambitious studio compositions. To have such a marvellous subject on my doorstep is a privilege I still appreciate after all these years. l See more of Chris Insoll’s work at the New Gallery, Portscatho TR2 5HW. Open Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 5pm, or by appointment at other times.

Tel 01872 580719 Email chrisinsoll@gmail.com www.thenewgalleryportscatho.co.uk

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ART FOCUS

THE SUNSHINE PAINTER Falmouth Art Gallery shows an exhibition of work by Henry Scott Tuke.

In 1894, the first Falmouth Art Gallery in Grove Place under the directorship of artists Henry Scott Tuke and William Ayerst Ingram. Now based in the Municipal Buildings, the gallery in its present form pays tribute to one of its founding fathers.

An exhibition of work by Henry Scott Tuke explores the complexities that surround the life and art of the British painter, famed for his depictions of sun, sea, bathing and especially for his prolific depiction of nude boys and youths bathing on Cornish seashores.

Henry Scott Tuke, a touring exhibition from Watts Gallery-Artists’ Village, explores how, both as an artist and an individual, Tuke navigated the shifting social, artistic and sexual dynamics of late Victorian and Edwardian Britain. Tuke and his art simultaneously raise questions about how we might depict, view and discuss the body in the 21st century.

The exhibition features key works from the artist’s early years, which were spent studying at the Slade School of Art before travelling in Italy and France. It was during this seminal phase of Tuke’s early career that he first encountered the practice of painting en plein air. The critic Abraham Cooper would later write: “Mr H. S. Tuke is a sunshine painter, one of the pioneers of that outdoor school which makes beach and boat, field and wood, its studio and its model.”

On his return to Britain in the 1880s, like many of his generation, Tuke was drawn to Cornwall. He initially worked at Newlyn while the emerging artists’ colony was still in its infancy, building a reputation with sombre-coloured, increasingly large-scale scenes of Cornish seafaring life.

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atmosphere at Newlyn claustrophobic, in 1885 Tuke moved to Falmouth. An avid sailor, he acquired an ever-expanding fleet of small boats, which he used for leisure, racing, fishing and painting. Tuke even converted an old French brigantine, the Julie of Nantes, into a colossal 60-foot floating studio; it was aboard this ship that he painted his most ambitious seafaring scenes, including All Hands to the Pumps!

This was hailed as the artist’s ‘strongest work’ when exhibited at the Royal Academy’s 1889 exhibition.

From the 1890s onwards, Tuke devoted much of his time to the study of the male nude, driven by a desire to capture the chromatic effects of sunlight on skin. Today – as in his lifetime – Tuke is best known for these idiosyncratic depictions of nude male youths swimming, messing about in boats and sunbathing on Cornish beaches.

The exhibition explores the significant role that Tuke played in the resurgence of the male nude in British art of the period, while also considering the ways in which his paintings have prompted a complex range of responses and interpretations, from the pastoral to the erotic.

As a close associate of Uranian poets and writers such as Charles Kains-Jackson, Tuke and his nudes were simultaneously embedded within the group's homoerotic interests, distinguished by a preference for youthful male beauty that remains troubling today. The exhibition and its accompanying programme invite visitors to consider how these works provoke challenging questions about how we look at and display the body – particularly the young body – today.

The exhibition is curated by Dr Cicely Robinson, editor of a new collection

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of essays on the artist. “Tuke was, and continues to be, an intriguing artistic anomaly,” she says. “In drawing together a unique synthesis of establishment and avant-garde influences, he infused his paintings with a distinctive aesthetic that continues to make them instantly recognisable today.

“Featuring a varied collection of rarely exhibited art and archival content, this exhibition explores the full breadth of Tuke’s career in order to begin to unpick the complexities that surround the life, art and reputation of the so-called ‘sunshine painter’.”

Falmouth Art Gallery holds a collection over 3,000 artworks that belong to the town, the core of which dates from 1923, with gifts made by the South African art benefactor Alfred Aaron de Pass (18611952) that include ‘Study for The Lady of Shalott’ by John William Waterhouse and other names many people are surprised to find in Falmouth.

The gallery is a service of Falmouth Town Council and in 2016 became part of its Falmouth Cultural Services. The Fal Culture Team works together to run the council’s cultural venues and uses them to share knowledge, celebrate heritage and promote creativity and wellbeing through activities and events for the community.

Henry Scott Tuke, showing now until November 20 at Falmouth Art Gallery.

Open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, and Saturday 10am to 1pm. Free entry. l www.falmouthartgallery.com Our Jack by Henry Scott Tuke, courtesy of the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society Tuke Collection.

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Photography @ Charles Francis

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MAKER'S FOCUS

Susy Ward Ceramics “My studio is a happy and welcoming place,” says ceramicist Susy Ward. This much is true as we chat in her Redruth studio at the artist hub Krowji. Surrounded by packed shelves of work in varying stages of progress - some made by students, some by Susy herself – from mugs, jars and plates to bowls of all sizes, I feel the three bears would be in their element here.

“My focus is on workshops these days as my exhibitions, last year and this, were cancelled and with no Stithians Show, Royal Cornwall, Lowender Peran, Open Studios and the like, sales have been sporadic at best.”

When I arrive, student Molly is learning to throw and has a very happy smile on her face. “I love it when they get it,” says Susy.

“It’s such a good feeling.”

Susy moves to the completed work, and produces pieces made by siblings holidaying with family in Cornwall. “Over their five weeks with me, they each produced a large platter and matching plates with totally different surface designs. They made my Monday mornings brighter.” The pieces are beautiful, surely destined to become heirlooms.

Susy has had to redesign and rearrange the studio to accommodate the workshops, “buying in more wheels, a shedload of new tools and a clay extruder, as well as having a 4ft x 8ft table built. Of course, new shelving covering two walls had to be built to hold increased volume – it's still something of a work in progress, because although full of energy and ideas, I’m no spring chicken so the heavy work is commissioned out.

“Nothing gives me greater pleasure

than to offer options and watch as the pieces take shape. I don’t just point to the clay and tools, I offer examples of what can be achieved from the making to the surface decoration.

“So many people are told in school that their efforts are poor and they take that with them through life. As a result, they don’t feel they have the right to express themselves with their marks. Hopefully that does not happen these days.

“People don’t have to commit to learning on the wheel and they don’t have to commit to learning long term.

I offer one-off taster sessions either for themselves or as a gift. Most people buy 20 hours; some take all 20 hours in one week, some over ten weeks or less. When and for how long is up to the student.”

A number of Susy’s students have gone on to become professional potters themselves with their own set-up and growing fanbase. “Love it!” beams Susy.

From the attention to detail that Susy instils, I can see why. Looking around, I see hundreds of handmade tiles. “These are being made by a pair of – I won’t say students, because they are focused on this one task, and I am helping them achieve their goal. The tiles will adorn their bathroom wall,” Susy explains. “The

sketches are beautiful and the end result will be magazine worthy - there will be an estimated 5,000+ tiles.” That’s some project, and it proves there are no limits.

“I am as happy teaching the skills and discipline needed to become a professional potter as I am helping someone make a memorable piece during a two-hour session. I have been fortunate in my life to have met and worked with people who have been generous with their knowledge. I like to think I, too, am that generous person.”

From pottery evening classes in Falmouth to private lessons with established potters, and an HND course at Camborne College - “the best thing I ever did” - followed by a degree course, Susy concludes by saying: “I have had many and varied jobs/ careers in my time, and I have LOVED every decade from the ‘50s onwards. I have raised children and grandchildren, and now have five great-grandchildren. Somehow, I have ended up right here with a huge smile on my face.” l Susy Ward Ceramics, G10 Percy Williams Building, Krowji, West Park, Redruth, TR15 3AJ. Tel: 01209 254897 www.susywardceramics.com

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ARTIST PROFILE

Catherine Hyde Catherine Hyde follows the life-cycle of the buff-tailed bumblebee at Penzance’s Lighthouse Gallery in her exhibition - The Golden Hours.

Inspired by time spent with nature during lockdown 1.0, Catherine Hyde has based her latest work on the life-cycle of the buff-tailed bumblebee. Using her captivating style of painting, she hopes to encourage people to actively engage with the issue by showcasing bee-friendly plants and herbs, and inspiring us all to creating wildlife havens - even in the smallest of gardens.

The resulting collection, The Golden Hours, will form her biannual solo exhibition at Lighthouse Gallery in Penzance from November 6 to 20, which will also see the launch of her latest book: The Bee and The Sun. With all the power and erudition of an accomplished visual storyteller, Catherine will take gallery visitors on a journey through the seasons, celebrating the richness of the natural world as we stand on the cusp of the darkest months.

The captivating collection of paintings follows the life-cycle of a queen bumblebee as she hibernates through the winter, before emerging in the spring to find nectar and begin the search for a suitable nesting site.

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gardens and outdoor spaces.

“I’ve done a lot of research on the decline of pollinators, and it is quite a scary scenario we’re heading for,” she says. “During spring 2020, when life stood still during that first lockdown, I found the natural world louder and more beautiful than ever in the space vacated by human activity. During that time, I began this body of work: my own creative effort to encourage people to engage with the issue.”

The paintings feature in her new book, The Bee and The Sun. Each month of the year is illustrated with a bee in various stages of the cycle as Catherine introduces a plethora of bee-friendly medicinal herbs and plants. It’s great inspiration for gardeners keen to use their green fingers to support the pollinating insect population.

“Some of my earliest memories are of my mother’s garden, a paradise of herbs and flowers and the buzzing of bees and insects,” Catherine recalls. “I find the glorious aromas of freshly picked mint, rosemary and oregano powerfully nostalgic and it fills me with pleasure to gather them now from my own wildflower garden.”

Published by Zephyr, The Bee and The Sun is the companion book to The Hare and The Moon, which follows the phases of the moon and a hare’s journey throughout the 12 months of the year.

Based in Helston, Catherine studied

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Fine Art Painting at Central School of Art in London, where she began honing her style of atmospheric and symbolic landscape paintings enlivened by flakes of mica and inlaid with gold and copper leaf. She has been nominated four times for The Kate Greenaway Award for illustration in children’s literature, and her paintings can be seen in The Princess’ Blankets by Carol Ann Duffy, and The Snow Angel by Lauren St John.

In Cornwall, Catherine has been represented by the Lighthouse Gallery for over 15 years. First opened in spring 2003, this spacious, light-filled venue on Causewayhead is a veritable art treasure trove, with a reputation for showing some of the finest paintings by contemporary artists inspired by Cornwall and its artistic heritage. A Catherine Hyde show is a hotly anticipated event.

“Catherine’s work has an extremely loyal following and it’s not hard to see why,” says Tracey Spry, gallery co-founder with Christine Weschke. “Her paintings have a special magic – an irresistible allure. We know collectors are eagerly awaiting the arrival of this new body of work.” l The Golden Hours by Catherine Hyde at Lighthouse Gallery, Causewayhead, Penzance from 13th ~ 27th November 2021. Prospective purchasers are advised to join the gallery’s mailing list for updates. Signed copies of The Bee and The Sun will also be available. www.lighthouse-gallery.com.

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MEET THE MAKER

Karen Berg is a mixed-media textile artist from Truro. She loves working with reclaimed materials and memories, and her latest collection puts the humble moth in the starring role.

Tell us a little bit about yourself I was born and raised in Truro, and attended Truro College (the year it opened!) followed by a foundation course at Falmouth School of Art. That’s where my love of textiles began.

I really enjoyed the immediacy of mono and screen print, and loved combining it with collage and surface manipulation. I went on to specialise in printed textiles, working for several design agencies, selling work in the UK and throughout Europe - I even had my own gift wrap collection on sale in Selfridges! I came back to Truro 21 years ago; I gained a teaching qualification and lectured in textiles, art and design at Truro College, where I also completed a City and Guilds in machine embroidery.

Today, I balance my time between family life, working for The National Trust and being a freelance artist.

What media do you most enjoy working with?

I enjoy combining painting, collage and machine embroidery to create textural and multi-dimensional pieces, using machine-free stitching to add the finer details - like ‘drawing’ on my pieces. I also use a lot of old photographs - I love manipulating the surfaces and layering the smooth, flat textures of a photograph with the textural qualities of fabrics, wallpaper and fibres. These pieces possess a real sense of history and the passage of time, and feed into my ideas of metamorphosis, change and renewal.

What drew you to creating moths?

Before the pandemic, my most recent works were mixed-media pieces inspired by the Cornish landscape. My Moth series started during lockdown - I couldn’t browse fabrics in the shops, so I had to explore the materials I had to hand. The n 60 |

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idea of recycling and repurposing what I already had developed into the concept behind the Moths: creating them from the very materials they could have destroyed became my new focus, obsession even!

Rather than finding fabric to suit my plans, I let the materials lead the way, forming the design and structure of the pieces. It made for a more organic and instinctive process. I don’t see the finished works as recreations of actual types of moths, more a vehicle to explore the textures and colour combinations that inspire me.

On a personal level, it feels like the moths are documenting or cataloguing my development and evolution as an artist.

What do you love about working with recycled textiles?

I’m the first to admit I’m guilty of buying into today’s ‘disposable’ way of life. It’s so easy to replace things rather than re-purpose, repair or re-use. But I hate wastage, and have a sentimental streak; I’m reluctant to throw anything away, and every scrap and off-cut is kept and used again. Also, layering unusual combinations of materials such as clothing, tablecloths and old wallpaper creates exciting results that wouldn’t happen if I had a pre-conceived plan of what I was going to use and how.

What inspires you when working on a piece?

The dramatic landscapes and fascinating flora and fauna we are blessed with in Cornwall. I love the colour and texture combinations of the natural world, whether it’s the lichen on the rooftops of St Ives, the contrasting textures of tall grasses beside a glassy stream or the fascinating layers of the peeling paint on boats out of the water for winter. A scene is never quite the same from one minute

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to the next; the light changes, the clouds move, the tide ebbs and flows, the wind changes direction. I’m always fascinated by how the seasons, the weather and even my mood can have an impact on how a place feels.

Your work sounds very personal Very much so. They are all truly intimate pieces which chart and record my life so far, containing and exploring my internal and external influences. Each piece its own history: I can tell you where I bought the papers, who donated the fabric to me, which old project the photo was from. It all adds weight and a sense of connection. All my pieces come with a tag - “I started life as...” - so the recipient knows the history and life cycle of the piece. And have proven to be the best therapy for surviving lockdown and coming out the other side, stronger and brighter - like hatching from a chrysalis!

Do you still create landscape pieces?

Yes! But I try to convey atmosphere and drama in my landscape studies, not just a picture postcard idea of Cornwall. I use textures and layering to represent the tonal and surface qualities of the rocks, the moors or the dramatic coastline.

Heavyweight fabrics such as woollen tweeds add texture to moorland scenes, lighter silks and chiffons convey the reflective water and stitched lines add the detail of grasses and reeds.

Where can we see your work?

I’m a member of Cornwall Crafts Association, and the Moths are on display at their home gallery in the National Trust property of Trelissick, near Truro. I also show my landscapes locally, at venues including The Waterside Gallery in St Mawes. l

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GALLERY OF THE MONTH

Tremenheere In a beautiful, sheltered valley overlooking St Michael’s Mount, Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens combine large-scale exotic and subtropical planting with an evolving programme of contemporary artwork.

Outside, woodland, streams and dramatic vistas provide the perfect backdrop for the work of internationally renowned artists, who have interacted with the landscape to create site-specific permanent work. James Turrell’s Skyspace offers a space from which to view the sky, especially at twilight; while garden designer Darren Hawkes’ 2015 Chelsea Flower Show entry, featuring 41,000 pieces of slate, is now surrounded by a majestic weeping willow and old, characterful trees.

Inside, Tremenheere Gallery offers an evolving programme of curated shows from local, national and international artists across two exhibition spaces in a beautiful oak-framed building.

Anthem runs until October 9, and sees four artists drawn together in a lyrical exploration of this particular moment in time through the diverse media of sculpture, pottery, oil paint and mixed media.

The work of St Ives artist Marion Taylor and Falmouth ceramicist Julia Florence occupy the downstairs gallery.

Marion’s works express notes of colour and light, shining in darkness. During lockdowns, Julia felt a deep affinity for Cornwall and many of her beautiful vases portray the colour, textures and sensuality of the county.

In the upstairs galleries, Iranian artist Masoud Akhavanjam exhibits sculptures in mirror-polished stainless steel, reflecting light in a beautifully iconic way.

Like many, artist Danny Romeril yearned for live music events during lockdowns and his paintings express the excitement of live music through paint.

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“Anthem means a hymn of praise or a popular song that sums up the feelings associated with a moment in time. It is also the name of the Leonard Cohen song that inspired Marion Taylor during the isolation of the pandemic. He sings: ‘There is a crack... in everything. That’s how the light gets in'."

“Janet Rady and I wanted the exhibition to be uplifting, and I think that Marion’s paintings, alongside Masoud Akhavanjam’s sculptures, Danny Romeril’s paintings and Julia Florence’s ceramics, portray a sense of time, place and a sense of hope.”

From October 16 to November 7, the Newlyn Society of Artists (NSA) celebrates 125 years since its founding in 1896. One of the longest-surviving and most prestigious groups of professional artists in the UK, the NSA currently has close to 90 members working across all disciplines, from painting and printmaking to sculpture and film, all of whom either live in Cornwall or have close links with the area.

The NSA began as a group of radical artists breaking away from tradition and seeking to create work which was fresh and unconfined by tradition. The society was established by Stanhope Forbes and other innovative artists including Walter Langley, Dod Proctor and Dame Laura Knight, who challenged turn-of-thecentury convention by painting the social and economic realities of ordinary people in real-life settings. This included Newlyn fishermen and women, their children and extended families, and the local harbours and village settings of the time.

Later came other waves of ideas, from Ithell Colquhoun, Peter Lanyon, Bernard

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Leach, Terry Frost, Sandra Blow and Kurt Jackson bringing new ways of seeing and making art, including Surrealism, Modernism, 1970s Pop Art and Modern Expressionism.

That line of radical thought continues today, and for this commemorative show at Tremenheere Gallery, curated by award-winning painter and ceramicist Lisa Wright, members were asked to find inspiration from the society's influential history. Accordingly, works might be inspired by a 20th century NSA artist, or ideas introduced and popularised by members over the last 125 years, such as working from real life, plein-air painting, or using freer brushstrokes or bright colours. The exhibition will also include an ‘in conversation’ event by a panel of arts writers, educators and curators.

Current NSA chair Yolande Armstrong said: "Our artists push the boundaries and make work which is challenging in its content and form and continues to explore and experiment. Many have been showing exciting work with the NSA over a period of time, while others are new and will continue to bring welcome change."

"In this exhibition, presented in the lovely space of Tremenheere Gallery, you might find the work of our members moving, challenging, or simply beautiful and inspiring. In strange and difficult times, I think we all benefit from a pause for reflection, time to consider our past and our present, and to ponder our future." l Tremenheere Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 4pm. www.tremenheere.co.uk

Susan Kinley - HOME

Mike Newton

Julia Florence - ANTHEM

P Wilson Smith

Charlotte Turner

Marion Taylor

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

66 BITES 68 DISH OF THE MONTH 70 MEET THE CHEF 72 SWEET, SWEET MUSIC 75 PLACES TO EAT 80 WEEKEND AWAY 82 EXPERIENCE

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bites

New Partnership for St Austell Brewery safeguard the environment as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability.

The MCS logo will feature on the lager’s 100% recyclable cardboard can packs soon, and it has been named ‘Charity of the Year’ by St Austell Brewery’s Charitable Trust. Laura Mackay, head of marketing for Beers & Brands, said: “We are proud to St Austell Brewery’s flagship lager korev has partnered with the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) to support green, sustainable initiatives that help

support the charity in its urgent mission for plastic-free seas, and raising awareness about the simple steps we can all take to protect our coastline.” l

Helluva Pasties Brings it Home A Cornish bakery has secured a hat trick of accolades for its pasties in the 2021 Taste of the West Awards. Judges gave top marks to Helluva Pasties’ extra pepper Cornish, Cornish Blue cheese and steak, and Davidstow mature cheddar and red onion pasties, all awarded Gold, as was the bakery’s chicken and mushroom pie.

Its steak pie secured Silver and popular egg and bacon pie was Commended in the savoury bakery category. Armed with a passion for baking and her gran’s secret Cornish pasty recipe, Samantha Cox launched Helluva Pasties in 2013 between Callington and Liskeard; she currently employs a team of 12 staff. “To be recognised as one of the best food and n 66 |

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drink producers, not only in Cornwall but the region, is very humbling and gratifying for our hardworking team,” said Sam. Visit Helluva outlets at Hatt, near Saltash, and St Ive, near Liskeard, from Wednesday to Saturday; frozen and uncooked products can also be sent via courier to pasty lovers across the UK. l www.helluvapasties.co.uk

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High Point Drinks Delivers for Sober October Sober October sees a new alcohol-free kid on the block in Cornwall. Each bottle of High Point Drinks’ Ruby Aperitif (with notes of hibiscus, lavender, wormwood, pink peppercorn, orange and pink grapefruit zest) and Amber Digestif (lapsang, ginger, clove, vanilla, cacao nibs, gentian root and oak) is a month in the making, and crafted without artificial flavours or colours - just Cornish spring water, tea leaves and a selection of natural ingredients from the surrounding countryside. These botanicals are then infused, fermented and blended to produce drinks layered in flavour and deep in complex aromas. The result: a healthy, sustainably sound alternative to alcohol. The team is led by Harbour founder Eddie Lofthouse, founder of premium craft brewery Harbour in Bodmin, who believes the future lies in super-premium fermentation, creating the perfect balance of sweet, sour and spice. l £19.99 a bottle; www.highpointdrinks.co.uk

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Dishhe of t h t n o M PAN-SHARE BLACKBERRY CRUMBLE

BY AMY SHEPPARD When Amy Sheppard’s oven broke down, she had to think outside the box and prepare meals using only her hob. As the author of the hugely successful Savvy Shopper's Cookbook (2017), Gorran Haven-based Amy knew this happy accident contained the germ of an idea for the sequel.

Hob: A Simpler Way to Cook was published in June, containing 80 simple pocketfriendly recipes for the time-poor. Whether you’re entertaining friends or looking for a perfect mid-week meal, a busy parent or a budget-conscious student, this is a collection for anyone who wants to dial down the effort and turn up the flavour. n 68 |

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The concept is simple: as suggested by the title, all recipes are cooked on the hob, mostly in one pan, and guaranteed to make the table in under 30 minutes.

No 15-minute wait to pre-heat the oven, and no endless cooking with uninspiring results; HOB delivers on flavour while cutting out all the fuss, because life is complicated enough.

“I started writing HOB just after Christmas,” Amy recalls. “When the oven broke, I had to go back to basics – but all my recipes centre around simple, budget-friendly food, so it made me realise how well the hob fitted with that style of cooking.

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“I think most people have a desire to cook and to try new recipes, but we often just don't have the time. HOB is full of easy, family-friendly dinners that are quick to prepare and don't use lots of ingredients.

It's the kind of food I like to cook - and eat!

“And it's very much an autumn comfort cookbook. I think people will find plenty of new family favourites to see them through the winter!

Recipes include crowd-pleasers such as chorizo marinara and vegetable katsu curry, budget wonders like spicy bean burgers and red pesto koftas, and treats such as pan-

PAN-SHARE BLACKBERRY CRUMBLE “You can use fresh blackberries for this one-pan treat,” says Amy, “but I like to use frozen as they hold together better in the pan (and are easy to rustle up a last-minute throw-together

dessert).

The

topping has a sweet, chewy, nutty taste that goes perfectly with the sharp blackberries and a dollop of vanilla ice cream.”

Serves 2–3 | 20min INGREDIENTS 375g frozen blackberries 2 dessertspoons light brown soft sugar scoops of vanilla ice cream, to serve (optional) FOR THE TOPPING 60g unsalted mixed nuts 30g light brown soft sugar 40g plain flour 30g butter METHOD: • First, make the topping. With a pestle and mortar or the end of a rolling pin, roughly crush the nuts into very small pieces. Stir in the sugar and flour.

• Melt the butter in a large, nonstick frying pan on a medium heat.

Add the nut mixture and reduce the heat to low. Stir until all the ingredients are coated in butter, then gently fry for five minutes, stirring continuously, until the nuts are lightly toasted and the sugar has melted.

• Pour the topping into a bowl and set aside. It will crisp as it cools. share blackberry crumble. Amy takes time

she has 54,000 followers across her social

and financial restraints into account, using

media and has created content for big

budget-friendly ingredients and offering

brands including Sainsbury's, Morrisons,

quick fixes and tips on meal planning to take

Pizza Express, Gordon's Gin and more, as

the hassle out of your dinner party.

well as writing recipes for the Daily Mail

Amy moved to Cornwall when she was seven and grew up in Probus. She was taught to cook by her mum: “There was never very much money, so the key was cooking great food on a budget, clever meal planning and using up leftovers.” Now a busy mum herself with two young sons, Amy has continued cooking in this tradition.

As a food writer and social media influencer,

and the Daily Telegraph. HOB is published by food specialist imprint Bloomsbury Absolute, and sits alongside work by Nathan Outlaw and Jack Stein. l Hob: A Simpler Way to Cook: 80 Deliciously Simple Recipes for Everyone by

Amy

Sheppard.

Published

by

Bloomsbury Absolute, £18.99. Recipe image: Polly Webster.

• Make the filling. Add the stillfrozen blackberries to the pan on a medium heat and sprinkle with the brown sugar. Simmer the blackberries gently for 10 minutes, stirring regularly until they’re soft and heated through and the pan has a covering of juice.

• Turn off the heat. Sprinkle the

nutty

topping

over

the

blackberries, breaking it up with your hands as you go. Serve topped with scoops of ice cream, if you wish.

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MEET THE CHEF

n o e g r u p S l l i W & Matt Liddicoat THE LONGSTORE TRURO

62 LEMON STREET, TRURO TR1 2PN. TEL 01872 430000 • WWW.THELONGSTORE.CO.UK

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Tell us about your professional journey Will: “I grew up in the fishing village of Mevagissey, and the day boats and fish we had at our disposal really captured my imagination and led me to pursue a career in the kitchen. Cornwall is abundant in food resources both from land and sea, and I love working with raw products - using creativity to produce a finished dish.”

Matt: “I started working with my father, who was a head chef for a Cornish hotel, and realised early on that the kitchen environment was where I wanted to be. I loved the camaraderie and the structured chaos of service. This fuelled my ambition to grow within the trade, and I’ve been influenced by the hands-on experience I gained working in hotels and restaurants within Cornwall. The Nare helped me hone and finesse my skills, and I find myself perpetually inspired by numerous unsung legends of the trade, plying their craft and freely sharing their abundant knowledge for me to add to my own repertoire.”

Tell us about the restaurant Will: “Our Charlestown restaurant launched in 2016, and it took us five years to fine-tune the Longstore brand and to feel ready to launch a second site. Truro’s Longstore spans three floors of a Georgian townhouse in Lemon Street. It’s full of cosy corners and has a moodier ambience than our seaside flagship. As soon as you enter, you are transported into a buzzing service that is vibrant and alive. We just love it.”

Tell us about the menu Matt: “The Longstore specialises in only the finest Cornish steaks and seafood, but our menu is varied. We major on flavour

– bold, punchy, and unapologetically in your face; our aim is to make crave-worthy feasts that you can’t stop talking about.

In Charlestown, we made a name for ourselves with our big cuts of steak. On any given night, you can find 30 to 45oz Porterhouses, 1.2kg tomahawk ribeyes and 22oz sirloins on our big cuts board, which runs alongside our menu staples.

The idea is that they are sharing steaks, but we certainly don’t judge when a meat lover orders one to share just with themself!”

Will: “We also have a fantastic vegetarian and vegan offer, and took just as much time developing our Jack Stack vegan burger as we did when sourcing our dryaged steaks.”

What's your signature dish?

Will: “It’s not about one dish for us. It’s about creating a food offer that makes it impossible for our diners to pick just one favourite. We want them to come in, look at our menu and deliberate over their choices. So many times, we’ve couples ordering three starters to share because they couldn’t choose just one each.

The same with our sides: it’s very common to see an extra one thrown in, like our mac-andcheese bites. We can’t blame them, really!”

Matt: “We take pride in our ingredients and ensure they are of the highest quality.

Take the mac bites, for example – we use three-year-old Davidstow cheddar and Old Winchester in our recipe. You can ask our local supplier, James at Greet Cheese, how much we buy from him – he might need a bigger van!”

Which chefs inspire you?

Will: “The Longstore recently launched a sister restaurant in Charlestown:

Springtide, specialising in seafood. I’m inspired by what Australian chef Josh Niland is doing with fish butchery. Noseto-tail cooking and dry-ageing of fish – both concepts are underexplored.

Another talent I found through Instagram is Mateo Zielonka, aka ‘The Pasta Man’.

He makes the most spectacular pasta and is big on the educational side of helping amateurs hone their pasta-making skills.”

Matt: “Raymond Blanc is a hero of mine. The length of time he’s been in the kitchen and the everlasting passion he has for the industry is incredible. He’s a real artist, with unwavering passion for creativity with his food.”

What ingredients couldn’t you live without?

Will: “A high-quality sea salt and fresh lemon juice. ‘Nduja sausage - its flavour is impossible to replicate, but a complete sensation and so versatile! Garlic too: such a punchy, moreish aroma. Capers. Fennel.

The list is long!”

What's your guilty pleasure?

Will: “Cooking and baking with my daughter Poppy: a personal favourite is courgette and lime cake. I also love an antipasti board with some craft beers on a night off.”

Matt: “Thai curry is always a winner for me.

A simple dish, but when it’s done well is tasty and heroes the ingredients.” l

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SWEET, SWEET MUSIC

alcohol duty, cashflow and the logistics of moving products around. This whole process has been really exciting and stretched my knowledge and experience.

It makes me admire anyone who starts up a business.”

The branding needed to stand out in such a crowded drinks market. “We wanted an identity that would jump off the shelf.

Kingdom and Sparrow in Falmouth got what we were trying to achieve: something that spoke of a spiced rum that was high quality but easy drinking, and that exuded joy and togetherness on the back of Covid and tough times.”

8Track was launched in May, and having firmly established itself in its home PL25 postcode, it’s now on sale in 170 bars, pubs and restaurants around the county and beyond, including the Longstore in Charlestown, The Old Bakery in Truro and Bristol Beer Factory.

8Track rum was born in Charlestown during the pandemic, and hopes to lift spirits after challenging times It takes its name from the iconic recording kit used by so many musical artists, and 8Track Spiced Rum is as perfectly composed as any fine tune. The brainchild of Jeremy Mitchell and Matt Franks, it was conceived in Charlestown in 2020 and launched in May this year. Based on rum imported from Guyana, it offers a refreshing balance of citrus and spice, ideal drunk long over ice in the summer, or warming and mellow for winter.

The former marketing manager at St Austell Brewery, Jeremy left the company in July 2020 with his heart set on a new challenge. “I’d always loved the drinks and hospitality sector, and had a real yearning to create a brand from scratch,” he confides. “Now I had the opportunity to do just that. Rum was my number one spirit of choice, because there’s so much variety and quality of produce.

“Looking at the market, I think it’s about to take off the way gin has in recent years.

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botanicals to create spirits, spiced rum takes a base rum and adds herbs, spices and botanicals to create something unique and exciting.”

Jeremy and Matt were introduced by mutual friends who identified a shared ambition. Matt heads up ethical merchandising firm Fluid Branding and, having chewed the fat over a few drinks at the Pier House in Charlestown, the pair had the bones of something that might grow into a business.

Much of the subsequent lockdown was spent in Zoom meetings and online research. The LinkedIn community was generous in offering help and advice, from where to source the best base rum to testing flavour mixes; and with 16 years of experience in the trade, across beer, spirits and wines, Jeremy was able to draw upon an enviable contacts list.

“It helped me understand how the market works and what the customer wants,” he concurs. “However, coming from a company with lots of people around you who are experts in individual things, you have to do everything and think through all the links that have to happen. I now understand things like

| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

Jeremy’s two sons are members of Cornish rock band The Velvet Hands, who have supported the likes of Paul Weller and Liam Gallagher on Cornwall tour dates. So many musicians and artists saw their work dry up during lockdown – self-employed, they didn’t qualify for furlough, and one government-backed campaign was widely panned for implying that those in the sector should consider retraining in cybertechnology. In contrast, Jeremy and Matt have pledged to donate a percentage of profits to the PRS Foundation, a charity funding new music and talent development.

8Track is just the first product to come out of the parent company, Upbeat Spirits. The duo has ambitions to produce many more, hopefully working with Cornish ingredients and distillers. “While there are a lot of ‘me toos’ out there, there’s always room for good products that have something different to say,” says Jeremy.

He adds: “Without wishing to diminish the changes that have happened, times of hardship and enforced change can offer a chance to pause and reset, think about what you really want to get out of life and what you can offer.” l www.8trackrum.com Words by Kirstie Newton

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Get 6 issues for £14.95* when you use code: AUTUMN21 UK: 6 issues (1 year) £20 | 12 issues (2 years) £40 EU: 6 issues (1 year) £45 | 12 issues (2 years) £80

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Download a digital edition for £2* from iTunes Newsstand, Google Play Newsstand and Amazon *For the individual digital edition the price may vary due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates

*NORMAL PRICE: £20. OFFER ONLY AVAILABLE TO UK RESIDENTS

Online: www.thatsmycornwall.com Call Us: +44 (0)1442 820581 n 74 |

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

Cornish Coffee Shops

Chosen by some as a surrogate office, and others as a calm retreat, coffee shops have persisted as a firm favourite for many during the past year and half. We have put together a small selection of the choicest from across Cornwall, for you to sample at your leisure.

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Bread & Butter, Truro

With a glorious courtyard sanctuary and comfortable booths to settle in with a book and a delicious Origin espresso, Bread & Butter brings a chic, laid back vibe to Truro’s River street. An array of breakfasts, pastries, cakes, and light bites make for a delectable diversion and one further reason (as if you needed one!) to while away the hours in this modern yet delightfully quaint high-street gem. Supporting local suppliers including Trewithen Dairy, St Mawes Hens, Da Bara Bakery and Origin Coffee Roasters, Bread & Butter is a sure-fire win if you’ve got an hour or two to spare in Truro. Try their specialty American-style pancake stack – you won’t be disappointed. www.breadandbuttertruro.com

The Old Bakery, Cawsand

As seaside spots go, Cawsand, tucked-in on the Rame peninsula, is pretty high on our list. And the Old Bakery – an artisan bakery, pizzeria and café situated just seconds from the village’s iconic shingle beach from which you can gaze across the water to Devon – makes it unmissable.

With the café’s friendly staff and warm atmosphere, it is a welcome retreat come rain or shine. But be quick to avoid disappointment – the Old Bakery is only open between April and October. That said, if you like what you see and want to recreate some of their goodies to tide over the winter months, you can learn the art of sourdough baking yourself in one of their Friday or Saturday masterclasses, which run throughout November. www.theoldbakery-cawsand.co.uk

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

Espressini, Falmouth

Even among the host of coffee shops crowding the scene in Falmouth, Espressini needs little introduction. Effortlessly cool, the eclectic pink shop front is just the first hint of the café’s quirkiness. On entering, the contrastingly shabby-chic interior gives the place a well-worn, comfortable character – the perfect atmosphere as you sip on an expertly brewed espresso and or a loose-leaf Earl Grey. Whether it’s house blend or single origin you are after, Espressini does it all, topped off with some of the best latt-art around. And if you are going to become a regular, why not pick yourself up one of their own-brand takeaway reusable cups – environmentally friendly and they look pretty good too.

Facebook @Espressini

Pavilion, Newquay

Ensconced in a cleverly restored lifeboat shelter overlooking the harbour, Pavilion has to be one of the ultimate spots for any coffee lover looking for a caffeine boost on the way to the beach. And with a range of artisan loaves, pastries and wood-fired pizzas on offer, coffee is by no means the only draw. For the more adventurous among us, Pavilion’s unusual range of pizza toppings is an unmissable gastronomic experience. Being the chain’s only site outside of London, the Cornish vibe clearly resonates with founder Rob Green, who, at all of his cafés, celebrates sustainable UK produce by stocking meat-free ingredients from organic, local suppliers. pavilionbakery.com

Copper Waves, Hayle

A cool, geometric breath of fresh air on Hayle’s Fore Street, Copper Waves is among the fashionable new cafes that have brought a new lease of life to the north coast port town. Bringing a tropical elegance to breakfast, their signature colourful “smoothie bowls” are a treat for the eyes as well as the palate, and will leave you feeling virtuous to boot. Everything from the clean, inviting interior, to the tasteful minimalist branding, imbues a sense of calm escapism. Supporting a locally-owned, independent business never felt so good. Facebook @copper.waves.hayle t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 77 n

Olive & Co, Liskeard

Boasting fantastic views over Siblyback Lake, family-run Olive & Co. is a true Cornish delight. The eponymous “boss” is owners Roxy and Lee’s six-year-old daughter, Olive, who clearly knows the ingredients for a successful business! With a young and vibrant team, the café has a modern take on traditional home-made food and cakes – with a mouth-watering array of vegan and veggie options, as well as artisan coffee and teas galore. Relax in at one of the café’s outdoor tables and catch the last rays of October sun rippling on the inviting waters of the lake. www.olivecocafe.com

, Strong Adolfo s, A39 Atlantic Highway near Wadebridge

With “roots in art, surf and motorcycle subcultures”, Strong Adolfo’s is the perfect blend of Californian cool and rustic Cornish charm. With an exterior reminiscent of the iconic American diner, the menu and atmosphere certainly does succeed in redefining roadside dining. Taking influence from across the globe, but sourcing ingredients locally, with a focus on sustainability – all food and packaging being recyclable or compostable – you can experience a world of flavours safe in the knowledge that you are helping protect the environment. Fans of Origin Coffee Roasters will be pleased to see the beans taking centre stage on the café’s coffee menu. www.strongadolfos.com

Temple, Bude

Laid back coffee joint during the day, and fine dining at night, Temple offers so much more than just coffee. Boasting local produce from young and progressive farmers, Temple is thoughtful in its choices, celebrating quality and flavour while capturing a relaxed and elegant vibe. Bag a spot on the roof terrace overlooking the pretty seaside town of Bude to watch the world go by, while sipping on a cold glass of rose and snacking on tapas-style small plates. And if you fancy staying on for dinner, you can experience Temple’s fantastic two course setmenu – an inventive and beautifully executed array of nostalgiainducing seasonal food – all without breaking the bank. www.templecornwall.com n 78 |

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021

Dog and Rabbit, St Just

The wood-panelled interior, exposed beams, and wooden countertops fully laden with cakes and pastries, give the Dog and Rabbit the look and feel of a Victorian sweet shop. But don’t be fooled into thinking this place is old fashioned. The place combines everything one could wish for from a café, with a modern menu, and a cosy and relaxed atmosphere, and plenty of sofas to sink into in front of a wood-burning stove. Run by Cornish born and bred owners, Rosie and Ben, most ingredients are sourced locally from Bosavern Community Farm, Trevean Farm and Alsia Cross Market Garden, and their coffee is from Falmouth entrepreneur-owned Yallah. Friday Night Live Music night is an unexpected bonus if you find yourself there after hours. Facebook @Café-Dog-And-Rabbit

Cast Café, Helston

With lovely views across Helston to St Michael’s Church, there is no better place to spend a Saturday morning than on Cast Café’s sun-bathed courtyard seating area or inside the light and airy café. The simple but well-executed menu suggests an elegant minimalism that is also mirrored in the Scandinavianstyle, clean décor. Ingredients come from local suppliers including Trevelyan Farm, Treen Farm, Dales Butchers and Kernowsashimi, and the Mediterranean-inspired menu and delicious coffee selection will delight, whether you are there for breakfast or lunch, or flying by for a mid-morning revive. www.castcafe.uk

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WEEKEND AWAY

UNA ST IVES

THE ART OF HOSPITALITY Situated in the picturesque Carbis Bay area on Cornwall’s north coast, Una St Ives is a relaxed and stylish holiday resort offering the finest in laid-back luxury.

Set in a tranquil countryside location, close to the golden shores of St Ives Bay, Una St Ives gives guests the chance to do as little or as much as they want in this rich natural and cultural landscape.

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warm welcome meets worldclass travel standards, with a selection of 29 contemporary lodges along with dining and

leisure facilities, making the perfect home base for a Cornish adventure whether you’re a couple, family or a group of friends.

The resort’s collection of luxury lodges range from one to four-bedroomed abodes, with hot tub and wood burner options. Flooded with natural light, the airy

interiors

include

fully

equipped

kitchens with spacious dining and living areas with each lodge featuring private outdoor space for alfresco socialising, relaxing, and dining.

The award-winning Una Kitchen is headed up

by

multiple

AA

Rosette-winning

Cornish chef Glenn Gatland, and offers fresh, honest, woodfired cooking. Glenn would describe his culinary style as “relaxed Mediterranean” with punchy flavours

and

vibrant

colours:

simple

foods, full of flavour, making the most of Cornwall’’s fine ingredients and producers.

Guests can enjoy fresh, locally-landed fish and authentic pizzas alongside dishes more often associated with Italy than the South West. The selection of classic wood-fired

Sunday

roasts

(including

vegetarian and vegan options), cooked over flame on Una Kitchen’s imposing Gozney oven, have made a name for themselves among locals and are a musttry for any roast aficionados.

The restaurant’s interior design highlights the Una St Ives ‘art of hospitality’ ethos perfectly. This is a welcoming, casual dining space for socialising, the walls filled with original pieces of contemporary artwork. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner - or simply coffee, cake, or cocktails - you can dine in, or enjoy the elements eating on the terrace.

At the heart of the resort’s main Atrium building, the Spa at Una encourages guests to take time for wellness, with four treatment rooms providing an extensive range of pampering and holistic treatments.

The wild, elemental setting combined with the use of Elemis products brings together nature and science for the ultimate escape.

Leisure facilities are centred around the impressive sun-lit 15m infinity swimming pool, children’s pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room alongside the fully equipped Life Fitness gym. Leisure memberships and day passes are available to local visitors as well as resort guests.

From here, there is easy access to the cultural and culinary delights of bustling

St Ives. Art is integral to the Una St Ives experience, so take time to immerse yourself in the rich artistic heritage of the area by visiting Leach Pottery, Tate St Ives, and Barbara Hepworth Museums and be inspired to take a class at the School of Painting or simply browse the world-class galleries of St Ives.

With Godrevy and Gwithian within easy distance, surfing and nature-watching are on the agenda. Una St Ives is an idyllic, peaceful haven to return to after a busy day exploring. With a multitude of coastal and countryside walks and plenty of green space on the doorstep, Una St Ives is a perfect base for holidays with your dog, with a range of pet-friendly accommodation options available.

The exciting next phase of Una St Ives’ development will see 10 high-end villas join the collection in 2022. These are to be built with Cornish stone, giving the sense of rising from the land; expect an understated style that blends into the local landscape. With plans underway for a further 55-unit apartment-hotel, a total of 93-holiday villas and enhanced leisure facilities to follow, the future of Una St Ives is very bright. l www.unastives.co.uk

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LIFE IS BETTER BY THE SEA AT THE FALMOUTH HOTEL THIS AUTUMN AND WINTER Experience the grandeur and history of the “Grande Dame of Falmouth” this Autumn and Winter with their special offer breaks starting from £109.

Standing tall with superb coastal views, 5 acres of beautiful gardens, spacious interiors, Victorian architecture and an unrivalled seafront location The Falmouth Hotel is the perfect place to relax and unwind. Built in 1865 hosting famous guests from Beatrice Potter to royalty it will certainly be an experience to remember.

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heated indoor pool for that perfect getaway or staycation.

Falmouth is superbly located for exploring the beautiful Cornish coast, with many local attractions to visit, wonderful beaches, outdoor activities including boat trips and paddle boarding. If you fancy a stroll into Falmouth town it is only a six minute walk from the hotel where you will experience a plethora of independent shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants.

To experience Falmouth’s landmark hotel for the upcoming season find out more

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by visiting falmouthhotel.co.uk/autumnwinter-breaks/or call 0800 005 2244.

The offer is available from the 1st October to 21st December. T’s and C’s apply. Subject to availability. Price is based on 2 adults sharing, per room. l The Falmouth Hotel Castle Beach, Falmouth, TR11 4NZ www.falmouthhotel.co.uk Reservations 0800 005 2244 Facebook: @thefalmouthhotel Instagram: @thefalmouthhotel

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| Volume 2 Issue 68 | October - November 2021