myCornwall February/March 2022

HALL FOR CORNWALL • INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN • DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME • FINE DINING • ST IVES SCHOOL OF PAINTING

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EXPLORE

GLORIOUS

GARDENS TREAT YOURSELF AT A

CORNISH

SPA PLUS

Oggy Oggy Oggy!

The World Pasty Championships at 10 myCornwalltv FEBRUARY - MARCH 2022 VOLUME 2 ISSUE 70 £3.25 t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 1 n

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| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

Hello and One of the things I love most about living in Cornwall is the early spring. We have one of the mildest climates in the UK thanks to the influence of the Gulf Stream, and that’s never more obvious than when our gardens can burst into a riot of colour. Snowdrops in January, followed by camellias, magnolias, daffodils and bluebells – with the promise of exotic echiums and agapanthus in later months.

The National Trust puts on a fabulous display of daffodils. Take Cotehele, in the Tamar Valley: once famed for growing daffs and sending them by train up to the Big Smoke, the gardens and countryside fill with sunny blooms from February to May, and the magnificent daffodil archway can be seen studded with fragrant flowers from March 18 to 27. And some of Cornwall's finest breeders and growers will show off their treasures at Daffodil Weekend, in the stables at Trelissick, near Truro, on March 19 and 20. For more garden events, see page 17.

We’re all around the duchy this month.

In Truro, we learn about the Hall For Cornwall’s work in the community (p8), and visit the only parish church to be found in the confines of a cathedral (p35); speak to sleep experts about how to cope with the loss of an hour (p28); and meet both the Grand Bard (p46) and a Cornish author who now lives in Tennessee, USA, but still considers St Austell home (p50).

On p73, I share my experience of judging Cornish pasties for 10 years (I hope you appreciate the sacrifice made, to my waistline at least); and if you don’t know what an orrery is, you’ll be dying to find out – and you can, on p58.

If you enjoy this month’s magazine, you might wish to consider subscribing on behalf of your mum or significant other – or maybe even yourself. I’d love to hear about what you like, or don’t, and what you’d like to see more of – contact me at kirstie@mycornwall.co.uk Daffodils and the house in Spring at Trelissick, Cornwall © National Trust Images: Hilary Daniel

Oll an gwella Kirstie

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News: City status for Marazion?

Hall For Cornwall: Community, Heritage, Performance Things to do: Activities in February and March Dog-Friendly Cornwall: Fine dining An early spring: Celebrating Cornwall’s gardens Treat yourself: A round-up of some of our best spas Adore My Store: The Grey Lurcher, Falmouth And so to bed: advice from sleep specialist Hunrosa and the Cornish Bed Company Design Hub: Fire art with Wendron Stoves The Want List: Luna & Cash, Newquay Truro Cathedral: St Mary’s Aisle

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Inspirational Women The Ballad of Lucy Sands Books: Events and new publications My Cornish World: Grand Bard Pol Hodge Kernewek: Castles My Cornish Roots: Cornish-born, Tennessee-based author Angela Britnell

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Art News: Exhibitions around Cornwall Very Important Piece: Nosti Orreries Through the Eyes of… Trevor Felcey Maker Focus: Cowhouse Gallery, Perranuthnoe TerraMater Art: Degrees Art Focus: St Ives School of Painting Artist Profile: Maria Floyd at Morgans, Falmouth

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Food Bites: Platinum Pudding, and a Fish Mish fundraiser The 10th World Pasty Championships Meet the chef: Nat Tallents, Heligan Kitchen Places to eat: Michelin Guide Weekend Away: The Alverton, Truro Experience: Scilly by helicopter

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EDITOR Kirstie Newton kirstie@mycornwall.tv

CONTRIBUTORS

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thatsmycornwall.com myCornwall magazine, Box 27, Jubilee Wharf & Warehouse Commercial Road, Penryn, TR10 8FG

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| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

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Festival fun

Two festivals have confirmed dates for 2022. The Great Estate will take place in the grounds of Scorrier House from June 2 to 5, and has announced headline acts including Manic Street Preachers and rap superstars The Sugar Hill Gang. www.greatestatefestival.co.uk Rock Oyster, meanwhile, will run from July 29 to 31, with entertainment from the Happy Mondays, Laura Mvula, Passenger and Huey Morgan, and a food line-up curated by Jack Stein. www.rockoysterfestival.co.uk l

International Dark Sky Park designation for Penwith

The skies above West Penwith are now officially recognised with the prestigious International Dark Sky Park (IDSP) Designation, awarded by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA).

Recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) since 1959, West Penwith is the second area in Cornwall (after Bodmin Moor) to become an IDSP. It stretches around the coastline from the outskirts of St Ives, through to St Just, Sennen and around Land’s End to Mousehole. Inland it takes in Trethewey, Sancreed and New Mill. This is now officially recognised as one of the best places in the world to view the beauty of the night sky, with minimal traces of light pollution.

It is hoped the designation will encourage eco- and astrotourism, and raise awareness of the importance of a dark night sky for the environment and human wellbeing. l

New Year Honours

Cornwall saw four worthy recipients of MBEs in the 2022 New Year Honours: Malcolm Bell, chief executive of Visit Cornwall, for his dedication to tourism services across the South West especially during the pandemic; Pawlet Brookes of St Mawes, for three decades spent leading and progressing diverse arts and artists in the UK; Martyn Ward, an RNLI lifeguard supervisor and lifeboat volunteer who has dedicated over 40 years to lifesaving in north Cornwall; and Babs Rounsevell of CHAOS, for 40 years of tireless effort helping others in the community, including setting up Truro’s Community Fridge and the Food2Share scheme in partnership with local supermarkets. l

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Marazion bids for city status

The tiny town of Marazion, near Penzance, has applied for city status as part of a competition for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. If granted, it will become the UK’s smallest and most southerly city, and Cornwall’s second after Truro.

Dominated by the tidal island and castle of St Michael’s Mount, Marazion has about 1,500 residents but welcomes 400,000 British and international visitors each year.

The Queen is due to confer city status on one or more towns this year to mark her 70-year reign, with the likes of Boston, Wrexham, Northampton, Crewe, Swindon, Dudley and Milton Keynes in the running. Dr Joanie Willett, from the University of Exeter’s Institute of Cornish Studies, said: “Given the disproportionate amount of policy time cities get compared to rural areas, this seems like a really good move. It also recognises that the area’s visitor economy sees a regular thoroughfare of hundreds of thousands of people, and asks us to question what we mean by population, and whether this can also come to mean transient populations.” l

| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

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Community, Heritage, Performance The work of the Hall For Cornwall extends beyond what you see on the stage Heritage is in the bones of Hall for Cornwall. Situated within one of Truro’s most important civic buildings, City Hall, the theatre has many stories to tell.

Memories whisper along the Opeway and its many, varied uses course through the granite, terrazzo and oak which shape its current incarnation as a proud and newly transformed theatre for Cornwall.

From jail cells to cinemas, fashion shows to skating rinks, the hall has hosted most of Cornwall on its stage or within its walls.

The team at Hall for Cornwall aims to make this rich history engaging, immersive and interactive for all ages.

From 2018 to 2021, the theatre was closed for a comprehensive redevelopment, with a n 8 |

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three-year heritage project running alongside it. Thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Revealing City Hall peeled back the layers of history and crafted stories, commissions and creative performances to share across Cornwall’s communities.

In tandem, the theatre’s new digital heritage collection has drawn together ephemera, photography and memories from City Hall, as donated by members of the public and researched at archives including Kresen Kernow and the Royal Cornwall Museum. The collection of 800+ items includes posters, prints, maps and costumes, and serves as an overview of the building’s history and the role it has played at the heart of Truro.

| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

This history will be showcased on Saturday, March 5 - St Piran’s Day - as a celebration of Hall for Cornwall’s heritage work. The theatre’s youth groups will perform on the stage using the collection as their inspiration, while virtual reality (VR) tours, films, projections and drop-in workshops will be on offer on the day.

“We can’t wait to showcase this work,” says collections and interpretation lead Lucy Innes Williams. “March 5 is the perfect time to shout from the rooftops about all these amazing stories and creative commissions.”

As you wander through the theatre, keep your eyes peeled. Three large panels hug the entrance into the Cornwall Playhouse Auditorium, displaying the titles of 200

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3 1: Alan Kitching's Performance Timeline. Photo by Sean Hurlock 2: City Hall interior, courtesy of Francis Evans 3: Cornwall Playhouse new interior. Photo by Sean Hurlock 4. Historic poster from the collection of Bert Biscoe

past performances. This is the work of renowned typographer and printmaker Alan Kitching, owner of the Wrington Press, wood block printing type which was used to create theatrical posters from the 1940s to ‘60s.

Look out, too, for 10 brass and bronze-effect roundels on the ground floor. These form part of the Storypoints trail, devised by artist Kerry Lemon. Kerry conducted a residency in Truro, working in consultation with City of Lights, Salt Projects, Truro Art Club and Truro Youth Panel to choose moments in the building’s history to be illustrated. Each point is linked via a QR code to its respective story, crafted by postgraduate placement writer Suzanne Inman.

Elsewhere, sound artist Justin Wiggan has worked with the Hall’s volunteers to record their memories as part of his Life Echo sonic journey, while composer Graham Fitkin is creating a new app, Geography,

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spanning the theatre and the city of Truro via pieces of music that will stitch together as the listener makes their way to a show.

In addition, students from Falmouth University’s BA (Hons) Illustration course have been invited to illustrate performances as part of their Reportage studies.

A series of monthly contemporary makers’ workshops will celebrate the materials used in the building.

Look down in the Playhouse Bar, and you will see terrazzo flooring left over from the building’s past as a cinema.

This has inspired terrazzo planter making workshops with Badger & Birch, and a ceramic tile-making workshop with Starglazers.

The Get Creative team aims to give Cornwall’s young people the voice and confidence to participate in the performing arts, from drama to dance and even musical theatre, with workshops in primary and secondary schools - ultimately bringing new stories, animations and productions to life in and out of the theatre.

“Community is at the heart of everything we are striving for,” says deputy creative director Helen Tiplady.

“We’re delighted to share our work both on and off our stage, with our Summer Stage Programme being announced later in the spring. We can’t wait to welcome you in.” l

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Hope is everything Netflix and the charity

CALM

(Campaign Against Miserably)

Living have

donated a new bench to the port of Falmouth to mark the launch of Season 3 of the Ricky Gervais drama AFTER LIFE.

Beauty In Chaos wins top prize for Ezra Penzance teen Ezra Boulton, has won a top prize in the prestigious RSPCA Young Photographer Awards 2021 after being singled out from more than 6,500 entries this year. Ezra, 16, won first prize in the competition’s 16-18 category for Beauty In Chaos, a striking photo of a gull standing motionless amid the crashing sea. “When I took the photo at Land’s End, the sea was really rough,” said Ezra. “Down the coast, there was a massive rock with a hole in the middle of it. Every time a wave entered the cave, it would explode into a cloud of water vapour. To put a cherry on the cake, a herring gull landed right in front of the hole. I slightly underexposed and zoomed my lens out, then all I had to do was wait until the right moment. The high-contrast photo creates a dramatic and chaotic habitat shot. Although the seagull is small in the frame, I like how your eye is drawn to it straight away.” l

The sight of Gervais’s leading character, Tony, grieving for his wife Lisa on a bench at his local churchyard is a recurring theme. The new bench has been installed in Gyllyngdune Gardens, marked with the words ‘Hope is Everything’ and a QR code enabling visitors to access CALM resources including advice and information for those struggling or in crisis. The launch was attended

by Kim Gray - Cornwall co-ordinator for Widowed and Young, who also sits on the advisory board for Cornwall Bereavement Network - and Brod Ross, who lost his wife, former MP Candy Atherton, when she died of a stroke in 2017. Both were accompanied (like Tony) by their dogs. Netflix has donated 25 community benches to local councils around the UK. l

Buildings listed in 2021 A striking post-war library in Saltash and a former boys’ grammar school in Falmouth are among 300 sites across the UK which have been protected through listing or scheduling

by Historic England in 2021. Both buildings were Grade II listed but very different in design. Saltash Library (pictured) was the second of five new libraries built by Cornwall County Council as part of a post-war national movement to provide more modern services under local authority management (St Austell was listed in 1998). It opened in 1963 and was considered the county’s ‘most modern’ building, bearing a striking resemblance to Le Corbusier’s 1956 Palace of Justice at Chandigarh, India. Dating back to the early 20th century when secondary schools were on the rise, Falmouth Boys’ Grammar School uses local materials including Delabole slate and pink Cornish granite, and met contemporary regulations for school buildings to have good space, light and ventilation for health and wellbeing. l

Farewell to Jethro

The Cornish comedy scene bade farewell to one of its most famous exports on December 14. Born Geoffrey Rowe in St Buryan, Jethro, 72, was one of Cornwall’s most famous exports, and drew heavily on his home turf for material. In memory of his “Train don’t stop Camborne” routine, GWR displayed the message “RIP Jethro” at Camborne station.

His funeral took place at Truro Cathedral on January 3, with fellow comedian Jim Davidson among those giving eulogies. On social media, home-grown comedian Edward Rowe, aka Kernow King, said: “I remember seeing him on the Des O’Connor Show as a boy and being absolutely blown away that a Cornishman was famous and on TV.” l n 10 |

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1. TAKE IN A BIG SHOW Look out for the big guns at the Hall For Cornwall – the kind of shows the refurb was made for. These include We Will Rock You (February 21 to 26) and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (March 21 to 26), as well as comedians Jimmy Carr (March 4) and Katherine Ryan (March 12) - plus the Banff film festival (pictured) returns on March 9, featuring two new collections of inspirational films from the wildest corners of the planet. www.hallforcornwall.co.uk

2. ISLAND LIGHT: A WIDER WORLD The biennial Island Light festival is timed to lift the spirits of Scilly residents during the darkest part of the year. Coordinated by the ARTiculate collective, the sixth festival celebrates how the migration of birds and people can transcend imagined boundaries, enriching and reconnecting us all through their stories and cultures in challenging times.

The events draw upon the lockdown project Words On The Wing, which united islanders and mainlanders in the creation and sharing of bird-themed arts and poetry. Artists will

to found an Island Light Band, culminating in an illuminated musical event on February 26. See Scilly by helicopter: page 82. www.articulatecollective.com

3. WALK IN A WOODLAND TV presenter Julia Bradbury has joined the Woodland Trust’s campaign to get people out and about. The trust has many sites across Cornwall, all free to visit and open daily; there are no toilets, cafés, bins or staff, just unmissable views, clean air, birdsong and woodland paths. Try Howard's Wood, a small, steep patch of native broadleaved species on the banks of the Tamar next to Greystone Bridge; or find others by entering your postcode at woodlandtrust. org.uk/findawood. Alternatively, families will enjoy the new Superworm activity trail at Cardinham Woods, near Bodmin.

Based on the children’s picture book by Gruffalo creators Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, the 1.7 mile trail is pushchair/ wheelchair friendly and highlights small but mighty forest creatures such as Toad, Beetle and Wizard Lizard.

work with Five Islands Academy pupils, and

4. REMEMBER HMS WARSPITE

north Cornwall musical duo Wilderness will

Cornwall Heritage Trust holds regular Story Café events, and the next recalls the fate of

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HMS Warspite. In 1947, she was wrecked off Prussia Cove on her way to the breakers and was dismantled there, and at Marazion over the next decade, an incredible and ingenious feat of salvage was witnessed by many locals. Marine historian Richard Holme’s talk will embrace both her service, winning numerous battle honours in both world wars, and particularly her last days off Cornwall, using new information and photos gleaned from the breakers' own records and salvage workers. Marazion Community Centre, Thursday, February 24 at 3pm, followed by entertainment and refreshments. www.cornwallheritagetrust.org

5. TREAT A LOVED ONE It's Valentine’s Day on Monday, February 14, and Mother’s Day on Sunday, March 27. Why not celebrate with a slap-up meal?

See page 78 for a selection of fine dining restaurants that have made the prestigious Michelin and AA Guides, or feast on a seven-course tasting menu – dubbed the Lost Supper - at the Lost Gardens of Heligan on February 12 (see page 76). Alternatively, Kenneth MacMillan’s classic adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, performed

by The Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, will be broadcast

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6. ST PIRAN’S DAY The Welsh have St David’s Day, the Scots St Andrew’s - and the Cornish celebrate St Piran on March 5, which falls on a Saturday this year. Many towns hold annual processions – see Facebook pages for events in Truro, Newquay and Penzance; while Lowender Peran will celebrate with an evening of traditional Cornish and Irish folk music and dance, courtesy of The Stowes, at Memorial Hall Perranporth. For details, see Facebook: The Lowender St Piran's Day Party. The Trelawny Shout – a singalong of The Song Of The Western Men, Cornwall’s adopted “national anthem” - is scheduled to take place at 9pm in pubs around the county (including The Driftwood Spars in Trevaunance Cove, St Agnes, as part of its annual beer festival The Dark, The Light & The Saison). Last year’s Shout moved online; the resulting video was watched by 60,000 people within 24 hours. Look out for a series of Trelawny Conversation podcasts in the run-up to the big day. Visit www.trelawnyshout.com. The following day, check out the St Piran Play across the dunes at Perranporth. See page 46 for an interview with Grand Bard and sometime St Piran impersonator, Pol Hodge.

7. VISIT A GARDEN Cornwall is blessed with a gentler climate than the rest of the UK, enabling it to

bloom earlier and in a more exotic fashion.

See page 17 for a selection of highlights, including Snowdrop Sundays, the reopening of gardens such as Caerhays and Trevince, and spring flower shows.

8. WORLD PASTY CHAMPIONSHIPS Each year, pasty-makers take part in a unique event to find the pasty champions of the world. Professionals and amateurs of all ages come together for the World Pasty Championships - a day of music and fun at the Eden Project. The titles are fiercely battled and each year brings a few surprises – as well as traditional Cornish “oggies”, past entries have included weird and wonderful creations including insects and even roadkill! Having taken a year off for 2021 due to the pandemic, the event will return to Eden for a 10th anniversary celebration on St Piran’s Day: Saturday March 5, 2022. See page 73 for an affectionate look back over the decade.

9. HURLING IN ST IVES/ST COLUMB The ancient Cornish tradition of hurling is a rough-and-tumble sport, and there are two opportunities to witness it. On St Ives Feast Monday (February 7), a celebration of the consecration of St Eia’s parish church in 1434, a silver ball is blessed then hurled into the crowd on the beach with a cry of “Guare wheg ya guare teg! (Fair play is good play!)”; on the stroke of noon, the ball is returned to the Mayor on the steps of the Guildhall, and pennies are thrown from the balcony to

eager children below. In St Columb Major, near Newquay, hurling takes place on Shrove Tuesday (March 1) and the second Saturday following. The Townsmen and Countrymen of the parish battle for the ball; things can get tough, and shops barricade their windows and doors to avoid accidental damage.

10. CATCH A MATCH The Cornish Pirates will face off against Jersey Reds on Sunday, February 27 and Hartpury on Saturday, March 5, both at home in Penzance. The rugby heroes have partnered with digital ticketing platform TicketCo for RFU Championship fixtures, with QR codes sent directly to your smartphone to be scanned at turnstiles or printed off at home. Visit cornishpirates.ticketco.events

11. FEB FEST Feb Fest is a 10-day celebration of Bude’s food, community, coast and arts. Immerse yourself in over 30 diverse workshops and activities during the February half-term.

Enjoy an evening food market, theatre performance, comedy, music and guided walks and talks. Highlights include comedy from Patrick Monahan, music from the Bencoolen Wreckers, The Kiss That Missed from Minack Theatre Productions, arts and craft workshops including ceramics and macrame, and sports ranging from Canadian canoeing to SUP yoga. Many activities are free, so don’t miss out. www.visitbude.info/febfest/

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Photographs © Talland Bay Hotel

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| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

FINE DINING Fine dining and four-legged friends are not a combination you would often expect to experience, but there are some really reputable restaurants in Cornwall welcoming well-behaved dogs. Here’s a selection from www.dogfriendlycornwall.co.uk 1. Hotel Tresanton, St Mawes Dogs are allowed on the restaurant terrace of this luxurious boutique hotel in the beautiful fishing village of St Mawes, and in the lounge bar, where you can dine with your pet by arrangement. Dog walking services also available. tresanton.com 2. The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow Rick Stein’s flagship harbourside restaurant is dog-friendly, and four-legged friends are welcome to dine with their owners in the conservatory. Booking is always advisable. www.rickstein.com/restaurants/ the-seafood-restaurant/ 3. Hotel Meudon, near Falmouth This lovely hotel near the North Helford

area is stylish and secluded and offers really wonderful food. Relax and enjoy fine food and canine company in the very stylish lounge, or Bridge Room overlooking the subtropical gardens. www.meudon.co.uk 4. Talland Bay Hotel, near Looe Here, canines can dine with their owners in the Conservatory restaurant and curl up on one of the cosy blankets available at reception. At breakfast, they’ll enjoy their own sausage from Kittow’s Butchers, and at dinner they are served with freshly cooked chicken. There is also a doggy treats menu for non-resident pooches, ideal for a tasty snack at lunchtime, dinner or high tea. www.tallandbayhotel.co.uk

5. The Gurnard’s Head, near Pendeen The landscape is rugged and dramatic in the remote and wild stretch beyond St Ives on the westernmost tip of the Duchy, and this award-winning roadside gastropub is sought out by food lovers for its longheld reputation for really excellent cuisine.

There are a few dog-friendly tables but book in advance. www.gurnardshead.co.uk l For more inspiration for great dog-friendly places to stay, eat, explore and visit, see www.dogfriendlycornwall.co.uk

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A carefully curated selection of affordable gifts, cards, kitchen and homeware, alondside a selection of Cornish makers and designers.

20 High Street, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 2AB Tel: 01326 618240 Open: 10am-4pm Daily

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| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

GARDENS OPEN: 14th February - 12th June CASTLE IS OPEN FOR GUIDED TOURS: 14th March - 10th June CAERHAYS CHARITY FETE: Sunday 12th June

Spring Thanks to the mild climate, Cornwall’s gardens throw open their gates as early as February, with some open all year round. Here’s a selection of some of the best ways to celebrate the changing of the seasons

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1. Hellebore Day At Bosvigo Gardens in Truro, Wendy Perry creates dazzling displays of vivid colour and plant harmonies. There’s something to see from February to October, whether it be spring bulbs and Hellebores, summer herbaceous borders or an autumn finale of ‘firework’ colours. The gardens open to the public from March to the end of September, with an annual charity Hellebore Day on Saturday, February 26. Call 01872 275774 or visit www.bosvigo.com 2. Snowdrop Sunday February is a wonderful time to see

nominated champion magnolia campbellii in six different gardens in Cornwall – Trewidden, Tregothnan, Caerhays, Trebah, Trewithen and the Lost Gardens of Heligan - are monitored to record the date they come into full bloom. The moment all six trees have flowered with at least 50 blooms on each, spring has arrived. Last year, spring was declared on February 26, nearly a month before the astronomical first day of spring (March 20) and much earlier than the rest of Britain. The earliest declaration came in 2016, on February 10. Follow @ TheNareHotel or @Gr8Gardens on social media for live updates.

Galanthus. Pencarrow, between Bodmin and Wadebridge, hosts an annual Snowdrop Sunday charity event over the weekend of February 5 & 6 from 10am to 4pm www.pencarrow.co.uk;

Tregoose,

near

Grampound, enjoys a dazzling array of snowdrops of many varieties, and opens on a more informal basis, with owner Alison O’Connor often popping a sign at the end of the lane on suitable days. www.tregoose. co.uk The National Trust is also a good bet, with Cotehele in the Tamar Valley and Trengwainton, near Penzance, both priding themselves on their snowdrops; the latter reopens to the public on February 13.

3. Cornwall’s Spring Story Cornwall is famed for its gentle climate, and the Spring Story is proof of that. Each year, six n 18 |

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ends on July 12 with the Summer Charity Fete. For more details, including admission prices, see www.caerhays.co.uk 5. The Biggest Aspidistra in the World Why did we start bringing plants indoors, and why did the giant, leafy aspidistra become so loved by the Victorians and Gracie Fields?

Could looking after your own plant make you smile more? Explore the history of house plants at The Biggest Aspidistra in the World, an exhibition and house plant extravaganza at Trebah Garden from February 19 to March 2. Ask an expert panel why you’ve got droopy leaves at Trebah's Question Time (submit questions in advance to tqt@trebah-garden.

4. Open for business Following its annual winter closure, Caerhays throws open its gates on Monday, February 14. The garden’s origins can be traced back to the work of 19th century plant hunters, and many of their exotic plant introductions can be seen in maturity in the garden today. Flowering starts early with the camellia x williamsii hybrids, followed by huge Asiatic magnolias which are usually in their prime in March and April. There are also over 80 UK record sized trees in the gardens as measured by height and girth.

Guided tours of the castle recommence on March 22, and owner Charles Wiliams is scheduled to host two RHS recommended lectures, discussing Magnolias on March 11 and Record Trees on April 8. The season

| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

co.uk); walk through the life of a house plant with indoor plant specialist Mary Jago; have a Victorian family photograph taken alongside a prize aspidistra; or take part in the Aspidistra Sassy-Selfie trail. Finally, send a photo of yourself and your favourite indoor plant and complete the sentence “I love my house plant because…” by February 23 to be in with a chance of winning up to £150 worth of plants (extra points if your plant has a name!). Find out more and book at trebahgarden.co.uk/events 6. Falmouth Spring Flower Show First opened in 1910 by Queen Victoria’s daughter Princess Christian, Cornwall’s oldest flower show is scheduled to take place at Falmouth’s Princess Pavilion on the

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weekend of March 26 and 27, and promises a splash of colour thanks to a host of golden daffodils, as well as other spring blooms, floral art, rare plants (including bonsai and orchids), cacti and photographic displays.

Years ago, at the close of the show, the main exhibits were packed and shipped to major UK cities for display in large department stores, offering an early taste of spring in the hope of luring tourists down for the season. www.visitfalmouth.com 7. Take mum to Trevince Tucked away in the village of Gwennap, near Redruth, Trevince opens to the public from Mothering Sunday (March 27).

valuable funds were raised through open garden events, often at locations normally closed to the public. In Cornwall, these include gardens the length and breadth of the county and of all shapes and sizes.

The NGS Yellow Book is published every February and is a comprehensive guide to events; in Cornwall, these kick off on April 2 with Trewidden, near Penzance, and continue with Riverside Cottage near Truro, Chygurno near Lamorna, Anvil Cottage near Launceston, Pinsla Garden near Bodmin and Pencarrow near Wadebridge. Core beneficiaries include Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and The Queen’s Nursing Institute. www.ngs.org.uk

This historic house has been in the same family since 1280 – that's 25 generations; current owners Richard and Trish Stone have worked hard to revitalise the grounds - including a beautiful pond garden, an

extensive

kitchen

walled

garden,

shrubbery and wilderness walk – as well as introducing commercial elements such as craft workshops and the Cart Shed Café.

Visiting times Sunday to Thursday, 10.30am to 4.30pm until September 29. Entry £8, 2022 season pass £25. www.trevince.co.uk 8. Open Gardens The

National

Garden

Scheme

(NGS)

donated over £3 million to nursing and health charities in 2021, providing critical support following a year of crisis. These

9. Cornwall Spring Flower Show Described by The Telegraph as the "Chelsea of the West," Cornwall Garden Society’s annual Spring Flower Show is a major highlight of the horticultural year.

Taking place on the weekend of April 2 and 3 at the Royal Cornwall Showground near Wadebridge, with a special ticketed preview evening for CGS members on the preceding Friday evening. The event will be Covid-secure and managed in line with the UK Government guidance and Cornwall Council advice that prevail at the time. As ever, the show will be packed with gardening inspiration, with a schedule of competitive classes including a separate novice section to encourage more first-

time exhibitors to throw their horticultural hats into the ring. Tickets £15 on the gate. Under 16s go free. Well-behaved canine companions welcome on leads. www.cornwallgardensociety.org.uk 10. The Queen's Green Canopy Don’t forget to “plant a tree for the Jubilee”. The Queen's Green Canopy (QGC) is a nationwide tree planting campaign to mark the Platinum Jubilee, and BBC TV gardening presenter Mark Lane has teamed up with the Eden Project to support it. “The best time for planting is now, when most trees are dormant and less likely to get damaged,” says Mark. “You need to make sure you get them in the ground by March.” Eden has planted more than 70 trees on site since November, including oaks and Queen Elizabeth Acers. This is part of a suite of activity at Eden which also includes The Big Jubilee Lunch from June 2 to 5. To plant a tree successfully, Mark has the following tips: pick a small tree, preferably bare root, and plant in a wide, shallow hole at the same depth as the tree was in the ground (look for discolouration on the stem). If you miss the opportunity this spring, the traditional tree planting season starts again in late autumn. Find more advice, and add your tree to a national map, at queensgreencanopy.org l

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| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

Mullion Cove

Yourself We all need a bit of a lift from time to time, and Cornwall has plenty of spas just waiting to shower you in luxury and self-care. From specialist skincare products to outdoor experiences, couples' treatments to children’s parties, there is so much variety. Why not treat yourself or a loved one for Valentine’s or Mother’s Day?

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Bedruthan Hotel & Spa

1. Fistral Beach Hotel & Spa, Newquay This adult-only hotel enjoys an enviable position on Newquay’s Pentire headland, with fabulous views over the titular stretch of sand and the Atlantic Ocean. Its stylish interiors are matched by its signature skincare products, created especially for the Fistral and its sister hotel spas (the Esplanade in Newquay and Boringdon Hall near Plymouth). British-made and inspired by Gaia, the ancient Greek goddess who personified the Earth, the range fuses organic ingredients across three base oils - Awakening, Balancing or Calming – for use across its spa treatments. www.fistralbeachhotel.co.uk 2. Mullion Cove Hotel A grand building by a picturesque harbour, this has to be one of the most romantic spa-hotels in existence. With the sea so close by, it seems only right for the spa to offer VOYA treatments, using the benefits of seaweed and local marine minerals from the west coast of Ireland. n 22 |

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The Signature Spa Treatment begins with a stimulating bladderwrack body buff and full body massage, followed by the warmth and energy of local polished serpentine stones during an organic boost facial, topped off by a soothing scalp massage. Release, realign and re-energise. www.mullion-cove.co.uk 3. St Moritz, Rock A luxury hotel inspired by Miami, this is the UK’s only Cowshed Spa outside the prestigious Soho House properties (it also offers science-based aesthetic skincare from SkinCeuticals and Jennifer Young skincare for people receiving treatment for cancer). Its side-by-side treatments are perfect for Valentine’s Day. For more details, see page 22. www.stmoritzhotel.co.uk 4. Una St Ives This stylish getaway is tucked away in the countryside close to Carbis Bay, made world-famous by the 2020 G7 summit.

Choose from an extensive range of

| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

pampering and holistic treatments using Elemis products, including options for men and even a couple of cute mini-facials and mani-pedicures for the kids. Leisure facilities are centred around the impressive sunlit infinity swimming pool, with a children’s pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room alongside the Life Fitness gym. www.unastives.co.uk 5. Bedruthan Hotel & Spa The Sensory Spa Garden is a Nordic thermal playground inspired by the simple, sharp contrast between hot and cold.

Step outside for an al fresco experience overlooking the wild Atlantic waves. There are seven stages at different temperatures: slowly warm up in the heated sauna, then drench yourself suddenly in ice water. Trust us, your invigorated body will thank you for it. In February, you can enjoy the ultimate Sensory Spa Garden experience under the stars, including two hours in the indoor spa followed by a gut-busting Alpine cheese fondue. www.bedruthan.com

Fowey Hall

6. St Michael’s Resort, Falmouth This recently revamped spa opposite Gyllyngvase beach is home to the largest hydrothermal pool in the South West, with 21 massage stations. In the treatment rooms, Hebridean skincare brand Ishga draws upon the life-giving power of the sea, combining hand-harvested seaweed with pure spring water to release 86 vitamins and minerals. www.stmichaelsresort.com 7. Budock Vean Cannabidiols, or CBD for short, are chemical compounds from the cannabis sativa (or hemp) plant, offering all of the benefits without the “high”. The Budock Vean hotel, on the balmy banks of the Helford, has devised a menu of CBDenhanced massage treatments that claim to offer a whole host of benefits, including increased mineralisation, collagen production, moisturisation, antiinflammation, pain reduction, balanced moods, relaxation and overall improved skin health. These have been so successful,

the hotel is now selling its own branded CBD massage oil. www.budockvean.co.uk/ spa/cbd-spa-treatments 8. The Cornwall, St Austell The Caudalie range of beauty products, popular with celebrities and make-up artists, harnesses extracts from grapes and vines to create Vinotherapie, which is at the root of a menu of delectable treatments including wraps, scrubs and massages. Try the Wine-makers' massage, which recreates the ritual of winemaking using bare hands. Finish off your pampering session with a woodland walk and a treat in the Laura Ashley tea room. www.thecornwall.com 9. Fowey Hall This Victorian coastal manor house has seen eminent guests including Kenneth Grahame, author of The Wind In The Willows. Not only does its spa boast a comprehensive menu of Elemis treatments for women and men, but residents can

enjoy 90 minutes of free childcare each day in its Ofsted-registered creche, plus baby monitoring in all rooms and a Sunday breakfast club so you can have a lie-in. www.foweyhallhotel.co.uk 10. Polurrian on the Lizard A former railway hotel, the Polurrian has welcomed visitors to the Lizard peninsula for over a century, with no less than Marconi, Churchill and actor Clark Gable taking advantage of its unrivalled coastal location. Today’s guests can enjoy indoor and outdoor pools, Elemis treatments, special packages including a cocktail masterclass (£55pp) and more. And it’s not just for grown-ups: the Polurrian offers kids’ pamper parties including an express mini-manicure or pedicure, use of the swimming pool, and pizza (age 5 to 15, £20pp, minimum 4 children). www.polurrianhotel.com

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SOOTHE YOUR SOUL Visit the Cowshed Spa St Moritz Hotel Cornwall Located on the north Cornish coast, St Moritz Hotel is proud to have the UK’s only Cowshed spa outside Soho House properties. The unique rustic-luxe Cowshed spa concept is a perfect match for St Moritz Hotel, a place to offer guests the ultimate space in which to unwind, relax alone or with friends and enjoy a glass of champagne.

Drawing inspiration from a visit to the Cowshed flagship spa at Babington House, the concept behind the refurbishment project was to create a quintessential and blissful ambiance in every corner of the spa.

We enlisted the help of Steve Coombe, creative director at 3idog.com and the immaculate architecture became reality!

Each of our six beautiful treatment rooms has been gifted with glistening marble worktops, custom-made abstract tiles from Istanbul and a colour scheme to die for, creating individual personalities to each room, offering a cocoon of ultimate relaxation.

Post-treatment, clients can enjoy the comfort of a new relaxation space inspired by country interiors. Adorned with low lighting, and traditional roll armchairs from Soho Home with wide side wings that envelop the sitter, it’s the perfect space to prolong the euphoric tranquillity that comes after a relaxing treatment. n 24 |

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Our Cowshed spa mood-enhancing products are based on botanical ingredients straight out of an English country garden, and are expertly blended to soothe or revive. With a choice of scents for your treatment, we’re sure that whether you’re feeling anxious, tired or in need of revitalising, the Cowshed spa will have something for you.

Offering a complete range of treatments, from our speedy quick fixes to full body massages, body scrubs, body wraps, facials, waxing and nail maintenance, our Cowshed therapists will ensure you leave the Cowshed spa feeling revived, rejuvenated and luxuriously pampered.

For a romantic treat, couples can enjoy the luxury of a massage side-by-side in our double room. Choose one of the following packages, curated for ultimate relaxation: Winter Luxe This is sure to leave you feeling luxuriously relaxed! You’ll stay for one night, enjoy a full Cornish breakfast along with a onehour Cowshed Spa Deep Tissue Massage or a Bespoke Facial treatment, a fullsize Cowshed Cosy bath and shower gel or Cowshed handwash to take home, an additional 25% off any additional treatments during your stay and full access to our leisure facilities for the duration of your stay. Available until Thursday March 31, 2022.

| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

Bliss Spa Day This decadent, floral concoction of Ylang Ylang, Rose and Palmarosa essential oils encourages a blissful state. It includes: • A 30-minute Cowshed Massage & Cowshed Facial • A 30-minute Cowshed Speedy manicure or pedicure • A full-size Cowshed Blissful Lotion or Bath & Shower Gel • Use of the indoor leisure facilities • A glass of bubbles Available Monday to Friday from February 7, 2022 to March 31, 2022 (excluding February half-term) What better gift than the gift of the Cowshed spa at St Moritz? If you can’t decide what to buy and think your loved one, friend or colleague might prefer to choose their own feel-good Cowshed spa goodies or indulgent spa treatments, our gift vouchers can be redeemed against any products, treatments, or spa day experiences at the Cowshed spa at St Moritz. l St Moritz Hotel, Trebetherick, Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 6SD. E: spa@stmoritzhotel.co.uk W: www.stmoritzhotel.co.uk

G St Moritz Hotel Cornwall U @stmoritzhotel A @stmoritzhotel.cornwall

Boringdon Hall

Spa & Wide

Gaia Spa is set within the grounds of Boringdon Hall, Devon on the edge of Dartmoor. It was named Hotel Spa of the Year in Western Europe & Scandinavia at the World Spa & Wellness Awards 2019, and Condé Nast Johansen’s Best Destination Spa in the UK & Ireland 2022. Gaia Spa promotes your personal natural wellbeing in an environment designed to transcend the stresses of the modern-day routine. Exclusively for adults, Gaia Spa creates spaces where you find yourself naturally relaxed; our facilities and GAIA therapies will provide the opportunity to focus on your natural wellness, resulting in a balance between the individual and the wider world we live in.

Gaia Spa, Boringdon Hall, Plymouth PL7 4DP. Open daily, 6am to 10pm.

Tel 01752 344455 • info@gaiaboringdon.co.uk • www.gaiaboringdon.co.uk

Una St Ives

Refresh and revitalise with a moment of me-time at Una St Ives. Located in beautiful Carbis Bay. Una Spa is a tranquil space at the heart of the luxury resort, offering the ultimate escape from day-to-day life. With superb leisure and fitness facilities including an infinity pool, jacuzzi, sauna and Life Fitness Gym, you can work out and then chill out. Una therapists use Elemis products for all face and body treatments, and CND Vinylux for pampering hands and feet. Plan a day with friends and a spa package, or create family memories in the children’s pool, followed by a children’s mini facial or manicure.

Una Spa, Little Trevarrack, Laity Lane, Carbis Bay, St Ives, TR26 3HW. Spa open Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm, weekends 10am to 5pm.

Leisure facilities open Monday 8am to 6pm, Tuesday to Sunday 8am to 7pm.

Tel 01736 257000 • hello@unastives.co.uk • unastives.co.uk

Fistral Spa

Fistral Spa in Newquay is exclusively for adults, a place of serenity that encourages those in need of relaxation to retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life - simply check in and chill out. Be transported to a place of peace and wellbeing on the Cornish coast. Discover rejuvenating overnight spa breaks, relax with a one-off treatment, or hide away from the outside world with a day spa experience. Offering a range of GAIA and ESPA spa treatments, Fistral Spa is an oasis of cool and calm with a laidback beach vibe. Guests can soak up the unforgettable sea views of the famous Fistral Beach while tucking into a nourishing spa lunch or tempting afternoon tea, oceanside in Bay Bar. Fistral Spa, Esplanade Rd, Newquay TR7 1PT. Open daily, 6am to 10pm.

Tel 01637 852221, reservations@fistralbeachhotel.co.uk, www.fistralbeachhotel.co.uk

Bedruthan Hotel & Spa

This is the perfect place for those seeking time to slow down and simply unwind, be it in the sauna, steam room or Roman-style caldarium. The spa’s centrepiece is its expansive hydro pool, where guests can sink into pure bliss while daydreaming at the Atlantic coastal views. Nordic facilities combine with Ayurvedic principles to create a nature-embracing, rejuvenating experience. Outside, among the fragrant herbs and flowers, is the Sensory Spa Garden where guests can experience the simple contrast between hot and cold at seven stages - from scrubs to saunas and ice-cold water therapy - allowing the body to feel restored. Spa Days available from £70pp.

Bedruthan Hotel and Spa Cornwall Trenance, Mawgan Porth TR8 4BU Tel: 01637 860860 • www.bedruthan.com

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| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

Julie Oats, owner of The Grey Lurcher in Falmouth, started out at Liberty London and now sells homewares in Falmouth’s Old High Street Tell us about yourself My history in retail goes back a long way.

I graduated from Brighton Polytechnic with a Textile Design degree, and my first job was in the silk department of Liberty's of London. My abiding memory of that amazing store is that its staff were all from creative backgrounds, and like me loved selling beautiful products in a beautiful setting. It instilled in me a love of merchandising, great customer service and loving what you do.

Where are you based?

Falmouth’s High Street is an eclectic mix of small independent businesses, hidden courtyards, fabulous views, great bars and amazing restaurants. In 2017, no. 4, right at the very top - the last shop in Falmouth, it seems! - was vacant, so I made the decision to open a homeware and lifestyle shop.

In 2020, just after the first lockdown, our present shop at number 20 came up for rent, just as our lease was about to expire – it was fate. This premises has a fabulous courtyard which is our new work in progress.

What do you sell?

I have filled the shop with homeware brands:

Grand

Illusions,

Parlane,

Bloomingville and Annie Sloan paints, to name a few. We stock also French soaps, candles, cards and artworks.

Where do you look for inspiration and new ideas?

I must admit I am a great magazine reader,

I love all the homes and interior ones, and I spend far too long on Pinterest and Instagram. If I spot something new a look, a colour - I seek it out. There are some great wholesale sites out there for small businesses, where you can buy small amounts from makers. We have a style that we can add new stock to, and it seems to work. People also come to me – last year, I was approached by a small company based in Lyme Regis that imports handmade ceramic fish from Sicily. When I saw them, I just had to stock them.

Which pieces are popular with visitors?

The nautical/coastal look is the summer go-to - people want to take something home that reminds them of this beautiful county. We tend to have a different feel in the summer, and I’m so lucky in having a small group of local makers who produce gorgeous pieces inspired by Cornwall.

What values are important to you?

The business has been built on good old customer service, which was one of the most important things I took away from Liberty. We don’t do a hard sell, and we take our time with people - we love to chat and get to know our regulars. We have a core base of return customers - stocking Annie Sloan paint was a wise move, as it also has given the shop nationwide exposure, especially with the ever-increasing number of younger customers who like to upcycle.

When buying stock, I look for good value without compromising on quality. It's easy

to style a home with well-priced pieces and some creativity.

What trends are you noticing this year?

There are some lovely earthy products that I have my eye on: the colours, natural wood, chunky ceramics and lots of natural materials. We are building up lots of planters and gardening products too, we have a gorgeous courtyard that we hope will be full of garden plants this year.

What do you love about being in Falmouth?

I love this town! It has such a buzz of energy and creativity. We’re lucky to have so many small independent businesses, each one different - it is becoming a real go-to shopping destination. It is the same with food: the quality and variety of eateries is amazing, and long may it continue. Thanks to a long drawn-out house restoration, I don’t have a lot of spare time, but on a lovely sunny evening you can be sure that I will be eating out somewhere in the town, or having a quick pint or two.

Last but not least: why is your store called The Grey Lurcher?

It’s named after our beautiful lurcher Flynne, who is not as passionate about the shop as I am! l The Grey Lurcher, 20 High Street, Falmouth, TR11 2AB. Tel 01326 618240 www.greylurcherfalmouth.com

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Lose Sleep Be prepared for the clocks going forward

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he clocks go forward an hour on March 27, meaning mums around the UK will lose an hour’s sleep on their special day. If you approach this event with dread each year, rest assured you are not alone. Sleep expert Jan Jenner, founder of Liskeard-based sleep consultancy Hunrosa (meaning ‘to dream' in Cornish) is right there with you.

“If the decision was up to me, I would abolish British Summer Time,” she says, reeling off an array of frankly alarming statistics, including that heart-related emergency hospital visits rise by 20% in the week following the change (and decrease similarly in October when the clocks go back).

It begs the question: why do we do it? A history lesson: in 1907, Chiselhurst builder Willliam Willett (great-great-grandfather of Coldplay singer Chris Martin) published a pamphlet The Waste Of Daylight. He proposed that the clocks should be advanced by 20 minutes at a time at 2am on successive Sundays in April and be reversed in September. Thus mornings would remain darker for longer, pushing productive daylight hours into the evening, saving £2.5 million in lighting costs to boot.

The clincher was the outbreak of the First World War, and the twin needs of saving coal and boosting wartime production.

The bill was passed in May 1916 under the Defence of the Realm Act. Today, says Jan, BST – aka Daylight Saving Time – is “just something we do.” The fact that many other countries followed suit

suggests the decision won’t be reversed any time soon, so what steps can you take to ensure that crucial missing hour doesn’t upset your delicate circadian rhythms?

Firstly, be kind to yourself. “You’re doing something that isn’t natural,” says Jan (“not a morning person” by her own admission). Be aware of the forthcoming change, and plan the following week so you tackle tricky jobs in the afternoon when more alert. Conversely, avoid driving long distances – you risk tiring more easily.

In much the same way that William Willett suggested advancing the clocks incrementally, Jan recommends moving your wake-up time gradually to be gentler on your body clock. By rising 15 minutes earlier each day the week before, you’ll be ready for the new regime when Sunday comes.

The “no caffeine after midday” rule is applicable at any time of year, but especially now. “Caffeine takes a little while to enter your bloodstream, so a coffee after noon can disrupt that night’s sleep,” warns Jan. And beware strong barista coffee, which contains two-thirds of your recommended daily intake. The only exception, says Jan, is if you can’t avoid that long drive – a coffee and a nap will break a couple of rules but see you safely home.

There is a major emphasis on sleep habits in March. Jan and her colleagues will be attending a conference in Rome to mark World Sleep Day in March, devised in 2008 to draw attention to the impact of

sleep problems on our health, education and social lives – it's estimated that sleep deprivation costs the UK £40 billion annually.

Back at home, Hunrosa works with the NHS in Cornwall to help young people with complex health needs, often due to ongoing illness; and the team is also hoping to collaborate with GPs to help menopausal women, who often see changes in their sleep patterns. Hunrosa works with sleep consultants throughout Devon and Cornwall, as well as other parts of the UK – there is even one on the Isles of Scilly.

The approach is behavioural rather than medicinal – think sleep diaries rather than sleeping tablets. Should you wonder how crucial sleep is to wellbeing, consider the links between sleeplessness and suicide: “Research shows that 75% of suicide victims have suffered sleep problems in the months prior to their death – and suicide attempts are often made in the early hours of the morning.”

Above all, Jan advises us not to get hung up on blanket recommendations of “eight hours’ sleep”. We are all individuals, and our sleeping patterns change as we age, with teens renowned for sleeping late while the elderly find they can manage on less. Jan has a theory: “In the days of hunter-gatherers, having people waking at different times meant there was always cover, especially through the night.”

The golden rule is that if you feel fine, you probably are. l www.hunrosa.co.uk

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in Style The Cornish Bed Company hand-casts beds from scratch, creating family heirlooms

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comfortable bed and the right mattress can make all the difference between a restorative night’s sleep and poor-quality sleep resulting in

tiredness and fatigue. You can find both stylish beds and luxurious mattresses at the Cornish Bed Company in Par. Just two miles from the Eden Project lies one of the last remaining working foundries in the country, where a small team of craftsmen have amassed over 100 years of workmanship between them. Here, they pour zinc at temperatures exceeding 500°C to create hand-cast traditional Victorian knuckle joints for beautiful madeto-order beds indistinguishable from the original antique Victorian iron bed frames that inspired them.

The

firm

began

hand-casting

metal

bed frames in the 1990s, using quality materials,

traditional

techniques

and

cast fixings to create enduring furniture.

There are few companies still using the authentic method of knuckle joint fixings to keep the frame sturdy and increase strength over time, giving the customer reassurance of a lifetime guarantee.

These aren’t just beds; these are family

heirlooms, to be passed down from generation to generation.

Many metal beds are imported, increasing carbon footprint and using overseas labour, the end result being flimsy and in a limited number of designs. In contrast, the Cornish Bed Company makes each bed from scratch in Cornwall, employing local talent, working with interior designers and welcoming bespoke commissions. Their pieces can be found in some of the most gorgeous and coolest bijou hotels in the country, including the Soho House Hotels.

Every bed is made to order, using British steel as its raw material. Frames are available in cast iron, brass and nickel, with the ability to colour-match to an array of palettes; and in all sizes, from small single (ideal for children and small spaces) to spacious emperor.

Most designs can be supplied as beds, divan surrounds, four-posters and halftesters (with a canopy extending over half the length of the bed). Headboards can be manufactured for any style bed, charged at 40% of the price of the equivalent bed. Daybeds, popular since ancient times for reclining during social

activities, create a multi-functional, space-saving seating and sleeping space while retaining style and elegance. And don’t forget your four-legged friend: most cast and daybeds can be recreated for hounds of all sizes – even a luxury four poster for a pampered Great Dane.

The National Bed Federation recommends replacing your mattress every seven to eight years. All Cornish Bed Company frames are complemented by a range of luxurious organic mattresses, hand-made in Devon by sister company Naturalmat. Combining the finest natural materials - including organic coir, cashmere, natural latex, organic lambswool and mohair - with high levels of workmanship, these offer you comfort and value for money within all budgets.

Let the final word be had by a happy customer: “My bed is definitely built up to a standard and not down to a price. I appreciate it every day, and I know I will not have to buy another bed - isn’t this better for the environment, and my pocket too?” l Visit the Cornish Bed Company and foundry in Par - call 01726 825182 or visit cornishbeds.co.uk for opening times and directions.

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Lima Black Pacific

Design

Gary Hawkins of Wendron Stoves introduces the Hase range Tell us about the piece you’ve chosen We’re proud to be one of a handful of UK stockists carefully chosen by German stove manufacturer Hase (meaning ‘hare’). It’s a family business spanning generations, based in the city of Trier near the border with Luxembourg. Each stove is designed, developed and built to last for decades, with outstanding craftsmanship and extensive expertise.

What makes a Hase stove stand out from other brands?

They combine outstanding fire know-how with stunning design, resulting in a range

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| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

Sendai Pro 165

Lima Black Mojave

of stoves that are simple, classic and timeless. They make a real statement in a room, especially one with reduced and well-chosen furnishings; and each stove beautifully showcases the fire that burns inside it.

Like a work of art?

Exactly that. Hase describes the Sendai Pro as “fire art”. The extra-large corner firebox provides the best view of the dancing flames, with wood conveniently stored to the right within easy reach. As well as transforming your living room into a comfy, cosy haven, it’s a very eye-catching piece of fireplace furniture.

How important are aesthetics to customers?

Very – no one wants an ugly piece of

furniture, no matter how functional it is!

Hase excel in this regard. You can use its online configurator to change the colour of the metal, cladding and ceramics and see exactly how it would look in your home. The Lima stove, for example, is described as “a perfect balance of form and function”. It’s clad with beautiful ceramic tiles, each one hand-shaped, carefully glazed and fired to make each stove highly individual.

How environmentally friendly is it?

Hase stoves have a very low wood consumption rate, burning so efficiently that they release only a small amount of carbon dioxide and hardly any particulate matter. That is sustainable and good for the planet.

This is the age of the smart fire!

Yes, Hase use iQ technology to analyse the combustion chamber temperature continuously, regulating the air flow and temperature to ensure the oxygen supply is perfectly balanced and the fire burns cleanly. Owners can even download an iQ app and have this information at their fingertips; it will also offer tips on firing up the stove and let you know the perfect time to add more wood. l WENDRON STOVES LTD 6 Quay Street, Truro TR1 2HD. Tel. 01872 520010 Unit 4, Water Ma Trout Industrial Estate, Helston TR13 0LW. Tel. 01326 572878 www.wendronstoves.co.uk

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THE WANT LIST

Luna & Cash

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

An ethically conscious family business based in Newquay, Luna & Cash was created by Helena & Lincoln Miles and inspired by their two children, Luna and Cash. Helena is an experienced midwife, while Lincoln has a background in online retail. Luna & Cash stocks vegan, reusable and sustainable toys, as well as clothing, homeware, decor and beauty.

1. Grimms Large Wooden Rainbow stacking toy, £68.93, suitable from age 0+ 2. Sawdust And Rainbows Natural Compact Wee'un Climbing Frame, £210, birth to 250kg 3. Maileg Little Sister Dance Mouse In Daybed, £22, ages 3+ 4. Grapat Wooden Insects set, £25.80, ages 3+ 5. Plan Toys DJ Mixer Board, £59.99, ages 3+ 6. Lanka Kade Minibeasts 6-pack, £15.98, ages 10 months+ 7. Magic Wood Small Marble Sounding Tree, £59.95, ages 3+ 8. Miffy Cream 100% Recycled Teddy (23cm), £16.50, ages 0+ 9. Heimess Wooden Moon And Star Touch Ring, £5.95, ages 3 months + Luna & Cash, Unit 4/5 Darbari Building, Prow Park, Newquay, TR7 2SX • Open: 8.30am to 4.30pm Tel 01637 808441 • www.lunaandcash.co.uk

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The Bells St Mary of

St Mary’s Aisle in Truro Cathedral dates back much further than its mother church, writes Kirstie Newton, and it needs your help

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| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

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f you have time to explore Truro Cathedral, take care to seek out St Mary’s Aisle in the south-east corner.

Begun in 1880, the cathedral replaced the 16th century church dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, which was in poor repair and faced demolition. Building on the instruction of Bishop Edward White Benson, architect John Loughborough Pearson argued successfully to retain the south aisle and incorporated it seamlessly into his magnificent Gothic Revival design.

You don’t have to look too closely to see how the stone on St Mary’s Street looks noticeably older, its detailed façade a contrast to the smooth, clean lines of its comparatively modern counterpart. You might not realise that Truro Cathedral actually has four spires, not three; St Mary’s green-topped tower contains the clock bells that chime every 15 minutes, and also the bell that tolls to bring parishioners to the main weekly service on a Friday morning (smaller services – morning and evening prayer without a choir - take place on many weekdays).

At a special vestry meeting in 1880, it was agreed the remaining aisle would act as the parish church for the city centre. This makes Truro the only UK cathedral to contain a parish church within its building; it still operates separately to the cathedral, following the same rules as any parish church in the country and with its own parochial church council (PCC). This means that while special dispensation is required to hold a marriage, baptism or funeral in the main cathedral nave, if you live within the parish boundary, you can hold a ceremony in St Mary’s Aisle just as you would in any other church.

It’s a beautiful and fascinating part of the building, with a lengthy history. The list of rectors dates back to the original church of 1264; the Dean of Truro has acted as ex officio rector since the 1960s, with the Very Rev Roger Bush currently in the role. A map of the parish reflects its tight boundaries, covering a small part of the city centre.

Services take place daily, beneath elaborate and colourful ceiling bosses featuring emblems of Cornish significance - the chough, violinist Joseph Emidy and St Piran’s millstone – with objects of interest including a hanging pyx for storing the Blessed Sacrament, and a beautiful triptych including

a delightful nativity scene. The aisle even has its own organ, installed in 1750 by renowned organ builder John Byfield.

Cathedral fundraising officer Judith Field declares this her favourite part of the cathedral, and believes she’s not alone.

“People often sit here awhile, out of the bustle of the main nave with its many visitors,” she says.

St Mary’s Aisle might be legally separate from its mother church, but its fabric is maintained by the cathedral. The complex lead guttering system from the late 1800s has not served the aisle well. Water ingress is causing serious issues, with floods after heavy rainfall, and watermarks can be seen in several places, including close to the historic organ. Outside, passers-by can expect to be splattered during flash downpours. Of course, this has been exacerbated by climate change and the more frequent occurrence of extreme weather conditions; following Storm Barra in December, water trickled down the inside of the walls, a vivid reminder of the urgency of the situation.

Unlike many cathedrals, Truro does not charge an entrance fee. “If you want to come in and light a candle for your mum, you can, and be back in the high street in two minutes,” says Judith. “Payment changes the nature of a church and how you relate to it; it becomes a heritage attraction rather than a spiritual place for the community. The number attending formal services is not the best indication of how many people value the cathedral – that figure is far higher.”

Generosity is key to taking care of the cathedral. The bill for St Mary’s Aisle alone is estimated at £404,500, and so far, a quarter of that has been pledged. As well as individuals, support has come from the Dulverton Trust, Duke of Cornwall’s Benevolent Fund, H.B. Allen Charitable Trust, Allchurches Trust and the Cornwall Historic Churches Trust.

In December, the cathedral also received a grant of £232,300 from the latest round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, to help the organisation recover from the impact of the Covid pandemic; it was a nice Christmas gift, but cannot be used for capital spending on major repairs like the roof.

Yet the work still needs to be done; plans have been made. “We have to be on it

all the time - much like your own home, if you let it go, it gets harder and harder to maintain,” says Judith. “We have to value these things. Even people who never set foot inside still find it beautiful from the outside, and enjoy having it in their view.”

The cathedral’s new fundraising mantras are: Preserve our sacred heritage; Pass on what is precious; Cherish our common life.

“It’s all about preserving and celebrating our heritage,” says Judith. “Historic buildings can fall into disrepair. It’s our job to make sure that doesn’t happen to the cathedral.”

Robert Perry has been PCC secretary since 1993. “It’s fair to say it’s all rather artificial as the parish doesn’t function in the same way as others,” he admits. “St Mary’s Aisle doesn’t impinge upon normal life; the majority of people worship in the cathedral on a Sunday and most wouldn’t give it any thought at all. But those of us who are involved take a different view. We are glad to have it, even though some might argue it’s an oddity, an accident of history.”

While anyone living within the parish boundary can marry or be baptised here, most properties within the parish are commercial. However, if your own parish church is unable to hold your event, it might be transferred to St Mary’s Aisle; Robert recalls “a flurry of weddings” when nearby St Paul’s closed, before St John’s became its default replacement.

Robert recognises that St Mary’s is fortunate in not shouldering financial responsibility for maintaining the building, and can call upon its higher-profile relation to step in. “The PCC has limited funds which are currently being used for work on the bells. The roof repairs are beyond us, so any funds that could be raised to assist with the re-roofing and general repair would be gratefully received,” says Robert.

“As the cathedral is Grade 1 listed, the aisle must be maintained from a legal point of view, but from an emotional point of view, although much of the building dates back to the 1880s, some elements are extraordinarily old. It would be a great loss to Truro if that building fell into disrepair - it’s a historic link to life in the city over so many centuries.” l Individual donations can be made to the appeal via the website www.trurocathedral.org.uk

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Inspirational Women To celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, we profile three women who have overcome adversity to do great things

FREYJA HANSTEIN, 34, PORTHTOWAN Tell us your story In 2014, I lost my husband Lars to abdominal synovial sarcoma cancer; the following year, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour myself. I had surgery and post-op treatment until 2017, and since then it’s been a learning curve. I’ve suffered memory loss, including my own name at times, and I’ve had to learn language again, especially nouns. It’s also affected my body physically – I've had an early menopause, and digestive issues. I’ll have six-monthly scans for life.

How did you cope with this?

I found it so, so hard - despite degrees in biological sciences and law, and the support of my brother and his wife, who are both neuro-surgeons. After my diagnosis, I wanted to make life easier and to live better: physically, mentally and nutritionally.

I felt the last was the key to the other two, so I started to choose what I ate with more care - I wanted all the ingredients to be beneficial for me. I was gathering information for a book – favourite recipes with lists of ingredients, and links to articles I found interesting. Then I decided on an app. It’s something you won’t lose, that you can take to the supermarket when you’re doing your shopping. For me, it’s like putting your coat on a hook as you enter the house – you know exactly where it is, rather than it floating around like an odd sock.

How has the app been received?

Wholesome World was launched in 2019 with EU funding, and has since been accredited by the NHS as beneficial not only to those with cancer, but also other conditions such as diabetes, and even for general health and fitness. That’s how I like to see it – as good for avoiding cancer and other illnesses as it is for living with them. As well as recipes, it features recommended apps and websites, and links to TEDTalks and authorised medicinal research. I also find music makes a big difference, so I've linked to a Spotify playlist, which is a real destresser. It’s so satisfying when you find something new that you like – that in itself is good for your mental health.

What’s new for 2022?

I’ve come full-circle and am working on self-publishing Wholesome World: the book. It features my favourite recipes, and the thoughts of like-minded people, such as Tim Smit on growing and seasonality, and I’ve had help from Falmouth University with design, production and QR Codes. I just want to spread the word a bit further – it means so much. l Wholesome World is available via the App Store. n 38 |

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| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

© Chris Hewitt

SHELLY PAVEY, WADEBRIDGE Where did your interest in cars begin?

I’ve always been into motorsports – a bit of a tomboy. I had an elder brother, and my dad was an engineer – it all rubbed off on me. My favourite toys as a little girl were a Scalextric and a box of Dinky toys. I’ve always had classic cars - at the moment I’m racing a 1969 Mini Cooper called Henry. We’ve done the Castle Hill climb in Lostwithiel and the Perranporth sprints. I’ve also done the Watergate Bay sprint - it was me and 110 men, so I got quite a bit of attention.

What made you change your mind?

I was diagnosed with leukaemia, which makes you reassess things. Life is short, and it’s time to do the things I want to do.

Then I saw Formula Woman advertised.

The competition was launched in 2004 as a means of getting more women into motorsports; six winners are selected to race a McLaren GT4 in the 2022 GT Cup

Championship from May. The entry fee is £99, and you’re sponsored if successful, which makes it a cheap way of getting into an expensive sport. I thought about it and asked: “What have I got to lose? I’ll give it my best shot.” At 50, having had a career in the police force, I was an older entrant.

I wish I’d done it 30 years ago, but better late than never.

the Port Isaac gig rowing crew – I've been to the World Gig Championships on the Isles of Scilly for the last 15 years. Sadly, Covid stopped that for me – I take tablets every day to control my illness, and have had to be very careful about being in close proximity with others. I miss it. That’s where the car stuff helps – it's just me in a vehicle with a helmet on.

How did you prepare?

I went go-karting, and tried SIM racing with Chris Hewitt. It’s set up like you’re in a car. You can go to whatever track you want, and get a realistic feel for it. I want to learn the correct lines around corners, and how to go quicker without crashing the car. Unfortunately, I didn’t get through to the next stages, but I’m re-applying this year and will have a year rather than two months to prepare!

What’s your advice to the next generation?

I’ve been to Truro High School and met the girls taking part in the Greenpower engineering project to design, build and race an electric car. As a female racing driver I’m something they can aspire to.

I’ve been told I’m inspirational, but I’ve only just started. My advice is that they should do it now. You might think you can’t, but if you really want to, you can. l

Have you always been competitive?

Oh yes! I’ve always been sporty and I like being outdoors. I love horses, and am in

Formula Woman is scheduled to be broadcast later this year.

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KRIS HALLENGA, 35, NEWQUAY In 2009, I was diagnosed with incurable breast cancer at the age of 23. To this day, I have scans every three months, and last year the cancer settled in my left adrenal gland, which had to be whipped out. I had no idea breast cancer could affect people in their 20s; I didn’t really know my body, and knew very little about the disease. But as I see it, if everything had gone as it should, and I'd been to the GP and said “I know my body and my breasts aren’t normal,” I wouldn’t have had the drive to change anything.

That it happened the way it did was the catalyst to do something about it. I think it happened because it had to happen.

What exactly did you do?

I launched Coppafeel, the first education charity to speak about cancer to the seemingly healthy young people who had never considered cancer. After Jade Goody died, there was a huge increase in cervical cancer screening, but it dropped back down; I wanted to prove there were other ways of educating people than dying. I saw myself as the target audience, but the n 40 |

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charity has become more inclusive of the years, going from “breast” to “chest”, and educating all genders, however you identify.

It’s now the third most recognised cancer charity in the UK and has raised over £2m annually - you must be proud More than any other illness, cancer seems to drive people to raise money. But I don’t measure our success that way. I suppose it’s a necessity to be able to do things, but don’t ask me how much we’ve raised; ask me about the impact. If people are more likely to check themselves or feel empowered to get checked out because they’ve heard of Coppafeel, that’s what interests me. Our campaigns have included peer-to-peer education, such as recruiting ambassadors to raise awareness on university campuses, including Falmouth.

Your book is called Glittering A Turd.

Are you always so direct?

Yes, I say it how it is most of the time. I want people to understand the realities of cancer, not a sugar-coated version. I mean, I could have called Coppafeel the Kris Hallenga Trust, but no one would have known what it was. I showed the book to several

| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

publishers; some didn’t want to use that title, and I knew they weren’t the publishers for me. Then I landed with the right person who really believed in it. It has reached a lot of people – it made the Sunday Times Bestseller list - and we’re currently talking about a paperback version. I didn’t know what to expect, but if there’s a reason that if it’s meant to land in someone’s life, it will.

You were living in London – how has life in Cornwall changed things for you?

I wanted to be near my twin sister, Maren, who lives near Newquay. I found an oncologist at Treliske. We bought a vintage Citroen 8 Van and opened a mobile bakery, Kern, and did festivals and the Camel Trail, and got a spot on Newquay harbour. Life is slower-paced here, and being near the sea is incredibly important for mental health – I love sea swimming. I’ve tried lots of complementary therapies, and recently became an ambassador for Ethica CBD, who are based in Bude. I find it really helps, and I like that it’s a Cornish brand that really cares about wanting to help. l Glittering A Turd is published by Unbound. coppafeel.org

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Online: www.thatsmycornwall.com Call Us: +44 (0)1442 820581 t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 41 n

Photos: Emily Whitfield-Wicks

The Ballad of Lucy Sands A new film tells the story of a 16-year-old murder victim whose death fascinated Victorians 140 years ago n 42 |

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| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

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n March 1882, a grim discovery was made beneath a pile of Cumbrian road cobbles. Lucy Sands, 16, had gone out

to meet friends three months earlier, and never returned home. Her brutal death gripped Victorian society, a precursor to the notorious Whitechapel murders (attributed to the mysterious Jack the Ripper) of 1888. The grisly news spread far and wide, quadrupling the readership of the local newspaper’s special edition and drawing reporters and tourists from across the country, in feverish anticipation of the trial following the arrest of a local man.

Lucy’s story is all but forgotten today, but a new British period drama directed

by Steve Baldwin promises to solve the case. Part of the filming took place on the Bodmin and Wenford steam railway last summer, in the presence of one of Lucy Sands’ descendants; large crowd scenes

independent production is currently at the editing stages, with hopes of release as a six-part series in 2022.

The film represents a labour of love for director Steve Baldwin, not to mention an intense journey that began with a vivid dream and took in some spooky coincidences along the way. “In my dream, I saw a house I used to play in as a child, and heard a scream and a girl’s voice saying ‘Help me’,” says Steve.

five hours of make-up to look like a threemonth old corpse, unable to speak or open her eyes while “dead”.

The team behind The Ballad of Lucy Sands spent seven years researching her sad tale to ensure no stone was left unturned. Delayed by lockdowns, the

material online - in its day, this story was of the same magnitude as the Titanic, but it had been completely forgotten. It was heart-breaking, and I was in tears at times while making it.”

The discovery of the body was one of many emotional scenes. “A little girl approached Isaac Bird and gave him a coin to put towards Lucy’s burial,” Mark explained. Whenever I read that, I burst

Originally from Belfast, Lucy was orphaned and moved to live with her aunt and grandmother in Workington. Many of the original locations in Cumbria had long since disappeared, but in a twist of fate, West Country based Steve visited Bodmin to get his car fixed and found all the period sets he needed, courtesy of the Bodmin and Wenford Railway. “Cornwall chose me,” he says. “It was spot on.”

into tears. Steve said if I did that on set,

A social media call-out for cast and crew drew the attention of Bodmin actor MarkAllan Pilgrim. Having recently embodied American outlaw Wyatt Earp, Mark took on a key role as Inspector Isaac Bird. “I live five minutes’ walk from the set,” he said. “I read the script and was blown away, both by the story and by the idea of playing real people who had never been

the Bodmin jail experience for many years.

were filmed at Bodmin Central station, and actress Leah Smith, 15, underwent

played before. But I could hardly find any

I’d have to do it for every take, so I had to really control myself.”

The story bears an uncanny resemblance to that in 1844 of Charlotte Dymond, whose memorial stone can be found at the foot of Roughtor on Bodmin Moor. Farm labourer Matthew Weekes was tried and hanged for her murder, despite protesting his innocence; the tale was a key part of

In contrast, a trial involving Lucy Sands’ murder resulted in an acquittal. “I think when crimes go unsolved, there’s a yearning to find out the truth,” says Steve, who believes he can name the murderer. “I feel this restless soul had attached herself to me, and I needed to find justice.” l

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Book News

Fishermen’s Mission fundraiser Salty Cove is the working title of the third in a trilogy of beautiful books celebrating the Cornish fishing industry and raising funds for the Fisherman’s Mission. Due for release in June after three years in the making, it follows the successful Salt Of The Earth (2014) and Sea, Salt And Solitude (2017). While these volumes focused on Newlyn and north Cornwall respectively, Salty Cove lands in Mevagissey, the second largest harbour in Cornwall. Professional black and white portraits by Matthew Facey and Sally Mitchell are accompanied by life stories collected by volunteer writers such as Barbara Hocking, who said: “This wonderful book holds time still, speaking of how Cornwall prides itself on being a welcome port in a storm to sailors and visitors alike, and why that’s worth preserving, just as it is, for the future.” All three titles aspire to be a living piece of social history. A crowdfunding page will open on February 14 for six weeks, to help make Salty Cove a reality; for a small donation, you can have your name printed in the book. Visit www.fishermensmission.org.uk and click on Mevagissey.

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| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

Jubilee Pool stories

Gale Profiles Causley Sunday Times bestselling author and Cornwall resident Patrick Gale is set to launch his latest novel in March. Mother’s Boy is based on the known facts of the boyhood and youth of Launceston poet Charles Causley and the life of his mother Laura, who raised him singlehandedly. Waterstones describes the novel as “tender, compassionate and rich in psychological truth … a child genius' path through life and the secret desires he must keep hidden.” The author is a patron of the Charles Causley Trust, and they will celebrate the publication together with a three-day festival from March 4 to 6. Events will include a workshop for local students, book talks and signings, the launch of the Causley Young Person’s Poetry competition and a special evening event at the Eagle House Hotel with the author, folk singer (and distant relative) Jim Causley and documentarian/filmmaker Jane Darke.

Venues will include Cyprus Well, the modest terraced house that was the Causleys’ final home. For further information, visit www.causleytrust.org/whats-on/ or preorder the book at Bookshop.org

A three-year heritage project has culminated in a beautiful collection of works inspired by celebrating Penzance’s Art Deco seawater lido.

Jubilee Pool Stories explores the pool’s pre-history and 1935 opening through to its modern geothermal innovations, delving into its acclaimed architecture and its central role in the lives of local people and swimming culture. An archive website features films, audio postcards, oral histories and over 600 specially digitised and catalogued images alongside animations produced by Penwith College and Falmouth University.

Co-editor and contributor Hannah May - who officially opened the new geothermal pool last August in honour of her late grandmother, swimmer and pool devotee Joyce Cooper - said: "Sharing my family’s Jubilee Pool story has been an immense joy, and the book highlights the intergenerational importance of the pool. What also resounded for me was how tirelessly the pool’s supporters have campaigned for its survival in the wake of devastating storms and funding cuts, and ardently continue to do so.” The book can be purchased from the pool’s ticket kiosk, online at www.jubileepool.co.uk and from The Edge of the World bookshop in Penzance. The archive website can be found at www.jubileepoolstories.co.uk

Writers of the Clay The spoil tips of the China Clay industry have inspired writers including Jack Clemo, Salome Hocking, EV Thompson and more. Now, as writer-in-residence at Wheal Martyn Museum, Jane Pugh will celebrate the Writers of the Clay and aim to inspire others to follow in their footsteps. Jane will run two walking, writing and creating workshops with local community groups and families at either end of February half term. The first, on February 19, will be themed around Nature and Natural History; the second, on February 26, will explore the Unnatural and Supernatural. Participants’ words will be crafted by local ceramicists into and onto ‘story bowls’ and ‘poetry pots’ to be exhibited at Wheal Martyn. “I’m interested in where nature and industry co-exist, and I’m curious to find out if this resonates with local people who live their lives among the extraordinariness of both,” says Jane, who is based in Penzance. “I’m interested in flowers, birds, grasses, insects – the miniscule against the mighty; and I’m interested in words associated with clay - extraction, crushing, blending - to see if they evoke story scenarios or poems.” This residency is a pilot for a planned wider project using the literary heritage of locations around the South West. t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 45 n

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| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

Carn Brea, near Redruth

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interactive chat rooms. There’s an online dictionary where you can look up the word you need and hear it pronounced. The Academy Kernewek gets a list of searches with no returns and will either upload an I was made Bardh Meur (Grand Bard) at existing word or discuss the need for one.

Bude Gorsedh 2021. I see the role as helping That said, it’s surprising how many Cornish to support the people working behind words are out there – for example, if an the scenes – for example, administering animal was mentioned in the Bible, it will our fantastic award scheme, which shines feature in Cornish in the 14th century mystery a spotlight on Cornish culture - not just play Origo Mundi (Origin of the World). language but also dialect, music and art and recognising research in areas such as As Grand Bard, I’m seeing a number of archaeology, history and geology. Then bards who, like me, left Cornwall to study. there’s deciding which brilliant people will Because they embarked upon careers, be Barded this year, and which to keep an met partners and had children, their lives When I was at school in the ‘80s, there were eye on for the future. became established elsewhere in the UK or no university facilities in Cornwall. If you Our current plans are largely about even overseas. They have the same feeling did well at A level, you had to move away recovery. The pandemic has forced real of “hireth”, or longing for home, that I did; to continue your studies. I went to London challenges upon us, and has seen a rapid thankfully, we now have Teams, Zoom and to study chemical engineering, and felt evolution in how we deliver things. We easy car travel. incredibly homesick. An Irishman told me intend to support Cornwall’s bid for City March 5 is St Piran’s Day. I live in the parish I wasn’t a proper Celt because I didn’t of Culture 2025, and it’s good to see other of Perranzabuloe, where St Piran arrived by speak my native language, and led me to a locations with Celtic roots on the shortlist: sea from Ireland, on a millstone. His oratory Cornish language course which opened the Stirling in Scotland, Wrexham in Wales and is the oldest Christian building in the UK, door to the Cornish community in London Armagh City in Northern Ireland. I’d also no ifs or buts, and it was saved thanks to the – people who had left Cornwall but taken like to reconnect with other Celtic nations, hard work of the St Piran Trust. In the past, their Cornish identity with them. such as Wales and Brittany. In the past, I have dressed as St Piran for reenactments Disillusioned with chemical engineering, we’ve sent representatives to each other’s around March 5. Last year, celebrations I retrained and returned to Cornwall to events; emailing and Zooming is fine, but moved online due to the pandemic, and teach science. I lived in Liskeard, where you can’t beat physical contact. my wife and I walked to the oratory to lay there were a lot of great Cornish speakers.

It’s good to take stock and celebrate daffodils. It’s hard to predict where we’ll We enjoyed Yeth an Werin in the Stag Inn how much we have achieved. When I be in 2022. I would ask everyone to attend informal gatherings where the only rule was did my teacher training, I enrolled on a an event if possible, whether that be in “no English spoken”. correspondence course in Kernewek; I Truro, Launceston, Bodmin, Newquay or Being made a Bard is the greatest honour used to receive cassette tapes through Penzance; celebrate online; or simply wish Cornwall can give you. My turn came in the post, and wasn’t expected to submit someone a Gool Perran Lowen and raise a 1991, in Tregarrek (Roche). My Bardic name any work back. That seems crazy when you toast to the saint. Just don’t get drunk as a is Mab Stenek Veur, which means Great Tin look at today’s language learning apps and Perraner and fall down a well. l was born in Redruth, but I grew up in Troon, which was part of Camborne.

In their mining heyday, the two towns worked quite separately, Camborne importing and exporting through the port at Hayle, Redruth through Portreath.

Some people still take the rivalry between Redruth and Camborne quite seriously (never more so than during the Boxing Day rugby match). This spills into the heritage: Camborne has Bewnans Meriasek (The Life of St Meriadoc), while Redruth has Cornish archives centre Kresen Kernow; Camborne has inventor Richard Trevithick, Redruth William Murdoch.

Ground. I see that as being the Great Flat Lode, which stretches from Wheal Grenville at Troon to bits of Redruth. It’s a huge area, and a Unesco World Heritage Site now.

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Restormel Castle, courtesy of English Heritage

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| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

Wella an Fether a gonkwerras Pow Sows yn sewen yn 1066 hag a berghenegas an tir a-barth y honan mes an gwlaskor dhiberth a Gernow ev a rontas dh’y hanter-broder Robert, Yurl a Vortain.

An Normanow a dhrehevas peswar kastel yn Kernow, y’n kynsa le a brenn mes dhana dasdrehevys a ven. Kevys o dew anedha a-dreus an or gans Pow Sows, dhe Lannstefan ha dhe Dremen, ogas dhe Essa arnowydh. An kastell dhe Lannstefan a warthevas an wlas ynter Goon Derow ha Goon Brenn ha tre varghas a devis a-dro an tour men. Y teuth an dre dhe vos an kresenn menystrek a Gernow, gwlaskor Yurl o hy lemmyn.

Yn kettermyn, Kastel Tremen a withas an dreusva gowbal pella a-dhygowbarth gans y wel ynwedh dres an pleg mor a-dhyworth an tour hirgylghek.

William the Conqueror successfully invaded England in 1066 and claimed the land for himself, but the separate kingdom of Cornwall he granted to his half-brother Robert, Count of Mortain. The Normans built four castles in Cornwall, initially in timber but then reconstructed in stone. Two of these lay along the border with England, at Launceston and at Trematon, near modern-day Saltash. Launceston castle dominated the land between Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor and a market town grew around the stone keep. It became the administrative centre for Cornwall, now an Earldom. Trematon, meanwhile, guarded the ferry crossing further south with a view also over the sound from an oval-shaped keep.

fether conqueror sewen success perghenegi to claim gwlaskor kingdom diberth separate grontya to grant hanter-broder half-brother yurl earl Normanow Normans kastel castle prenn wood, timber men stone menystrek administrative treusva crossing place kowbal ferry hirgylghek oval-shaped Drehevys o an tressa ha pesworra kastylli dhe Rostorrmel ha Din Tagel. An dre a dhisplegyas y’n skeus a Gastel Rostorrmel ha kyns pell, awos an esporth a sten, aswonnys o y borth avel an an

Tagel fondys seulabrys avel kerweyth meur, neb re beu kyns esedh a vyghternedh Kernow. Y’n kansbledhen tredhegves, Hykka, an 1sa Yurl a Gernow a dhrehevis y gastell war’n keth splatt konna tir. Yn dydhyow na hogen, ev a dhevnydhyas gis kottha rag y gelmi dhe’n henhwedhel a Vyghtern Artur!

The third and fourth castles were raised at Restormel and Tintagel. The town of Lostwithiel also developed in the shadow of Restormel Castle and soon, through the export of tin, its port was recognised as the second largest on the south coast of Great Britain behind only Southampton. Of all the Norman castles, only Tintagel was already established as a major fortification, having been the seat of earlier Cornish kings. In the 13th century, Richard, the 1st Earl of Cornwall built his castle on the same peninsula site. Even back then he deliberately used an older style to tie it to the legends of King Arthur!

kynsa first nessa second tressa third pesworra fourth displegya to develop skeus shadow esporth export sten tin Breten Veur Great Britain a-dhelergh dhe behind henhwedhel legend an keth the same splatt plot, site konna tir peninsula (lit: neck of land) hogen even kelmi to tie NEBES LAVARENNOW ‘VAS KRESOSEL | SOME USEFUL MEDIEVAL PHRASES Yma’n kastylli ‘tre nessa’ ma ladha prisyow rentys omma These ‘second home’ castles are killing the rent prices down here “…ha my a leveris, eus edhom yn hwir a gastell aral yn Kernow est?” “ …and I said, do we really need another castle in east Cornwall?”

Yn tevri, eus kummyas towlennans rag kastell a’n braster na?

Do you actually have planning permission for a castle of that size?

Kastylli affordhadow rag pubonan!” “Affordable castles for everyone!”

Lavar an pyth a vynnydh a’n Normanow mes kwalita an gwin re wellhas yn feur!

nessa brassa dhe’n arvor soth a Vreten Veur, a-dhelergh marnas

Say what you like about the Normans, but the quality of wine has

dhe Southampton. A’n kastylli Norman oll, yth esa marnas Din

improved greatly!

For general enquiries: maureen.pierce@kesva.org For enquiries about publications: roger.courtenay@kesva.org For enquiries about examinations: tony.hak@kesva.org For enquiries about the language correspondence course: kernewekdrelyther@hotmail.co.uk For more Cornish Language visit: www.kesva.org t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 49 n

Clay country

My Cornish Roots Author Angela Britnell lives near Nashville, Tennessee, but as she tells Kirstie Newton, her heart remains in St Stephen, near St Austell

and the sense of community I remember is one that emerges in my writing now.

How did you come to move to the USA? I met my own tall, dark, handsome stranger and fell in love! After leaving school, I joined the WRNS and after about five years was drafted to a small NATO headquarters on the Jutland peninsula in Denmark. A certain US Naval Lieutenant was stationed there too; within four months, we were engaged and married nine months later. This April, Tell us about your earlier life in Cornwall Richard and I celebrate our 38th wedding I was born in what was then St Stephen’s anniversary, so I’d say it worked out. After post office, where my father was the Denmark, we lived in Sicily for two years and postmaster for many years. Everyone knew then moved to Monterey, California, which me as “Mr Golley’s daughter from up post was the first time I lived in the US. Now we’re office”. It was a small village: the vicar and based in Thompson’s Station, a small town the policeman were my best friends’ fathers, about an hour outside of Nashville. so there was little chance of getting into any trouble! I went to the village school and then What do you miss most about Cornwall? to grammar school in St Austell. My parents My husband’s joking answer is “The weather were from the area – my dad grew up in St and pasties!” That simplifies it, but I do miss Austell, my mum in Mevagissey, where her the more moderate climate - my fair Cornish father was harbourmaster. I suppose it was a skin has never got used to the extreme very old-fashioned childhood in many ways, heat and humidity of a Tennessee summer. n 50 |

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Angela in her pram in St Stephen

Angela and Richard at home in Thompson's Station

I occasionally make pasties, but they’re never as good as my mum’s, or the genuine ones you can buy in Cornwall. I miss being by the sea as well - there’s something about it that still draws me. Although Tennessee has some beautiful mountains and lakes, it doesn’t appeal as much as breathing in salt air and looking out over the ocean.

for six weeks. I thought it would be a nice escape from my wonderful, noisy three sons. I’ve always been a voracious reader and enjoyed English in school, but I was still amazed at how quickly I fell in love with writing all over again. I started with short stories, and the teacher encouraged me to turn it into something longer, so I gave it a go. My second attempt ended up as Do you still have family in Cornwall?

Truth And Consequence, my first published My 93-year-old mother lives in a residential novel in 2006. In December, I published my home at Charlestown, and I have cousins 37th - A Cornish Christmas on Pear Tree in St Austell and Mevagissey. I’m in close Farm. I’ve also had short stories published contact with them all, plus many friends in various women’s magazines, such as My in St Stephen. Pre-Covid, I came back Weekly and The People’s Friend. frequently, often three times a year as my parents aged; but when we finally made it Why did you choose romance fiction? to Cornwall last September, it was the first It seemed to choose me! Almost all of my time I’d seen my mother for almost two books have a Cornish connection – for years. If all goes well, we’ll return in March. example, One Summer In Little Penhaven, A Summer To Remember In Herring Bay. It also How and when did you start your seemed natural to try a trans-Atlantic story. writing career?

That’s become something I really enjoy, as it About 20 years ago – wow, where did adds another layer of obstacles to a couple that go? - I saw a creative writing class falling in love and working out how to make advertised locally, one evening a week a life together – just like my own tale. l

Angela Britnell’s novels are published

by ChocLit. Spring on Rendezvous Lane, released in digital and audio last year, will come out in paperback in early March. www.choc-lit.com

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Unique Astrological Orreries and 3D Natal Charts Handmade in Polruan, Cornwall

TRELISSICK GALLERY Spring Exhibition ‘Craftsmanship 2022’

29th January - 24th April 2022 We will also be showing a small Retrospective Focus of the late Margaret Way, Ceramicist, Founder CCA Member and ex Trustee.

We are open daily between 10am – 4.30pm until mid-February when we will be open until 5pm.

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M: 07753 817992 T: 01726 870304 E: info@nosti.co.uk W: nosti.co.uk

In Unravelling, artist Ilya Fisher explores our response to the climate crisis: our need to look away, and our need to face it. Ilya embroiders words onto photographs, making layers and encouraging the viewer’s eye to wander around. See Unravelling at Truro Cathedral from March 14 to April 8.

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ART NEWS VIP: NOSTI ORRERIES THROUGH THE EYES OF... TREVOR FELCEY MAKER FOCUS: COWHOUSE GALLERY TERRAMATER ART: DEGREES ART FOCUS: ST IVES SCHOOL OF PAINTING ARTIST PROFILE: MARIA FLOYD

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s w e N t r A

CORNWALL CRAFTS ASSOCIATION Cornwall Crafts Association (CCA) is thrilled to present its spring exhibition, Craftsmanship 2022, at Trelissick Gallery. This stunning and vibrant show will consist of the best work from its superb membership and will extend throughout the whole gallery, and with a small Focus Retrospective for the late Margaret Way: a fine ceramist, CCA founder member and former trustee. can be found within the grounds of the National Trust property at Feock, near Truro, and is free to enter (parking charges may apply). l Open daily, 10am to 5pm. Tel 01872 864514, Email: elinor@cornwallcrafts.co.uk www.cornwallcrafts.co.uk www.facebook.com/cornwallcrafts Instagram cornwall_crafts

ON THE COVER: TREBAH GARDEN

BY LIZZIE-MAY DESIGN Truro-based Lizzie-May is heavily inspired by botanicals, flowers and colourful gardens. She creates immersive nature scenes by using a combination of gouache paints and mixed media to layer looser brushstrokes with finer details.

Trebah Garden In Summer was painted in August 2020 following Lizzie-May's first visit to the subtropical gardens. She was overwhelmed by their beauty, especially this view of the Mallard Pond and Hydrangea Valley, framed by the beautiful blooms in the foreground.

Lizzie prints her designs on to a range of cards, art prints, enamel pins and more. She sources her products in the UK and constantly strives to use more sustainable and eco-friendly materials, using compostable options where possible as well as fully recyclable and biodegradable packaging. l Her work can be found at Uneeka Life shops in Truro and Falmouth, or purchased online at www.lizziemaydesign.co.uk

THE CUSTOM HOUSE GALLERY The Custom House Gallery in Porthleven has announced its 2022 programme of exhibitions, kicking off with Heather Howe from April 23 to May 2, followed by: Steve Sherris, May 14 to 21; Amanda Hoskin, June 4 to 13; Phil Ward, July 9 to 18; Roger Curtis, July 30 to August 8; Andrew Jago, August 20 to 29; Rebecca Jewell, September 10 to 19; Simon Jewell, October 1 to 10; and Andrew Barrowman, October 22 to 31. Established over 20 years ago, the Customs House Gallery occupies a bright and airy space on Porthleven’s historic harbourside, displaying a diverse collection of original work by some of Cornwall’s finest artists. l Winter opening: Wednesday-Sunday, 10.30am-4pm n 54 |

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Tel 01326 569365, www.cornwall-art.co.uk

The Customs House Gallery ˜ Porthleven ˜

AN EVER CHANGING DISPLAY OF ORIGINAL WORK BY SOME OF CORNWALL’S FINEST ARTISTS

W: WWW.CORNWALL-ART.CO.UK

T: 01326 569365

E: HELLO@THECUSTOMSHOUSEGALLERY.CO.UK

ABOVE: AMANDA HOSKIN RAIN APPROACHING OFF 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 throughout the week, also some weekends 10am-12noon

BELOW: ANDREW BARROWMAN PORTHALLOW FROM NARE POINT

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

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LISKEARD CATTLE MARKET A major new initiative has been launched to promote the arts and crafts talent of Liskeard.

Managed by the town council, the Cattle Market Makers project is part of the ongoing regeneration of the historic site in Liskeard’s town centre, which has lain empty since the market closed in 2017.

Work is now ongoing to build new business and arts facilities in this prime location, including a specially constructed space for local artists and craftspeople along with one-to-one business mentoring and support for experienced artists and craftspeople to turn their hobbies into businesses and to take them to the next level of growth.

Look out for a range of free training courses in a variety of disciplines, delivered by artists including watercolour painter Shari Hills, for beginners looking to develop new skills and interim learners seeking to hone their craft. l For more information on any of these opportunities, email cmm.admin@liskeard.gov.uk

THAO NGUYEN PHAN AT TATE ST IVES Thao Nguyen Phan is renowned internationally for her poetic, multilayered artworks which explore the historical and ecological issues facing her homeland Vietnam, while speaking to broader ideas around tradition, ideology, ritual and environmental change. Her mesmerising work intertwines mythology and folklore with urgent issues around industrialisation, food security and the environment. The threat posed by the destruction and excessive consumption of Earth’s resources is a recurring theme. Her exhibition at Tate St Ives will be her most extensive UK show to date, bringing together a selection of videos, paintings and sculptures from the past five years alongside new work exhibited for the first time. This includes First Rain, Brise Soleil (2021–ongoing), a major new multi-channel film commission, and an accompanying series of paintings. l February 5 to May 2. www.tate.org.uk

EXPLORE ABSTRACT PAINTING Abstract landscape painting expresses emotion while still capturing the essence of a landscape. A compelling new book explores this suggestive style first developed by Turner. Using the hauntingly-beautiful paintings of Gareth Edwards, it explores the technical, historical and psychological dimensions of abstract landscape painting to help you develop your own skilful and intensely personal approach. The author has been a professional abstract landscape painter for over 25 years and is a long-term resident of St Ives' historic Porthmeor Studios, and a prominent member of the Newlyn Society of Artists. His daughter and co-author, Kate Reeve-Edwards, runs her own art writing business, Cultural Capital Arts. l Published by the Crowood Press, £18.99.

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VIP

A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE REACH FOR THE STARS WITH THIS BESPOKE ORRERY, DESIGNED BY NOSTI, AKA ALISON CANNING OF POLRUAN Photographs by Simon Burt Photography

American financier JP Morgan famously said: “Millionaires don’t use astrology; billionaires do.” Morgan himself was a believer, using astrologers to help guide him timing his businesses and investments.

He wasn’t the only high-profile fan; Elizabeth I would never go to war without first consulting John Dee, a mathematician and astronomer who also dabbled in astrology and the occult. If the stars weren’t aligned, peace would reign.

Morgan and Good Queen Bess would no doubt have coveted a beautiful orrery like those designed by NOSTI, aka Alison Canning of Polruan. Named after Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery – patron of the first known example, built in 1713 by George Graham – a traditional orrery is a mechanical model of the solar system with the sun at its centre. By contrast, NOSTI has Earth at the centre and can be used to create a 3D version of the two-dimensional natal chart, both of which outline the positions of the planets around Earth on the date and time that you were born.

Born and raised in the Tamar Valley, Alison worked in PR for 25 years, in London and New York during which time the atmosphere became more mercenary. “My values weren’t being met and I felt miserable and burnt out, so I packed it in, sold up and drove towards the sun, back to Cornwall,” she recalls. “I didn’t think of it as a spiritual journey, but that’s exactly what it turned out to be.”

Alison’s parents had retired to the area, and she settled nearby on the bank of the river Fowey, with panoramic riparian views across to St Fimbarrus church. There, she mulled over what to do with her new life. “I had always had an interest in nature and the cosmos, as well as faith systems, astronomy and astrology. I had a eureka moment – why not create a 3D birth chart?”

Her first attempts were worthy of Blue Peter, using a pizza tin, kitchen roll holder and ping-pong balls. “It looked ridiculous but worked perfectly.” From this, a prototype was made. “I thought, if I can make one, I can make lots.”

Alison now uses around 15 suppliers for different parts of the orreries. “I’m their smallest client,” she explains. “What I can get from Cornwall I do – granite bases, wheels from Tintagel - but it involves precision engineering, so I might have to go further for a specialist.” Crystals are sourced from China and carefully matched to their celestial counterparts: including citrine for the sun, red jasper for Mars and rose quartz for Venus.

There are three “editions” available. Antiquarian features images inspired by the medieval clock tower – the Torre dell’Orologio – in St Mark’s Square, Venice, printed on ivory leather to resemble old parchment, and mounted on a black granite wheel with solid brass components. Empyrean, with its royal purple leather and semipolished, golden granite wheel, has a more spiritual look ideal for anyone drawn to magic and mysticism; and Neoteric is a sleek and modern version, in ebony leather, nero granite and stainless steel for the style-conscious minimalist. All editions are sold with a glass dome to protect the workings from interference by children or animals, and to keep the orrery dust-free.

The brand name, NOSTI, is a contraction of “nosce te ipsum” the Latin form of the Ancient Greek motto, “know thyself”. Says Alison: “When born, you get an energetic imprint from the heavens - this is either random or karmic, depending on what you believe.” She hands me my own natal chart, which has me pegged as a thinker, self-starter and hard taskmaster. I’m surprised to see just how accurate it is, bar the odd trait.

That said, Alison sees her orreries as “largely ornamental”, and she would like to see them in galleries as objets-d'art. “I’m very much at the beginning of my astrology journey – that's a lifetime’s work.

These orreries are for you to use as you wish – you could keep yours at your birth settings, or you could move the planets every day to coincide with their celestial movements. You can also take the crystals out and meditate with them.”

Asked for a prediction a la Mystic Meg, Alison indicates that Jupiter - planet of luck, expansion and wealth - moved into Pisces at the end of last year and will remain there until May 10. “This is the most transformative transit of 2022 for everyone, and I think the business might take off at that point.”

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THROUGH THE EYES OF...

TREVOR FELCEY Many artists turned to self-portraiture during the isolating times of lockdown – it was a reliable source of subject matter at a time when it was difficult to go out, and models weren’t allowed. But for Trevor, the catalyst came just before the pandemic in January 2020. He was unwell and spent a week in hospital; when he emerged and returned to the studio, he began a self-portrait.

How did you find the experience?

I usually make portraits of other people, and landscapes, so this was new and refreshingly interesting. I’m advanced in years and hadn’t really looked at myself in a mirror for a very long time. Perhaps feeling my own mortality enhanced the subject matter. I know every painting an artist makes is a statement that “the painter was here”, but a self-portrait says this in a most emphatic way.

So it actually made you contemplate your own passing?

I’m in my 77th year and had had heart trouble, so it was on my mind anyway.

There’s also the thought at the back of my mind that, in some small way, these paintings might be more interesting when I’ve gone.

How did you approach your self-portrait?

For the first painting, I placed a sheep's skull in the background, helping to draw the eye

into the deep space of the studio. I liked the fact the skull was the same size as my ear, but then realised how much an ear is like a skull - a convoluted form turning in on itself.

That certainly changed my perception.

Were you happy with the end result?

Six different versions followed, the driving force mainly being that of feeling dissatisfied with what I’d done, and in the hope of making something better. Each painting is very different; they are by no means repetitive. Each is a different formal idea, which I hope is self-explanatory.

capture that a photograph doesn't?

A photograph is just a fraction of a second in time and captures very little.

It rarely looks like the person, and with landscape, is never what it was like being there. A painting is made over many hours of intense scrutiny; every mark is a response to something seen and experienced, and carries multiple feelings and emotions. That’s why good paintings always surprise one - however many times one has seen them before, they always give something new. l

Are they for sale, and if so, who buys them?

Yes - at the time of writing, I’ve only got one left! They are bought by people who know my work, and like them enough to want to own them. I do still have one on the go, but I think they’re coming to an end.

Trevor Felcey’s art can be found at the

What does a self-portrait of this nature

www.thenewgalleryportscatho.co.uk

New Gallery Portscatho, an artist-run showroom and studios and home of the Portscatho Art Society.

Open Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 5pm, and by appointment. Tel 01872 580719,

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MAKER'S FOCUS

Sara Taylor Potter and Member at The Cowhouse Gallery I was working as a gardener, but in 2015 decided on a change of direction in my career and enrolled on an Access to Higher Education course. This awakened the power of creativity within me, and I went on to do a BA (Hons) in Art and Design, specialising in ceramics.

I love the tactile sense of working with clay. The time I spent in the ceramic studio was a wealth of investigation exploring, learning, taking notes and photographs on the many processes and techniques that I experimented with, so I could go back and understand exactly what caused a specific result, many of which I use today in my practice.

I am very much influenced by the rugged coastline. I’m fascinated by the way the ever-changing light produces the many different colours and textures of the sea, sand and rock formations found in the Cornish landscape. I attempt to transform these images into clay by using the unlimited variety of colours, patterns and energy found in nature. I start by taking photographs and then sketch out my designs using watercolours.

I do not make functional pots, but prefer to use the piece as a subject, to give a visual memory. Each piece is hand-built, starting with a pinch pot, then I attach

coils and slabs of different clays to give variations of colour and surface. I also add colour by mixing body stains and oxides to porcelain and white stoneware clays, along with locally dug clay to connect an element of place in my pots.

A pot can take up to two weeks to complete depending on its complexity. As such, I usually work on numerous pieces at one time. I let certain areas dry out to support the growing form, while other surfaces must be kept damp enough so that I can add more clay. I try to control the gradual drying of these areas to avoid cracks, as individual clays have different quantities of grog which helps to give the clay body and structure. After adding a layer of clay, I scrape away any excess which also helps to define the form. When leather hard, I compress the surface with a smooth pebble which gives the piece a slight sheen. My pots can then take up to four weeks to dry and are then fired once over a period of 17 hours in an electric kiln.

There is always the element of surprise when you open up the kiln. I push the clay beyond its considered limitations, hopefully towards something that I think will be of interest, so that first glimpse of the fired piece can be like seeing your work for the first time.

I exhibit my pieces at the Cowhouse Gallery. It’s situated in the idyllic village of Perranuthnoe in west Cornwall, between St Michael’s Mount and Prussia Cove. In 2002, some charming historic farm buildings were converted into what is now the Lynfield Craft Centre. The following year, Meg O’Connor and a group of artists created a studio gallery in one of the spaces, and the Cowhouse Gallery was born. In 2005, it became a collective of local artists, making the most of a bright, airy space in an inspirational location. Members and associate member guest exhibitors share their work daily with gallery visitors.

Perranuthnoe has a stunning beach and at low tide a wide expanse of golden sand and beautiful pebbles. It’s a popular destination for surfers, swimmers, walkers and families, and a wonderful source of inspiration at all times. l The Cowhouse Gallery is open daily 11am to 4pm wintertime and 10am to 5pm during the summer.

Lynfield Craft Centre, Perranuthnoe, TR20 9NE. Tel 01736 710538 www.cowhousegallery.co.uk A @thecowhousegallery G Cowhouse Gallery.

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THE TERRA MATER ARTISTS CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE Following a well-received show at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, the Terra Mater Art group visits the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro with Degrees, an interactive exhibition of paintings, ceramics, sculpture and jewellery considering the effects of climate change.

with Sarah Drew, and have a go at abstract painting with Karen McEndoo. Look out, too, for collaborative artwork within Cornwall. Members share a concern for the of us turning our planet into a desert like the exhibition. Also, 10% of sales will Arakis or Tatooine, or a drought-ridden escalating and alarming issues of global be donated to Cornwall Wildlife Trust, warming, climate change, biodiversity loss, place with dangerous storms, is sobering while the museum shop will stock related to say the least. We need to be the Rebel water and air pollution and deforestation.

Alliance and resist the forces of greed that affordable eco-gifts.

They have joined together to make The group hopes to spark discussions are ignoring the climate emergency.” a statement through their work and about what is happening now and likely Karen McEndoo’s paintings pay homage creative processes about the damage to occur in the near future, as well as to trees, especially those in towns and being inflicted on the planet, and the considering and suggesting possible increasingly devastating effects not just on cities, often damaged, pollarded, planted in solutions and methods to counteract the poor soil or just overlooked. “By depicting human society but also the animals and damaging increase in global temperatures. them as black spatial forms they become plants with which we share it.

“Our shows are an invitation to others to negative spaces around which everything The show title Degrees refers to the work with us to grow a world in which we else tessellates, the blackness symbolising critical rise in temperature of two degrees. can all survive and thrive, protecting the the trees’ ability to absorb light, carbon and Eight local artists and makers have boundless beauty, diverse species and pollution in return for oxygen and lower considered the extent to which people will energy of the world around us.” l temperatures,” she explains. be affected by these changes, depending Terra Mater Art is a group of women

warning of what could happen if nature

artists and makers living and working in

is not protected,” she says. “The thought

not only on where they live on the planet

The exhibition will also feature paintings

(degrees of latitude and longtitude) but

by Dana Finch, ceramics by Laurel Keeley,

also on their social and economic situation.

art jewellery by Donna Burns and sculpture

Art jewellery maker Sarah Drew is planning a collection of big collage

by Whitney Manning.

The exhibition aims to be as interactive

necklaces, wall panels and riveted found

as possible. Saturdays will see climate

plastic rings and brooches, all based

change-themed jewellery-making and

on her favourite sci-fi films such as Star

art workshops in collaboration with the

Wars and Dune. “Much as I love these

museum's art club (free for 11 to 18-year-

films, I think they can partly be seen as a

olds): make sci-fi inspired found jewellery

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Degrees runs at the Royal Cornwall Museum in River Street, Truro from February 15 to March 26. To check workshop dates and book spaces, email terramaterart@gmail.com For further information, www.terramaterart.com

G @terramaterart A @terramaterart

CREATIVE & CULTURAL LIVING COWHOUSE GALLERY

JACKSON FOUNDATION KENIDJACK: A CORNISH VALLEY Until February 26th. Kurt Jackson has spent over three years painting Kenidjack Valley to explore, re-engage and immerse himself through the seasons from top to tail of this extraordinary watercourse, the UK’s ‘almostmost’ westerly valley.

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.

Left: Wrecked by Anne Boss. Acrylic on Canvas Right: Jules by Anne Boss. Pencil sketch Winter hours open daily 11-4. Lynfield Craft Centre, Perranuthnoe TR20 9NE T: 01736 710538 • www.cowhousegallery.co.uk

INSPIRE MAKERS

VALLEY LIVES Until February 26th. Along Kenidjack valley there were shops, a Sunday school, places of recreation and manufacture. Some of these have now gone but a thriving community lives on. This collection of images and artefacts aims to tell the story of this valley.

MERMAIDS’ TEARS From March 19th. This exhibition, originally shown in Scotland during COP26, charts Kurt Jackson’s efforts to address the blight of plastic in the ocean, and draws attention to the resin pellets or nurdles from plastic manufacturing (known as mermaids’ tears) that pollute the environment. In association with Surfers Against Sewage.

CLAY COUNTRY From March 19th. For this project previously exhibited at Wheal Martyn and Worcester, Kurt Jackson worked in situ at the Littlejohns China Clay Works, observing the workers in the pit as they extracted and transported the china clay in an extraordinary manmade landscape.

The dramatic (and sometimes extreme) variations in the weather inspired a diverse range of drawings and paintings, perched on the edge of the pit or down in the depths – including the clay and stone itself in the mix.

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

MARTIN JOHN FOWLER

SALLY BALDWIN - FRAGILE EARTH From March 19th. Textile artist Sally Baldwin’s Fragile Earth is a body of work evoking natural forms such as trees, pods, flowers, insects, sea life, water. The materials used - recycled paper, handmade paper, silk waste, silk, cotton scrim - are ghostly, white and ephemeral, suggesting delicate, fragile, finely balanced and vulnerable landscapes.

Please check website for seasonal opening times North Row, St Just, TR19 7LB • T: 01736 787638 www.jacksonfoundationgallery.com

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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Busy students at St Ives School of Painting

Former Director Roy Ray

Departing Director Alison Sharkey

The school seen from above

ART FOCUS

ST IVES SCHOOL OF PAINTING St Ives School of Painting is seeking a new director to steer it through the post-pandemic world.

When the St Ives School of Painting opened in April 1938, it was the fulfilment of a promise made by two young officers who had served in the trenches of the First World War some 20 years earlier.

Experienced artists Borlase Smart and Leonard Fuller vowed that if they survived the horrors of the Western Front, they would live and paint in St Ives.

Smart settled in St Ives with his wife immediately after the war, earning a reputation for his seascapes and launching the St Ives Society of Artists. In 1938, spotting a need for a school to serve increasing numbers of visiting artists, he persuaded Fuller to leave London and set one up in a studio overlooking Porthmeor beach.

The following year saw the arrival of St Ives’ most eminent names: Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth and Naum Gabo who, along with Bernard Leach, would form the nucleus of a modern art movement with an international reputation. In their wake came the likes of Peter Lanyon, Terry Frost and Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, all of whom frequented the school, particularly the life classes. n 66 |

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Over eight decades later, St Ives School of Painting continues to thrive. It’s an intimate set-up, operating out of two studio spaces in the attic of Porthmeor studios, run by a small team of creatives who are passionate about its legacy.

Director Alison Sharkey has steered the ship for 11 years; as she departs in April to pursue her own artistic interests, the search is on for a new captain to navigate through post-pandemic times.

Having gained an art foundation and HNC in the Outer Hebrides and keen to continue her studies in a rural setting, Alison graduated from Falmouth with a fine art degree. While juggling an artistic practice with a part-time job at artist development agency Creative Skills, she was invited to join St Ives School as its development manager.

“They were looking for someone who had a practice at heart, and would understand the struggle of putting art at the centre of your life,” she explains. “I’d also had the privilege of hearing about so many artists’ journeys, dreams, anxieties

| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

and motivations. This gave me invaluable insight into running the school.”

The role of director had been filled by very few people, all artists, since its inception: founding father Leonard Fuller was succeeded in the 1960s by his widow Marjorie Mostyn, who passed the baton to Roy Ray in the ‘70s, and local artist Ges Wilson stepped in to help for a while. All took an active role in the school, teaching and even modelling alongside running the show; Alison, however, made it clear she would not be following their example.

"I preferred to leave teaching to people who were much better at it, which was a bit radical for the school at the time,” she admits. “It meant I wouldn’t be on the shop floor, but it was realistic about what it takes to run an organisation nowadays. My strengths lay more in facilitating: listening to artists and what they were interested in teaching, and understanding students and their needs.”

Indeed, working to artists’ strengths and giving customers what they want is crucial to the school’s survival. It is only through

Founding Director Leonard Fuller

their fees that it continues to exist, largely independent of grant funding.

Alison enjoyed the mentorship of Roy Ray, who remained a trustee of the school until his death in May 2021. “We had many afternoons and evenings over a cup of tea or a glass of wine, when he shared memories and anecdotes,” she recalls. “He was such a great story teller, and those stories connected what I was doing today to the past, ensuring the connection from Leonard Fuller and Marjorie Mostyn stayed alive.

“Both Roy and I came to art later in life and I think this gave us an empathy with our students, who span such a wide range of backgrounds. Together we developed the sort of programme we would be excited to attend as students ourselves.”

In his own time, Roy had widened the school’s approach by engaging his wide circle of eminent artist friends to teach a variety of disciplines and encourage the exploration of modern concepts. Under him, the school became the teaching wing of the art community in St Ives, and a welcoming community for students from around the world.

Alison was keen to continue his work.

“There was no hierarchy; all art making was respected and embraced. The past decade has been about nurturing the ethos Roy worked so hard to build, as well as putting the school on a firm financial footing. So many artist-led spaces run out of energy, so it was already a massive achievement for the school to still be here after so many years, but it needed to find a way of being sustainable in a very different world.”

The school was paying a peppercorn rent for a studio in a “crumbling building”, so the first task was to find a way to operate while the landlords, the Borlase Smart John Well’s Trust, steered a £4m renovation which involved working for a year out of a single studio with a portable toilet: “Not the prestigious, historic environment you might hope for,” laughs Alison.

Staff numbers also swelled from an initial three to the current 18. “In the past, the school relied a lot on goodwill and friendship, but it had got to a point where you needed to pay properly to keep going,” says Alison. “I put a good team together, and looked at marketing; I felt the school had been doing amazing things but hiding its light under a bushel, and needed to be put in front of more people.

“In the early days, the school was perhaps perceived as only for serious artists, and the thought of going up those wooden steps was quite intimidating for some. But we welcome those with no experience of art, and have introduced more beginners’ courses.”

A growing tutor team covers everything from Japanese printmaking with Krowjibased Adrian Holmes to painting and collage responding to the natural environment with artist Kitty Hiller. The school is also reaching out to a younger clientele, and obtained grant funding to offer an intensive five-day Culture Camp to teens excluded from mainstream education. The experience included visits to Leach Pottery and Tate St Ives, and was instrumental in enabling two students to return to school.

The biggest change in recent times has been the introduction of the online art school, which came into its own unexpectedly when lockdown hit in 2020.

Says Alison: “There was a huge demand for webinars. This confirmed how important the school is, and opens up huge opportunities to reach many more people. This will be an exciting new venture for the new director to explore further.”

The time is now right, she says, to return to her own art, and perhaps even to the Outer Hebrides. “I feel like the school is in a good place to hand over. It’s got through a really difficult time, has proven its value to people and its ability to innovate. I feel proud to pass it on.”

What qualities should prospective directors possess? “They will need a personal connection to painting, as well as a deep love of learning and development; they will respect the value of all kinds of art making for all kinds of reasons; and they will empathise with the needs and aspirations of our students, from the hobbyist to the professional, self-taught or art school-educated.

“But what’s important is to continue to champion that ethos of inclusiveness and generosity, to nurture dreams - from those of Leonard Fuller in the trenches of the Western Front to the kitchen studios of our students in a global pandemic. This little art school in St Ives can really change lives.

And that is something really rewarding to be part of.” l www.schoolofpainting.co.uk

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ARTIST PROFILE

LAND LINES

Artist Maria Floyd uses the language of line and mark to express the vitality of Cornwall’s dramatic scenery, writes Mercedes Smith.

If you love paintings inspired by the vibrant energy of the Cornish landscape, let me introduce you to the work of Maria Floyd. Maria is one of those quality artists whose rise to prominence stems from her impressive academic training and singular focus on the purely sensory experience of landscape. In March, Falmouth’s newest art gallery Morgans presents her most recent collection of 20 paintings.

“The wildness of the South West has always dominated my work,” says Maria. “I feel fortunate to have both the sea and moorland so close, and I have found myself exploring every part of this beautiful county, capturing it on canvas in the only way that makes sense to me: through expressive marks and tones.”

Maria studied Fine Art and History of Art at Goldsmith’s College London, and went on to study illustration at Chelsea College of Art. In 2005 she left London and relocated to the north coast of Cornwall, where she set up her studio and began to paint full time.

Her practice involves working en plein air in some of Cornwall’s most dramatic locations - from Cape Cornwall in the west to the edge of Dartmoor in the east - before developing and refining her collections on canvas in the studio. Recently she has spent time painting at Land's End, Nanjizal and the beaches around Penzance, and further up the coast at Park Head, Trebarwith Strand, Lantic Bay, Polzeath and Hartland Quay near Bude.

“Discovering Dartmoor National Park has also significantly influenced my painting,” she tells me. “I love having the contrast of two different landscapes, both coast and moorland, in my work”.

Maria’s passion for landscape began at school and developed further during her college years. “I loved drawing and n 68 |

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painting as a child,” she reveals. “I would fill small sketchbooks with drawings of animals and landscapes, and at school, I would sneak off to the art room at every possible opportunity.”

At art college, her work became more influenced by nature. “That was when I started to spend time in north Cornwall, initially on holiday and later moving down permanently,” she explains. “I was so inspired by the rugged landscape here, and by other landscape painters who have been inspired by dramatic places like this throughout history.

“Being in Cornwall established my direction as an artist – I began to focus my attention on the raw elements of nature, on the changeable weather and the unique atmosphere of the place. I found such inspiration here.”

Maria’s working routine is to constantly draw and evolve her practice. “I place huge importance on the process of drawing as a starting point,” she tells me. “I begin my outdoor work with a sketchbook, or large pieces of paper or board, and spend time recording my surroundings using charcoal or graphite, taking in the atmosphere, the way it feels to be ‘in the moment’ in that particular place.

“Seeing my surroundings in different conditions and through different seasons, and recording my response, is at the heart of all my work - I am always eager to put my impressions on the page, to connect with my surroundings. I am constantly experimenting with marks, trying to express the elemental forces of nature. I am responding to the beauty of the natural world in its simplest form, and because I work outdoors, often the rain or wind will influence my working process and affect the final result on the paper.

“It is so easy to take our environment

| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

for granted, but I think all of us are now appreciating the importance of stopping to take it all in. When I am standing on a beach in Cornwall or walking up on the moors, and all I can see are rolling clouds and sea, or expanses of grassland, it’s so uplifting. That’s the sense I want to share through my painting.”

Typically, Maria’s landscapes are empty of any trace of people, an aspect which she says is important to the work. “It’s rare now to find places without signs of habitation. My work concentrates on the wildness of nature and I rarely focus on the human element of our landscape. I limit my attention to the natural scene around me and its land lines.”

The sketches Maria makes out in the landscape are then taken back to her studio, and either worked on further or developed into larger paintings. “In my studio, I work mostly with oil paint, using a very limited palette of dark tones and white. I also use a variety of tools to make the work, scratching at the surface or smoothing out layers of impasto paint. I enjoy the contrast of thick paint in some areas, against scratched out areas of the composition in others.”

Maria’s focus on process and skill with subtle abstraction - a paring down of detail to a strong, visual abbreviation - is certainly the energy behind all her work. “I try to express what I see and feel through the sensory power of colour and mark, in a way that encourages people to consider their own relationship with the landscape.” l See Maria’s new collection from March 3 to April 10 at Morgans, 49 Arwenack Street, Falmouth, TR11 3JH. Private view of these and other works on Friday, March 4. For further information, see morgansfalmouth.com and mariafloydart.com

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FOOD BITES THE 10TH WORLD PASTY CHAMPIONSHIPS MEET THE CHEF: NAT TALLENTS, HELIGAN KITCHEN PLACES TO EAT: MICHELIN GUIDE RESTAURANTS WEEKEND AWAY: THE ALVERTON, TRURO EXPERIENCE: SCILLY BY HELICOPTER

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bites

Platinum Pudding Contest The race is on to create a new dessert in commemoration of HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Fortnum & Mason has collaborated with the Eden Project’s Big Jubilee Lunch to launch a nationwide baking competition that will produce a dish to mark Her Majesty’s 70th year on the throne; the winner will be gifted to the nation in the hope it will be as enduring as

Victoria Sponge and Coronation Chicken.

Entries close on February 4, and will be judged by a panel chaired by Dame Mary Berry and including head chef of the Royal Household, Mark Flanagan LVO. Five dishes will go through to a live bake-off at Fortnum’s 181 Piccadilly store in March. The contest was the brainchild of Cornishman Jason Kelly (pictured), whose grandparents Ivy and Dudley Young owned the Sandpiper restaurant in Truro. The Platinum Jubilee will be celebrated with a four-day holiday; beacons will be lit across the UK, overseas territories and the Commonwealth on Thursday, June 2, while on Sunday June 5, over 200,000 neighbourhood events are anticipated across the UK for the Big Jubilee Lunch. l

New wine bar for Falmouth A new wine bar has opened in Falmouth’s

historic Killigrew Street. In Kernowine, Del and Natasha Crookes have created a business which will be a mix of wine bar, school, in-store and online retail.

Del passed the WSET diploma in 2020, and won the highest score in the world

Naturally, there is a great selection of Cornish wine, cider, beer and soft drinks on offer, as well as a curated list of spirits, all complemented by a small menu of lunch and charcuterie platters. Open daily, 11am to 9.30pm. 21 Killigrew Street, Falmouth, TR11 3QA. www.kernowine.co.uk l

for his knowledge of sparkling wine, so expect great fizz to drink in or take home.

The business aims to be as sustainable as possible, with a range of refill taps designed to cut down on glass bottles by allowing people to bring their own. n 72 |

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| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

Fish Mish fundraiser March 2 sees a very special fundraising dinner at the Porthminster Café, St Ives in aid of The Fishermen's Mission. Chef-proprietor Mick Smith and executive chef Lee Wilson will be joined by fellow chefs Ben Prior and Rick Stein’s Stephane Delourme in the kitchen, while the evening will be hosted by St Ives’ own fishermen who will interview the chefs after each course. It promises to be a wonderful evening in aid of a great cause.

For bookings and enquiries, email reservations@porthminstercafe.co.uk l

Kirstie Newton on 10 years of the World Pasty Championships

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T

he Cornish pasty was invented to

ingredients: steak, potato, turnip and

provide workmen - be they miners,

onion - strictly no peas, carrots or indeed

farmers or fishermen – with a

any other rogue item, which would flip

practical meal sturdy enough to last the

it straight into Open Savoury territory.

day. These days, we’re more likely to eat

We’re looking for at least 12.5% beef and

them al desko than down a mine or out

25% vegetables.

at sea, but they are still much loved, and the subject of which is best can result in emotions running high.

Next, the pastry has to be savoury and sturdy, with an attractive and consistent glaze. Finally, the pasty must be a perfect

Pasty

D shape with a crimp, or “handle”, down

Championships in 2012 could be seen as

the side with a decent number of pinches.

a brave move. Also known as the Oggy

This is not without controversy; there are

Oscars/Olympics, its home is the Eden

notable top crimpers west of the Tamar

Project; as the event took a break last year

who cannot compete in the Cornish

due to the pandemic, the 2022 contest - on

category, much to their chagrin.

So

the

launch

of

the

World

March 5, St Piran’s Day no less - will mark both 10 years and the 10th stab at victory for its participants. Many of them, like me, wouldn’t dream of missing it; I feel proud and privileged to have judged at every event, and am looking forward to doing so again.

When judging, each pasty is cut in half, with one side to be poked, prodded and tasted, the other destined for head judge Dave Menear, who will turn to it in the event of a tie-break. By far the biggest chunk of points goes on the part where

and

you eat the thing. It’s only right – this is

junior bakers find their mettle tested in

where the alchemy happens. It could look

two categories: Cornish pasty and Open

like the best pasty in the world, but if it

Savoury. Judges are paired up, with an

tastes terrible, it’s an epic fail. Equally, it

industry professional sitting alongside an

might not look like much, but does that

appreciative consumer. For avoidance of

matter if it hits the spot?

Amateur,

professional,

company

any doubt, I fall into the latter category; I have never made a pasty in my life, but have tasted thousands as a weekend staple (see my waistline for proof).

Entries are anonymous when judged, so win on merit alone. There is no way to tell whether you’re sampling the wares of a former winner, such as Cornish amateur

What makes a Cornish pasty? Like Melton

supremo Billy Deakin, who won twice,

Mowbray pork pies and Jersey Royal

took four years off then won again; or

potatoes, the Cornish pasty was awarded

Open Savoury genius Don McKeevor from

Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)

Bristol, the most decorated of all entrants

by the EU in 2011 (mirrored post-Brexit

with three wins and a runner-up under this

by a similar UK scheme) to ensure no

belt. Quite simply, these guys know a thing

imposters are tolerated.

or two about what works inside pastry.

As such, there are now strict rules to be

Similarly,

followed, starting with four permitted

octogenarian

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| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

when

Betty

mother

of

Lethbridge, Fisherman’s

Friend John, took the Cornish amateur title in 2015, and Gillian Francis in 2018 having learned to crimp only two weeks earlier, it was because they impressed the judges, who knew nothing of their provenance (Gillian later appeared on TV with Bake-Off champion Nadiya Hussain).

The very first professional champion was Graham Cornish, head of development at Ginsters, who entered a traditional recipe handed down by his mother and a delightful Cornish smoked fish concoction in the open savoury. He described the double win as “the pinnacle” of his pastymaking career, and launched his own Cornish Cornish pasties; in subsequent years, his sons went on to follow his lead in the junior categories. The following year, the Company category was introduced and has since been passed around, from the West Cornwall Pasty Co to Cornish Premier Pasties and Proper Cornish.

One final stipulation is that the ingredients must be assembled uncooked and baked in Cornwall to qualify as a Cornish pasty.

Competitors come from far and wide to do so: take the huge gang from Bristol who hire a holiday home and make an annual event of it, earning them induction into the hall of the Pasty Ambassadors.

Members of all ages have taken trophies in a variety of categories, including Vanessa Farr in the coveted Cornish Amateur.

Then there are the Cousin Jacks, who make the annual pilgrimage across the pond in pursuit of gastronomical glory. The magnificently moustachioed Gerry Ramier, who hails from Niagara via a Redruth mother, won the Professional trophy in 2017, while Michael Amery, originally from Mevagissey but now residing in

Pennsylvania, was made a Cornish Pasty Ambassador in 2012.

If the Cornish category is about technical prowess, the Open Savoury blows the bleddy doors off in terms of creativity. My personal favourite - steak and blue cheese

by Padstow’s Chough Bakery (I parted with cash for one just a few weeks ago) appears quite staid when compared with Jorge Pereira’s take on his native Chilean empanada, marrying beef and onion with olives, hard-boiled egg and pineapple.

Jorge entered during an extended trip to see his Cornish in-laws, and took the Open Savoury title in 2016.

Weird and wonderful entries in this category have included the hottest chilli in the world, roadkill, squirrels, edible insects and the guy who likes to think of the most revolting thing you could put in a pasty (I balked at fish, chips and mushy peas). The Sam-I-Am pasty, meanwhile, which paired ham with halloumi green eggs, paid delightful homage to Dr Seuss and was a work of art in my book.

By 2018, the contest had been turned into the last hurrah of Cornish Pasty Week, led by the Cornish Pasty Association which represents players large and small in this £300m industry. Life-sized characters Mr & Mrs Pasty enjoyed photocalls at Land’s End and distributed pasties on the London Paddington train. On social media, consumers were encouraged to post selfies with a #pastysmile using the leftover crimp – who has never done that?

(The week-long event takes a further break

this year, to ensure all efforts are focused on the 10th anniversary event).

Having watched formidable ladies crimping on a production line, deep in conversation and producing pasty perfection without even looking, I can tell you what a great skill this is. In 2019, Ingrida Sauguiene of Rowes Bakery was officially named the fastest crimper in the West, having pinched an impressive 13 pasties in one minute (the average is four). Ingrida would have been hot property in the days when a Cornishwoman’s most marriageable quality was her pasty-making thumb.

The band of judges is like a little family.

Here, there are people I greet once a year with the same delight I would a beloved uncle at Christmas: the jolly chefs, the

chaps in their Cornish kilts, the WI ladies, the lovely professor from Michigan. Over the years, I have acquired a little helper: my oggy-mad daughter has grown up with the pasty championships, and especially enjoys totting up the scores like Carol Vorderman.

Perhaps,

after

so

much

training, she might be invited to judge on her own account?

One final word. Ask any self-respecting Cornishman who makes the best pasties, and there will only ever be one answer: “Mother.” ‘Nuff said.

Fancy your chances? Why not enter the World Pasty Championships? Deadline: 23.59pm

on

Sunday,

February

27.

www.edenproject.com. l

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MEET THE CHEF

Nat Tallents HEAD OF HOSPITALITY LOST GARDENS OF HELIGAN

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How did you discover cooking and the joy it gives you?

My mum got me a waitressing job when I was 14. To be honest, I hated it - I was very shy and didn’t really enjoy the social side of things. But it opened my eyes to food.

I remember asking the chef, a pirate-type chap called Conrad, what he was cooking - he looked at me confused and said: “Mushrooms!” I just didn't know what they were. I had no idea what I wanted to do after A-levels; by this point I was working as a restaurant supervisor and worked my way up to manager, but thought chefs had more fun and wondered if I could give it a go. I was barely capable of cooking an omelette, but I got a job as a commis chef at a gastropub in Yorkshire. Within two and a half years I was head chef. Something

in

just clicked, and I became obsessed with

University, then in February 2021 I saw

food. Cooking makes me happy, even

this job advertised. I have always loved

when I'm not working, and there’s nothing

Heligan as a visitor, and the work/life

like the buzz of a busy kitchen.

balance really appealed to me.

Why did you come to Cornwall?

Because my ex-wife wanted to live here!

How is it different to other roles you’ve done?

I hadn’t really been before, but I applied

Moving into hospitality management and

for jobs and two weeks later, I was working

development was a different direction for

and living on Lusty Glaze in Newquay.

me, and I had to really sell myself in the

To this day, it’s still my favourite place in

interview as they definitely weren’t looking

Cornwall. It feels like home to me.

for a chef. But my chef background has

sustainable

tourism

at

Falmouth

helped me understand and try to bridge

Having seven courses gives you more flexibility to really be creative. We don’t publish a menu beforehand, so it encourages people to try new things. brought

positives

hospitality - there is so much more grown and reared here than people are aware of. The job itself came quite naturally, and managers here are encouraged to be creative and think outside the box.

I have a team of eight chefs, so I don’t get too involved in the day-to-day bar filling in where needed. My main role is working on development of menus and relationships with suppliers, then I lead on Lost Suppers, usually working with a chef on each course. It’s always a good learning opportunity to show them things I know and get their input on how they see things.

How did the concept for the Lost Suppers come about?

What brought you to Heligan?

Lockdown

the gap between gardens, livestock and

I’ve been involved in supper clubs and and

private dining since I started cooking, so

negatives to everyone. For me, having

this was an obvious choice when thinking

nine months on furlough after 20 years

of another food concept. Plus the produce

in the industry offered a chance to stop

grown on site is incredible - the gardens

and relax, assess what I was doing and

and estate teams work so hard, and it

what I wanted to do. It was also nice to

seems a no-brainer to make this into its

have evenings off! I started a degree

own entity.

There are seven courses - how do you think of so many? Is there a theme?

Having seven courses gives you more flexibility to really be creative. We don’t publish a menu beforehand, so it encourages people to try new things. The theme is to use as much from site as possible but next year we are doing themed suppers for harvest, and I would like do some with signature dishes from my cooking career. Then there's a theme of zero waste throughout, to ensure we utilise everything.

Do you enjoy the sociable side of things more these days?

I really do. I started in front of house and have been a chef, and I love both.

Feeding people, and seeing them enjoy food, is one of my favourite things. At Lost Suppers, I spend time talking to guests about the produce, and really sell Heligan.

You competed in Masterchef: The Professionals in 2012. How was that?

It’s 10 years, but it feels like a lifetime ago.

I’d only been cooking for about three years. I remember Michel Roux asking what I thought of my dish? I said it was awful, and he said: “Yes, I agree.” Ha! But he did say I prepped the rabbit perfectly. I just over-complicated the dish and ran out of time. I’ve done so much since - I made the semi-finals of the National Chef of the Year competition in 2019 and 2021, and took part in the Great British Menu last year.

I've never won, but every competition is a learning opportunity, and I’m so grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had. l Look out for Lost Suppers on February 25 and March 25. For further information, visit www.heligan.com

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MICHELIN GUIDE RESTAURANTS There are big names aplenty in the Michelin Guide, but here are some of the smaller (and newest) entries from Cornwall, quietly plying their trade in hidden and quirky venues.

Rocket Store

Listed in December, this “compact” restaurant is based in the 19th century store which once housed the coastguard’s horse-drawn rocket firing equipment.

What the Michelin Guide says: “The blackboard lists small plates and whole fish dishes; most of the produce is supplied by the owner’s father who, as well as being the harbourmaster, owns a boat and runs a small farm.”

The Harbour, Boscastle, PL35 0HD. Tel 01208 871714 www.asquithsrestaurant.co.uk

Barley Sheaf

This 18th century village pub draws upon the Roseland peninsula for produce, and made its Michelin debut in December. What the Michelin Guide says: “This attractive pub has a deceptively large interior, with a rustic, pine-furnished dining area, a capacious bar and space to dine upstairs too. The well-priced menu lists pub classics alongside more ambitious dishes.”

Gorran Churchtown, PL26 6HN. Tel 01726 843330 www.thebarleysheafgorran.co.uk

Emily Scott Food

Emily took over new premises at the popular Watergate Bay complex last summer, having cooked for world leaders during the G7 summit in Carbis Bay, so it was no surprise to see her in the Michelin Guide

by December. What the Michelin Guide says: "The room is elegant and contemporary and there are far-reaching views... Local produce features in refined dishes with a seafood focus.”

On the Sea Wall, Watergate Bay, TR8 4AA. Tel 01637 818184 • www.emilyscottfood.com

Asquith’s, Lostwithiel

Chef proprietor Graham Cuthbertson serves modern British cuisine in this shop conversion, with contemporary styling and wood panelled walls hung with modern Cornish art. What the Michelin Guide says: “Confidently executed dishes feature some original flavour combinations and won’t break the bank. The atmosphere is intimate, relaxed and inviting.”

19 North Street, Lostwithiel, PL22 0EF. Tel 01208 871714 • www.asquithsrestaurant.co.uk

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Sardine Factory, Looe

A laid-back first floor restaurant in a converted sardine factory, with views across the harbour to bustling east Looe. What the Michelin Guide says: “The extensive menu champions Cornish seafood, including mussels from Fowey and fish from Looe itself – much of it cooked on the bone.”

Quay Road, West Looe, PL13 2BX. Tel 01503 770262 www.thesardinefactorylooe.com

Mexico Inn

A mainstay of the far west for more than 200 years, this roadside inn offers superior food, regular events including Sunday roasts and Wobbly Wednesdays (discounted midweek tipples for members), plus quizzes and live music nights. What the Michelin Guide says: “It has a touch of the shabby-chic about it... Classic pub dishes are gutsy and flavourful."

4 Riverside, Long Rock, TR20 8JD. Tel 01736 710625 www.themexicoinn.com

Pilchards, Port Gaverne

A modern timber and glass building with a large terraced garden, overlooking the bay where Cornish pilchards were once landed. Park in Port Isaac and saunter over. What the Michelin Guide says: “The seafood-orientated menu offers both small and large plates, with whole fish grilled over charcoal a speciality.”

Port Gaverne, PL29 3SQ. Tel 1208 880891 portgavernehotel.co.uk/restaurant/pilchards-cafe

The View

Situated on the wild Rame peninsula in Cornwall’s southeastern reaches. Don’t let the remote location fool you – The View is close to Plymouth, so booking is essential. Set to reopen under new ownership. What the Michelin Guide says: “Bright local art hangs on the walls and the bar is packed with Cornish spirits. Cooking is simple and unfussy and the fresh fish dishes in particular are a hit.”

Freathy, PL10 1JY. Tel 01752 822345 www.theview-restaurant.co.uk

Tabb’s

Tucked away in a former pub, Tabb’s has been in Truro for over a decade and boasts two AA rosettes.

Chef-proprietor Nigel Tabb has worked in busy city kitchens, but his own restaurant is small but perfectly formed. What the Michelin Guide says: “The owner works alone in the kitchen, cooking refined, classically based dishes with masculine flavours. Sauces are a strength and the deep-fried courgettes are a must.”

85 Kenwyn Street, Truro, TR1 3BZ. Tel 01872 262110 www.tabbs.co.uk t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 79 n

WEEKEND AWAY YOUR CORNISH WINTER RETREAT AWAITS AT THE ALVERTON

Winter in Cornwall is just magical. As the summer crowds disperse and the dusky evenings draw Winter Cornwall is just magical.

Ason the summer crowds disperse and the dusky for jeans near, local folkin dust off their raincoats, pull their wellies and swap shorts and flipflops evenings draw near, local folk dustand offjumpers. their raincoats, pull on their wellies and swap shorts and flipflops for jeans and jumpers.

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hy not join them? The Alverton Hotel in Truro offers a fantastic Cornish Winter Getaway offer: stay in the Cornish capital with rooms for two from £99 per night, including breakfast and a cream tea for two, before March 31.

An illustrious history The Alverton, a four-silver star hotel on the outskirts of Truro, has everything you could wish for the perfect winter getaway.

This magnificent grade II listed building features impressive architecture dating back to the 1830s; once a convent for the Sisters of the Epiphany, its illustrious past is deeply embedded in every feature, from the towering brick walls to the stainedglass windows.

The hotel pays homage to its rich history, with subtle nods including room names: the Chapel Suite, for example, and the Bishop Suite. The dramatic gothic-revival surroundings of the magnificent Great Hall provide the hotel’s main space for weddings, in-house events, Christmas parties and business conferences.

An outdoor oasis Cocooned at the end of a winding driveway, the ivy-clad hotel’s private grounds boast an outdoor oasis for guests to enjoy all year round. During the winter months, frost-bitten grass glistens in the cold morning sunshine, and the sun-trap terrace offers an outside seating area to enjoy a warming hot chocolate, a glass of something stronger or something tasty from the menu.

An award-winning menu Talking of which, foodies will not want to miss the two AA-rosette awarded restaurant with its award-winning menu.

The team of talented chefs is passionate about seasonal Cornish ingredients, which are used to rustle up a suite of Celticinspired dishes - a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. Fuel up on heartwarming classics, unforgettable afternoon tea and inventive culinary creations presented with the unique Alverton signature. Bag a window table and enjoy botanical views while remaining warm and cosy inside.

coffee break in a cosy café, or tuck into a

For light bites and expertly mixed cocktails, fine wine and Cornish tipples, kick back and relax in the welcoming bar area. A roaring log fire creates a toasty environment to wind down with afterdinner drinks, or celebratory tipples to begin your stay on a high.

and footprint-free coastal paths, guaranteed

piping hot pasty fresh from the oven. Take a wintery walk along the Truro River, past bobbing boats to Boscawen Park.

If you’d like to explore further afield, Truro is a short distance from both the surfing hotspots and mind-blowing sunsets of the north coast, and the picturesque coves and harbour villages on the south. Wrap up warm and visit untouched stretches of sand to put some colour in your cheeks and a light dusting of sea salt spray in your hair.

Nature lovers will be spoilt for choice with the array of gorgeous gardens, with their private beaches, characterful shrubs, whimsical

A home from home Your room will be your safe haven away from home. All bedrooms offer tradition, comfort and romance, blending original features with luxury furnishings and contemporary finishes. The Courtyard, a newly renovated complex finalised in 2016, homes 15 of The Alverton’s most spectacular bedrooms and suites.

Modern fixtures and patterns have been cleverly placed among unique elements uncovered from the historic property: think free-standing roll-top bath tubs, exposed brickwork, epic archways and stained-glass windows.

A central base So, what to do during your stay? The Alverton is your idyllic central base for exploring everything this stunning corner of the map has to offer. Truro city centre is within walking distance; stay local and wander onto the cobbled high streets of the Cornish capital. Browse independent retailers and boutique stores, stop for a

waterfalls

and

subtropical

blooms. The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Glendurgan,

Tremenheere

Sculpture

Gardens and Tregothnan – home to Europe’s largest tea gardens - are just a handful of Cornwall’s evergreen gems.

There are also plenty of family-friendly attractions within close driving distance: The Eden Project, Newquay Zoo and Healey’s Cider Farm, to name but three.

So, whether you’re planning a romantic weekend full of fine food, candlelit dinners, drinks by the open fireplace and dreamy strolls across deserted beaches; a spontaneous break to explore Cornwall’s exciting attractions and watersports; or just a night away from the norm to rest, recharge and indulge, let The Alverton pamper you with exceptional service and top-quality hospitality.

To book your Cornish Winter Getaway, call 01872 276633, email stay@thealverton. co.uk, or book online at thealverton.co.uk/ special-offers/cornish-winter-getaway l

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GIVE IT A WHIRL WITH PENZANCE HELICOPTERS What if you could escape to an isolated group of subtropical islands complete with white sandy beaches, palm trees, historic ancient monuments and abundant wildlife?

And what if those islands were just a short 15-minute flight away?

The beautiful Isles of Scilly lie 28 miles off the Cornish coast, but a trip to their shores can really feel a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. There are five inhabited islands to explore, each with their own personality and attractions, and many more ‘off islands’ that are home to colonies of puffins and seals as well as thousands of migratory sea birds.

Whether you enjoy coastal walking, historic castles, art galleries or ancient archaeology all that the Scillies have to offer is within surprisingly easy reach.

And there’s nothing quite like your first sight of the islands from above, whether you are arriving for a day trip or planning a longer stay.

The Penzance helicopter is an amazing introduction to the islands and a real adventure in itself. Leaving Penzance, passengers are treated to magnificent views of Mount's Bay and the Land’s End peninsula; then, out at sea, as you skim over the waves, the lonely Wolf Rock Lighthouse appears in the distance.

But the real highlight, of course, is when the Scillies come into view. Surrounded by shimmering turquoise waters, fringed with pristine white sandy beaches, from n 82 |

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the air the islands are simply beautiful, whatever the season.

The first helicopter flights to the islands began nearly 60 years ago in 1964, quickly becoming not only a vital link to the mainland for the Scilly people but also an exciting and convenient way for visitors to reach the archipelago. That tradition continues today from the purpose-built heliport at Longrock.

The short flight time means day-trippers have the whole day to explore.

There’s even time for island-hopping - from the lively quay at Hugh Town on St Mary’s, a flotilla of boats is ready to take passengers to the 'off-islands' or on wildlife-watching adventures, returning in time for late afternoon flights back to the mainland.

St Mary’s is the largest island, but is still only three miles across at its widest point, so very manageable, especially if you hire a bike or one of the island’s golf-buggies.

It is here that you will find most of the islands’ shops, the museum and tempting restaurants and cafés, but there are also plenty of interesting sites to squeeze into your itinerary too, from flower farms to prehistoric monuments.

The island of St Agnes is home to the most south-westerly community in Britain. With

| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022

stunning natural beauty and important breeding populations of sea birds, it’s a wildlife lover’s paradise. The island’s own gin distillery and farm-made ice cream are pretty compelling reasons to visit too.

St Martin’s is one of the quieter islands.

Visitors can enjoy stunning coastal walking, take in the island's vineyard or rum distillery, eat at the tiny bakery or do some star-gazing from the UK’s most southerly observatory.

Alternatively, fly into Tresco, the private island owned by the Dorrien-Smith family; here you’ll discover the famous Abbey Gardens, just bursting with exotic plants, and some of Scilly’s finest beaches. To really make the most of your time on the archipelago, consider flying into one island and out of the other, so you can see as much as possible without the worry of missing your flight.

With so much to offer the traveller all year round, the mildest climate in the UK and last-minute day trip return tickets available, it’s well worth jumping on a helicopter and discovering this little paradise for yourself. l For further information, 01736 780828 or www.penzancehelicopters.co.uk

call visit

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| Volume 2 Issue 70 | February - March 2022