myCornwall April-May 2022

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MINACK THEATRE • ST DAY OLD CHURCH • CORNWALL SUPPORTS UKRAINE • DOG-FRIENDLY BLUEBELL WALKS • AUTHOR PATRICK GALE

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ISSUE 71

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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

Hello and Spring is sprung! How do I know this? Well, it was declared officially in Cornwall on February 22, somewhat earlier than the rest of the UK, thanks to magnolias being coaxed out of bud by our gentle climate (find out more on page 6).

Traditionally, spring brings the promise of longer days and new life, but it can be hard to take comfort in this when times are so incomprehensibly turbulent. Cornwall has shown solidarity with Ukraine in many ways – for example, the Bishop of Truro conducted a moving service at a cross with special significance, as Elizabeth Dale explains on page 38.

Surrounded by coastline, Cornwall knows only too well the importance of sustainability. This edition shines a spotlight on some of the things people are doing to raise awareness of the urgency of a more sustainable approach to life. You’ll find a selection of environmentally themed stories from page 18, but keep your eyes peeled elsewhere in the magazine – especially in the art section, where Andrea Insoll explains how beach finds are turned into artistic treasure with a special message.

Finally, in our Taste section we meet the team behind Harbourside Hospitality in Charlestown (pictured) and beyond. If you’re wondering who triumphed at the World Pasty Championships – where I met the Mexican ambassador to the UK (below) - see page 68. And did you know that April 21 is National Tea Day? You do now, and from page 76 you’ll find a selection of our favourite places to enjoy afternoon tea.

Oll an gwella Kirstie

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News: Cornwall supports Ukraine - plus how to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee Things To Do in April/May: From Easter to Trevithick Day Dog-Friendly Cornwall: Bluebell walks The Minack at 90: Look forward to the 2022 season Sustainable Cornwall: Podcasts, apps, beach cleans, fashion and shopping The Want List: Cornwall Crafts Association Adore My Store: Circa21, Penzance Design Hub: Rozen Furniture Mother’s Boy: Author Patrick Gale’s new novel about Launceston poet Charles Causley National Gardens Scheme: Cornwall gardens open for charity St Day Old Church: Breathing new life into an old building

37 38 40

Cornish language: Feast Days Cornwall’s Ukraine connection: By Elizabeth Dale My Cornish World: Musician Will Keating

44 50 52 54

Art news Art Focus: Jackson Foundation, St Just Through the Eyes of... Martin John Fowler Maker Focus: Helen Eastham, Cornwall Crafts Association Gallery of the Month: Art House Gallery, St Ives Artist Profile: Iona Sanders, Summerhouse Gallery Very Important Piece: Customs House Gallery, Porthleven Meet the Maker: Andrea Insoll, Portscatho

56 58 60 62

68 70 74 76 80 82

Food Bites: A new street food festival in Newquay Harbourside Hospitality: Taking over culinary Charlestown Great Cornish Food: Meet Oliver Basham Places To Eat: 10 purveyors of afternoon tea Rustic luxury: New yurts at The Park, Mawgan Porth Experience: Spa and afternoon tea at Mullion Cove

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 71 | April - May 2022

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Object of the Year

Support for Ukraine Cornwall residents have shown their solidarity with the people of wartorn Ukraine. On Sunday, February 27, the Bishop of Truro conducted a service in Mylor Bridge at a cross built by Ukranian refugees escaping persecution after the Second World War (see page 38). A scratch orchestra gathered on Truro’s Lemon Quay on Sunday, March 6 to play The Great Gate Of Kiev by Mussorgsky to massed crowds, and individuals and removal firms travelled to the Ukrainian border to offer skills and donations of warm clothing.

Companies created special collections to raise funds to help refugees: Cornishware released a range of yellow and blue crockery, while Flotsam Flo created badges in Ukrainian colours from paddling pools destined for landfill.

The Cornwall Heritage Awards took place on February 9, hosted

by Cornwall Museums Partnership. The Object of the Year, decided by public vote, was a rare 19th century dip needle from the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society – otherwise known as The Poly in Falmouth. Designed by Cornish Quaker Robert Were Fox, this compass enabled ships to traverse the seas safely. Its four worthy co-finalists were a pair of Cornish fishwife’s pattens from the National Maritime Museum Cornwall; an 1868 telegraphy cable from PK Porthcurno; a half-hull model of the schooner “Doris” from Wadebridge and District Museum; and the Dancing Girl of Naukratis from the Museum of Cornish Life in Helston. Other winners included Isles of Scilly Museum, Leach Pottery St Ives, and the Old Guildhall and Gaol Museum in Looe. l

Truro Cathedral Choir has recorded and filmed Ave Maria

by Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov in support of their Crowdfunder appeal for UNICEF’s Protect Children in Ukraine - you can hear it now on the choir's YouTube channel. l

The Spring Story Spring in Cornwall was officially announced on February 22, marked by six champion Magnolia Campbellii trees having over 50 blooms.

Founded by The Nare Hotel in conjunction with The Great Gardens of Cornwall, the Spring Story saw Cornwall’s most westerly magnolia tree at Trewidden Garden achieve its target first, with Trebah, Tregothnan, Trewithen, Caerhays and the Lost Gardens of Heligan not far behind. James Stephens at Heligan said: “Even though Storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin tried to scupper the early arrival of spring, this really is proof that the milder winter we experience in Cornwall means we get to enjoy an extra month of spring.” l Gardens: see page 32

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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

Port Isaac crowdfunder

Fishermen have warned that the picturesque village of Port Isaac will be at risk of regular flooding if its harbour is not repaired. A large chunk of concrete has come off the outside of the eastern breakwater, with the cost of repair estimated by the harbour commission to be “eye-watering”. The responsibility for repair traditionally rests upon local fishermen, of which there remain just two, who cannot afford the extensive work. The village has been made famous around the world by the TV series Doc Martin and the performances of the Fisherman’s Friends on The Platt. A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise £60,000 towards these repairs, as well as work on the 16th century fish cellars. l www.gofundme.com/f/port-isaac-harbour-repairs

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Setting the spark Golden Tree Productions - masterminds of The Man Engine and Kerdroya: The Cornish Landscape Labyrinth – are leading a new cultural adventure in Redruth, exploring the notion of the town having a plen an gwari once again. This would be the first medieval-style Cornish amphitheatre to be built for 500 years, to serve as an important community hub, a beautiful green space and an exciting performance venue with a rolling programme of cultural events.

Hellfire Kernow will be the community engagement and cultural animation strand of the plen an gwari research project, with Kap’n Kryw (‘Crew Captains’) and Krefter Kryw (‘Crew Makers’) working closely with young people from Redruth School, leading a series of workshops to prepare for the first trial event in May 2022: the inaugural Redruth Hurling Championships, with costumed, colourful crews each supporting their team with chants and 'haka'-style encouragements. l Find out more at goldentree.org.uk

Gorgeous Godrevy The South West Coast Path Photographer of the Year 2021 competition has been won by a beautiful image of Godrevy Lighthouse, captured through a natural rock frame with rockpools reflecting the pink hues of dusk.

Lensman Christian Coan has visited Godrevy every year for the last 18 years, and checked the tide times and the weather before searching for the perfect spot from whch to shoot. Over 1,200 entries were judged by critically acclaimed seascape photographer Rachael Talibart. Christian takes home not only the title, but also a four-day Canoe Trails kayaking adventure on the Jurassic Coast and £250 worth of adventure-friendly kit courtesy of Bamboo Clothing. l www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk

Rare birds on the up City of Rare birds once close to extinction in the UK have been spotted on National Trust countryside in Cornwall following positive measures to improve numbers.

Yellowhammers and cirl buntings are among Britain’s most colourful farmland birds, but loss of habitat and food has attributed to the steep decline in numbers and both are now ‘red-listed’. However, careful site management at Tregew on the Trelissick Estate, near Truro, has resulted in recordings of both birds. The National Trust has worked with tenant farmers to ensure hedgerows are cut on a rotational basis, allowing them to fruit, seed and grow both wide and dense, providing food and shelter for birds and mammals. l n 8 |

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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

Culture 2025

Cornwall has lost its bid to be City of Culture 2025. It was dropped

from

the

longlist

along with Armagh City, Derby and Stirling, leaving Bradford, County Durham, Southampton and Wrexham to battle it out on the shortlist. The winner will be revealed in May. l

Platinum Jubilee fun • Also on Thursday, June 2, an informal celebratory Jubilee Parade is planned to take place in Truro, leaving St George's Road at 12.30pm. Bude will take a retro approach to proceedings, with Petticoats and Rockabillies taking over The Castle Lawn from 11am until 6pm. In Port Isaac, you’ll find an all-day party in the village hall.

• Cornwall Heritage Trust will join the national beacon lighting event at 9.45pm on June 2, lighting beacons at Sancreed, near Land's End, and Castle an Dinas near St Columb Major.

• The Cornish Street Food Festival will run across the entire four-day bank holiday at Barrowfields in Newquay – see page 68. l

• On Sunday June 5, the Big Jubilee Lunch Communities come together to celebrate HM The Queen’s historic 70-year reign over the extended bank holiday Thursday, June 2 to Sunday, June 5. Below is a selection of events taking place across Cornwall – check the interactive map for more (and remember to add your own) at platinumjubilee.gov.uk/events/ • Beacons will be lit on Thursday, June 2 in more than 1,500 towns, villages and cities throughout the UK, as well as in UK Overseas Territories and Commonwealth countries. If you are planning one, register and find tips at www.queensjubileebeacons.com

will see flagship events at the Eden Project (where the idea originated) and in London, while

over

200,000

neighbourhood

events are anticipated across the UK – for example, at the Princess May Recreation Ground in Penzance. Pride of place will surely be given to the newly crowned Platinum Pudding. Make it official: register your event, order a free pack and find out more about an entire Month of Community at www.thebigjubileelunch.com • Also on Sunday, June 5, 70 cars - one for each year of The Queen’s reign - will travel 70 miles from Bodmin to Penzance.

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

UR 2022 TISE IN O H R E V D A JENI SMIT E TO CONTACT OULD LIK E W S A U E O L Y P IF GUIDE SUMMER 94003 CORNISH .COM : 01209 4

TEL @GMAIL RNWALL O C Y M I. AIL: JEN

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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

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THINGS TO DO IN APRIL AND MAY DOG-FRIENDLY CORNWALL THE MINACK AT 90 SUSTAINABLE CORNWALL THE WANT LIST ADORE MY STORE: CIRCA21 MOTHER’S BOY NATIONAL GARDENS SCHEME ST DAY OLD CHURCH

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1. REFLECT FOR EASTER Easter runs from April 15 to 18, and there’s plenty happening in Cornwall.

Truro Cathedral is a good place to start; as well as major services, you will find The Stations of The Cross, ten oil paintings by artist Zoe Cameron recording Christ’s final journey and resurrection (until April 21). Also in Truro, the BIG EASTER Market will run on Lemon Quay from April 13 to 16, 9am to 4pm, with over 60 stallholders in attendance. The St Endellion Easter Festival takes place from April 9 to 17 at St Endellion near Port Isaac; highlights include Sir James MacMillan conducting his own Stabat Mater, and two performances of a new translation of Bach's St Matthew Passion. www.endelienta.org.uk

2. FEAST ON TASTER POTS Porthleven Food Festival (April 22 to 24) makes a welcome return following a twoyear break due to Covid-19. While the Chef’s Theatre sits at the heart of the event in the tent on the Harbour Head, The Diner’s Club offers space to sit and enjoy samples from street food stalls. These taster pots will cost less, so you can try more - the very essence of a food festival. The food market is now run by the team behind the n 12 |

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Food & Farming tent at the Royal Cornwall Show. Family entertainment on the playing field includes circus skills, crafts and a visit from Porthleven’s resident mermaid; and the new Ann’s Pasty Lounge will offer comedy, choirs, cocktail masterclasses, crimping workshops and more, while Busk Stops provide music across the site. Unticketed; donations welcome. www.porthlevenfoodfestival.com

3. TAKE IN A SPRING FESTIVAL Folk and jazz, history and art, films and photography, choirs and quartets, walks and talks – all feature in the diverse programme of events of the Roseland Festival (April 23 to May 7), taking place across the beautiful peninsula in locations including St Mawes, Veryan and Portscatho. www.roselandfestival.co.uk. In Falmouth, the team at the Cornish Bank have curated grassroots music and arts festival Wanderfal (April 8 and 9), with more than 30 bands spanning five venues (including the Princess Pavillion). Headline acts include This Is The Kit (pictured), Martha Tilston and the London Bulgarian Choir. wanderfalfestival. eventbrite.co.uk. And Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm at Penhallow presents RattlerFest (April 21 to 24), with headline

| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

acts including The Feeling, DJ Scott Mills and The Utah Saints. rattler-fest.co.uk

4. SPEAK CORNISH The Annual Cornish Language Weekend (Pennseythen Gernewek Bledhynnyek) is hosted by Kowethas an Yeth Kernewek at St Austell Arts Centre from April 22 to 24.

The three-day weekend offers language lessons, workshops, talks, social events and entertainment for Cornish speakers of all levels, from absolute beginner to fluent and with family language sessions on Saturday and Sunday. Buy tickets via Eventbrite, or find out more about the weekend line-up at cornish-language. org/cornish-language-weekend/ Speak Cornish – Feasts and Festivals.

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5. VISIT A GARDEN Spring has arrived, and with it a dazzling display of camellias, magnolias and rhodondendrons. There are so many gardens to choose from in Cornwall, including Pentillie near Saltash (open Sunday, May 8) and Trewidden near Penzance (open daily until September 25).

Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Open Gardens season launches on April 24 with Pedn Billy,

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8 9 10 near Mawnan Smith - expect incredible views of the Helford (for further dates and venues, visit cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk); while ancient Enys, near Penryn, is famed for its bluebells – for further details of opening dates, visit enysgardens.org.uk More gardens: page 32.

6. CELEBRATE MALE VOICE CHOIRS More than 60 choirs from around the world will gather in Cornwall for the 10th bienniel International Male Choral Festival (April 28 to May 2), with performances at 40 venues including Truro Cathedral and the renovated Hall For Cornwall. Look out for the winner of the Festival’s Composers’ Competition: “Tale of a Train: The City of Truro”, by Kari Cruver Medina from Seattle, was inspired by a picture on the wall of the Rising Sun pub. The City of Truro was built for the Great Western Railway (GWR) in 1903 by Kari’s great-great-uncle, and was the first British steam locomotive to exceed 100mph, pulling the mail train from Plymouth to London Paddington in 1904.

Visit www.cimcf.uk or purchase concert tickets at www.hallforcornwall.org.uk

7. RUN AN ULTRA-MARATHON Feeling ambitious? Put your running shoes on and tackle the 16th Endurancelife Classic Quarter, a relentless Ultra Marathon along the South West Coast Path from Lizard Point to Land's End on May 21. The task is brutally simple: to run non-stop from the southernmost point of England (Lizard Point) to the westernmost tip (Land’s End)

- 90 degrees of the compass, hence the name Classic Quarter. This challenge can be undertaken solo, or as a relay team of two or four. In 2021 Classic Quarter participants raised over £21,000 for good causes. Raise more than £400 for a charity and your entry is free. Sign up at www.endurancelife.com

8. REMEMBER SHACKLETON It is exactly 100 years since Sir Ernest Shackleton died during the Quest expedition to Antarctica, but his legacy remains as powerful and fascinating as ever.

Interest was reignited by the discovery of the long-lost wreck of his ship, the Endurance, 3km below the icy Weddell Sea in early March, making a new celebration of the life and achievements of the polar exploration pioneer extremely timely. Charlestown’s Shipwreck Treasure Museum, in association with the Royal Geographic Society and the Institute of British Geographers, presents the immersive Shackleton Experience in the museum’s network of tunnels, setting the scene of this daring expedition into a harsh, unknown wilderness. An accompanying exhibition, Shackleton’s Legacy and the Power of Early Antarctic Photography, will display a selection of images taken by the man himself or by the leading photographers he commissioned. From April 9. www.shipwreckcharlestown.co.uk

9. OBSERVE CORNISH TRADITIONS Camborne remembers its most famous son, engineer Richard Trevithick, on Saturday, April 30. Trevithick Day will see the town centre come alive with vintage

steam engines and other vehicles, street entertainment, morning and afternoon dances led by Camborne Town Band, exhibitions and plenty of singing: Listen out for the town anthem, Goin’ Up Camborne Hill. And in Helston, on Saturday, May 7, Helston Flora Day will mark the end of winter and the arrival of the fertility of spring. Locals will decorate their houses with greenery, and don their finery to do the historic Furry Dance through the town’s streets. For more information and advice on attending this very busy day, visit www.helstonfloraday.org.uk

10. HEAR THE DAWN CHORUS Research shows the sound of birdsong can increase happiness and wellbeing by up to 30%. May 3 is International Dawn Chorus Day, but if getting up early fills you with dread (around 3am at the height of summer), you can go online at a more civilised hour to hear how it sounded in an ancient mixed tree woodland near Truro.

From their small cottage backing on to a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Nichola Andersen and Swenson Kearey enjoy a large variety of birds: blue, coal, great and long-tailed tits; owls, buzzards, woodpeckers, nuthatches and finches. They have recorded the dawn chorus daily since the start of the pandemic. “We know we’re lucky to hear so many birds every morning,” says Nichola, “so we decided to share this experience with those who may not have the time, space or location to enjoy it in real time.” www.dawnchoruslive.org

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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

BLUEBELL WALKS Bluebells are at their finest in Cornwall in late April and early May, and the good news is that some of the finest displays in Cornwall are in dog-friendly gardens.

Here’s a selection of the best, courtesy of www.dogfriendlycornwall.co.uk

Enys Gardens, near Penryn These beautiful gardens just outside Falmouth are famed for vast swathes of bluebells, especially in the oftphotographed Parc Lye. The best chance to see the flowers in all their glory is in early May. There’s also a lovely tea room where you can sit outside with your dog. Other features include a lake and a walled garden – even without the bluebells, this is a glorious place to walk your dog at any time.

Tel: 01326 377621 www.enysgardens.org.uk Godolphin Estate, near Helston The bluebells come out early at this National Trust estate, and you can enjoy them as you stroll through the woods from the car park to the main house, where parts of the most recent Poldark series were filmed. Dogs are welcome in the gardens and estate and there are dog-friendly seating areas at the café, situated at the entrance to the main house and grounds. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/godolphin

Cardinham Woods, near Bodmin There are some beautiful displays of bluebells here. Run by Forestry England, the woods are very family friendly with several marked walks, while the dogfriendly Woods Café offers lovely cakes and Tregothnan tea. www.forestry.gov.uk/cardinham Idless Woods, near Truro Around two miles north of Truro, Idless is listed by Forestry England as one of its top ten bluebell sites in the UK. It’s a lovely dog-friendly walk with good parking, and refreshments available from the Woodman’s Cabin. www.forestryengland.uk/idless-woods Tehidy Woods, near Redruth The popular woods are carpeted with bluebells at this time of year and they are a lovely place to explore with your dog.

Keep your dog on a lead if they like to chase wildlife and note that dogs are not allowed near the lakes. Do watch out for swans, especially as they are nesting at this time of year. There is a café at the main

South entrance, where you can sit with your dog at the outside tables. www.cornwall.gov.uk Trelowarren, near Helston Ten minutes' drive on to the Lizard (towards St Keverne) is Trelowarren, a beautiful estate with really lovely bluebell walks. The New Yard restaurant allows dogs in the courtyard area. www.trelowarren.com Lanhydrock The wooded estate around the main gardens and house of the National Trust’s Lanhydrock is a haven for dogs and their walkers. From Respryn car park or the main car park, you can set out on walks along the River Fowey.

Pick up walk and trail maps from the kiosk at the gatehouse, reception and shop. Dogs are not allowed in the main gardens, but you can sit outside with them at the Stable Café which sells homemade dog treats. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lanhydrock l For more dog-friendly inspiration for Cornish adventures, visit www.dogfriendlycornwall.co.uk

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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

Still Going The Minack Theatre celebrates nine decades of theatre with a sparkling spring season.

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he story of the Minack began in 1929, when Rowena Cade became involved with an openair production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in a valley near Porthcurno. It was such a success that three years later the company wished to stage The Tempest and Rowena Cade offered them the use of her cliff garden for the performance.

In 1932, the Minack – from ‘meynek’, meaning ‘rocky place’ in Cornish – opened to the public, a magnifcent openair amphitheatre seemingly clinging to the rock face by sheer gravity. The phenomenal achievement of Miss Cade and her dedicated gardener, Billy Rawlings, this unique theatre, which was originally intended for just one week of performance, celebrates its 90th anniversary this year.

The Minack is an entrancing place to visit at any time of year, especially in spring when the weather grows warmer and plants begin to wake up from their winter slumber (is this the only theatre in the UK to have a sub-tropical garden actually in the auditorium?).

Visitors to the Minack can discover the extraordinary story of Rowena Cade and how she built this amazing space with her own hands, experience breathtaking views over Porthcurno Bay, and look out for the seals and other marine mammals that visit our shores in spring. Don’t forget to enjoy a cream tea or a snack in the café, with its panoramic vista, or relax with a picnic on the grass terraces.

Of course, The Minack is first and foremost a theatre and there’s a full programme of events happening in April and May. During the Easter holidays, look out for Hetty Feather

by Emma Reeves, based on the popular children’s books by Jacqueline Wilson.

“This production was in rehearsal in 2020 when Covid struck,” explains The Minack’s executive director, Zoë Curnow. “The set was built, and we were only a few days from opening when lockdown was announced. The cast includes a number of young performers from our Minack Acting Academy, and it was especially heartbreaking for them to cancel after all their hard work.

“It’ll be very emotional to bring it back to life now, after the two years we’ve all been through. It’s an appropriate play with which to start a new year, as it celebrates the triumph of the human spirit through even the darkest times. I just hope the children haven’t grown too much, or we may need to make new costumes!”

During the school holidays, storytelling events take place three times a week to entertain families with young children, while grown-ups should look out for Miss Cade’s gardener, Billy Rawlings (played by actor Mark Harandon), who will give you a first-hand account of how the Minack was built.

A highlight of the spring season will be Calvino Nights, a new production by Mike Shepherd with the Minack Theatre and imPossible Producing. The founder and former artistic director of Kneehigh, Mike was inspired by folk tales collected and rewritten by 20th century writer Italo Calvino: a boy the size of a pea, a skinflint miser, a woman who lives on nothing more than wind. The show invites the audience to join the marvellous Mr Calvino and his motley troupe of tale-tellers, song-makers and fire-raisers for an unforgettable ride through life on the edge - quite literally! Calvino Nights is described as “a good night out” for ages 8+.

“We are delighted to be working with Mike on this new piece of theatre,” says Zoë. “Many generations of Cornish school children - myself included - were inspired by Mike's work at the Minack in the early days of Kneehigh, and we are really excited to reintroduce this style of performance to a new generation of young people, the Cornish community and our visitors.”

As part of the Minack’s 90th anniversary celebrations, look out for a special exhibition about the beginnings of the theatre and the very first production that took place there in 1932. This Rough Magic opens at the Minack this Easter. l For information on everything happening at the Minack Theatre this spring, visit minack.com NB. The Minack is always busy in holiday seasons, so advance booking for all visits and performances is strongly advised at any time and essential during school holidays. t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 17 n

Podcaster Tia Tamblyn combines healthy eating with sustainable discussion.

Tucked away in lush countryside upstream from Fowey is Botelet. This special piece of rural Cornwall has been farmed, nurtured and styled by the Tamblyn family for 150 years, nurturing an idyllic landscape including woodlands dotted with wild orchids, and the Iron Age hill fort of Bury Down.

chef James Strawbridge) in all walks of life, from food to floristry, cosmetics to clothes.

Prior to the pandemic, Tia had been running a regular breakfast club at which conversation flowed over a wholesome vegetarian meal at a rustic kitchen table.

“When you have good food in front of you, everyone relaxes and it evokes

Today, it’s home to self-catering accommodation and a variety of wellbeing courses – as well as sustainability podcast Breakfast & Beyond. The show grew out of lockdown, and has featured host Tia Tamblyn in conversation with Cornwallbased sustainability followers (including

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conversation,” Tia explains. “There was a real sense of community, creativity and wellbeing.”

But Covid 19 put paid to that, and while accommodation at Botelet was able to recommence on a self-catering basis

| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

post-lockdown, the breakfast club was still stymied. While home-schooling, “to keep myself sane,” Tia began writing blogs on a sustainability theme, illustrating them with seasonal vegetarian recipes using local produce.

“I loved doing this, but I also love to chat,” she says. “I would visit people on location, and was essentially curating what they said.

Meanwhile, I found podcasts enabled me to multi-task while doing things with the kids, so I thought: why not do one myself about sustainable living, celebrating amazing people and what they are doing at home and in their work lives?”

The first was recorded in November 2020 with Rebecca Stuart of the Garden Gate Flower Company, and was followed by half a dozen more, including Amanda Winwood of Made For Life and Freyja Hanstein of Wholesome World. Then in

June 2021, Tia was asked to chair a panel discussion at the G7 fringe festival. “The theme was: ‘Does my breakfast make a difference?’ What role do my individual decisions play against the macro, structural actions of big business and Government?” That became episode 5.

A second season is about to launch, bringing in contributors from the third sector, kicking off with Marcus Alleyne of Black Voices Cornwall. “I wanted to broaden the content to include not only the environment, but also issues of equality and social justice – they all go hand in hand,” says Tia. “I know I’m extremely lucky and privileged to live at Botelet. I have mostly lived in rural areas, and love being so closely in touch with such a diverse environment: moorlands, beaches, forests. It also enables me to make certain choices - I can forage for plants on my doorstep, and have the space to grow veg.”

Breakfast: the best meal of the day?

choices as we go along: what we wear,

Discuss. “For me, it’s certainly one of

what we eat, how we travel. We make those

the most important parts of the day,”

choices for ourselves, while considering

says Tia. “I love cooking and sitting and

other people and the planet too; and as

enjoying a leisurely breakfast. It’s about

we change our own behaviours, we share

self-sustenance – a basic need to function

them with our families and communities,

healthily and happily, the ability to think

and become part of a virtuous circle.” l

and contribute more broadly.

Breakfast & Beyond can be found on

“Breakfast sets us up at the beginning of

Spotify and Apple Podcasts and at

the day in a positive framework. It helps us

www.tiatamblyn.com/podcast

to make better, more considered, positive

t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 19 n

people who are sitting in,” she says. “I really hope we’ll see a return to common sense.”

Pat Smith, aka Action Nan “I always thought ‘someone’ should do something – then I realised I was someone.”

Such is the mantra of Pat Smith, 73. Also known as Action Nan, Pat is a force of nature and a tireless campaigner on environmental issues. Her four-year quest to eradicate plastic single-use drinking straws from the hospitality industry ended victoriously, with government legislation in October 2020.

Now, she has turned her attention to disposable coffee cups and other singleuse items which are often unsuitable for household recycling. The Final Straw #2 was due to be launched during Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean (March 25 to April 10), and marked by a number of beach-cleans with local groups all around the Cornish coast.

This is all just the latest chapter in Pat’s environmental journey. At Bosinver Farm Cottages near St Austell, she and husband David led the way in implementing ecotechnology such as solar panels and electric car charging points. But a major turning point came in 2017, when Pat saw the film A Plastic Ocean and learned that of the 88 billion tonnes of plastic produced since 1948, 90% was used just once and will take hundreds of years to break down, releasing microscopic fragments into the ecosphere where it risks poisoning wildlife.

Initially Pat’s sights were set on plastic drinking straws - an astonishing 2.2 billion are thrown away every year, having been used for an average of just 20 minutes. “It seemed the simplest thing that people wouldn’t miss, and might get them thinking about other things.”

Pat and her team urged customers to say “no, thank you” to straws, and persuaded 600 businesses across the hospitality and tourist sector to offer biodegradable alternatives, or better still, no straw at all: “Most people do not need them.” The campaign took off, with sister groups up and down the country – and in 2020, the government banned not only plastic straws, but also drink stirrers and cotton buds.

Asked how she felt, she replies: “Euphoric.”

While Pat continued to raise awareness of other single-use plastics, the pandemic undid much of the good work. Disposable cutlery and crockery proliferated in cafés keen to avoid transmitting Covid 19, while face masks joined dog poo bags as the main culprits to fall out of your pocket when you’re not looking.

Pat hopes to see reusable utensils – like the good old-fashioned mug - make a comeback in eating establishments as restrictions are relaxed. “Too many places are still handing out takeaway cups, even to

Pat Smith (2nd from right) and the Last Straw Litter Pickers

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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

In 2018, Pat resolved to carry out weekly beach-cleans and litter picks, launching beach-cleaning groups including the Charlestown Chums and a sister group in Mevagissey. These groups have grown in size and number, becoming social affairs.

“A lot of the rubbish I pick up consists of everyday items used by all of us, but especially fast-food wrappers,” she says.

“We should all take responsibility for picking up litter – and not dropping it in the first place - but I would like to see a plastic tax on companies who overwrap their goods unnecessarily.

“We need more long-term thinking about end-of-life – what happens to things once we’ve finished with them. We should take a more circular approach so we know something will be reused, rather than sent to landfill here or even exported for disposal elsewhere.”

As Pat reaches her own twilight years, her thoughts turn to the legacy she will leave to those who come after. “I’m reading a book called How To Be A Good Ancestor. I want to sort things out before I go, so others will be aware and will carry on the work when I’m gone. If governments won’t do it, then public opinion must demand it.” l Visit finalstrawcornwall.co.uk For more information about the Keep Britain Tidy Great British Spring Clean, visit www.keepbritaintidy.org

You’ll wonder how you lived without these items, devised and made by Cornish companies FLOTSAM FLO The Flotsam Flo range breathes new life into items that have outlived their primary use and would be otherwise destined for landfill: paddling pools, wetsuits, air beds, hot tub lids, banners and bicycle innertubes. Even builders’ single-use lifting slings are reborn as bag straps and handles.

“I can do my bit, no matter how small,” says maker Kate Doran (who also patched up Mount Hawke’s temporary vaccination surgery when it was vandalised). “If I can just save a few things from going to landfill then I’ll be happy.” Stockists include All You Can Eco in Perranporth, The Refill Store in St Austell, Krog Den in Newquay and Hayle (where you’ll also find a wetsuit recycle bin outside the shop) and Northcoast Wetsuits in Port Isaac, to be joined by Pentewan Watersports in April. Look out for Kate at craft fairs including Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust’s Helifest on July 16. Pictured: Bumbag made from a banner with a punctured innertube strap. £20. Find Flotsam Flo on Facebook, Instagram and Etsy or email flotsamflo@yahoo.com

CORNISH SPLICED Making a living from fishing and passing down the skills needed from generation to generation is dying out in Cornwall, so Frank Plummer - retired skipper of Tyak Mor and Harvester in St Ives - and granddaughter Beth, 15, sought a weird and wonderful way to keep those skills in the family while helping to protect the environment and sea-life for generations to come. The answer: Cornish Spliced, producing dog leads, pet toys and lifestyle products from re-purposed fishing gear.

Rope is “spliced” to make joins for affixing clips, making handles etc. Materials include retired goodies from fishing families and “ghost gear” scooped out of the sea on beach-cleans. Each product is tagged with info about its “previous life”. Traditional lead £7.

Facebook/Twitter/Instagram @CornishSpliced. hello@CornishSpliced.co.uk

CIRCULAR REUSABLE BOTTLE A product is truly sustainable when made from recycled materials, designed to last and fully recyclable. Made from 14 singleuse bottles, the Circular Reusable Bottle has a 10-year lifespan and is specifically designed to be easily recycled back into the next new product, thanks to Circular & Co of Perranporth’s industry-leading takeback promise. Designed for life on the go, this bottle is lightweight, leakproof and features the company’s signature onehanded push-click lid with 360-degree drinking (not suitable for hot drinks), £14.95, circularandco.com/reusable-water-bottles l

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Kirstie Newton learns how the team behind a Cornish app hopes to encourage users to map and care for trees across the globe The creators of a smartphone app have made a clarion call for a “citizen army” to help them kickstart a global tree database. With its headquarters in the Clay village of Nanpean, the team behind Tremap is seeking to encourage public participation through interactive games and competition.

normally buried in council archives is now available at the touch of an app. You can look at a tree, find it on the map and tap on it to find out what species it is, whether it qualifies as ancient or veteran, or if it’s subject to a tree preservation order (TPO).

Tree champions can report on issues like ash dieback, a branch down after a storm

Tremap was originally devised by Jonathon Jones at Tregothnan, near Truro - best-known for its tea plantation - as a stress-free way of labelling and mapping trees on the estate. Physical labelling is labour-intensive, expensive and not always tree-friendly - hence a move towards digitisation and GPS, which also provides long-lasting accuracy. So successful was this initial venture that Tremap has since been contracted to produce a digital map of Eden’s outdoor garden.

Trees are nature’s way of sequestering carbon, and with current concerns about climate change, there is much talk about planting – not least with the Queen’s Green Canopy for the Platinum Jubilee. However, just as we say “reduce, reuse, recycle”, so Tremap’s mantra is “position, protect and preserve” - in that order.

“There are three trillion trees out there in the world, and our philosophy is, let’s take care of the ones we’ve got,” says Tremap chief executive Richard Maxwell.

“If we’re going to take care of existing trees, we need to connect people with them emotionally. We have to make it interesting, engaging and easy to get involved - not just statistics.

or touching a wire, a tree threatened with being cut down despite a TPO – and communication is streamlined to go straight to the person who needs the information, rather than having to wade through layers of bureaucracy. A crowdfunding initiative is under way to spread this facility to other locations in Cornwall.

Cornwall has the least tree coverage in the UK but, thanks to Victorian plant hunters, one of the highest numbers of introduced species. Its mild microclimate reflects areas around the world such as Darjeeling, which is how you can grow tea on a little peninsula near Truro. “It’s important to protect imports as heritage items,” says Richard, while adding: “It would be better to plant native trees moving forward.”

The name is an affectionate nod to the native language of Kernewek: Tre is Cornish for house or home. “Tremap is a virtual home for the tree database,” says Richard. However, the name has caused mild confusion beyond the Tamar: “Jonathon pronounces it ‘Tre-MAP’; I’m from Canada, where people say ‘TREEmap’ and ask why there’s only one ‘e’,” laughs Richard. “That’s fine – anything that gets people talking about it.” l

“Tremap is super-user friendly – any average person can find or add a tree.

And we hope to encourage the public to interact with and care about trees through games and competitions like Pokemon.”

In Falmouth, the Trecare app is being trialled to help the community connect with the council over tree care. Information that’s

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Tremap, Drinnick House, Nanpean, St Austell PL26 7XR. Tel 0203 982 2216, www.tremap.com Find Trecare which

out

more

about

crowdfunding closes

on

April

the

initiative, 12,

at

www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/p/trecare

| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

Everyone is doing their part for a more sustainable future

WENDRON STOVES THE JACKSON FOUNDATION

Sustainability informs every decision made at the Jackson Foundation. The multi award-winning arts space in St Just-inPenwith is known for exhibitions that focus on environmental themes including the plight of bees and marine plastic pollution, and regular donations are made to eco-champions such as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Surfers Against Sewage and Cornwall Wildlife Trust. The commitment to sustainability goes beyond paintings: the building has a positive carbon footprint, warmed by underfloor heating from a renewable ground source heatpump and powered by a 28KW array of solar panels, with the excess going into a Tesla Powerwall battery storage unit – this is drawn upon before resorting to using mains power and once full diverts any excess to the National Grid. This clean green energy is also used to charge the gallery’s fleet of three fully electric zero-emission vehicles. The gallery has been plastic-free since opening in 2015, sourcing the most environmentally friendly products available, from cleaning to till rolls, and refusing to do business with suppliers who don't. To find out what’s on show in April and May, see page 50. l

NATIONAL TRUST Can you spare an hour or so to help the National Trust keep Roseland

beaches

looking

beautiful, and safer for wildlife?

Soak in fantastic views and fresh sea air while doing your bit. Dogs on leads and children are very welcome and we will provide gloves, bags and litter pickers. Attendance free, no

As fuel bills rise in line with the increase in price for electricity and gas, it’s worth remembering that a wood pellet boiler offers a viable alternative for heating your home. It’s small, cost-effective and energy efficient, producing a minimal amount of ash. Best of all, it’s environmentally friendly: the amount of the carbon dioxide emitted during the burning process is only ever equivalent to the amount absorbed during the growth of the trees. The cost of pellets is working out at 9p kilowatts/hour, compared with new electricity rates of 30p.

There’s a wide range of modern and attractive stoves and boilers to suit your home, and you might even be able to get a government grant from April 2022. l For more advice, contact Wendron Stoves on 01326 572878 or 01872 520010, or visit www.wendronstoves.co.uk

OLD CHAPEL CELLARS A Truro-based wine importer, wholesaler and retailer has become the

first merchant in the UK – and only the second globally – to become a registered B Corp. Old Chapel Cellars on St Clement’s Street achieved the highly regarded environmental and social certification this month, after undergoing a rigorous verification process. B Corp status signifies a thorough, holistic approach to safeguarding people, planet and profit which has to be recertified every three years. They join a 20-strong group of Cornish B Corps, which together form a ‘B

booking necessary. Hemmick:

Local’ group with members including Origin Coffee, Rodda’s Cornish

Saturday, May 7, Saturday, June

Clotted Cream and Pentire Drinks. Louisa Fitzpatrick, who runs Old

4. 10 to 11.30am. Porthcurnick:

Chapel with co-owner Jamie Tonkin, said: “It’s rewarding to have

Monday, May 2, Monday, June

our commitment to the highest environmental and social standards

6, 10 to 11am. Pendower:

validated in this way. Our business is not going to solve the world's

Monday, May 2, Monday, June

climate crisis, and neither are we perfect. However, becoming a B

6, 2 to 3.30pm. l

Corp commits us to transparency and continual improvement. We’re

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ roseland

really excited to see where the journey takes us.” l www.oldchapelcellars.co.uk t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 23 n

know we need to do something. Wearing second-hand and vintage is something that happens everywhere in Cornwall. We

A proper Cornish fashion story shot at Mount Edgcumbe When photography student Erin Williams attended a clothes-swapping party in Millbrook, south-east Cornwall, she was inspired to organise a fashion shoot with an eco edge. While the dresses were gorgeous and stylish, Erin was shocked to hear their owners declare they would never wear them again - and if no one wanted them, they would just be thrown away.

“Fashion is a £2.5 trillion global industry, using up lots of resources to create cheap temporary products,” says Erin, 17, who studies at Plymouth College of Art. “It’s not currently sustainable, and is made worse by the internet, which enables any company to set up a simple website and sell clothes without considering the impact on people and the planet.

“Why does fashion have to be so

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disposable? Clothing should be affordable but designed to last and cherish something half-decent you don’t have to throw away when you buy the next best thing only a year and a half later.”

Erin enlisted friends to help her shoot a sustainable fashion story, which will form part of her photography portfolio. Their mission: to show that second-hand and hand-me-downs could look just as good as the newest designer gear - especially when shot against the beautiful backdrop of the Mount Edgcumbe estate in Cremyll on the Rame peninsula.

“As young people living in Cornwall, we are increasingly worried about climate change and the environment,” says Erin.

“We can see what's happening right here on our beaches and in our fields - and we

| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

have tried to turn it into something cool, leading the way in what's considered stylish - but also sustainable.”

The resulting shoot is beautiful and moody, capturing a very post-lockdown moment in time. Girls Grace and Eowyn and guys Rohan and Finn play around with a range of pre-loved clothes amid stunning parkland, shorelines, follies and historic buildings.

One of the more striking images happened when Finn decided to add some diversity and donned a slinky dress to pose alongside the girls, blowing his audience a cheeky kiss. “Our generation likes to be more flexible in our approach to clothes and fashion,” says Erin. “Finn doesn’t see anything wrong with wearing a dress. If he likes one, he’ll wear it down to the local pub to gauge people’s reactions.” l

THE WANT LIST

Cornwall Crafts Association 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

For nearly 50 years, Cornwall Crafts Association has been supporting makers resident in Cornwall, promoting a diverse and exciting range of contemporary craft made to the highest standard of design and artistry. Set within the beautiful Trelissick estate, its gallery provides a showcase for the work of over 100 of Cornwall’s most talented craftspeople.

1. Handwoven wall tapestry by Debbie Rudolph, £720; 2. Carved alder bowl by Howard Moody, £110; 3. Small porcelain flower wall piece by Carole Venables, £45; 4. Aluminium and silver earrings by Rachel Stowe, £34; 5. Cotton purse by Claire Armitage, £12.50; 6. Ceramic egg cups by Debbie Prosser, £25; 7. Ceramic buttons by Mary Goldberg, £2 each; 8. Glass dish by Heather Frary, £26; 9. Feather hairbands by Holly Young, £34.99.

Cornwall Crafts Association, Trelissick Gallery, Trelissick, Feock, near Truro TR3 6QL. Tel. 01872 864514 • cornwallcrafts.co.uk

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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

“Locally Made and Fair Trade” is shopkeeper Esme Burton’s motto Tell us about yourself I was born and brought up in north Cornwall, around Bodmin Moor. I was always an artsy kid and followed my passion for making things by qualifying with a BTech HND at Birmingham School of Jewellery in 1991. I married a Heamoor lad, Alan Burton, and we are now the parents of two teenagers. I don't want to live anywhere else but West Penwith. I love being a creative shopkeeper, using all my knowledge and experience working in the jewellery trade. I have also spent years as a maker at craft, design and market stalls, under the name Family Silver – I'm a member of Cornwall Crafts Association.

Where are you based, and what's the best thing about your location?

My two-storey shop Circa 21 is in the heart of Penzance town centre. There’s an amazing array of independent shops here, and Penzance has a great buzz when the season picks up in spring. I also love the closeness to Mount’s Bay - I can see St Michael's Mount from my top-floor workshop space!

What do you sell?

A beautiful range of gifts and homeware made by about 30 Cornish creatives, mostly women (bar two men), about half of whom have been with me since I opened Circa 21 in 2014. They include ceramicists like Jess Berriman and Natalie Bonney, homewares from Polperro-based Windswept Girlie and Humble Cottage Designs from Penryn, as well as my own silver jewellery range. We've introduced a Fair Trade

artsy furniture range to complement our cushions and throws – these are full of colour and individuality and add real ‘wow factor’ to the shop window.

Where do you find inspiration and new ideas?

My eyes are wide open to the big Cornish outdoors, so my instinct is to infuse my ranges with a coastal and natural element.

I select beautiful and useful pieces that you won't see everywhere. When I choose Fair Trade or locally made products, their quality and provenance, the back story and personality of the maker, are crucial.

Which pieces are popular with visitors?

Brands based in Cornwall are always loved by visitors, like St Eval Candles and Liga Home from Fowey. Liga’s Beach Clean range in particular has been flying off the shelves – it uses washed-up beach plastic to create items such as coasters.

What values are important to you when choosing what to sell or how to develop as a business?

Our emphasis is on a more sustainable way of living and making a living, so we aim to offer customers well-made and beautifully designed items, as well as gifts made from recycled cotton, glass or silver, homeware made from natural materials such as wood and seagrass. Our skincare range includes vegan and organic options too.

I'm passionate about promoting “Locally Made and Fair Trade”, and customers will travel miles just to shop with us. Becoming a “destination shop' is a dream come true.

Why is your store called Circa 21?

Simply because 21 is our street number, and Circa means about or approximately, especially when used with dates. I'm a real family history nerd and wanted to discover who lived and worked at Circa 21 in the Victorian times; in 1861, it was cordwainer (shoemaker) Charles Reynolds, aged 71. Born in Penzance, he lived and worked here with his blind wife Elizabeth Reynolds, 75, originally from St Ives, and their daughter Eliza Reynolds, who was 43.

What trends are you noticing this year?

The trend for spring this year is towards energy and escapism. A need for more colour and positivity in our lives is more important than ever, isn't it? So go bold and colourful, floral and natural. Set your senses alive with wild gorse soap, and geranium scented candles. Shine in silver blossom earrings and feel creative with gem-coloured glass vases.

What are your favourite things to do in and around Penzance?

My husband and I love to walk the precarious cliff paths between St Loy and Penberth with a pasty from St Buryan Farm shop - especially when the daffodils or bluebells are in flower. l Circa 21, 21 Market Jew Street, Penzance TR18 2HR. Tel 07876 124449.

Subscribe to the online web shop to get discounts and offers: www.circa21.co.uk

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Design

When did Rozen’s story begin?

Ian Cox: Rozen first came to be in 1986 through the creative partnership between myself and my co-director, Alan Pearce.

Both cabinetmakers by trade, they combined their vision, skills and expertise to create Rozen: a company that focused on the artistry and craftsmanship of furniture creation. After growing in success over the years, in 2000 they moved to a workshop in the little village of Ruan Minor on the Lizard Peninsula. It’s here that we continue to create bespoke luxury pieces for homes and offices across the UK. What makes Rozen different to other brands?

Alan Pearce: For over 35 years, we have built a reputation as one of Cornwall’s leading designers, joiners and creators of luxury furniture and interiors. There are only a handful of companies offering truly hand-crafted pieces - everything we make is fashioned right here in Ruan Minor, from

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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

initial design to construction. As a brand, this sense of high-quality local artistry defines our ethos and leads what we do – it’s all the very best materials shaped by the very best hands.

What is the creative atmosphere in your workshop?

Ian: It’s infectious! We have a team of some of the most highly skilled craftsmen and women in the county – some of whom

to create products that are completely unique. That’s the beauty of it. Be it for a contemporary office or traditional home, we can take ideas and turn them into reality. Sometimes, it’s about moulding a piece to fit with an existing environment, and other times it’s about creating a whole new space that really reflects and meets the needs of the customer. What’s exciting is that every project is completely different and the results one-of-a-kind.

and combining modern technologies with traditional methods, we create the very best products available to meet the most detailed requirements. There’s nothing our team can’t do, and the passion for the work and the level of artistry is something really special.

Where do you draw inspiration from for your designs?

Alan: From our clients. We combine their vision with our team’s expertise

– creating beauty in function and form.

What would you like people to take away from your work?

Alan: The biggest focus for us as a brand is quality. From the materials to the workmanship to the customer service, everything has to meet the highest standards. As we work with customers every step of the way, we make sure that this level of quality is maintained throughout, while

have been with us for more than 20 years.

By sharing knowledge, developing skills

furniture and interiors to capitalise on space

Why is the concept of ‘space’ important to you?

Ian: Whether you’re at home, working in the office or socialising with friends somewhere, the space you’re in has the ability to transform the experience and the atmosphere. As we spend so much time inside, it’s really important to be in spaces we enjoy – and where we have the opportunity to influence this, it’s essential to do so. One of the biggest improvements comes from simply decluttering, and we often create

at the same time being both friendly and professional. Ultimately, the expertise of our team, the pride we have in our work and the care we have for our customers are all things we hope are apparent and evident in everything that we produce. l Rozen Furniture Ltd Cherry Tree Workshop, Ruan Minor, Helston TR12 7JR Tel 01326 290 100 www.rozenfurniture.com

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C

ommonly described as “the best Poet Laureate” we never had, poet Charles Causley (1917 – 2003) spent his life in

Launceston. Cyprus Well, the tiny twobedroom terraced house where he resided with his mother Laura (and latterly alone), looks much the same as when they lived there, right down to the furniture. Too small to be a museum, it is now made available to writers-in-residence, and it was only right that author Patrick Gale should spend a week here while researching his latest novel: Mother’s Boy, a fictional account of Charles’ childhood and his relationship with Laura.

“It was strange, and powerful, to be sleeping in Laura’s bedroom, looking at pictures she would have looked at, knowing I would be writing a deeply intrusive novel about her life,” Patrick admits. “I didn’t dare sleep in Charles’ bedroom - as it was, it was quite funny coming out of Laura's room to be confronted by his portrait. I felt I had to tread carefully.

“I could feel the ghosts of them and their cats and dogs. I imagined them winding up the grandfather clock whose tick I could hear while writing. I’ve spoken to other people who stayed there, and they say the same – it's a bit like being inside Charles’ head. Although he moved there after the period in which the novel is set, it’s easy to imagine the way he and Laura would have lived there – as soon as you walk through n 30 |

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the front door, you see Laura’s armchair next to the telephone table.”

Patrick committed himself to honouring the facts he unearthed about Causley although these were “quite thin on the ground at a certain point in his life”, and were supplemented by the memories of those who met him and extracts from Causley’s own writings: sketches, articles and, of course, poems, some well-known and others markedly less so. “At every stage, I’ve used hundreds of bits of material – what he left behind.”

The book explores the period from Charles’ conception to the start of his career as a schoolmaster in Launceston, wending its way through childhood, school days and his wartime years as a coder.

Causley had started out as a playwright, and Patrick has a theory that his wartime experiences influenced his direction as a poet. "The discipline of being trained as a coder, working very fast in tiny amounts of words in code - it’s very close to how he wrote poetry, and he intimated that he found it much easier during the war to hold four or five lines of poetry in his head and work on them,” he explains.

Causley was famously private, so how does it feel to be imagining scenes from his life, and presenting them for public consumption?

“Extremely cheeky,” grins Patrick.

What drew him to Causley’s story? “I’m interested in stories with unanswered

| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

questions, and it seems to me that the biggest question with Charles is what made him tick emotionally. In many ways, the public version he chose to present, especially later in life, was quite forbidding. He was friendly on the surface, but intensely private, which is very unfashionable these days, when everyone is examining themselves on social media.

“I wanted to examine the construction of the public persona of Charles Causley, and worked back from that into his vulnerable boyhood. I think he would have made a very good spy, because he realised he needed to compartmentalise his life, and put his emotions and vulnerabilities into a locked and very well-guarded box.”

Waterstones describes the novel as “tender, compassionate and rich in psychological truth”, while referring to “the secret desires he must keep hidden”. It’s not a huge leap from this to speculating on Causley’s sexuality at a time when homosexuality was some way off being legal. But Patrick, who lives near Land’s End with his husband Aidan, is quick to see where I’m going and heads me off at the pass. “I don’t want anyone saying ‘He’s making Causley out to be gay,’” he says, emphatically.

But he continues: “It’s safe to say that in his private diaries from his teens and 20s ... he never gives a physical description of a woman, just simple names. If he mentions a man or a boy he has met, you get a vivid physical description.

© Southgate Studio, Launceston

Kirstie Newton talks to Patrick Gale about his new novel exploring the youth of poet Charles Causley, who lived in Launceston with his mother

“Homosexuality was illegal then, and it would have been a very frightening thing to admit to himself. Some people say he was just waiting for the right woman, but I think he chose to live with his mother, who was the ultimate shield to hide behind, very respectable. Anyone who visited him said you had to get past Mother before you got to Charles. In a way, she protected him, and when she died later in his life, he had a breakdown – he must have felt very exposed suddenly.

“So I’m not painting him to be gay, but I am exploring things that he found uncomfortable to talk about.”

Care has been taken, given Charles’ living relatives; these include Devon folk singer Jim Causley who has previously recorded a CD of his distant cousin’s work set to music.

“He has read it – my heart was in my mouth,” laughs Patrick. “I’ve also had nice feedback from people who didn’t know Charles’ work, and who were keen to read it after finishing my book, which was very satisfying.”

Mother’s Boy is as much Laura’s story as Charles’. A Cornish lass, she met her husband (also Charles) in 1916 when both were in service in Teignmouth. Their son was born the following year, but Charles Sr returned from the trenches a damaged man and ill with tuberculosis.

Soon widowed, the fiercely independent Laura raises Charles alone in small, classobsessed Launceston, working as a laundress, gradually aware of his genius.

Patrick examines their relationship with interest: “How he and his mother got on each other’s nerves, and how she shaped him. A lot of the characters I’ve extrapolated from his poetry – this wisdom had to come from someone.”

Unlike Causley, Patrick is very sociable and is active on the literary circuit of Cornwall, where he has lived since 1987. He is the artistic director of the North Cornwall Book Festival, a director of Endelienta at St Endellion, and a patron of Penzance LitFest and, of course, the Charles Causley Trust.

“When I started out, I was grateful when older writers gave me a hand. Writing is a very precarious business, and we need all the help we can get. It's a duty of the successful to help others up the ladder.

Festivals are one way of doing that, and we are lucky to have so many writers down here who can be persuaded out of their hidey-holes, like Cathy Rentzenbrink and Nina Stibbe.

House Hotel with Patrick, Jim Causley and documentarian/filmmaker Jane Darke.

Whether or not you attend the festival, Patrick urges people to read Causley’s work in the context of its setting. “There is something powerful about going to a place where a poet lived his entire life. People often talk about Betjeman in Cornwall, but he wasn’t born here. With Charles, you can read an incredible body of work describing Launceston in specific detail, then walk the streets where it’s set.” l Mother’s Boy was published on March 1 by Tinder Press.

For further information about the Charles Causley Trust, causleytrust.org

“Twitter is also a very powerful tool. If I like a book and tweet about it, it makes a big, big difference.”

He was knocking at an open door when seeking support for his new release, marked by the Charles Causley Trust with a three-day festival in Launceston from March 4 to 6. Events included workshops, book signings, the launch of the Causley Young Person’s Poetry competition and a special evening event at the Eagle

Patrick Gale © Jillian Edelstein

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The Lodge

National Garden Scheme volunteer Laura Tucker profiles neighbouring gardens that open together for charity

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ardening in a sustainable way is something we hold dear in the National Garden Scheme.

In Cornwall, many of our garden owners have long been passionate about being kind to the environment, and some have simply made sustainability a way of life. Here are two pairs of gardens, close neighbours that open together.

Pinsla, Cardinham Mark and Claire Woodbine have been gardening at Pinsla for 40 years and the thread of sustainability is woven into everything they do. "We see ourselves as custodians rather than owners of the land,” says Claire, “working with nature to create a garden that’s not just for today but as a future legacy.”

Their relaxed approach has allowed an informal, biodiverse tapestry to emerge.

A wide variety of flowering plants is grown throughout the season, focusing on those particularly attractive to pollinators.

Vegetables thrive in compost made with the assistance of a wormery and a hot bin.

Woody prunings and branches are put to use in the garden or allowed to decay naturally and become habitats for insects.

The Lodge, Fletchersbridge The sound of a gurgling stream beckons visitors into the garden, a tranquil woodland valley punctuated by calming pools providing a home for frogs, newts, moorhens, mallards and dragonflies.

Nuthatches, chaffinches, woodpeckers are among the regular winged visitors, together with the occasional kingfisher. Owner Tony Ryde has been gardening here for 22 years and is proud of the hundreds of trees he’s planted, including 40 different varieties of Magnolia, flowering in succussion February to November. While generally keen to encourage wildlife, Tony has

The gARTen © Carole Drake

discovered an ingenious way of deterring deer from eating his roses: when he visits the hairdresser, he takes sweepings of hair from the floor to hang in perforated bags on the bushes. The deer are repelled by the scent of humans. “I’m the only person who leaves the hairdressers with more hair than I started with!” laughs Tony.

The gARTen Garden, Constantine

Pinsla PL30 4AY and The Lodge PL30 4AN are in close proximity and will open together on Sunday, April 24 from noon to 5.30pm with cream teas served at The Lodge. Pinsla will open from 9am to 5pm on many more occasions in the summer.

the ecosystems. Visitors will be drawn on

Bucks Head House, Constantine With a passion for trees, 17 years ago Deborah Baker set about creating an arboretum in a high, windy field and in so doing, silenced the doubters who said it couldn’t be done. Deborah waited patiently for two years while the initial windbreak of Griselinia and Elaeagnus became established before planting 1,000 species of native hazel, alder, Scots pine, oak, sorbus and birch. Encircled by the protection of the native trees, Deborah then planted 1,000 unusual and rare specimens. The result is a dappled delight of mown paths curving beneath a foliage canopy, underplanted with bulbs, perennials, ferns and flowering shrubs including 85 different types of hydrangea. This tranquil oasis provides nesting sites and food sources for wrens, robins, chiff-chaffs, stonechats and fieldfares.

Shrubs and trees are specially selected to offer berries and seed heads; woodpiles are left undisturbed and wide areas of grass remain unmown. Only collected rainwater is used for watering and all prunings are chipped or shredded and used as mulch.

Among the star performers in spring are the multi-stemmed Alnus sieboldiana, with its fabulous catkins, the wonderfully fragranced Elaeagnus umbellata and the daisy-smothered Olearia cheesemanii.

Drs Sara Gadd and Daro Montag have demonstrated their professional skills in the fields of art, design and the environment by creating the organic gARTen garden, their family home for the past 20 years.

Great care has been taken to cultivate and adapt the garden holistically, respecting a delightful meander through different areas such as the spring garden, hot terrace, fernery and willow circle. Planting combinations, together with sculptural architectural features, have been carefully hand-crafted by Daro and chosen for dramatic effect. Interestingly, tree prunings are used to make bio-char, a charcoal additive which improves the water retention and texture of soil, as well as supporting mycorrhizal fungi and raising the pH of the naturally acidic soil, enabling brassicas and leafy vegetables to be grown too.

The family’s horses and chickens provide a welcome natural source of manure for the crops. Sara says: “I like to grow heritage varieties of vegetables, which helps to preserve them for future generations.”

The gARTen Garden TR11 5QW and Bucks Head House TR11 5QR are close neighbours and open by arrangement on Fridays (mornings and afternoons respectively) from April to July.

The National Garden Scheme (NGS) gives visitors unique access to over 3,500 exceptional private gardens and in 2021 donated £3 million to some of the UK’s best-loved nursing and health charities raised through admissions and refreshment sales. For further information on Cornwall gardens, visit ngs.org.uk/Cornwall l

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the Roof!

St Day Old Church enjoys a new lease of life as a community hub and entertainment venue Photographs by Charles Francis

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owering above the village of St Day is a building so impressive, the late poet Sir John Betjeman referred to it as an “ecclesiastical toy fort”.

Following a 30-year campaign to save it, this stunning building strikes the perfect balance between relic and ruin.

In 2021, it found a new lease of life as an entertainment venue under the watchful eye of the St Day Old Church Community Interest Company (CIC). There are six voluntary directors, all with different skills, be it health and safety, fundraising, PR and marketing or theatre programming. Lesley Trotter’s specialism is history, and she sees the Old Church as a self-supporting tripod of heritage, arts and community.

“The building is iconic to the local landscape - wherever you walk around St Day, you can see it,” she says. “Its presence is there in the community, all the time. It makes sense for it to be used, but while there were efforts before the millennium to save the church, there was no coherent plan to generate any income to ensure we could keep it safe for public use.”

The emphasis is on sustainability rather than quick fixes. “That’s incredibly important, and it’s one reason we haven’t replaced the roof – apart from the fact it’s a USP and lends atmosphere, it would generate a maintenance problem for future generations. We’d rather keep what we’ve got in good order, and generate a feeling of belonging in the town, so it becomes part of our lives and not just the scenery.”

The Old Church was built in 1826, part of a surge in church building to commemorate victory in the Battle of Waterloo (fellow “Waterloo churches” including St Paul’s in Charlestown and St George’s & St John’s in Truro).

In the early 19th century, the mining industry was booming, and nowhere more so than in an area once referred to as “the world’s richest square mile”. St Day needed a larger church to cater for the rapidly growing population in the town and surrounding district. The building followed designs by Christopher Hutchens of Torpoint in the popular Gothic Revival style, and with its grand gallery, it could accommodate a congregation of 1,500 people.

But by the early 1900s, the congregation had dwindled so drastically with the decline of mining that the decision was made to remove the gallery. This compromised the stability of the entire church, which was declared unsafe and closed in 1956.

The church community moved into the hall opposite, where it remains to this day, and the once glorious building was left unmaintained for decades. In 1985, part of the roof caved in; the decision was made to remove it completely, and the church has been exposed to the elements ever since.

In 1988, St Day Old Church Appeal Committee was formed, launching what would be a 30-year battle to save the building. Three years ago, things were cranked up a notch when the church was purchased for £1 from the Diocese of Truro by the new CIC. A huge community effort ensued to get the building set up as a centre for heritage, education and the arts.

Thanks to a number of funders, including Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), £138,000 was CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

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raised and essential works were undertaken, including window repairs and the installation of a modern electricity supply. A mosaic was created by the community under the watchful eye of artist Clare Summerson, and the reception class of the local primary school ran 100 miles in laps around their classrooms to raise money, and were rewarded with the opportunity to be the first performers on the new stage. “That’s why we do this,” says Lesley. “I hope that memory will stay with them forever. Many of the children go back generations in St Day, and nurturing those connections will ensure the survival of the building.”

The church is extremely popular with the Cornish diaspora, with descendants of Cousin Jacks – the miners who left Cornwall in search of work in Australia, South Africa, Mexico and other locations – regularly visiting St Day. “In a normal year, we might expect around 3,000 people asking for church access for this reason,” says Lesley. “One lady from Tasmania came, and was able to stand where her great-great-grandmother had married. It was such an emotional connection.” n 36 |

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DIARY DATES: April 23 - Mohan: A Partition Story Mixed Scots-Indian writer Niall Moorjani recalls their grandpa’s experiences of the Partitioning of India 75 years ago. Moving, visceral, emotive and at times hilarious, the story will be interwoven with fascinating historical insight, and set to live music. Tickets £12.

April 30 - Peri... Meno... What now?!

Nina Hills’ comedy show about the perimenopause - expect stand-up, song, rap and even a cuppa. Who knew getting old would be such a pain in the lady garden? Adult themes and language - 16+. Tickets £12.

While not quite restored to its former glory, any imperfections simply add character.

The stone floor is peppered with bits of original church floor tile; an aged piece of wood from the fallen roof timbers still sits behind the stage in the shape of a cross, while the cracked central heating pipes still line the walls.

The first entertainment season began in August, a year later than planned due to the pandemic. The Old Church CIC has programmed an eclectic mix of events to give the people of St Day and surrounding area a

May 7 - Katie’s Black Hole Adventures Little Trebiggan Theatre Katie is given a science kit for her 10th birthday and opens a black hole in her bedroom into which her noisy dad gets sucked. Will she be able to get him back? Will he ever be the same again? Fun, frolics, musical fusion and a little bit of science in this family show. Tickets £6.

reason to come and see their church brought

May 28 - Wish We Weren't Here Camidge & Stringer A west Cornwall tourist information office in 2023. Staff members Linda and Jak swap their lockdown experiences and explore the ‘complaints’ archive, with contributions from George Eliot and DH Lawrence. Tickets £12.

grips with it, the CIC hopes for more events

| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

to life, from children’s theatre to adult-only storytelling performances, film nights and a musical bonanza day for all the family.

Running the church as a venue has been a learning curve for all involved. Having got to and, crucially, more volunteer stewards. “We might even get to the point where we create employment,” says Lesley. “Ultimately, the more people use it, the more people love it, the longer it will survive.” l

An bobel a Gernow a gar aga Dy’Golyow ha golyow erell. Selys yn ta yns y’n kalender gonisogeth ha kevrennys, dell yw usys, dhe sans an dre po pluw. Nebes dy’golyow a ost kesstrifow sport, rag ensempel an hurlya yn Porthia po Sen Kolom Veur – an re erell re dhisplegas yn termyn arnowydh dhe solempnya kowlwriansow ynjynorieth kepar ha Dydh Trevithick po Dydh Murdoch. Prest re beu boos brav rann posek a’n kentel, yn arbennik torthellow delit te. Torthellow safran, melyn splann dre reson a’n spis bleujen, re beu pebys y’n Dhuketh dres istori ha dybris peskweyth may vo dy’golyow po solempnyansow kryjyk.

Leveris yw safran a gevi y fordh dhe Gernow dre kenwerth sten mar a-varr es peswar kans Kyns Osweyth Kemmyn!

The people of Cornwall love their Feast Days and other festivals.

They are well-established in the community calendar and are usually linked to a parish or town’s saint. Some events host sporting competitions, for example, hurling in St Ives and St Columb Major; others have developed in modern times to celebrate engineering achievements such as Trevithick Day or Murdoch Day. Fine food has always been an important part of the occasion, especially tea treat buns. Saffron buns, bright yellow from the added flower spice, have been baked in the Duchy throughout history and eaten on feast days and religious celebrations. Saffron is said to have found its way to Cornwall through trading tin as early as 400 BC!

Dy’Golyow kalender kevrennys sans an bluw ostya kesstrif kowlwrians ynjynorieth prest kentel torthell safran solempnyans kenwerth sten Kyns Osweyth Kemmyn (KOK)

Feast Days calendar linked parish saint to host competition achievement engineering always, constantly occasion bun saffron celebration trade tin Before Common Era (BC)

Nebes a’n golyow kernewek an brassa a hwer yn mis Me. Yn Lannwedhenek, afinys yw an dre gans bleujyow, parys rag devedhyans an ‘Oss glas ha’n ‘Oss rudh ha koth. Gwrys yw an eyl ha’y gila a fram hirgylghek, gorherys yn kroghen oyl gans penn margh byghan a-dherag, ow bratha y jal. Ilewydhyon a sen jarwel ha tabours dell led pub ‘Oss keskerdh a-derdro an dre, brosys gans an Tontyer. Mernans ha dasgenesigeth an ‘Oss

Let's Speak Cornish a represent gorfenn an gwav ha’n hav ow tos. Tennvos tornysi gerys-da dres eghen yw an hwarvos lemmyn ha meurgerys yw avel onan an hengov gwerin moy a vri yn Breten.

Some of the largest Cornish festivals take place in May. In Padstow, the town is decorated with flowers ready for the arrival of the “Blue ‘Oss” and the old “Red ‘Oss”. Each one is made from an oval frame covered in black oilskin with a small horse's head in the front, its jaw snapping. Musicians play accordion and drums as each ‘Oss leads a procession around town, goaded by the Teaser. The death and re-birth of the ‘Oss represent the end of winter and the coming of summer. The event is now a hugely popular tourist attraction and is loved as one of the most famous folk customs in Britain.

afina bleujen glas rudh an eyl ha’y gila fram gorheri kroghen oyl bratha chal jarwel tabour brosa Tontyer tennvos tornysi

to decorate flower blue (green) red one and the other frame to cover oil skins to bite, snap jaw accordian drum to goad Teaser attraction tourists

NEBES LAVARENNOW DYDHYOW GOOL SOME USEFUL FEAST DAY PHRASES A vynn’ta dos genev dhe Dhydh Trevithick?

Do you want to come with me to Trevithick Day? Na vynnav, meur ras, nyns yw da genev oll an ethen ha mog.

No, thanks, I don’t like all the steam and smoke. “£3.60 an gramm! Ass yw safran kostek!” “£3.60 per gram! How expensive is saffron!”

“Hanafas a de ha torthell safran, mar pleg!”

“A cup of tea and a saffron bun, please!”

“Gans amanyn po lughes ha taran?”

“With butter or thunder and lightning?”

“Ogh, yw hemma Dy’Gool? Y brederis my dhe vos dhe guntelles sodhva?”

“Oh, is this a Feast Day? I thought I was at an office meeting”

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 37 n

Cornwall supports Ukraine Elizabeth Dale on how a monument erected in Cornwall after the Second World War has found new significance following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

As the world woke to the dreadful news of war erupting in Ukraine, many people’s first thought was what they could do to help.

On February 27, 2022, some 200 people gathered in a quiet lane just outside the village of Mylor to show the beleaguered Ukrainian nation their support.

The choice of location may seem a little strange at first glance, but the history of this quiet corner of the Cornish countryside is in fact incredibly pertinent, especially as hundreds of thousands of refugees stream across the Ukrainian border in search of safety.

Beside the dead-end road to Restronguet Barton, tucked away under trees and painted bright white, stands a stone cross. n 38 |

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This small monument was erected here in 1948 by Ukrainians who had been living and working in the area in the post-war era. A symbol of their gratitude for their escape from persecution, and the safe refuge they had found in Cornwall, it also bore testament to their strong Christian faith.

These days, hidden from passing traffic, its significance had been mostly forgotten until recent events made its story even more moving and relevant.

At the end of the Second World War, after the collapse of Nazi Germany, there were an estimated 11 million displaced people in Europe, communities that were unable or unwilling to return to their homes. It is thought that around 200,000 of those exiled souls were resettled in Britain, and many came here to Cornwall.

After the terrible losses of both World Wars, the UK found itself with a severe labour shortage, leading the European Voluntary Workers scheme (EVWs) to invite people from all over Europe to come to Britain and provide a much-needed boost to our workforce.

| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

The refugees who came to Mylor were just some of the hundreds of Ukrainian men, women and children fleeing violent persecution by the communist regime installed in their home country by the Soviet Army. Many of them had fought against the invading forces; the Second World War had inevitably brought about a strong independence movement in the Ukraine, and as a consequence many of these nationalists had been rounded up, imprisoned and even executed.

Close to where the cross stands today was once the site of an anti-aircraft base during the war and at one time up to 300 British troops were based there. As peace returned to Europe, the British Government utilised its now empty bases to house refugees. So it was that Ukrainian families were moved into the unused buildings in Mylor in 1947/48, staying there for around 12 months.

The men found work on local farms, in the mines and as gardeners, often taking the place of the Cornishmen that had never come home. The women looked after the children and some took in sewing work. As

gathering was a more sombre occasion.

A service was led by the Bishop of Truro, Philip Mounstephen, and the crowd was a mix of locals and Ukrainians who have come to live in Cornwall in recent years. The little cross was swathed in Ukrainian and St Piran flags, with daffodils laid on the brick base.

a devout Orthodox Christian community, they built themselves a make-shift chapel on site and local Catholic priests would visit Restronguet to hold services.

As time went on, the refugee families gradually moved out of the camp; some went back to Europe in the hope of returning home, others emigrated to Canada or Australia. But many found permanent accomodation in Mylor and the surrounding villages. Recollections of that time suggest that, despite initial language barriers, the Ukranian families integrated well and quickly became part of Mylor’s

community. Their children played with their Cornish peers, while many unmarried adults found local matches and remained in Mylor for the rest of their lives.

In a message on the Mylor Parish Church Facebook page, Ukrainian Marsha Szewczuk wrote: "My family and I wish we could be there today ... My Ukrainian grandfather, who stayed in the camp and lived on the outskirts of the village, helped erect the memorial. He’d be pleased that there is a service there today - thank you."

In these difficult and divisive times, it is important to remember the lessons that history teaches us. Cornish people have found work and homes and joined communities all across the globe, and in turn we have welcomed strangers in need In February 2022, the cross once again here. The Ukrainian Cross near Mylor Bridge became a very real symbol of compassion stands as that reminder of a time when we and solidarity between two distant were able to offer safety and community to nations who have built an unexpected people in dire need - and that we may need bond through conflict. This most recent to do that again. l A service of rededication was held at the cross in 2008, and amongst the attendees were grandchildren of those original Ukrainian families who found safety and welcome in Cornwall 70 years earlier.

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Will performing at the Alverton, Truro

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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

Will performing with John Dowling at the Minack Theatre

Tell us about your childhood People assume I’m Cornish, but I actually grew up in Somerset! I joined the Royal Navy at 16, and spent six years at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint. Rugby was my thing, and joining up was one way of playing professionally – until I snapped my anterior cruciate ligament at the age of 21. These days, my participation is limited to warming up the crowd at all the Pirates’ matches.

Where do you live now?

I returned to Cornwall 14 years ago, by which time I was married with newborn twins and two foster children. All my life had been spent by, on or under the sea.

Friends emigrated to far-flung places like Australia, but as foster parents we couldn’t do that, so we settled in Falmouth. I knew about Cornwall’s maritime heritage, but not its culture - that was a bit of an eyeopener. I started working for Skinners Brewery - a job made in heaven for me – and that’s how I met The Oggymen. I’ve sung with them ever since. It's more like a group of friends – a hobby rather than a job.

What inspired you to start performing solo?

I’d always wanted to have a go, but was held back by what other people might think. What moved me to actually do it was when my foster son took his own life at the age of 19 - nothing could hurt me as much as that did. So I went for it, and did 85 gigs in that first year – I knew a lot of people who had pubs! Harry Glasson had toured for 30 years and put me in touch with venues.

He was a huge support and mentor to me during that time; we became great friends, and in May I’m going to a garden party at Buckingham Palace as his plus-one.

You have a new album coming out in September Yes, I’m launching a Crowdfunder in May to pay for it. It will include traditional and contemporary songs, and some of my own compositions. During lockdown, I learned more about a poet called John Harris; some of his words are on a slab in Gylly gardens.

I turned two of his poems into songs. I’ve also written two in Kernewek, with the help of the Cornish language department at Cornwall Council.

What else do you have planned for 2022?

It’s looking busy! I’ve been booked to sing at low tide on Tresco on Easter Monday, How did you keep and am in discussions about performing in performing during lockdown? the RNLI garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower The Voices of the Borough Facebook group Show in May. In June, The Oggymen are was launched to encourage people to sing singing at Tunes in the Dunes in Perranporth Cornwall My Home on Thursdays, after the and the International Sea Shanty Festival in Clap For Carers. They asked to play my Falmouth, then at the Minack on August version for people to sing along to; I went 16 – that gig sold out within a week. In one better, and live streamed it alongside February, I did a candlelight tour of village my four daughters! It went out to around churches with banjo player John Dowling.

16,000 people, and I was getting messages It was a huge success and we’re going to from around the world. At gigs, people still tour new repertoire in November. I’m also tell me how much it meant to them. hoping to join a residential course in June What kind of repertoire do they perform? to improve my skills in Kernewek.

The kind of songs that have been sung Why do you think music is such a key part in Cornish popular culture for hundreds of Cornish culture?

Where is your favourite place in Cornwall? of years. Think Lamorna, Lil Lize and Celtic nations have music as their bedrock. My home – Falmouth. This morning, I went Trelawny. But the song that drew me in You can see it in Irish and Welsh culture too. for a swim in the sea at Gyllyngvase beach. was Cornwall My Home by Harry ‘Safari’ They play it to express emotion, be it sadness My wife and I like to go out for breakfast Glasson. Even though I’m not Cornish, it’s or joy, and to bring people together. It’s when the kids are at school – Indidog and like an arrow through the heart for me. I good for the soul, and it’s important to keep Windjammer are our favourites, and it later discovered that Harry had written lots it alive. With the male voice choir population has to be a full Cornish for me, with hog’s of songs commenting on Cornish history, ageing, we must think about how these pudding. l and I’ve performed many of them in my songs will continue to be heard. Thankfully, solo show. I love their simplicity. They are there has been a massive resurgence in For more further performance dates, visit ideal for engaging young children; on April young people singing them – I performed at willkeatingcornwall.com 23, I'll perform at the Roseland Festival with the Chainlocker on St Piran’s Day, and it was pupils from St Mawes primary school. as busy as New Year’s Eve. t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 41 n

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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

Kernow Art Collective takes over the courtyard buildings of the historic Boconnoc Estate from April 15 to 17, offering a window into contemporary art made in Cornwall across a variety of media, from a selection of artists both seasoned and new. Pictured: Clay Tip Country

by Sara Owens. Find Kernow Art Collective on Facebook.

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ART NEWS ART FOCUS: JACKSON FOUNDATION THROUGH THE EYES OF...

MARTIN JOHN FOWLER MAKER FOCUS: HELEN EASTHAM GALLERY OF THE MONTH: ART HOUSE ARTIST PROFILE: IONA SANDERS VIP: CUSTOMS HOUSE GALLERY MEET THE MAKER: ANDREA INSOLL

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s w e N t r A COVER ARTIST: CATHERINE CLARKE Catherine loves everything about Cornwall; the beaches, the people, the wildlife, the food, the pace of life. She studied illustration at Falmouth College of Arts over 20 years ago, and although she’s based in land-locked Shropshire now, she makes sure to get her Cornwall fix each year by taking a holiday with her husband, son and daughter. This never fails to create wonderful memories and inspire Catherine in her artwork. Cornwall evokes a feeling of nostalgia for her, which is why she creates pieces such as the one on the front cover: Hanging About in St Ives Harbour. Catherine creates her artwork digitally, using elegant lines and simple colour ways and ensures to print and package them using eco-friendly materials. l You can buy Catherine’s prints at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CornwallCoast

BEAUTIFUL BEACH WORKS Marking the launch of their 2022 Featured Artist series of exhibitions this April, Whitewater Contemporary brings you paintings and sculptures by the ever-popular Simeon Stafford.

This collection includes paintings inspired by the busy North Cornwall beaches of Polzeath and Daymer, the harbours of Padstow and Port Isaac in summer, and the daily workings of Cornwall’s fishing industry and historic mining scene.

Also included are examples of Simeon’s highly collectable bronze figures, including his famous Yo Yo Girl. Then throughout May, mixed media artist Viv Richards is on show. Her new collection comprises 23 paintings, each made on separate days by the sea near her home on the North Cornwall coast. Viv’s works express the tranquillity of life in the far west, and celebrate Cornwall’s vast skies, ocean views, and the sublime feeling of open space, using layers of collage, gouache, oil paint, and sometimes clay, paper pulp or felting wool. l Whitewater Contemporary, The Parade, Polzeath, PL27 6SR. www.whitewatercontemporary.co.uk

POLPERRO: CORNWALL’S FORGOTTEN ART CENTRE In the late 19th century and for much of the 20th, Polperro captivated artists with its twin harbours, stone breakwaters, cobbled alleys and courts leading to quaint, haphazard housing, often with first floor porches reached by time-worn steps. Add the River Pol bubbling its way under ancient stone bridges, and a stunning coastal setting surrounded by hills, and it’s small wonder this fishing village became “the haunt of half the artists of Britain”, as well as many significant international artists. An exhibition at Falmouth Art Gallery will feature paintings by leading American, German and Dutch artists, as well as by many accomplished British ones - some familiar, others less so. Work is drawn from public and private collections, curated by leading Cornish art historian, David Tovey, and accompanied by his two-volume history of the village as an art centre. Highlights include William Mouat Loudan’s critically acclaimed 1888 Royal Academy exhibit, Fish Sale, Polperro; unexhibitable for decades, it has been restored for the show; and Edward Reginald Frampton’s 1896 work ‘When the sun to Westward sinks and bathes all things in gold’ (pictured). l April 2 to June 18, Falmouth Art Gallery, Municipal Buildings, The Moor, Falmouth TR11 n 44 |

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2RT. Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm. www.falmouthartgallery.com

| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

Unique Astrological Orreries Handmade in Cornwall Create your own Natal Chart in 3D Track daily planetary movements Enjoy a beautiful Objet D’Art in your home

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

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SPRING ON THE LIZARD Lizard Art Gallery, at Trelowarren Estate, launches its spring exhibition on Saturday, April 2. The gallery is a co-operative of 15 members made up of mainly professional artists who work to a high standard, encompassing many styles and techniques including representational and abstract works, printmaking, collage and mixed media - from exciting seascapes that capture stormy weather to gentle watercolours that capture the warmth of summer. Among the collection, you’ll find work from associate craft members including gorgeous serpentine works, fascinating ceramics, glass and jewellery. Housing an eclectic collection of originals, prints and cards, the gallery is run by the artists themselves, which enables them to share their enthusiasm about their own work and that of their colleagues - a real highlight for visitors keen to know more. Sit and enjoy the ambience of the peaceful surroundings of the old converted stable barns, with neighbouring restaurant and The Pantry coffee shop. l Open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 3pm. Stableyard Gallery, Trelowarren Estate, Mawgan-in-Meneage, Helston TR12 6AF. Tel. 01326 221778, www.lizardart.co.uk G TheStableyardGallery A LizardArtGallery

JANE BODLE AT THE COWHOUSE Jane Bodle’s textile pictures are worked from recycled fabrics, ribbons, threads and other materials entering further reincarnations. Sometimes work is screenprinted first, then completed with embellishments from Jane’s studio store. Having collected interesting pieces, including sea glass, pebbles, old buttons and bows with vibrant colours, she integrates them wherever possible. Jane’s feltwork is a fusion of wools using a large palette of colour moulded into a felt backing with stitchwork.

Her original paintings take subjects from the rugged coastline of Cornwall, from rocky headlands to the delicate flora and fauna of the shoreline, using varied media fed on to Yupo paper to create a vivid kaleidoscope of colour. Bespoke cards start at £2.50 each and pictures start from £50. l The Cowhouse Gallery, Lynfield Craft Centre, Perranuthnoe TR20 9NE. Open daily 10am to 5pm.

Tel. 01736 710538 www.cowhousegallery.co.uk

OPEN STUDIOS CORNWALL 2022 From May 28 to June 5, the annual Open Studios event will see artists, designers and makers share curious studio spaces in beautiful places across Cornwall, from Marazion to St Minver, St Ives to Saltash and Penzance to Penwithick; in leafy villages, seaside settlements and wooded valleys; between granite gateposts, down driveways and along ancient footpaths.

Artists of all kinds - painters, printmakers, potters, textile designers, sculptors and illustrators – will reveal where and how they work, what their rooms look like and what they need around them to feel creative. Curate your own art trail by following the distinctive orange ‘Os’ across the Duchy’s creeks, coves and coastlines, to discover, discuss and purchase their work.

Alternatively, take the virtual route from the comfort of your own home.

Pictured is Cookworthy Knapp, or the Coming Home Trees, by “Fibreista” Araminta Greaves, whose spinnery can be found in her garden at the foot of Roughtor, on the edge of Bodmin Moor. l Photo by Phil Glew, Southgate Studios, Launceston. www.openstudioscornwall.co.uk n 46 |

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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

TRELISSICK GALLERY Summer Exhibition - ‘Treasure’ 30th April - 25th September

Focus on Furniture Maker Tom Heywood 30th April - 15th June

Open daily between 10am-5pm

www.cornwallcrafts.co.uk

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ENYS ART AND GARDENS YEW TREE GALLERY Eastertide announces the welcome return of Spring at Yew Tree Gallery through woodcuts by Guy Royle, stoneware bird sculptures by Reece Ingram, light-filled paintings by Sally Holman, lustrous ceramics by Sutton Taylor, woven wool throws by Rhian Wyman and cushions by Sue Marshall, plus pottery by Jill Fanshawe Kato and Nigel Lambert, and silver and aluminium jewellery by Helen Nock.

The gardens are open for a stroll or a picnic to make for a leisurely outing until May 7. This exhibition is followed by Homage To John Maltby from May 21 to July 3, a retrospective exhibition celebrating the broad creative talents of a remarkable artist.

An illustrated book published to coincide with this show will also be on sale. Image: First Flight, woodcut by Guy Royle. l Yew Tree Gallery, Keigwin, Morvah TR19 7TS. Tel 01736 786425, www.yewtreegallery.com

Enys Art Exhibition and Bluebell Festival both run from Saturday, April 30 to Sunday, May 8, meaning one ticket for two great events. A short distance from both Falmouth and Truro, Enys is famed for its 30 acres of gardens, which flower magnificently with fragrant bluebells at this time of year. The old mansion house will also be open and the rustic walls filled with work by 11 talented local artists: Ben Baker and Laura Menzies in the dining room, Chloe Tinsley and Rachel Corney in the hall, Stephanie Sandercock and Theo Crutchly-Mack in the library, Rachel Painter and Sophie Penstone in the drawing room and Danni Dixon in the lobby, plus Eloise Wall and Kamil Waniowski on the front lawn. Refreshments will be available. 10am to 5pm. l www.enysgardens.org.uk

PORTHLEVEN, HARBOUR OF LIGHT The Customs House Gallery in Porthleven will show work by Scilly-based Steve Sherris from May 14 to 23. Steve is a self-taught artist and has been painting full-time for 15 years, working on location and from his studio on St Mary’s. Steve lives on Scilly all year round and paints the islands for half the year, then in the winter months loves to travel with his paints in search of new subjects and challenges to keep his paintings fresh. “Generally, I look for simplicity in a scene,” he says, “rendering enough information to give the viewer the sense of being there. To help me capture this feeling, I believe it is essential to paint on the spot in front of the subject, only working in the studio once I have an intimate knowledge of the subject.” l www.cornwall-art.co.uk

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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

Market Place, Marazion, Cornwall, TR17 0AR Tel: 01736 711400 Opening Times: Open daily 10.30-5pm, Closed on Mondays info@summerhousegallery.co.uk www.summerhousegallery.co.uk @summerhousegallery The Summerhouse Gallery

Spring at The Summerhouse Gallery is bursting with selection of locally handcrafted ceramics, jewellery and sculpture. hope and joy, showcasing the very best of Cornish art in a light and welcoming space.

Please see our website for further information.

The gallery is both child and dog friendly and is Our April show ‘Joy’ by Iona Sanders is a delight to set in the heart of Marazion. We look forward to see, filled with colour and simplicity of line. We are welcoming you! also showing work by Imogen Bone, John Piper, Kit Johns and many more, as well as a beautiful

Painting by Simon Jewell - Oil - ‘Brooding Mount’

A stunning gallery located at the heart of the timeless Trelowarren Estate, run by a co-operative of exciting and diverse professional artists all sharing an enthusiasm for living and working on the Lizard Peninsula. Exhibiting a varied selection of paintings in a variety of mediums and a large selection of Prints and Cards. Crafts available include ceramics, glass, serpentine sculpture, jewellery and mixed media.

A warm welcome awaits you at Lizard Art. STABLEYARD GALLERY, TRELOWARREN ESTATE, MAWGAN-IN-MENEAGE, HELSTON, CORNWALL TR12 6AF TEL: 01326 221778 | OPEN WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY, 11AM-3PM WWW.LIZARDART.CO.UK | FACEBOOK: THESTABLEYARDGALLERY | INSTAGRAM: LIZARDARTGALLERY t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 49 n

ART FOCUS

The Jackson Foundation, St Just Sustainability is a subject close to the heart of artist Kurt Jackson, and two exhibitions running concurrently at his gallery in St Just bear testament to this.

Fragile Earth by Sally Baldwin is a body of work evoking natural forms such as trees, pods, flowers, insects, sea life and water. The materials used - recycled and handmade paper, silk waste and gauzy cotton scrim - are ghostly, white and ephemeral, suggesting delicate, fragile, vulnerable and finely balanced landscapes.

The work had its origins during the first lockdown. “It felt as if the world as we knew it was collapsing,” Sally recalls.

“Not only was the environment under extraordinary threat, with climate change and habitat loss demonstrated clearly all around us, but our society was also crumbling because of a rampaging virus.”

Sally launched a project with funding from Arts Council England. “Initially my idea was for the pieces to form a white and ghostly landscape, a reminder of what we once had but have now lost,” she explains.

However, as the work progressed, she named the collection Fragile Earth: “I felt it was more optimistic, and reflected my belief that we can still reverse this decline if we work together globally and locally to switch to a circular, carbon-free economy, and to protect endangered habitats.”

In the titular hanging installation Fragile Earth, the long, disintegrating tree-like shapes are an indicator of our loss of trees through farming, land clearance and bush fires. The long, stitched paper piece implies moth-like creatures, moths being an indicator species reflecting the health of our eco-systems - as with butterflies, their numbers are in serious decline. In contrast, pod shapes in delicate silk fibres (see also Warming Oceans) represent jellyfish whose numbers are thriving at the expense of other forms of sea life. n 50 |

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The Monarch Migration wall pieces refer specifically to the Monarch butterfly, which migrates annually over 2,500 miles from the USA and Canada to hibernate in central Mexican forests. Their numbers have dropped by an astonishing 95% since the 1990s, due to a variety of environmental factors including climate change, increased pesticide use, illegal logging (especially for avocado plantations) and the loss of grassland containing milkweed, the only plant they can lay their eggs in.

Meanwhile, Kurt Jackson’s own Mermaids’ Tears explores the use of nurdles – tiny pieces of plastic which are melted down to create single-use items. These are spilt on land at industrial facilities, and can float off down drains and ultimately out to sea. It’s estimated that around 250,000 tonnes of nurdles are currently in the world’s oceans, where they are mistaken for food by sea creatures and thus find their way into the human food chain.

Weighing 20mg each, nurdles have been common on beaches since the 1970s. Kurt takes nurdles from local beach cleans and incorporates them into paint for large-scale collage works. “Artists are often described as people who ask questions. I hope that a body of work like this will make people think, look more closely and ultimately make demands,” says Kurt.

“We really do need to stop this mentality of making something to use it once, then chuck it away. There is no ‘away’. I want to open people’s eyes to what a beautiful planet we live on; if we abuse it, we abuse ourselves.”

Running alongside both of these exhibitions is Kurt Jackson’s Clay Country.

Having previously explored Cornwall’s

| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

extractive industries in collections based around South Crofty tin mine, Delabole slate quarry in north Cornwall and Carnsew granite quarry near Falmouth, Kurt now seeks inspiration in the peaks and troughs of the area close to St Austell, which have been mined for kaolin, aka China Clay, for two centuries. All three exhibitions run until August 13 (check the website for opening times).

The Jackson Foundation is housed within a former industrial building at the heart of the thriving former mining town of St Just-in-Penwith. Kurt and his wife Caroline aimed to provide a space for the public to reflect on our symbiotic relationship with the natural world. The carbon-positive gallery is powered by a 28kw array of high-efficiency solar panels, Tesla Powerwall battery storage and ground-source heat pumps, and hosts an annual programme of contemporary exhibitions in partnership with a variety of environmental and non-profit organisations. Paintings are delivered within Cornwall by zero-emission fully electric car or van. l The Jackson Foundation, North Row, St Just TR19 7LB. www.jacksonfoundationgallery.com

U @JacksonFGallery A @JacksonFGallery G JacksonFoundation Top: Two paintings from Mermaid's Tears by Kurt Jackson - left: This soft sea, this hard plastic. 2021 (detail); right: Woven tied by the tide. 2021 (detail) Middle: Warming Oceans by Sally Baldwin Bottom: Monarch Migrations, Fragile Earth and Reminded Of Chinese Lanterns. All by Sally Baldwin.

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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

THROUGH THE EYES OF...

Martin John Fowler

Where are you based?

I live in Doncaster but travel up and down the country, mainly to coastal areas. I’ve tried to relocate to Cornwall a couple of times but have been priced out. Precovid, I visited the South West every month, especially in winter. The place is just magical, with a different view on every corner. It just feels calm - fewer motorways, less noise. The people are friendly; on many occasions, I’ve turned up on a harbourside, started to paint and the fishermen have offered to show me the coast. I haven’t got the best sea legs, but I love it, and they are kind - they tell me their life stories, and they like my Yorkshire directness!

Tell us about one of your chosen locations to paint, and why it inspires you I love landscape as location. It might be a seascape, where the human element of trawlers and leisure boats in the harbour meets the power of the open sea; or an urban setting, with the hustle and bustle of a marketplace, the rhythmic vibrancy and array of colour, shapes and forms colliding in endless juxtaposed compositions. Inspiration, for me at least, comes from direct experience and interaction with the environment. Whether the setting is intimate or dynamic doesn't matter; the location will tell me how to react or respond through the materials and media I use.

What catches your attention the most here?

What matters is where the pulse is in the setting I am responding to. I can only get the most from somewhere if I fully immerse myself in the sensory potential a setting communicates to me. If the location does not provide me with this impetus, I guess it doesn't seem right. In turn, then, I'll only commit to a painting, drawing or mixed media work when I can fully commit myself to the location.

Describe the sounds, smells and feelings you experience in this location Sensory perception is such a personal thing, as I have already alluded to. It is about the feelings a location gives me and those feelings are determined by the sounds, smells, colours, temperature, and the unique elements that it emits. It is this that makes the experience exciting and interesting, and it is this that, ultimately, I want to communicate to the audience.

What colours do you like to use when working here?

Again, colour is very much determined by the location. My colour palette choices, then, depend on the expressive qualities a daub or splash of colour can give to what I am wanting to depict from the setting, what I am wanting to communicate as a response to what the place offers or how the weather determines the mood and atmosphere of a place on any given day.

What do you think about while working here, and what are your processes?

It is difficult to say what any given thought might be at any given time, but what I consistently tend to do is focus thinking on the matter at hand - enjoying the process of immersing myself in the setting and going with the flow, so to speak, so my imagination can work with the narrative a place is communicating to me at the time.

What challenges do your face when committing this location to canvas?

Challenges sometimes might simply be logistical – say, any changes in weather, how long I can be in a location for. These might determine the scale of a canvas, the pace for working through a composition, what media is best for work, etc.

What do you love most about this location?

The location provides a sense of solace. I really like how it simply enables me to have a very simple call and response dialogue with it and, as such, it provides me with a catalyst for sharing this through, what I hope my work communicates, these experiences I have felt and seen.

Where can we find your work?

I exhibit in many galleries in Cornwall, including the Custom House Gallery in Porthleven and Art World Falmouth. l www.martinjohnfowler.com

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MAKER FOCUS

Helen Eastham Capturing adventures and memories in glass Where is your studio?

At home in Newquay, in the garden.

There’s a lot of light, and on blustery days I can hear the gulls and the sea. It’s a lovely space to work in.

What inspired you to take up glass work?

I’m a lifelong learner and have always been a maker, I discovered glass as a medium 14 years ago by doing a day’s course with Amanda Copson. Glass just fitted and still does.

What appeals to you most about the medium?

I love the qualities of glass with its juxtaposition of liquid or solid, fragile or strong, clear or opalescent. It’s a mesmerising, exciting and surprising medium to work with. It’s a material that allows me to play, have an adventure, be surprised and escape from the everyday pressures of life for a small amount of time.

What makes your work different to that of other glass makers?

I make sculptural kiln formed vessels, which hold the narrative of my life’s experiences – all the encounters, journeys and adventures - and epitomise the connections we make in life. They allow me to bring the outdoors indoors. My work is about evoking a physical emotion, asking people to remember a special walk by the shoreline, on the coast path or eating fish and chips on the harbour n 54 |

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wall. What do they remember seeing and experiencing? The bright white froth of the breaking waves with the bubbles escaping to the surface? The bluey-green colour of the sea next to the bright blue sky, and the horizon in the distance? Or the shapes and forms of the flora on a winding coast path? I want people to make their own connections to my work, but to recognise why the connection to them is important.

How has Cornwall influenced your passion? Can specific aspects of the landscape be detected in your work?

I was born and brought up in St Austell. My father and brother were keen surfers, so we spent a lot of time on the north coast chasing the waves, winter and summer, immersed in the cycle of coastal living. All those experiences have shaped how I see and view the world, and I now make work which reminds me of those places and the people who I have had those adventures with. The shapes and forms of pebbles, sand-pools and rock-pools are present in the forms that I make. For example, my Actinia vessels are the interpretation of the small anemones we used to explore the rock-pools for at low tide; Shorelines are about beach walks with family and friends, and Buoys are about the fishermen and their adventures. Recent work has been about coastal walks in the winter months - once, after a particularly fierce storm, I found goose-barnacles.

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You're a member of Cornwall Crafts Association. What's it like to be part of a collective?

I was selected recently and feel privileged to be able to exhibit alongside so many other talented craftsmen and artists. It feels very supportive and encouraging. The gallery at Trelissick has spring, summer and autumn/winter exhibitions, so the work on display changes frequently and there is always something fresh and inspiring to be seen. Members also hold focus exhibitions, and I’ve been invited to do so in November, which I am really excited about.

You also teach - tell us more about this Yes, I teach at Create (Cornwall) CIC, a contemporary craft hub I set up in Camborne with fellow artists Jane Smith and Angela Hatherell. We’re providing community crafts facilities and courses, specialising in glass, ceramics and jewellery. It’s in the early stages of development, and is an extremely exciting initiative to be involved in.

What do you have planned for the future?

I’m going to be at the Craft Festival in Bovey Tracey with Design Nation in June; I’m in discussion with Elaine Dye at The Byre Gallery, at Mount Edgcumbe in south-east Cornwall, about future opportunities; and have an artist feature planned with The Poly in Falmouth, as well as with other associate applications for upcoming selected exhibitions at the Penwith Gallery in St Ives.

All in all, it’s a busy and exciting time. l

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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

GALLERY OF THE MONTH

ART HOUSE GALLERY Owner Joan Orr recounts the gallery’s history Tell us how the gallery started out The gallery launched in the 1990s – it was initially called The Picture House and run

by Roger Cadwallader. I consider Roger as a mentor; we developed a working relationship over the years. He helped me to establish our gallery on Cape Cod featuring many of his St Ives and Cornish artists, and in return, some of our Cape Cod artists showed with him. We sent art back and forth across the Atlantic in this way for over a decade. Roger had a unique eye for art that was "different". When he retired, we were offered the chance to come to St Ives, and took over as owners in 2008. We rebranded it as the Art House Gallery, and it has operated under that name ever since in St Ives’ Island Square in the wonderful neighbourhood of Down'long, the old fishing quarter.

Who’s the team today?

I have a degree in Art History from Harvard University, with a thesis focused on James McNeil Whistler and his en plein air painting of St Ives. I’ve been selling and collecting art for over two decades. Gallery manager Duncan Evans obtained a Fine Art degree from St Martins, London, and he also works at Tate St Ives.

What’s your focus?

Over the years, we have moved into all original art and developed a reputation as a collector gallery. We’re primarily a paintings gallery featuring oil, acrylic and watercolour. We look for dynamic and unusual work – we are especially attracted to art inspired by the landscape, town and

people of St Ives, and artists often exhibit this part of their work exclusively with us.

Name some names!

We still show many of Roger’s chosen artists: for example, Trace Goldsmith, whose tonal acrylic work of tranquil boats at rest has been selected for display at the London Royal Society of Marine Art four years in a row; and Allan Storer, whose association with St Ives stretches back to the 1960s - his recent work in oils captures the excitement and changeability of its ever-moving sea and sky. Keran Gilmore is from St Ives and knows every nook and cranny - she brings that intimacy into her watercolours, resulting in masterful impressions. Neil Hetherington, who produces tonal impressionist oils, lives half the year in St Ives and the other half in Australia, where he is a Fellow of the Royal Art Society. Joe Armstrong has a background in commercial art design, which enables him to blend seemingly incongruous colours into cohesive, exciting scenes; while David French often paints from “above”, offering a distinct vantage point into scenes depicting the unusual and almost Mediterranean colours found in the St Ives water (look out for small self-portraits of the artist paddling in his kayak or dinghy!).

How do you identify new artists?

We’re approached by artists every week. We’ve created a diverse group of painters, and a signature style is required to fit in. Our most recent additions are Sue Mecklenburgh, who uses multiple

layers of textured paint to create a three-dimensional depiction of St Ives’ street scenes – best seen up close to appreciate the clever detail; and Jo Bemis, who produces en plein air seascape oils: amazing waves, lively skies and a seascented essence of St Ives.

Describe the vibe Visiting The Art House on a grey day is like stepping into a colourful scene from the Wizard of Oz. It's a space that feels creative and hopeful, and the walls are filled with positivity. We aim to create that uplifting feeling of St Ives, captured in paint; excitement comes from the variety of styles and colours. Creating our window displays is a thrill, and there is a happy buzz from relationships with our artists and clients – it feels like a big Art House family.

How did you cope with the pandemic?

We were able to use the down time to reinvent the website, improve our Facebook page and develop an Instagram presence. But of course, our biggest concern was for our artists and we continued to promote them via the Internet and social media. Together we weathered that storm.

What’s in the immediate future?

This is an exciting time for the gallery, with new work arriving daily. Come and see us! l The Art House Gallery, 1 Island Road, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 1NT Tel 01736 794423 www.thearthouses.com

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ARTIST PROFILE

IONA SANDERS At the Summerhouse Gallery, Marazion The Summerhouse Gallery in Marazion is delighted to be hosting Joy, a feature show for artist Iona Sanders, this April.

Joy is something we are all craving during these difficult times; this body of work epitomises the joy that art can bring, and invites viewers to absorb themselves in it.

Iona’s painterly signature and boldness of colour and line, paired with a sensitivity of narrative, appeal to many. Mentored by the late Rose Hilton - whose painting style informed her current style of work Iona has broadened her subject matter to include landscape, still life and figurative form. Although naïve and playful, the work also holds a narrative and the artist leaves the viewer to complete the story.

Iona was born in the far west of Cornwall and has spent most of her life living here. As such, her native land has always been her greatest influence and continues to inspire her work today.

Her early days were spent in, on or by the water, combing remote beaches for treasure that would go on to become the subject matter for her drawings.

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media, which has defined her signature style: that of a free, fun approach to creating with a naïvety that makes her pieces a true breath of fresh air, perfect for an uplifting Easter show.

“My work is always inspired by colour, and emotion,” she says. “My family life constantly throws ideas my way, and my deep-rooted love of Cornwall provides an endless source of inspiration. I have a genuine emotional connection with every piece, and I hope this is portrayed in my work.”

Iona took “real pleasure” in preparing for this exhibition. “At this time of the year, often with a backdrop of a battleship-grey sky, the colours seem to come out to meet you. Everything looks eager and hopeful, and expectant of the sunny, warm days to come.”

Jayne Elliott, creative director and founder of The Summerhouse Gallery, recalls meeting Iona eight years ago.

“When she first came to see the gallery, her work was relatively unknown - but her uplifting paintings, singing with joy, made a perfect match with The Summerhouse,” she says.

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“All the team here love working with Iona. Her light and zest for life come through in each and every piece. We have loved showing her paintings over the years, and are delighted to see the high regard for Iona’s work, both in Cornwall and nationally.”

Included in the show are two figurative paintings, Conservatory Figure and Bedroom Figure, both painted from drawings she made of Rose Hilton’s model, Kirsten.

“Iona treasures these times and we feel privileged to be showcasing this special work in ‘Joy’,” says Jayne. “This is an exhibition where the hope of better times to come, and the quiet stillness of the everyday objects painted by Iona with honesty and tenderness, will bring joy to every person who comes to lose themselves for a moment or two.” l Joy by Iona Sanders runs from April 10 to 24 at The Summerhouse Gallery, Market Place, Marazion TR17 0AR. Open from 10am to 5pm daily (closed Mondays).

Tel 01736 711400, www.summerhousegallery.co.uk

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VIP A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE

A ROBIN BY A ROBIN: SCULPTOR ROBIN FOX at the Customs House Gallery, Porthleven The Customs House Gallery in Porthleven is delighted to welcome sculptor Robin Fox to its stable of talented artists.

Robin has been sculpting professionally since 2010, having attended Jacob Kramer College of Art in Leeds in the early 1980s and following a long career in furniture design/making and architectural services. He works from a home studio in the beautiful market town of Hexham, Northumberland.

Each piece, no matter how small, is hand-built rather than cast in order to produce a true original. Robin starts with an internal armature/skeleton, making each piece unique, with every subsequent layer enabling the execution of finer detail.

Robin sculpts in a wide variety of materials, including high-content bronze epoxy resin and ink-tinted metal/silverleaf in various finishes. Locally sourced and upcycled materials are used wherever possible, including hardwoods, heather and sandstone hand-quarried locally.

Much of Robin’s inspiration is attributed to a connection and respect with the rural environment. His subject matter reveals his love of nature, in particular birds and animals, and his work is well known for being quirky and humorous.

He places emphasis on movement, expression, postures and mannerisms, with dynamic surface finishes adding to his distinctive style.

The Customs House Gallery, Porthleven.

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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

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

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

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

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

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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022

MEET THE MAKER

ANDREA INSOLL Beachcombing creations made using ‘treasure’ found around Portscatho Where are you based?

I moved to Portscatho, on the Roseland Peninsula, over 30 years ago. Having previously lived in towns or cities, I was instantly captivated by the sea and especially the beautiful beaches, and have remained so ever since – I've lived more than half my life here now.

You’re something of a treasure hunter!

Yes, I started beachcombing as soon as I arrived here. One person’s trash is someone else’s treasure, and my own collection has grown bigger and bigger in the intervening years. I’m like a magpie, drawn to anything shiny or colourful, and especially interesting sun-bleached and water-worn flora and fauna.

Have you noticed an increase in rubbish washing up on beaches?

Yes – unfortunately, over the last couple of decades, the amount of plastic debris washed up on our shores has increased significantly. While the sense of excitement and anticipation at what I might find has never diminished, it is now tempered by a sense of horror at the untold damage this is doing to the marine environment. That’s one reason why I started to incorporate my treasures into my work around 10 years ago. I make collages called Objets Trouvés, and other pieces from the flotsam and jetsam I accumulate.

Which is your favourite beach for finding treasure?

One of my favourite walks is at low tide from Portscatho across to Tatum’s beach in the village, then over the rocks to below the meadows and across to Porthcurnick beach. Things tend to stay within the bay, washing in and out with the tide; things lost on the beach often turn up months later hardly any distance from when they were last seen. On this walk, I drop in on pieces of my artwork which are now permanent features: three “grids” at The Hidden Hut at Porthcurnick, thanks to Simon, and another at Treloan campsite thanks to Debs and Pete.

work. I find that the 3D work influences

When’s the best time for beachcombing?

There is always more ‘treasure’ to be found in the winter after the storms, especially easterly gales, and I am often to be seen walking home groaning under the weight of irresistible finds, like a large piece of net or a giant float.

How did you start out in your career?

Did you do much beachcombing during lockdown?

I resumed as soon as we were able to go for walks - I can lose myself completely and forget all my cares while beachcombing.

finally surface design. Upon moving back

You’re also a painter Yes, I work in acrylics. I have two dedicated studios, one primarily for my painting and the other for my beachcombing

my paintings, and vice versa. It's also great to be able to leave one medium and concentrate on another, therefore hopefully keeping me constantly artistically stimulated. I can’t imagine being restricted to just one medium or discipline - I have a butterfly mind!

Does the clientele differ between the two?

As a rule, the people who are drawn to my environmental pieces are themselves interested in the environment, and especially the impact we humans are having on our fragile ecosystems.

My parents were arty - Dad was a graphic designer, Mum a printmaker – and we kids were encouraged to be creative. I left school at 16 and spent five years at various art schools, studying a variety of media: graphics, photography, textiles and to Cornwall in 1984, I met my husband, Chris, and got involved in the New Gallery in Portscatho. I’m now one of a group of artists based there permanently, which allows me to show my work however “uncommercial” - I’m very lucky. l For further information, visit www.andreainsoll.co.uk

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ARTIST PROFILE

PEOPLE AND NATURE AS ONE

Artist Kathryn Campbell presents a collection of real imagination and character, writes Mercedes Smith Kathryn Campbell’s portraiture is unusual, even odd, in a way that fascinates; there is something of the poetic in each work, a narrative that speaks louder the more you look.

Kathryn is a recent graduate of the Newlyn School of Art’s Mentoring Programme, a landmark course for professional artists that has turned out a succession of talent in recent years, as well as some excellent art shows.

Having studied at Bath Academy of Arts, Corsham - under the tutelage of notable artists Malcolm Hughes, Howard Hodgkin and Gillian Ayres - Kathryn completed her studies at Goldsmiths College London before moving into teaching. A former head of faculty for art, music and drama, her subjects may well have had an influence on the allegorical, almost theatrical nature of her painting, while a teacher’s focus on the potential and individuality of people is also evident in the deeply human nature of her work.

Taking inspiration from figurative painters such as Paula Rego, Alice Neel, Faith Ringold and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Kathryn places human characterisation at the forefront of her work. “Through reiterating and reinventing forms, I feel I am developing a personal and visual dialogue,” she says, “and painting family, friends and my own portrait allows me the imaginative interpretation of known faces.”

Kathryn describes her life as “filled with the enjoyment of nature”, be it plants, insects, birds, water and trees. She often connects people with nature in her paintings and drawings, saying: “People and nature are as one. Sometimes, an aspect of nature will have a deep connection with certain individuals - for example, I associate horse chestnut trees with my parents because we often walked among them when I was a child.” n 64 |

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beyond typically Eurocentric subjects,” Kathryn explains.

The inclusion of ethnic patterns and forms adds to the decorative nature of her images, bringing line, pattern and abstract shape into her compositions. “A lot of my art training featured abstract and hardedged genres,” Kathryn tells me. “That influence crops up in some of my portraits as linear backgrounds, or natural forms that have become geometricised.”

She works mainly in oils and acrylics, but graphite, charcoal and pen drawing are integral to her practice, both as stand-alone works or as precursors to paintings, while coloured pencil, pastel and watercolour are used to investigate a subject and create embellished prints.

“Psychological testing at Corsham defined my greatest capability as ‘pure painting’ rather than graphic work. I’ve always Sometimes she uses nature to throw a subject into relief in her work: “In Urban Boy, I am remembering young students, those who wore their hats back to front.

I have tried to reveal a different side to them by including roses and leaf forms in their portraits.”

Many of her paintings also involve a degree of fantasy and imagination. The work Renoir Woman With Figures And Birds includes the overlapping of real and half-real subjects, while Union Of Land And Sea personifies the character of water and earth through the paraphernalia of things such as shells and weeds.

Animals of the zodiac, such as dragons, goats and monkeys may also appear alongside human subjects, and paintings often include cultural imagery such as mendhi body patterns, African sculpture and religious icons remembered from time spent in a multi-ethnic area of London. “As my children are bi-racial, I have been able to extend my work, culturally speaking,

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enjoyed the plasticity and versatility of painting; it offers me the opportunity and sensitivity to explore cultural mores.”

Style, process and technique are equally important. “The way in which a work is rendered is as important to me as the content,” she says. “While some images come straight to canvas or board, others are layered, with experimental formats hidden beneath the final layer. When this happens, I photograph the various stages of my painting to create a record of all those hidden aspects of the work.

“In galleries, it is the work of painters that interests me most. I examine their every shift in style and technique. I might enquire of a painting, what contribution does that tiny brush mark, in an obscure corner, add to this remarkable picture?” l See Kathryn Campbell at Morvah Schoolhouse Gallery from April 30 to May 13. Look out for ‘Meet the Artist’ events. www.morvah.com

CREATIVE & CULTURAL LIVING COWHOUSE GALLERY

INSPIRE MAKERS

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: Bluebell field, mixed media by Lorna Hirst Johnson Right: Turned Oak pot by David Wolstencroft Summer hours open daily 10-5. Lynfield Craft Centre, Perranuthnoe TR20 9NE T: 01736 710538 • www.cowhousegallery.co.uk

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

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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Photograph courtesy of Rodda's Cornish Clotted Cream

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FOOD BITES HARBOURSIDE HOSPITALITY GREAT CORNISH FOOD: MEET OLIVER BASHAM PLACES TO EAT: AFTERNOON TEA RUSTIC LUXURY: NEW YURTS AT THE PARK EXPERIENCE: MULLION COVE

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bites

Tenth Annual World Pasty Championship The tenth annual World Pasty Championships took place at the Eden Project on St Piran’s Day (March 5) and was a family affair. The prestigious Cornish Pasty Amateur category was claimed by Jon Lovejoy from Plymouth; his daughters Summer, 13, and Daisy, 10, capped a winning day for the family with a one-two finish in the Open Savoury Junior category. The Cornish Pasty Junior crown went to Carter Deakin, seven, from St Day – his father, Billy, has won the Cornish Pasty Amateur title three times in the past. Former Open Savoury Junior champion Jodie Heath from Bodmin took her first senior title, winning Open Savoury Amateur with a sweet and sour

chicken pasty; her dad, Andy, scored an impressive double victory in the Cornish Pasty Professional and Open Savoury Professional categories, the latter with his own sweet and sour chicken pasty. Cornish Premier Pasties took the Cornish Pasty Company category while the Phat Pasty Co. was victorious in the Open Savoury Company Category with a peppered steakless vegan pasty. The World’s Fastest Crimper was Chloe Rowse of Proper Cornish. The special Pasty Ambassador award went to Mike Burgess of The Pure Pasty Company in Vienna, Virginia, USA, while the special guest was Her Excellency Josefa González-Blanco, Mexico’s Ambassador to the UK. l

Trencherman's Cornwall Street Food Festival Awards 2022 Winners of the Trencherman's Awards 2022 were revealed at The Alverton in Truro on March 7 in the presence of the South West’s leading chefs, restaurateurs, hoteliers and other influential foodies. The Porthminster Beach Cafe in St Ives (pictured) was named Best Trencherman’s Restaurant; Best Bar List went to the Fistral Beach Hotel in Newquay, with The Greenbank Hotel and The Longstore taking runnerup places; and Best Front of House Team was taken by THE PIG – at Harlyn Bay, with The Alverton among the finalists. Now in its 29th edition, Trencherman’s Guide invites restaurants from Cornwall to the Cotswolds to be in the guide upon meeting strict and exacting criteria. l www.trenchermans-guide.com

The first Cornwall Street Food Festival will take place over the Platinum Jubilee weekend (June 2 to 5), hosting over 25 of the tastiest street food traders from across Britain and Cornwall - your taste buds won't be disappointed! Situated on Newquay’s beautifully scenic cliffs at

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Book now at streetfoodwarehouse.co.uk/cornwall

Earth, Surf and Turf The Summer House at Perranporth has launched ‘Earth, Surf and Turf’, an initiative designed to engage residents and visitors in keeping things local in the hope of providing year-round work for both employees and suppliers, thereby supporting Perranporth’s economy.

Behind the scheme are business partners Ben Quinn, the chef behind Canteen Cornwall, and Jamie-Lee Job, who runs The Summer House and Alcatraz.

Jamie-Lee described the vibe as “casual fine dining”, with a streamlined menu featuring steaks, burgers, fish, lobster and vegan options. She added: “We’ll be

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Barrowfields, this is the perfect place to enjoy delicious food and good vibes. From Afghanistan to Mexico, halloumi fries to gourmet burgers, crepes and waffles, the festival has everyone covered. All you need to do beforehand is grab a FREE ticket and arrive hungry and ready to taste some of street food’s finest culinary dishes from cuisines all across the globe. Don't forget to check out the social media page @cornwallstreetfoodfestival for updates and special competitions to win delicious treats for all the family. The event will be cashless, family- and dog-friendly; entry is free but ticketed, with attendees scanning a barcode at the entrance. l

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taking fish from local boats, and as such will serve what they catch – if they don’t catch it, it won’t be on the menu.” l For more information www.thesummerhouse.co.uk

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y t i l a t i Hosp You might not have heard of Harbourtown Hospitality, but you will certainly know some of its restaurants, centred around Charlestown but radiating out into wider Cornwall.

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Will & Matt

Mel, John, Ed & Tom

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ts flagship venue is The Longstore in Charlestown, but if you’ve ever dined at the The Sharksfin in Mevagissey, or 12 Beach Road in Newquay, you have

also enjoyed a Harbourtown Hospitality experience. There are nine outlets in total, employing 170 staff across the sites.

The company was born in 2013 when husband-and-wife duo John and Melissa Marquis went into business, and were soon joined by John’s brother-in-law, Tom Gaze. John began his working life in the pot wash at 16, before working his way up to becoming a head chef; American Mel is passionate about front of house, while Tom’s experience is bar focused. With the addition of finance director Ed Glyn in 2018, they form a hospitality force to be reckoned with.

First, they took over the ownership of the St Austell Brewery tenancy of The Sharksfin; three years later, The Longstore appeared, to great success, growing with offshoots including a café, a wine store and al fresco pop-ups, and expanded into Truro five years later.

While

each

restaurant

has

its

own

personality and charm, all are underpinned by menus delivering bold, tasty flavours using the best locally sourced, sustainable

and seasonal ingredients. “Our aim is to create places where people can come together, to enjoy time with family and friends while tucking into brilliant food and drink that offers something a bit special,” says Melissa. “We’re huge foodies ourselves, so we’re always scheming new ideas, innovating and planning how we can make things better – we want to bring a sense of fun and joy for our customers.”

They now dominate culinary Charlestown.

Having launched in 2016, The Longstore is now their flagship restaurant. A steak and seafood restaurant overlooking the UNESCO world heritage harbour and its resident tall ships, it offers the very best Cornish produce, locally sourced from land and sea. Repurposed from a tinroofed mast shed, the design reflects a rustic industrial finish, with wide Cornish oak floorboards and hand-cast ceramic oyster shell chandeliers designed by local artist Sarah Hunkin.

Underneath it, you’ll find Short & Strong, a café inspired by travels in Australia. It marries single origin coffee from Origin Coffee Roasters with accompanying dishes including smashed avo on toast with feta, baked eggs or the ultimate Cornish brunch served alongside a range of delicious cake slices and pastries baked on site.

The cellar door for The Longstore leads to The Winestore. The perfect space for a pre- or post-dinner drink, it stocks an eclectic selection of wines made from more unusual grape varieties, lovingly crafted by small, family-owned producers with big stories to tell.

And next door is the latest permanent addition to the stable. Springtide opened on March 23, and offers a tasty menu of straight-from-the-boat Cornish seafood with a Mediterranean twist. With its fun and friendly atmosphere, outside dining and harbour views, this is a perfect spot for lunch or dinner with the whole family.

Outside of the Charlestown hub, you’ll find a number of Harbourtown Hospitality satellites.

The second Longstore restaurant opened in Truro’s Lemon Street in May 2021, bringing its signature buzzy dining experience and ‘locally sourced, big on flavour’ philosophy to a charismatic Georgian townhouse in Cornwall’s capital.

This younger sibling also specialises in dry-aged steaks & flavoursome fish dishes, as well as an extensive cocktail offering from the bar; Saturday brunch and Sunday roasts are especially popular.

Then there’s 12 Beach Road, Newquay: CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

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HarbourQ

Inside Springtide

the perfect trilogy of tacos, melon margaritas and beach views! This relaxed dining destination overlooks Towan Beach, and serves artisan flat whites made with Cornish roastery Yallah coffee beans, an extensive cocktail menu and fresh, flavoursome food. Enjoy sea views from the outside deck or upstairs balcony.

And of course, The Sharksfin on Mevagissey harbour is still going strong.

Inspired by New England seafood shacks, this bright and airy former pilchard press now serves fish tacos, moules mariniere and specials of whole Cornish fish straight off the boats.

A restaurant is nothing without its kitchen team, which is led by two executive chefs.

Will Spurgeon started out as a commis chef at The Sharksfin when he was just 16, little knowing he would return 24 years later. Will worked with local fruit growers and fishermen as a young man, and this sparked his interest and respect for food, its sources and seasons. He loves Korean cooking, and is experimenting with noseto-tail cuisine and fermentation to extend the seasonal use of vegetables - check out his favourite dish on the Longstore menu, rosemary & garlic roast lamb with polenta, parmesan, bitter leaf salsa and crispy shallots. n 72 |

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Fellow Executive Chef Matthew Liddicoat was inspired to become a chef by being in the kitchen environment from a young boy, working with his father at a Cornish hotel. His passions include provenance, preserving and smoking meats; he is currently in the process of developing charcuterie to be made in house at The Longstore for all restaurants, as well as developing new and exciting ways to cook with cheese.

Both are keen to bring on the next generation of chefs. Will has worked with Cornwall College to do food demonstrations and Longstore takeovers at St Austell College, while Matt wants to retire knowing he can eat out with great chefs at the pass.

As it was for so many in hospitality, the pandemic was challenging for the group, on a personal and professional level. “The uncertainty and changing restrictions certainly kept us on our toes!” says Melissa. “We worked really hard to keep our customers safe, without losing the buzzy, up-beat atmosphere of our restaurants. Our team was absolutely amazing and got on board with all the new ways of working. We loved being able to support our customers through those tough months.

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“As a company we always try to keep a glass-half-full outlook, and we’re feeling hugely excited and optimistic about what comes next.”

This certainly promises to be a busy year.

Everything is sparkly and new; Short & Strong and 12 Beach Road were renovated over the winter, and the kitchen team has experimented with new menus and even more amazing cocktails.

In Charlestown, new arrival Springtide will be joined by two delectable summer-season eateries opening in early April in the historic harbour. HarbourQ returns for its fourth season in the inner harbour, offering meltin-your-mouth barbecue flavours including slow-cooked meat, fish and veggie daily specials and mixed meat platters, all freshly cooked in a purpose-built smoker and grill. Sunny days call for a frozen margarita or fruit daquiri. And new for 2022, Dough Buoys will bring a taste of the Italian Med to the outside deck in front of the Shipwreck Centre – expect artisan pizzas, salads and sharing bites, plus a full Italian wine list.

“One thing’s for sure – we’ve got lots going on!” laughs Melissa. l Find out more about the Harbourtown Hospitality stable of restaurants at www.thelongstore.co.uk

This June jubilee weekend, the first Cornwall Street Food Festival is taking place in Barrowfields Newquay! Hosting over 25 of the tastiest street food traders from across Britain and Cornwall, your taste buds won’t be disappointed! From award winning, flame thrown steaks, to juicy bao buns there is something for the whole family to enjoy.

Situated on the beautifully scenic cliffs of Newquay, Cornwall Street Food Festival is the perfect place for everyone to come and enjoy some delicious food and good vibes this June jubilee weekend!

Book your free tickets via our website:

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A NEW DIRECTION

Oliver Basham GENERAL MANAGER, GREAT CORNISH FOOD STORE, TREGURRA PARK, NEWQUAY RD, TRURO TR1 1RH. TEL 01872 306060 WWW.GREATCORNISHFOOD.CO.UK

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Have you always been interested in food?

Yes, it’s always been an important part of my life. I grew up in Hampshire, and my parents were foodies - I used to go foraging with my father. I love cooking with quality produce, and I started out in hospitality by running pubs for Whitbread, at a time when provenance was coming to the forefront of everyone’s mind. Being able to tell the stories of our suppliers and how a product has come to be on the table, or in store, is vital. People really like that, and it makes it a much more personable experience than buying something wrapped in cellophane.

What brought you to Cornwall?

I initially moved here in 2008 and ran restaurants: first Indaba (now Hooked) in Truro, and setting up Indaba On The Rocks at Swanpool in Falmouth. I’m also an outdoor pursuits instructor, and worked with the military at Penhale Camp. But after six years, my girlfriend (now wife) and I gave up work to travel the world.

...we want the store to be a destination for anyone who loves Cornish produce and wants to support the county Where did you go?

Everywhere from the Far East and the Antipodes to South America. In culinary terms, it was a feast. Highlights include Vietnam street and market food – fresh,

vibrant flavours and textures; cockles from New Zealand’s South Island, and incredible hogget barbecued with Central Otago pinot noir; and authentic ceviche in Peru accompanied by pisco sours!

What appealed TO YOU ABOUT the Great Cornish Food Store?

I love the ethos. It was a natural fit with my experience, and my passion for seafood and small independent businesses. I really admire what Ruth has done here, and had

What happened when you came back to the UK?

shopped here while visiting Cornwall.

First we went to Hampshire, where I opened Rick Stein’s first restaurant outside Cornwall, in Winchester, and stayed on as general manager. Then I moved to Thyme & Tide in Stockbridge, a restaurant with a high-end deli that stocked small, local products. I headed up the fish counter, and became a fully trained fishmonger in the process. All our fish came from Cornwall, from Starfish of Looe – who I use today.

What brought you back to Cornwall?

My wife comes from Devoran, between Truro and Falmouth. We now have two children, a four-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son, plus a dog and a cat!

Like many people, we found the pandemic made us reassess our lives and consider how we wanted to live out the rest of our days. We have such a strong attachment to Cornwall, and are drawn to the water.

When the job came up, I applied and have been full-time since December, which was a good opportunity to see the store at its finest and busiest!

Who are your customers?

We go to great lengths to say that what we’re offering here isn’t only for the highend market. It’s very competitively priced, and we want the store to be a destination for anyone who loves Cornish produce and wants to support the county.

What’s in store for the immediate future?

Our café has been closed since March 2020 (the start of the pandemic), and we can’t wait to relaunch it this year. It’s a great opportunity to showcase the things we sell, and it’s such a nice place for people to meet. l

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AFTERNOON

TEA April 21 is National Tea Day. Did you know that, collectively, Brits consume more than 60 billion cups of char a year?

That’s more than 165 million cups a day. What better accompaniment than an afternoon tea? According to the BBC, searches for cream teas are up 750%. Here are some of our favourites, and remember: it’s jam first! #nationalteaday

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Rectory Tearooms, Morwenstow

This farmhouse was first documented in 1296, when it was attached to the monks of the order of St John of Bridgewater. Legend has it that a secret underground passage connects the house to the cliffs and may have been used by smugglers! The family-run business was first established in 1952, with Jill Savage at the helm for the past 30 years, using locally sourced ingredients to produce delicious home-cooked food, often to family recipes. As well as Cornish grown tea from Tregothnan, The Rectory stocks special blends from Tugboat Tea of Truro. Recommended by Coeliac UK. www.rectory-tearooms.co.uk

St Moritz Hotel

Afternoon tea at St Moritz, near Rock, comes with a choice of tea or coffee and a glass of prosecco each (£30pp) - make it extra special by adding a glass of Veuve Clicquot Champagne (£35pp).

The limited-edition Queen's Platinum Jubilee Afternoon Tea features a selection of the Queen’s favourite sweet treats: savarin, Battenberg, fondant fancies topped with edible silver leaf and choux buns. Add finger sandwiches and warm scones topped with strawberry jam and Cornish clotted cream, and you will leave feeling royally full. Served from 12.30pm to 4pm. www.stmoritzhotel.co.uk

Trevallicks, Pensilva

This charming café, close to Caradon Hill on the southern fringes of Bodmin Moor, celebrates its 10th anniversary in June. It is run by five sisters - Hanna, Amy, Emily, Olivia and Niamh – who have sourced and tasted everything for sale here. Choose from three types of afternoon tea, all including a selection of delicious finger sandwiches, home-baked scones and cakes presented on a three-tier Cornish slate stand. Standard afternoon tea comes with a pot of Cornish-grown Tregothnan tea; add champagne for that extra-special occasion, or splash out on the gin taster afternoon tea, served with four Cornish gins. Gluten-free options available on request. trevallicks.com

Fowey Hall

Fowey Hall has announced a very special partnership with The Roald Dahl Story Company from April 26. The Matilda Afternoon Tea includes adult and children’s menus lovingly crafted to celebrate the story’s iconic food moments, with treats including the Crunchem Hall sandwich selection, Lavender’s macarons, Newt Juice and, of course, Bruce Bogtrotter’s chocolate cake. Adult menu £35, children’s menu £15. www.foweyhallhotel.co.uk

The Alverton, Truro

Take afternoon tea in style at The Alverton. With views across the manicured gardens, graze on delightful finger sandwiches, home-baked scones with lashings of Cornish clotted cream and jam, and cute little cakes. The menu changes with the seasons: in the summer, enjoy high tea on the sun-drenched terrace with refreshingly fruity flavours, or cosy up by the roaring fire in winter for a festive twist on this wonderfully British pastime. Monday to Saturday from 12pm until 5pm, Sundays 3pm to 5pm. www.thealverton.co.uk t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 77 n

Miss V’s, St Just-in-Roseland Church

Tucked away in the sub-tropical creekside gardens of the most beautiful church in Cornwall – nay, the world – Miss V’s is a vintage tea experience harking back to the days of chintzy china and proper tablecloths. Alternatively, visit the new bakery in Bodmin’s Honey Street. Both serve a Cornish cream tea with a big scone, a serving of Boddington’s jam and a pot of Cornish Tea. (Or go for a full Cornish breakfast, or thunder and lightning on toast!). www.missvs.co.uk

Café Mylor

Enjoy sweet treats with sterling views of yachts moored at the floating pontoons of Mylor Yacht harbour, against the waters of Carrick Roads. Order a pot of St Piran’s Tea, a flavoursome brew grown in the highlands of Kenya before being carefully blended to complement Cornwall’s soft drinking water. If you need to walk it off afterwards, the pretty village of Flushing is a short scenic walk around Trefusis point, from where you can take the pedestrian ferry to Falmouth. www.cafemylor.com

Greenbank Hotel, Falmouth

Afternoon tea at The Greenbank is an occasion to be savoured.

Elegant finger sandwiches, miniature desserts and cakes, Cornish scones with jam and clotted cream with a pot of loose-leaf Cornish tea – all overlooking Falmouth harbour. Add a G&T per person for a gin-tastic twist – or go the whole hog and order the Bottomless afternoon tea for two, sipping prosecco by the bobbing boats while tucking into three tiers of tasty treats. Divine! www.greenbank-hotel.co.uk

Hellys, Helston and Penzance

This family-run business launched its original tearoom in Helston’s Meneage Street in 2015, and branched out with a deli in Penzance in 2017. Both serve a Cornish cream tea - home-made fruit or plain scone with clotted cream, strawberry jam and a pot of English Breakfast tea – which can be upgraded for a small charge to a different tea (or coffee) of your choice. Among those on offer are teas and herbal infusions (including Nettle & Rose) by Newquay blenders Westcountry Tea. www.hellys.co.uk

Rosemergy Tea Rooms, Zennor

What could be more appealing than a traditional farmhouse Cornish cream tea in Cornwall’s wildest, furthest-flung corner? In Zennor, the traffic jams moo. With stunning sea views over the Atlantic Ocean in one direction and the Penwith moors in the other, Rosemergy ‘s family-run tea garden is a hidden gem offering Aga-baked cakes and scones. It’s a popular resting point for dog walkers, hikers, climbers and cyclists; call ahead to check opening times. www.rosemergy.com

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springtidectown

Springtide, Charlestown is a new fish and seafood restaurant, located in Charlestown overlooking the beautiful UNESCO world heritage harbour (and just next door to The Longstore, Charlestown). Offering a tasty menu of straight-from-the-boat Cornish seafood, with a Mediterranean twist. Expect a friendly and fun atmosphere, with outside dining and views over the harbour - a perfect lunch or dinner spot for the whole family.

Opening from March 23rd, 2022

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RUSTIC LUXURY The Park at Mawgan Porth now offers glamping with four Mongolian-style yurts

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lamping has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, and now there’s an opportunity to indulge at The Park in Mawgan Porth. The holiday village recently had a makeover in the Yurt Village: traditional round tents styled on the portable structures used by Mongolian nomads.

Described as “rustic luxury”, each yurt is named after a Cornish location - Tehidy, Boscawen, Brea and Penryn – and features a door with a bespoke design (herringbone, Moroccan, parquet) created by on-site carpenter Jonny.

Two yurts sleep two people, while the other two sleep four.

Each contains comfortable beds, and is kept warm and cosy by a woodburner (free wood supplied) and underfloor heating; however, as each yurt is cladded, insulated and double-glazed, many visitors have felt no need to heat them further. Bedding and bath towels are supplied but please bring towels for swimming; cots are available on request.

The yurts are supplemented with communal facilities including a “sitting room” yurt with comfy seating and a large flatscreen TV/DVD (individual yurts have smaller versions); two funky shepherd’s huts with WC and shower (as well as an outdoor shower fashioned from a sailing boat, for rinsing off after a day at the beach); a communal country style cookhouse with full kitchen/ dining facilities, including storage cupboards and fridges for each yurt, plus a shared microwave, freezer and dishwasher; and a laundry room with washer and dryer. Not forgetting the highlight: a gorgeous hot tub, fire pit and clay oven for evening

outdoor feasts or sundowners with a stunning backdrop.

The yurts can be hired individually or as a group – the communal yurt is licensed for civil weddings for up to 25 guests. Yoga and surfing retreats have also chosen the yurt camp for group bookings.

Just a short stroll from Mawgan Porth beach, The Park has plenty of amenities on site, including two swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), a sauna and steam room and a children’s soft play area. The Kitchen By The Beach restaurant has fantastic food and a great atmosphere - whether you’re after breakfast, coffee and cake, or something more substantial from the main menu, you’re sure to be served fresh, seasonal grub.

The Tunnel of Light leads down towards one of the children’s play areas, and livestock including hens (described by Dianne Viljoen as “our happy girls”) and friendly goats. A woodland walk is under development, and a reading corner is planned for the wildflower area and has won a David Bellamy Award for its eco-friendly features including a small pond and hotels for bugs and hedgehogs. Look out, too, for beehives – and for the resulting honey, which is on sale for all visitors.

While the yurts are not dogfriendly, The Park boasts a number of properties with enclosed gardens where fourlegged friends are more than welcome, and there’s a spot in the restaurant where they can make themselves comfortable.

The stunning beach is dogfriendly all year round. l Book now; call 01637 860322 or visit www.theparkcornwall.com

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MULLION COVE Treat yourself to a spa experience or an afternoon tea. Choose from the options below, and book by calling 01326 240328 or visit www.mullion-cove.co.uk Probably the best Afternoon Tea in Cornwall Handpicked quality teas; freshly baked cakes and scones; Cornish clotted cream and staggering coastal views. Does cream tea in Cornwall get any better? Available all day and served in our lounges, bar or gardens in fine weather, this is the ultimate holiday treat. Choose from: Traditional Cream Tea, £12pp: Plain and fruit scones, Cornish clotted cream and strawberry jam.

Mullion Cove Afternoon Tea, £22.50pp: Selection of freshly cut finger sandwiches, homemade fruit and plain scones, a selection of homemade cakes, Cornish clotted cream and strawberry jam.

Escape to the edge of the world Catch your breath, recharge and reset with the perfect spa experience, set against majestic clifftop views of Mullion Cove

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and beyond. Choose one of our specially selected treatments, made with the purest organic ingredients in Cornwall.

massage or facial treatment and a two-

Catch Your Breath half-day spa experience (4 hours), £85pp: Restore luminosity to skin with Soothe & Nurture Organic Facial, or drift into a meditative state with a Catch Your Breath Back and Scalp Massage. Post-treatment, curl up by the fire with a mug of hot herbal tea in the secluded rejuvenation room. Finish with a delicious traditional Cornish Cream Tea in the Glenbervie Bistro or Sea View lounge.

Pause, reflect and revive with a specially

Sea Spray Spa Morning/Afternoon (4 hours), £99pp: Invigorate the senses with this specially designed spa session. Take a plunge in the outdoor Atlantic view swimming pool; immerse yourself in the cliff top hot tub, and revive body and mind with organic seaweed treatments, handharvested sustainably from the Atlantic Ocean. Includes a 45-minute VOYA

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course spa lunch in the Glenbervie Bistro.

Ocean Breeze Spa Day (6 hours), £189pp: selected treatment using 100% organic seaweed products. Includes full-day spa access, the signature Mullion Ocean Essence spa treatment, relaxation time in the secluded rejuvenation room and a twocourse spa lunch in the Glenbervie Bistro.

Mullion Cove Romantic Escape Spa Day (6 hours), £225 per couple: The perfect escape

with

your

special

someone.

Rekindle your magic, spark a new flame or fall in love again with our panoramic Atlantic Ocean views. Includes full-day spa access; a 30-minute massage or facial in the exclusive Couple’s Suite; fizz, nibbles and herbal tea in the secret rejuvenation room; and a two-course spa lunch in the two AA Rosette Atlantic View restaurant. l

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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022