Probus News Magazine April 2021
Issue No. 255
The Free Magazine For The Community
April 2021 | 1
• Car & motorcycle MOTs • Servicing & repairs • • Vehicle diagnostics • Air conditioning service • • Tyres & braking • Vehicle sales • Performance remapping by Pendle Performance
Tel: 01872 520654 Email: service@collinsofprobus.co.uk Units 1-3, Tresillian Business Park, Probus, Truro TR2 4HF Visit us online at www.collinsofprobus.co.uk for more information
What’s inside
How to contact us...
or Edit ews us N b o r e P azin Mag Diamond Wedding
Letters
Page 8
Page 10
By e-mail: editorprobusnews@gmail.com
Bowling Club history Page 20
By hand: Articles for Probus News can be left at Trudgian Farm Shop in Probus Square, or Treviglas Cottage, Treviglas Lane, TR2 4LH.
Management Team EDITOR: John Denyer M: 07824 555519 H: 01726 884531 editorprobusnews@gmail.com
Church roof repairs
Community Larder
A walk around Trewithen
Page 23
Page 26
Page 41
Front Cover: The ‘diamond tree’ (Ladock Road) by Jon Hibberd.
Jubilee lamp illustration by Paul Lakeman @paullakemanwallart
Submissions deadlines
for articles, adverts, alterations and other items for the magazine is the 10th of every month.
Publication dates May
Friday 30th April
June
Friday 28th May
July
Friday 2nd July
August
Friday 30th July
September
Friday 27th August
October
Friday 1st October
November
Friday 29th October
Also available online:
SECRETARY: Peter Clarke 01726 884177 peteclarke1950@gmail.com TREASURER: Terry Hodge 01726 884495 tjhodge321@gmail.com ADVERTISING: Kaye Ludlow 07968 722430 advertisingprobusnews@gmail.com SUB EDITOR: David Meggs 01726 883443 minesaredwine@hotmail.com
www.issuu.com/ probusnews/
Probus News is a non-profit making independent voluntary organisation. Your donations are always welcome.
Public notice
CHAIRMAN: Sheila Bing 01726 883400 sheila.bing@outlook.com
The inclusion of any article or advertisement in this magazine does not constitute any form of accreditation by the editor or management committee. They are unable to vouch for the professional qualifications, etc, of any advertiser. It is the advertiser’s responsibility to ensure conformity with the Trades Descriptions Act 1975, Business Advertisements Disclosure Order 1977 and the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Readers must satisfy themselves that an advertiser meets all their necessary requirements. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of their authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Editor or management committee.
DEPUTY TREASURER: Eddie Bokas 07758 246673 ecbokas13@gmail.com DELIVERY MANAGER: Tim Joyce 01726 884574 timstravels01@hotmail.com Ian Tumilty 01726 883202 itumilty@btinternet.com SOCIAL MEDIA: Vanessa McGill @probusnews PROOFREADERS: Marilyn Joyce Tania Williams and Teresa Hayhoe Printed by: Printout Ltd, Threemilestone. 01872 242534
Community news and notices 2021 virtual talks via Zoom
and photographer of Paloresow Kernewek: The Cornish Choughs on the North Cornwall Coast Date: Monday 5th April 2021 at 7:30 pm Topic: Dragonflies and Damselflies in Cornwall Speaker: David Cooper, County Dragonfly Recorder, East Cornwall Date: Monday 3rd May 2021 at 7:30 pm
All events welcome.
are
free.
Everyone
is
Topic: A decade of Chough watching Speaker: Rowena Castillo-Nicholls, Nature and Wildlife Enthusiast, author
Topic: Butterflies in Cornwall Speaker: Rowena Castillo-Nicholls, Nature and Wildlife enthusiast, author and photographer of Paloresow Kernewek: The Cornish Choughs on the North Cornwall Coast Date: Monday 7th June 2021 at 7:30 pm Please email Rowena Castillo-Nicholls on ilovecornwall8@yahoo.com to get the Zoom link.
Do you have a problem? Why not contact one of your local Parish Councillors for advice or visit www.probusparishcouncil.gov.uk Kevin Blayney Nik Budden Steve Dalton Liza Deards James Faull Nick Gillard Ross Goldworthy Malcolm Maskill Larry Saunders-Fern Bill Sutherland (chair)
Rosparc Gwell an Nans Ridgeway Holly Farm, Truck Hill Tresowgar Cottage Fore Street Gwell an Nans Lamellyn Vean Rosparc Bosnoweth
01726 882877 07922 155600 01726 884080 07888 684425 07494 756249 01726 883926 07967 125526 01726 884368 01726 882669 01726 884007
There is currently one vacancy for a parish councillor, please contact the clerk or any of the above for details
Remember, if you are not able to contact a particular councillor, then you may contact the Parish Council Clerk Amanda Kendall on 01726 883614 (email probuspc@gmail.com). Cornwall Councillor Bob Egerton on 01726 884451 or 07785 748844 can also be contacted for advice. 4 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 255
Advertisers Index Accountants/Finance Robert Larter
Fuel Supplies 18
Building Contractors MB Building & Windows
6
Painting & Decorating
John Hurle & Sons
35
Logs ‘n’ Coal
18
PC & Network Support Pet Store
33
W J Beswetherick
45
N & S Builders
30
The Cornish Funeral Company
14
L J Tregunna
44
Trudgian Farm Shop
45
Caterers Kernow Cups n’ Cakes
Health & Wellbeing Beauty, Nails and/or Massage Therapist
10
Cleaning Services
14
PC Doctor Dickson
Funeral Directors
Craig Edwards
Butcher and Farm Shop
L A Nolan & Son
35
Fal Valley Pets
7
Plumbing and/or Heating Paul Ashby Johnson
14
Andrew McMonagle
33
Nicky Waters
29
Chris Rogers
34
Nails by Emily
6
Roller Bathrooms
36
Honey Bee Cleaning
36
Hairdressing
K T Mace Housekeeping
42
Hair 4 U
15
Shaun Beresford
29
Sparkling Gem
35
Janey Paul
30
Ren’s Carpentry & Property Maintenance
15
Alastaire Hambly
34
Ben Heather
18
Country Stores D May & Son M A Grigg
Optician 32 19 38
34
J K Electrical
30
Recall Electrical/Home Security
45
Roseland Electrical
15
Estate Agent/Surveyor Philip Martin
18
28
7
3
33
Paul Gagan
33
Collins of Probus
34
Stone Mason & Plant Hire Ed Faull
Mobile Valeting Paul Mulkeen
Sand, Aggregate, Concrete Suppliers Kernow Mixers
Locksmith
S J Grigg 36
7
Peter Woolcock
Podiatry
35 2 48
Music Lessons Emma Packer
Probus Parish Counci
KM Paving
Motor Servicing, Sales, Repairs
Fishmonger Roseland Seafood
47
Physiotherapy
Roseland Podiatry
Electrical Contractors Brightsparks
Peter Donnelly Karina Lutey MCSP
Country Gardens Trewithen Gardens
Property Maintenance
32
Taxi/Private Hire Carlton Cars
15
Travel Agency Graham Bishop
37
TV Aerial & Satellite Services 36
Shane Perry
29
Hawkins Arms
22 April 2021 | 5
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6 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 255
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Congratulations
C
ONGRATULATIONS to David (Mick) and Margaret Allen who are celebrating their 60th ‘Diamond’ wedding anniversary on Thursday 1st April 2021. They were married at Probus Church on Easter Saturday, 1st April 1961 and have lived in Parkengear Vean for the last 55 years. Mick was originally from St. Michael Penkevil where his father (and grandfather before) worked on the Tregothnan Estate, while Margaret was from Probus. They had two children, Stephen born in 1962 and Melanie (now sadly deceased) five years later. Mick worked for Cornwall County Council but will be remembered by many in the village as working part-time at Vigus’s Garage in Fore Street (now Probus School Filling Station) for 40 years. Mick and Margaret have seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. What an achievement. We wish you both a lovely celebration on your 60th anniversary.
8 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 255
April 1961 was a monumental month not just for Mick and Margaret Allen. Cliff Richard was number three with Theme for a Dream, Matt Munro was number six with My Kind of Girl. Harold McMillan was Prime Minister, while John F. Kennedy started his third month as US President. The E-Type Jaguar was launched, Spurs won the league (and on 6th May the FA cup too), and on 12th April, Russian cosmonaut Major Yuri Gagarin made history by becoming the first human to journey into outer space. His single orbit of the earth on the Vostok-1 was a major milestone in the space race. Back on earth, for those few families that had a TV, Sunday night entertainment highlights were Danger Man starring Patrick McGoohan followed by Sunday Night at the London Palladium starring Stanley Holloway, The Mudlarks, all supported by the fabulous Tiller Girls.
Probus Surgery update
P
ROBUS Surgery is still working hard in the background booking patients in for their COVID vaccination and the uptake has been amazing. We thought you might like to know what percentage of patients registered with Probus Surgery have been vaccinated so far. • Patients aged over 80 - 97.9% vaccinated • Patients at High Risk (all age groups)90.3% vaccinated • Patients aged 75-79 97.6% vaccinated • Patients aged 70-74 96.9% vaccinated • Patients aged 65-69 92% vaccinated
• Patients 16-64 in the At Risk group 86.5% vaccinated • Patients aged 60-64 85.4% vaccinated • Patients aged 55-59 50.7% vaccinated • Patients aged 50-54 19.6% vaccinated If you have declined the COVID vaccination and you have changed your mind, please do contact us by email on enquiries.probussurgery@nhs.net to let us know. Any patients who will be due their second vaccination in April will be hearing from us soon either by text message or phone call to book you in. Thank you again for all your support and stay safe. Verity Allen Deputy Practice Manager 17th March 2021
Image: Thanks to Jon Hibberd for yet another fabulous image. The railway bridge over the Ladock Road. April 2021 | 9
Letters to the Editor
a gentleman with a liver transplant. Hopefully his tissues will help many others soon.
Dear residents of Probus and Customers of Trudgian Farm Shop,
We wanted to thank John, Margaret, Will and Sarah for employing our son in their shop as this meant he was able to continue with what he called 'proper farm butchery' and have personal contact with his customers. He thoroughly enjoyed the banter and social connection with you all.
Clive Gratton Sadly, on the 27th January 2021, due to bleeding on the brain, which he could have had mildly for a while, our son Clive passed away. The 15th February was a very emotional day for us. Travelling to the crematorium, we were overwhelmed by the love of Probus residents. Unfortunately so few of you could come to the crematorium due to COVID-19 restrictions, so you lined the streets on a cold winter day in such large numbers to say goodbye as the hearse passed. It was amazing how many of you there were, and it felt incredibly heart-warming and showed us how much the community had taken Clive into their hearts and appreciated him. We will cherish these memories and would have loved to thank you all personally on the day. Our daughter from Australia posted a short message from us on Facebook, but we wanted to give our thanks to the residents of Probus in writing. We should have known that you are all lovely people. NHS Consultant Will English and his team at Royal Cornwall Hospital went above and beyond their duty, with the care and attention they gave Clive in his final hours. Even the taxi drivers at C & C Taxis were so good to us travelling to and back from Clive's house to the hospital for two days. Cornish people are caring people. We don't know if you are aware that Clive was an organ donor and, at the time of his passing, he was able to save two ladies with kidney transplants and 10 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 255
There are many more things we would love to include and say but thank you all for being there for Clive. Ray and Jane Gratton Clive’s Dad and Mum Dear Editor, Point of interest regarding the walk around the Parish. At Trelowthas Farm the large silo was not used for corn. It was a silage store, blown into the silo by a fan, and taken out with an auger at the top suspended on a steel wire. This is just a point of interest, not a criticism of the writer of the walk. Jack Ellis Editor: Thanks Jack - good to know and happy to stand corrected. Below: Trudgian Farm Shop on 5th March 2021 Saint Piran’s day.
Dear Editor, An accident could easily happen in Parkengear Lane, when people let their dogs loose off lead or when children run out freely from the footpath on the new estate. Many vehicles use that lane and shoot past [the estate entrance] at speed. My hubby took the time and trouble to make a small warning sign for people. However, someone has vandalised his warning sign, weeks after it was placed there on the footpath. So please before a child or dog gets injured be aware that all manner of vehicles use that lane as a short cut to and from the bypass. Look both ways when walking out into lane, and don't have your dogs running ahead off lead. It's especially dangerous for children on bikes or scooters as they just zoom rather fast into the lane. Whoever vandalised the helpful warning sign should be ashamed of themselves! Name and address supplied Late entry: Dear Editor, Tresowgar Farm has been our family home since March 1971, the farm in the 1800s and probably earlier was known as Sowgar. Officially the farm name is Tresowgar with the R the same as the barn next to it. Individual letters spelt the name on the farm gate but the R had fallen off. The slate sign on the house was made to match the sign that was on the gate. Our late neighbour Mrs Strongman asked if she could name her property Tresowga Cottage, she spelt it without the R to match the sign spelling. So officially the farm and barn is TRESOWGAR. Sharon Duff, Tresowgar Farm, Probus
Editorial
H
ELLO again everyone.
March passed in a flash, and spring has definitely sprung. Each new day is a few minutes longer than the one before, it’s getting a little warmer (famous last words!), and daffodils and other flowers are blooming. Surely this time of year must warm the soul of even the hardest cynic. All going well, it won’t be long before the lockdown starts easing a little, and we can start getting back to work, or perhaps more normal work patterns, start socialising again and continue with whatever plans, small or grand, that we were forced to put on hold last spring. Yes, caution remains the keyword and perhaps that’s never going to change after this pandemic, but certainly, there is room for hope and optimism. That’s just my view, but what do I know? What’s your opinion? Let me know. Thanks to all those who have contributed to this month’s magazine. We need your support, and I hope it’s not too long before the regular club and society meetings can restart. I certainly miss those monthly updates in my inbox and I’m sure our readers miss hearing about the minutiae of village life. These community activities are very important, it’s what makes this lovely village tick. I hope you find something of interest in this edition. If you have a story to tell, an update from your part of the village, or are planning events later in the spring, summer or autumn, please get in contact. Happy April Probus. John April 2021 | 11
A message from Rev. Wakeham’s grave Joachim. Easter is a time of new beginnings. The natural world is waking up, flowers are blooming and the birds nesting. This year is much more hopeful than last, with the roll-out of the vaccine and a roadmap out of lockdown and into a brighter future for us all. We can look forward with eager hope to restarting those things we used to take so readily for granted, like popping in to see a neighbour, or going out for a meal. In the church Easter is the time we remember the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We believe that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world and that in believing in him we are cleansed of our sin and made complete. In time, I wonder, if we might begin to look back on the lockdown period of death and resurrection as the old passed away and the new world is formed. I hope and pray that together we will be able to look forward to re-building our community again as we re-start our life together thankful that we have made it through a time of suffering together, and mindful of the toll it has taken on us all.
In last month’s edition, as part of the walk around Probus, the route went past Wakeham’s Grave, this being the old cross roads between Tregony Road and the ‘old road’ that runs just behind the bypass. I made the comment ‘Who was Wakeham?’ I’ve had several responses about the origin of Wakeham’s Grave so thanks to all those that have contacted me. One was from a long time resident of the village who stated that Wakeham was the last person to be hanged there. Another pointed me to The Book of Probus where the authors, Alan Kent and Danny Merrifield, wrote ‘Folk memory suggests Wakeham may have been a highwayman. However, we do know that in the 1700s, 1800s and early 1900s, suicides were often buried at crossroads. We can find no entries in early newspapers, although perhaps we should not expect any, as the family would have been ashamed of the death.’ Watch this space - if we find out more about this spot you’ll read about it here. Below is an extract from the 1907 map showing Tregony Road running to the crossroads at Wakeham’s Grave overlayed with the approximate route of the bypass opened in the mid-1990s.
Bypass route
With every blessing, Rev’d Joachim Foot Team Rector of Probus, Ladock, Grampound with Creed and St Erme 12 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 255
Tregony Road
Tresowgar?
Seeking information
I
W
SUSPECTED we may get a few comments about the street sign (below) that spell’s Tresowgar Lane with an ‘r’.
E’VE now had responses about three of those listed below and these are being followed up by village historians. Thanks to those who provided information. That still leaves eight who we have very little information on. If you have information on any of the following servicemen who were killed during the Second World War, please get in touch. James Francis Andrew, Flight Sergeant Pilot, 184 Squadron R.A.F Volunteer Reserve. KIA 6th January 1944. Boulogne. Frederick James Champion RAOC (Royal Army Ordnance Corps). Died 10th January 1946. Probus.
Nigel Roberts emailed into say ‘the sign has annoyed me for some time. The lane and the hamlet are marked without the ‘R’ on the OS Map and we should ask that the appropriate correction is made’. Jack Ellis also emailed to say, ‘I have a 1900 OS map on which it is named SOWGA. On present day maps it is Tresowga. I have never known it ending with an R in my lifetime in the parish’. Thanks to Nigel and Jack for the responses. I also thought it was a typo, and when I checked the OS Map online was surprised to find Tresowga Farm, Tresowga Gweal and Tresowgar Lane. The spellings are the same on Google Maps too, although it may well be that both online maps use the same source data. Perhaps then, could the street sign be spelt correctly? Late update: See the letters page for a letter on this subject that arrived just as we were going to print.
Ralph John Henry Clayton DFC, Flt/ Lieut 7 Sqn RAF. KIA 15th February 1944. Berlin. Phillip Henry Clarence Doney, 1st Bn King’s Own Royal Regt. Died 11th June 1942. Delhi. Jack Luscombe LAC 1st Cl RAF. Died 31st August 1941. David Claude Philp, Leading Stoker HMS Exeter. Died 23rd July 1942, Ambon Indonesia. Cecil William Philp, Merchant Navy on HMRT Caroline Moller, KIA 7th October 1942. Sydney Charles Pollard 7th (Airborne) Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers. KIA 24th September 1944. Arnham. Joseph William Toms, A.B., HMS Galatea, KIA 15th December 1941 off Alexandria. Sidney Walters, Wireless Op 107 Sqn RAF. KIA 30th September 1940. Samuel George Watts 1st Bn East Surrey Regt (DCLI on enlistment) KIA 23rd May 1944 at Monte Cassino. April 2021 | 13
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Elizabeth Lewis
M
ISS Elizabeth Lewis was born in Yorkshire, where she lived with her parents and two brothers until her father who was a prison PT officer relocated to Surrey. Liz or Bet as others knew her, left school just before her 14th birthday with shorthand, typing and bookkeeping skills and started at a tobacconists, where she worked for three years. She then moved to BP where she continued her long and very successful career, until she retired early at age 45. Bet had read the retirement rules in detail and soon after she retired another 12 top women followed in her footsteps and retired early. BP quickly updated their retirement policy!
hole), they would attend the company dances and go on holiday together. They walked the Pennine Way together with Rita’s husband Norman, using maps and a compass as there was no welltrodden trail then. In 1952 Bet went out to Israel to work for two years, a huge achievement for a single woman to travel alone! On one occasion Bet took offence to her boss, Dr Howes’ comments, and in a fit of pique she swept the contents of her desk onto the floor, including her typewriter! The manager said to Dr Howes, “I think you have upset Miss Lewis!” Bet received a brand-new typewriter and the incident was forgotten. When Bet retired early in 1969, she walked out of her farewell, picked up a two-month-old copy of the The Lady magazine and looked in the employment section. An advert jumped out at her. ‘Girl Friday wanted at Trewithen, Cornwall.’ Bet applied for the job and Miss Elizabeth Johnson travelled up to London to meet Bet. Bet was offered the job, took her planned two weeks holiday and travelled down to Cornwall, a bold decision which would shape her life for the next 49 years.
Image: Bet in 2011
During her career with BP she met Rita Lee who was a telephonist. Bet and Rita became lifelong friends and had much fun over the years together. Bet would often ‘disappear’ and visit Rita in the telephone exchange (her bolt 16 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 255
Image: Lifelong friends - Rita and Bet in 2016
Bet and Elizabeth Johnson got on famously, both being strong women and had many adventures together. One day Miss Johnson went to visit a Russian Count living near Devoran and introduced Bet as her friend. The Count took Bet’s hand and kissed it. Miss Johnson commented, ‘I bet that surprised you!’ to which Bet answered ‘I bet he was more surprised as I have been peeling onions all morning!’ On another occasion Princess Diana visited Trewithen and Bet and Rita prepared the food together. Bet said that Lady Diana was so kind and friendly. When Diana asked if she was cold, Bet replied she was ok as she had her Damarts on... Diana then replied, ‘So do I!’. Rita and Norman had been invited down to Trewithen from Surrey on several occasions to visit Bet, so when a suitable property came up for sale they decided to buy it together. It was altered so they could ‘live together separately,’ and it was the best decision they ever made. Bet led an amazing life and lived it to the full, up until recently. She was a hardworking, elegant, intellectual, strong,
independent, caring woman, who sang with the Truro Choral Society, shopped every Saturday in the village and loved to drive. She and Rita travelled together all over the world including France, Australia and South Africa and shared their love of dogs, Trevolland and their beautiful garden together. Rita and Bet were lifelong companions to the end and Bet is already greatly missed. Nothing will fill the void she has left behind. Elizabeth Lewis 25th August 1926 - 13th February 2021. Rest in Peace. Any donations in Bet’s memory are to benefit Salvation Army, an organisation that played a significant role in her life. www.memorygiving.com.
Well done Jamel
I
N December 2020, eight year old Jamel signed up to run 5k for Childrens Hospice Southwest (CHSW).
Jamel did very well indeed, running around the village dressed up as Rudolph with his mum dressed as Santa raising an incredible £350 for CHSW. His mum Sophie said she was very proud that Jamel wanted to do the run to help other children and thanked all those who sponsored his efforts.
Image: Lifelong friends - Bet and Rita in 1947 April 2021 | 17
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Probus Bowling Club
M
OST Probus residents are unaware where the bowling club is situated.
It is an ongoing problem that the club has struggled to gain support and membership from the time it was formed in 1966 to to the present day. Bowls has been played in Probus for over two centuries. The original green was in a field opposite the primary school in Chapel Street. The existing site, at the rear of the pavilion in the playing field, was granted to the club by the playing field committee in 1966. The annual membership was fixed at one guinea (£1.10) and the estimated cost of making the green was £300.
In April 1967, the estimate had risen to over £800 and the members all began fund raising. A grant of £424 was obtained from the Ministry of Education and Science, so work on the green was now started. After much hard work the opening of the club was planned for 11th April 1970 and Mr Dean of Bodmin was invited to perform the opening ceremony. The ladies provided tea at the village hall rather than at the club. On the 30th October 1970 it was 20 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 255
recorded that the club had 28 fully paid members who had enjoyed a good season. In September 1971 the club had applied for affiliation to the County Association and membership of the Central Division League. The A.G.M. in October 1971 was attended by 33 members and despite not winning any matches, the President reported it had been a wonderful year. In January 1972 it was decided to build a new timber framed clubhouse alongside the existing pavilion and each member was required to pay for one roll of wallpaper. This new clubhouse was opened in April 1975 by Miss E. Johnstone of Trewithen and cost just under £1,300. In September 1978 a minute’s silence was observed in honour of Percy Williams’ death. He had been Club Secretary since 1966. The minutes from the AGM held in October 1980 record that due to a shortage of members, notices would be placed in Probus and Veryan magazines and leaflets were distributed throughout the village. By November 1984 the club had 27 members attending the AGM. Although the men’s team had finished seventh from bottom of the league, the ladies had fared better by reaching the quarter-finals of the County Fours and the County Pairs. A new toilet block was built at the rear of the existing toilet block for the exclusive use of the club in 1988. The 25th Anniversary of the club was celebrated in August 1991 with over 60 members and guests attending. A minute’s silence was held for the passing of Percy Canny who had been Club President since 1966. The club’s blackest day was 26th September 1992 when a fire , thought to be an arson attack, destroyed the clubhouse and its contents. The Playing
Field Committee kindly offered the use of the sports pavilion, should it be required. Fortunately the insuarance money paid for a new clubhouse and on 27th of May 1993 it held its first meeting. The green was now made into five rinks and other improvements were made.
The men’s team continued to struggle due to a lack of players but remained in Central Division League 2. In 2003 a new machinery shed was built and later in 2010 improvements were made to fencing and rink surrounds. On the playing side the men were Central Division 2 champions in 2007, losing only one game, and were promoted to Division 1. They also won the Captain’s Shield in 2009 and went on to win the County Captain’s Shield. Probus won the Division Captain’s Shield again in 2017 only to finish 3rd in the County competition.
some past successes, providing the Cornwall team with four players, Shirley Boyce, Meta Johnson, Gill Moore and Pauline Trethewey. These four played for Cornwall at the National Finals in Leamington Spa in 2002. Gill Moore had reached the National Finals in the singles in 1997 and in 2005, with Meta, received Johns Trophy strips. Meta also won the County Singles Final in 2006.
Probus is struggling to find enough players again and if none are found the men will not be able to field a league team. This is not only a problem here but also at many other clubs around the country. We are opening the green on 10th April and are offering any new members their first year’s membership free. Contact Dave Meggs 07850 945626.
Unfortunately in 2018 Probus was relegated back to Division 2 after losing their final game. The squad then became heavily depleted due to losing several players through illness and some retiring from bowling. However the men still came second in their league in 2019,only missing out on promotion by one point. The Ladie’s squad has also become very low on numbers, but has still enjoyed April 2021 | 21
The Hawkins Arms, pending government clarification, will open outside only, from the 12th of April 2021. We will open the garden gates at 12:00pm, music from 6:00pm and pizzas will be served from 6:30pm until 8:00pm, last orders at 10:00pm. The garden gate will be closed at 10:30pm. FORTHCOMING EVENTS Saturday 17th April – Drums 4 fun Family Fun Day Workshop 2:00pm – 5:00pm Hog Roast – 2:00pm – 7:00pm Sunday 18th April – Sunday roast in a large Yorkshire pudding, served 12:00pm – 2:30pm 2:30pm – 5:00pm Music with the popular Daniel Costin Saxophone Player Tables to be prebooked with a £5.00 deposit. Saturday & Sunday, May 8th & 9th – Beer, Cider & Music – Variety of musicians – £7.50 per ticket, with donations from ticket sales made to Cornish Hospice South West. Details of event will be posted shortly. We suggest that you book your table for our open day and event days, please call 01726 882208 or email hello@hawkinsarmsprobus.com. Tables will be on a first come, first served basis, with the rule of six applying. Our car park will be closed on our open and event days. * Upon arrival our staff will direct customers to their table, where their drinks/food orders will be taken * Table service only – no ordering at the bar. * Sanitising stations will be located throughout the garden and in the toilets. * Toilets will operate on a one in, one out system * Staff will wear PPE where necessary and will have temp checks before every shift. * Staffing levels will be reduced, please be patient during busy times. * All customers must be wearing a face covering when entering and exiting the building and when using the facilities within the building TEMPORARY OPENING HOURS Monday 12th April – 12:00pm – 10:30pm – all other Mondays 5:00pm – 10:30pm Tuesday – Thursday – 5:00pm – 10:30pm Friday – 2:00pm – 10:30pm Saturday – Sunday – 12:00pm – 10:30pm We have been working hard to ensure all the changes we have made to our business will guarantee the safety of our staff and customers, we will continue to monitor government advice and will change and adapt where necessary. Thank you for your patience and understanding, we are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to The Hawkins Arms with our usual warm, friendly welcome.
01726 88 22 08 22 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 255
hello@hawkinsarmsprobus.com
Church roof repairs
S
HOPPERS and pedestrians in The Square on Saturday 6th March may have seen scaffolding at the corner of the church to the right of the porch and two TK Roofing and Property Services vans by the cobbles. They were there to carry out insurance repairs to the storm damage caused to the slates on the corner, the rain water hopper and some guttering. This was the result of storm Bella on 26th December 2020.
site with his ladders, he’ll re-fix some slipped slates on the main roof of the church. This work is being paid for by the Church’s Roof Repair Fund which was created in 2019 following generous donations from the congregation and local residents supporting our fundraising appeal. As usual, all expenditures incurred by and for the Grade 1 listed church building are paid for with monies contributed by the congregation, and other local supporters. There is no money receivable from anywhere else in the Church of England.
In February 2021 Tom Knight completed repairs to the leadwork on the tower roof. He has removed the buddleia bush which was growing out of the wall above the south west stained glass window.
With all church fundraising suspended for the past year, any donations to the Roof Repair Fund to keep the village’s church water-tight are very gratefully received.
Tom is contracted to replace the downpipe which was cracked out of sight thereby leaking rainwater into the church wall, and to remove the ensuing vegetation growth. Whilst working on
Robert Dodd, Church Treasurer 01726 883408 robertjdodd@hotmail.com
Image: Head for heights, Jack Lewton replacing broken slates on the church roof. April 2021 | 23
David John James Headteacher, Probus County Primary School
S
ADLY, David James lost his battle with cancer on Friday 22nd January 2021. There are many people, staff and pupils of Probus and further afield who will have fond memories of school days at Probus C P School while David was the headteacher. Professor Patrick James, David’s son, has kindly given permission for his eulogy and poem to be reproduced here: ‘Over the past three weeks we have received so many kind letters from people who knew dad. Whether it be from his friends at college, fellow teachers and staff, dinghy sailors from Fowey or Friday New Inners there was always a consistent theme. Dad was a great storyteller who made people smile. Growing up in Wall near Camborne, his early years were a simple life of cricket for the village team, broccoli and primrose picking and holidays to nearby Gwithian. Following Redruth Grammar, dad took up teacher training in Westminster College, Oxford where he met mum and a number of his lifelong friends. Kirby in Liverpool, was dad’s first teaching position, but the draw of Kernow remained strong. After a year, he returned home with mum. St.Austell rugby and Fowey River sailing followed alongside teaching at Tywardreath, St.Wenn and Probus. In 1972, they moved to Tywardreath to their Well Street home, where he enjoyed nearly 50 years of green beans, gardening and outdoor entertaining. Dad was the headteacher at Probus 24 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 255
from the early 70s until his retirement in 2000. Here he met Pat and Roger who he’d count amongst his closest friends. My memories of Probus are of his continual battles with the council to improve the school from outdoor toilets, to temporary classrooms alongside epic school productions, complete with dad’s prose of course. Dad’s sailing partnership with Uncle Ray had limited success, the house is littered with 3rd place goblets … But he took great pleasure in committing to rhyme the exploits of some of the newer Tywardeath sailors. More of that later …. Upon retirement mum and dad undertook a number of grand tours including South Africa, North America, Australia and New Zealand. These usually consisted of dad driving what appeared to be epic distances to the next must see canyon, gorge or river inlet. Mum’s illness gradually reduced the amount of travel they could do. But regardless, dad would think nothing of driving to Marazion for an ice cream and then doing it all again the next day. As a student, I would regularly bring 50+ canoeists to stay in the garden and dad
delighted in playing the host. Always up for a challenge, he even paddled the Dart with me and the University canoe club, admittedly with a little unintentional freshwater swimming.
That left poor Dixon dumb! Upon the New Inn door A message stark and clear, Pub closed till future notice! You’ll get no beer in here!
Like all of the James’ clan, dad loved a fire and the thrill of the firewood chase. His car boot was never without its bow saw and he was always happy to scavenge the hedgerows or latterly the JustFir ‘help yourself’ bags.
The Friday Club was devastated No more beer or chat No nights together up the pub Exchanging gossip - this and that. No more hugs and kisses Or even shake of hand Such signs of real affection Were well and truly banned.
His Friday night, dash to the New Inn routine, was a focus of recent years. Alongside the usual mix of tales and impromptu poems, The Three Bears, Cinderella and Reuben Hood came to be. I am pleased to say there is one more (printed below), which I hope you all enjoy.’ Patrick James
The Coronavirus and The Friday Club The year 2020 was the year The coronavirus came, Little did we realise Life could never be the same. For senior citizens like us Getting old and going grey Lockdown would soon become The order of the day. A trip up to the village shop But only once a day. Keeping social distance Every step along the way. Folk took to lonely country walks But if others they should meet.. They stood well back to let them pass Or quickly crossed the street. For the Friday Club, ‘tho’ this was bad Much worse was still to come An announcement to the village
“Don’t worry lads,” Big Dave said, “I don’t think ‘ twill last that long Things will soon be back to normal You’ll see if I’m not wrong!” Dixon said, “Your optimism Is far too great I fear, This lockdown could continue Right throughout the year!” “In that case, “ Big Dave said, “We need a cunning plan, But we must all agree to it And stick to it to a man!” The lads scratched their heads And pondered what it was that they could do. And after hours of thinking It came right out the blue! “We could meet up every Friday. But in a little bubble.. In each others gardens It shouldn’t be any trouble! But each week’s new location Must be a secret just for us, Organised covertly With a minimum of fuss. So each week messages were sent By phone and even text, To arrange the new location And whose garden should be next. Each Friday then, in ones and twos We came to our secret venue With bags of beer and other drinks To supplement the menu. Continued overleaf April 2021 | 25
Continued from previous page There was Dave and Jan and Lizzie too As well as Keith and Julie The Leicester Duo and their wives Jill Smith and me - yours truly. There were nuts and nibbles Drinks of course from the hours of five till seven. “I think, “ said Tone, “we’ve cracked it This is really heaven! Good company, good beer, It’s really rather fun To sit in each other’s gardens And enjoy the evening sun” If perchance there came a shower, We got the brollies out A little rain didn’t put us off Of that there is no doubt. We stuck two fingers up to Boris Let him do his worst! But then a new announcement came And our little bubble burst! From now on anymore than six Will incur a hefty fine. So I can no longer visit yours Or you come down to mine! Yes Boris and his henchmen And his bloody rule of six. Has given us a problem We’re not sure how to fix. But when this lot is over We all will give a cheer We’ll meet again on Friday nights To raise a glass of beer David James RIP
Probus Village Hall
A love.
FTER a difficult year, spring is here and hopefully, this coming year will see a return to the things we
At Probus Village Hall, we cannot wait to see our clubs, events, productions and fairs return soon. 26 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 255
But for now, we wanted you to know how our village hall has helped this community throughout the last year and ongoing. We remained open, as permitted, to the Post Office outreach that was so essential, while plans were finalised for the filling station to become a Post Office branch. We have regularly hosted the NHS Blood Donor Service, and so many of you have donated. More recently, we have welcomed the Community Larder whilst they look for a permanent home. These services have been vital in so many ways, and we are so pleased to have played our part. Probus Village Hall, like most, is managed by a volunteer management committee, and it is to these we turn. The hall has continued through this last year, thanks to the committee. The committee has kept the hall safe and secure for those vital services, from laminating Covid signs and working out capacity numbers to endless Zoom meetings and purchasing PPE. Thanks go to everyone involved. Our fabulous cleaner Clair, has kept it spotless, and our Lettings Secretary Frank, has kept all our regular users abreast of the changes, thanks to them both. We have received some government funds, which has allowed us to keep the doors open, despite the lost revenue. We are in the process of updating our action list of jobs that need doing and are currently looking to get as many of these works done before we fully reopen. This is a building that is tiring with age, but we want to ensure that it is fit for purpose for a long time. That purpose is to serve our community, and we would love to see it filled again soon. With that in mind, we are hosting our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday
9th June, and we would love to see all of you there. We will be electing or re-electing our committee members, and we would love to hear from anyone who wishes to stand. You can contact the secretary at secretary@ probusvillagehall.co.uk We hope to arrange events in the summer to mark those events cancelled in the last year and will share more about this at the AGM or as soon as possible after. Please come along and get involved. This hall is for you, our community. Karen Glasson, Secretary Nicola Hughes, Chair Cllr Goldsworthy, Deputy Chair Ryland Shephard, Treasurer
that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) provided to community food organisations. Donation boxes around the village for food are: • • • •
Kerrobert Cottage, Chapel St 25 Gwel-an-Nans 95 Carne View Road Rivendell, Wagg Lane
We’d be pleased to talk to any local businesses who feel able to support us with surplus food or perhaps in other ways. Any help would be appreciated. The Community Larder would also be pleased to receive any surplus fruit and vegetable from local small-holders, gardeners and allotment holders. Eleanor McCartney
Community larder
T
HIS community initiative’s dual aims are to support those families who are currently experiencing a difficult time and also reduce food waste. In the three weeks since first opening the larder averaged 25 visits each week, supporting between 95 and 100 people. Thanks to Spar and Trudgian Farm Shop who donated short-dated stock. Thanks also to Da Bara Bakery, St Ewes Eggs and Trewithen for bread, eggs and meat. Looking forward, we remain dependent on local donations of food and cash to keep supporting local families. Some of the free supplies from supermarkets are drying up, as are the COVID-19 grants April 2021 | 27
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30 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 255
A 1907 view of Probus
H
ERE is another view of part of the OS map dated 1907. This section shows the western end of the village and gives a good indication of where the school was located before it was demolished in the 1960s. It also suggests that the allotments may have been a lot larger then than now.
Bible Christian Chapel, now a private residence. This vintage photograph was taken from Truck Hill looking towards the school on the right. The field entrance where the boy is standing is not used nowadays, but is visible on Truck Hill and is marked on the left edge of the map.
Many of the properties that exist in The Green and on the north side of Fore Street were around in 1907, but all bar one of the properties on the southern side of Fore Street have been built since 1907. The siting of Probus School Filling Station is easy to work out, as is the
April 2021 | 31
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I remember when...
T
HIS is the 16th article taken from the Probus Old Cornwall society handbook published in 1982. Mr Rundle Trebilcock (an extract from his history of the Probus Home Guard) Yes, I remember when I joined the Home Guard, May 1940, it was, and to start with we were just L.D.V. (Local Defence Volunteers) with an armband and pitchfork! Gradually we progressed to full uniform, even though we remained unpaid. Probus Church tower was a useful
lookout, but when we had to climb it three times in one event, I didn’t go much on it! I remember the wonderful show of glow-worms on railway banks and seeing rats drinking the morning dew on a barn roof. We had the old Reading Room for a guard post - a telephone, tables and camp beds for those who weren’t actually on duty. We still had to do our ordinary work in the daytime, so needed a catnap. I remember our ‘cooks’ struggling with a field kitchen stove in the yard, but it wasn’t exactly Ritz standard. I remember one exercise when we took a National bus through Treverbyn and across farmland to Ladock and I’ll never forget the pitch-black night when two fully equipped men got stuck in a tree at Trewithen and nearly fell into the cockpit! I’ll leave you to imagine what they actually said!
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@trewithengardens 38 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 255
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The detectorists II By Ryan Davies
W
HEN we took up the hobby of metal detecting almost a year ago, we were hopeful of finding a few interesting bits and pieces, whilst enjoying being outside in the fresh air and the natural environment. We heard lots of stories of people who’d given detecting a go and got fed up with it quickly and had given up on it as all they were finding were bits of scrap metal, bottle tops, foil, ring pulls etc. We got lucky on our first hunts with a blank military shell and a coin (more on that in a minute). We continued our good fortune, but we also learned very quickly from experience and from watching honest detectorists online, that you’ll dig up plenty of litter and scrap for every gem you unearth. However, as I said in my previous article, you never quite know what’s giving off the signal until you see it clearly for the first time, when you’ve pulled back the earth or sand to reveal it. That’s what makes the hobby so addictive and so much fun. The land becomes rather a huge advent calendar, underneath each patch of ground from where a signal comes lies a little mystery item. Every detectorist would love to find silver or gold, or better still, a hoard. Most, however, will also tell you that finding anything of interest that gives a hint of the history of the place where they’re hunting brings them joy. We haven’t yet managed gold or silver, nor a hoard, but we have unearthed a few really interesting items. Just after the first lockdown ended last year, Cadan and I travelled up to visit family in Staffordshire. My mum lives just off the A5, so there’s Roman history
in the area. We took the detector with us and one afternoon whilst we were sat in the back garden having a barbecue, I decided to scan mum’s back garden. We were getting a few signals and mum said she was happy for us to dig them (as long as the lawn went back neatly!). We dug up a hanging basket chain, a couple of old, rusty nails, a toy car, and a couple of 2p pieces from the 1970s. After we’d finished eating and were packing away, I decided to have one last scan of an area of the garden I’d rushed over. Sure enough, there were signals but they were close to where the nails had been, so I was reluctant to dig again. However, I find it hard to ignore a signal and move on without finding out what it is, just in case it’s something valuable. I dug down several inches until the pin pointer rang out its rapid tone to tell me I was close to the target. As I loosened the next layer of soil, a black circle revealed itself. I gently gripped the edge and began to loosen and prize it from the grip of the earth, soon realising the black circle was part of a larger object that suddenly slipped away from its damp hiding place. I couldn’t quite believe what I was then holding in my hand – a bracelet, and definitely not a modern one. Cadan and I were buzzing.
When you make a discovery like this, your first port of call is usually the local Finds Liaison Officer for your area, who provide expertise on identifying objects and dating them. In this case, the Finds April 2021 | 39
Liaison Officer for the Midlands was based at Birmingham Museums. I sent an email off to them with photos and eagerly awaited a response. Two days later, after returning to Cornwall, a message dropped into my inbox – a response from the Finds Liaison Officer! She and her team had been analysing the photographs and they’d agreed on their findings. She apologised when telling me that it was not anything archaeological and sadly our bracelet only dates back to 1700-1800. Here she was apologising to me that it wasn’t anything older and Cadan and I were jumping for joy at having found something of historical interest to us and the area. Holding a bracelet in your hand that could date back 320 years gives you goosebumps. You question who owned it, who’d given it to them and why, and how did it come to end up in the earth and stay there for all that time? My stepdad built the house on farm fields on the edge of the village about thirty years ago. At the time the back garden had been prepped for turfing, the bracelet must have been very close to the surface. That’s the other thing about metal detecting, it really makes you think about the number of objects that must be hidden from view waiting to be discovered, and some of them are well within touching distance without us even realising. More recently, we began detecting on a new permission. After digging the first couple of signals we discovered some old agricultural pieces. Cadan then picked up another signal and we dug again. This time, we were met with a thin piece of metal in a long loop shape, attached to a thin rectangle. In its wet mud covering it looked a little like the edge of an old meat or fish tin that had been discarded, but as we put the toothbrush across it, some detail began to emerge. First a tree and then a lion. This piece of metal wasn’t part of a food tin at all, it was something far more interesting. It was a buckle of some sort and again, definitely not modern. 40 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 255
We returned home and I began to research the buckle. After a while I was signposted to an online book about cricket buckles, compiled by an Australian metal detectorist and cricket buckle collector and enthusiast. The book contained more than 300 examples of cricket buckles of various designs. I searched through the categories, looking through all the lion designs and many others. Ours wasn’t among them. What was also clear was ours didn’t have any cricket related decoration, something which was present somewhere on all of the examples I’d been looking at. I decided to message the author and seek his help. Within a couple of days, a reply found its way back across Earth to us. Our buckle was not a cricket buckle in their official sense, but our expert informed us that belt buckles of a similar design to the official cricket buckles from that same period were also known as cricket buckles. Brian had never seen our design before and wanted to include it in the
next update of his e-book. We sent him photos and Cadan will now have his name printed underneath a picture of the buckle he found in the next edition of the book. There are many things to learn after discovering items. One of the main things is how to clean them, particularly old coins. There are plenty of forums and social media pages on which fellow detectorists are very happy to share their knowledge, as well as YouTube videos showing the techniques to use. After finding our first coin, which had been battered and bruised by the sea and rocks, we decided to try one of the suggested methods – leaving it to soak in olive oil over several weeks. We had no idea if it would work but with only a hint of a marking on it, we had nothing to lose. It was to our surprise and delight that after taking it out of the oil after almost two months, George V appeared in front of us! A little misshapen piece of history had come back to life.
With lockdown restrictions having eased a little now, government guidelines once again permit us to go out detecting.
A circumnavigation of Trewithen
H
ERE is a lovely walk, perfect for a Sunday morning - a circumnavigation of the Trewithen Estate. It's 8km (5 miles) and takes around 2 hours. There is one steep hill, early on, but otherwise fairly flat. There are multiple routes you can take on this walk and I'm suggesting this one because it only requires you to cross the A390 once. Many of our readers will know this walk, or parts of it, but perhaps some won't. Start in the village square, walk through the churchyard in either direction and leave via the southern gate. Walk straight ahead joining Wagg Lane as it bends right and then left. Before you know it, you're heading out of the village. Follow Wagg Lane as it winds slowly, then sharply downhill to the stream. At this point you are only 40m above sea level, the lowest point of the walk. Take a big breath and attack the hill on the other side and follow the lane until you've reached Trevorva Cot Farm and the kennels. It can get a bit muddy at the top of the hill here. At the T junction, turn left. Follow the road for 100m or so. See if you can spot the faded white lines, a glimpse of the past, proving that this road was once more than it is today.
We’re hoping it won’t be long before we can find some more royals to keep George company in our finds collection. We’d love to find a hammered coin in the next year!
April 2021 | 41
Just before the A390 junction, take the footpath on the left. This footpath leads to the underpass and bridlepath running parallel with the A390.
Follow on for 400m, until you get to Wakeham's Grave (more about that on page 12). Look out for the old cast iron finger post. Sadly, only one lonely finger remains nowadays.
Keep on going for another 400m or so until you get to a crossroads. Just to get your bearings, to the left, across the bypass is Parkengear Farm, straight ahead will eventually take you to the A390 roundabout. Today, we will turn right walk down the lane in the direction of Golden Mill. This lane is fairly quiet and follows the western boundary of the Trewithen estate. It's pleasant countryside and you'll find it very quiet in comparison to walking alongside the bypass a few minutes before. 42 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 255
The first, and only property on this section, is Sunrising on the right. After a pleasant kilometre, or perhaps 1.5 km of walking, you get to a crossroads, where you will turn left (straight ahead would take you to Golden Mill, and eventually Creed and right would take you towards Tregony).
Turn left. This road is essentially a shortcut from New Stables to Tregony and is busier than the previous lane. Look out for the milestone on the right.
Follow the road for another kilometre until you reach the entrance to Trewithen Estate.
Walk through the entrance and look for a stile immediately on the right. It's quite a high stile, but don't worry if you can't get your leg over, just walk around the tree on the left! Follow the footpath as it runs parallel with the road for a few hundred metres. Lookout for the large rookery overhead. This is another pleasant section of the walk as the footpath winds its way through mature woods. When the bluebells flower this year, it'll be a marvellous carpet of blue.
The first section is made up with gravel, while the second section is grass and can also be quite muddy even a few days after any rainfall. At the white gate you'll see the main entrance to Trewithen, so walk straight ahead onto the grass verge. The track you see just on the other side of the Cornish hedge leads to the bridlepath south of the roundabout and is not a permissive footpath. (Incidentally, in 2019 the Parish Council did ask the estate owners to give access for villagers, but the request was declined). It's safest to cross the A390 at the green verge where sightlines are good. Walk to the roundabout and return to the village square via Tregony Road. Hope you like the walk.
Eventually, the footpath joins the bridlepath from Grampound to Trewithen (the old Roman road), so turn left again.
Next month, all going well, will be one of the Wednesday Walkers’ favourites: A circular walk from Probus taking in Tresogwa, Gummow, Treverbyn, Ladock and home on the Ladock road via Treworrian, Helland and the ‘spooky cave’. If you’d like a .pdf of this walk, just email editorprobusnews@gmail.com April 2021 | 43
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44 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 255
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What’s this? Where’s this?
Here are Pat’s nominations for this month’s quiz: What’s this?
C
ONGRATULATIONS to Pat Naylor who was the first to identify both the item and the location in the What’s this? Where’s this? quiz last month. The item was a wooden ‘darning mushroom’ used to mend socks. Judith Williams and Liza Fitzgerald also identified it correctly. Pat also identified the photograph as Place slipway at St Anthony in Roseland, looking towards St Mawes. She said ‘it was my home for my entire childhood as my Grandad and Dad farmed the adjoining fields. I was married in the nearby church behind Place Manor. We used to catch the steamer from here to St Mawes and Falmouth’.
Where’s this?
Email your answers editorprobusnews@gmail.com.
to
The first person to email both correct answers can submit their own ‘What’s this? Where’s this?’ questions next month. Finally, many thanks to Joe Hill for this:
An opinion without 3.14 is just an onion. Think about it. 46 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 255
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