Probus News Magazine December 2020 Issue No. 252
The Free Magazine For The Community
December 2020 | 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... By e-mail: editorprobusnews@gmail.com
Local hero award
Are you a winner?
Teenage lockdown 2
Page 5
Page 11
Page 18
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
Sylvia Reid Designer
Richard Avery part two
Skateboard ramp repaired
Page 22
Page 28
Page 45
Plus updates on Remembrance, allotments and more...
Submissions
deadlines
for articles, adverts, alterations and other items for the magazine is the 10th of every month.
Publication dates No January issue February 2021
Friday 29th January
March
Friday 26th February
April
Friday 26th March
May
Friday 30th April
June
Friday 28th May
July
Friday 2nd July
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 corrospondance is strictly protected Community Watch All in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR. Association Bernard Watters (Team Lead)
P
ROBUS has not had a Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator for some time. Part of the coordinator’s role is to relay information relating to any incidents that have occurred. This is normally done by email or telephone.
Truro Watch Office, Truro Police Station, Pydar Street, Truro, Cornwall TR1 2UD Working in partnership with Devon and Cornwall Police.
If you would like to be a coordinator for Probus, or would like more information, contact the Truro Watch Office on 01872 227145 or email me on watchofficetruro@devonandcornwall. pnn.police.uk Front Cover: Frankie Durose working her Chapel Street allotment. More about allotments on page 40.
Probus Church Illustration by Paul Lakeman @paullakemanwallart
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 (chair) Ross Goldworthy Malcolm Maskill Larry Saunders-Fern Bill Sutherland
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 252
John Watson
Jenny Musgrove
W
A
Used postage stamps
Please save envelopes or parts of envelopes, packages and postcards, and place in the collection box at Trudgian Farm Shop, or deliver by hand to Fair Rising, Wagg Lane, TR2 4JX.
E regret to report that John Watson from Carne View Road died unexpectedly on 16th November aged 54. Our sincere condolences go to Jordan, Jade, family and friends. More next month.
LSO sad to inform the passing of Jenny Musgrove on 18th November aged 80. Jenny was very well known in and around the village and taught a generation of children to dance at her Purple Dance Studio at Parkengear Farm. More next month.
Ten years ago
J
EAN Paton is once again collecting postage stamps for the Bone Cancer Research Trust. Any undamaged decimal or pre-decimal and foreign stamps, as well as gold or white postage labels are suitable.
W
HO remembers the heavy snow that blanketed Probus on 29th November 2010 and what’s changed in this view since then?
December 2020 | 5
Probus Filling Station award
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ONGRATULATIONS to Vikki and Shaun Poore from Probus Filling Station who were presented with an ‘Unsung Hero’ award by the High Sheriff of Cornwall Kate Holborow on 9th November. They were nominated by Chrissy Biggs who said, ‘This remarkably hard-working family have gone over and above doing their best to ensure the residents of Probus and the wider community have been able to access most of life’s essentials over the past few months. On behalf of our community, a very heartfelt thank you’. Derek and Jenny Colton emailed the Probus News to say, ‘We’d like to send congratulations to Vikki, Shaun and the brilliant staff at Probus Filling Station for their ‘Unsung Hero’ Award. They have been wonderful during the lockdown supplying the village with groceries, in some cases better than the supermarkets! It pays to shop local!’
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Vikki Poore commented, ‘Shaun and I would like to say that none of it would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of all the staff and also my mum Sue who came back out of semi-retirement to help on the till. It was a great honour to receive the award, and we are proud to support the community as best we can. Thank you to all of our customers for their support and patience through these difficult times. We hope everybody stays safe and look forward to better times ahead.’ Well done guys!
A-Z of Probus Clubs, Societies, Organisations and some useful contacts Acoustics Night (Comrades Club) Badminton Club Bees (swarms/issues/questions) Bowling Club
Tim Joyce Pauline Partridge Tony Paddock David Meggs
07412 126774 timstravels01@hotmail.com 01726 882649 07486 295414 01726 883443
Church Floodlighting Fund Churchwarden Comrades Club Cornwall Councillor Cycling – Probus Pedallers Dance Classes Children (4Real) Football - Saturday Club Probus Youth FC - Juniors Probus FC - Seniors (First Team) Probus FC - Seniors (Reserves)
Robert Dodd Andy McCartney Bryan Trebilcock Bob Egerton Colin Brown Angie Smith Steve Flack Nigel Schofield Tony Paddock Graham Smith
01726 883408 robertjdodd@hotmail.com probus.churchwarden@gmail.com 01726 882747 01726 884451 bobegerton@mac.com 07484 740249 07825234855 contactus4real@gmail.com 07956 049727 Please send updates to 07974 577876
Friends of Probus Church
Richard Heath
07849 315432 geotechrich@gmail.com
Friends of Probus Surgery Hawkins Arms
Anthea Johnson or Verity Allen 01726 882745
Church Bell Ringers
Historic Cornwall Society
Kids Club Breakfast/after-school/ holiday club at Probus School
Knit & Natter Group Ladies Group Little Lights Live at Home Friendship Group Little Acorns Pre-School Martial Arts Group Memory Cafe Mid Cornwall Wood Turners Motion Fitness (Circuit training) Over 60s Luncheon Club Parish Players (Pantomime) Playing Field Mgmt Committee Parish Church Parish Council
Primary School Primary School PTA Probus Club of Probus The Roseland Academy U3A Roseland & District Village Hall Letting Secretary Wednesday Walking Group Yoga Young Farmers Other village
Peter & Anne-Marie
07486 295414 07968 478970
l.com
editorprobusnews@gmai
01726 882208 hello@hawkinsarmsprobus.com
Vince Van Kempen-Wilson 01726 883019 vince.vkw@gmail.com Diane Gibbs
01726 882647
kidsclub@probusschool.org.uk
Eve Richards 01726 882657 or 07767 383982 Pat Gluyas 01726 882978 patgluyas68@btinternet.com Pam Cobbold 01726 882495 jplelissick@btinternet.com Tracy Beavill 01209 719062 camborne.liveathome@mha.org.uk Sarah Brown 01726 882647 Is your group missing? Chris Pearson 01726 883661 Let us know Jill Prisk 01726 884388 Richard Elliott 07980 449305 info@midcornwallturners.com Kay Middleditch 07812 380651 kay.louise81@icloud.com Zena 01726 882751 or Janet 01726 882927 Cathy Cadby 07860 755787 cathycadby@gmail.com Graham Smith 07968 478 970
Rev. Joachim Foot 01726 882218/07930 095687 rector@probusteam.com probuspc@gmail.com Amanda Kendall 01726 883614 www.probusparishcouncil.gov.uk Angela Praed 01726 882647 hello@probusschool.org.uk Naomi Buckland 01726 882647 Nick Hibbett 01726 883093 nick.hibbett@btinternet.com 01872 530675 www.theroseland.co.uk Terry Neil 01872 530196 probusvillagehallenquiries@gmail.com Frank Fuller 07749 368162 www.probusvillagehall.co.uk Terry Hodge or Tim Joyce 01726 884495 or 01726 884574 Tony Bathmaker
07854 999612 toneupwinddown@gmail.com
Tegan Arthur
07900 797750
pages: Probus Cornwall, Probus Super Mums!, Probus News Magazine, Probus Rocks December 2020 | 7
KM Paving Ltd Roseland Podiatry Visiting podiatry/chiropody practice 07813 508740 / 01872 530715 Treatment of nails including conditions such as ingrowing, thickened and fungal nails. Treatment of corns, callus and other skin conditions. Diabetic and high risk foot management. Biomechanical assessments and orthotics. Footcare and footwear advice.
Julie Moutinho DPodM MCPod Registered Podiatrist Juliemoutinho123@gmail.com
LANDSCAPING AND PAVING • DRIVEWAYS • PATIOS • DECKING • ASTRO TURFING • GARDEN REDESIGN • WATER FEATURES • PLANTING FOR A FREE QUOTATION CONTACT KIERAN ON 07449 100053
Andrea Pafford Counselling Hello my name is Andrea. I work locally to provide a confidential, safe and non-judgemental service offering Person Centred counselling in an Integrative way. Combining classical empathic counselling with an understanding of our physical and behavioural reactions to life challenges. Clients are able to explore the problems they face, enabling healing of difficult emotions, acceptance of self, more enjoyment of the present and positivity about the future. I have experience of working for several charities and most recently for an organisation working in local schools. I have experience of working with bereavement, anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, gender identity and living with the impact of a challenging health diagnosis to name a few. We are all living in challenging times which is causing an increase in our sense of fear, isolation and confusion. Due to the continuing prevalence of Coronavirus I’m not offering face to face sessions but will continue to work by telephone or online e.g. face time, skype, zoom. I offer a free 40 min sessions to discuss your needs and answer any questions you have about counselling. If we decide to work together I will discuss my contract with you and my fees. In line with BACP guidelines I am fully insured and maintain good practice through Continuing Professional Development and regular supervision. Concessions are available.
8 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 252
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10 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 252
NYE Fireworks
A
FTER the November edition was published, the editor received an email from Alice Matthews highlighting the fact that pets can and do become very distressed when they hear fireworks go off nearby. Alice’s cat has been particularly traumatised this year, and went missing for a period. Alice asks that if you are contemplating setting off fireworks this New Years Eve, as a sign of courtesy, how about letting your neighbours know ahead of time, so they can keep their pets indoors?
to Probus Filling Station and Trudgian Farm Shop for collecting the returned counterfoils and money. This year, after the prize money, licence and ticket and envelope printing costs, we raised a fantastic £1,502 which goes towards the printing costs of the magazine and will help ensure that we continue to deliver a magazine to every house in the village, free of charge, eleven months of the year. As a matter of interest, we currently print and distribute 1,150 copies of each edition with printing costs being just over £1,000 each month.
Alice says ‘Having spoken with many other pet owners I know that I’m not the only person who feels this way, and it’s not just an issue in Probus but nationwide. With Probus being such a lovely village with a great community spirit, I hope that a better understanding may help prevent the distress of many pets and their owners in this area’.
Should you have missed the opportunity to contribute in this way, donations to the magazine will be gratefully received and may be passed to me, Terry Hodge, or given to any committee member.
Christmas Cash Draw
£200 - Ken Bawden, Treviglas Lane
MASSIVE THANK YOU to every one who bought Christmas Draw tickets or gave a donation to our funds this year and a special thank you
£50 - Basil Sleeman, Carne View Road
A
Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, this year the draw was kindly made by Vikki Poore at Probus Filling Station. This year’s winners are:£100 - Zannah Reid, Chapel Street £50 - Miss K Fuller, Church View Road £25 - Graham Smith, The Green £25 - Andrea Tapson, College Close Congratulations to all the winners and once again, many thanks to everyone who helped, in whatever capacity. Terry Hodge, Treasurer, Probus News Magazine Image: Vikki Poore picks the first ticket with Sheila Bing (Chair) and Terry Hodge (Treasurer). December 2020 | 11
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A message from Rev. Joachim A christmas like no other?
W
E are living through a time where forward planning has become almost impossible. As I write this in midNovember, I have no idea what Christmas has in store for us. You will see that we have a plan for the Christmas services in church but do keep an eye on our website and on our notice boards as these may change as the situation develops. Dislocation and confusion are not new to Christmas. The first Christmas was one of confusion and dislocation too. The Bible tells us in Luke 2:1: ‘In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered’. Does an act by a governing power that had enormous consequences and caused huge disruption to the lives of the people, sound familiar? Think of Jesus’ mother the Virgin Mary, heavily pregnant as she was, being asked to take a long journey, possibly by donkey, to give birth in an unknown place. Without accommodation, Joseph searches frantically to find somewhere, not to sleep, but for his wife to give birth, not a situation anyone would want to be in at the onset of labour. Finally, an innkeeper takes pity on them and offers them a stable for the saviour of the world to be born into. When we think about the disruption that is happening at the moment, we can take comfort in the story of the 14 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 252
nativity. Mary and Joseph were alone, without family, without the comforts of their own home, without the familiar. That may well be our experience of Christmas too this year. Difficult as it may seem, we must continue to have hope. Christ’s birth in a stable reminds us that good can come from even the most difficult and precarious situations. As Psalm 130.5 reminds us: ‘I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope’. May the Lord bless you all this Christmas and New Year. With every blessing, Rev’d Joachim Foot Team Rector of Probus, Ladock, Grampound with Creed and St Erme rector@probusteam.com 01726 882218 or 07930 095687
Remembrance Sunday
F
OR the first time ever, the annual remembrance service was broadcast on Zoom with just a few villagers laying wreaths or paying respects in person. The service and roll call were read by Rev. Foot and Jacqueline Uzzel, representing Mount Charles Brass Band, played the last post to a silent village
square and churchyard. It was a simple yet poignant event, forced upon us by the public health situation we find ourselves in, but importantly Probus Remembered.
Seeking information
V
ILLAGE historians researching those named on the Probus War Memorial, are seeking information on the following servicemen who were killed during the Second World War. James Francis Andrew, Flight Sergeant Pilot, 184 Squadron R.A.F Volunteer Reserve. KIA 6 th January 1944. Boulogne Frederick James Champion RAOC (Royal Army Ordnance Corps). Died 10th January 1946. Probus.
Church floodlighting dedication
I
N loving memory of my wonderful husband Roy Jarman who passed away on 25th January 2008 aged 80 years. With many happy memories from all the family. Mary Jarman
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
Image: Mary and Roy Jarman pictured on their golden wedding anniversary in 2005.
If anyone has family connections or knowledge of these individuals, please contact the editor. We aim to produce a booklet with the story of all those named on Probus War Memorial. December 2020 | 15
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December 2020 | 17
The Roseland Academy
Teenage lockdown Part 2
T
By Mia Williams
HIS half term students created a biodegradable poppy wreath, which included messages of thanks and hope by the students of The Roseland Academy. The wreath was proudly displayed at the Remembrance Sunday service in Tregony. Students have also been enjoying quiet reading time in our recently refurbished eLC on allocated tutor days. We celebrated Anti-Bullying Week by having an ‘Odd Socks Day’ as part of the national event all about celebrating what makes someone unique. We also celebrated Christmas Jumper Day to allow staff and students to get in the Christmas spirit.
Movie review
I
F you want to watch something a bit cerebral, you might like The Social Dilemma, currently on Netflix.
This documentary explores the dangerous human impact of social networking, with technology experts explaining how they deliberately designed platforms to be addictive and why they certainly don’t let their own kids use them. You are likely to never look at Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Snapchat and other similar platforms in the same way again. 18 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 252
H
ELLO everybody! I’m back again with part two of ‘my experiences in lockdown’.
It was really nice hearing the feedback from my previous article, I was really shocked as to how many people liked it. So July… I was surprised that we didn’t go back to school before the summer holidays. The Roseland Academy decided to keep the school closed until further notice, with hints that it would reopen in September. But being the stereotypical teenager, I wasn’t complaining, what I had missed the most was seeing my school friends and having a laugh. Moving on to August, the main month to make the most of the Cornish heat! I can’t say it was a hugely different summer, but it wasn’t the same either. Regular activities were going to the beaches. My family’s ‘go-to’ beach is usually Carne or Pendower, near Veryan, because it’s local and overall a lovely beach, especially for walking dogs in the evening. I suppose due to lockdown it was a real opportunity to realise who my real friends were, seeing who would contact me just for a chat every now and then. I was surprised at who of my friends didn’t bother, but I chose not to dwell on it and chose to move on. I made loads of new friends over this summer, and I am very grateful to have them all in my life today! I think at this point COVID-19 was becoming some kind of normality, it was just the ‘new normal’ to wear masks wherever I went. It didn’t come as much of a shock when I found out more locals had got the virus. Obviously, I felt great sympathy for those who had caught the
virus, but at this point, the majority of us was thinking well, we will all get it at some point. September… For me, a lot changed this month, mainly around going back to school. The general vibe at school was ‘off’ should I say, but everyone was pleased to see their mates, especially those they hadn’t seen since March. I wasn’t really sure what I was expecting to change at school if I’m honest, but everything came to a blur. Our timetable rota times had changed. Our lessons were sectioned into half an hour slots, to ensure different year groups didn’t mix and all the year groups had separate break and lunchtimes. It was nice going back to Year 10 because I got to experience some new subjects such as engineering and media that I had picked for my GCSEs.
Despite being physically back at school, quite a lot of our work is still online. To maintain social distancing, we have to take a picture of our work, submit it to Google Classroom so the teachers can mark it. It is the same process with homework. The alternative is to hand it into ‘isolation’ for two days before the teacher marks it. It then goes back into ‘isolation’ for another two days before we receive it back. The process using Google Classroom
is just a lot quicker but it becomes a struggle if someone doesn’t have a phone or doesn’t have wifi at home. For me personally, I feel I have kept up on my school work as I worked all through the school hours during lockdown. But some students have fallen behind, so for the teachers it is difficult to put them into the right classes. Halloween season! I think October was quite a fun month for me, I was seeing my friends regularly, and it all seemed to be going good. Then I started to notice that numbers of COVID-19 cases were increasing in other parts of the country. Many schools had closed because students and teachers had caught the virus or were told to self-isolate. I didn’t want to accept the fact we might have to go into another lockdown. We would lose everything that we had gained and return to how it used to be. At this point, I was convinced it would happen down here in Cornwall, it was all happening so fast I couldn’t keep up. November, boom it hit - right at the beginning. Lockdown for a month. I think this lockdown is affecting me a lot as I can’t see the majority of my friends, as most of them live in Truro. Although I still have friends in the Roseland area, it just isn’t the same. I personally know a few people from other schools who have caught COVID-19, and recently someone from The Roseland caught the virus. I am surprised it’s happening so close to me, and it really does seems real, not something far away. I hope that in the future everyone can recover from this pandemic and it all goes back to normal soon. I also hope that everyone reading this has a wonderful Christmas, hopefully out of lockdown! December 2020 | 19
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Editorial
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MAKE no apology if this edition of the Probus News is not very Christmassy. I’ve tried hard, but with so many people all over the world still catching the COVID-19 virus, getting seriously ill and with over 1.5 million people having died so far, I’ve found it impossible, at least so far, to get into the normal spirit. As this awful year comes to a close, my thoughts are with all those families impacted by this dreadful disease - all those empty places at the dining table. If I can hope for one thing in 2021, it’s for a speedy roll-out of working vaccines that are made available to everyone, irrespective of where they live in the world, because none of us will be truly safe until all of us are safe. For all those who have worked tirelessly to help those in need this year, whether you be in the NHS, a key worker or one of many other groups or individuals, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thanks to all those involved in producing this magazine as well as our contributors. With the majority of groups, clubs and societies in the village still unable to operate, I appreciate all those who have taken the time to call, email or pass on leads that we can make into articles. Once again, there is a wide range of topics in this edition - from classic mid-century furniture design and fighting foreign conflicts to teenage perspectives, allotment diggers, skateboard enthusiasts and more. I hope there is something for everyone. Well done to JK, the Parish Council and others involved in setting up the Christmas tree on the cobbles. It’s long overdue and I’m expecting it to be a delight to see. I wish all of our readers a merry Christmas and a peaceful, happy and importantly, a healthy new year.
An accident waiting to happen?
T
HE front wall of Ross and Lorraine’s cottage between the Farm and Spar shops was knocked over again in early November. This is the third time a vehicle has demolished the wall in the last two years - each time caused by a car parked pointing down the slope, rolling forward because the handbrake has not been applied correctly, or something else has gone wrong. Fortunately, so far, no one has been injured, but it seems only a matter of time before someone is. I’m told the pavement is Cornwall Council Highways Department responsibilty (rather than Probus Parish Council), so in the absence of any apparent appetite from those in power to do anything about it, I suggest that what may help is behaviour change. If everyone who needs to park between the two shops were to park across the slope rather than up/down the slope, then that would prevent this problem occuring. Yes, it means less space for parking, and a bit of courtesy would be needed so vehicles can get in and out safely, but it’s undeniably safer. If enough ‘locals’ parked that way on a daily basis, then others will follow suit. From what I understand, this is how vehicles always used to park in the square. This is just my view, if others have different views or better suggestions, let me know via editorprobusnews@gmail.com. John Denyer December 2020 | 21
Sylvia Reid
S
YLVIA Reid, who celebrated her 96th birthday in August had a long and successful career as an architect and a consultant designer. So successful in fact that items she and her partner John designed in the 1950s and 1960s are highly sought after by fans of modernist design, often seen for sale online and in showrooms today. One of their graphic designs, from 1967, can be seen on the back of just about every electrician’s van in the UK today. Intrigued? Read on. John and Sylvia Reid met at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London at the beginning of the Second World War. There they formed a relationship which was to sustain them throughout a fruitful and prolific design partnership and become the foundation of their happy, lifelong marriage until John died in 1992. One of the defining features of their design partnership was that it covered
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their entire output. In contrast to other famous designers of the period such as Robin and Lucienne Day or Charles and Ray Eames, they did not have independent projects but collaborated on everything they did. They established their practice, John & Sylvia Reid, in 1948, working from a rented flat in London. In her transition from student to architect and designer, Sylvia worked for Maxwell Fry and Jane
Drew. The couple soon became involved in work on the 1951 Festival of Britain working alongside many notable figures of the time.
Images above and right: Reid designed Rotaflex lighting from the 1960s and are still highly desirable objects today.
Today Sylvia and John Reid are perhaps best known for their furniture designs for British furniture manufacturer Stag and lighting fittings for Rotaflex. But their work was much more wide-ranging than this, winning three Milan Triennale medals and four Design Council awards. Their cast-iron anniversary ware for Izons is in the permanent collection of the V&A, and their work was frequently featured in the press and often on the cover of Design magazine.
They also undertook a lot of graphic design, of which perhaps the pinnacle is the logo for the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting, better known as NICEIC.
This logo is seen by many of us, every day on an electrician’s van somewhere! It is remarkable for a corporate logo designed in 1967 to have remained unchanged ever since. The Reid’s design philosophy was a response to a world of austerity - they were working in a country recovering from the devastation of war and excited at the prospect of building a bright new future. Continued overleaf -> December 2020 | 23
John Reid said that ‘Good design is the product of logical thought and the attempt to provide for the requirements of the world in which we live. Whether it be of furniture, interiors or complete buildings, it is concerned with the intelligent usage of suitable materials, arranged so that the functional requirements of the particular problem are solved’.
Image: Zannah, Sylvia and Dominic Reid
close to her daughter Zannah, owner of Time Too Café, Probus. Like many of their post-war peers, the couple believed good design should be accessible to all. During the 50s and 60s, their futuristic lighting and stylish furniture brought a gleam of modernity to ordinary people’s houses across the UK.
Zannah’s older brother Dominic and the son of the original furniture manufacturer Stag, recently formed a new enterprise to remake some of the most classic pieces originally designed by the Reids in 1960s.
John and Sylvia’s love affair with Cornwall started in 1961 when they bought a cottage in Marazion, where they spent every subsequent holiday. John died in 1992 and Sylvia moved to Cornwall permanently in 2003 to be Images: Above John and Sylvia Reid designed Stag dining room chairs and (left) sideboard
Links and further reading: http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/ O1194595/casserole-dish-casserole-dishjohn-and-sylvia/ 24 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 252
https://www.johnandsylviareid.com
No one goes hungry Don't go hungry this winter – help is at hand
I
N October, inspired by Marcus Rashford's campaign to ensure no child goes hungry during school holidays, a group of Probus residents led by Eleanor McCartney started a similar campaign of their own. Fast forward a few short weeks, the initial Probus 'No Child Goes Hungry' campaign proved successful. So successful, in fact, its aims expanded to offer support to anyone who needs it in the village and the surrounding areas, not just families with school children. Many of us will have watched Simon Reeve’s excellent programmes on Cornwall recently, which highlighted that food poverty is a real and growing problem in Cornwall. It can affect any of us, especially this year with hours being cut, jobs being lost and general uncertainty around work and income.
The 'No One Goes Hungry' campaign aims to help alleviate the immediate problem of food poverty for as many people as possible by offering packages and hampers of food and essentials over the winter period, and in particular to provide a Christmas dinner basket on 23rd December. If you or someone you know are in a tight spot financially for whatever reason, and grocery shopping is a worry, especially with Christmas on the horizon, email
nochildgoeshungryprobus@gmail.com. Only one person can access emails, and requests for assistance will be treated with complete confidence and without judgement. If you are in a position to help, you can donate to the Just Giving account or donate food items that are especially needed. Details are on the Facebook page: just search 'No one goes hungry – Probus and surrounding areas' or email nochildgoeshungryprobus@ gmail.com Donations of food can be made at the following collection points: • Probus Church • Probus Filling Station • Probus Spar • Probus Trudgian Farm Shop • 95 Carne View Road, Probus • Rivendell, Wagg Lane, Probus • Tregony Primary School As well as the generosity of our villagers, the campaign has also been supported by donations from local food suppliers. 2020 has been hard for many of us in many different ways. The 'No One Goes Hungry' campaign is another example of just how incredible this village is at looking out for one another. December 2020 | 25
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Richard Avery By John Denyer
T
HIS month we continue the fascinating story of Richard Avery from Ashleigh Way. Memories of Malaya and Korea In 1949 at the age of 171/2 Richard applied to join the Army as a regular. His father had been in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (DCLI), and when asked what regiment he wished to join, being proud of his Cornish roots, he requested DCLI. Off he went to Borden in Hampshire for 10 weeks of infantry training. At the end of basic training, he was still too young to be sent to his regiment for active service, so had to endure what seemed like a never-ending period of 'spud bashing', 'square bashing' and further training.
Image: Richard passing out from Infantry training
Anyone who has ever been in the military will know that to survive you quickly need to develop both resilience and a sense of humour. Both were soon needed when rather than being allowed to follow in his father’s footsteps, Richard was instead sent to join the 1st Battalion of the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI). 28 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 252
Richard quickly made the KOYLI his home and on the 1st May 1950 the battalion was shipped out to Malaya for active service supporting what was known as The Malayan Emergency - a guerrilla war started by proindependence fighters in 1948. In Malaya, the battalion HQ was based in Sungai Petani, 220 miles north of Kuala Lumpur, and each company was sent to a different region of the country. As an infantryman, Richard spent a lot of time on patrol in the jungle. It was difficult and dangerous work and during the three years the regiment was in Malaya, 35 KOYLI infantrymen were killed, mostly by ambush while on patrol in the jungle. Malaya eventually became an independent country, now known as Malaysia, in 1957. After Malaya, the battalion was shipped back to Yorkshire, see below for a link to the Pathe News reel film of their arrival home. They then went to Germany by which time Richard had been made a lance corporal. By June 1952 the war in Korea had been in progress for three years and had more or less reached a stalemate. It was a bitter struggle between communist forces from North Korea supported by China, and the United Nations (UN) forces of South Korea, the United States, the British Commonwealth forces (UK, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa and others), and other western nations. The Korean War is often referred to as the 'forgotten war', but it shouldn't be. From a British perspective, the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the Army and Royal Air Force were all heavily deployed on UN service in Korea and tens of thousands of British servicemen, a large proportion of whom were national servicemen, did one tour of duty there. In 1952, the 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (DLI) were stationed in Berlin
as part of British Army of the Rhine but were sent back to Britain for training and preparations for active service in Korea. At this time Richard, also in Germany with the KOYLI, was told he was being transferred to the DLI. Many other experienced officers, NCOs and other ranks volunteered or were transferred to the DLI to counter the number of inexperienced national servicemen who made up around 50% of the battalion.
After leave and training at Bellerby moors, the 1st Battalion DLI departed on the troopship Empire Halladale. After stopping at Aden, Ceylon, Singapore and Hong Kong, the ship arrived in Pusan, on the southern coast of Korea on 7th September 1952. They were met at the dockside by a US Army band who played If We’d Known You Were Coming We’d Have Baked A Cake, much to the amusement of everyone. From Pusan, the battalion were sent northwards by train to Britannia Camp in the militarised zone. It was autumn in Korea and still quite warm. Richard was working in HQ company, and one memory of this time is very clear. ‘One day Major Tresawna stopped as he was driving past in his jeep. He asked “Are you from Cornwall”? “Yes Sir, Mevagissey Sir” I replied. Major Tresawna responded, “Well done, you will be in my company forthwith”. I found out later that he had found others from Cornwall who also were transferred to his company and he then formed us in to ‘The One and All Club’.
Image: Major Johnny Tresawna DSO
In additional to Richard, another of these was the experienced Major Johnnie Tresawna DSO from Probus, who had transferred in from the Buckinghamshire Light Infantry to become a Company Commander in the DLI. Major Tresawna, a career officer, had served with distinction in WW2. Image: Major Tresawna pictured centre with Richard Avery behind his right shoulder along with fellow members of the newly formed ‘One And All Club’. After this photograph was taken, he shouted ‘One For All and All for One’.
Image: Troopship Empire Haladale.
Major Tresawna was keen to bring as many Cornish soldiers together as he could ‘to make a name for themselves as they have done all over the world’. Continued on page 32 December 2020 | 29
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‘By late September, after we completed initial training, the battalion moved to Neachon known as Hill 159. On arrival, we were surprised to be greeted by the Chinese calling out our regiment name on loud speakers. They regularly did this when new battalions moved up the front line, somehow always knowing who they were facing. Here began the never-ending process of attempting to make the trenches clean and habitable while patrolling to dominate no-man’sland'.
Image: A ‘Hoochie’ on the back of hill 159.
Life on Hill 159 set the pattern for the rest of the campaign - a company placed on a hill, ringed with barbed wire and mines. From this position the valley
could be covered by patrols, mortars and Bren guns. The enemy positions were generally only 600 to 1000 yards away with a paddy field in the valley between both lines. At the end of December 1952, the battalion took over positions on Hill 210 again repairing trenches, repairing barbed wire fences as well as continuous patrolling. It was on Hill 210 that Richard spent his 21st birthday. It would be hard to imagine a grimmer place on earth, for such a muted celebration. No doubt he and the other ‘Durhams’ were very pleased to get off that hill when they were relieved by the Americans at the end of January. Richard spent over one year and ten days in Korea. He said that the Korean winter was the coldest he had ever experienced - ‘everything froze solid in the snow, ice and incredibly cold wind’. In April 1953 the battalion relieved American troops on Hill 355, known locally as Kowang San but referred to as 'Little Gibraltar' by the Commonwealth forces as the sides were so steep. Richard says 'I remember it well as we climbed at night with full kit and it seemed ages before we reached the trenches at the top. Again, we had to clean the trenches and also go out on the numerous patrols.'
Image: Richard near hill 355
Image: Richard repairing a trench. 32 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 252
He recalled having to carry heavy equipment up the hill towards forward positions and 'self-heating' tins of soup.
The platoons would spend a number of days in forward positions, before returning to the rear for much needed rest and recuperation before going forward again. He said that during the day there generally wasn't so much activity in their area, as both sides could easily see the other. At night, both the Chinese and the UN forces sent out forward patrols into no-man’s land to gather information, catch prisoners or make raids. That is when it was most dangerous, and many lives were lost. Regular artillery and mortar shelling of the positions were constant dangers.
The Korean soldiers wore British uniform and the DLI cap badge. Their role was support, repairing, building and moving ammunition, supplies and equipment up to the front lines. Meanwhile, on Hill 355 the battalion continued to patrol vigorously, encountering Chinese patrols on occasion. On 10th June 1953, just five weeks before the ceasefire was signed, 39-year old Major Tresawna (below) was killed while coordinating a series of patrols in noman’s land.
‘One of my duties assigned to me when up the front was to supervise the Korean Service Corps chaps who brought up the supplies, mainly at dusk or first light. Now and then when needed I joined a patrol. I had just returned from being out on a patrol in front of hill 355 when summoned to the main Command Post and advised that I was being transferred to ‘S’ Company at ‘A’Echelon promoted to Full Corporal and Liason NCO to the South Korean Service Corps’.
The following is an extract from a letter written to his parents by a fellow infantryman: ‘Johnnie died as he would have liked to die, out on patrol in the green valley with the men of his company, shooting it out at close range. He was not particularly bloodthirsty, nor did he hate greatly the tough brown Chinamen who oppose us. He had a tremendous pride in his company, in this battalion, in the job on hand and in himself. We had all got to be better than Continued on page 38 December 2020 | 33
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anybody else, our trenches must be better, we must be smarter, our patrols must be better, our food must be better, we must be tougher. To use his own expression, we must be right on the ball, like Johnnie himself always was.
reaching agreement on the location of the border and the creation of a demilitarised zone along its length. No peace treaty has ever been signed and Korea remains bitterly divided into North and South to this day.
On the night in question Johnnie’s company had several big patrols forward and he, with two men and a wireless, were controlling them (from no-man’s land). Just before dawn he gave orders for the withdrawal, and as he was about the come in himself he was suddenly rushed by a more powerful body of the enemy. His little party fought it out, the other two men were wounded, and Johnnie was killed. The enemy drew off and we got the wounded and Johnnie’s body in’.
In September 1953, just before the battalion boarded the troopship to sail home, one important duty remained. At Pusan, the Durhams paraded for a memorial service in the UN Military Cemetary and, on that very emotional day, said goodbye to the 24 brothersin-arms who had been killed and three who were classified as ‘missing presumed dead’, none of whom would be returning home.
Richard says ‘Major Tresawna gave all in his company the confidence and inspiration to be the best we could be. He made sure that each and everyone in his company knew exactly why we were in Korea’. An armistice agreement was signed on 27th July 1953, the two sides finally
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Major Tresawna is buried in the United Nations cemetery at Pusan, South Korea. A brass plaque was dedicated to him in Probus Church and he is remembered on Probus War Memorial. The Korean War 1950 - 1953 saw a massive commitment of US, British, Commonwealth and troops from many other nations to serve under the United Nations banner. Seventy years
on casualty numbers are disputed, but the numbers are still shocking. In British historian Max Hastings’ 1987 book The Korean War, he wrote that 1263 British and Commonwealth troops, 33,629 US troops, 415,000 South Korean, and 1,800 troops from other nations were killed. On the other side, between half and one and a half million North Korea and Chinese troops were also killed. Civilian casualties on both sides count for 750,000 lives lost.
embarked on, what turned out to be a long and successful career in the global cell and battery manufacturing industry. Richard retired in 2011 aged 79. In 2014, Richard, along with other surviving members of the Korean War Association, was invited to the unveiling of the Korean War Memorial in central London. He was also presented with an 'Ambassador for Peace' award and medal by the government of South Korea.
Image: Richard’s medals. General Service (Malaya) Medal, (Queens) Korea Medal 1950 - 1953, United Nations Service Medal for Korea.
Image: The medal awarded to Richard Avery by the government of South Korea in 2014.
Sources, links and further reading • https://www.britishpathe.com/video/ koylis-back-from-malaya Image: The brass plaque in Probus Church for Major J A Tresawna DSO.
Prologue: After returning from Korea, Richard spent a further five years in the army. In November 1953 he was posted to the DCLI to prepare for deployment to Jamaica where he spent 8 months. In 1954 he transferred to the Pay Corp and served once more in Germany. Richard left the army in October 1958 and
• https://www.britishpathe.com/ workspaces/page/korean-war • https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/ voices-of-the-korean-war • http://www.thememoryproject.com/ stories/2869:peter-chisholm/ • The Durhams in Korea - by Harry Moses • The Korean War - by Max Hastings December 2020 | 39
Chapel Street allotments
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FAMILIAR morning sight to me over many years was Charles Warne slowly walking his white pony down from its stable at the back of the Comrades Club to the field on Ladock Road opposite the school and back again in the afternoon. Sadly, Charles passed away earlier this year and the pony has now been stabled elsewhere in the village. ‘Charlie's Field’, as it is commonly known, is part of the Tredenham Charity Fields estate, which also includes the allotments on Ladock Road which border the field, and Truck Hill. In view of the long allotment waiting list, the Trustees of the charity decided in October to convert the field to allotments. After clearing the boundaries, the field was divided into fifteen plots, which complement the fifty plots on the site adjacent to Charlie's field. This is the first time many of the new tenants have started gardening on this scale, and there are quite a few with young families. Also, two of the
40 | Probus News Magazine | Issue 252
allotments have been taken by Probus School as part of their educational programme. This is really encouraging and it will be great to see the field transformed from its present state into working allotments over the coming months. The current waiting list is almost down to zero, but if you want to register your interest when any of the allotments become free, please contact the charity's secretary Amanda Kendall on 01726 883614 or email her at probuspc@ gmail.com. Steve Dalton
Images: Some of the new allotment holders eagerly preparing the ground for what they hope will be a rich harvest next year. It’s exciting to think that by next summer this will be a mass of vegetables, flowers and no doubt the odd hen too. It’s not all child labour of course, veteran allotment holder Hilary Pardo (below) shows that a bit of elbow grease is needed to turn over the soil.
December 2020 | 41
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Messy Church
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HIS year has been different in so many ways and this Christmas’ Messy Church is another thing which is going to have to look different. We might not be able to all be together in church, but we have the next best thing – Messy Church in a bag – or rather in several bags. During advent we will have free activities available for you to pick up from the church and complete at home. The bags are full of fun nativity-themed decorations and cards for you to make. Almost everything is included. There will be a limited number of pens and glue packs for those who don’t have these at home. Packs will be available in the church porch for you to collect each week, the church is open 10-4 each day, and new activities will be put out each Saturday. 12 December – craft bag of 6 activities 19 December- Christingle in a bag We hope you enjoy what we have planned for you. Sue, Scott, Eleanor and the Messy Church team
Probus Over 60s Luncheon Club A message for all of our members.
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ADLY we are not going to be able to restart the Wednesday lunches until well into 2021 because of the
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ongoing COVID-19 advice. We had hoped to be back with a bang for our usual celebratory January lunch, but we are still concerned at the risk to you and to us. The winter will be strange for us all but we hope to be able to recommence lunches in the spring. We will let you know as soon as we can meet again. For now, we all send you our best wishes for Christmas and the New Year. We hope that you all keep well and are able to enjoy the festive season with your loved ones. With every good wish from Janet and Zena and all of their helpers.
Probus Ladies Group
A
T our recent virtual committee meeting (by email and phone), it was everyone’s opinion to delay our return to monthly group meetings until the spring.
Probus Ladies Group
Always members’ safety and wellbeing are in the forefront of the committee’s decisions. In March we will review the situation and ascertain how safe it will be to return to the hall. Because of the uncertainty, there have been no speakers booked for 2021/2022, but once we have fixed dates our speaker secretaries, Shirley and Norma, will do their best to arrange a programme. Meanwhile we look forward to a very different festive season. The committee would like to wish all of our members, both past and present, a very Happy Christmas.
Probus Book Club Uncertain Light by Marion Molteno
H
IGH in the mountains of wartorn Tajikistan, rebels abduct inspirational UN peace negotiator, Rahul Khan. The reader gradually meets all of Rahul’s closest friends whose lives begin to unravel, and who eventually make contact with each other. Tessa, now married with two children, has never stopped loving Rahul. Lance, a dedicated aid worker, has used Rahul’s friendship to avoid facing up to the gaps in his own life. Hugo, his UN supervisor feels responsible for the abduction and is driven to uncover the truth. Tajik translator Nargis owes Rahul a personal debt but has secrets she cannot share. Set in Central Asia following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the story vividly evokes a sense of place and atmosphere. With an authenticity and attention to detail that perfectly capture the nuanced compromises of relationships, the author weaves the strands of these interlocking worlds into a story of intimacy, hard choices, heartache and courage. Running through this moving story is a thread of Urdu and Persian poetry, which forms a reflective commentary on what Rahul and those closest to him are going through. It was an enthralling read, introducing me to a part of the world I knew little about, beautifully written and a page turner. I felt I was right there, inside the pages, living all of those characters’ worlds. I would highly recommend this book. Sheila Bing
Skateboard ramp
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S this year went on, the state of the skateboard ramp in Probus deteriorated to an extent that it became unsafe to use. Parish Councillor Nik Budden formed a task force to investigate what repairs were necessary, and who had the right skills to carry them out. He consulted widely with the users of the ramp and supported by fellow parish councillors and the clerk, made a proposal and received the budget necessary for the repairs to be carried out.
While this activity was underway, the ramp had to be fenced off for safety reasons, much to the chagrin of the teenagers who use it. In September, a contractor was engaged to remove the deck to stop it being ridden. Cornerstone Building Works of Mount Hawke were then commissioned to carry out the repairs. Repair works went on through October and on 19th November the ramp was inspected and signed-off as safe to use. Probus News went to check on the ramp on 28th November and found a queue of youngsters waiting their turn to do their thing. It was busy with a really positive buzz from those on it. All clearly very happy to be back on the ramp. Well done to all those involved in getting this important sporting (yes, it’s now an Olympic sport) facility reopened. More overleaf -> December 2020 | 45
Images: Aiden above and Alex below trying out Probus’ newly refurbished skateboard ramp. Email your action shots to Probus News (editorprobusnews@ gmail.com) and we’ll print more in the next edition.
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