Probus News Magazine - February 2023

What’s inside

FREE CPR/AED

sessions

Page 4

Probus Church grounds

Page 11

It’s show time!

Page 9-10

How to contact us...

By

e-mail:

editorprobusnews@gmail.com

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 07824 555519 editorprobusnews@gmail.com

CHAIRMAN: Sheila Bing 01726 883400 sheila.bing@outlook.com

A look back at 2022

Page 16,17,24,25

Nancegollan Observatory

Page 30-32

A spooky story

Page 36-37

Plus: Church services, Probus postcards, Treegoose snowdrops, The Bird Lady of Fowey and more. Front Cover: Peanut a Mexican Burrowing Owl by the Editor. Jubilee lamp graphic: Paul Lakeman @paullakemanart

Submission deadlines for articles, adverts, alterations and other items for the magazine is the 10th of every month.

Publication dates

December Friday 9th December

January 2023

No edition published

February Friday 27th January

March

April

May

Friday 3rd March

Friday 31st March

Friday 28th April

Available online:

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DELIVERY MANAGER: Tim Joyce 01726 884574 timstravels01@hotmail.com

www.issuu.com/ probusnews/

Probus News is a non-profit making, independent voluntary organisation. Your donations are always welcome.

Public notice

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.

EDITORIAL: David Meggs 01726 883443 minesaredwine@hotmail.com Sarah Hoggett 07931 502 939 sarah.hoggett@btopenworld.com

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SOCIAL MEDIA: Vanessa McGill @probusnews

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Community News and Notices

Free CPR/AED awareness sessions

CPRand defibrillator (AED) awareness sessions will be held in Probus Village Hall on Saturday 25th February or Saturday 18th March 10 am to 12 noon.

Please come along to learn (or refamiliarise yourself) with something that could save a life.

No booking needed - just turn up. The sessions, sponsored by Probus Surgery will be run by Kate Woolven.

Two defibrillators were commissioned in the village following fundraising by Probus Ladies Group. The images here were taken from a similar session held by Kate in July 2016. Follow up sessions were also held in March and April 2019.

Cllr Karen Glasson

Volunteers needed

IAMin the initial stages, along with the Probus Environment Action Team, of setting up a community volunteer group to clear overgrown areas in the village. This is in conjunction with Cormac who have offered assistance with equipment. I will announce more in the coming weeks but if you would like to know more about this, or get involved, please get in touch.

Recently I have been helping the residents of Tregony View to set up a management committee and I will continue to support this.

I have so far this financial year provided some funds (from my Community Chest fund) to Maria’s Animal Sanctuary to continue their excellent newsletter, I have also offered funds to Probus School. Last year I supported Probus School and Probus Community Larder. If any community group would like to apply, please let me know.

We will be doing speedwatch in the village in the coming months so if anyone would like to join, please let me know. The VAS at the entrance to the west end of the village is due to be fixed shortly and will allow us to monitor speeds in and out of the village.

The Devolution Deal public consultation runs until 17 February, so if you have not already done so please do submit your thoughts on the Let’s Talk Cornwall webpage https://letstalk.cornwall.gov. uk/.

TOget the village hall ready for the panto, volunteers are needed for the erection and dismantling of the raised seating. It’s a significant effort (although tremendous fun!) to turn the village hall into a 170 seater auditorium, so loads of helpers are needed.

For the put up: Thursday 9th February, (from 9 am through to the evening), Friday 10th February (day time and evening).

For the pull down: Sunday 19th February (from 9 am).

If you can help, even for an hour or two, please contact Nicky Hughes on 07921 438082 and get your name on the list (or just turn up). Refreshments, giggles and a pasty provided. Over 18s only please.

Acoustics Night (Comrades Club) Tim Joyce 07412 126774 or Ian Tumilty or 07849 199959

Badminton Club Pauline Partridge 01726 882649

Bees (swarms/issues/questions) Tony Paddock 07486 295414

Bowling Club

Church Bell Ringers

David Meggs 01726 883443

Liza Deards 07888 684425

Please

Churchwarden Andy McCartney probus.churchwarden@gmail.com

Comrades Club Bryan Trebilcock 01726 882747

Cornwall Councillor Karen Glasson 07980 975527 cllr.karen.glasson@cornwall.gov.uk

Cycling – Probus Pedallers Dave Light 07966 683852 or Colin Brown 07484 740249

Dance Classes Children (4Real) Angie Smith 07825 234855 contactus4real@gmail.com

Football - Saturday Club Steve Flack 07956 049727

Probus Youth FC - Juniors Eric Bendelow 07917 008491

Probus FC - Seniors (First Team) Graham Smith 07968 478970

Is

Friends of Probus Church Richard Heath 07849 315432 geotechrich@gmail.com

Friends of Probus Surgery Anthea Johnson tbc

Grampound Road Cricket Club The Club House 07800 915578 grampoundroadcricketclub@gmail. com

Hawkins Arms Graham and Phil 01726 882208 www.thehawkinsprobus.co.uk

Historic Cornwall Society Vince Van Kempen-Wilson 01726 883019 vince.vkw@gmail.com

Kids Club Breakfast/after-school at Probus School Diane Gibbs 01726 882647 kidsclub@probusschool.org.uk

Knit & Natter Group Eve Richards 01726 882657 or 07767 383982

Litter Picking Group Steve Dalton 07813 995206 stevedalton166@btinternet.com

Little Lights

Mid Cornwall Wood Turners

Pam Cobbold 01726 882495 jplelissick@btinternet.com

Pauline Salisbury secretary@midcornwallturners.com

Over 60s Luncheon Club Zena 01726 882751 or Janet 01726 882927

Parish Players (Pantomime) Cathy Cadby 07860 755787 info@probusparishplayers.co.uk

Playing Field Mgmt Committee Graham Smith 07968 478 970

Probus Parish Church Rev. Joachim Foot 01726 882218/07930 095687 rector@probusteam.com

Parish Council Clerk Maria Roper 07749 626021 clerk@probusparishcouncil.gov.uk

Probus Primary School Angela Praed 01726 882647 hello@probusschool.org.uk

Probus Primary School PTA Sophie Baker 01726 882647

Probus Club of Probus Nick Hibbett 01726 883093 nick.hibbett@btinternet.com

Probus Environmental Action Team (PEAT)/Probus Churchground maintenance

Probus Nursery

Steve Dalton 07813 995206 probus.peat@btinternet.com

Nick Lauder 07403 659869 n.lauder29@btinternet.com

Angela Praed 01726 882647 hello@probusschool.org.uk

Sticker Memory Cafe 07901 147353 or 07717333713

The Roseland Academy 01872 530675 www.theroseland.co.uk

U3A Roseland & District Terry Neil 01872 530196 Village Hall Letting Secretary 07749 368162 lettings@probusvillagehall.co.uk

Walking Group - Wednesdays Terry Hodge or Tim Joyce 01726 884495 or 01726 884574

Young Farmers

- Fridays Teresa Hayhoe or Kaye Ludlow 07720 393745 or 07968 722430

Joey Wagstaff 07443 514854

Other village pages: Probus Cornwall, Probus Super Mums!, Probus News Magazine, Probus Swap and Sell

Editorial HAPPY

New Year to all of our readers. Here we are again at the start of a new year and my first question is - has anyone already given up on a new years resolution? If that’s you, please do let us know and we promise not to publish your name unless you want us to!

Just in case you missed it, be sure to return to page four to read about the free CPR/AED awareness sessions being run by Kate Woolven. It’s been three years plus since these very friendly and useful sessions were held, so come along and learn something that could just save a life.

Enjoy February, whatever the weather brings. Spring is just around the corner.

John

Do you have a problem?

Why not contact one of your local parish councillors for advice?

Chris

COMMUNITY FOOD LARDER

PROBUS PARISH CHURCH

Our local community larder is FREE and open to EVERYBODY to use in Probus and the surrounding area.

JUST DROP IN

Help us, help you & reduce food waste!

NO ONE GOES HUNGRY PROBUS & SURROUNDING AREA.

Isolating or can’t get out?

Please email nochildgoeshungryprobus@gmail.com to find out about our delivered food parcels.

wwwprobusparishcouncil.gov.uk

Ross

884007

Rachel Tofts Carne View Road 07432 566055 racheltofts@probusparishcouncil.gov.uk

There are currently two parish councillor vacancies. Please contact the clerk or any of the above for details.

If you are not able to contact a particular councillor, then contact the Parish Council Clerk Maria Roper 07749 626021 clerk@probusparishcouncil.gov.uk - Cornwall Councillor Karen Glasson can also be contacted on 07980 975527 or cllr.karen.glasson@cornwall.gov.uk for advice.

A message from the curate

IKNOWit will be February by the time you read this but can I wish you all a joyous new year. That might seem a bit like a throw-away platitude but it is genuinely my wish and prayer for you all.

The irony is that however much we have said “happy new year” in January, there are a great number of people who at this moment are far from happy. The post-Christmas blues with its financial hangover from the excesses of the festive season and with a continuing need to keep warm, can be a great struggle and a strain on our mental health.

I would like to offer some hope both spiritually and practically. The message of Christmas has always been about God stepping into our messy lives and sorting out what we are incapable of sorting out ourselves. The Christmas decorations may well be back in the loft now, but this aspect of the Christmas message still applies. Jesus came as a child but returned as saviour and victor over death and nothing in our lives is too big for him to deal with so, as the Sunday school song reminds us, I would encourage you to “take it to the Lord in prayer”.

For those who may be feeling the pinch financially at this time I would also like to direct you to others who can help. The food larder that runs out of the church provides an essential service, four days a week in reducing food waste and supporting those from all walks of life who are struggling to heat and eat at this time. If you haven’t been before and

could do with the help, then do drop in (all you need to bring is your own bag).

And by the time this is printed there will also be an opportunity to get advice from different experts from outside agencies at our help desk during regular larder sessions. This help could be focussed on managing debt, finding out what support you may be eligible for or reducing your fuel bills. Help and Hope are available this new year from all sorts of directions and that is why I can confidently wish for you all a joyous year ahead.

Rev’d Paul

February church services

Sunday 5th 9:30 am Connect

11 am Holy Communion

Sunday 12th 9:30 am Alternative Holy Communion

Sunday 19th 9:30 am Connect

Sunday 26th 9:30 am Holy Communion 4 pm Cafe Church

Other regular events

Little Lights: 1:30-3:30 pm

Thursday 2nd

Tower Tots : 1:30-3:30 pm

Thursday 9th & 23rd

Coffee mornings: Tuesdays 10:30 am12 noon. Fridays 9 - 11 am. First Saturday each month 10 am - 12 noon

Youth Club: (Years 7 - 13) Alternate Sunday evenings

Probus Church grounds

THEteam of volunteers has been busy again removing overgrown bramble and ivy from several areas which have revealed some remarkable gravestones that have been hidden for many years. In our recent exercise we tackled some stubborn brambles and overgrown ivy and holly near the Hawkins memorial and the pictures show what a tremendous difference this has made. We intend to continue this work each Wednesday morning starting at about 9:30 am and lasting for an hour or so. The work is very satisfying, and we would be delighted if more helpers could join us – just bring stout gloves and secateurs, if you have them.

Over the last few months, we have filled many large dumpy bags with grass, bramble, and other material which we have found difficult to have moved. After discussions with Cormac, they have arranged for it all to be removed and we now expect a regular visit from them to continue with this. We are very grateful for their assistance.

As well as our Wednesday morning sessions, Nick Lauder will be in the church grounds on the first and last Thursday afternoon of each month from October to March between 3 and 5 pm –please join him if you can help us make the area a delightful place to be. If you could help at any other time, please contact Nick or Steve on the numbers below.

We were very happy to receive several hundred crocus bulbs which we have planted at the front of the church. They were obtained by Terry Hodge via Playing Place Rotary Club as part of their global campaign towards eradicating polio in Africa. Over time these will spread and provide a lovely display along the path.

Many thanks to those people who have left seed packets in the box in the church porch. The box is still there, and the seeds will be used to grow plants for the grounds.

Steve Dalton at probus.peat@btinternet 07813 995206 or Nick Lauder at n.lauder29@btinternet.com 07403 659869

Editor: See page 40 for another find by the team.

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WILL WRITERS SERVICES offers Estate Planning, Will Writing and Preparation of Lasting Power of Attorney.

We visit you in your own home for your convenience. We are a local company and talk in plain language that is easy to understand. Please call for further information or to arrange an appointment.

A SIMPLE WILL IS JUST £150 01579383892/07979850128 willwritersservices.co.uk

Review of 2022

ASthis is the first issue of Probus News this year, we thought we’d take a trip down Memory Lane and look back at some of the village events of 2022.

JANUARY

The year started with a bang – quite literally – with a magnificent fireworks display in the garden of the Hawkins Arms as the clock struck 12 on 31st December.

FEBRUARY

This was a great month for showcasing local talent! The highlight, of course, was the return of the village panto after missing the previous year thanks to the pandemic. Probus Parish Players put on their 30th anniversary production, Alice in Wonderland, over five sell-out performances. The cast was the biggest ever, numbering 58, with a further 22 people assisting front of house and behind the scenes.

This year’s production, from 16th to 18th February, will be Aladdin. For more information, turn to page 9.

February 2022 also saw the return of the Acoustics Night, held in the Comrades Club on the last Monday of every month, with performances by local musicians, poets and storytellers.

This month also saw the re-roofing of the village hall, the first in a long list of planned renovations.

MARCH

The Jubilee Lamp, which has graced the Square for 120 years, got a lick of gold paint to spruce it up in time for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June. (Sadly, its glory turned out to be somewhat short lived – see August, page 25.)

APRIL

With 16 wins out of 20 matches, Probus FC trounced the opposition to become champions of Division 3 of the Trelawny League, thus gaining promotion to Division 2.

MAY

In preparation for the Queen’s jubilee, red, white and blue bunting was hung along Fore Street and in the village hall.

(continued on page 24)

Tregoose snowdrops

By the Editor

LASTJanuary we were lucky enough to visit Tregoose on the outskirts of Probus. Over the past 21 or more years, Alison and Anthony O’Connor have collected and cultivated over 50 different varieties of snowdrops in their extensive garden.

These delicate little plants really warm the soul during the winter months and are such a delight to see.

The gardens are open to the public at certain times in January and February. Just look out for the roadside notice on the A390 - just before the New Stables turn to Grampound Road. When open it’s highly recommended to visit.

Probus Club of Probus

By Nick Hibbett

Not one ‘bird in the hand’ but three!

Forcenturies Barn Owls have been associated with graveyards, where they hunt for small mice and voles, which added to their flitting by on silent ghostly wings and screeching calls

qualified falconer since 2015 and holds a full licence to keep and fly a range of 9 owls and 3 hawks on her five acre smallholding just outside Fowey. Her talk, containing a wealth of information was illustrated by three ‘characters’ from her collection.

First, Probus members were introduced to ‘Peanut’, a 7 year old Little Burrowing Owl who, placed on the table in front of Sarah and despite his tiny size proceeded to captivate his audience with his piercing stare whilst swiveling his head through 270 degrees.

Many of the commonly held ‘owl assumptions’ were dispelled as we learned that not all owls hoot. Peanut’s call is in fact ‘pip pip’, and not all owls hunt at night, many hunt during daylight and these are commonly those with yellow/light coloured eyes.

enhanced their superstitious association with the dead. In Mexico however owls have a much closer link and are widely considered to be messengers to the dead! The ‘Little Burrowing Owl’ common in the Americas, makes its nest in burrow colonies (often fighting with and ousting Meercats) where locals leave written messages to their departed at the burrow entrance. The owls habitually then take these offerings underground to eat or enhance their nest.

This fascinating piece of information was part of a recent talk to the Probus Club of Probus by Sarah Worne, aka ‘The Bird Lady of Fowey’. Sarah has been a

Next to appear was ‘Victor’, at 12 year old an African Spotted Eagle Owl. Whilst being the smallest of the Eagle Owls, weighing in at over two pounds Victor was a much larger and formidable bird. Victor arrived from up-country having lost his mate and was in declining health, so it was great to hear that his move to Cornwall had been the answer

for him. An interesting fact was that his prominent ears were not ears at all but tufts of feathers used mainly for signaling other owls.

exposing their target to the females who swoop in for the kill. Sarah told us that whilst being exercised on a long leash at home in Fowey an overconfident Jackdaw fell victim to Loki’s speed and razor sharp talons.

While Loki weighed up the food value of the audience Sarah explained that every village in medieval times would have ‘falconers’, and captive birds of prey were used to catch food and deal with vermin, until the common use of guns lead to their rapid decline. Falconry however leaves a lasting impression on the English language with phrases like ‘A bird on the hand’ and being ‘fed up’ (a bird of prey will not hunt unless it is hungry).

As Victor was reluctantly persuaded back into his carry box Sarah produced something entirely different again, a sleek powerful killing machine, ‘Loki’ the 7 yr old Harris Hawk. Perfectly adapted for hunting among the cacti of S. America with long legs and powerful talons, Harris Hawks apparently hunt like wolves, in a pack with the males flying high, spotting prey and acting as beaters

Our talk was fascinating, moving and educational, thanks to Sarah who was a superb speaker and a passionate advocate for falconry, for owls of any kind and birds of prey. Probus Club has already fixed a date to visit and see ‘The Bird Lady of Fowey’ and meet her wider avian family in 2023.

Images above left: Victor an African Eagle Owl (South Africa). Left and above: Loki a Harris Hawk (South America). On the previous page: Peanut a Burrowing Owl (Mexico)

(continued from page 17)

There was also a competition for children to paint pebbles on a jubilee theme. These were hidden around the village over the holiday weekend, with a prize going to those who found and returned the most.

JUNE

Village celebrations over the weekend of 1st to 4th June included the lighting of the jubilee beacon, various street parties, a competition for the best decorated house, a tea dance in the village hall and a lovely exhibition of artwork created by the children of Probus School.

There was live music by superstars too! Following their performance at the G7 Summit the previous year, local shanty group Du Hag Owr entertained an enthusiastic crowd in the pub garden, despite the drizzle. In total, the various events held in the village raised £700 for local charities and non-profit groups.

The same weekend the Ale Festival, held in the Comrades Club, raised £700 for mental health charity, Man Down Cornwall. It also featured several live music sessions, as well as an impressive array of beers and ciders.

JULY

The first weekend of the month saw the return of the ever-popular Shindig and Vintage Rally, with everything from push bikes and scooters to vintage cars and agricultural machinery on display. All profits this year went to Treliske Intensive Care Unit.

SEPTEMBER

September was dominated by the news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. A book of condolence was set up in the church.

AUGUST

After weeks without rain, South West Water introduced a hosepipe ban.

The Jubilee Lamp was brought crashing down in the dead of night. Whodunnit? We await news of it’s repair and return.

Having won the Division 2 title in Cornwall’s Group 3 earlier in the summer, Probus Men won the Cornwall-wide Division 2 title playing the final against Liskeard.

NOVEMBER

Probus Young Farmers put on another spectacular fireworks display and Probus Church Christmas Fayre attracted lots of visitors, despite the torrential rain.

DECEMBER

There were some glorious festive decorations around the village to celebrate the festive season and the tree on the cobbles looked marvelous.

Graham Bishop

Introducing

your Personal Travel Expert Graham Bishop

Hi, I’m Graham your new personal travel expert for Probus and surrounding areas. I grew up in the village and have recently relocated back and with me bring a new concept when it comes to travel. I do love to travel!

I love it so much that not only is it something I love to do in my spare time, I also made it my job. I have over 20 years’ experience in the travel industry, so there is very little I don’t know, but I am always making sure that I am learning, you are never to old to learn. This is my passion, helping people have the best experiences, finding those golden gems and making sure you get the most for your money. Please feel free to ask me any questions, it is quite a privilege making dreams come true, but hey, that’s what I do! There isn’t anything that I can book from package holidays to more bespoke holidays. So please do get in contact if I can help in anyway.

Look what I can book for you

 Ocean Cruises

 River Cruises

 Long-haul Holidays

 Luxury Holidays

 Land Tours

 Summer/Winter Holidays

 UK Breaks

 Flight Only

 Tailor-made Itineraries

 Wedding & Honeymoons

 Airport Hotels & Lounges

 Car Parking & Car Hire

 Attraction Tickets

And so much more!

Nancegollan Observatory

By Rod Lyon

WHENa person hears the words ‘Astronomical Observatory’, a picture is conjured up in that person’s mind of a vast domed building housing a very large and expensive telescope, like those seen in astronomical programmes on the television, with a dome generally around 35 to 40 metres in diameter. Now what if I said that there is an astronomical observatory with a dome diameter of just 2.2 metres? Well, that is the size of the Nancegollan Observatory dome.

Telescopes of this size can also be portable, being housed often indoors in a garage, and simply brought out on a clear night and set up in the garden or wherever the observing is to be carried out. This however has its drawbacks, as the telescope and mount itself is very heavy and the observer has to be young and strong to carry and mount the telescope. Once located in place, everything has to be set up exactly – that is, it must be perfectly level, correctly orientated to a minute of arc and all the electrical equipment brought out and connected.

This may seem very small for an astronomical observatory, but it serves the same purpose as the giant observatories mentioned above, in that it protects the telescope – in the Nancegollan Observatory, a 300mm diameter telescope - from the weather, and houses all the necessary electrical equipment for modern astronomical work.

With a permanent observatory, all of this is avoided, the telescope is already in place and set up ready for action. The only necessary job is to open up the observatory, connect up the electronic equipment, switch on, and open the dome slit. We are all ready to go!

So what sort of observing is generally carried out at Nancegollan Observatory? Contrary to what is probably thought,

extremely rarely is the telescope directly looked through with the naked eye, as with an ordinary terrestrial telescope, but has a special video camera inserted into the eyepiece (as shown in the

considerably clearer than the ‘raw’ set of images taken at the telescope. The reason for taking so many images of the one object is that anything due to atmospheric conditions which is not recorded on one frame, will be recorded on another.

image to the left), which is connected to a laptop alongside (as above), running software that records images being taken by the video camera. The image shown on the laptop screen in the photo is actually what is currently being recorded by the camera.

There are a number of parameters in the software which need to be set up at the start of each imaging session. Some may need to be changed for each individual object chosen, such as number of frames taken, brightness, exposure and frame rate, balance and whatever else may seem necessary in order to obtain the best image. The usual frame rate is between 20 and 50 frames per second and the number of frames taken 3,000.

Software is then used to enhance the ‘raw’ image taken at the telescope, allowing you to select the percentage of images you consider to be the best. The program will automatically stack these one on top of the other to form one composite image, which can then be ‘fine tuned’ for further clarity to give a final single image. This image is

The two photos (above and below) show two separate images of Lunar craters, with the top image being the same crater shown being taken ‘live’ at the telescope.

Probus News asked Rod how he first got into astronomy.

RL: My interest started at nine years of age when for Christmas I received Sir Robert Ball’s The Childrens’ Book of

the Heavens which I read from cover to cover over and over again. My first telescope, which I saved for, was a 4” brass telescope.

PN: What was your driver for building the observatory?

RL: I wanted the convenience of having the telescope permanently set up and ready for use. Also of course, an observatory provides considerable shelter from cold weather.

PN: How could anyone with an interest get involved in astronomy?

RL: Easily. If you have a keen interest, start off by purchasing a small portable tripod-mounted telescope, get a couple of simple books to learn your way around the sky and get going. Around £150 will buy you a good 5” (125mm) reflecting telescope, which would be

Probus’s own stars

ONWednesday 30th November Josh and Maisy were part of the Stagecoach Truro Choir supporting ITV X-Factor finalists G4 on their Christmas Tour 2022 at Truro Cathedral. It was a magnificent concert and so festive with Christmas classics, O Holy Night, Silent Night, Walking In The Air and many others. Congratulations to them both - what a night to remember.

plenty good and powerful enough to get some excellent views of the Moon, planets, star clusters, double stars, etc., and then with a little extra money, and when your interest grows and you start to become interested in a particular branch of astronomy, specialising perhaps in photography.

PN: How often do you use it?

RL: The observatory is used on every occasion that the weather is clear and the moon is available for observation (less frequently than many people think)

PN: Are you a member of an astronomical club or society?

RL: Yes, The British Astronomical Association. www.britastro.org

PN: Thank you very much.

If you’re looking to plan a funeral at the moment then you’ve probably got a lot of questions running through your mind. We are here to answer them, call us on Truro (01872) 274021.

www.wjbeswetherick.co.uk

Whatever your funeral needs we are here for you.

The Knocking at Wheal Peevor

A short story by Fox

Miller

NOone works down there anymore. The last functioning mine in Cornwall closed in 1998. The engine houses now stand as monumental gravestones to an age forgotten by most. My journey from the bungalow where I lived to the nearest bus stop would always cut through Wheal Peevor; a trail around several such monoliths crowning the abandoned mine beneath. Sometimes Mr Arthur’s sheep would jump over his poorly maintained fences and spread themselves across the trail, before eventually being wrangled up again by the irritable farmer. On a late autumn day, I came across one such sheep munching on tufts of grass beside its lamb. I passed by, not getting so close as to spook the pair. I didn’t even consider going to Mr Arthur’s house. He was an unwashed, unpleasant miser who I disliked being near, let alone talking to. Anyway, I would be late for the bus and the sheep certainly couldn’t fall down anywhere. The shafts were completely blocked off to anything but the tiniest dog. As I was considering this, I came to one such shaft in the shadow of an engine house. There was a heavy, metal grid sealed over the hole, like an oversized barbecue grill. I remembered tossing small stones through the gaps when I was younger, listening for the eventual “plop” as it hit the flooded depths far beneath my feet. I didn’t do it anymore. Perhaps I’d run out of good stones to drop. Perhaps I’d just grown bored after the one hundredth “plop”. As I left the hole and its memories, I heard a sound behind me.

A damp knocking. Three echoing thumps, each evenly spaced from the other. I turned back to the hole. Was I

hearing things? I had to be. Perhaps I was tired. All the same, I left Wheal Peevor at a slightly faster pace than usual. As I sprawled out onto the seat of the bus, my mind couldn’t help but wander to the stories my mother used to tell me.

The Knockers were the spirits of the underground. They helped the miners find precious metals and alerted them to crumbling shafts by tapping on the cold cavern walls. You never angered a Knocker unless you needed a deep stone tomb. They’d travelled the globe with the tales of Cornish miners, but some must have stayed behind. I used to wonder what had happened to them, in those cold, lonely tunnels where no light reached. What were they doing down there? What had become of them?

Throughout the day my mind drifted from such old stories to everyday troubles of school life. Maths, English Language, lunch, etc…

When I left the bus stop, I noticed sea mist drifting in from the northwest, clouding the land in fog. I didn’t even change from my ordinary pace back through Wheal Peevor until I came back to the shaft.

Out of the haze, I saw a lone sheep looking down through the grill. Its distressed cries sent a shiver down my spine. There were scrape marks leading from the centre of the path all the way to the grill, as if four little hooves had been dragged through the metal and into the hole.

Upon noticing me, the distraught sheep hopped away into the bushes, out of sight. I approached the grill slowly, expecting to see the metal stained with blood. I almost willed there to be a monstrous hole in the metal, where something ferocious had burst from. Some proof other than marks in the dirt. But the grill looked as sturdy and unbroken as ever.

Slowly, I picked up a stone and let it fall into the hole as I had done in years prior. It was a relief to hear the stone eventually “plop” into the water, though I couldn’t quite define why. There was silence for a long moment after its echoes faded, and I was just turning away when I heard a horribly familiar sound.

“Knock, Knock, Knock.”

The chillingly regular beat I’d heard before. All thoughts of self-preservation abandoned me as my eyes were drawn into the depths, looking for any sign

of a tangible shape in the darkness. I didn’t know what I’d find. Something humanoid perhaps? Or something beastlike?

“Knock, Knock, KNOCK.”

The sound was becoming louder! I ran out of Wheal Peevor as fast as I could, not daring to look back. I dived into the house and slammed the front door shut as though my life depended on it, much to my mother’s ire.

My father investigated the trail on Saturday morning. There were no bleating sheep on the path, nor sounds from the hole. He didn’t even consider that the scrape marks belonged to a lamb.

Despite his investigation, I never journeyed through Wheal Peevor again, deciding instead to walk beside the road. I pressed my shoulder up against the thorny bushes whenever a car came hurtling by, but it seemed safer than the alternative.

Through my bedroom window and between the trees, I could see the engine houses towering over the fields day after day. I never looked at them in the same way again. As I slept through the nights which followed, I dreamed of the horrible creatures lurking inside those tunnels. And I would wake in the dead of night to the sound of knocking beneath the floorboards.

Fox Miller from Probus is a student at Falmouth University. This story was originally published by them after winning first prize in their halloween story writing competition.

More stories from the English & Writing community at Falmouth University can be found at www.falwriting.com

The image of Wheal Peevor reproduced here with kind permission of Cornish Mine Images www.cornishmineimages. co.uk

Probus Book Club

By Liz Horder

THEbook some of us have been reading over the last two months is The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. It has 864 pages. We decided to give ourselves a bit longer to read the book, but some of the group didn’t read it at all.

The story is about 13 year old Theo Decker a New Yorker who goes with his mother to visit an art gallery to see a painting called The Goldfinch, one that his mother particularly loved.

During the visit to the gallery a bomb explodes and his mother is killed, along with others. Although buried under debris and dust, Theo survives largely unscathed. Amongst all the immediate post explosion chaos, he sees that The Goldfinch painting isn’t damaged and walks off with it.

The story then follows Theo’s life as he gets over that ordeal and grows from a teenager into adulthood. He eventually joins the antique business, still obsessed by The Goldfinch painting and tries to keep it safe - even though the authorities are searching for it. It is essentially, the story of a man who has experienced significant childhood trauma, has mental health and drug abuse issues and works in a shady business. Evidently the ending is not great, but I did not get to the end of the book myself. Most of us thought the writing good, but the story was far too long.

Tregony Over 50s Club IF

you are over 50 years of age I would like to invite you to join the Tregony Over 50s Club. The club meets once every three weeks on Tuesday afternoons, at 2:30 pm, in Tregony Village Hall.

On each occasion entertainment is provided and there are always welcome refreshments. The membership is currently just £10 per year and you will be made very welcome.

For further information please call Des Menear, Secretary, on 01872 530357.

Henry Caddy DOES

anyone know anything about Henry Caddy? His large and impressive marble memorial was recently uncovered in the churchyard. He was a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons (We are unsure about the E.L.S.A. qualification), and died quite young in 1890. He was highly regarded by his friends who paid for the memorial.

EVENTS DIARY 2023

Secretaries: To publicise your meetings or events, let us know well in advance and we will include details here. Contact details for all groups/clubs/societies can be found on page 7.

Key: PVH = Probus Village Hall. PCC = Probus Comrades Club.

Acoustic Night Upstairs (at Probus Comrades Club). Last Monday of the month, starting at 7:30 pm

Badminton Club: Meets at 8 pm every Monday at PVH

Coffee ‘n’ Chat: Every Tuesday morning 10:30 am to 12 noon at Probus Church. Open to everyone, young and old, church-goer or not – so if you fancy a cuppa and a bit of a natter, come along. Also, held on the first Saturday of each month between 10 am and 12 noon. Coffee, cake and a friendly welcome for everyone

Friendship Club: MHA Communities Cornwall are a national charity who run a friendship club for folk 60+, at PVH on the first Thursday of each month 10 am to 12 noon. Tracy Beavill 07720 680989 cornwall@mha.org.uk

Mid-Cornwall Wood Turners: Club nights are 1st Tuesday of each month and training nights are on the 3rd Tuesday each month

Mobile library: PVH car park between

11:30 am and 12:20 pm. Next visits are Friday 24th February, Friday 24th March and Friday 21st April. Latest updates are posted on www.facebook.com/ CornwallLibraries

Over 60s Luncheon Club: Every second and fourth Wednesday of the month - 8th February (one only in February because of pantomime) then 8th and 22nd March.

Probus Club of Probus: Thursday 16th February - lunch at The Falmouth Hotel with speaker Tony Watt.

Probus Historic Cornwall Society: Monday 6th February. Please note that this is the first Monday, not our usual second of the month. Speaker Martin Brockman on ‘The Torrey Canyon Disaster’. This is a return visit for Martin, who previously gave us a passionate and personal talk on the loss of the Solomon Browne and we look forward to welcoming him back.

Probus Knit and Natter Group: Every Wednesday 10 am at PCC

Probus Litter Pickers: First Saturday of each month at 10 am. Meet at PVH

Probus Pedallers: Leave from the surgery every Sunday at 9 am. The more leisurely group leaves at 10 am

Probus Walking Group: Every Wednesday 9 am or 9:30 am start. New members very welcome, but contact Tim Joyce or Terry Hodge first. Every Friday for shorter walks. 10 am. New members also always welcome. Contact Teresa Hayhoe or Kaye Ludlow

CPR and defibrillator (AED) awareness sessions will be held in Probus Village Hall on Saturday 25th February and Saturday 18th March 10am to 12 noon. Please come along to learn something that could save a life. No booking needed - just turn up.

Probus postcards

sure many of our readers will remember Shirley Wood, née Lobb, who passed away in 2003 aged just 42.

THANKS

to Jim Wood from Parkengear who kindly allowed Probus News access to his late wife’s prized postcard collection. I’m

Shirley’s collection is truly wonderful, with many old Probus images as well as many from surrounding villages. We’ll print more of these in the future.

Here we show both sides of a postcard stamped Probus 9th January 1904. Sent from Mab (Mabel?) to a Miss Rowse from Geen Mills in Probus. On the front are written two riddles - ‘Why is a bride most unfortunate?’ and ‘Why is an echo like a lady?’ If anyone can solve these 118 year old riddles, please do let us know.

Overleaf is another, much more modern postcard, dated 1995 or after. It shows Probus Demonstration Gardens, and a field between the football pitch and Carne View Road now all built upon with Bosnoweth. Can anyone date it more accurately?

Probus Walking Group

Friday walks

IT’Shard to believe that the Friday, shorter walks, walking group has been meeting for well over a year now. We have enjoyed, and learned about, the roads and footpaths around the village during this time. Many new friendships have been made, conversations had and jokes shared.

Along with the Wednesday group, and following their walk to Grampound and back, we enjoyed a festive afternoon buffet at the comrades club on the 7th December. Quite a number are, or have been, part of both groups. It was lovely for both groups to get together and everyone had a great time. The secret santa provided much amusement!

The Friday group has been largely lucky with the weather although we do often encounter quite muddy condition, particularly during the winter months, and sometimes our canine friends probably need a good bath before they are allowed back into their various homes I’m sure! It never ceases to amaze me how much the dogs enjoy the walks and meeting up with their own friends for their version of a good old chat!

The walks are generally about three miles and take about one and a half hours. We meet every Friday in the village hall car park at 10 am throughout the year, the only exception would be if Christmas day fell on a Friday or possibly a Saturday! So, whether you can only make the occasional Friday or would like to join us every week, please do come along.

Our details are on the A-Z of Probus clubs (page 6). Everyone is welcome, we are a pretty mixed bunch!

VEHICLE TESTING STATION

S. J. GRIGG PROBUS, TRURO 01726 882330

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Please contact us if you are interested in selling or purchasing a vehicle, as our stock is always changing.

PROPRIETORS: Stuart, Elaine and Philip Grigg