Probus News July 2020 Issue No. 247
• 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 2
COMMUNITY NEWS AND NOTICES Bus timetables
into the shelters at the stops in the village.
Bus timetables have been chopping and changing since the new contract for the subsidised routes was implemented at the end of March and this coincided with the Coronavirus lockdown.
I suspect that times may change again at the end of the summer. I will update the timetables as and when necessary. Please abide by the government direction on the wearing of a face covering on public transport and adhere to spacing out within the buses as suggested by the bus operators.
Some services were reduced initially but, as from 1st June, full services are now running on all the routes through Probus: 27, 22 and 50.
If everyone sticks with the guidance, it should be possible to travel safely on the buses. Bob Egerton, Cornwall Councillor
Full timetables are available on my website at www.bobegerton.info and I have put timetables
Front Cover: ‘Wet nose’ by Tara Townsend
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. 3
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 John Cobbold
07412 126774 timstravels01@hotmail.com 01726 882649 07486 295414 01726 882495
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 Neil Staten Bryan Trebilcock Bob Egerton Dave Light Angie Smith Steve Flack Nigel Schofield Tony Paddock Graham Smith
01726 883408 01726 883699 01726 882747 01726 884451 01726 882087 07825234855 07956 049727 07974 577876 07486 295414 07968 478970
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
robertjdodd@hotmail.com neil.staten@live.co.uk bobegerton@mac.com contactus4real@gmail.com
Please send updates to
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 secretary@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
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OTHER NOTICES Face coverings on buses
How to contact the magazine... By hand: Articles for Probus News can be left at Trudgian Farm Shop in Probus Square, or at Treviglas Cottage, Treviglas Lane, TR2 4LH.
Passengers are advised that they must follow the government guidelines on the use of face By e-mail: editorprobusnews@gmail.com coverings when travelling by bus. We realise that there may be good reasons why some MANAGEMENT TEAM people should not wear face coverings and EDITOR: John Denyer children under 11 are excluded from the requirement, therefore, 01726 884531 mob: 07824 555519 where applicable, please advise the driver at the point of boarding. editorprobusnews@gmail.com Social distancing restrictions still apply on all buses, so please CHAIRMAN: Sheila Bing 01726 883400 plan your journey accordingly. We thank all passengers for their sheila.bing@outlook.com ongoing cooperation. SECRETARY: Peter Clarke peteclarke1950@gmail.com 01726 884177
SUB EDITOR: David Meggs 01726 883443 minesaredwine@hotmail.com
TREASURER: Ryland Shephard 01726 884365 ryland.shephard@btinternet.com
Latest news at www.transportforcornwall.co.uk
SUBMISSIONS DEADLINES The submissions deadline for articles, adverts, alterations and other items for the magazine is the 10th of every month. Items submitted after the deadline are unlikely to be considered for publication.
ADVERTISING: Kaye Ludlow
Publication dates August
Friday 31st July
September Friday 28th August October
Friday 25th September
November Friday 30th October December
Friday 11th December
No January issue
07968 722430 advertisingprobusnews@gmail.com
DEPUTY TREASURER: Terry Hodge 01726 884495 tjhodge321@gmail.com
DELIVERY MANAGER: Tim Joyce 01726 884574 timstravels01@hotmail.com
Ian Tumilty
Also available online: Go to issuu.com/probusnews/
01726 883202 itumilty@btinternet.com
SOCIAL MEDIA: Vanessa McGill
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. 5
PROOFREADERS: Marilyn Joyce Tania Williams and Teresa Hayhoe
Probus News is a non-profit making independent voluntary organisation. Your donations are always welcome. Printed by: Printout Ltd, Threemilestone
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Probus Comrades Club
installing perspex screens at the bar, taped areas as to where you can/can't stand, as well as outside bar options. As you can imagine, there are many things we need to consider, so we will be holding regular virtual committee meetings. Maybe, in the coming months, with some help from members, we could try to organise some outside sporting entertainment or such like events with safe, social distancing in place.
The committee would like to send good wishes to you all and to let you know that we are keen to start preparing for when we can eventually open our doors to you again.
We know that the advice and guidance can potentially change from one day to the next so we will keep you updated on any ideas we may have and our progress. Again, we would like to thank you for your continued support and any offers of help to take us forward in these unprecedented times would be much appreciated. Stay safe and take care.
The task is enormous. We need to adhere to government guidelines, so we are considering
Probus Bowling Club A few people have managed to visit the club for roll-ups but there are still plenty of spaces, for paid up members. After the recent rain, the green is looking really good and the new footpath by the wall is lovely. We are now allowed to play doubles, as long as you observe social distancing, so if you fancy a couple of hours in the fresh air to practise just give Dave Meggs a call to book a rink on 01726 883443 or 07850 945626.
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Probus Comrades Club Committee
SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES WE HOPE TO WELCOME YOU ALL BACK FROM 4TH JULY The Hawkins Arms was forced to close the doors on the 21st March due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. We anticipate the government will authorise the opening of beer gardens ahead of the inside bars and have been busy preparing for this. Upon reopening, we will adhere to the COVID-19 and government regulations and have added several strict but subtle measures to ensure your safety and ours: • • • • • •
a new outside bar has been constructed the smoking area has had a major facelift all garden tables are at least 2.5 meters apart – (subject to change) table service only using our easy online system for ordering and payment temporary closure of our car park to create an extended beer garden outside toilets
The new simple but effective ordering process will create an easy, risk free experience for everyone. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support. We understand that it has been a hard few months for everyone and we all need to adhere to these adjustments and changes. We cannot wait to welcome all our lovely customers back. In the meantime, we will continue to run our takeaway menu, and please follow us on for latest news and updates.
Keep well and stay safe. Peter & Anne-Marie NB: Due to the high interest in our imminent opening, we are taking table bookings. We will be hosting a BBQ selling hot dogs, burgers, pasta dishes and various salads. Eco friendly disposable cutlery, food and drink containers will be used, or should you wish to bring your own, please do so.
Hawkins Arms, Fore Street, Probus TR2 4JL 01726 8822009 hello@hawkinsarmsprobus.com 8
Editorial
Thank you essential workers
It’s great to be back editing this edition of Probus News Magazine. Thanks to everyone who commented about the last edition - it’s good to know the work we do is appreciated. I hope you like this one too. Next month I’ll be looking for your lockdown stories and images - please send them in.
Pat Naylor sent in this lovely image. Not sure exactly where it was in the village, but I’m certain the clever artist’s sentiment is shared by us all.
The local, national and international situation is evolving fast, with new changes and challenges emerging daily. In the midst of all this, we are all trying to find our own peace, or own new normal. Thanks to all those who have been volunteering, those working to keep us safe, healthy, fed and those behind the scenes who keep everything running. No doubt this pandemic will be with us for a long while, but as the lockdown relaxes, please don’t forget the small businesses in the village that supported the community when we needed it most. In this edition, you’ll see that we are not quite back to normal. Most of the regular updates from clubs, societies etc. are still missing. We’ve filled the gaps with a broad mix of articles: happy, sad, historical, contemporary and hopefully informative. A post on social media asking for images of wildlife and nature had a fantastic response. There are clearly some talented photographers in the village, including Rob Eschle who is a member of both Truro and St Austell Camera Clubs. Rob has offered to introduce any budding photographers to either club. So, if you are interested in progressing your photography, or meeting like-minded people, check out their websites: www.trurocameraclub.org.uk and www.staustellcameraclub.co.uk or contact Rob on robe1153@aol.com or 07951 409347. John
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Hall for Cornwall The following is an extract from the latest HFC blog: In June 2018, we closed the doors of our building to create a new space to match our ambitions. Recent work on our redevelopment had moved forward with great strides, with the digging out of the foundations for the new air conditioning system completed and the laying of timber decking at circle and balcony levels prepared for the new tiered seating to be installed. Beyond the auditorium, the Hall’s beauty was being unveiled and restored as decades of paint were removed to reveal the original granite walls.
This situation is fast-moving and dynamic. Progress is being monitored closely and is under continuous review. We are continuing to develop exciting plans for our inaugural season and the great news is that we still have major theatre producers calling to arrange dates in the
COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on theatres and live performance venues across the UK and with social isolation measures likely to be in place for some time, it is uncertain whether any will reopen this year.
Our redevelopment had a temporary pause last month as Kier reviewed its procedures to reflect the government’s instructions. Whilst work has now restarted and care and responsibility of the team are the priority, the pause, as a result of lockdown, brings an inevitable delay with our proposed reopening, which is now scheduled for Spring 2021 at the earliest.
programme. We are looking forward to sharing these with you later in the year when tickets will begin to go on sale. For more information go to www.hallforcornwall. co.uk 10
A message from Rev. Joachim
Probus & Grampound Surgeries Update
Psalm 26:6 ‘I wash my hands, LORD, to show my innocence, and I worship at your altar’.
The Surgery continues to operate with limited resources and services within the guidelines of NHS England and Public Health. We are still working a total triage model of care but where patients are being seen, we would kindly ask you to wear a face covering when attending appointments. This will help reduce the transmission of Coronavirus. The surgery has put in place risk measures to ensure your safety and the safety of our staff.
It gives me real pleasure to announce that the church building is now open to the public for private prayer and reflection. Please do feel free to come in and sit quietly in our church building. I ask that you all follow any signs and directions placed out and conform to the guidelines set by the government on social distancing etc. Services, for the moment, still cannot take place, but I remain hopeful that we will be able to welcome people into the church for worship in the near future.
In addition to the changes resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic, the surgery will be changing clinical systems, beginning on Monday 13th July and our go live date is 21st July. During this time we will continue to see patients who require urgent medical attention and we have put systems in place to limit the impact to patients. The main difference patients will notice is for those who use the online waiting-room, order their medication, view their medical records or book appointments online. This will be changing to a new clinical system called SystemOnline and the app can be downloaded for free once we go live.
This is an evolving situation and the guidelines are changing regularly, please do refer to our website (probuschurch.com) for the most up-to-date guidelines and look out for signs on the church doors explaining procedures. I know that the pandemic and the lockdown has been hard on many of you, we as a church are here to support anyone in the community in need, we are only a phone call or email away.
The new system will bring substantial benefits for patients and staff and we thank you in advance for your patience during the time of transition.
Thank you once again to everyone who has been putting in such a huge amount of effort to keep our community going at this time, and for all those small acts of kindness and generosity that I see happening all around the village.
To keep up to date with the changes that are happening please visit www.probussurgery.co.uk or if you do not have access to the internet the Reception team will be happy to help.
I continue to pray for you all and look forward to the day we can meet again without fear of disease. Reverend Joachim Foot
Verity Allen Deputy Practice Manager Probus Surgery 11
Charles Warne Charlie Warne was born at Parkengear, Probus on the 9th November 1929, one of four sons to Gladys and Henry Warne. Many people in Probus will have seen Charlie walking his horse every day from the stable on High Street to the meadow in Chapel Street. When he reached the age of 11 or 12, he had the opportunity, through his school, to access Hobbas’ Farm, at the end of Wagg Lane. Each year, for two weeks, children were given time to work on the farms, helping to pick potatoes. It was at this time that Charlie found his love of horses. He very quickly dismissed the intended task of potato picking for the Shire horses, learning all he could about them. Charlie learnt how to handle these big horses, break them and plough with them, even winning a prestigious ploughing competition when he was still quite young. Charlie Warne was, so we are told, a master ploughman.
Image: Charlie and Joan on their wedding day at St StephenIn-Brannel church and below with their young family.
At H C Nicholls & Sons, Charlie gained several local farmers as friends, and these friendships continued throughout his life. John Richards was one of these long-life friendships. Up until recently, Charlie was still called upon by John to sharpen his butchery knives, as John says, ‘No one could sharpen a knife as well as Charlie.’
Charlie spent many hours over on the farm, often when he should have been in school, but as he once said, ‘They never knew where I was to.’ On the farm, he went on to learn a second trade, the art of butchery. This put him in good stead for a job opportunity at the local slaughterhouse, owned at the time by H C Nicholls & Sons. But first, they had to persuade him to leave his beloved farm. After several attempts, Charlie eventually gave in and started work at the slaughterhouse. At the age of 28, on 30th March 1957, Charlie married local girl, Joan Truscott, and they moved to Goldmartyn in High Street, Probus and in time along came son Adrian and then daughter Mel.
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Charlie never lost his love for the farm and surrounded himself with animals throughout his life. There was the family pig, Susie, who often produced several piglets. A Jersey cow, Lucy, which, when younger, Charlie, plus Adrian and Mel, would regularly walk to Truck for milking. One day, in the hope that Adrian would follow in his love for horses, Charlie acquired a horse called Topper from his good friend Norman Bilkey. While Adrian preferred two wheels to four hooves, Mel inherited Charlie’s love of horses and had many memorable hacks with her Dad walking or driving in his car, alongside her and her pony Sonny.
Images: Left: Charlie with great grand-daughters Lillie and Lola and above, as many will remember him, walking his ponies Pepe and Apollo to the meadow for grazing.
Charlie’s friendships through his trade allowed him to bond with, train up and have plenty of banter with the younger generation who worked at Probus Slaughterhouse, later St Merryn Meat. Mel continues, ‘I know that Dad holds fond memories of them all. Even in recent times when Dad stayed with me in St Erth, one of the district nursing team knew him from his days at St Merryn Meat. They enjoyed catching up with old times, swapping stories and remembering friends and colleagues.
Mel remembered that they often went across to Grampound Road where Llewellyn Morgan lived on Resparveth farm. ‘When he and Charlie got together, you were never quite sure what mischief they would get up to or where it would end. Sadly, Llewellyn passed away some years ago, and I know Dad missed him dearly.’
‘Dad was born in Probus, grew up in the village, met his wife there, married and went on to have Adrian and me. He cherished his family, his four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Dad was a loving and amazing father, who did let us know when we overstepped the mark. He did everything he could to provide for his family, encouraging us to do well in school, later in employment, but always supporting us when things went wrong. ‘He will be greatly missed by us all. His death has meant the end of an era for our family, and as Continued on next page 13
Charles Henry Warne, 9th November 1929 to 15th May 2020. Rest in Peace.
Continued...
everything must end, he won’t be forgotten. Love you to the moon and back dad, grampy and great grampy, forever.’ Mel Smart
Images: Charlie and Joan and bottom, Charlie standing in the porch of Goldmartyn with his much admired summer flowers.
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The Probus Club of Probus
War Two medley of popular wartime songs. Where I could, I mentioned local birthdays and made several dedications.
What I did during the lockdown by Ian Tumilty
John Prine isn’t a household name - he is a country singer-songwriter whose many songs were recorded by big country stars with considerable success. I heard that he was in hospital and was seriously ill with COVID-19, so on 7th April, I sang Angel from Montgomery, one of his better-known songs. The next day he sadly died. Over the next few weeks, his songs were all over social media,
One of my ongoing interests in retirement has been music. I enjoy running the open mic events in the Comrades Club, performing at other musical events around Cornwall, and meeting up with like-minded individuals. COVID-19 has blown all that out of the water. While shielding, I still wanted to contribute to the local efforts in the village. I decided to provide, amongst other things, psychological wellbeing by singing and recording a daily song. Each day, the end result was posted to various Facebook pages and shared locally, regionally and beyond.
but I reckon I was in there first! The feedback has been extremely positive. Lots of people, many of them unknown to me, followed my daily efforts almost religiously, incorporating the songs into their lockdown routine. Comments have included ‘It’s the highlight of my day’, ‘I come in from work, put the kettle on and listen to your song’, ‘I wonder what the song will be tonight?’ It’s also been a hit with colleagues and friends from previous working environments, going back over 45 years. The daily hits on my Facebook page were between 100 and nearly 300. It has certainly not done my credibility any harm in the village!
I started on 21st March, along with my friend Tim Joyce, and we continued until the loosening of the lockdown on 15th May. That’s 56 different songs over 56 days. My intention was to sing mainly songs that folk could identify with and could bring back memories from their past. Certain days were earmarked for specific topics. On Fridays I would sing a good old singalong song that might usually only be sung after a few beers! Sundays was singers choice when I sang a song that was a favourite of mine.
It’s been a very rewarding episode in my life. Through a personal interest, I’ve been able to bring some enjoyment and something to look forward to for many people during worrying times.
Some anniversaries were also acknowledged. On St George’s Day, I sang Swing Low Sweet Chariot, on Anzac Day it was And the Band played Waltzing Matilda, and on VEDay75 I put together a World 15
Image: Richard Ludlow
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01726 882 635 07816 358 905 City & Guilds Qualified - Over 35 years experience 16
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01726 337600 Products 17
Nature everywhere around us
Towards the top of the UK animal food chain, foxes were very evident in the village during May and June. I heard of several chicken coop raids, so it’s worth taking the security of your poultry, and any pets kept outside, seriously at this time.
It will be summer by the time you read this, but we’ve had such a terrific spring. Plants burst into life, parents were, and still are, busy feeding their newly hatched offspring and our gardens are full of colour, insects and a host of other small animals.
We asked our readers to submit images of wildlife and nature from around the village and had an amazing response - too many to print, but on the following pages are a few that we had to share. Thanks to everyone who shared their images.
Image: bottom Richard Ludlow’s photograph of a vixen with two of her hungry cubs and top John Denyer with just the cubs. 18
Images: bottom - Jon Hibberd’s hare and top Rob Eschle’s Greenfinch 19
Images: Clockwise from above: Tara Townsend’s bumble bee, James Le Ruez cows in Wagg lane, Paula Brocklehurst lovely yellow flower and Skylar Retallick by Jade Whalley (admittedly, not wildlife, but too good not to share).
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Above, Richard Ludlow’s swans at Ruan Lanihorne, and below Pat Naylor’s dandelion seed head and a ‘Beautiful Demoiselle’ damsonfly from Fred Taylor.
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Images: Page 22 top Fred Taylor’s majestic kingfisher breakfasting at Tresillian Bridge, and left bottom Darrel Pascoe’s dragonflies emerging from their larva. This page: Darrel Pascoe’s deer, Rob Eschle’s goldfinch, James Le Ruez delphinium and Kerry Retallick’s Forget me nots. All images © of their respective owners 2020.
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Present day Cornish artists
subject matter, be it, human or animal, is for me an idyllic combination.’
In this article Tom highlights the charming art work of Probus based Cathy Stringer
Interestingly, Cathy concludes that she particularly enjoys painting children on the beaches of Cornwall. ‘As such paintings’ Cathy says ‘can be timeless, reminding many people of their own childhood memories.’
Cathy has lived in different parts of Cornwall for the greater part of her life. As a human and animal portrait painter Cathy, comments, ‘I am in awe of the unique, wonderful light, that illuminates the natural world about Cornwall.’ This aspect she adds, ‘coupled with the eclectic variety of available
Painting Cornwall’s wildlife and domestic animals that have a particular quirky character is another of Cathy’s favourite genres. Her art for example, can be seen in the TV Arla Milk advertisements which feature her painting of a cow on a pub sign. Cathy’s works, other than those reproduced
by Thomas J. Kennedy
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in this article, can be seen on her website www. cathystringer.com and at The Square Gallery in St Mawes. In addition, her work has been on permanent exhibition for many years at The Print Gallery, in the Cotswold village of Broadway. Cathy's work has been frequently exhibited in Cornwall at venues such as The Barn at the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Her paintings are also shown for the enjoyment of patients, staff and visitors alike at Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske.
The gull casts a menacing shadow in the child’s direction as she presumably digs for sand crabs or worms, and the gull, as scavengers do, seeks to steal the fruits of her labour. The element of light is simply and effectively demonstrated by the silver rippling wavelets glistening as they move from the deep blue sea to the shallower wet green foreshore. Needless to say, The Confrontation paints a thousand words.
However, as previously stated, some of Cathy's most evocative images are those depicting children at play on Cornwall’s beaches. To categorise the works of Cathy Stringer and file them in a single pigeon hole, labelled with a specific tag, would be unflattering. However, her ability to capture an image of one moment in time shows that there are elements of impressionism in her work as originally fashioned by J M W Turner, RA (1775- 1851), then developed by impressionists such as Oscar -Claude Monet (1840 -1926).
The contrast of how light affects the mood of a painting and its viewer can be illustrated by comparing The Confrontation above and the Boy on Pendower Beach below.
Both Turner and Monet painted outdoors (en plein air) to capture the appearance of the light as it flickered and faded while they worked. It is interesting how often viewers of art works overlook in paintings such elements as shadows, which can give a fair estimate of time scales. As a sun dial shows the shadowy passage of time, similarly shadows cast by both animate and inanimate objects in an artist’s work do the same thing. For example, in Cathy's works the position of the shadows in her paintings would, to an avid nerd sundial horologist, pin point the time she painted her (plein air) studies. This is clearly evident in the confrontational visual narrative in the painting depicting a cute little girl and a gull, called The Confrontation.
In the painting of the boy, the image is more sombre than that of the poppet confronting the gull. The image of the boy may ask the viewer to interrogate the activity of the boy more closely, given he is without company, all alone on a dull day. Continued on next page...
25
Post Office update
Continued from page 25
The opening of the new post office at Probus School Filling Station is delayed. Latest update from Vicky Poore is that they will not be in a position to open until at least the end of September. Until then, the pop-up post office continues on Tuesdays and Fridays 2-4 pm at Probus Village Hall.
The painting of the girl in the sun hat above again shows how subtle changes in the seas reflective nuance changes the mood of the overall image in that the surface of the sea is not too blue and not too grey. An analogy with Goldilocks porridge may perhaps be made, not too hot but not too cold, a perfect state for reflective thought.
Probus post box collection times While it’s subject to change at any time, the last collection times (Monday to Friday) for the five post boxes in and around Probus are as follows: Fore Street near Probus School Filling Station 4:45 pm Carne View 9 am Tregony Road, near Parkengear 9 am Truck 9 am
Yet it is not just children Cathy depicts on the foreshores of Cornwall's beaches. The final painting shown is a portrait of Cornwall's most senior Bard, Mac Waters, tending his pots.
Trewithen 9 am Letters and parcels can also be posted at the pop up post office at Probus Village Hall between 2-4 pm Tuesdays and Fridays.
Tom Kennedy is a sub editor at Cornish Story, University of Exeter’s international diaspora magazine 26
My evacuee story
Eventually, as you reach the little harbour, with its lifeboat station, there are just two of you left. At a cottage on the harbour’s edge, you are introduced to Mrs Ethel Shakson and her husband, Mr Charlie Shakson. She smiles, while he looks a bit fierce. This is to be your home for the next three and a half years, and this is Colin Williams’ evacuee story.
Imagine if you can. You are four years old (almost five) and living with Mum and Dad in Deptford, a stone’s throw from the southern bank of the River Thames and in the centre of London’s industrial heartland. Dad is a lighterman, who works on the river, moving barges and cargo around the docks.
Charlie Shakson was a Clovelly fisherman, the lifeboat engineer, the harbour master, the mortuary keeper, the pallbearer and the volunteer coast guard. Nothing much went on in Clovelly and certainly not in the harbour without him knowing about it. Ethel Shakson was a generous, loving woman. They had no children of their own and warmly welcomed Colin and his new roommate Peter Tibbles (also from London) into their world.
It’s early September 1939 and war with Germany has just been declared, and just like in 1914, once again the lamps start to go out all over Europe. You are dressed in your best clothes. You are told to put the gas mask in its cardboard box over one shoulder, and a canvas satchel containing a banana, a drink and sandwich over the other. There is a big buff coloured label with your name on it. A small suitcase follows containing a change of clothes, your plimsolls and perhaps your favourite toy.
Colin can vividly recall some memories of this time, as if it was yesterday. He remembers being given a pair of ‘best boots’ for school and church that had to be polished regularly. He wasn’t allowed to wear the boots at other times, often preferring to go barefoot in and around the harbour.
You assemble at the school, say goodbye to Mum, but can’t find your friends and have no idea really what is happening. You are taken to Paddington Station, put on a train with 1000 other children heading for the west country.
With an additional 100 evacuee pupils in the area, the small school at Higher Clovelly was rapidly expanded. Four extra classrooms were created by dividing the hall with heavy curtains. There were constant distractions from the other side of the curtain but Colin and Peter were able to go home for lunch, being given an extra 15 minutes to get up and down the steep hill to the harbour.
Later, much later, you remember changing trains at Plymouth, there are less of you now, but still a hundred or more. You arrive at Bideford and are then put on a bus and driven to a small fishing port called Clovelly on the North Devon coastline. The journey has taken two days, and you have forgotten to eat the banana. At Clovelly, the children are allocated to their host families. A dozen go to the Manor House, you are told to follow along down the High Street as more and more children are deposited here and there.
Sundays were busy days. Chapel first thing, then home for lunch before Sunday School in the afternoon, then to Clovelly Church in the evening. Colin remembers helping Mrs Shakson in the kitchen preparing the Sunday lunch on the coalfired range. Continued on page 36 27
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After a year, Colin’s mother was able to visit Clovelly and visited annually after that. On first arriving, she asked Mrs Shakson where Colin was. ‘Look out of the window, there be Colin rowing across the harbour’, Mrs Shakson said. Colin’s mother gasped, ‘Oh dear, is that safe? He can’t swim’. The blunt reply was ‘Well, he can now’.
Continued from page 27
Not long after arriving, Mr Shakson gave Colin his own dingy with the name ‘Colin’ painted on the bow.
It was an amazing opportunity for a young London boy, with a mass of freedom in an idyllic environment. He quickly learnt to swim and to skull over the stern of his dingy. He learned how to fish with a line and catch crabs using a cane and hook. He became a skilled cliff climber and soon developed a lifelong passion for rowing. He became fairly self-sufficient and independent at a very young age, learning cooking, ironing and how to do chores from Mrs Shakson. It was also a basic life with no electricity or gas in the fisherman’s cottages. Lighting was by oil lamp and the milkman delivered milk carrying two churns on a yoke over his shoulder.
Another memory was of Motor Torpedo Boats anchoring overnight just outside the harbour and German aircraft strafing them. Other than that in some respects the war seemed a long way away. Colin returned to London in 1943 when he was nearly 10 to find the family home had been bombed. There were bomb sites everywhere which became a magnet to Colin and his gang of kids. Later, when the Germans launched V1 and V2 rockets at London, Colin and his grandparents were evacuated to the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. While away, a V2 rocket hit the J. Stones & Co engineering factory at the end of their road.
There was freedom, but it wasn’t all fun. Colin missed his Mum. He contracted impetigo and remembers the painful yellow scabs on his legs. There was tragedy too when his room mate Peter developed meningitis and died.
Colin talks very positively of his time in Clovelly. It was a defining time in his life. After the war he returned several times, eventually moving with his own family to Bude before settling here in Probus.
Still only 6 or 7 years old, Colin remembers helping Charlie Shakson and his brother fishing for herring just outside the harbour. They would row out in two ‘drift boats’ towing a net between them. Colin’s job was to shake the net as it was pulled in, freeing the herrings and packing them in baskets. 36
Images: Clockwise from top left, Colin’s bedroom window in Clovelly harbour, with his mum on an annual visit, Charlie Shakson’s father telling a story to a group of local and evacuee children in October 1940 (Colin is 3rd from right), Colin today. 37
The Beekeeper of Aleppo and others
others they attempt to get into Greece, into the EU, dreaming of starting a new life in the UK. It’s a story of survival against the odds.
I recently listened to an audiobook version of The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri, skillfully and empathetically narrated by the actor Art Malik.
It was such a fascinating and gripping story that I completed the 8-hour recording within two days. The audiobook was free to download care of Cornwall Council’s library. It’s such a useful service. In fact, it’s been a productive couple of months book-wise. After getting utterly disenfranchised with contemporary TV, radio, reading pointless negativity on social media, and with no live sport, to avoid spiraling into a malaise, I decided to catch up on books, some new and some originally read years ago and that I always wanted to reread. First up was When the Lion Feeds by Wilbur Smith originally read in the 1970s. Set in 1870 in Natal, it’s the first of a long series of books Smith wrote about Southern Africa. All ripping adventure yarns, set in a place and era that was alien, yet fascinating to me as a young man. That was followed by One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn - part of my English curriculum at school - a short book less than 150 pages, about a Russian man imprisoned in a Soviet labour camp in the early 1950s. Solzhenitsyn, writing from his own experiences in a gulag, provides a harrowing description of the brutal treatment inmates endured. Mostly, it’s also a story about survival.
It’s a tragic tale. A Syrian man, a beekeeper, and his wife, live a comfortable, normal and happy life in the beautiful city of Aleppo. In 2015, the city becomes a battleground as the civil war rages around them. First the apiary, and the business is destroyed, then their son is killed by a bomb blast that also blinds his wife. Their home is next and eventually everything they know is totally devastated and almost everyone they know is either dead or has left the city.
Then it was The Paladin by Brian Garfield found dusty and hidden on the top bookshelf, Courtney’s War another by Wilbur Smith and The Afgan by Frederick Forsyth - all adventure novels. I make no apologies for trying to escape from the present for a short while.
They decide to escape. The story follows them as they attempt the dangerous journey across the border into Turkey, then, along with thousands of 38
It then got a bit more serious. Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham is the story behind the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 in Ukraine, and the subsequent failed cover-up.
Then, Six Minutes in May by Nicholas Shakespeare - another in-depth look into the characters, the politics and timeline of events that led to Winston Churchill becoming Prime Minister in May 1940. I’d recommend both books if you like the ‘story behind the story’ kind of historical nonfiction writing. I also confess to starting Swedish crime writer Hakan Nesser’s novel The Mind’s Eye, but that failed my 100-page test. They don’t call this style of book Scandic or Nordic Noir for nothing. It was dreary. Up next is One Bright Moon by Andrew Kwong, about a teenager trying to escape from Mao’s China during the cultural revolution, then J.D.Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye. What have you been reading? Let us know of any books you recommend. What is your test for continuing or giving up on a book that you find a bit hard going? JD
Bernie Porter We regret to report the passing of Bernie Porter from Wagg Lane, who died suddenly on 21st April. Bernie and his wife Maggie have lived in Probus for 5 years and were early volunteers for last autumn’s daffodil bulb planting around the village. Bernie is pictured here in the centre of the photo wearing a bush hat. Bernie Porter 1937 - 2020. Sadly missed by family and friends. Rest in Peace. 13 39
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Probus Property Over the last month the market has been incredibly active in Probus with several new properties coming onto the market as well as potential buyers offering and agreeing to buy. We are continuing to see Probus residents moving within the village as well as locally connected people moving into the village. Naturally, there is also interest from out of county buyers however they appear to be focusing their search in more coastal locations within the county. If you are considering a move, then please do not hesitate to contact me. Sean Johnston Philip Martin Estate Agents sjohnston@philip-martin.co.uk 01872 242244 44
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