Probus News Magazine - May 2024

Probus

What’s

Bus timetable changes

Page 4

George Forrest plant hunter Pages 24-26

New High Sheriff Page 11

Tanzania: A lasting legacy Page 34-35

Caz’s fundraiser Pages 16-17

case crime

Page 40-41

Front cover: Mandy Anne Ket from the drag act ‘House of Damnation’ at the Caz’s Diner fundraiser (see page 16). Credit: Georgina Dyer Photography.

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

Publication dates 2024

June Friday 31st May

July Friday 28th June

August Friday 26th July

September Friday 30th August

October Friday 27th September

November Friday 25th October

Available online: 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. Our privacy and safeguarding policies are available on request to the Secretary.

By email: 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

SECRETARY: Peter Clarke 01726 884177 peteclarke1950@gmail.com

INTERIM TREASURER: Eddie Bokas 07758 246673 ecbokas13@gmail.com

ADVERTISING: Kaye Ludlow 07968 722430 advertisingprobusnews@gmail.com

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

EDITORIAL: David Meggs 07850 945626 minesaredwine@hotmail.com Sarah Hoggett 07931 502 939 sarah.hoggett@btopenworld.com

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jon Hibberd 07931 502921 jonyhibs58@gmail.com

SOCIAL MEDIA: Vanessa McGill

PROOFREADERS: Marilyn Joyce, Tania Williams and Teresa Hayhoe

Cold

Community News and Notices

New bus timetables

is a list (by time) of the latest routes to and from Truro from Probus Square. Let us know if this is useful, and we’ll do the eastbound routes next month.

Probus Square to Truro (weekdays)

Terry Hodge

ITis with deep sadness that I report the passing of Terry Hodge, the longest serving member of the Probus News Magazine Committee and friend to so many in the village.

Originally from Feock, but a long time resident of Probus, Terry has been involved in a wide range of groups in the village. He was very well known in the Comrades Club, fundamental to the village magazine as mentioned, but also the Probus Peddlers, Probus Walking Group and others. Always a very keen walker with a deep love of wildlife and nature in general, he introduced those who joined the Wednesday morning walks to many new walks around the county. Kind and generous, Terry was friends with and influenced a lot of people in Probus and always in a positive way. He will be missed terribly. More next month. Rest in peace Terry.

Do you have a problem?

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

wwwprobusparishcouncil.gov.uk

Alison Cook Nankilly 07516 794883 alisoncook@probusparishcouncil.gov.uk

Chris Dutton Carne View Road 07969 451207 chrisdutton@probusparishcouncil.gov.uk

James Faull Tresowgar Cottage 07494 756249 jamesfaull@probusparishcouncil.gov.uk

Nick Gillard (chair) Fore Street 01726 883926 nicholasgillard@probusparishcouncil.gov.uk

Neil Glasson Ladock Road 07709 286850 neilglasson@probusparishcouncil.gov.uk

Ross Goldworthy Gwell an Nans 07967 125526 rossgoldsworthy@probusparishcouncil.gov.uk

There are currently five 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.

Probus

Acoustics Night (Comrades Club) Tim Joyce 07412 126774

Badminton Club

Bees (swarms/issues/questions)

Bookworms

Bowling Club

Breakfast Club

Church Bell Ringers

Churchwarden

Comrades Club

Cornwall Councillor

Cycling – Probus Pedallers

Football - Saturday Club

Probus Youth FC - Juniors

Pauline Partridge 01726 882649

Tony Paddock 07486 295414

Gaynor O’Kane okanegaynor@gmail.com

David Meggs 07850 945626

John Denyer 07824 555519

Liza Deards 07888 684425

Please send updates to editorprobusnews@gmail.com

Andy McCartney probus.churchwarden@gmail.com

Bryan Trebilcock 01726 882747

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

Dave Light 07966 683852 or Colin Brown 07484 740249

Steve Flack 07956 049727

Eric Bendelow 07917 008491

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

Is your group missing? Let us know

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

Grampound Road Cricket Club

Hawkins Arms

The Club House 07800 915578 grampoundroadcricketclub@gmail. com

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

Historic Cornwall Society Joanna Czlonkowska 07399 544014 joannaczlonkowska@gmail.com

Kids Club Breakfast/after-school at Probus School

Knit & Natter Group

Litter Picking Group

Little Lights and toddler group

Mid Cornwall Wood Turners

Diane Gibbs 01726 882647 kidsclub@probusschool.org.uk

Eve Richards 01726 882657 or 07767 383982

Steve Dalton 07813 995206 stevedalton166@btinternet.com

Christine Salaman 07593 757299 salaman_pandc@yahoo.co.uk

Pauline Salisbury secretary@midcornwallturners.com

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

Parish Players (Pantomime)

Playing Field Mgmt Committee

Cathy Cadby 07860 755787 info@probusparishplayers.co.uk

Graham Smith 07968 478 970

Probus Parish Church Awaiting update

Parish Council Clerk

Probus Primary School

Probus Primary School PTA

Probus Club of Probus

Probus Environmental Action Team (PEAT)/Probus Churchground maintenance

Probus Nursery

Spotlights Youth Club

Maria Roper 07749 626021 clerk@probusparishcouncil.gov.uk

Angela Praed 01726 882647 hello@probusschool.org.uk

Chris Dutton 07969 451207 probuspta@gmail.com

Nick Hibbett 01726 883093 nick.hibbett@btinternet.com

Steve Dalton 07813 995206 probus.peat@btinternet.com

Nick Lauder 07403 659869 n.lauder29@btinternet.com

Angela Praed 01726 882647 hello@probusschool.org.uk

Christine Salaman 07593 757299 salaman_pandc@yahoo.co.uk

Sticker Memory Cafe 07901 147353 or 07717333713

U3A Roseland & District

Terry Neil 01872 530196

Village Hall Letting Secretary 07749 368162 lettings@probusvillagehall.co.uk

Walking Group - Wednesdays

Young Farmers

- Fridays

Peter Clarke 01726 884177

Teresa Hayhoe or Kaye Ludlow 07720 393754 or 07968 722430

Joey Wagstaff 07443 514854

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

Advertisers’ Index

A message from the curate THE

5th Sunday after Easter (this year 5th May) is traditionally known as Rogation Sunday and the days following are known as rogation days. The word rogation comes from the Latin “To ask” as this is traditionally a time when prayers of blessing and protection would be made for the parish and specifically that its agricultural land be fruitful in the year ahead. It would often include a practice called ‘beating the bounds’ in which a procession is made led by the priest carrying a cross, around the parish boundary as homes, businesses and fields are prayed for as they are passed.

This year our May bank holiday (6th May) lends itself as an ideal rogation day and I had in mind making a village wide event where all could get involved in sections of the route. Unfortunately, with a route that stretches to around 16 miles with some parts less or more navigable, the more I looked into this, the less it seemed feasible as a large scale event for now. Consequently, I’m planning to keep it simple this year and just say that I’ll be setting off from Tresillian Church at 8 am on Monday 6th, with a cross in one hand and a dog lead in the other to see how far I get around the Probus boundary and anyone who wishes to join me at any point is welcome to get in contact (curate@probusteam.com, 07549 292734).

My hope is that the whole of Probus can be encircled in prayer (if not completely in footprints) as we seek God’s blessing and protection for the future.

Paul

May church services

Sunday 5th 9:30 am Connect 11 am Holy Communion

Sunday 12th Ascension Sunday 9:30 am

Holy Communion 7 pm Songs of Praise

Sunday 19th Pentecost 9:30 am Connect

Sunday 26th Trinity Sunday 9:30 am

Holy Communion. 4 pm Cafe Church

Other events

Coffee mornings: Tuesdays 10:30 am12 noon. Fridays 9-11 am

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

Little Lights: Every Thursday 9:30-11 am

See also page 44 - What’s on Probus

New High Sheriff of Cornwall

From the London Gazette:

Appointment of Sheriffs

The Prince of Wales has been pleased to direct Letters Patent to be passed under the Privy Seal of His Royal Highness appointing Mr Stamford Timothy John Galsworthy of Trewithen, Grampound Road, Truro in the county of Cornwall, High Sheriff of Cornwall.

INlayman’s language, the notice above states that on 24th March, Stamford (Sam) Galsworthy of Trewithen, following in his father’s footsteps, took on the role of High Sheriff of Cornwall. This position holds a one year term, and Sam, who was nominated by the Duke of Cornwall, assumes a historic office that goes back 800 or more years.

In Saxon times, the ‘Shire Reeve’ was appointed by the King, making it the oldest uninterrupted secular office under the Crown. The sheriff was once responsible for the collection of all rents, debts and fines due to the King and the enforcement of law and order, but by the 19th century many of the sheriff’s responsibilities were transferred to the statutory bodies we recognise today.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall is the personal representative of the Sovereign in the county, whereas the High Sheriff is the Sovereign’s representative in the county for all matters relating to the judiciary, the police, other emergency services and military.

High Sheriffs receive no remuneration and no part of the expense of a High Sheriff’s year falls on the public purse.

During Sam’s declaration he gave a clear commitment to community support

as indicated by the charities and good causes he intends to promote during his year in office - A Band of Brothers, Shelterbox, Homes for Cornwall and the Cornwall Community Foundation.

Keen also to strengthen links with Probus, Sam has asked to be informed of events or opportunities in the village where he could support.

Sources: www.thegazette.co.uk/ notice/4585177 www.lordlieutenantofcornwall.org.uk www.cornishstuff.com

Caz’s Diner

BONNIE,

as we reported in the March edition, is a seven year old Probus School pupil who received the devastating diagnosis of osteosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer, in her leg just before Christmas 2023.

On Saturday 23rd March, Graham and Phil, landlords at the Hawkins Arms, hosted a glamorous and ultimately very successful fundraising event trying to raise much needed funds to support Bonnie’s parents as they in turn support their daughter.

The name Caz’s Diner is a take on Karen’s Diner, an Australian-American chain of theme restaurants. The restaurant is known for advertising a deliberately unpleasant dining experience, and staff are instructed to insult customers throughout their meal. The restaurant’s name comes from the internet slang term Karen, used to describe an older white woman who is stereotypically rude. [Ed: don’t shoot the messenger - that’s exactly how it’s described on Wikipedia!].

To add a twist on the purposely (and out of character) rude staff, the services of

the drag act ‘The House of Damnation CIC’ were engaged to bring glamour and a lot of sass to the evening.

A marquee in the car park became Caz’s Diner, and even the bitter cold and rainy March weather couldn’t stop the fun. Generous prizes had been donated to the raffle and auction (organised by Ross Withers and compered brilliantly by Ed Buckland). The amount raised was over £10,000 which for a small and certainly not affluent working Cornish village like Probus, is a phenomenal amount. Well done to everyone involved. This goes to show the power of community and is more proof, if ever any is needed, that Probus has a community to be very proud of.

The evening was rounded off by a gig from the local indie band ‘The Five 0 Six’, headed by local boy Talen Jacks with Callum Coad, Alfie Murray and Ewan Davidson. This band is one to watch out for in the future.

Below: House of Damnation: Evilyn Carnate (@evilyncarnate), Object/Drag By Object (@shesjustanobject), Mandy Anne Ket (@ mandyanneket), and Felicia Blueball (@ felicia.blueball). along with the (definitely not rude) staff from the Hawkins Arms, Probus.

Credits: Georgina Dyer Photography.

Probus Environment Action Team (PEAT)

By Steve Dalton

BETWEEN

11th and 17th March I took part in “The Big Plastic Count” organised by Greenpeace, along with almost 100,000 other participants. We had to download a sheet which had a list of different categories of plastic and each day we had to record the number of items of plastic we disposed of for each category. At the end of the week we uploaded our results so that they could be analysed centrally and the data used to inform government departments and others.

How did I do? With only two of us in our household, I was surprised to see we had recycled, or disposed of 50 items of plastic. After I submitted my results, I received a detailed email response from the organisers giving me information about our plastic usage. It informed me

that in one year it equates to 2,600 items of plastic and if all UK households were like mine, it would equate to over 73 billion items annually. 80% of my plastic was for food and drink, 6% cleaning and toiletries, and 14% everything else.

Plastic is a wonderful material. It is cheap, versatile and sterile which explains why between 1950 and 2017, 9.2 billion tons of plastic is estimated to have been made with more than half of this made since 2004. In 1950, 2 million tons was made globally – this has since risen to 460 million tons yearly.

I can't imagine buying yoghurt in any other container and if I didn't have a bald head, I'm sure my shampoo would come in a plastic bottle. Our shopping bags would be much heavier if every liquid we bought was in a glass bottle instead of a plastic one. The problem isn't the usefulness of single use plastic, it's the disposal of it afterwards.

Ourworldindata.org - a UK registered charity linked to Oxford Universityreports that in the UK, 22% of plastic gets recycled, 19% gets exported (mainly to Turkey), 9% goes to landfill and 50%

gets incinerated. Estimates vary, but high-quality studies suggest between 1 and 2 million tons enter the oceans each year.

Looking on the internet at the global statistics regarding plastic, it's tempting to become despondent and think that the problem is now too big to be resolved. But there is hope on the horizon.

A global plastics treaty is gaining momentum with the first round of negotiations having taken place in Uruguay last November. A legally binding agreement regarding single-use plastics is due by 2025. Sainsbury's has committed to a 50% reduction in singleuse plastic packaging by 2025 and other supermarkets are expected to follow.

Changes can be made. In 2014, 7.6 billion carrier bags were issued by supermarkets in the UK, now it's a fraction of that since we now reuse our own bags. If enough of us make even small changes, it can help reduce plastic usage.

For example:

Q Choose unwrapped fruit and vegetables instead of plastic-wrapped ones.

Q Re-use your coffee cup when you go out – in the UK we use 7 million disposable cups every day.

Q Use a bar instead of liquid soap. I'm told that shampoo also comes in bars and it's very good.

Q Cover dishes with a plate instead of cling film.

And there are many, many more ways to reduce plastic in the home. As the Tesco slogan says - ‘Every little helps’.

Left: A hermit crab living in a plastic bottle-top courtesy of Shawn Miller (https://okinawanaturephotography. com/) Above: plastic waste clean-up www.pixabay.com

Shaun Beresford Carpentry

George Forrest, plant hunter

By Sarah Hoggett

CORNWALL

is home to several gardens of historic importance, including Trewithen, home to more than 200 varieties of camellia; Caerhays, which houses a National Magnolia Collection; and Trengwainton near Penzance, with its award-winning collection of rhododendrons. However, many of the plants that we take for granted nowadays were completely unknown in Europe just 120 years or so ago and were brought back by intrepid botanist-explorers, or ‘plant hunters’.

One of the most famous plant hunters of the early 20th century was George Forrest (1873–1932), who has a particular connection to our local area through his work for J.C. Williams of Caerhays. He has been described as ‘the Indiana Jones of plant hunters’ – although even the ingenious Professor Jones would have been sorely tested by the traumas of Forrest’s second expedition.

Forrest’s first expedition to China, paid for by Liverpool seed merchant Arthur Kilpin Bulley, took place in the autumn of 1904, during which he lodged for some time at a French Christian mission station in Yunnan province, near today’s border with Tibet. Inspired by the botanical specimens the missionaries had collected, he resolved to return the following spring when conditions for plant collecting would be more favourable.

By the time he returned in April 1905 however, the political situation was very different. In what was to become known as the Batang Uprising, militant factions of Tibetan lamas (warrior priests) were

rebelling against the Chinese and European presence in their region and were indiscriminately murdering both foreigners and locals who were thought to have converted to Christianity. Nonetheless, despite reports of the worsening situation, Forrest decided to continue with his expedition and spent several weeks collecting plants such as rhododendrons, azaleas and primulas.

By 19th July, there was no choice other than to abandon the mission, but during their escape attempt the group were attacked by a band of 40 to 50 men. They scattered in different directions, with Forrest choosing (as he later related in a letter to his mentor Professor Isaac Bayley Balfour at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh) to go down stream towards the Mekong:

‘… how I escaped death I cannot say. The path was in most places formed of brackets in the faces of cliffs, scores of feet above the stream which thundered beneath. At those parts it consisted merely of two eight-inch logs, slippery and rotten from the continual moisture and spray. Yet over these I went racing as if I had been on an ordinary good road.’

Realising that his pursuers were tracking his boot prints, Forrest took off his boots, buried them and waded upstream for a mile. He continued bare foot, travelling by night and hiding in muddy hollows during the day. On one occasion while sleeping behind a log in the bed of a stream, ‘… I was awakened by a sound of laughing and talking, and on looking up I discovered thirty of them in the act of crossing the stream about fifty yards above my hiding place. It was a very near squeak.’

Forrest managed to evade capture for eight whole days, surviving on just a few ears of wheat and a handful of peas that he found along the way. Eventually he was so exhausted that he decided to risk going down to a village for food.

‘I must have presented a most hideous spectacle’, he wrote, ‘clothes hanging in rags, and covered in mud, almost minus breeches, face and hands scarred and scratched with fighting my way through scrub in the dark, feet ditto, and swollen almost beyond the semblance of feet, shaggy black beard and moustache, and, I have no doubt, a most terrified, hungry and hunted expression on my countenance.’

Fortunately he had happened upon a village that was friendly towards the Christian missionaries and they helped him escape over the mountains towards the south, travelling for more than two days over snow and ice. Even then, the original purpose of his expedition was never far from his mind:

‘Under more congenial circumstances, I should have thoroughly enjoyed the journey. The flowers I saw were really magnificent, in fact, so fine were they, that I have decided to run the risk of going back next year.... There were several species of Meconopsis, all of them surpassingly lovely, acres of primulas, of which I noted nearly a dozen species in flower, ditto rhododendrons, many of which I had never seen before, and which may probably be new species.... However I had no time to waste on them then, and beyond collecting a few scraps of those which I took to be the most uncommon,

and transferring them to my pocket book, I could do nothing.’

Upon reaching safety, he discovered what had happened to his French missionary companions – and what a gruesome tale it was:

‘… it appears that Père Bourdonnec was cornered some time during the second day, shot down, and whilst still alive, cut open and his heart torn out.

Above: George Forrest

Above: Packing cases containing plants and seeds ready for dispatch to Caerhays, c. 1920.

Père Dubernard managed to elude his pursuers until the fourth or fifth day… The lamas broke both his arms, above and below the elbows… he became so exhausted, that he begged them to kill him at once, on which one of them struck him down with a sword. He was then cut open, and his heart extracted before death…. Had I been captured I should have been similarly treated.’

Despite his traumatic experiences, Forrest returned to Yunnan province six more times, bringing back a wealth of plants and seeds ranging from rhododendrons and magnolias to tiny, jewel-like primulas. His third expedition was funded by J. C. Williams of Caerhays to the tune of £1,108.13s.6d

– more than £400,000 in today’s money – and Williams also contributed to Forrest’s next four expeditions. The two men continued to collaborate, with thousands of packets of seeds arriving at Caerhays over the coming years, along with detailed letters and photographs of the habitats in which they had been collected. Many of the specimens first planted at Caerhays, and the hybrids derived from them, now flourish in gardens all over the world.

In all, Forrest discovered 1,200 plants new to science, along with dozens of bird and mammal species, and sent 31,000 specimens back from China’s southern forests. On 6th January 1932, he died of a heart attack in Yunnan province and was buried there.

Photographs reproduced by kind permission of the Caerhays Estate.

“My daughter has been in several seasons of the Probus panto, starting when she was a junior. She is now in secondary school, and this year she joined as a dancer and has absolutely loved the whole experience. As a parent, it has been really wonderful to see her independence grow and her dedication and commitment to something she loves to do. I know that she is in safe and kind hands when I leave her, and her experience has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Probus Parish Players

- More than a Panto

“PPP as a group is really important in so many people’s lives, mine included as it is a place where I can be myself whilst enjoying a hobby, I have fun doing. I find Probus Parish Players a safe, friendly family to be part of, where I have made lifelong friends and core memories that will last a lifetime. PPP is my happy place, when I have had hard times, I look forward to going to panto, seeing the people who care for me and forgetting all my worries.”

Probus Parish Players is not just a group of people who put on a pantomime once a year. The committee work all year round to keep our society running and as a group we are funded solely through fundraising and sponsorship which we are extremely grateful for. It is hard to explain how much we bring to members of our community, but some of our cast wanted to express exactly what PPP means to them personally.

Every year, the people of Probus and afar go above and beyond to support us by not only buying tickets to our productions but also coming along to the multitude of fundraisers we put on throughout the year. Whether it is coming for a boogie at a disco, having your dabbers at the ready at bingo or just buying a raffle ticket, you are helping us to come back every year and do what we love to do. If you would like to get more involved in helping behind the scenes, please

do let us know; the people working offstage are as important as our stars shining onstage and we always love to welcome new people to our family.

people who put on a all year round to keep funded solely through extremely grateful for. It is members of our community, exactly what PPP means to above and beyond to productions but also we put on throughout at a disco, having your a raffle ticket, you are what we love to do. If you behind the scenes, please are as important as our welcome new people to 2025, please follow us for coming year or send us a things you’d like us to to us that she is doing passionate about! We cannot well with her and her

Panto will be back in Probus in February 2025, please follow us for ways you can support us throughout the coming year or send us a message if you have any suggestions for new things you’d like us to bring to the village. The best is yet to come!

“The Probus Panto, known for its inclusive and supportive environment, has become a catalyst for personal growth and empowerment for many of its members Through teamwork, camaraderie, and shared passion for performance, individuals like my daughter have flourished, overcoming their fears and embracing their talents.

“Our daughter is part of PPP, it means the world to us that she is doing something she thoroughly enjoys and is very passionate about!

We cannot thank the committee enough for working so well with her and her additional needs.”

What sets the Probus Panto apart is its commitment to nurturing talent at every level. Whether someone is a seasoned performer or stepping onto the stage for the first time, they are met with unwavering support and encouragement from fellow members. This culture of inclusivity and positivity creates a safe space where individuals can explore their creativity and build their confidence without fear of judgment.”

“The Probus Panto, known for its inclusive and supportive environment, has become a catalyst for personal growth and empowerment for many of its members. Through teamwork, camaraderie, and shared passion for performance, individuals like my daughter have flourished, overcoming their fears and embracing their talents. What sets the Probus Panto apart is its commitment to nurturing talent at every level. Whether someone is a seasoned performer or stepping onto the stage for the first time, they are met with unwavering support and encouragement from fellow members. This culture of inclusivity and positivity creates a safe space where individuals can explore their creativity and build their confidence without fear of judgment.”

Join our 100 Club?

Tanzania: A lasting legacy

By Nick Hibbett

WELL

known Probus Curate, Paul Salaman gave The Probus Club of Probus a fascinating insight into his family’s work with the Church Missionary Society in Tanzania at a March Coffee Meeting.

After a year’s training Paul and his wife Christine, following a calling, found themselves in January 2000 in a remote village, Kilimatinde, in Tanzania. So remote were they that the ‘next door’ missionary was a nine-hour drive away! For the next three years the couple lived in a small block and tin roofed bungalow deep in the bush with no modern amenities, water available mostly twice a week, no electricity and eating a spartan vegetarian diet of beans, rice and ‘Ugali’, a paste made with maize flour. Paul tells of the night when a herd of 60 wild elephants went right through their already sparse garden whilst he remained blissfully asleep.

From the outset Paul and Christine were determined to learn and speak Swahili, allowing them to integrate more effectively into the local community. Paul worked as a Physics and Chemistry teacher at the local school and Christine as a Countryside Conservation Officer, finding out and ensuring the delivery of the type of projects that the communities themselves needed, including building dams to preserve what limited water there was and setting up a small dispensary in the village. During this time Paul found himself involved in increasingly practical science projects, from spending a year getting the school generator working to helping rewire the school.

He explained that one of the key elements of his ministry was supporting and encouraging the popular church

choirs, which involved engaging in youth work with young people that proved to be an ‘engine house of the church’.

The family returned home in 2003, Paul getting a job teaching Physics at the St Austell Sixth Form College during which time he managed to bring the 15 strong Kilimatinde Church Choir to perform in Cornwall.

In 2007, once they were confident their two boys were old enough, they answered the call to return and spent another 10 years in Tanzania, Paul to

St John’s University, Dodoma where he taught young Tanzanians to become Physics teachers whilst Christine coordinated The Youth Work Team Mission and Evangelism across Tanzania. Her fluency in Swahili enabled her to train church choir leaders in better understanding music theory and songwriting in their native language.

Spending a total of 13 years living, teaching, delivering new projects and eventually bringing up two small boys who were happily integrated into the Tanzanian way of life and belief system was both a joyous and fulfilling experience, but also left behind a strong Christian legacy and an abiding love of Tanzania and its people.

Maps: © www.mapland.com

Watch out...

IFyou park in the ‘Shoppers’ car park in Old Bridge Street, Truro be sure not to overstay your welcome. It’s a short term car park, and if you stay even five minutes longer than three hours between 9 am and 6 pm, you’ll be stung with an outrageous £31.50 charge.

Ned’s book review

NEWpuppy Ned was clearly unimpressed with the Sebastian Faulks’ novel Human Traces, taking particular exception to the middle chapters.

Probus Book Club

By Liz Horder

WEcarried on reading The Waves by Virginia Woolf this past month. Unfortunately we didn’t get very far. Most of us managed a few more pages, and one person got half way through. The one person who loved the book was still reading it slowly and had still not finished it.

It follows the growing up of six individuals who it is thought take the characteristics of six people that Virginia Woolf knew well, and a mutual friend of all six characters.

Bernard is story teller and obsessed with language (E M Forster). Susan is intense with a love of nature, (Vanessa BellWolf’s sister). Neville has a desire for beauty (Lytton Strachey). Rhoda suffers with self doubt,anxiety and depression. (Shelley). Jinny is a beautiful socialite (Mary Hutchins). Louis is an outsider seeking acceptance and success (T.S Elliot). The mutual friend Percival, who later in the book dies, is believed by many to be based on Woolf’s brother who had just died as she wrote this book.

The book is in seven different parts, childhood through to old age.

It is a very poetical book and I would advise any one to try to read it, as it gives more insight into the author.

Roseland u3a

THEMay diary for the Roseland u3a.

Art Group: Monday 6th and 20th May 10am to 12pm at Tregony Village Hall

AGM: Wednesday 8th May AGM and social afternoon 2:30 pm in Probus Village Hall. A guest speaker will introduce her Cornwall Memory Game which is a unique picture pairs game

all about historical stories of Cornwall and suitable for adults and children. Members and non-members welcome, tea and refreshments included.

Local History: Tuesday 14th May 10.15 am to 12 noon Pre-Saxon Cornwall at Tregony Church Hall.

Book Club: Wednesday 15th May 2 pm is at Roseland Parc Tregony.

Scrabble and Games: Thursday 16th May 2 pm at Bible Christian Chapel Tregony.

Patchwork and Craft group: Friday 17th and 31st May 9:30 am to 12 noon in Probus Village Hall.

French Conversation group: Tuesday 28th May 2 pm to 4 pm at Bible Christian Fellowship Chapel in Tregony.

For further information, please contact caroleannbowling@yahoo.co.uk

Starz In Their Eyes

Kids Games

Trudgian Farm Shop

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6 Larkfield Rise, St. Mawes Truro, Cornwall TR2 5DF

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Cold case crime!

The history of Blackwater and the unsolved Skinner’s Bottom murders

PROBUS

Historic Cornwall members were delighted to welcome Cornish historian and Bard Clive Benney to our March meeting, to talk to us about the history of Blackwater and to show us some of his extensive photographs. Blackwater has been the home of Clive’s family for generations, his greatgrandfather, grandfather, father and himself having lived there and had been the policeman for the village.

Blackwater, like most Cornish villages, was a self-contained place. People didn’t travel much and tended to stay near where they were born and use the village shops, pub, school and chapel or church. Blackwater was in a mining area and everyone knew each other.

The most famous son of Blackwater is John Passmore Edwards. He was a philanthropic champion of the working class, MP, journalist and newspaper owner. John was born in 1823 and attended the Dame School in Blackwater. He also played in the Blackwater Village Band. The first public building which he funded was the Reading Room at Blackwater.

As with almost all Cornish villages, Sunday School Tea Treat was one of the main events of the year. This took place during the Midsummer Fair, which commenced with a banner parade, led by the Blackwater Brass Band formed in 1902. In the evening, bonfires were lit.

In 1863, Mithian Church School opened with Mrs Joseph Boyd of Probus as schoolmistress. The school closed in 1880 as pupils moved to state schools. The Blackwater School was built using stone from the demolished Gump

Mine and opened in 1878. Most of the pupils had previously been attending the Dame schools and the new school hastened their demise, including the one at the bottom of Blackwater Hill, run by a crippled miner.

The Chacewater to Newquay railway branch line left the main line near Chacewater Station and crossed the road at the west end of Blackwater. The branch line closed in 1963 but part of its embankment can still be seen, covered in rhododendrons which were planted by John Oates, resident of Blackwater and headmaster of the school for 41 years.

The second part of Clive’s talk related to the Skinner’s Bottom Murders of 25th January 1920, in which a couple, Joseph Hoare and Laura Sara, were murdered in the garden of their cottage near Blackwater (below).

On the morning of the murders a friend visited and saw Laura with a serious head injury but still breathing. He ran to a neighbour’s farm. When he returned with the neighbour and PC Stephens from Blackwater, they found Joseph, also with a severe head injury, lying with a sack over his head. Both soon died from their injuries. The murder weapon was probably a log from the bloodstained log pile.

The cow-shed was splattered with blood and it was thought that Joseph was attacked near the door of the shed and

that Laura heard the commotion and went to help, meeting the same fate.

The inquest was held in the vestry of the Weslyan Chapel in Skinners Bottom

on 27th January (only 2 days after the murder!) and adjourned. Despite the involvement of Scotland Yard no arrests were made and the adjourned inquest took place on 12th February at Blackwater Men’s Institute. The foreman of the jury was Mr Whale, Blackwater School Headmaster. A verdict of wilful murder by person or persons unknown was returned. The couple were buried at St Peter’s Church, Mithian.

Credit for additional information: Tony Mansell. Images: Clive Benney. More info: http://cornishstory.com/2021/04/16/ skinners-bottom-murders/

PEAT donation

By Steve Dalton

THEPEAT committee was delighted to hear that Shaun and Vikki from the Probus School Filling Station had nominated them to receive £500 of funding from the NISA ‘Making A Difference Locally’ initiative. Whenever certain products are sold, a small portion can be used to support volunteer groups in the area and Shaun and Vikki chose us!

Our fantastic volunteers give their time freely to make a difference to our village, but the equipment they need certainly isn't free.

Shaun and Vikki are a great asset to our village and the PEAT committee and all their volunteers are very grateful for their support.

Below: PEAT treasurer Amanda Kendall (far right) shakes hands with Shaun Poore thanking him and Vikki for their generous donation to the PEAT funds with the community litter pickers at the start of their monthly meeting. The banner reads ‘PEAT says a very big thank you to Shaun - couldn't meet a NISA guy’. Image by Jon Hibberd.

Probus Bookworms

By Gaynor O’Kane

OURbook for March was Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. It tells the story of Sam and Sadie who meet by chance in hospital as children, and chronicles their friendship and working relationship in the field of video games over more than 25 years. The novel highlights the highs and lows of that friendship, falling in love and out of love, and their successes and failures in video games.

Woven throughout were issues of:

• Friendship

• Identity/wealth (privilege)

• Professional jealousy

• Unrequited love

• Controlling and sadistic lovers for Sadie

Opinion was slightly divided on who we thought was the main character. Some thought the book was about Sam; personally I thought Sadie interesting. Many felt that Marx (Sam’s college roommate and later Sadie’s lover) was the lynchpin who held everything together.

The general feedback for this book was quite mixed. A number of us felt out of touch with the gaming aspect, while one of us enjoyed the existential questions it provoked but skipped bits when bored, feeling it was a bit repetitive. Some found the book a little shallow, while others said it reminded them of Sally Rooney’s Ordinary People. A few didn’t finish the book, but mostly it was enjoyed.

Dates for your

diary

THEchurch is hosting a number of events over the next couple of months, with monies raised going towards the church building fund.

Saturday 4th May: Plant sale

The annual plant sale will be held on the cobbles in front of the church from 10 am until 12 noon. Stock up now to brighten up your summer garden!

Friday 10th May: Du Hag Owr

The Roseland shantymen return to Probus with a programme of traditional songs. The concert starts at 7 pm. Tickets (£7.50 for adults, £2.50 for under 16s) can be booked via probus.churchevents@ gmail.com or bought on the door.

Saturday 11th May:

Tower opening

The tower will be open from 10 am to 5 pm. The suggested donation for entrance is £3 (£1 for children).

Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd June: Flower festival

The theme will be ‘Countries of the World’. There’s no entrance fee or restriction on the size of arrangements, but if you’d like to take part, please email Barbara Honey (bh44378@gmail. com) or phone her on 01726 882 380 so that the organisers know how many exhibits there are likely to be. Children can also enter (no prior notice required), and their arrangements should be no larger than 30 cm/12 inches square.

Flowers need to be in the church after 10 am on Friday 31st May. The festival will be open to the public from 10 am until 4 pm on the Saturday and from 12 noon until 4 pm on the Sunday, and refreshments will be available on both days.

PROBUS

EVENTS DIARY 2024

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 6.

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.

Friendship Club: MHA Communities

Cornwall is a national charity that runs a friendship club for folk 60+, at PVH on the first Thursday of each month from 10 am to 12 noon. Tracy Beavill 07720 680989 cornwall@mha.org.uk.

Mid-Cornwall Wood Turners: Club nights on 1st Tuesday of each month: Training nights on the 3rd Tuesday in every month.

Mobile library: Friday 17th May, Friday 14th June. PVH car park between 11:30 am and 12:20 pm.

Over 60s Luncheon Club: 1st, 15th and 29th May at 12 noon. Note: Please do not

call us after 8 am on club days, as there will be no one there to take messages.

Probus Club of Probus: Thursday 16th May - Luncheon at The Falmouth Hotel with speaker Verity from Friends of Cornwall Hospital.

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 Parish Church events: Plant sale on the cobbles Saturday 4th May 10 am. Shanty singers Du Hag Owr Friday 10th May 7pm. Tower open day Saturday 11th May. Flower festival 1st and 2nd June. Details are on page 42.

Probus Parish Council: Meet now on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Next meeting on 16th May and this is also the Annual Parish Council meeting. Normally starts at 7 pm for planning committee and 7:30 pm for full council. Full details at www.probusparishcouncil. gov.uk.

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. Every Friday for shorter walks 10 am. New members also always welcome.

Probus Comrades Club: Ale & Cider Festival - Sponsors night on Thursday 13th June. Open to all from Friday 14th June until close on Sunday 16th June.

Probus Fun Week: 10th to 17th August 2024.

St Austell Choral Society: Saturday 11th May Spring Collection of Choral Music Greats with works by Schubert, Dvořák and Bach at St Augustine’s Church, St Austell. Tickets from www. staustellchoralsociety.co.uk

Probus Historic Cornwall Society: Monday, 13th May, evening visit to St Agnes Museum, Car share from Probus Village Hall. Time to be confirmed. Look out for the yellow notices around the village. Monday, 10th June, (provisional) guided walk through Tregargus Valley. Car share from Probus Village Hall. Time to be confirmed. Saturday, 22nd June, Midsummer Bonfire at Stithians. Car share, leaving PVH at 6:50 pm.

A bright future for PHCS

THANKS

to the two volunteers who joined the committee, all posts are now filled and a programme of events for next year can be drawn up. The fresh ideas and experience that the new committee members bring will help the society secure a bright future. Our indoor meetings re-commence on Monday, 9th September at 7.15 pm for 7.30 pm in Probus Village Hall.

New breakfast club

By John Denyer

LASTmonth saw the first meeting of a newly formed group - Probus Breakfast Club. Following a single post on social media, 14 people, of mixed ages and gender, about half of whom didn’t know each other met at Griggs Restaurant in Lower Sticker for a very social 9 am breakfast.

The idea came from the recent positive publicity about a group in the Redruth area called ‘Mostly Grumpy Old Men’s Breakfast Club’. The club, formed with the intention to help combat loneliness, bereavement and illness, quickly grew from three people to over 160 regular members. I liked the concept and noticed that there was a gap in Probus for such a group, but didn’t want it limited to men, nor just the old, nor even the mostly grumpy, lonely or whatever.

The Probus Breakfast Club is about bringing together people of all ages, sex or gender, once a month to chat, make some new friends, be a bit social and do this over a breakfast in a safe, friendly neutral environment.

The next breakfast is scheduled for Monday 13th May, again at Griggs Restaurant. It’s open to absolutely everyone, and if you’d like to join, please message me on 07824 555519. It’s very informal, no agendas, no politics, no cliques, just come, meet up, eat and chat. Car sharing is encouraged and there is even a direct bus from Probus to the top of the lane by Griggs.

The only admin involved is that we have to preorder what we’d like to eat and drink, so I can give the restaurant a few days notice of what they need to prepare.

Local sport

Probus Youth FC

Probus under 11s update

FIXTURES

Championship as we enter the last months of the season.

have been disrupted recently by the poor weather but Probus under 11s (below) managed an excellent 4-2 away victory against Wadebridge.

Goals coming from Sonny, a brace from Tommy (and what a second goal!) as well as Wilf. Some unreal football played against a strong team. Star player - Tommy Bishop.

Probus u13s update

Probus U13s (right) plus mascot after their 6-2 victory at Penzance on 24th March. Goals came from Ashley (2) Curtis (2) Riley and George.

The team is doing great this season and currently top the West

Probus Bowling Club

The green opened on Saturday the 13th of April, followed by a faith tea.

The home matches for May are:

Probus FC

THEREis still strong competition in St Piran League Division 3 West and now quite likely that Holman will become champions at the season close. Probus topped the table for most of the season, and even though they’ve only lost one league game, have now dropped into third place behind Holman and Dropship. Unless there is a change in the league––, only the top two teams will be promoted.

Probus still have three games left to play so are still in with a chance of second place although Dropship’s goal difference advantage may be the deciding factor.

Probus FC’s final three fixtures of the season are:

4th May away to RNAS Culdrose 2nd 11th May away to St Ives Mariners 1st 18th May home to Falmouth DC 1st

Grampound Road Cricket

Club

Rain stopped play!

UNFORTUNATELY,

the prolonged spell of wet weather meant that the necessary preparations were unable to be made to the grounds resulting in the first two weeks of the new season being lost. Some matches have been rescheduled and some cancelled. Hopefully the sun will shine in May.

Ball Skills and Girls’ Softball started with fun sessions on

Monday 15th April and will continue to run alongside the start of the AllStars (5-8 years) and Dynamos (9-11 years) programmes.

The official AllStars and Dynamos will begin on Monday 13th May from 6-7pm. Each session will cost £2.50 for those who have not subscribed to the 8-week programmes.

Along with the ‘All Stars’ and ‘Dynamo’ sessions the club will again run teams in the County Youth Leagues at U11, U13 and U15 age groups.

Any new players, whatever age or standard, are welcome. For further information, contact secretary Di Pearce on 07800 915578.

EXPLORE AND BE INSPIRED...

One of only five gardens in the UK to be recognised as an International Camellia Society Garden of Excellence, and also recommended by the RHS, Trewithen is a botanical treasure trove nestled within 30 acres of beautiful woods and parkland.

Trewithen House is open for guided tours on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays at 2 pm and 3 pm between Sunday 28th April and Tuesday 2nd July 2024. Book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Gardens and The Tea Shed open daily 10 am to 4:30 pm 1st March to 30th September 2024

Grampound Road, Truro, Cornwall TR2 4DD - 01726 883647

www.trewithengardens.co.uk

VEHICLE TESTING STATION

S. J. GRIGG

PROBUS, TRURO 01726 882330

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