Category: News

Please note there will be no service at Davidstow Parish Church on Sunday 27 January 2019.

Sadly we lose our parish priest, the Rev Deryn Roberts, in February forced into retirement by the rules of the church. She has served the parish since her appointment at St Nonnas in 2014. Though only a handful attend church at this time, she will have touched the lives of some of you in times of gladness and sadness.

As a token of our love and respect a farewell lunch has been arranged by the Moorland Group of Churches at The Wilsey to which you are invited to attend. The carvery main course will be subsidised, you pay for desserts and drinks. The Wilsey needs to know numbers by NOON on FRIDAY 25TH JANUARY.

Please contact either Bill or Ann if you would like to attend. Contact details as follows:

Bill Pearce – Tel 01579 370004  /  Mobile 07788 410412  /  email: email hidden; JavaScript is required

Ann Hayne – Tel 01840 261236  /  Mobile 07786 382560  /  email: email hidden; JavaScript is required

One thing that’s certain about life, I have found over the years, is that no matter what we do, we have no control over the passage of time. Age will inevitably catch up with us – and it is now catching up with me.

The Church of England, in its wisdom, has decreed that its ministers must retire when they reach 70 years of age. All things being equal, I will reach this milestone at the beginning of February 2019.

So, my friends, following discussions with Archdeacon Audrey Elkington and Bishop Chris, I can now confirm that my last Sunday in the Cornish Moorland Benefice will be 3rd February.

Details of services on that day will follow in due course.

 

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION, Camelford Branch

POPPY APPEAL WALK Saturday 17 November 2018 to 43rd Wessex Memorial for a wreath laying ceremony. Members of the public are invited. Meet at Roughtor Car Park at 10 am. Fee of £1 payable on the day to poppy appeal.

Suitable footwear and clothing. Well behaved dogs welcome. Refreshments available. Personal responsibility for accidents.

Poppy Appeal Organiser: 07977 568273

For many years I have been a chronic insomniac – trouble sleeping at night. In our house the light and the telly are on all night; I spend most of the long hours in my study on my computer – browsing, reading the newspapers or playing Scrabble. Most nights I do sleep for a couple of hours or so on my recliner chair. The night before the Show, when I needed some sleep, it was particularly bad however – I remember seeing 5.00 am and then did drop off only for my alarm to go at 6.30 am. The last thing I wanted to do was to spend a day at the Show, but my mate was on his way to collect me so I had no choice When we arrived at the Showground the wind was blowing, rain seemed imminent, and there weren’t too many visitors around. Mid morning a huge black cloud did lash the Showground for several minutes, but then it cleared up, and we had visitors in number.

This year’s Show Presidents were two sisters, Camelford to the core, Madge and Sally Walkey (Moore). Congratulations to the Show Committee who could not have chosen two more worthy patrons. They toured the ground in a Land Rover Discovery driven by Preston Baker, accompanied by wife Fran. Honoured we were when the vehicle stopped outside our gazebo and I was able to exchange niceties with the two dear ladies and reminisce briefly with Sally who was a 5A class mate at Sir James’ way back in 1950. Keeping it in the family, soon after brother Johnny and his wife stopped by. Me being me I asked her her name and was momentarily confused when she replied Sally Walkey. She was of course the daughter of Bert Collins, the Butcher.

I have to admit my grey matter is in gradual decline and it bothers me when people stop for a chat and though I recognise the face I can’t recall the name. I have to excuse myself and usually make some bland statement about being old but still the right side of the grass’. Throughout the day I reckon a dozen or so stopped to reminisce on my time at Plymouth Argyle or with Cornwall Air Ambulance. It is always a dangerous occupation selecting individuals so I won’t fall into that trap. Having said that I will tell you of one visit which really pleased me. Brothers John and Percy Treleaven came and shook hands. We were at St Teath School back in the 1940’s.

We were busy walking memory lane when sister Marina arrived on the scene and gave me a heart warming hug. Couldn’t resist having a photograph taken with them. And a brief mention for Julian Harman, Branch Chairman Camelford Royal British Legion, and his colleagues who joined me for a photo call but for reasons known only to the camera the damned thing didn’t print.

Readers may be forgiven if they conclude this was a day release for Billy and his carer. There was of course a far more important reason for us being there as we have not one, but two Concerts in the next four months. On 13 October we welcome back the Callington Community Gospel Choir to be followed in December by the greatly anticipated Military Wives Choir and our main ambition was to promote these events. Along the way we sold a few Cornish Passports to help defray the costs of being there. Did we succeed? Unquestionably. How successful only time will tell. We sold tickets for the Military Wives Concert. With four months to go I personally had sold over 40. With less than 200 seats available this event is clearly on course to being an early “Sell Out”. On the day we distributed over 500 flyers and await a response to those. Admission to the Gospel Choir event is free.

Appreciation of fellow Churchwarden Ann Hayne, PCC Treasurer Reg Statton and Verger Edwin Dickinson who popped in to render their support.

A mention in dispatches for Robert. A major frustration of being 80+ is the loss of ability to do manual things and being reliant on others. Have worked with Robert, who lives in Plymouth, since 1988. He is always on call to help and single handed managed our event display. And a thank you to the missus for her support on the day.

At 6.30 am the day was a chore, twelve hours later I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. A generous plate of pork in a fruity BBQ sauce with rice at The Wilsey on the way home crowned a day to remember!

Your mobile in the garden!    I have often thought that young people seem so attached to their mobile phones that they barely notice a thing about their surroundings, but recently I have discovered that those mobile phones are just the next best thing to sliced bread in the garden! And, no, I haven’t lost my mind! The thing is, a smartphone is brilliant for all of the other things they do, rather than their use as an actual phone!

First of all, you can take pictures with them. Now this is excellent when, in August, you are standing in front of a bush or tree in full leaf and flower… come February, when you are looking at the barren branches, you will be wondering which twigs to prune…a photo is a perfect reminder and guide to ensure successful pruning. Or when you stand in front of a plant with a nasty case of insect damage, you will be in the shop next looking at the back of that product that lists the creepy crawlies that it will deal with and you are wondering, “what did it look like again?” Or you want to explain to that very knowledgeable person in the Garden Centre what you want their excellent advice on… really a picture tells a thousand words! Moreover, your mobile will have some ‘note pad’ function, when you are in the garden you often think something like, next time I am out in the garden section of a shop we will need X. By the time you will be in the house X has slipped out of your mind and the next time you are in the shop, you either haven’t got “that” shopping list with you or standing there thinking “now what was it again we needed…”

If your phone is connected to the internet, you have even better options than all of the above, because you can Google or YouTube it and you will have answers in front of your nose as fast as you can type the question into your device!

To say that it has changed the way in which I garden is an understatement!! But now for the very most important function on the device when gardening…the Silent Mode!

This will increase your gardening pleasure and you will still be able to read your texts when you want a short break from doing something heavy, like digging!

 

Carolina Langthorne farms Higher Penhale, just over the cattle grid on the left hand side heading for Altarnun with a roadside stall selling produce