Delabole Slate April 2022

Thanks to All Who Help Get The Slate to Your Letterbox
To start at the beginning, that’s when you pop your contribution in The Slate box or email it to
delabole.slatenewsletter@gmail.com - before the 10th of the month, which is when we meet (well it maybe the day after)
to open emails and allocate the items to the ‘typists’ to change them into the format that we use.
Next stage is the read and paste, where an editorial group meets to read through each contribution, check for mistakes
and that it’s OK to include. Having agreed on that, there follows the difficult decisions on where to fit everything on the
pages. Adverts have to go in - they’re kindly paying to print The Slate - and then it’s arranging the articles around them.
The over-riding consideration is what will fit into an even number of pages. Consequently, some things have to be omitted
(items by the team) or quickly written so as not to have too much white space.
With this part completed, the paper copies are taken to the ‘page makers’ who use a programme called Serif to slot
things together so there’s a cohesive look to each page and the dividing lines are exactly horizontal or vertical!
We leave enough time for people to do this, fitting around what’s going on in their lives, before the memory sticks are
gathered to sort the pages into their final format. Now comes the pdf-ing, that is putting it into a format that can be emailed
to the printer.
Pdf-ing is the decidedly iffy bit. Some months it doesn’t go too badly, at other times it’s AWFUL. Last month was such
a month. Ro and Sue, who tackle it, spent AGES. If it could go wrong, it did. Can’t thank them enough for their dedication
and stickability. Eventually the whole caboosh was ready to send - but first each article needed a final check that the
last lines (usually with names and contact details) haven’t been dropped. Can’t describe the utter relief when the key
was pressed and the newsletter wended its way to Jonathan, the printer, at The Old Bank in Camelford and we also
forward a copy to Chris who kindly publishes it on his website.
Now it’s over to Marie who takes the boxes to Camelford and waits for the phone call to let her know the 930 copies are
in the boxes and ready for collection. Off she goes, loads them into her car and takes them to Carol, who counts the
correct number of Slates for each round; after which, Marie takes them to the ‘Deliverers’ who, when it’s possible, pop
them through our letter-boxes…
and all of this is done by VOLUNTEERS. The only payment involved is for the printing.
So THANK YOU ALL so much. You’re BRILLIANT and we do APPRECIATE you!!!
The old cardboard box
I wonder if like me you have a cardboard box full of newspapers and old cuttings, pieces from The Slate, paintings and
cards made by your children and grandchildren and all sorts of other treasured memorabilia.
I have had a great time just lately going through my box and looking at all sorts of items bringing back many happy
memories of village and family life.
In 1986 the Parish Council called a village meeting because of concern over cut backs in the hospital car and ambulance
services, often making it difficult for villagers to access appointments and visits. From this meeting the Delabole Hospital
Car Service was formed, a committee meeting held, a coffee morning arranged which raised £141.26 and the service
started on 7th April 1986. Two of our original committee members are still running the service. Thank you,Tricia Hicks
and Ann Hopkins.
February 2000 saw the first meeting arranged by our long time Delabolian friend and councillor, John Lugg with myself
and the County Enterprise Officer to look at the needs of the village going forward. This led to the formation of the
Delabole Development Group, chaired and still is I believe by Chris Keat. A public meeting was called when 84 residents
attended. I seem to remember that the seeds for the revival of the carnival were laid at that time and a village questionnaire
was prepared and delivered to each home asking for ideas and suggestions for the way forward. A further meeting for
young people and those interested in youth work was called in the April and if my memory serves me right it was from
this that the very successful youth club run by Richard Lewis and Dee Paul was formed.
Amongst other treasures I found the report of the opening of the new classroom at Delabole School by The Duke of
Gloucester, a newspaper photo of the first coffee morning in Cornwall which was held here in our village to raise funds
for the First Air Ambulance by a group of villagers, organised by Margarette and Ray Worden. £1000 was raised.
I found reports of VE/VJ commemorations in the village and of course the Silver, Golden and Diamond Celebrations of
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth 11 celebrated with decorated houses, fancy dress and children’s sports, the revival of
the flora dance, Last Night of the Prom concerts by Mount Charles Band, teas and lunches, children’s mugs and much
more. Does anyone recall a brilliant concert held in the Wesley Hall, I think for the Silver Jubilee, with Jenny Benham,
Trevor Hewitt and Chris Edwards and other local talent or is this a figment of my imagination?
Now I am sure we are all looking forward to our village celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. Best wishes to all
those who are organising the events. I’m sure we will have a time to remember and more cuttings to put in my cardboard
box!
Patricia Molloy