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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
Hello and
Spring is sprung! How do I know this? Well, it was
declared officially in Cornwall on February 22,
somewhat earlier than the rest of the UK, thanks
to magnolias being coaxed out of bud by our
gentle climate (find out more on page 6).
Traditionally, spring brings the promise of
longer days and new life, but it can be hard
to take comfort in this when times are so
incomprehensibly turbulent. Cornwall has shown
solidarity with Ukraine in many ways – for example,
the Bishop of Truro conducted a moving service
at a cross with special significance, as Elizabeth
Dale explains on page 38.
Surrounded by coastline, Cornwall knows only too
well the importance of sustainability. This edition
shines a spotlight on some of the things people
are doing to raise awareness of the urgency of
a more sustainable approach to life. You’ll find a
selection of environmentally themed stories from
page 18, but keep your eyes peeled elsewhere in
the magazine – especially in the art section, where
Andrea Insoll explains how beach finds are turned
into artistic treasure with a special message.
Finally, in our Taste section we meet the team
behind Harbourside Hospitality in Charlestown
(pictured) and beyond. If you’re wondering who
triumphed at the World Pasty Championships
– where I met the Mexican ambassador to the
UK (below) - see page 68. And did you know
that April 21 is National Tea Day? You do now,
and from page 76 you’ll find a selection of our
favourite places to enjoy afternoon tea.
Oll an gwella
Kirstie
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6 News: Cornwall supports Ukraine - plus how to
celebrate the Platinum Jubilee
12 Things To Do in April/May:
From Easter to Trevithick Day
14 Dog-Friendly Cornwall: Bluebell walks
16 The Minack at 90: Look forward to the 2022 season
18 Sustainable Cornwall: Podcasts, apps, beach cleans,
fashion and shopping
25 The Want List: Cornwall Crafts Association
26 Adore My Store: Circa21, Penzance
28 Design Hub: Rozen Furniture
30 Mother’s Boy: Author Patrick Gale’s new novel about
Launceston poet Charles Causley
32 National Gardens Scheme: Cornwall gardens
open for charity
34 St Day Old Church: Breathing new life into
an old building
37 Cornish language: Feast Days
38 Cornwall’s Ukraine connection: By Elizabeth Dale
40 My Cornish World: Musician Will Keating
44 Art news
50 Art Focus: Jackson Foundation, St Just
52 Through the Eyes of... Martin John Fowler
54 Maker Focus: Helen Eastham,
Cornwall Crafts Association
56 Gallery of the Month: Art House Gallery, St Ives
58 Artist Profile: Iona Sanders, Summerhouse Gallery
60 Very Important Piece:
Customs House Gallery, Porthleven
62 Meet the Maker: Andrea Insoll, Portscatho
68 Food Bites: A new street food festival in Newquay
70 Harbourside Hospitality:
Taking over culinary Charlestown
74 Great Cornish Food: Meet Oliver Basham
76 Places To Eat: 10 purveyors of afternoon tea
80 Rustic luxury: New yurts at The Park, Mawgan Porth
82 Experience: Spa and afternoon tea at Mullion Cove
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Hanging Out in St Ives
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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
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Support for Ukraine
Cornwall residents have shown their solidarity with the
people of wartorn Ukraine. On Sunday, February 27, the
Bishop of Truro conducted a service in Mylor Bridge at a
cross built by Ukranian refugees escaping persecution after
the Second World War (see page 38). A scratch orchestra
gathered on Truro’s Lemon Quay on Sunday, March 6 to play
The Great Gate Of Kiev by Mussorgsky to massed crowds,
and individuals and removal firms travelled to the Ukrainian
border to offer skills and donations of warm clothing.
Companies created special collections to raise funds to help
refugees: Cornishware released a range of yellow and blue
crockery, while Flotsam Flo created badges in Ukrainian
colours from paddling pools destined for landfill.
Object of the Year
The Cornwall Heritage Awards took place on February 9, hosted
by Cornwall Museums Partnership. The Object of the Year, decided
by public vote, was a rare 19th century dip needle from the Royal
Cornwall Polytechnic Society – otherwise known as The Poly in
Falmouth. Designed by Cornish Quaker Robert Were Fox, this
compass enabled ships to traverse the seas safely. Its four worthy
co-finalists were a pair of Cornish fishwife’s pattens from the
National Maritime Museum Cornwall; an 1868 telegraphy cable
from PK Porthcurno; a half-hull model of the schooner “Doris” from
Wadebridge and District Museum; and the Dancing Girl of Naukratis
from the Museum of Cornish Life in Helston. Other winners included
Isles of Scilly Museum, Leach Pottery St Ives, and the Old Guildhall
and Gaol Museum in Looe. l
Truro Cathedral Choir has recorded and filmed Ave Maria
by Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov in support of their
Crowdfunder appeal for UNICEF’s Protect Children in Ukraine
- you can hear it now on the choir's YouTube channel. l
The Spring Story
Spring in Cornwall was officially announced on
February 22, marked by six champion Magnolia
Campbellii trees having over 50 blooms.
Founded by The Nare Hotel in conjunction with
The Great Gardens of Cornwall, the Spring Story
saw Cornwall’s most westerly magnolia tree at
Trewidden Garden achieve its target first, with
Trebah, Tregothnan, Trewithen, Caerhays and the
Lost Gardens of Heligan not far behind. James
Stephens at Heligan said: “Even though Storms
Dudley, Eunice and Franklin tried to scupper the
early arrival of spring, this really is proof that the
milder winter we experience in Cornwall means
we get to enjoy an extra month of spring.” l
Gardens: see page 32
Port Isaac crowdfunder
Fishermen have warned that the picturesque village of Port Isaac will be at risk of
regular flooding if its harbour is not repaired. A large chunk of concrete has come
off the outside of the eastern breakwater, with the cost of repair estimated by the
harbour commission to be “eye-watering”. The responsibility for repair traditionally
rests upon local fishermen, of which there remain just two, who cannot afford the
extensive work. The village has been made famous around the world by the TV
series Doc Martin and the performances of the Fisherman’s Friends on The Platt. A
GoFundMe page has been set up to raise £60,000 towards these repairs, as well as
work on the 16th century fish cellars. l
www.gofundme.com/f/port-isaac-harbour-repairs
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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
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Setting the spark
Golden Tree Productions - masterminds of The Man Engine and Kerdroya: The
Cornish Landscape Labyrinth – are leading a new cultural adventure in Redruth,
exploring the notion of the town having a plen an gwari once again. This would be
the first medieval-style Cornish amphitheatre to be built for 500 years, to serve as
an important community hub, a beautiful green space and an exciting performance
venue with a rolling programme of cultural events.
Hellfire Kernow will be the community engagement and cultural animation strand
of the plen an gwari research project, with Kap’n Kryw (‘Crew Captains’) and Krefter
Kryw (‘Crew Makers’) working closely with young people from Redruth School,
leading a series of workshops to prepare for the first trial event in May 2022: the
inaugural Redruth Hurling Championships, with costumed, colourful crews each
supporting their team with chants and 'haka'-style encouragements. l
Find out more at goldentree.org.uk
Gorgeous Godrevy
The South West Coast Path Photographer
of the Year 2021 competition has been won
by a beautiful image of Godrevy Lighthouse,
captured through a natural rock frame with
rockpools reflecting the pink hues of dusk.
Lensman Christian Coan has visited Godrevy
every year for the last 18 years, and checked
the tide times and the weather before
searching for the perfect spot from whch to
shoot. Over 1,200 entries were judged by
critically acclaimed seascape photographer
Rachael Talibart. Christian takes home not
only the title, but also a four-day Canoe Trails
kayaking adventure on the Jurassic Coast and
£250 worth of adventure-friendly kit courtesy of
Bamboo Clothing. l
www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk
Rare birds on the up
Rare birds once close to extinction in
the UK have been spotted on National
Trust countryside in Cornwall following
positive measures to improve numbers.
Yellowhammers and cirl buntings are among
Britain’s most colourful farmland birds, but
loss of habitat and food has attributed to the
steep decline in numbers and both are now
‘red-listed’. However, careful site management
at Tregew on the Trelissick Estate, near Truro,
has resulted in recordings of both birds. The
National Trust has worked with tenant farmers
to ensure hedgerows are cut on a rotational
basis, allowing them to fruit, seed and grow
both wide and dense, providing food and
shelter for birds and mammals. l
City of
Culture
2025
Cornwall has lost its bid to be
City of Culture 2025. It was
dropped from the longlist
along with Armagh City, Derby
and Stirling, leaving Bradford,
County Durham, Southampton
and Wrexham to battle it out on
the shortlist. The winner will be
revealed in May. l
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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
Platinum Jubilee fun
Communities come together to celebrate
HM The Queen’s historic 70-year reign
over the extended bank holiday -
Thursday, June 2 to Sunday, June 5. Below
is a selection of events taking place across
Cornwall – check the interactive map for
more (and remember to add your own) at
platinumjubilee.gov.uk/events/
• Beacons will be lit on Thursday, June 2 in
more than 1,500 towns, villages and cities
throughout the UK, as well as in UK Overseas
Territories and Commonwealth countries. If
you are planning one, register and find tips
at www.queensjubileebeacons.com
• Also on Thursday, June 2, an informal
celebratory Jubilee Parade is planned to
take place in Truro, leaving St George's
Road at 12.30pm. Bude will take a retro
approach to proceedings, with Petticoats
and Rockabillies taking over The Castle
Lawn from 11am until 6pm. In Port Isaac,
you’ll find an all-day party in the village hall.
• On Sunday June 5, the Big Jubilee Lunch
will see flagship events at the Eden Project
(where the idea originated) and in London,
while over 200,000 neighbourhood
events are anticipated across the UK – for
example, at the Princess May Recreation
Ground in Penzance. Pride of place will
surely be given to the newly crowned
Platinum Pudding. Make it official: register
your event, order a free pack and find out
more about an entire Month of Community
at www.thebigjubileelunch.com
• Also on Sunday, June 5, 70 cars - one for
each year of The Queen’s reign - will travel
70 miles from Bodmin to Penzance.
• Cornwall Heritage Trust will join the
national beacon lighting event at 9.45pm
on June 2, lighting beacons at Sancreed,
near Land's End, and Castle an Dinas near
St Columb Major.
• The Cornish Street Food Festival will run
across the entire four-day bank holiday at
Barrowfields in Newquay – see page 68. l
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GARDENS OPEN:
14th February - 12th June
CASTLE IS OPEN FOR
GUIDED TOURS:
14th March - 10th June
CAERHAYS CHARITY FETE:
Sunday 12th June
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADVERTISE IN OUR 2022
CORNISH SUMMER GUIDE PLEASE CONTACT JENI SMITH
TEL: 01209 494003
EMAIL: JENI.MYCORNWALL@GMAIL.COM
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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
12 THINGS TO DO IN APRIL AND MAY
14 DOG-FRIENDLY CORNWALL
16 THE MINACK AT 90
18 SUSTAINABLE CORNWALL
25 THE WANT LIST
26 ADORE MY STORE: CIRCA21
30 MOTHER’S BOY
32 NATIONAL GARDENS SCHEME
34 ST DAY OLD CHURCH
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@ PH Lebruman
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1. REFLECT FOR EASTER
Easter runs from April 15 to 18, and
there’s plenty happening in Cornwall.
Truro Cathedral is a good place to start;
as well as major services, you will find The
Stations of The Cross, ten oil paintings
by artist Zoe Cameron recording Christ’s
final journey and resurrection (until April
21). Also in Truro, the BIG EASTER Market
will run on Lemon Quay from April 13 to
16, 9am to 4pm, with over 60 stallholders
in attendance. The St Endellion Easter
Festival takes place from April 9 to 17 at
St Endellion near Port Isaac; highlights
include Sir James MacMillan conducting his
own Stabat Mater, and two performances
of a new translation of Bach's St Matthew
Passion. www.endelienta.org.uk
2. FEAST ON TASTER POTS
Porthleven Food Festival (April 22 to 24)
makes a welcome return following a twoyear
break due to Covid-19. While the
Chef’s Theatre sits at the heart of the event
in the tent on the Harbour Head, The Diner’s
Club offers space to sit and enjoy samples
from street food stalls. These taster pots
will cost less, so you can try more - the
very essence of a food festival. The food
market is now run by the team behind the
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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
Food & Farming tent at the Royal Cornwall
Show. Family entertainment on the playing
field includes circus skills, crafts and a
visit from Porthleven’s resident mermaid;
and the new Ann’s Pasty Lounge will offer
comedy, choirs, cocktail masterclasses,
crimping workshops and more, while
Busk Stops provide music across the
site. Unticketed; donations welcome.
www.porthlevenfoodfestival.com
3. TAKE IN A SPRING FESTIVAL
Folk and jazz, history and art, films and
photography, choirs and quartets, walks
and talks – all feature in the diverse
programme of events of the Roseland
Festival (April 23 to May 7), taking place
across the beautiful peninsula in locations
including St Mawes, Veryan and Portscatho.
www.roselandfestival.co.uk. In Falmouth,
the team at the Cornish Bank have curated
grassroots music and arts festival Wanderfal
(April 8 and 9), with more than 30 bands
spanning five venues (including the Princess
Pavillion). Headline acts include This Is
The Kit (pictured), Martha Tilston and the
London Bulgarian Choir. wanderfalfestival.
eventbrite.co.uk. And Healey’s Cornish
Cyder Farm at Penhallow presents
RattlerFest (April 21 to 24), with headline
acts including The Feeling, DJ Scott Mills
and The Utah Saints. rattler-fest.co.uk
4. SPEAK CORNISH
The Annual Cornish Language Weekend
(Pennseythen Gernewek Bledhynnyek) is
hosted by Kowethas an Yeth Kernewek at
St Austell Arts Centre from April 22 to 24.
The three-day weekend offers language
lessons, workshops, talks, social events
and entertainment for Cornish speakers
of all levels, from absolute beginner to
fluent and with family language sessions
on Saturday and Sunday. Buy tickets via
Eventbrite, or find out more about the
weekend line-up at cornish-language.
org/cornish-language-weekend/
Speak Cornish – Feasts and Festivals.
Page 37
5. VISIT A GARDEN
Spring has arrived, and with it a dazzling
display of camellias, magnolias and
rhodondendrons. There are so many
gardens to choose from in Cornwall,
including Pentillie near Saltash (open
Sunday, May 8) and Trewidden near
Penzance (open daily until September 25).
Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Open Gardens
season launches on April 24 with Pedn Billy,
6
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8
9
near Mawnan Smith - expect incredible
views of the Helford (for further dates and
venues, visit cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk);
while ancient Enys, near Penryn, is famed
for its bluebells – for further details of
opening dates, visit enysgardens.org.uk
More gardens: page 32.
6. CELEBRATE MALE VOICE CHOIRS
More than 60 choirs from around the
world will gather in Cornwall for the 10th
bienniel International Male Choral Festival
(April 28 to May 2), with performances at
40 venues including Truro Cathedral and
the renovated Hall For Cornwall. Look out
for the winner of the Festival’s Composers’
Competition: “Tale of a Train: The City of
Truro”, by Kari Cruver Medina from Seattle,
was inspired by a picture on the wall of
the Rising Sun pub. The City of Truro was
built for the Great Western Railway (GWR)
in 1903 by Kari’s great-great-uncle, and
was the first British steam locomotive to
exceed 100mph, pulling the mail train from
Plymouth to London Paddington in 1904.
Visit www.cimcf.uk or purchase concert
tickets at www.hallforcornwall.org.uk
7. RUN AN ULTRA-MARATHON
Feeling ambitious? Put your running shoes
on and tackle the 16th Endurancelife Classic
Quarter, a relentless Ultra Marathon along
the South West Coast Path from Lizard
Point to Land's End on May 21. The task
is brutally simple: to run non-stop from
the southernmost point of England (Lizard
Point) to the westernmost tip (Land’s End)
- 90 degrees of the compass, hence the
name Classic Quarter. This challenge can be
undertaken solo, or as a relay team of two
or four. In 2021 Classic Quarter participants
raised over £21,000 for good causes. Raise
more than £400 for a charity and your entry
is free. Sign up at www.endurancelife.com
8. REMEMBER SHACKLETON
It is exactly 100 years since Sir Ernest
Shackleton died during the Quest
expedition to Antarctica, but his legacy
remains as powerful and fascinating as ever.
Interest was reignited by the discovery of the
long-lost wreck of his ship, the Endurance,
3km below the icy Weddell Sea in early
March, making a new celebration of the life
and achievements of the polar exploration
pioneer extremely timely. Charlestown’s
Shipwreck Treasure Museum, in association
with the Royal Geographic Society and the
Institute of British Geographers, presents
the immersive Shackleton Experience in the
museum’s network of tunnels, setting the
scene of this daring expedition into a harsh,
unknown wilderness. An accompanying
exhibition, Shackleton’s Legacy and the
Power of Early Antarctic Photography,
will display a selection of images taken
by the man himself or by the leading
photographers he commissioned. From
April 9. www.shipwreckcharlestown.co.uk
9. OBSERVE CORNISH TRADITIONS
Camborne remembers its most famous
son, engineer Richard Trevithick, on
Saturday, April 30. Trevithick Day will see
the town centre come alive with vintage
10
steam engines and other vehicles, street
entertainment, morning and afternoon
dances led by Camborne Town Band,
exhibitions and plenty of singing: Listen out
for the town anthem, Goin’ Up Camborne
Hill. And in Helston, on Saturday, May
7, Helston Flora Day will mark the end
of winter and the arrival of the fertility of
spring. Locals will decorate their houses
with greenery, and don their finery to
do the historic Furry Dance through the
town’s streets. For more information and
advice on attending this very busy day, visit
www.helstonfloraday.org.uk
10. HEAR THE DAWN CHORUS
Research shows the sound of birdsong
can increase happiness and wellbeing by
up to 30%. May 3 is International Dawn
Chorus Day, but if getting up early fills
you with dread (around 3am at the height
of summer), you can go online at a more
civilised hour to hear how it sounded in an
ancient mixed tree woodland near Truro.
From their small cottage backing on to
a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI),
Nichola Andersen and Swenson Kearey
enjoy a large variety of birds: blue, coal,
great and long-tailed tits; owls, buzzards,
woodpeckers, nuthatches and finches. They
have recorded the dawn chorus daily since
the start of the pandemic. “We know we’re
lucky to hear so many birds every morning,”
says Nichola, “so we decided to share this
experience with those who may not have
the time, space or location to enjoy it in real
time.” www.dawnchoruslive.org
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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
BLUEBELL WALKS
Bluebells are at their finest in Cornwall in late April and early May, and the good
news is that some of the finest displays in Cornwall are in dog-friendly gardens.
Here’s a selection of the best, courtesy of www.dogfriendlycornwall.co.uk
Enys Gardens, near Penryn
These beautiful gardens just outside
Falmouth are famed for vast swathes
of bluebells, especially in the oftphotographed
Parc Lye. The best chance
to see the flowers in all their glory is
in early May. There’s also a lovely tea
room where you can sit outside with
your dog. Other features include a lake
and a walled garden – even without the
bluebells, this is a glorious place to walk
your dog at any time.
Tel: 01326 377621
www.enysgardens.org.uk
Godolphin Estate, near Helston
The bluebells come out early at this
National Trust estate, and you can enjoy
them as you stroll through the woods from
the car park to the main house, where parts
of the most recent Poldark series were
filmed. Dogs are welcome in the gardens
and estate and there are dog-friendly
seating areas at the café, situated at the
entrance to the main house and grounds.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/godolphin
Cardinham Woods, near Bodmin
There are some beautiful displays of
bluebells here. Run by Forestry England,
the woods are very family friendly with
several marked walks, while the dogfriendly
Woods Café offers lovely cakes
and Tregothnan tea.
www.forestry.gov.uk/cardinham
Idless Woods, near Truro
Around two miles north of Truro, Idless
is listed by Forestry England as one of its
top ten bluebell sites in the UK. It’s a lovely
dog-friendly walk with good parking,
and refreshments available from the
Woodman’s Cabin.
www.forestryengland.uk/idless-woods
Tehidy Woods, near Redruth
The popular woods are carpeted with
bluebells at this time of year and they are
a lovely place to explore with your dog.
Keep your dog on a lead if they like to
chase wildlife and note that dogs are not
allowed near the lakes. Do watch out for
swans, especially as they are nesting at this
time of year. There is a café at the main
South entrance, where you can sit with
your dog at the outside tables.
www.cornwall.gov.uk
Trelowarren, near Helston
Ten minutes' drive on to the Lizard (towards
St Keverne) is Trelowarren, a beautiful
estate with really lovely bluebell walks. The
New Yard restaurant allows dogs in the
courtyard area. www.trelowarren.com
Lanhydrock
The wooded estate around the main gardens
and house of the National Trust’s Lanhydrock
is a haven for dogs and their walkers. From
Respryn car park or the main car park, you
can set out on walks along the River Fowey.
Pick up walk and trail maps from the kiosk
at the gatehouse, reception and shop. Dogs
are not allowed in the main gardens, but you
can sit outside with them at the Stable Café
which sells homemade dog treats.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lanhydrock l
For more dog-friendly inspiration
for Cornish adventures, visit
www.dogfriendlycornwall.co.uk
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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
Still Going
The Minack Theatre celebrates nine decades of
theatre with a sparkling spring season.
The story of the Minack began in 1929, when
Rowena Cade became involved with an openair
production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer
Night’s Dream in a valley near Porthcurno. It was
such a success that three years later the company wished to
stage The Tempest and Rowena Cade offered them the use
of her cliff garden for the performance.
In 1932, the Minack – from ‘meynek’, meaning ‘rocky place’
in Cornish – opened to the public, a magnifcent openair
amphitheatre seemingly clinging to the rock face by
sheer gravity. The phenomenal achievement of Miss Cade
and her dedicated gardener, Billy Rawlings, this unique
theatre, which was originally intended for just one week of
performance, celebrates its 90th anniversary this year.
The Minack is an entrancing place to visit at any time of
year, especially in spring when the weather grows warmer
and plants begin to wake up from their winter slumber (is
this the only theatre in the UK to have a sub-tropical garden
actually in the auditorium?).
Visitors to the Minack can discover the extraordinary story of
Rowena Cade and how she built this amazing space with her
own hands, experience breathtaking views over Porthcurno
Bay, and look out for the seals and other marine mammals
that visit our shores in spring. Don’t forget to enjoy a cream
tea or a snack in the café, with its panoramic vista, or relax
with a picnic on the grass terraces.
Of course, The Minack is first and foremost a theatre and
there’s a full programme of events happening in April and
May. During the Easter holidays, look out for Hetty Feather
by Emma Reeves, based on the popular children’s books by
Jacqueline Wilson.
“This production was in rehearsal in 2020 when Covid
struck,” explains The Minack’s executive director, Zoë
Curnow. “The set was built, and we were only a few days
from opening when lockdown was announced. The cast
includes a number of young performers from our Minack
Acting Academy, and it was especially heartbreaking for
them to cancel after all their hard work.
“It’ll be very emotional to bring it back to life now, after the
two years we’ve all been through. It’s an appropriate play
with which to start a new year, as it celebrates the triumph
of the human spirit through even the darkest times. I just
hope the children haven’t grown too much, or we may need
to make new costumes!”
During the school holidays, storytelling events take place
three times a week to entertain families with young children,
while grown-ups should look out for Miss Cade’s gardener,
Billy Rawlings (played by actor Mark Harandon), who will
give you a first-hand account of how the Minack was built.
A highlight of the spring season will be Calvino Nights, a
new production by Mike Shepherd with the Minack Theatre
and imPossible Producing. The founder and former artistic
director of Kneehigh, Mike was inspired by folk tales
collected and rewritten by 20th century writer Italo Calvino:
a boy the size of a pea, a skinflint miser, a woman who lives
on nothing more than wind. The show invites the audience
to join the marvellous Mr Calvino and his motley troupe of
tale-tellers, song-makers and fire-raisers for an unforgettable
ride through life on the edge - quite literally! Calvino Nights
is described as “a good night out” for ages 8+.
“We are delighted to be working with Mike on this new
piece of theatre,” says Zoë. “Many generations of Cornish
school children - myself included - were inspired by Mike's
work at the Minack in the early days of Kneehigh, and we
are really excited to reintroduce this style of performance to
a new generation of young people, the Cornish community
and our visitors.”
As part of the Minack’s 90th anniversary celebrations, look
out for a special exhibition about the beginnings of the
theatre and the very first production that took place there in
1932. This Rough Magic opens at the Minack this Easter. l
For information on everything happening at the Minack
Theatre this spring, visit minack.com
NB. The Minack is always busy in holiday seasons, so
advance booking for all visits and performances is strongly
advised at any time and essential during school holidays.
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 17 n
Podcaster Tia Tamblyn combines healthy eating with
sustainable discussion.
post-lockdown, the breakfast club was still
stymied. While home-schooling, “to keep
myself sane,” Tia began writing blogs on
a sustainability theme, illustrating them
with seasonal vegetarian recipes using
local produce.
Tucked away in lush countryside upstream
from Fowey is Botelet. This special piece
of rural Cornwall has been farmed,
nurtured and styled by the Tamblyn
family for 150 years, nurturing an idyllic
landscape including woodlands dotted
with wild orchids, and the Iron Age hill fort
of Bury Down.
Today, it’s home to self-catering
accommodation and a variety of wellbeing
courses – as well as sustainability podcast
Breakfast & Beyond. The show grew out
of lockdown, and has featured host Tia
Tamblyn in conversation with Cornwallbased
sustainability followers (including
chef James Strawbridge) in all walks of life,
from food to floristry, cosmetics to clothes.
Prior to the pandemic, Tia had been
running a regular breakfast club at which
conversation flowed over a wholesome
vegetarian meal at a rustic kitchen table.
“When you have good food in front
of you, everyone relaxes and it evokes
conversation,” Tia explains. “There was
a real sense of community, creativity and
wellbeing.”
But Covid 19 put paid to that, and while
accommodation at Botelet was able to
recommence on a self-catering basis
“I loved doing this, but I also love to chat,”
she says. “I would visit people on location,
and was essentially curating what they said.
Meanwhile, I found podcasts enabled me
to multi-task while doing things with the
kids, so I thought: why not do one myself
about sustainable living, celebrating
amazing people and what they are doing
at home and in their work lives?”
The first was recorded in November 2020
with Rebecca Stuart of the Garden Gate
Flower Company, and was followed by
half a dozen more, including Amanda
Winwood of Made For Life and Freyja
Hanstein of Wholesome World. Then in
n 18 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
June 2021, Tia was asked to chair a panel
discussion at the G7 fringe festival. “The
theme was: ‘Does my breakfast make a
difference?’ What role do my individual
decisions play against the macro,
structural actions of big business and
Government?” That became episode 5.
A second season is about to launch,
bringing in contributors from the third
sector, kicking off with Marcus Alleyne
of Black Voices Cornwall. “I wanted to
broaden the content to include not only the
environment, but also issues of equality and
social justice – they all go hand in hand,”
says Tia. “I know I’m extremely lucky and
privileged to live at Botelet. I have mostly
lived in rural areas, and love being so closely
in touch with such a diverse environment:
moorlands, beaches, forests. It also enables
me to make certain choices - I can forage
for plants on my doorstep, and have the
space to grow veg.”
Breakfast: the best meal of the day?
Discuss. “For me, it’s certainly one of
the most important parts of the day,”
says Tia. “I love cooking and sitting and
enjoying a leisurely breakfast. It’s about
self-sustenance – a basic need to function
healthily and happily, the ability to think
and contribute more broadly.
“Breakfast sets us up at the beginning of
the day in a positive framework. It helps us
to make better, more considered, positive
choices as we go along: what we wear,
what we eat, how we travel. We make those
choices for ourselves, while considering
other people and the planet too; and as
we change our own behaviours, we share
them with our families and communities,
and become part of a virtuous circle.” l
Breakfast & Beyond can be found on
Spotify and Apple Podcasts and at
www.tiatamblyn.com/podcast
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 19 n
people who are sitting in,” she says. “I really
hope we’ll see a return to common sense.”
Pat Smith, aka Action Nan
“I always thought ‘someone’ should do Initially Pat’s sights were set on plastic
something – then I realised I was someone.” drinking straws - an astonishing 2.2 billion
are thrown away every year, having been
Such is the mantra of Pat Smith, 73. Also
used for an average of just 20 minutes. “It
known as Action Nan, Pat is a force of nature
seemed the simplest thing that people
and a tireless campaigner on environmental
wouldn’t miss, and might get them thinking
issues. Her four-year quest to eradicate
about other things.”
plastic single-use drinking straws from the
hospitality industry ended victoriously, with Pat and her team urged customers to say
government legislation in October 2020. “no, thank you” to straws, and persuaded
600 businesses across the hospitality and
Now, she has turned her attention to
tourist sector to offer biodegradable
disposable coffee cups and other singleuse
items which are often unsuitable for
alternatives, or better still, no straw at all:
“Most people do not need them.” The
household recycling. The Final Straw #2
campaign took off, with sister groups up
was due to be launched during Keep
and down the country – and in 2020, the
Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean
government banned not only plastic straws,
(March 25 to April 10), and marked by a
but also drink stirrers and cotton buds.
number of beach-cleans with local groups
Asked how she felt, she replies: “Euphoric.”
all around the Cornish coast.
While Pat continued to raise awareness
This is all just the latest chapter in Pat’s
of other single-use plastics, the pandemic
environmental journey. At Bosinver Farm
undid much of the good work. Disposable
Cottages near St Austell, she and husband
cutlery and crockery proliferated in cafés
David led the way in implementing ecotechnology
such as solar panels and
keen to avoid transmitting Covid 19, while
face masks joined dog poo bags as the
electric car charging points. But a major
main culprits to fall out of your pocket
turning point came in 2017, when Pat saw
when you’re not looking.
the film A Plastic Ocean and learned that
of the 88 billion tonnes of plastic produced Pat hopes to see reusable utensils – like
since 1948, 90% was used just once and the good old-fashioned mug - make a
will take hundreds of years to break down, comeback in eating establishments as
releasing microscopic fragments into the restrictions are relaxed. “Too many places
ecosphere where it risks poisoning wildlife. are still handing out takeaway cups, even to
In 2018, Pat resolved to carry out weekly
beach-cleans and litter picks, launching
beach-cleaning groups including the
Charlestown Chums and a sister group in
Mevagissey. These groups have grown in
size and number, becoming social affairs.
“A lot of the rubbish I pick up consists
of everyday items used by all of us, but
especially fast-food wrappers,” she says.
“We should all take responsibility for
picking up litter – and not dropping it in
the first place - but I would like to see a
plastic tax on companies who overwrap
their goods unnecessarily.
“We need more long-term thinking about
end-of-life – what happens to things once
we’ve finished with them. We should take
a more circular approach so we know
something will be reused, rather than
sent to landfill here or even exported for
disposal elsewhere.”
As Pat reaches her own twilight years, her
thoughts turn to the legacy she will leave to
those who come after. “I’m reading a book
called How To Be A Good Ancestor. I want
to sort things out before I go, so others will
be aware and will carry on the work when
I’m gone. If governments won’t do it, then
public opinion must demand it.” l
Visit finalstrawcornwall.co.uk
For more information about the Keep
Britain Tidy Great British Spring Clean,
visit www.keepbritaintidy.org
Pat Smith (2nd from right) and
the Last Straw Litter Pickers
n 20 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
You’ll wonder how you lived without these items,
devised and made by Cornish companies
FLOTSAM FLO
The Flotsam Flo range breathes new life
into items that have outlived their primary
use and would be otherwise destined
for landfill: paddling pools, wetsuits, air
beds, hot tub lids, banners and bicycle
innertubes. Even builders’ single-use lifting
slings are reborn as bag straps and handles.
“I can do my bit, no matter how small,”
says maker Kate Doran (who also patched
up Mount Hawke’s temporary vaccination
surgery when it was vandalised). “If I can
just save a few things from going to landfill
then I’ll be happy.” Stockists include All You
Can Eco in Perranporth, The Refill Store in
St Austell, Krog Den in Newquay and Hayle
(where you’ll also find a wetsuit recycle bin
outside the shop) and Northcoast Wetsuits
in Port Isaac, to be joined by Pentewan
Watersports in April. Look out for Kate at
craft fairs including Cornwall Air Ambulance
Trust’s Helifest on July 16. Pictured: Bumbag
made from a banner with a punctured
innertube strap. £20. Find Flotsam Flo on
Facebook, Instagram and Etsy or email
flotsamflo@yahoo.com
CORNISH SPLICED
Making a living
from fishing and
passing down the
skills needed from
generation
to
generation is dying
out in Cornwall,
so Frank Plummer
- retired skipper
of Tyak Mor and Harvester in St Ives - and
granddaughter Beth, 15, sought a weird
and wonderful way to keep those skills
in the family while helping to protect the
environment and sea-life for generations
to come. The answer: Cornish Spliced,
producing dog leads, pet toys and lifestyle
products from re-purposed fishing gear.
Rope is “spliced” to make joins for affixing
clips, making handles etc. Materials include
retired goodies from fishing families and
“ghost gear” scooped out of the sea on
beach-cleans. Each product is tagged with
info about its “previous life”. Traditional
lead £7. Facebook/Twitter/Instagram
@CornishSpliced. hello@CornishSpliced.co.uk
CIRCULAR REUSABLE BOTTLE
A product is truly sustainable when made
from recycled materials, designed to last
and fully recyclable. Made from 14 singleuse
bottles, the Circular Reusable Bottle
has a 10-year lifespan and is specifically
designed to be easily recycled back into
the next new product, thanks to Circular
& Co of Perranporth’s industry-leading
takeback promise. Designed for life on
the go, this bottle is lightweight, leakproof
and features the company’s signature onehanded
push-click lid with 360-degree
drinking (not suitable for hot drinks), £14.95,
circularandco.com/reusable-water-bottles l
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 21 n
Kirstie Newton learns how the team behind a
Cornish app hopes to encourage users to map and
care for trees across the globe
The creators of a smartphone app have
made a clarion call for a “citizen army”
to help them kickstart a global tree
database. With its headquarters in the
Clay village of Nanpean, the team behind
Tremap is seeking to encourage public
participation through interactive games
and competition.
Tremap was originally devised by
Jonathon Jones at Tregothnan, near Truro
- best-known for its tea plantation - as a
stress-free way of labelling and mapping
trees on the estate. Physical labelling is
labour-intensive, expensive and not always
tree-friendly - hence a move towards
digitisation and GPS, which also provides
long-lasting accuracy. So successful was
this initial venture that Tremap has since
been contracted to produce a digital map
of Eden’s outdoor garden.
Trees are nature’s way of sequestering
carbon, and with current concerns about
climate change, there is much talk about
planting – not least with the Queen’s Green
Canopy for the Platinum Jubilee. However,
just as we say “reduce, reuse, recycle”, so
Tremap’s mantra is “position, protect and
preserve” - in that order.
“There are three trillion trees out there
in the world, and our philosophy is, let’s
take care of the ones we’ve got,” says
Tremap chief executive Richard Maxwell.
“If we’re going to take care of existing
trees, we need to connect people with
them emotionally. We have to make it
interesting, engaging and easy to get
involved - not just statistics.
“Tremap is super-user friendly – any
average person can find or add a tree.
And we hope to encourage the public to
interact with and care about trees through
games and competitions like Pokemon.”
In Falmouth, the Trecare app is being
trialled to help the community connect with
the council over tree care. Information that’s
normally buried in council archives is now
available at the touch of an app. You can
look at a tree, find it on the map and tap
on it to find out what species it is, whether
it qualifies as ancient or veteran, or if it’s
subject to a tree preservation order (TPO).
Tree champions can report on issues like
ash dieback, a branch down after a storm
or touching a wire, a tree threatened with
being cut down despite a TPO – and
communication is streamlined to go straight
to the person who needs the information,
rather than having to wade through layers
of bureaucracy. A crowdfunding initiative
is under way to spread this facility to other
locations in Cornwall.
Cornwall has the least tree coverage in the
UK but, thanks to Victorian plant hunters,
one of the highest numbers of introduced
species. Its mild microclimate reflects
areas around the world such as Darjeeling,
which is how you can grow tea on a little
peninsula near Truro. “It’s important to
protect imports as heritage items,” says
Richard, while adding: “It would be better
to plant native trees moving forward.”
The name is an affectionate nod to the
native language of Kernewek: Tre is
Cornish for house or home. “Tremap is
a virtual home for the tree database,”
says Richard. However, the name has
caused mild confusion beyond the Tamar:
“Jonathon pronounces it ‘Tre-MAP’; I’m
from Canada, where people say ‘TREEmap’
and ask why there’s only one ‘e’,”
laughs Richard. “That’s fine – anything that
gets people talking about it.” l
Tremap, Drinnick House, Nanpean, St
Austell PL26 7XR. Tel 0203 982 2216,
www.tremap.com
Find out more about the
Trecare crowdfunding initiative,
which closes on April 12, at
www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/p/trecare
n 22 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
Everyone is doing their part for a more sustainable future
THE JACKSON FOUNDATION
Sustainability informs every decision made at the Jackson
Foundation. The multi award-winning arts space in St Just-in-
Penwith is known for exhibitions that focus on environmental
themes including the plight of bees and marine plastic
pollution, and regular donations are made to eco-champions
such as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Surfers Against
Sewage and Cornwall Wildlife Trust. The commitment to
sustainability goes beyond paintings: the building has a
positive carbon footprint, warmed by underfloor heating
from a renewable ground source heatpump and powered
by a 28KW array of solar panels, with the excess going into
a Tesla Powerwall battery storage unit – this is drawn upon
before resorting to using mains power and once full diverts
any excess to the National Grid. This clean green energy is
also used to charge the gallery’s fleet of three fully electric
zero-emission vehicles. The gallery has been plastic-free since
opening in 2015, sourcing the most environmentally friendly
products available, from cleaning to till rolls, and refusing to
do business with suppliers who don't. To find out what’s on
show in April and May, see page 50. l
NATIONAL TRUST
Can you spare an hour or so to
help the National Trust keep
Roseland beaches looking
beautiful, and safer for wildlife?
Soak in fantastic views and
fresh sea air while doing your
bit. Dogs on leads and children
are very welcome and we will
provide gloves, bags and litter
pickers. Attendance free, no
booking necessary. Hemmick:
Saturday, May 7, Saturday, June
4. 10 to 11.30am. Porthcurnick:
Monday, May 2, Monday, June
6, 10 to 11am. Pendower:
Monday, May 2, Monday, June
6, 2 to 3.30pm. l
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
roseland
OLD CHAPEL CELLARS
A Truro-based wine importer, wholesaler and retailer has become the
first merchant in the UK – and only the second globally – to become
a registered B Corp. Old Chapel Cellars on St Clement’s Street
achieved the highly regarded environmental and social certification
this month, after undergoing a rigorous verification process. B Corp
status signifies a thorough, holistic approach to safeguarding people,
planet and profit which has to be recertified every three years. They
join a 20-strong group of Cornish B Corps, which together form a ‘B
Local’ group with members including Origin Coffee, Rodda’s Cornish
Clotted Cream and Pentire Drinks. Louisa Fitzpatrick, who runs Old
Chapel with co-owner Jamie Tonkin, said: “It’s rewarding to have
our commitment to the highest environmental and social standards
validated in this way. Our business is not going to solve the world's
climate crisis, and neither are we perfect. However, becoming a B
Corp commits us to transparency and continual improvement. We’re
really excited to see where the journey takes us.” l
www.oldchapelcellars.co.uk
WENDRON STOVES
As fuel bills rise in line with the increase in price for electricity and
gas, it’s worth remembering that a wood pellet boiler offers a viable
alternative for heating your home. It’s small, cost-effective and
energy efficient, producing a minimal amount of ash. Best of all, it’s
environmentally friendly: the amount of the carbon dioxide emitted
during the burning process is only ever equivalent to the amount
absorbed during the growth of the trees. The cost of pellets is working
out at 9p kilowatts/hour, compared with new electricity rates of 30p.
There’s a wide range of modern and attractive stoves and boilers to
suit your home, and you might even be able to get a government
grant from April 2022. l
For more advice, contact Wendron Stoves on 01326 572878 or
01872 520010, or visit www.wendronstoves.co.uk
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 23 n
A proper Cornish fashion story shot at Mount Edgcumbe
When photography student Erin Williams disposable? Clothing should be affordable
attended a clothes-swapping party in but designed to last and cherish -
Millbrook, south-east Cornwall, she was something half-decent you don’t have to
inspired to organise a fashion shoot with throw away when you buy the next best
an eco edge. While the dresses were thing only a year and a half later.”
gorgeous and stylish, Erin was shocked to
Erin enlisted friends to help her shoot a
hear their owners declare they would never
sustainable fashion story, which will form
wear them again - and if no one wanted
part of her photography portfolio. Their
them, they would just be thrown away.
mission: to show that second-hand and
“Fashion is a £2.5 trillion global industry, hand-me-downs could look just as good
using up lots of resources to create cheap as the newest designer gear - especially
temporary products,” says Erin, 17, who when shot against the beautiful backdrop
studies at Plymouth College of Art. “It’s of the Mount Edgcumbe estate in Cremyll
not currently sustainable, and is made on the Rame peninsula.
worse by the internet, which enables any
“As young people living in Cornwall, we
company to set up a simple website and
are increasingly worried about climate
sell clothes without considering the impact
change and the environment,” says Erin.
on people and the planet.
“We can see what's happening right here
“Why does fashion have to be so on our beaches and in our fields - and we
know we need to do something. Wearing
second-hand and vintage is something
that happens everywhere in Cornwall. We
have tried to turn it into something cool,
leading the way in what's considered
stylish - but also sustainable.”
The resulting shoot is beautiful and
moody, capturing a very post-lockdown
moment in time. Girls Grace and Eowyn
and guys Rohan and Finn play around
with a range of pre-loved clothes amid
stunning parkland, shorelines, follies and
historic buildings.
One of the more striking images happened
when Finn decided to add some diversity
and donned a slinky dress to pose
alongside the girls, blowing his audience
a cheeky kiss. “Our generation likes to be
more flexible in our approach to clothes
and fashion,” says Erin. “Finn doesn’t see
anything wrong with wearing a dress. If he
likes one, he’ll wear it down to the local
pub to gauge people’s reactions.” l
n 24 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
THE WANT LIST
Cornwall Crafts Association
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
For nearly 50 years, Cornwall Crafts Association has been supporting makers resident in Cornwall, promoting a diverse and exciting
range of contemporary craft made to the highest standard of design and artistry. Set within the beautiful Trelissick estate, its gallery
provides a showcase for the work of over 100 of Cornwall’s most talented craftspeople.
1. Handwoven wall tapestry by Debbie Rudolph, £720; 2. Carved alder bowl by Howard Moody, £110;
3. Small porcelain flower wall piece by Carole Venables, £45; 4. Aluminium and silver earrings by Rachel Stowe, £34;
5. Cotton purse by Claire Armitage, £12.50; 6. Ceramic egg cups by Debbie Prosser, £25;
7. Ceramic buttons by Mary Goldberg, £2 each; 8. Glass dish by Heather Frary, £26; 9. Feather hairbands by Holly Young, £34.99.
Cornwall Crafts Association, Trelissick Gallery, Trelissick, Feock, near Truro TR3 6QL.
Tel. 01872 864514 • cornwallcrafts.co.uk
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 25 n
n 26 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
“Locally Made and Fair Trade” is shopkeeper Esme Burton’s motto
Tell us about yourself
I was born and brought up in north
Cornwall, around Bodmin Moor. I was
always an artsy kid and followed my
passion for making things by qualifying
with a BTech HND at Birmingham School
of Jewellery in 1991. I married a Heamoor
lad, Alan Burton, and we are now the
parents of two teenagers. I don't want to
live anywhere else but West Penwith. I love
being a creative shopkeeper, using all my
knowledge and experience working in the
jewellery trade. I have also spent years
as a maker at craft, design and market
stalls, under the name Family Silver – I'm
a member of Cornwall Crafts Association.
Where are you based, and what's the
best thing about your location?
My two-storey shop Circa 21 is in the heart of
Penzance town centre. There’s an amazing
array of independent shops here, and
Penzance has a great buzz when the season
picks up in spring. I also love the closeness
to Mount’s Bay - I can see St Michael's
Mount from my top-floor workshop space!
What do you sell?
A beautiful range of gifts and homeware
made by about 30 Cornish creatives, mostly
women (bar two men), about half of whom
have been with me since I opened Circa 21
in 2014. They include ceramicists like Jess
Berriman and Natalie Bonney, homewares
from Polperro-based Windswept Girlie
and Humble Cottage Designs from
Penryn, as well as my own silver jewellery
range. We've introduced a Fair Trade
artsy furniture range to complement our
cushions and throws – these are full of
colour and individuality and add real ‘wow
factor’ to the shop window.
Where do you find inspiration
and new ideas?
My eyes are wide open to the big Cornish
outdoors, so my instinct is to infuse my
ranges with a coastal and natural element.
I select beautiful and useful pieces that
you won't see everywhere. When I choose
Fair Trade or locally made products, their
quality and provenance, the back story and
personality of the maker, are crucial.
Which pieces are popular with visitors?
Brands based in Cornwall are always loved
by visitors, like St Eval Candles and Liga
Home from Fowey. Liga’s Beach Clean
range in particular has been flying off the
shelves – it uses washed-up beach plastic
to create items such as coasters.
What values are important to you when
choosing what to sell or how to develop
as a business?
Our emphasis is on a more sustainable way
of living and making a living, so we aim to
offer customers well-made and beautifully
designed items, as well as gifts made from
recycled cotton, glass or silver, homeware
made from natural materials such as
wood and seagrass. Our skincare range
includes vegan and organic options too.
I'm passionate about promoting “Locally
Made and Fair Trade”, and customers will
travel miles just to shop with us. Becoming
a “destination shop' is a dream come true.
Why is your store called Circa 21?
Simply because 21 is our street number,
and Circa means about or approximately,
especially when used with dates. I'm a
real family history nerd and wanted to
discover who lived and worked at Circa
21 in the Victorian times; in 1861, it was
cordwainer (shoemaker) Charles Reynolds,
aged 71. Born in Penzance, he lived and
worked here with his blind wife Elizabeth
Reynolds, 75, originally from St Ives, and
their daughter Eliza Reynolds, who was 43.
What trends are you noticing this year?
The trend for spring this year is towards
energy and escapism. A need for more
colour and positivity in our lives is more
important than ever, isn't it? So go bold
and colourful, floral and natural. Set your
senses alive with wild gorse soap, and
geranium scented candles. Shine in silver
blossom earrings and feel creative with
gem-coloured glass vases.
What are your favourite things to do in
and around Penzance?
My husband and I love to walk the
precarious cliff paths between St Loy and
Penberth with a pasty from St Buryan Farm
shop - especially when the daffodils or
bluebells are in flower. l
Circa 21, 21 Market Jew Street,
Penzance TR18 2HR.
Tel 07876 124449.
Subscribe to the online web shop to get
discounts and offers: www.circa21.co.uk
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 27 n
Design
When did Rozen’s story begin?
Ian Cox: Rozen first came to be in 1986
through the creative partnership between
myself and my co-director, Alan Pearce.
Both cabinetmakers by trade, they
combined their vision, skills and expertise
to create Rozen: a company that focused
on the artistry and craftsmanship of
furniture creation. After growing in success
over the years, in 2000 they moved to a
workshop in the little village of Ruan Minor
on the Lizard Peninsula. It’s here that we
continue to create bespoke luxury pieces
for homes and offices across the UK.
What makes Rozen different to
other brands?
Alan Pearce: For over 35 years, we have
built a reputation as one of Cornwall’s
leading designers, joiners and creators of
luxury furniture and interiors. There are
only a handful of companies offering truly
hand-crafted pieces - everything we make
is fashioned right here in Ruan Minor, from
n 28 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
initial design to construction. As a brand,
this sense of high-quality local artistry
defines our ethos and leads what we do
– it’s all the very best materials shaped by
the very best hands.
What is the creative atmosphere
in your workshop?
Ian: It’s infectious! We have a team of some
of the most highly skilled craftsmen and
women in the county – some of whom
have been with us for more than 20 years.
By sharing knowledge, developing skills
and combining modern technologies with
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is that every project is completely different
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Why is the concept of ‘space’
important to you?
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in the office or socialising with friends
somewhere, the space you’re in has the
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Ruan Minor, Helston TR12 7JR
Tel 01326 290 100
www.rozenfurniture.com
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 29 n
Commonly described as “the
best Poet Laureate” we never
had, poet Charles Causley
(1917 – 2003) spent his life in
Launceston. Cyprus Well, the tiny twobedroom
terraced house where he resided
with his mother Laura (and latterly alone),
looks much the same as when they lived
there, right down to the furniture. Too small
to be a museum, it is now made available
to writers-in-residence, and it was only
right that author Patrick Gale should spend
a week here while researching his latest
novel: Mother’s Boy, a fictional account
of Charles’ childhood and his relationship
with Laura.
“It was strange, and powerful, to be
sleeping in Laura’s bedroom, looking at
pictures she would have looked at, knowing
I would be writing a deeply intrusive novel
about her life,” Patrick admits. “I didn’t
dare sleep in Charles’ bedroom - as it was,
it was quite funny coming out of Laura's
room to be confronted by his portrait. I felt
I had to tread carefully.
“I could feel the ghosts of them and their
cats and dogs. I imagined them winding
up the grandfather clock whose tick I could
hear while writing. I’ve spoken to other
people who stayed there, and they say the
same – it's a bit like being inside Charles’
head. Although he moved there after the
period in which the novel is set, it’s easy to
imagine the way he and Laura would have
lived there – as soon as you walk through
the front door, you see Laura’s armchair
next to the telephone table.”
Patrick committed himself to honouring
the facts he unearthed about Causley -
although these were “quite thin on the
ground at a certain point in his life”, and
were supplemented by the memories
of those who met him and extracts from
Causley’s own writings: sketches, articles
and, of course, poems, some well-known
and others markedly less so. “At every
stage, I’ve used hundreds of bits of
material – what he left behind.”
The book explores the period from
Charles’ conception to the start of his
career as a schoolmaster in Launceston,
wending its way through childhood, school
days and his wartime years as a coder.
Causley had started out as a playwright,
and Patrick has a theory that his wartime
experiences influenced his direction as a
poet. "The discipline of being trained as
a coder, working very fast in tiny amounts
of words in code - it’s very close to how
he wrote poetry, and he intimated that he
found it much easier during the war to hold
four or five lines of poetry in his head and
work on them,” he explains.
Causley was famously private, so how does it
feel to be imagining scenes from his life, and
presenting them for public consumption?
“Extremely cheeky,” grins Patrick.
What drew him to Causley’s story? “I’m
interested in stories with unanswered
questions, and it seems to me that the
biggest question with Charles is what
made him tick emotionally. In many
ways, the public version he chose to
present, especially later in life, was
quite forbidding. He was friendly on the
surface, but intensely private, which is very
unfashionable these days, when everyone
is examining themselves on social media.
“I wanted to examine the construction of
the public persona of Charles Causley, and
worked back from that into his vulnerable
boyhood. I think he would have made a
very good spy, because he realised he
needed to compartmentalise his life, and
put his emotions and vulnerabilities into a
locked and very well-guarded box.”
Waterstones describes the novel as “tender,
compassionate and rich in psychological
truth”, while referring to “the secret desires
he must keep hidden”. It’s not a huge
leap from this to speculating on Causley’s
sexuality at a time when homosexuality
was some way off being legal. But Patrick,
who lives near Land’s End with his husband
Aidan, is quick to see where I’m going and
heads me off at the pass. “I don’t want
anyone saying ‘He’s making Causley out to
be gay,’” he says, emphatically.
But he continues: “It’s safe to say that in
his private diaries from his teens and 20s ...
he never gives a physical description of a
woman, just simple names. If he mentions
a man or a boy he has met, you get a vivid
physical description.
n 30 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
© Southgate Studio,
Launceston
Kirstie Newton talks to Patrick Gale about his new novel exploring the youth of poet
Charles Causley, who lived in Launceston with his mother
“Homosexuality was illegal then, and it
would have been a very frightening thing
to admit to himself. Some people say he
was just waiting for the right woman, but I
think he chose to live with his mother, who
was the ultimate shield to hide behind,
very respectable. Anyone who visited him
said you had to get past Mother before
you got to Charles. In a way, she protected
him, and when she died later in his life, he
had a breakdown – he must have felt very
exposed suddenly.
“So I’m not painting him to be gay, but
I am exploring things that he found
uncomfortable to talk about.”
Care has been taken, given Charles’ living
relatives; these include Devon folk singer
Jim Causley who has previously recorded a
CD of his distant cousin’s work set to music.
“He has read it – my heart was in my mouth,”
laughs Patrick. “I’ve also had nice feedback
from people who didn’t know Charles’ work,
and who were keen to read it after finishing
my book, which was very satisfying.”
Mother’s Boy is as much Laura’s story
as Charles’. A Cornish lass, she met her
husband (also Charles) in 1916 when
both were in service in Teignmouth. Their
son was born the following year, but
Charles Sr returned from the trenches a
damaged man and ill with tuberculosis.
Soon widowed, the fiercely independent
Laura raises Charles alone in small, classobsessed
Launceston, working as a
laundress, gradually aware of his genius.
Patrick examines their relationship with
interest: “How he and his mother got
on each other’s nerves, and how she
shaped him. A lot of the characters I’ve
extrapolated from his poetry – this wisdom
had to come from someone.”
Unlike Causley, Patrick is very sociable and
is active on the literary circuit of Cornwall,
where he has lived since 1987. He is the
artistic director of the North Cornwall
Book Festival, a director of Endelienta at St
Endellion, and a patron of Penzance LitFest
and, of course, the Charles Causley Trust.
“When I started out, I was grateful when
older writers gave me a hand. Writing is
a very precarious business, and we need
all the help we can get. It's a duty of the
successful to help others up the ladder.
Festivals are one way of doing that, and
we are lucky to have so many writers down
here who can be persuaded out of their
hidey-holes, like Cathy Rentzenbrink and
Nina Stibbe.
“Twitter is also a very powerful tool. If I like
a book and tweet about it, it makes a big,
big difference.”
He was knocking at an open door when
seeking support for his new release,
marked by the Charles Causley Trust with
a three-day festival in Launceston from
March 4 to 6. Events included workshops,
book signings, the launch of the Causley
Young Person’s Poetry competition and
a special evening event at the Eagle
House Hotel with Patrick, Jim Causley and
documentarian/filmmaker Jane Darke.
Whether or not you attend the festival,
Patrick urges people to read Causley’s
work in the context of its setting. “There is
something powerful about going to a place
where a poet lived his entire life. People
often talk about Betjeman in Cornwall, but
he wasn’t born here. With Charles, you can
read an incredible body of work describing
Launceston in specific detail, then walk the
streets where it’s set.” l
Mother’s Boy was published on
March 1 by Tinder Press.
For further information about the
Charles Causley Trust, causleytrust.org
Patrick Gale
© Jillian Edelstein
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 31 n
The Lodge
National Garden Scheme volunteer
Laura Tucker profiles neighbouring gardens
that open together for charity
n 32 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
Pinsla Bucks Head House The gARTen © Carole Drake
Gardening in a
sustainable way is
something we hold
dear in the National
Garden Scheme. In
Cornwall, many of our
garden owners have long been passionate
about being kind to the environment, and
some have simply made sustainability a
way of life. Here are two pairs of gardens,
close neighbours that open together.
Pinsla, Cardinham
Mark and Claire Woodbine have been
gardening at Pinsla for 40 years and the
thread of sustainability is woven into
everything they do. "We see ourselves
as custodians rather than owners of
the land,” says Claire, “working with
nature to create a garden that’s not
just for today but as a future legacy.”
Their relaxed approach has allowed an
informal, biodiverse tapestry to emerge.
A wide variety of flowering plants is grown
throughout the season, focusing on those
particularly attractive to pollinators.
Vegetables thrive in compost made with
the assistance of a wormery and a hot bin.
Woody prunings and branches are put
to use in the garden or allowed to decay
naturally and become habitats for insects.
The Lodge, Fletchersbridge
The sound of a gurgling stream beckons
visitors into the garden, a tranquil
woodland valley punctuated by calming
pools providing a home for frogs, newts,
moorhens, mallards and dragonflies.
Nuthatches, chaffinches, woodpeckers are
among the regular winged visitors, together
with the occasional kingfisher. Owner Tony
Ryde has been gardening here for 22 years
and is proud of the hundreds of trees he’s
planted, including 40 different varieties
of Magnolia, flowering in succussion
February to November. While generally
keen to encourage wildlife, Tony has
discovered an ingenious way of deterring
deer from eating his roses: when he visits
the hairdresser, he takes sweepings of hair
from the floor to hang in perforated bags
on the bushes. The deer are repelled by
the scent of humans. “I’m the only person
who leaves the hairdressers with more hair
than I started with!” laughs Tony.
Pinsla PL30 4AY and The Lodge PL30
4AN are in close proximity and will open
together on Sunday, April 24 from noon
to 5.30pm with cream teas served at The
Lodge. Pinsla will open from 9am to 5pm
on many more occasions in the summer.
Bucks Head House, Constantine
With a passion for trees, 17 years ago
Deborah Baker set about creating an
arboretum in a high, windy field and in so
doing, silenced the doubters who said it
couldn’t be done. Deborah waited patiently
for two years while the initial windbreak
of Griselinia and Elaeagnus became
established before planting 1,000 species of
native hazel, alder, Scots pine, oak, sorbus
and birch. Encircled by the protection of the
native trees, Deborah then planted 1,000
unusual and rare specimens. The result is
a dappled delight of mown paths curving
beneath a foliage canopy, underplanted
with bulbs, perennials, ferns and flowering
shrubs including 85 different types of
hydrangea. This tranquil oasis provides
nesting sites and food sources for wrens,
robins, chiff-chaffs, stonechats and fieldfares.
Shrubs and trees are specially selected to
offer berries and seed heads; woodpiles
are left undisturbed and wide areas of grass
remain unmown. Only collected rainwater
is used for watering and all prunings are
chipped or shredded and used as mulch.
Among the star performers in spring are
the multi-stemmed Alnus sieboldiana,
with its fabulous catkins, the wonderfully
fragranced Elaeagnus umbellata and the
daisy-smothered Olearia cheesemanii.
The gARTen Garden, Constantine
Drs Sara Gadd and Daro Montag have
demonstrated their professional skills in the
fields of art, design and the environment
by creating the organic gARTen garden,
their family home for the past 20 years.
Great care has been taken to cultivate and
adapt the garden holistically, respecting
the ecosystems. Visitors will be drawn on
a delightful meander through different
areas such as the spring garden, hot
terrace, fernery and willow circle. Planting
combinations, together with sculptural
architectural features, have been carefully
hand-crafted by Daro and chosen for
dramatic effect. Interestingly, tree prunings
are used to make bio-char, a charcoal
additive which improves the water retention
and texture of soil, as well as supporting
mycorrhizal fungi and raising the pH of
the naturally acidic soil, enabling brassicas
and leafy vegetables to be grown too.
The family’s horses and chickens provide a
welcome natural source of manure for the
crops. Sara says: “I like to grow heritage
varieties of vegetables, which helps to
preserve them for future generations.”
The gARTen Garden TR11 5QW and
Bucks Head House TR11 5QR are close
neighbours and open by arrangement
on Fridays (mornings and afternoons
respectively) from April to July.
The National Garden Scheme (NGS)
gives visitors unique access to over 3,500
exceptional private gardens and in 2021
donated £3 million to some of the UK’s
best-loved nursing and health charities
raised through admissions and refreshment
sales. For further information on Cornwall
gardens, visit ngs.org.uk/Cornwall l
G @CornwallNGS
A @cornwall.ngs
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 33 n
the Roof!
St Day Old Church enjoys a new lease of life as a
community hub and entertainment venue
Photographs by Charles Francis
n 34 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
Towering above the village of St Day
is a building so impressive, the late
poet Sir John Betjeman referred
to it as an “ecclesiastical toy fort”.
Following a 30-year campaign to
save it, this stunning building strikes the
perfect balance between relic and ruin.
In 2021, it found a new lease of life as an
entertainment venue under the watchful
eye of the St Day Old Church Community
Interest Company (CIC). There are six
voluntary directors, all with different skills,
be it health and safety, fundraising, PR and
marketing or theatre programming. Lesley
Trotter’s specialism is history, and she sees
the Old Church as a self-supporting tripod
of heritage, arts and community.
“The building is iconic to the local
landscape - wherever you walk around St
Day, you can see it,” she says. “Its presence
is there in the community, all the time. It
makes sense for it to be used, but while
there were efforts before the millennium
to save the church, there was no coherent
plan to generate any income to ensure we
could keep it safe for public use.”
The emphasis is on sustainability rather
than quick fixes. “That’s incredibly
important, and it’s one reason we haven’t
replaced the roof – apart from the fact
it’s a USP and lends atmosphere, it would
generate a maintenance problem for future
generations. We’d rather keep what we’ve
got in good order, and generate a feeling
of belonging in the town, so it becomes
part of our lives and not just the scenery.”
The Old Church was built in 1826, part of a surge
in church building to commemorate victory
in the Battle of Waterloo (fellow “Waterloo
churches” including St Paul’s in Charlestown
and St George’s & St John’s in Truro).
In the early 19th century, the mining industry
was booming, and nowhere more so than
in an area once referred to as “the world’s
richest square mile”. St Day needed a larger
church to cater for the rapidly growing
population in the town and surrounding
district. The building followed designs by
Christopher Hutchens of Torpoint in the
popular Gothic Revival style, and with its
grand gallery, it could accommodate a
congregation of 1,500 people.
But by the early 1900s, the congregation
had dwindled so drastically with the decline
of mining that the decision was made to
remove the gallery. This compromised
the stability of the entire church, which
was declared unsafe and closed in 1956.
The church community moved into the
hall opposite, where it remains to this day,
and the once glorious building was left
unmaintained for decades. In 1985, part of
the roof caved in; the decision was made to
remove it completely, and the church has
been exposed to the elements ever since.
In 1988, St Day Old Church Appeal
Committee was formed, launching what
would be a 30-year battle to save the
building. Three years ago, things were
cranked up a notch when the church was
purchased for £1 from the Diocese of Truro
by the new CIC. A huge community effort
ensued to get the building set up as a
centre for heritage, education and the arts.
Thanks to a number of funders, including
Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), £138,000 was
CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 35 n
raised and essential works were undertaken,
including window repairs and the installation
of a modern electricity supply. A mosaic
was created by the community under the
watchful eye of artist Clare Summerson,
and the reception class of the local primary
school ran 100 miles in laps around their
classrooms to raise money, and were
rewarded with the opportunity to be the
first performers on the new stage. “That’s
why we do this,” says Lesley. “I hope that
memory will stay with them forever. Many of
the children go back generations in St Day,
and nurturing those connections will ensure
the survival of the building.”
The church is extremely popular with the
Cornish diaspora, with descendants of
Cousin Jacks – the miners who left Cornwall
in search of work in Australia, South Africa,
Mexico and other locations – regularly visiting
St Day. “In a normal year, we might expect
around 3,000 people asking for church access
for this reason,” says Lesley. “One lady from
Tasmania came, and was able to stand where
her great-great-grandmother had married. It
was such an emotional connection.”
DIARY DATES:
April 23 - Mohan: A Partition Story
Mixed Scots-Indian writer Niall Moorjani recalls
their grandpa’s experiences of the Partitioning
of India 75 years ago. Moving, visceral,
emotive and at times hilarious, the story will be
interwoven with fascinating historical insight,
and set to live music. Tickets £12.
April 30 - Peri... Meno... What now?!
Nina Hills’ comedy show about the
perimenopause - expect stand-up, song, rap
and even a cuppa. Who knew getting old
would be such a pain in the lady garden? Adult
themes and language - 16+. Tickets £12.
May 7 - Katie’s Black Hole Adventures
Little Trebiggan Theatre
Katie is given a science kit for her 10th birthday
and opens a black hole in her bedroom into
which her noisy dad gets sucked. Will she be
able to get him back? Will he ever be the same
again? Fun, frolics, musical fusion and a little bit
of science in this family show. Tickets £6.
May 28 - Wish We Weren't Here
Camidge & Stringer
A west Cornwall tourist information office
in 2023. Staff members Linda and Jak swap
their lockdown experiences and explore the
‘complaints’ archive, with contributions from
George Eliot and DH Lawrence. Tickets £12.
While not quite restored to its former glory,
any imperfections simply add character.
The stone floor is peppered with bits of
original church floor tile; an aged piece of
wood from the fallen roof timbers still sits
behind the stage in the shape of a cross,
while the cracked central heating pipes still
line the walls.
The first entertainment season began in
August, a year later than planned due to
the pandemic. The Old Church CIC has
programmed an eclectic mix of events to give
the people of St Day and surrounding area a
reason to come and see their church brought
to life, from children’s theatre to adult-only
storytelling performances, film nights and a
musical bonanza day for all the family.
Running the church as a venue has been a
learning curve for all involved. Having got to
grips with it, the CIC hopes for more events
and, crucially, more volunteer stewards. “We
might even get to the point where we create
employment,” says Lesley. “Ultimately, the
more people use it, the more people love it,
the longer it will survive.” l
n 36 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
An bobel a Gernow a gar aga Dy’Golyow ha golyow erell. Selys
yn ta yns y’n kalender gonisogeth ha kevrennys, dell yw usys,
dhe sans an dre po pluw. Nebes dy’golyow a ost kesstrifow
sport, rag ensempel an hurlya yn Porthia po Sen Kolom Veur –
an re erell re dhisplegas yn termyn arnowydh dhe solempnya
kowlwriansow ynjynorieth kepar ha Dydh Trevithick po Dydh
Murdoch. Prest re beu boos brav rann posek a’n kentel, yn
arbennik torthellow delit te. Torthellow safran, melyn splann dre
reson a’n spis bleujen, re beu pebys y’n Dhuketh dres istori ha
dybris peskweyth may vo dy’golyow po solempnyansow kryjyk.
Leveris yw safran a gevi y fordh dhe Gernow dre kenwerth sten
mar a-varr es peswar kans Kyns Osweyth Kemmyn!
The people of Cornwall love their Feast Days and other festivals.
They are well-established in the community calendar and are
usually linked to a parish or town’s saint. Some events host
sporting competitions, for example, hurling in St Ives and St
Columb Major; others have developed in modern times to
celebrate engineering achievements such as Trevithick Day or
Murdoch Day. Fine food has always been an important part
of the occasion, especially tea treat buns. Saffron buns, bright
yellow from the added flower spice, have been baked in the
Duchy throughout history and eaten on feast days and religious
celebrations. Saffron is said to have found its way to Cornwall
through trading tin as early as 400 BC!
Dy’Golyow
Feast Days
kalender
calendar
kevrennys
linked
sans an bluw
parish saint
ostya
to host
kesstrif
competition
kowlwrians
achievement
ynjynorieth
engineering
prest
always, constantly
kentel
occasion
torthell
bun
safran
saffron
solempnyans
celebration
kenwerth
trade
sten
tin
Kyns Osweyth
Before Common
Kemmyn (KOK) Era (BC)
Nebes a’n golyow kernewek an brassa a hwer yn mis Me. Yn
Lannwedhenek, afinys yw an dre gans bleujyow, parys rag
devedhyans an ‘Oss glas ha’n ‘Oss rudh ha koth. Gwrys yw an
eyl ha’y gila a fram hirgylghek, gorherys yn kroghen oyl gans
penn margh byghan a-dherag, ow bratha y jal. Ilewydhyon a
sen jarwel ha tabours dell led pub ‘Oss keskerdh a-derdro an
dre, brosys gans an Tontyer. Mernans ha dasgenesigeth an ‘Oss
Let's Speak Cornish
a represent gorfenn an gwav ha’n hav ow tos. Tennvos tornysi
gerys-da dres eghen yw an hwarvos lemmyn ha meurgerys yw
avel onan an hengov gwerin moy a vri yn Breten.
Some of the largest Cornish festivals take place in May. In
Padstow, the town is decorated with flowers ready for the arrival
of the “Blue ‘Oss” and the old “Red ‘Oss”. Each one is made
from an oval frame covered in black oilskin with a small horse's
head in the front, its jaw snapping. Musicians play accordion and
drums as each ‘Oss leads a procession around town, goaded by
the Teaser. The death and re-birth of the ‘Oss represent the end
of winter and the coming of summer. The event is now a hugely
popular tourist attraction and is loved as one of the most famous
folk customs in Britain.
afina
to decorate
bleujen
flower
glas
blue (green)
rudh
red
an eyl ha’y gila one and the other
fram
frame
gorheri
to cover
kroghen oyl
oil skins
bratha
to bite, snap
chal
jaw
jarwel
accordian
tabour
drum
brosa
to goad
Tontyer
Teaser
tennvos
attraction
tornysi
tourists
NEBES LAVARENNOW DYDHYOW GOOL
SOME USEFUL FEAST DAY PHRASES
A vynn’ta dos genev dhe Dhydh Trevithick?
Do you want to come with me to Trevithick Day?
Na vynnav, meur ras, nyns yw da genev oll an ethen ha mog.
No, thanks, I don’t like all the steam and smoke.
“£3.60 an gramm! Ass yw safran kostek!”
“£3.60 per gram! How expensive is saffron!”
“Hanafas a de ha torthell safran, mar pleg!”
“A cup of tea and a saffron bun, please!”
“Gans amanyn po lughes ha taran?”
“With butter or thunder and lightning?”
“Ogh, yw hemma Dy’Gool? Y brederis my dhe vos dhe
guntelles sodhva?”
“Oh, is this a Feast Day? I thought I was at an office meeting”
For general enquiries: maureen.pierce@kesva.org
For enquiries about publications: roger.courtenay@kesva.org
For enquiries about examinations: tony.hak@kesva.org
For enquiries about the language correspondence course:
kernewekdrelyther@hotmail.co.uk
For more Cornish Language visit: www.kesva.org
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 37 n
Cornwall supports Ukraine
Elizabeth Dale on how
a monument erected
in Cornwall after the
Second World War has
found new significance
following the Russian
invasion of Ukraine.
As the world woke to the dreadful news of
war erupting in Ukraine, many people’s first
thought was what they could do to help.
On February 27, 2022, some 200 people
gathered in a quiet lane just outside the
village of Mylor to show the beleaguered
Ukrainian nation their support.
The choice of location may seem a little
strange at first glance, but the history of this
quiet corner of the Cornish countryside is
in fact incredibly pertinent, especially as
hundreds of thousands of refugees stream
across the Ukrainian border in search of safety.
Beside the dead-end road to Restronguet
Barton, tucked away under trees and
painted bright white, stands a stone cross.
This small monument was erected here in
1948 by Ukrainians who had been living and
working in the area in the post-war era. A
symbol of their gratitude for their escape
from persecution, and the safe refuge
they had found in Cornwall, it also bore
testament to their strong Christian faith.
These days, hidden from passing traffic,
its significance had been mostly forgotten
until recent events made its story even
more moving and relevant.
At the end of the Second World War, after
the collapse of Nazi Germany, there were
an estimated 11 million displaced people
in Europe, communities that were unable
or unwilling to return to their homes. It
is thought that around 200,000 of those
exiled souls were resettled in Britain, and
many came here to Cornwall.
After the terrible losses of both World
Wars, the UK found itself with a severe
labour shortage, leading the European
Voluntary Workers scheme (EVWs) to invite
people from all over Europe to come to
Britain and provide a much-needed boost
to our workforce.
The refugees who came to Mylor were
just some of the hundreds of Ukrainian
men, women and children fleeing violent
persecution by the communist regime
installed in their home country by the
Soviet Army. Many of them had fought
against the invading forces; the Second
World War had inevitably brought about
a strong independence movement in the
Ukraine, and as a consequence many of
these nationalists had been rounded up,
imprisoned and even executed.
Close to where the cross stands today was
once the site of an anti-aircraft base during
the war and at one time up to 300 British
troops were based there. As peace returned
to Europe, the British Government utilised
its now empty bases to house refugees. So it
was that Ukrainian families were moved into
the unused buildings in Mylor in 1947/48,
staying there for around 12 months.
The men found work on local farms, in the
mines and as gardeners, often taking the
place of the Cornishmen that had never
come home. The women looked after the
children and some took in sewing work. As
n 38 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
a devout Orthodox Christian community,
they built themselves a make-shift chapel
on site and local Catholic priests would visit
Restronguet to hold services.
As time went on, the refugee families
gradually moved out of the camp; some
went back to Europe in the hope of
returning home, others emigrated to
Canada or Australia. But many found
permanent accomodation in Mylor and the
surrounding villages. Recollections of that
time suggest that, despite initial language
barriers, the Ukranian families integrated
well and quickly became part of Mylor’s
community. Their children played with
their Cornish peers, while many unmarried
adults found local matches and remained in
Mylor for the rest of their lives.
A service of rededication was held at the
cross in 2008, and amongst the attendees
were grandchildren of those original
Ukrainian families who found safety and
welcome in Cornwall 70 years earlier.
In February 2022, the cross once again
became a very real symbol of compassion
and solidarity between two distant
nations who have built an unexpected
bond through conflict. This most recent
gathering was a more sombre occasion.
A service was led by the Bishop of Truro,
Philip Mounstephen, and the crowd was a
mix of locals and Ukrainians who have come
to live in Cornwall in recent years. The little
cross was swathed in Ukrainian and St Piran
flags, with daffodils laid on the brick base.
In a message on the Mylor Parish Church
Facebook page, Ukrainian Marsha
Szewczuk wrote: "My family and I wish
we could be there today ... My Ukrainian
grandfather, who stayed in the camp and
lived on the outskirts of the village, helped
erect the memorial. He’d be pleased that
there is a service there today - thank you."
In these difficult and divisive times, it
is important to remember the lessons
that history teaches us. Cornish people
have found work and homes and joined
communities all across the globe, and in
turn we have welcomed strangers in need
here. The Ukrainian Cross near Mylor Bridge
stands as that reminder of a time when we
were able to offer safety and community to
people in dire need - and that we may need
to do that again. l
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 39 n
Will performing at
the Alverton, Truro
MMY CORNISH WORLD
Y CORNISH WORLD
n 40 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
Will performing with John Dowling
at the Minack Theatre
Tell us about your childhood
People assume I’m Cornish, but I actually
grew up in Somerset! I joined the Royal
Navy at 16, and spent six years at HMS
Raleigh in Torpoint. Rugby was my thing,
and joining up was one way of playing
professionally – until I snapped my anterior
cruciate ligament at the age of 21. These
days, my participation is limited to warming
up the crowd at all the Pirates’ matches.
Where do you live now?
I returned to Cornwall 14 years ago, by
which time I was married with newborn
twins and two foster children. All my life
had been spent by, on or under the sea.
Friends emigrated to far-flung places like
Australia, but as foster parents we couldn’t
do that, so we settled in Falmouth. I knew
about Cornwall’s maritime heritage, but
not its culture - that was a bit of an eyeopener.
I started working for Skinners
Brewery - a job made in heaven for me –
and that’s how I met The Oggymen. I’ve
sung with them ever since. It's more like
a group of friends – a hobby rather than
a job.
What kind of repertoire do they perform?
The kind of songs that have been sung
in Cornish popular culture for hundreds
of years. Think Lamorna, Lil Lize and
Trelawny. But the song that drew me in
was Cornwall My Home by Harry ‘Safari’
Glasson. Even though I’m not Cornish, it’s
like an arrow through the heart for me. I
later discovered that Harry had written lots
of songs commenting on Cornish history,
and I’ve performed many of them in my
solo show. I love their simplicity. They are
ideal for engaging young children; on April
23, I'll perform at the Roseland Festival with
pupils from St Mawes primary school.
What inspired you to start
performing solo?
I’d always wanted to have a go, but was
held back by what other people might
think. What moved me to actually do it was
when my foster son took his own life at the
age of 19 - nothing could hurt me as much
as that did. So I went for it, and did 85 gigs
in that first year – I knew a lot of people who
had pubs! Harry Glasson had toured for 30
years and put me in touch with venues.
He was a huge support and mentor to me
during that time; we became great friends,
and in May I’m going to a garden party at
Buckingham Palace as his plus-one.
How did you keep
performing during lockdown?
The Voices of the Borough Facebook group
was launched to encourage people to sing
Cornwall My Home on Thursdays, after the
Clap For Carers. They asked to play my
version for people to sing along to; I went
one better, and live streamed it alongside
my four daughters! It went out to around
16,000 people, and I was getting messages
from around the world. At gigs, people still
tell me how much it meant to them.
Why do you think music is such a key part
of Cornish culture?
Celtic nations have music as their bedrock.
You can see it in Irish and Welsh culture too.
They play it to express emotion, be it sadness
or joy, and to bring people together. It’s
good for the soul, and it’s important to keep
it alive. With the male voice choir population
ageing, we must think about how these
songs will continue to be heard. Thankfully,
there has been a massive resurgence in
young people singing them – I performed at
the Chainlocker on St Piran’s Day, and it was
as busy as New Year’s Eve.
You have a new album coming out
in September
Yes, I’m launching a Crowdfunder in May
to pay for it. It will include traditional and
contemporary songs, and some of my own
compositions. During lockdown, I learned
more about a poet called John Harris; some
of his words are on a slab in Gylly gardens.
I turned two of his poems into songs. I’ve
also written two in Kernewek, with the help
of the Cornish language department at
Cornwall Council.
What else do you have planned for 2022?
It’s looking busy! I’ve been booked to sing
at low tide on Tresco on Easter Monday,
and am in discussions about performing in
the RNLI garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower
Show in May. In June, The Oggymen are
singing at Tunes in the Dunes in Perranporth
and the International Sea Shanty Festival in
Falmouth, then at the Minack on August
16 – that gig sold out within a week. In
February, I did a candlelight tour of village
churches with banjo player John Dowling.
It was a huge success and we’re going to
tour new repertoire in November. I’m also
hoping to join a residential course in June
to improve my skills in Kernewek.
Where is your favourite place in Cornwall?
My home – Falmouth. This morning, I went
for a swim in the sea at Gyllyngvase beach.
My wife and I like to go out for breakfast
when the kids are at school – Indidog and
Windjammer are our favourites, and it
has to be a full Cornish for me, with hog’s
pudding. l
For more further performance dates, visit
willkeatingcornwall.com
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 41 n
n 42 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
Kernow Art Collective takes over the courtyard buildings
of the historic Boconnoc Estate from April 15 to 17,
offering a window into contemporary art made in
Cornwall across a variety of media, from a selection of
artists both seasoned and new. Pictured: Clay Tip Country
by Sara Owens. Find Kernow Art Collective on Facebook.
44 ART NEWS
50 ART FOCUS: JACKSON FOUNDATION
52 THROUGH THE EYES OF...
MARTIN JOHN FOWLER
54 MAKER FOCUS: HELEN EASTHAM
56 GALLERY OF THE MONTH: ART HOUSE
58 ARTIST PROFILE: IONA SANDERS
60 VIP: CUSTOMS HOUSE GALLERY
62 MEET THE MAKER: ANDREA INSOLL
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 43 n
Art News
COVER ARTIST: CATHERINE CLARKE
Catherine loves everything about Cornwall; the beaches, the people, the
wildlife, the food, the pace of life. She studied illustration at Falmouth
College of Arts over 20 years ago, and although she’s based in land-locked
Shropshire now, she makes sure to get her Cornwall fix each year by taking
a holiday with her husband, son and daughter. This never fails to create
wonderful memories and inspire Catherine in her artwork. Cornwall evokes a
feeling of nostalgia for her, which is why she creates pieces such as the one
on the front cover: Hanging About in St Ives Harbour. Catherine creates her
artwork digitally, using elegant lines and simple colour ways and ensures to
print and package them using eco-friendly materials. l
You can buy Catherine’s prints at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CornwallCoast
BEAUTIFUL BEACH WORKS
Marking the launch of their 2022 Featured Artist
series of exhibitions this April, Whitewater
Contemporary brings you paintings and
sculptures by the ever-popular Simeon Stafford.
This collection includes paintings inspired by the
busy North Cornwall beaches of Polzeath and
Daymer, the harbours of Padstow and Port Isaac
in summer, and the daily workings of Cornwall’s
fishing industry and historic mining scene.
Also included are examples of Simeon’s highly
collectable bronze figures, including his famous
Yo Yo Girl. Then throughout May, mixed media
artist Viv Richards is on show. Her new collection
comprises 23 paintings, each made on separate
days by the sea near her home on the North
Cornwall coast. Viv’s works express the tranquillity
of life in the far west, and celebrate Cornwall’s
vast skies, ocean views, and the sublime feeling
of open space, using layers of collage, gouache,
oil paint, and sometimes clay, paper pulp or
felting wool. l
Whitewater Contemporary,
The Parade, Polzeath, PL27 6SR.
www.whitewatercontemporary.co.uk
POLPERRO: CORNWALL’S FORGOTTEN ART CENTRE
In the late 19th century and for much of the 20th, Polperro captivated artists with its twin
harbours, stone breakwaters, cobbled alleys and courts leading to quaint, haphazard housing,
often with first floor porches reached by time-worn steps. Add the River Pol bubbling its way
under ancient stone bridges, and a stunning coastal setting surrounded by hills, and it’s small
wonder this fishing village became “the haunt of half the artists of Britain”, as well as many
significant international artists. An exhibition at Falmouth Art Gallery will feature paintings by
leading American, German and Dutch artists, as well as by many accomplished British ones
- some familiar, others less so. Work is drawn from public and private collections, curated by
leading Cornish art historian, David Tovey, and accompanied by his two-volume history of the
village as an art centre. Highlights include William Mouat Loudan’s critically acclaimed 1888
Royal Academy exhibit, Fish Sale, Polperro; unexhibitable for decades, it has been restored
for the show; and Edward Reginald Frampton’s 1896 work ‘When the sun to Westward sinks
and bathes all things in gold’ (pictured). l
My
n 44 | | Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
April 2 to June 18, Falmouth Art Gallery, Municipal Buildings, The Moor, Falmouth TR11
2RT. Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm. www.falmouthartgallery.com
Unique Astrological Orreries
Handmade in Cornwall
Create your own Natal Chart in 3D
Track daily planetary movements
Enjoy a beautiful Objet D’Art in your home
M: 07753 817992
T: 01726 870304
E: info@nosti.co.uk
W: nosti.co.uk
@nosti_astrology
@NostiAstrology
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 45 n
SPRING ON THE LIZARD
Lizard Art Gallery, at Trelowarren Estate, launches its spring exhibition on
Saturday, April 2. The gallery is a co-operative of 15 members made up
of mainly professional artists who work to a high standard, encompassing
many styles and techniques including representational and abstract works,
printmaking, collage and mixed media - from exciting seascapes that
capture stormy weather to gentle watercolours that capture the warmth
of summer. Among the collection, you’ll find work from associate craft
members including gorgeous serpentine works, fascinating ceramics, glass
and jewellery. Housing an eclectic collection of originals, prints and cards,
the gallery is run by the artists themselves, which enables them to share
their enthusiasm about their own work and that of their colleagues - a
real highlight for visitors keen to know more. Sit and enjoy the ambience
of the peaceful surroundings of the old converted stable barns, with
neighbouring restaurant and The Pantry coffee shop. l
Open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 3pm. Stableyard Gallery,
Trelowarren Estate, Mawgan-in-Meneage, Helston TR12 6AF.
Tel. 01326 221778, www.lizardart.co.uk
G TheStableyardGallery A LizardArtGallery
JANE BODLE AT THE COWHOUSE
Jane Bodle’s textile pictures are worked from
recycled fabrics, ribbons, threads and other
materials entering further reincarnations. Sometimes
work is screenprinted first, then completed with
embellishments from Jane’s studio store. Having
collected interesting pieces, including sea glass,
pebbles, old buttons and bows with vibrant colours,
she integrates them wherever possible. Jane’s
feltwork is a fusion of wools using a large palette of
colour moulded into a felt backing with stitchwork.
Her original paintings take subjects from the rugged
coastline of Cornwall, from rocky headlands to the
delicate flora and fauna of the shoreline, using
varied media fed on to Yupo paper to create a vivid
kaleidoscope of colour. Bespoke cards start at £2.50
each and pictures start from £50. l
The Cowhouse Gallery,
Lynfield Craft Centre, Perranuthnoe TR20 9NE.
Open daily 10am to 5pm.
Tel. 01736 710538
www.cowhousegallery.co.uk
OPEN STUDIOS CORNWALL 2022
From May 28 to June 5, the annual Open Studios event will see artists,
designers and makers share curious studio spaces in beautiful places across
Cornwall, from Marazion to St Minver, St Ives to Saltash and Penzance
to Penwithick; in leafy villages, seaside settlements and wooded valleys;
between granite gateposts, down driveways and along ancient footpaths.
Artists of all kinds - painters, printmakers, potters, textile designers,
sculptors and illustrators – will reveal where and how they work, what their
rooms look like and what they need around them to feel creative. Curate
your own art trail by following the distinctive orange ‘Os’ across the Duchy’s
creeks, coves and coastlines, to discover, discuss and purchase their work.
Alternatively, take the virtual route from the comfort of your own home.
Pictured is Cookworthy Knapp, or the Coming Home Trees, by “Fibreista”
Araminta Greaves, whose spinnery can be found in her garden at the foot of
Roughtor, on the edge of Bodmin Moor. l
Photo by Phil Glew, Southgate Studios, Launceston.
www.openstudioscornwall.co.uk
n 46 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
TRELISSICK GALLERY
Summer Exhibition - ‘Treasure’
30th April - 25th September
Focus on Furniture Maker Tom Heywood
30th April - 15th June
Open daily between 10am-5pm
www.cornwallcrafts.co.uk
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 47 n
YEW TREE GALLERY
Eastertide announces the welcome return of Spring
at Yew Tree Gallery through woodcuts by Guy
Royle, stoneware bird sculptures by Reece Ingram,
light-filled paintings by Sally Holman, lustrous
ceramics by Sutton Taylor, woven wool throws by
Rhian Wyman and cushions by Sue Marshall, plus
pottery by Jill Fanshawe Kato and Nigel Lambert,
and silver and aluminium jewellery by Helen Nock.
The gardens are open for a stroll or a picnic to make
for a leisurely outing until May 7. This exhibition
is followed by Homage To John Maltby from May
21 to July 3, a retrospective exhibition celebrating
the broad creative talents of a remarkable artist.
An illustrated book published to coincide with
this show will also be on sale. Image: First Flight,
woodcut by Guy Royle. l
Yew Tree Gallery, Keigwin, Morvah TR19 7TS.
Tel 01736 786425, www.yewtreegallery.com
ENYS ART AND GARDENS
Enys Art Exhibition and Bluebell Festival both run from Saturday, April
30 to Sunday, May 8, meaning one ticket for two great events. A short
distance from both Falmouth and Truro, Enys is famed for its 30 acres of
gardens, which flower magnificently with fragrant bluebells at this time of
year. The old mansion house will also be open and the rustic walls filled
with work by 11 talented local artists: Ben Baker and Laura Menzies in
the dining room, Chloe Tinsley and Rachel Corney in the hall, Stephanie
Sandercock and Theo Crutchly-Mack in the library, Rachel Painter and
Sophie Penstone in the drawing room and Danni Dixon in the lobby, plus
Eloise Wall and Kamil Waniowski on the front lawn. Refreshments will be
available. 10am to 5pm. l
www.enysgardens.org.uk
PORTHLEVEN, HARBOUR OF LIGHT
The Customs House Gallery in Porthleven will show work by Scilly-based
Steve Sherris from May 14 to 23. Steve is a self-taught artist and has been
painting full-time for 15 years, working on location and from his studio on
St Mary’s. Steve lives on Scilly all year round and paints the islands for half
the year, then in the winter months loves to travel with his paints in search
of new subjects and challenges to keep his paintings fresh. “Generally, I
look for simplicity in a scene,” he says, “rendering enough information to
give the viewer the sense of being there. To help me capture this feeling,
I believe it is essential to paint on the spot in front of the subject, only
working in the studio once I have an intimate knowledge of the subject.” l
www.cornwall-art.co.uk
n 48 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
Market Place,
Marazion, Cornwall,
TR17 0AR
Tel: 01736 711400
Opening Times:
Open daily 10.30-5pm,
Closed on Mondays
info@summerhousegallery.co.uk
www.summerhousegallery.co.uk
@summerhousegallery
The Summerhouse Gallery
Spring at The Summerhouse Gallery is bursting with
hope and joy, showcasing the very best of Cornish
art in a light and welcoming space.
Our April show ‘Joy’ by Iona Sanders is a delight to
see, filled with colour and simplicity of line. We are
also showing work by Imogen Bone, John Piper,
Kit Johns and many more, as well as a beautiful
selection of locally handcrafted ceramics, jewellery
and sculpture.
Please see our website for further information.
The gallery is both child and dog friendly and is
set in the heart of Marazion. We look forward to
welcoming you!
Painting by Simon Jewell - Oil - ‘Brooding Mount’
A stunning gallery located at the heart of the
timeless Trelowarren Estate, run by a co-operative of
exciting and diverse professional artists all sharing
an enthusiasm for living and working on the Lizard
Peninsula. Exhibiting a varied selection of paintings
in a variety of mediums and a large selection of Prints
and Cards. Crafts available include ceramics, glass,
serpentine sculpture, jewellery and mixed media.
A warm welcome awaits you at Lizard Art.
STABLEYARD GALLERY, TRELOWARREN ESTATE, MAWGAN-IN-MENEAGE, HELSTON, CORNWALL TR12 6AF
TEL: 01326 221778 | OPEN WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY, 11AM-3PM
WWW.LIZARDART.CO.UK | FACEBOOK: THESTABLEYARDGALLERY | INSTAGRAM: LIZARDARTGALLERY
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 49 n
ART FOCUS
The Jackson
Foundation, St Just
Sustainability is a subject close to the heart of artist Kurt Jackson, and two
exhibitions running concurrently at his gallery in St Just bear testament to this.
Fragile Earth by Sally Baldwin is a body
of work evoking natural forms such as
trees, pods, flowers, insects, sea life and
water. The materials used - recycled and
handmade paper, silk waste and gauzy
cotton scrim - are ghostly, white and
ephemeral, suggesting delicate, fragile,
vulnerable and finely balanced landscapes.
The work had its origins during the
first lockdown. “It felt as if the world as
we knew it was collapsing,” Sally recalls.
“Not only was the environment under
extraordinary threat, with climate change
and habitat loss demonstrated clearly
all around us, but our society was also
crumbling because of a rampaging virus.”
Sally launched a project with funding
from Arts Council England. “Initially my
idea was for the pieces to form a white and
ghostly landscape, a reminder of what we
once had but have now lost,” she explains.
However, as the work progressed, she
named the collection Fragile Earth: “I felt
it was more optimistic, and reflected my
belief that we can still reverse this decline
if we work together globally and locally to
switch to a circular, carbon-free economy,
and to protect endangered habitats.”
In the titular hanging installation Fragile
Earth, the long, disintegrating tree-like
shapes are an indicator of our loss of
trees through farming, land clearance and
bush fires. The long, stitched paper piece
implies moth-like creatures, moths being
an indicator species reflecting the health
of our eco-systems - as with butterflies,
their numbers are in serious decline. In
contrast, pod shapes in delicate silk fibres
(see also Warming Oceans) represent
jellyfish whose numbers are thriving at the
expense of other forms of sea life.
n 50 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
The Monarch Migration wall pieces
refer specifically to the Monarch butterfly,
which migrates annually over 2,500 miles
from the USA and Canada to hibernate
in central Mexican forests. Their numbers
have dropped by an astonishing 95% since
the 1990s, due to a variety of environmental
factors including climate change, increased
pesticide use, illegal logging (especially
for avocado plantations) and the loss of
grassland containing milkweed, the only
plant they can lay their eggs in.
Meanwhile, Kurt Jackson’s own
Mermaids’ Tears explores the use of nurdles
– tiny pieces of plastic which are melted
down to create single-use items. These are
spilt on land at industrial facilities, and can
float off down drains and ultimately out
to sea. It’s estimated that around 250,000
tonnes of nurdles are currently in the world’s
oceans, where they are mistaken for food
by sea creatures and thus find their way into
the human food chain.
Weighing 20mg each, nurdles have been
common on beaches since the 1970s. Kurt
takes nurdles from local beach cleans and
incorporates them into paint for large-scale
collage works. “Artists are often described
as people who ask questions. I hope that
a body of work like this will make people
think, look more closely and ultimately
make demands,” says Kurt.
“We really do need to stop this
mentality of making something to use
it once, then chuck it away. There is no
‘away’. I want to open people’s eyes to
what a beautiful planet we live on; if we
abuse it, we abuse ourselves.”
Running alongside both of these
exhibitions is Kurt Jackson’s Clay Country.
Having previously explored Cornwall’s
extractive industries in collections based
around South Crofty tin mine, Delabole
slate quarry in north Cornwall and Carnsew
granite quarry near Falmouth, Kurt now
seeks inspiration in the peaks and troughs
of the area close to St Austell, which have
been mined for kaolin, aka China Clay,
for two centuries. All three exhibitions
run until August 13 (check the website for
opening times).
The Jackson Foundation is housed
within a former industrial building at the
heart of the thriving former mining town
of St Just-in-Penwith. Kurt and his wife
Caroline aimed to provide a space for
the public to reflect on our symbiotic
relationship with the natural world. The
carbon-positive gallery is powered by a
28kw array of high-efficiency solar panels,
Tesla Powerwall battery storage and
ground-source heat pumps, and hosts
an annual programme of contemporary
exhibitions in partnership with a variety
of environmental and non-profit
organisations. Paintings are delivered
within Cornwall by zero-emission fully
electric car or van. l
The Jackson Foundation,
North Row, St Just TR19 7LB.
www.jacksonfoundationgallery.com
U @JacksonFGallery
A @JacksonFGallery
G JacksonFoundation
Top: Two paintings from Mermaid's Tears by Kurt
Jackson - left: This soft sea, this hard plastic. 2021
(detail); right: Woven tied by the tide. 2021 (detail)
Middle: Warming Oceans by Sally Baldwin
Bottom: Monarch Migrations, Fragile Earth and
Reminded Of Chinese Lanterns. All by Sally Baldwin.
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 51 n
n 52 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
THROUGH THE EYES OF...
Martin John Fowler
Where are you based?
I live in Doncaster but travel up and down
the country, mainly to coastal areas. I’ve
tried to relocate to Cornwall a couple of
times but have been priced out. Precovid,
I visited the South West every
month, especially in winter. The place
is just magical, with a different view on
every corner. It just feels calm - fewer
motorways, less noise. The people are
friendly; on many occasions, I’ve turned
up on a harbourside, started to paint
and the fishermen have offered to show
me the coast. I haven’t got the best sea
legs, but I love it, and they are kind - they
tell me their life stories, and they like my
Yorkshire directness!
Tell us about one of your chosen locations
to paint, and why it inspires you
I love landscape as location. It might be
a seascape, where the human element of
trawlers and leisure boats in the harbour
meets the power of the open sea; or
an urban setting, with the hustle and
bustle of a marketplace, the rhythmic
vibrancy and array of colour, shapes and
forms colliding in endless juxtaposed
compositions. Inspiration, for me at
least, comes from direct experience and
interaction with the environment. Whether
the setting is intimate or dynamic doesn't
matter; the location will tell me how to
react or respond through the materials
and media I use.
What catches your attention the most here?
What matters is where the pulse is in the
setting I am responding to. I can only get
the most from somewhere if I fully immerse
myself in the sensory potential a setting
communicates to me. If the location does
not provide me with this impetus, I guess
it doesn't seem right. In turn, then, I'll only
commit to a painting, drawing or mixed
media work when I can fully commit myself
to the location.
Describe the sounds, smells and feelings
you experience in this location
Sensory perception is such a personal
thing, as I have already alluded to. It is
about the feelings a location gives me -
and those feelings are determined by the
sounds, smells, colours, temperature, and
the unique elements that it emits. It is this
that makes the experience exciting and
interesting, and it is this that, ultimately, I
want to communicate to the audience.
What colours do you like to use when
working here?
Again, colour is very much determined by
the location. My colour palette choices,
then, depend on the expressive qualities a
daub or splash of colour can give to what
I am wanting to depict from the setting,
what I am wanting to communicate as a
response to what the place offers or how
the weather determines the mood and
atmosphere of a place on any given day.
What do you think about while working
here, and what are your processes?
It is difficult to say what any given thought
might be at any given time, but what I
consistently tend to do is focus thinking on
the matter at hand - enjoying the process
of immersing myself in the setting and
going with the flow, so to speak, so my
imagination can work with the narrative a
place is communicating to me at the time.
What challenges do your face when
committing this location to canvas?
Challenges sometimes might simply be
logistical – say, any changes in weather,
how long I can be in a location for. These
might determine the scale of a canvas, the
pace for working through a composition,
what media is best for work, etc.
What do you love most about this location?
The location provides a sense of solace. I
really like how it simply enables me to have
a very simple call and response dialogue
with it and, as such, it provides me with
a catalyst for sharing this through, what
I hope my work communicates, these
experiences I have felt and seen.
Where can we find your work?
I exhibit in many galleries in Cornwall,
including the Custom House Gallery in
Porthleven and Art World Falmouth. l
www.martinjohnfowler.com
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MAKER FOCUS
Helen Eastham
Capturing adventures and memories in glass
Where is your studio?
At home in Newquay, in the garden.
There’s a lot of light, and on blustery days I
can hear the gulls and the sea. It’s a lovely
space to work in.
What inspired you to take up glass work?
I’m a lifelong learner and have always
been a maker, I discovered glass as a
medium 14 years ago by doing a day’s
course with Amanda Copson. Glass just
fitted and still does.
What appeals to you most about
the medium?
I love the qualities of glass with its
juxtaposition of liquid or solid, fragile
or strong, clear or opalescent. It’s a
mesmerising, exciting and surprising
medium to work with. It’s a material that
allows me to play, have an adventure, be
surprised and escape from the everyday
pressures of life for a small amount of time.
What makes your work different to that
of other glass makers?
I make sculptural kiln formed vessels,
which hold the narrative of my life’s
experiences – all the encounters, journeys
and adventures - and epitomise the
connections we make in life. They allow
me to bring the outdoors indoors. My
work is about evoking a physical emotion,
asking people to remember a special
walk by the shoreline, on the coast path
or eating fish and chips on the harbour
wall. What do they remember seeing and
experiencing? The bright white froth of the
breaking waves with the bubbles escaping
to the surface? The bluey-green colour of
the sea next to the bright blue sky, and
the horizon in the distance? Or the shapes
and forms of the flora on a winding coast
path? I want people to make their own
connections to my work, but to recognise
why the connection to them is important.
How has Cornwall influenced your
passion? Can specific aspects of the
landscape be detected in your work?
I was born and brought up in St Austell. My
father and brother were keen surfers, so
we spent a lot of time on the north coast
chasing the waves, winter and summer,
immersed in the cycle of coastal living. All
those experiences have shaped how I see
and view the world, and I now make work
which reminds me of those places and the
people who I have had those adventures
with. The shapes and forms of pebbles,
sand-pools and rock-pools are present in
the forms that I make. For example, my
Actinia vessels are the interpretation of the
small anemones we used to explore the
rock-pools for at low tide; Shorelines are
about beach walks with family and friends,
and Buoys are about the fishermen and
their adventures. Recent work has been
about coastal walks in the winter months
- once, after a particularly fierce storm, I
found goose-barnacles.
You're a member of Cornwall Crafts
Association. What's it like to be part of
a collective?
I was selected recently and feel privileged
to be able to exhibit alongside so many
other talented craftsmen and artists. It
feels very supportive and encouraging. The
gallery at Trelissick has spring, summer and
autumn/winter exhibitions, so the work on
display changes frequently and there is
always something fresh and inspiring to be
seen. Members also hold focus exhibitions,
and I’ve been invited to do so in November,
which I am really excited about.
You also teach - tell us more about this
Yes, I teach at Create (Cornwall) CIC, a
contemporary craft hub I set up in Camborne
with fellow artists Jane Smith and Angela
Hatherell. We’re providing community crafts
facilities and courses, specialising in glass,
ceramics and jewellery. It’s in the early stages
of development, and is an extremely exciting
initiative to be involved in.
What do you have planned for the future?
I’m going to be at the Craft Festival in Bovey
Tracey with Design Nation in June; I’m
in discussion with Elaine Dye at The Byre
Gallery, at Mount Edgcumbe in south-east
Cornwall, about future opportunities; and
have an artist feature planned with The Poly
in Falmouth, as well as with other associate
applications for upcoming selected
exhibitions at the Penwith Gallery in St Ives.
All in all, it’s a busy and exciting time. l
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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
GALLERY OF THE MONTH
ART HOUSE GALLERY
Owner Joan Orr recounts the gallery’s history
Tell us how the gallery started out
The gallery launched in the 1990s – it was
initially called The Picture House and run
by Roger Cadwallader. I consider Roger
as a mentor; we developed a working
relationship over the years. He helped
me to establish our gallery on Cape Cod
featuring many of his St Ives and Cornish
artists, and in return, some of our Cape
Cod artists showed with him. We sent art
back and forth across the Atlantic in this
way for over a decade. Roger had a unique
eye for art that was "different". When he
retired, we were offered the chance to
come to St Ives, and took over as owners
in 2008. We rebranded it as the Art House
Gallery, and it has operated under that
name ever since in St Ives’ Island Square
in the wonderful neighbourhood of
Down'long, the old fishing quarter.
Who’s the team today?
I have a degree in Art History from Harvard
University, with a thesis focused on James
McNeil Whistler and his en plein air
painting of St Ives. I’ve been selling and
collecting art for over two decades. Gallery
manager Duncan Evans obtained a Fine
Art degree from St Martins, London, and
he also works at Tate St Ives.
What’s your focus?
Over the years, we have moved into all
original art and developed a reputation
as a collector gallery. We’re primarily a
paintings gallery featuring oil, acrylic and
watercolour. We look for dynamic and
unusual work – we are especially attracted
to art inspired by the landscape, town and
people of St Ives, and artists often exhibit
this part of their work exclusively with us.
Name some names!
We still show many of Roger’s chosen
artists: for example, Trace Goldsmith,
whose tonal acrylic work of tranquil boats
at rest has been selected for display at the
London Royal Society of Marine Art four
years in a row; and Allan Storer, whose
association with St Ives stretches back to
the 1960s - his recent work in oils captures
the excitement and changeability of its
ever-moving sea and sky. Keran Gilmore
is from St Ives and knows every nook and
cranny - she brings that intimacy into
her watercolours, resulting in masterful
impressions. Neil Hetherington, who
produces tonal impressionist oils, lives
half the year in St Ives and the other half
in Australia, where he is a Fellow of the
Royal Art Society. Joe Armstrong has a
background in commercial art design,
which enables him to blend seemingly
incongruous colours into cohesive,
exciting scenes; while David French often
paints from “above”, offering a distinct
vantage point into scenes depicting the
unusual and almost Mediterranean colours
found in the St Ives water (look out for
small self-portraits of the artist paddling in
his kayak or dinghy!).
How do you identify new artists?
We’re approached by artists every
week. We’ve created a diverse group of
painters, and a signature style is required
to fit in. Our most recent additions are
Sue Mecklenburgh, who uses multiple
layers of textured paint to create a
three-dimensional depiction of St Ives’
street scenes – best seen up close to
appreciate the clever detail; and Jo Bemis,
who produces en plein air seascape oils:
amazing waves, lively skies and a seascented
essence of St Ives.
Describe the vibe
Visiting The Art House on a grey day is
like stepping into a colourful scene from
the Wizard of Oz. It's a space that feels
creative and hopeful, and the walls are
filled with positivity. We aim to create that
uplifting feeling of St Ives, captured in
paint; excitement comes from the variety
of styles and colours. Creating our window
displays is a thrill, and there is a happy
buzz from relationships with our artists and
clients – it feels like a big Art House family.
How did you cope with the pandemic?
We were able to use the down time
to reinvent the website, improve
our Facebook page and develop an
Instagram presence. But of course, our
biggest concern was for our artists and
we continued to promote them via the
Internet and social media. Together we
weathered that storm.
What’s in the immediate future?
This is an exciting time for the gallery, with
new work arriving daily. Come and see us! l
The Art House Gallery,
1 Island Road, St Ives,
Cornwall TR26 1NT
Tel 01736 794423
www.thearthouses.com
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ARTIST PROFILE
IONA SANDERS
At the Summerhouse Gallery, Marazion
The Summerhouse Gallery in Marazion
is delighted to be hosting Joy, a feature
show for artist Iona Sanders, this April.
Joy is something we are all craving during
these difficult times; this body of work
epitomises the joy that art can bring, and
invites viewers to absorb themselves in it.
Iona’s painterly signature and boldness
of colour and line, paired with a sensitivity
of narrative, appeal to many. Mentored
by the late Rose Hilton - whose painting
style informed her current style of work -
Iona has broadened her subject matter to
include landscape, still life and figurative
form. Although naïve and playful, the work
also holds a narrative and the artist leaves
the viewer to complete the story.
Iona was born in the far west of
Cornwall and has spent most of her life
living here. As such, her native land has
always been her greatest influence and
continues to inspire her work today.
Her early days were spent in, on or by
the water, combing remote beaches for
treasure that would go on to become the
subject matter for her drawings.
Working mostly in oil and acrylic, Iona
has increasingly explored the use of mixed
media, which has defined her signature
style: that of a free, fun approach to
creating with a naïvety that makes her
pieces a true breath of fresh air, perfect for
an uplifting Easter show.
“My work is always inspired by colour,
and emotion,” she says. “My family life
constantly throws ideas my way, and my
deep-rooted love of Cornwall provides
an endless source of inspiration. I have
a genuine emotional connection with
every piece, and I hope this is portrayed
in my work.”
Iona took “real pleasure” in preparing
for this exhibition. “At this time of
the year, often with a backdrop of a
battleship-grey sky, the colours seem to
come out to meet you. Everything looks
eager and hopeful, and expectant of the
sunny, warm days to come.”
Jayne Elliott, creative director and
founder of The Summerhouse Gallery,
recalls meeting Iona eight years ago.
“When she first came to see the gallery,
her work was relatively unknown - but her
uplifting paintings, singing with joy, made
a perfect match with The Summerhouse,”
she says.
“All the team here love working with
Iona. Her light and zest for life come
through in each and every piece. We have
loved showing her paintings over the
years, and are delighted to see the high
regard for Iona’s work, both in Cornwall
and nationally.”
Included in the show are two figurative
paintings, Conservatory Figure and
Bedroom Figure, both painted from
drawings she made of Rose Hilton’s
model, Kirsten.
“Iona treasures these times and we
feel privileged to be showcasing this
special work in ‘Joy’,” says Jayne. “This
is an exhibition where the hope of better
times to come, and the quiet stillness
of the everyday objects painted by Iona
with honesty and tenderness, will bring
joy to every person who comes to lose
themselves for a moment or two.” l
Joy by Iona Sanders runs from April 10 to
24 at The Summerhouse Gallery, Market
Place, Marazion TR17 0AR. Open from
10am to 5pm daily (closed Mondays).
Tel 01736 711400,
www.summerhousegallery.co.uk
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VIP
A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE
A ROBIN BY A ROBIN:
SCULPTOR ROBIN FOX
at the Customs House Gallery, Porthleven
The Customs House Gallery in Porthleven is delighted to welcome sculptor Robin
Fox to its stable of talented artists.
Robin has been sculpting professionally since 2010, having attended Jacob
Kramer College of Art in Leeds in the early 1980s and following a long career in
furniture design/making and architectural services. He works from a home studio
in the beautiful market town of Hexham, Northumberland.
Each piece, no matter how small, is hand-built rather than cast in order to produce
a true original. Robin starts with an internal armature/skeleton, making each piece
unique, with every subsequent layer enabling the execution of finer detail.
Robin sculpts in a wide variety of materials, including high-content bronze epoxy
resin and ink-tinted metal/silverleaf in various finishes. Locally sourced and
upcycled materials are used wherever possible, including hardwoods, heather
and sandstone hand-quarried locally.
Much of Robin’s inspiration is attributed to a connection and respect with the
rural environment. His subject matter reveals his love of nature, in particular
birds and animals, and his work is well known for being quirky and humorous.
He places emphasis on movement, expression, postures and mannerisms, with
dynamic surface finishes adding to his distinctive style.
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The Customs House Gallery, Porthleven.
Tel 01326 569365 • www.cornwall-art.co.uk
Improve your skills and meet like-minded
people with pottery classes and workshops
in Redruth, Cornwall.
These sessions are a great way
to further explore the world of
pottery.
I have three types of weekly
workshops; on the wheel, for
those who want nothing more
than to learn to throw and are
focused solely on that; general,
for those who want to try
everything and those who just
want a few fun hours making
a mug, plate or bowl.
My studio has a relaxed and
happy atmosphere, 10am-
12noon and 1pm-3pm
throughout the week, also
some weekends 10am-12noon
G10 Percy Williams Building, Krowji,
West Park, Redruth, Cornwall TR15 3AJ
Text: 07855 102 598
Email: susywardg10@yahoo.com
www.susywardceramics.com
A carefully curated selection of affordable gifts, cards, kitchen and homeware,
alongside a selection of Cornish makers and designers.
20 High Street, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 2AB • Open: 10am-4pm Daily • Tel: 01326 618240
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 61 n
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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
MEET THE MAKER
ANDREA INSOLL
Beachcombing creations made using ‘treasure’ found around Portscatho
Where are you based?
I moved to Portscatho, on the Roseland
Peninsula, over 30 years ago. Having
previously lived in towns or cities, I was
instantly captivated by the sea and
especially the beautiful beaches, and have
remained so ever since – I've lived more
than half my life here now.
You’re something of a treasure hunter!
Yes, I started beachcombing as soon
as I arrived here. One person’s trash is
someone else’s treasure, and my own
collection has grown bigger and bigger in
the intervening years. I’m like a magpie,
drawn to anything shiny or colourful, and
especially interesting sun-bleached and
water-worn flora and fauna.
Have you noticed an increase in rubbish
washing up on beaches?
Yes – unfortunately, over the last couple
of decades, the amount of plastic debris
washed up on our shores has increased
significantly. While the sense of excitement
and anticipation at what I might find has
never diminished, it is now tempered by a
sense of horror at the untold damage this
is doing to the marine environment. That’s
one reason why I started to incorporate
my treasures into my work around 10
years ago. I make collages called Objets
Trouvés, and other pieces from the flotsam
and jetsam I accumulate.
Which is your favourite beach for
finding treasure?
One of my favourite walks is at low tide
from Portscatho across to Tatum’s beach
in the village, then over the rocks to below
the meadows and across to Porthcurnick
beach. Things tend to stay within the bay,
washing in and out with the tide; things
lost on the beach often turn up months
later hardly any distance from when they
were last seen. On this walk, I drop in
on pieces of my artwork which are now
permanent features: three “grids” at The
Hidden Hut at Porthcurnick, thanks to
Simon, and another at Treloan campsite
thanks to Debs and Pete.
When’s the best time for beachcombing?
There is always more ‘treasure’ to be found
in the winter after the storms, especially
easterly gales, and I am often to be seen
walking home groaning under the weight
of irresistible finds, like a large piece of net
or a giant float.
Did you do much beachcombing
during lockdown?
I resumed as soon as we were able to go
for walks - I can lose myself completely and
forget all my cares while beachcombing.
You’re also a painter
Yes, I work in acrylics. I have two dedicated
studios, one primarily for my painting
and the other for my beachcombing
work. I find that the 3D work influences
my paintings, and vice versa. It's also
great to be able to leave one medium
and concentrate on another, therefore
hopefully keeping me constantly artistically
stimulated. I can’t imagine being restricted
to just one medium or discipline - I have a
butterfly mind!
Does the clientele differ between
the two?
As a rule, the people who are drawn to
my environmental pieces are themselves
interested in the environment, and
especially the impact we humans are
having on our fragile ecosystems.
How did you start out in your career?
My parents were arty - Dad was a graphic
designer, Mum a printmaker – and we
kids were encouraged to be creative. I
left school at 16 and spent five years at
various art schools, studying a variety of
media: graphics, photography, textiles and
finally surface design. Upon moving back
to Cornwall in 1984, I met my husband,
Chris, and got involved in the New Gallery
in Portscatho. I’m now one of a group of
artists based there permanently, which
allows me to show my work however
“uncommercial” - I’m very lucky. l
For further information, visit
www.andreainsoll.co.uk
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ARTIST PROFILE
PEOPLE AND
NATURE AS ONE
Artist Kathryn Campbell presents a collection of real
imagination and character, writes Mercedes Smith
Kathryn Campbell’s portraiture is unusual,
even odd, in a way that fascinates; there
is something of the poetic in each work,
a narrative that speaks louder the more
you look.
Kathryn is a recent graduate of the
Newlyn School of Art’s Mentoring
Programme, a landmark course for
professional artists that has turned out a
succession of talent in recent years, as well
as some excellent art shows.
Having studied at Bath Academy of Arts,
Corsham - under the tutelage of notable
artists Malcolm Hughes, Howard Hodgkin
and Gillian Ayres - Kathryn completed
her studies at Goldsmiths College
London before moving into teaching. A
former head of faculty for art, music and
drama, her subjects may well have had
an influence on the allegorical, almost
theatrical nature of her painting, while
a teacher’s focus on the potential and
individuality of people is also evident in
the deeply human nature of her work.
Taking inspiration from figurative painters
such as Paula Rego, Alice Neel, Faith
Ringold and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye,
Kathryn places human characterisation
at the forefront of her work. “Through
reiterating and reinventing forms, I feel
I am developing a personal and visual
dialogue,” she says, “and painting family,
friends and my own portrait allows me the
imaginative interpretation of known faces.”
Kathryn describes her life as “filled
with the enjoyment of nature”, be it
plants, insects, birds, water and trees. She
often connects people with nature in her
paintings and drawings, saying: “People
and nature are as one. Sometimes,
an aspect of nature will have a deep
connection with certain individuals - for
example, I associate horse chestnut trees
with my parents because we often walked
among them when I was a child.”
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Sometimes she uses nature to throw a
subject into relief in her work: “In Urban
Boy, I am remembering young students,
those who wore their hats back to front.
I have tried to reveal a different side to
them by including roses and leaf forms in
their portraits.”
Many of her paintings also involve a
degree of fantasy and imagination. The
work Renoir Woman With Figures And
Birds includes the overlapping of real and
half-real subjects, while Union Of Land
And Sea personifies the character of water
and earth through the paraphernalia of
things such as shells and weeds.
Animals of the zodiac, such as dragons,
goats and monkeys may also appear
alongside human subjects, and paintings
often include cultural imagery such as
mendhi body patterns, African sculpture
and religious icons remembered from time
spent in a multi-ethnic area of London. “As
my children are bi-racial, I have been able
to extend my work, culturally speaking,
beyond typically Eurocentric subjects,”
Kathryn explains.
The inclusion of ethnic patterns and
forms adds to the decorative nature of her
images, bringing line, pattern and abstract
shape into her compositions. “A lot of my
art training featured abstract and hardedged
genres,” Kathryn tells me. “That
influence crops up in some of my portraits
as linear backgrounds, or natural forms
that have become geometricised.”
She works mainly in oils and acrylics,
but graphite, charcoal and pen drawing
are integral to her practice, both as
stand-alone works or as precursors to
paintings, while coloured pencil, pastel
and watercolour are used to investigate
a subject and create embellished prints.
“Psychological testing at Corsham defined
my greatest capability as ‘pure painting’
rather than graphic work. I’ve always
enjoyed the plasticity and versatility of
painting; it offers me the opportunity and
sensitivity to explore cultural mores.”
Style, process and technique are equally
important. “The way in which a work is
rendered is as important to me as the
content,” she says. “While some images
come straight to canvas or board, others
are layered, with experimental formats
hidden beneath the final layer. When this
happens, I photograph the various stages
of my painting to create a record of all
those hidden aspects of the work.
“In galleries, it is the work of painters
that interests me most. I examine their
every shift in style and technique. I might
enquire of a painting, what contribution
does that tiny brush mark, in an obscure
corner, add to this remarkable picture?” l
See Kathryn Campbell at Morvah
Schoolhouse Gallery from April 30 to May
13. Look out for ‘Meet the Artist’ events.
www.morvah.com
CREATIVE & CULTURAL LIVING
COWHOUSE GALLERY
INSPIRE MAKERS
The gallery is run by a group of local artists and craftspeople and offers a
wide range of original arts and crafts at very affordable prices. A stroll away
is Perranuthnoe Cove with breathtaking coastal walks looking towards St
Michael’s Mount in one direction and to Prussia Cove the other.
Left: Bluebell field, mixed media by Lorna Hirst Johnson
Right: Turned Oak pot by David Wolstencroft
Summer hours open daily 10-5. Lynfield Craft Centre, Perranuthnoe TR20 9NE
T: 01736 710538 • www.cowhousegallery.co.uk
Located towards the top of Falmouth High Street, Inspire Makers is
a creative space showcasing the talent of over 50 Cornish artists and
craftspeople. There is a wide range of contemporary work from both wellknown
and emerging makers, across jewellery, ceramics, textiles, painting
& prints, stationery, and homewares. There is also a pop-up gallery which
hosts a year round programme of short exhibitions by Cornish artists, and a
dedicated workshop space which offers classes to inspire people to become
creative themselves. Check our website for details on what’s coming up.
Opening Times: Tues to Sat 10am-5pm
Inspire Makers, 5 High Street, Falmouth, TR11 2AB • T: 01326 531176
E: create@inspiremakers.com • W: www.inspiremakers.com
A @inspire_makers • G inspiremakers
MARTIN JOHN FOWLER
Martin John Fowler is a
professional working artist
based in South Yorkshire
with strong connections
to Cornwall. Displaying
in several local galleries,
Martin’s work looks to
capture Cornwall’s rugged
and wild coastal areas,
often en plein air when
possible, and as a result
has had his work exhibition
both nationally and
internationally in solo and
mixed exhibitions.
www.martinjohnfowler.com
SHARON MCSWINEY
We have moved to a new gallery space exhibiting handcrafted metalwork,
jewellery & paintings. Inspired by the sea unique metal seaweed wall
pieces & silver limpet jewellery capture the Cornish coast.
Sharon McSwiney, Gallery on the Square, Island Square, St Ives TR26 1NX
Tel: 01736 448293 • www.sharonmcswiney.co.uk
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 65 n
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Photograph courtesy of
Rodda's Cornish Clotted Cream
68 FOOD BITES
70 HARBOURSIDE HOSPITALITY
74 GREAT CORNISH FOOD:
MEET OLIVER BASHAM
76 PLACES TO EAT: AFTERNOON TEA
80 RUSTIC LUXURY: NEW YURTS AT THE PARK
82 EXPERIENCE: MULLION COVE
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 67 n
bites
Trencherman's
Awards 2022
Winners of the Trencherman's Awards
2022 were revealed at The Alverton
in Truro on March 7 in the presence
of the South West’s leading chefs,
restaurateurs, hoteliers and other
influential foodies. The Porthminster
Beach Cafe in St Ives (pictured) was
named Best Trencherman’s Restaurant;
Best Bar List went to the Fistral Beach
Hotel in Newquay, with The Greenbank
Hotel and The Longstore taking runnerup
places; and Best Front of House
Team was taken by THE PIG – at
Harlyn Bay, with The Alverton among
the finalists. Now in its 29th edition,
Trencherman’s Guide invites restaurants
from Cornwall to the Cotswolds to be
in the guide upon meeting strict and
exacting criteria. l
www.trenchermans-guide.com
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Tenth Annual World Pasty Championship
The tenth annual World Pasty
Championships took place at the Eden
Project on St Piran’s Day (March 5) and
was a family affair. The prestigious
Cornish Pasty Amateur category was
claimed by Jon Lovejoy from Plymouth;
his daughters Summer, 13, and Daisy, 10,
capped a winning day for the family with
a one-two finish in the Open Savoury
Junior category. The Cornish Pasty Junior
crown went to Carter Deakin, seven, from
St Day – his father, Billy, has won the
Cornish Pasty Amateur title three times
in the past. Former Open Savoury Junior
champion Jodie Heath from Bodmin
took her first senior title, winning Open
Savoury Amateur with a sweet and sour
Cornwall Street Food Festival
The first Cornwall Street Food Festival
will take place over the Platinum Jubilee
weekend (June 2 to 5), hosting over 25
of the tastiest street food traders from
across Britain and Cornwall - your taste
buds won't be disappointed! Situated
Barrowfields, this is the perfect place to
enjoy delicious food and good vibes. From
Afghanistan to Mexico, halloumi fries to
gourmet burgers, crepes and waffles, the
festival has everyone covered. All you
need to do beforehand is grab a FREE
ticket and arrive hungry and ready to taste
some of street food’s finest culinary dishes
from cuisines all across the globe. Don't
forget to check out the social media page
@cornwallstreetfoodfestival for updates
and special competitions to win delicious
treats for all the family. The event will be
cashless, family- and dog-friendly; entry is
free but ticketed, with attendees scanning
a barcode at the entrance. l
Book now at
on Newquay’s beautifully scenic cliffs at streetfoodwarehouse.co.uk/cornwall
Earth, Surf and Turf
The Summer House at Perranporth
has launched ‘Earth, Surf and Turf’, an
initiative designed to engage residents
and visitors in keeping things local in the
hope of providing year-round work for
both employees and suppliers, thereby
supporting Perranporth’s economy.
Behind the scheme are business partners
Ben Quinn, the chef behind Canteen
Cornwall, and Jamie-Lee Job, who
runs The Summer House and Alcatraz.
Jamie-Lee described the vibe as “casual
fine dining”, with a streamlined menu
featuring steaks, burgers, fish, lobster
and vegan options. She added: “We’ll be
chicken pasty; her dad, Andy, scored an
impressive double victory in the Cornish
Pasty Professional and Open Savoury
Professional categories, the latter with his
own sweet and sour chicken pasty. Cornish
Premier Pasties took the Cornish Pasty
Company category while the Phat Pasty
Co. was victorious in the Open Savoury
Company Category with a peppered
steakless vegan pasty. The World’s Fastest
Crimper was Chloe Rowse of Proper
Cornish. The special Pasty Ambassador
award went to Mike Burgess of The Pure
Pasty Company in Vienna, Virginia, USA,
while the special guest was Her Excellency
Josefa González-Blanco, Mexico’s
Ambassador to the UK. l
taking fish from local boats, and as such
will serve what they catch – if they don’t
catch it, it won’t be on the menu.” l
For more information
www.thesummerhouse.co.uk
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 69 n
Hospitality
You might not have heard of Harbourtown
Hospitality, but you will certainly know some of
its restaurants, centred around Charlestown but
radiating out into wider Cornwall.
n 70 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
Will & Matt
Mel, John, Ed & Tom
Its flagship venue is The Longstore in
Charlestown, but if you’ve ever dined
at the The Sharksfin in Mevagissey, or
12 Beach Road in Newquay, you have
also enjoyed a Harbourtown Hospitality
experience. There are nine outlets in total,
employing 170 staff across the sites.
The company was born in 2013 when
husband-and-wife duo John and Melissa
Marquis went into business, and were
soon joined by John’s brother-in-law, Tom
Gaze. John began his working life in the
pot wash at 16, before working his way up
to becoming a head chef; American Mel
is passionate about front of house, while
Tom’s experience is bar focused. With the
addition of finance director Ed Glyn in
2018, they form a hospitality force to be
reckoned with.
First, they took over the ownership of
the St Austell Brewery tenancy of The
Sharksfin; three years later, The Longstore
appeared, to great success, growing with
offshoots including a café, a wine store
and al fresco pop-ups, and expanded into
Truro five years later.
While each restaurant has its own
personality and charm, all are underpinned
by menus delivering bold, tasty flavours
using the best locally sourced, sustainable
and seasonal ingredients. “Our aim is to
create places where people can come
together, to enjoy time with family and
friends while tucking into brilliant food and
drink that offers something a bit special,”
says Melissa. “We’re huge foodies
ourselves, so we’re always scheming new
ideas, innovating and planning how we
can make things better – we want to bring
a sense of fun and joy for our customers.”
They now dominate culinary Charlestown.
Having launched in 2016, The Longstore
is now their flagship restaurant. A steak
and seafood restaurant overlooking the
UNESCO world heritage harbour and its
resident tall ships, it offers the very best
Cornish produce, locally sourced from
land and sea. Repurposed from a tinroofed
mast shed, the design reflects a
rustic industrial finish, with wide Cornish
oak floorboards and hand-cast ceramic
oyster shell chandeliers designed by local
artist Sarah Hunkin.
Underneath it, you’ll find Short & Strong,
a café inspired by travels in Australia. It
marries single origin coffee from Origin
Coffee Roasters with accompanying dishes
including smashed avo on toast with feta,
baked eggs or the ultimate Cornish brunch
served alongside a range of delicious cake
slices and pastries baked on site.
The cellar door for The Longstore leads
to The Winestore. The perfect space for
a pre- or post-dinner drink, it stocks an
eclectic selection of wines made from
more unusual grape varieties, lovingly
crafted by small, family-owned producers
with big stories to tell.
And next door is the latest permanent
addition to the stable. Springtide opened
on March 23, and offers a tasty menu of
straight-from-the-boat Cornish seafood
with a Mediterranean twist. With its fun
and friendly atmosphere, outside dining
and harbour views, this is a perfect spot
for lunch or dinner with the whole family.
Outside of the Charlestown hub, you’ll
find a number of Harbourtown Hospitality
satellites. The second Longstore
restaurant opened in Truro’s Lemon Street
in May 2021, bringing its signature buzzy
dining experience and ‘locally sourced,
big on flavour’ philosophy to a charismatic
Georgian townhouse in Cornwall’s capital.
This younger sibling also specialises in
dry-aged steaks & flavoursome fish dishes,
as well as an extensive cocktail offering
from the bar; Saturday brunch and Sunday
roasts are especially popular.
Then there’s 12 Beach Road, Newquay:
CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 71 n
HarbourQ
Inside Springtide
the perfect trilogy of tacos, melon
margaritas and beach views! This relaxed
dining destination overlooks Towan
Beach, and serves artisan flat whites made
with Cornish roastery Yallah coffee beans,
an extensive cocktail menu and fresh,
flavoursome food. Enjoy sea views from
the outside deck or upstairs balcony.
And of course, The Sharksfin on
Mevagissey harbour is still going strong.
Inspired by New England seafood shacks,
this bright and airy former pilchard press
now serves fish tacos, moules mariniere
and specials of whole Cornish fish straight
off the boats.
A restaurant is nothing without its kitchen
team, which is led by two executive chefs.
Will Spurgeon started out as a commis
chef at The Sharksfin when he was just 16,
little knowing he would return 24 years
later. Will worked with local fruit growers
and fishermen as a young man, and this
sparked his interest and respect for food,
its sources and seasons. He loves Korean
cooking, and is experimenting with noseto-tail
cuisine and fermentation to extend
the seasonal use of vegetables - check
out his favourite dish on the Longstore
menu, rosemary & garlic roast lamb with
polenta, parmesan, bitter leaf salsa and
crispy shallots.
Fellow Executive Chef Matthew Liddicoat
was inspired to become a chef by being
in the kitchen environment from a young
boy, working with his father at a Cornish
hotel. His passions include provenance,
preserving and smoking meats; he is
currently in the process of developing
charcuterie to be made in house at The
Longstore for all restaurants, as well as
developing new and exciting ways to cook
with cheese.
Both are keen to bring on the next
generation of chefs. Will has worked
with Cornwall College to do food
demonstrations and Longstore takeovers
at St Austell College, while Matt wants to
retire knowing he can eat out with great
chefs at the pass.
As it was for so many in hospitality,
the pandemic was challenging for the
group, on a personal and professional
level. “The uncertainty and changing
restrictions certainly kept us on our toes!”
says Melissa. “We worked really hard to
keep our customers safe, without losing
the buzzy, up-beat atmosphere of our
restaurants. Our team was absolutely
amazing and got on board with all the
new ways of working. We loved being able
to support our customers through those
tough months.
“As a company we always try to keep a
glass-half-full outlook, and we’re feeling
hugely excited and optimistic about what
comes next.”
This certainly promises to be a busy year.
Everything is sparkly and new; Short &
Strong and 12 Beach Road were renovated
over the winter, and the kitchen team has
experimented with new menus and even
more amazing cocktails.
In Charlestown, new arrival Springtide will
be joined by two delectable summer-season
eateries opening in early April in the historic
harbour. HarbourQ returns for its fourth
season in the inner harbour, offering meltin-your-mouth
barbecue flavours including
slow-cooked meat, fish and veggie daily
specials and mixed meat platters, all freshly
cooked in a purpose-built smoker and
grill. Sunny days call for a frozen margarita
or fruit daquiri. And new for 2022, Dough
Buoys will bring a taste of the Italian Med to
the outside deck in front of the Shipwreck
Centre – expect artisan pizzas, salads and
sharing bites, plus a full Italian wine list.
“One thing’s for sure – we’ve got lots
going on!” laughs Melissa. l
Find out more about the Harbourtown
Hospitality stable of restaurants at
www.thelongstore.co.uk
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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
This June jubilee weekend, the first Cornwall Street Food Festival is
taking place in Barrowfields Newquay! Hosting over 25 of the tastiest
street food traders from across Britain and Cornwall, your taste buds
won’t be disappointed! From award winning, flame thrown steaks, to
juicy bao buns there is something for the whole family to enjoy.
Situated on the beautifully scenic cliffs of Newquay, Cornwall Street
Food Festival is the perfect place for everyone to come and enjoy
some delicious food and good vibes this June jubilee weekend!
Book your free tickets via our website:
cornwallstreetfoodfestival.co.uk
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 73 n
A NEW DIRECTION
Oliver Basham
GENERAL MANAGER, GREAT CORNISH FOOD STORE,
TREGURRA PARK, NEWQUAY RD, TRURO TR1 1RH.
TEL 01872 306060
WWW.GREATCORNISHFOOD.CO.UK
n 74 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
Have you always been
interested in food?
Yes, it’s always been an important part
of my life. I grew up in Hampshire, and
my parents were foodies - I used to go
foraging with my father. I love cooking
with quality produce, and I started out in
hospitality by running pubs for Whitbread,
at a time when provenance was coming
to the forefront of everyone’s mind. Being
able to tell the stories of our suppliers
and how a product has come to be on
the table, or in store, is vital. People
really like that, and it makes it a much
more personable experience than buying
something wrapped in cellophane.
What brought you to Cornwall?
I initially moved here in 2008 and ran
restaurants: first Indaba (now Hooked)
in Truro, and setting up Indaba On The
Rocks at Swanpool in Falmouth. I’m also
an outdoor pursuits instructor, and worked
with the military at Penhale Camp. But
after six years, my girlfriend (now wife) and
I gave up work to travel the world.
...we want the store
to be a destination
for anyone who
loves Cornish
produce and wants
to support the
county
Where did you go?
Everywhere from the Far East and the
Antipodes to South America. In culinary
terms, it was a feast. Highlights include
Vietnam street and market food – fresh,
vibrant flavours and textures; cockles
from New Zealand’s South Island, and
incredible hogget barbecued with Central
Otago pinot noir; and authentic ceviche in
Peru accompanied by pisco sours!
What happened when you came
back to the UK?
First we went to Hampshire, where I
opened Rick Stein’s first restaurant outside
Cornwall, in Winchester, and stayed on as
general manager. Then I moved to Thyme
& Tide in Stockbridge, a restaurant with
a high-end deli that stocked small, local
products. I headed up the fish counter, and
became a fully trained fishmonger in the
process. All our fish came from Cornwall,
from Starfish of Looe – who I use today.
What brought you back to Cornwall?
My wife comes from Devoran, between
Truro and Falmouth. We now have two
children, a four-year-old daughter and a
two-year-old son, plus a dog and a cat!
Like many people, we found the pandemic
made us reassess our lives and consider
how we wanted to live out the rest of our
days. We have such a strong attachment
to Cornwall, and are drawn to the water.
What appealed TO YOU ABOUT
the Great Cornish Food Store?
I love the ethos. It was a natural fit with my
experience, and my passion for seafood
and small independent businesses. I really
admire what Ruth has done here, and had
shopped here while visiting Cornwall.
When the job came up, I applied and have
been full-time since December, which was
a good opportunity to see the store at its
finest and busiest!
Who are your customers?
We go to great lengths to say that what
we’re offering here isn’t only for the highend
market. It’s very competitively priced,
and we want the store to be a destination
for anyone who loves Cornish produce
and wants to support the county.
What’s in store for the
immediate future?
Our café has been closed since March
2020 (the start of the pandemic), and we
can’t wait to relaunch it this year. It’s a great
opportunity to showcase the things we
sell, and it’s such a nice place for people
to meet. l
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 75 n
AFTERNOON
TEA
April 21 is National Tea Day. Did you know that, collectively,
Brits consume more than 60 billion cups of char a year?
That’s more than 165 million cups a day. What better
accompaniment than an afternoon tea? According to the BBC,
searches for cream teas are up 750%. Here are some of our
favourites, and remember: it’s jam first! #nationalteaday
n 76 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
Rectory Tearooms, Morwenstow
This farmhouse was first documented in 1296, when it was attached
to the monks of the order of St John of Bridgewater. Legend
has it that a secret underground passage connects the house to
the cliffs and may have been used by smugglers! The family-run
business was first established in 1952, with Jill Savage at the helm
for the past 30 years, using locally sourced ingredients to produce
delicious home-cooked food, often to family recipes. As well as
Cornish grown tea from Tregothnan, The Rectory stocks special
blends from Tugboat Tea of Truro. Recommended by Coeliac UK.
www.rectory-tearooms.co.uk
St Moritz Hotel
Afternoon tea at St Moritz, near Rock, comes with a choice of tea
or coffee and a glass of prosecco each (£30pp) - make it extra
special by adding a glass of Veuve Clicquot Champagne (£35pp).
The limited-edition Queen's Platinum Jubilee Afternoon Tea
features a selection of the Queen’s favourite sweet treats: savarin,
Battenberg, fondant fancies topped with edible silver leaf and
choux buns. Add finger sandwiches and warm scones topped
with strawberry jam and Cornish clotted cream, and you will leave
feeling royally full. Served from 12.30pm to 4pm.
www.stmoritzhotel.co.uk
Trevallicks, Pensilva
This charming café, close to Caradon Hill on the southern fringes of
Bodmin Moor, celebrates its 10th anniversary in June. It is run by five
sisters - Hanna, Amy, Emily, Olivia and Niamh – who have sourced
and tasted everything for sale here. Choose from three types of
afternoon tea, all including a selection of delicious finger sandwiches,
home-baked scones and cakes presented on a three-tier Cornish slate
stand. Standard afternoon tea comes with a pot of Cornish-grown
Tregothnan tea; add champagne for that extra-special occasion, or
splash out on the gin taster afternoon tea, served with four Cornish
gins. Gluten-free options available on request.
trevallicks.com
Fowey Hall
Fowey Hall has announced a very special partnership with
The Roald Dahl Story Company from April 26. The Matilda
Afternoon Tea includes adult and children’s menus lovingly
crafted to celebrate the story’s iconic food moments, with treats
including the Crunchem Hall sandwich selection, Lavender’s
macarons, Newt Juice and, of course, Bruce Bogtrotter’s
chocolate cake. Adult menu £35, children’s menu £15.
www.foweyhallhotel.co.uk
The Alverton, Truro
Take afternoon tea in style at The Alverton. With views across
the manicured gardens, graze on delightful finger sandwiches,
home-baked scones with lashings of Cornish clotted cream
and jam, and cute little cakes. The menu changes with the
seasons: in the summer, enjoy high tea on the sun-drenched
terrace with refreshingly fruity flavours, or cosy up by the
roaring fire in winter for a festive twist on this wonderfully
British pastime. Monday to Saturday from 12pm until 5pm,
Sundays 3pm to 5pm.
www.thealverton.co.uk
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 77 n
Miss V’s, St Just-in-Roseland Church
Tucked away in the sub-tropical creekside gardens of the most
beautiful church in Cornwall – nay, the world – Miss V’s is a vintage
tea experience harking back to the days of chintzy china and proper
tablecloths. Alternatively, visit the new bakery in Bodmin’s Honey
Street. Both serve a Cornish cream tea with a big scone, a serving of
Boddington’s jam and a pot of Cornish Tea. (Or go for a full Cornish
breakfast, or thunder and lightning on toast!).
www.missvs.co.uk
Café Mylor
Enjoy sweet treats with sterling views of yachts moored at the
floating pontoons of Mylor Yacht harbour, against the waters
of Carrick Roads. Order a pot of St Piran’s Tea, a flavoursome
brew grown in the highlands of Kenya before being carefully
blended to complement Cornwall’s soft drinking water. If you
need to walk it off afterwards, the pretty village of Flushing is
a short scenic walk around Trefusis point, from where you can
take the pedestrian ferry to Falmouth.
www.cafemylor.com
Greenbank Hotel, Falmouth
Afternoon tea at The Greenbank is an occasion to be savoured.
Elegant finger sandwiches, miniature desserts and cakes, Cornish
scones with jam and clotted cream with a pot of loose-leaf Cornish
tea – all overlooking Falmouth harbour. Add a G&T per person for
a gin-tastic twist – or go the whole hog and order the Bottomless
afternoon tea for two, sipping prosecco by the bobbing boats while
tucking into three tiers of tasty treats. Divine!
www.greenbank-hotel.co.uk
Hellys, Helston and Penzance
This family-run business launched its original tearoom in
Helston’s Meneage Street in 2015, and branched out with
a deli in Penzance in 2017. Both serve a Cornish cream
tea - home-made fruit or plain scone with clotted cream,
strawberry jam and a pot of English Breakfast tea – which
can be upgraded for a small charge to a different tea (or
coffee) of your choice. Among those on offer are teas and
herbal infusions (including Nettle & Rose) by Newquay
blenders Westcountry Tea.
www.hellys.co.uk
Rosemergy Tea Rooms, Zennor
What could be more appealing than a traditional farmhouse Cornish
cream tea in Cornwall’s wildest, furthest-flung corner? In Zennor, the
traffic jams moo. With stunning sea views over the Atlantic Ocean
in one direction and the Penwith moors in the other, Rosemergy ‘s
family-run tea garden is a hidden gem offering Aga-baked cakes and
scones. It’s a popular resting point for dog walkers, hikers, climbers
and cyclists; call ahead to check opening times.
www.rosemergy.com
n 78 | My
| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
springtidectown
Springtide, Charlestown is a new fish and
seafood restaurant, located in Charlestown
overlooking the beautiful UNESCO world
heritage harbour (and just next door to The
Longstore, Charlestown). Offering a tasty
menu of straight-from-the-boat Cornish
seafood, with a Mediterranean twist. Expect
a friendly and fun atmosphere, with outside
dining and views over the harbour - a perfect
lunch or dinner spot for the whole family.
Opening from March 23rd, 2022
www.springtidecharlestown.co.uk
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 79 n
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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
RUSTIC LUXURY
The Park at Mawgan Porth now offers
glamping with four Mongolian-style yurts
Glamping has seen a
surge in popularity
in recent years,
and now there’s
an opportunity to indulge at
The Park in Mawgan Porth. The
holiday village recently had a
makeover in the Yurt Village:
traditional round tents styled on
the portable structures used by
Mongolian nomads.
Described as “rustic luxury”,
each yurt is named after a
Cornish location - Tehidy,
Boscawen, Brea and Penryn
– and features a door with a
bespoke design (herringbone,
Moroccan, parquet) created by
on-site carpenter Jonny.
Two yurts sleep two people,
while the other two sleep four.
Each contains comfortable beds,
and is kept warm and cosy by a
woodburner (free wood supplied)
and underfloor heating; however,
as each yurt is cladded, insulated
and double-glazed, many visitors
have felt no need to heat them
further. Bedding and bath towels
are supplied but please bring
towels for swimming; cots are
available on request.
The yurts are supplemented with
communal facilities including a
“sitting room” yurt with comfy
seating and a large flatscreen
TV/DVD (individual yurts have
smaller versions); two funky
shepherd’s huts with WC and
shower (as well as an outdoor
shower fashioned from a sailing
boat, for rinsing off after a day at
the beach); a communal country
style cookhouse with full kitchen/
dining facilities, including storage
cupboards and fridges for each
yurt, plus a shared microwave,
freezer and dishwasher; and
a laundry room with washer
and dryer. Not forgetting the
highlight: a gorgeous hot tub,
fire pit and clay oven for evening
outdoor feasts or sundowners
with a stunning backdrop.
The yurts can be hired
individually or as a group –
the communal yurt is licensed
for civil weddings for up to 25
guests. Yoga and surfing retreats
have also chosen the yurt camp
for group bookings.
Just a short stroll from Mawgan
Porth beach, The Park has plenty
of amenities on site, including
two swimming pools (indoor and
outdoor), a sauna and steam
room and a children’s soft play
area. The Kitchen By The Beach
restaurant has fantastic food and
a great atmosphere - whether
you’re after breakfast, coffee
and cake, or something more
substantial from the main menu,
you’re sure to be served fresh,
seasonal grub.
The Tunnel of Light leads down
towards one of the children’s play
areas, and livestock including
hens (described by Dianne
Viljoen as “our happy girls”)
and friendly goats. A woodland
walk is under development, and
a reading corner is planned for
the wildflower area and has won
a David Bellamy Award for its
eco-friendly features including
a small pond and hotels for
bugs and hedgehogs. Look out,
too, for beehives – and for the
resulting honey, which is on sale
for all visitors.
While the yurts are not dogfriendly,
The Park boasts a
number of properties with
enclosed gardens where fourlegged
friends are more than
welcome, and there’s a spot in
the restaurant where they can
make themselves comfortable.
The stunning beach is dogfriendly
all year round. l
Book now; call 01637 860322 or
visit www.theparkcornwall.com
t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 81 n
MULLION COVE
Treat yourself to a spa experience or an afternoon tea. Choose from the options
below, and book by calling 01326 240328 or visit www.mullion-cove.co.uk
Probably the best
Afternoon Tea in Cornwall
Handpicked quality teas; freshly baked
cakes and scones; Cornish clotted cream
and staggering coastal views. Does cream
tea in Cornwall get any better? Available
all day and served in our lounges, bar or
gardens in fine weather, this is the ultimate
holiday treat. Choose from:
Traditional Cream Tea, £12pp: Plain and
fruit scones, Cornish clotted cream and
strawberry jam.
Mullion Cove Afternoon Tea, £22.50pp:
Selection of freshly cut finger sandwiches,
homemade fruit and plain scones, a
selection of homemade cakes, Cornish
clotted cream and strawberry jam.
Escape to the edge of the world
Catch your breath, recharge and reset with
the perfect spa experience, set against
majestic clifftop views of Mullion Cove
and beyond. Choose one of our specially
selected treatments, made with the purest
organic ingredients in Cornwall.
Catch Your Breath half-day spa
experience (4 hours), £85pp: Restore
luminosity to skin with Soothe & Nurture
Organic Facial, or drift into a meditative
state with a Catch Your Breath Back and
Scalp Massage. Post-treatment, curl up by
the fire with a mug of hot herbal tea in the
secluded rejuvenation room. Finish with a
delicious traditional Cornish Cream Tea in
the Glenbervie Bistro or Sea View lounge.
Sea Spray Spa Morning/Afternoon (4
hours), £99pp: Invigorate the senses with
this specially designed spa session. Take
a plunge in the outdoor Atlantic view
swimming pool; immerse yourself in the
cliff top hot tub, and revive body and mind
with organic seaweed treatments, handharvested
sustainably from the Atlantic
Ocean. Includes a 45-minute VOYA
massage or facial treatment and a twocourse
spa lunch in the Glenbervie Bistro.
Ocean Breeze Spa Day (6 hours), £189pp:
Pause, reflect and revive with a specially
selected treatment using 100% organic
seaweed products. Includes full-day spa
access, the signature Mullion Ocean
Essence spa treatment, relaxation time in
the secluded rejuvenation room and a twocourse
spa lunch in the Glenbervie Bistro.
Mullion Cove Romantic Escape Spa Day
(6 hours), £225 per couple: The perfect
escape with your special someone.
Rekindle your magic, spark a new flame
or fall in love again with our panoramic
Atlantic Ocean views. Includes full-day spa
access; a 30-minute massage or facial in
the exclusive Couple’s Suite; fizz, nibbles
and herbal tea in the secret rejuvenation
room; and a two-course spa lunch in the
two AA Rosette Atlantic View restaurant. l
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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
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| Volume 2 Issue 71 | April - May 2022
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