MyCornwall Magazine - Dec/Jan

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CHRISTMAS CORNISH-STYLE • SAVING ENDANGERED BIRDS • ST NECTAN'S GLEN • ANCIENT CORNWALL • A BUMPER WINE YIELD

LUXURIOUS

WINTER

BREAKS

BARBARA HEPWORTH

IN

ST IVES

Nice

PLUS

and Toasty!

The best hot chocolates

myCornwalltv

DECEMBER 2022 - JANUARY 2023 ISSUE 75 £3.25

t @myCornwall_ | G myCornwalltv | w www.thatsmycornwall.com 1 n

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Issue 75 | December 2022 - January 2023

Hello and

We have moved into colder, darker days,

and the 2022 summer heatwave seems a

million miles away. Tough as it was, it had

some unexpected results.

For example, the wine-making team at

Knightor saw a bumper yield of goodquality

grapes thanks to weather more

familiar to the Mediterranean (see

p64). Meanwhile, in the Tamar Valley,

the National Trust celebrates its 75th

anniversary of looking after Cotehele by

producing an unusual golden Christmas

garland which owes less to the occasion

and more to the flowers that could survive

and thrive in the sweltering climes, such

as statice and xerochrysums (pictured).

There are plenty of events in this issue to

fill your calendar, from festive pantomimes

to ongoing art exhibitions. You might be

minded to participate in the RSPB Garden

Bird Watch in January (p8), and learn

about the species on the British Trust for

Ornithology’s red list, as featured on our

cover (p28).

You can also find out more about two

characters from Cornwall’s past: Edward

Hain, whose post-war hospital is in the

process of being handed over to the St

Ives community following a successful

campaign (p30); and Elizabeth Carne,

the plucky Penzance native whose story

has inspired Jill George’s historical

novel (p32).

Elsewhere, Elizabeth Dale – recipient

of Cornwall Heritage Trust’s prestigious

Heritage Volunteer award - meets Samuel

Davison, whose new book showcases

his stunning photography of Cornwall’s

ancient stones (p43). If you appreciate

them as much as he does, consider

supporting the trust – find out more

about it on page 34.

Nadelik Lowen ha Bledhen Nowdydh da!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Oll an gwella

Kirstie

The 2023 Christmas garland in Cotehele Great

Hall. © National Trust Images/Trevor Ray Hart


My

6 News: Festivals headliners, and a space licence

8 Things to do in December and January

10 Dog-Friendly Cornwall: A walk in St Nectan’s Glen

14 A Day Out: Shipwreck Treasure Museum, Charlestown

16 12 ways to celebrate Christmas in Cornwall

19 Oh yes, it is! A novel inspired by amateur panto

20 Curtain Up! A round-up of Cornwall’s Christmas shows

21 Gift guide: Something special from Cornwall and Scilly

22 Happy New Year! Plus traditional winter celebrations

24 Celebrate in style: Let someone else do the work with a hotel break

28 In the red: The bird species facing decline and extinction

30 Remembering Edward Hain: The St Ives soldier who gave his

name to a hospital

32 The Light Among Us: Historical fiction inspired by the life of

Penzance woman Elizabeth Carne

34 Cornwall Heritage Trust: Preserving sites for future generations

36 A cosy home: Tips from interior designer Charlotte Dawson

38 Above Par: A community garden in South Cornwall

39 The Want List: Just Delights, Penryn

40 Adore My Store: Uneeka Truro and Falmouth

42 Cornish Language: Christmas Day swims

43 Matter of the Other World: Stunning photography of ancient stones

46 My Cornish World: South African musician Jeremy Loops

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50 Art News: Exhibitions in Porthleven, Penzance, Eden and Mawgan Porth

56 The Lightening Dancer: A new sculpture for Heligan

58 Very Important Piece: Tom Leaper at St Michael’s Mount

62 Food Bites: Barrel aged spirits and a 10th anniversary

64 It’s a wine world: A very good year for Knightor

67 Places to Eat: Hot Chocolate

70 Meet the Chef: Charlotte Vincent, Hotel Meudon

72 Weekend Away: Penventon Hotel, Redruth

74 Experience: Greenbank Hotel, Falmouth

70

01209 314147

thatsmycornwall.com

myCornwall magazine,

Box 27, Jubilee Wharf & Warehouse

Commercial Road, Penryn, TR10 8FG

EDITOR

Kirstie Newton

kirstie@mycornwall.tv

CONTRIBUTORS

Elizabeth Dale

DESIGN

Paul Blyth

ADVERTISING

Jeni Smith - 01209 494003

jeni.mycornwall@gmail.com

ON THE COVER

Pendennis Head by Holly Astle. This delightful

illustration, complete with Falmouth Working

Boats, St Anthony Lighthouse and Stonechat, can

be purchased as part of a collection of Christmas

cards from Holly's website www.hollyastle.co.uk.

Find out about Falmouth illustrator Holly's work

on the book Into The Red on page 28.

SUBSCRIPTION

ENQUIRES

Tel: 01442 820580

contact@webscribe.co.uk

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© Mike Newman

CONTRIBUTORS

myCornwall magazine welcomes contributions. We

reserve the right to edit, amend, correct (or not

use) anything submitted. Contributors must obtain

all necessary permissions and credit all sources. All

rights to works submitted are supplied for use by

myCornwall and its parent company in all media

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myCornwalltv


Award-winning bridges

Tintagel Castle’s footbridge has been named overall winner at The

Royal Fine Art Commission Trust Building Beauty Awards 2022,

celebrating the best of new architecture. The walkway spans a 190-

foot gorge and follows the line of the original historic entrance

route – a narrow strip of land, long lost to erosion – between the

13th-century gatehouse on the mainland and the courtyard on the

jagged headland, jutting into the sea. The structure also scooped the

best Engineering Award. Judging panel chair Stephen Bayley praised

the response to a challenging terrain and the weight of heritage and

natural beauty, predicting it would be as much of a draw as the castle

itself. “How best to complement the dramatic context? The answer

is not timidity but the kind of boldness that suits the rough and raw

Atlantic coast of Cornwall....” The footbridge will represent the UK in

the World Architecture Festival’s International Building Beauty Prize

in Lisbon on December 2. l

Headline acts

Announcements are coming in thick and fast for next year’s

entertainment headliners. Rock Oyster Festival (July 27 to

30, www.rockoysterfestival.co.uk) has revealed an impressive

line-up, led by the epoch-spanning Nile Rodgers and CHIC,

plus kitchen disco diva Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Gwenno,

playing songs from her recent Mercury Prize-nominated

Cornish language album Tresor. In the kitchen, you’ll find

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Andi Oliver and Rick Stein.

Primal Scream take to the stage at the Great Estate in

Scorrier (June 2 to 4, www.greatestatefestival.co.uk) while

Lionel Richie is first out of the stalls for the Eden Sessions on

June 7 (www.edensessions.com). At the Hall For Cornwall in

Truro, comedian and Falmouth University Chancellor Dawn

French has announced two shows on November 8 and 9,

2023 (www.hallforcornwall.co.uk). l

Nude knitters

Members of a Bodmin crochet and knitting group took the brave decision

to bare all for a cheeky new fundraising calendar. The Knit and Natter group

meet at Knit Happens to improve their crafting skills and socialise with likeminded

people. The Knit Happens - Knit Natter and Nude Knit 2023 calendar

features group members in tastefully posed shots with their modesty preserved

by well-positioned balls of wool. All proceeds will be donated to Cornwall

Air Ambulance and the Mermaid Centre at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. The

calendars are on sale in-store at Knit Happens; in Cornwall Air Ambulance stores

at Bodmin, St Austell, Camborne, Truro, Helston, Newquay and Wadebridge;

and online at www.knit-happens.co.uk l

Intergalactic Cornwall

Spaceport Cornwall has been awarded the

licence to host UK’s first space launch. The Civil

Aviation Authority (CAA) announced that the site

at Newquay Airport could be used for sending

satellites into space. Cosmic Girl, a repurposed

Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 aircraft fitted with a

rocket that will propel nine satellites into orbit,

arrived at the spaceport on October 11 and

had been waiting for the go-ahead. Meanwhile,

Goonhilly Earth Station is the only tracking support

in the UK for NASA's Artemis 1 Moon launch,

receiving radio signals from the spacecraft which

will travel up to 448,000 km away from Earth. l

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1. VISIT CORNWALL’S MAGICAL ISLAND

During the winter months, access to

St Michael’s Mount’s historic harbour,

visitor centre and exhibition space in the

Steward's House is free until April 30, 2023.

The Island Café serves warming dishes

- stews, Cornish pasties, homemade

mince pies – and hot drinks including

gingerbread or Baileys lattes, mulled wine

and apple juice. Head to the Island Shop

for an array of gift ideas, from pretty bags

and homewares to Cornish food and drink,

as well as gorgeous Christmas decorations

featuring exclusive Mount artwork by

illustrator Jennifer Armitage. Opening

days and times vary until March 26, with

access only via the cobbled granite

causeway when the tide permits. From

March 27, the Mount will open Sunday

to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm, with ferry boats

transporting visitors at high tide. Please

note: to visit the castle, a ticket is required.

www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk

2. COUNT THE BIRDS

The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch provides

an annual snapshot of how garden birds

are faring in the UK. The 2023 event takes

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place from January 27 to 29, and people

in Cornwall are asked to spend just one

hour watching and recording the birds

that land in their garden, balcony or local

park, then send their results to the RSPB.

Last year, nearly 700,000 people across the

UK helped to count 11 million birds. The

house sparrow was the most commonly

seen garden bird with more than 1.7 million

recorded sightings, followed by the blue tit

and starling. The song thrush, in the top 10

when the event launched in 1979, came in at

20 in the 2022 rankings, further proof of its

decline. Registration opens on December

13; to take part, text BIRD to 70030 or visit

www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

3. CLEAN A BEACH

Can you spare some time to help keep

our beaches looking beautiful, and safer

for wildlife? The Beach Guardian team

hosts an hour-long clean at Trevone

Beach on Monday, December 19 from

10am; all equipment is provided, and

all waste removed and processed for

art pieces, workshops and educational

resources. In January, the National Trust

on the Roseland peninsula is calling for

volunteers at Porthcurnick (January 2,

10am), Pendower (January 2, 2pm) and

Hemmick (January 10, 10am). Dogs on

leads and children are very welcome.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/roseland

4. THE PEOPLE PROJECT

An ambitious project giving a voice

to Cornwall’s homeless people is on

show at the Royal Cornwall Museum

until December 23, following external

exhibitions at venues including The

Eden Project and Truro Cathedral.

Social documentary photographer

Gavan Goulder has shot portraits

in collaboration with homelessness

charity St Petroc’s and community arts

organisation StreetDraw24. The team

heard heartbreaking stories of housing

insecurity, from life on the streets or in

cars or vans, to eviction, sofa-surfing or

living with extended family in cramped

conditions - as well as uplifting advice

on how to survive tough times. A book

is to be published, with copies to be

archived at Kresen Kernow, Cornwall’s

historical archive, and the National

Library. Look out for a portrait-themed

creative workshop on December 13. www.

PeopleProjectCornwall.co.uk

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5. MAKE A SEASONAL WREATH

Cornish Spliced host a seasonal wreathmaking

workshop at Surfhouse St Ives

on The Island. Learn how to repurpose

discarded Cornish fishing gear, cosied

up to a log burner with the wind howling

outside. These hardy wreaths are built

to last and can be dressed throughout

the year to reflect the seasons, from

spring foliage to conkers and acorns,

and festive fairy lights. but I’ve been

adding conkers and acorns to mine for

autumn. As they are hardy rope, they are

also ideal for outside. Experience gift

vouchers available. Friday, January 27,

7pm. £45pp, including materials and hot

toddy. Facebook @Cornishspliced, email

hello@CornishSpliced.co.uk

6. CHECK INTO A THEATRE

Cornwall theatres strive to lighten the

mood in the darkest months of the

year. Singer-songwriter and Squeeze

frontman Chris Difford comes to The

Acorn, Penzance on Tuesday, December

20, performing classic songs including

Up The Junction and Cool for Cats,

while Hall For Cornwall in Truro offers

The Commitments starring Corrie actor

Nigel Pivaro. For something more

experimental, try a rehearsed reading

of Blue Moon at the Minack Theatre on

December 13. This story is about what

happens when the sea meets the land,

in response to climate change, set at the

island end of Porthmeor beach and has

been inspired by Paula Rego’s painting

The Dance.

7. GET CREATIVE

Cornish organisation Arts Well (Facebook:

@ArtsWellCIC) claims creative pursuits

are just as important to our health and

wellbeing as being physically active. It is

encouraging people to adopt them into

their long-term daily or weekly routines -

you don’t have to become an expert, or

make an onerous commitment. Just find

a daily habit that can bring rewards very

quickly, whether it’s actively listen to music,

engaging in mindful doodling, picking up

some knitting or taking a photograph –

whatever floats your boat. During January,

Arts Well is supporting the 64 Million

Artists campaign, which encourages

people to get involved with 31 creative

challenges – one for each day. Find out

more at https://64millionartists.com or find

a directory of Cornwall creatives at www.

arts-well.com/resources/directory

8. MIGRATION

Ruth Wall and Graham Fitkin perform on

December 9 at Gerrans and Portscatho

Memorial Hall on the beautiful Roseland

Peninsula. For the last year, harpist

Ruth has been exploring the theme of

Migration in its many forms. Composer

Graham has re-worked old Gaelic songs

and tunes from bagpipe and fiddle books

for Ruth's three instruments – the buzzing

Renaissance bray harp, the medieval

Gaelic wire harp (clàrsach) and the

Scottish lever harp. The ancient music is

re-imagined in looping, evolving patterns.

www.carntocove.co.uk

9. BROWN WILLY

If you haven’t overdone it the night before

– and even if you have – a run up to the

summit of Brown Willy – Bronn Wenneli,

Cornwall’s highest point on Bodmin Moor

– could be just the tonic you need after the

excesses of the festive season. Organised

by Truro Running Club, it’s a well-signed

informal run (not a race) of about seven

miles, leaving Jamaica Inn at 11am. Most

of the terrain is open moorland, which

can be wet, slippery, boggy or frozen in

places, and is definitely steep, so come

appropriately dressed. There’s no entry

fee, just donations in the charity box to

the Cornwall Search & Rescue Team and

this year’s chosen charity for that year.

For further information, email the run

directors at bwr@trurorunningclub.org.uk

10. BURNS NIGHT AT WITH A CORNISH TWIST

Enjoy an evening dedicated to the great

work of poet Robert Burns on Saturday,

January 27 at The Vine by Knightor in

Portscatho. Tradition is key, from piping

the arrival of guests to toasting the

haggis. Finally, you’ll dance the night

away with a traditional Ceilidh band.

Tickets £40pp, including a welcome drink.

Knightor, page 64.


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A WALK THROUGH

ST NECTAN’S GLEN

Words by Victoria Carpenter

Distance: 1 mile each way. Allow

20 to 30 mins for each direction.

Starting point: Trethevy (PL34 0BG) on

the B3263 coast road from Tintagel

to Boscastle.

Parking: Car park situated just off the

road in Trethevy. Find more information

at www.st-nectansglen.co.uk

Waterfall access: Tickets are required to

visit the waterfall. Check opening times,

prices and accessibility at

www.st-nectansglen.co.uk

St Nectan’s Glen is a magical place, with a

fascinating history and a beautiful waterfall,

deep in the woods just off the north coast

between Tintagel and Boscastle.

According to legend, St Nectan lived in the

sixth century and is believed to have had his

hermitage just above the waterfall. He was

keen to help those imperrilled by storms on

the rocky north coast, and would ring a bell

when poor weather and rough seas put ships

at risk of a brutal end on the treacherous

rocks near the mouth of Rocky Valley.

Today, the site of the hermitage hosts a

café and shop. The glen remains a very

sacred place, popular with walkers and

those wishing to pay their respects.

This is a beautiful woodland walk by the

river. Some claim the woods here are

haunted by mysterious hooded figures.

Our experience - it is definitely spooky!

Remember: tickets are required to visit the

waterfall during opening hours.

Walk directions:

• From the car park, cross the main road

and continue up to the right past the

inscribed Roman pillar on the roadside

by St Piran’s Chapel, a former monastery.

Continue past some houses.

• The path soon turns to woodland track,

following the river through the ancient

woodland leading to St Nectan’s Glen.

It can be muddy here and there is slate

on the path, so wear good footwear and

allow 20 to 30 minutes for the walk in

each direction.

• Follow the track and you will come to St

Nectan’s Glen Hermitage. It’s well worth

paying to see the waterfall; entry fees help

towards conservation. Dogs are allowed

here, but need to be on leads around the

waterfalls. The owners ask that dogs aren’t

allowed to make too much noise, lest they

disrupt the tranquility of this beautiful space.

• At the bottom, a magnificent 60ft waterfall

cascades through a hole through the original

kieve (basin). Following on from the shallow

pool at the foot of the kieve, water flows

down into the stream and leads on to another

beautiful waterfall in the valley below. For the

more adventurous, an eco-friendly walkway

has been opened up to another, more

secluded waterfall not previously accessible

to the public – it's worth discovering if you’ve

visited before and missed it.

• This is a there-and-back walk, but do

leave plenty of time in winter months for

the return journey. The woods get dark

quickly and, ghostly companions aside,

there are many treacherous tree roots and

lots of mud to navigate. Go carefully, and

take a towel for muddy paws! l

For more dog friendly adventures around

Cornwall visit www.dogfriendlycornwall.co.uk


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St Just-in-Roseland church - see page 17

14 A DAY OUT: SHIPWRECK TREASURE MUSEUM

16 FESTIVE EVENTS, GIFTS AND BOOKS

24 CELEBRATE IN STYLE - HOTEL BREAKS

28 IN THE RED – ENDANGERED BIRD SPECIES

30 REMEMBERING EDWARD HAIN

34 CORNWALL HERITAGE TRUST

36 HOMES AND GARDENS

39 THE WANT LIST: JUST DELIGHTS, PENRYN

40 ADORE MY STORE: UNEEKA

42 CORNISH LANGUAGE

43 MATTER OF THE OTHER WORLD

46 MY CORNISH WORLD: JEREMY LOOPS


A day out at

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The spectacular Tunnel of Lights experience at

Charlestown’s Shipwreck Treasure Museum

returns for another festive season, with an allnew

Christmas theme complete with thousands

of twinkling lights. This year’s edition of the popular

event will again centre around the UK’s longest indoor

tunnel lit with Christmas lights, this time extending

more than 220 metres in length. It will be adorned with

an incredible 4.5 miles of sparkling festive lights.

The new immersive experience will see visitors descend

into the historic tunnels beneath the museum through

a magical wardrobe and into the frozen wonderland

of Narnia, and then rediscover the museum which

has been transformed into every Christmas setting

imaginable. From Santa’s very own workshop and a

room of giant baubles to an entire world of beautifully

wrapped glittering presents and Candy Land.

Explore the museum’s replica Shipwreck that overlooks

Charlestown Harbour as snow falls around you and take

a pit stop in the mini German Christmas Market. Then

pause along the way for some fun Christmas Crafts that

the whole family can take part in.

Finally, follow Santa’s footsteps through the glittering

North Pole and walk amongst hundreds and thousands

of twinkling lights on dazzling display.

A new addition this year is a Giant Yule Tide Snow

Globe, complete with room inside for up to six people

and perfect to capture fantastic festive family photos

and a selfie for Instagram.

Visitor engagement manager Lynné Raubenheimer

said: “We can’t wait to turn the museum into the

most festive place in Cornwall for families to enjoy

in December and January. We’re looking forward to

welcoming everyone to our brand-new immersive

Christmas experience, which will be our best yet. It’s

been another difficult year, so this is an opportunity for

a little escapism and a chance to have some fun and

unwind at this magical time of year.”

The museum will reopen in its usual format next spring.

The award-winning attraction boasts 8,000 finds from

over 100 shipwrecks. See the only intact barrel of coins

ever recovered from a wreck, feel the weight of a

cannonball, and imagine the devastation it wrought in

battle at sea. There are stories of hardship and horror,

hope and hair-raising feats of human instinct, each one

a doorway into a world of imaginings.

The fascinating Shackleton exhibition will also be

available to enjoy during the main season. It tells

the story of the celebrated arctic explorer and his

incredible exploits and survival on the ill-fated

Endurance expedition. l

Tunnel of Lights: This is Christmas! opens on

Saturday, December 3 and runs daily until Sunday,

January 8, 2023, closing only on Christmas

Day. Tickets must be booked in advance at

www.shipwreckcharlestown.co.uk


Have yourself

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12 ways to enjoy the festive season, Cornwall style

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1. SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP!

That’s the mantra in Cornwall’s only city.

Truro Farmers Market BIG Christmas

Market takes place on selected dates

from Friday, December 2, then daily

from December 14 to Christmas Eve.

Wednesday is late-night shopping night,

with traffic-free shopping streets from 2pm

to 9pm. Elsewhere, you’ll find Christmas

illuminations in Victoria Gardens,

switched on daily at selected times.

www.visittruro.org.uk

2. SEEK OUT SOME SNOW

Head to Falmouth for its fabulous Festive

Weekend on December 10 and 11, with ice

rink, curling lanes, festive land train, live

music and more – plus snow machines to

provide that special Christmas factor!

3. LET THERE BE LIGHTS!

There’s plenty of sparkle to be found

around Cornwall, from the beautiful lantern

installations of Heligan Night Garden

(until January 2) to the National Maritime

Museum in Falmouth, with its magically

lit boats (December 17 to January 1,

www.nmmc.co.uk). Even Trengwainton

Garden will be lit by the warm glow of

fairy lights and lanterns made by local

schools, artists and partner organisations.

(until December 11, 4.30pm to 7.30pm -

booking essential).

4. GET YOUR SKATES ON

The Eden Project’s ice skating rink is in

place until February 19. Booking options

include general skating session, family

fun skating sessions for children aged

12 and under, parent and toddler iceplay

sessions and one-to-one lessons.

On selected dates between December

2 and 30, the site will be open until 8pm

with captivating light displays and live

music. The Winter Locals’ Pass provides

more than two-thirds off standard

admission prices and grants access up to

the end of March 2023. Find out more at

www.edenproject.com

5. MEET THE BIG MAN

How does Father Christmas manage to

be everywhere at once? It must be magic.

Among other places, you can find him

in Truro Cathedral with his friends from

Coppice Theatre (selected dates from

December 7, booking essential); sharing

tales and traditions of Christmases past

in the drawing rooms of Lanhydrock and

Trerice, dressed in pre-Coca Cola green

coat (booking essential, www.nationaltrust.

org.uk); and travelling by steam at Bodmin

& Wenford (www.bodminrailway.co.uk).

6. GO TO CHURCH

The 13th-century creekside church and

gardens of St Just in Roseland host

a magnificent Festival of Light from

December 18. A 12-day Christmas tree

display will form the backdrop for lighthearted

seasonal music, activities and

festive refreshments. The fun reaches its

peak with two spectacular Light Show

Nights on December 29 and 30 from

4.30pm to 7.30pm. For these, the church

car park will be blue badge only, with

organised parking and shuttle buses from

nearby fields, and extended running hours

on the King Harry Ferry for the light shows.

For more details, call 07785 772178.

7. GO FOR A GOOD OLD CORNISH “STANK”

There are bracing coastal walks to enjoy

at Pentire on the north coast, as well as an

orchard reindeer trail during December.

Treat yourself to a hot drink and something

tasty from the café in the indoor seating

CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE


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area, warmed by a wood burning stove.

Choirs will sing on selected dates, and a

Tramper mobility vehicle is available (check

website for details). Every Wednesday

to Sunday until December 31, 9.30am to

3pm. www.nationaltrust.org.uk

8. CHECK OUT A FESTIVE FAIR

Or go to several – there are plenty to choose

from. Bude offers a Beach Hut Christmas

Market at Crooklets Beach on December

10/11; Mount Edgcumbe Christmas Fayre

boats over 70 stalls selling everything

from local produce to a wide variety of

local gifts and crafts, on December 10/11;

Healeys Cyder Farm, near Perranporth, is

transformed into a fairytale world of mulled

cyder and hearty food on December

10/11 and 17/18; and Mount Pleasant

Eco Park in Porthtowan offers the Roots

Culture Christmas Market Weekend from

December 9 to 11, with independent local

crafters, makers, upcyclers and inventors.

9. HEAD FOR THE HARBOUR

In Mousehole, the annual harbour lights will

be switched on gradually from December

12 to 17, then lit each evening until the end

of the first week of January. Remember, on

December 19, all lights bar three crosses

will be switched off for an hour from 8pm

in memory of the tragic loss of the Penlee

Lifeboat Solomon Browne and the coaster

Union Star in 1981. See also Cousin Jack's

puppet/live-action production of The

Mousehole Cat - the heartwarming story of

the friendship between a fearless fisherman

and his devoted cat - at the Solomon

Browne Hall from December 13 to 31.

Tickets via The Minack on 01736 810181 or at

www.cousinjacks.org

10. FACE THE MUSIC

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

presents On Your Doorstep Christmas

Crackers, a concert of festive favourites

and magical winter music: think Sleigh

Ride, White Christmas, Frosty the

Snowman, Jingle Bells, Silent Night,

The Skater’s Waltz, Vivaldi’s Four

Seasons: Winter, Handel’s Messiah and

Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. December 8: The

Tolmen Centre, Constantine; December

9: St Endellion Church; Maker with Rame

Community Hall. www.carntocove.co.uk

11. BUY A CHRISTMAS TREE

Every Christmas, Trevena Cross, at Breage

near Helston, raises the bar with its jawdropping

in-store festive display. This

year is no exception, with a wall of gonks,

a woodland scene and a sensational

selection of garlands, ornaments, lights and

nearly 9,000 different baubles – a veritable

Christmas feast for the eyes. The centre sells

thousands of trees each year, the biggest

draw being the large cut Nordmann Fir (5-

6ft tall), from £25. The first three weekends of

December will see a food and drink market,

and look out for free festive family selfie

opportunities with big Christmas props.

Open daily (closed Christmas Day, Boxing

Day and New Year’s Day). Tel 01736 763880,

www.trevenacross.co.uk

12. SING CHRISTMAS CAROLS

The Nine Lessons and Carols service began

at Truro Cathedral long before it became

famous at King’s College, Cambridge. You

can hear it at 7pm on December 23 and

24 – get there early, as it’s very popular.

Alternatively, catch the Redruth Carol

Choir singing local Methodist carols by the

likes of Merritt, Broad and Nicholas – such

as Hark The Glad Sound – around Redruth

and Camborne (you can even request

a visit), finishing at the Countryman Inn,

Piece on New Year’s Day. For more dates

and locations, find them on Facebook. l

n 18 | My


St Stephen Pantomime Company performs its 76th production, and inspires a new novel

The village panto is the colourful

setting for author Angela Britnell’s

latest novel. A Little Christmas

Panto is set in the fictional village of

Polcarne, and draws heavily upon Angela’s

own experience with the historic St Stephen

Pantomime Company, which presents its

76th production - Robin Hood and the

Babes in the Wood - from January 29.

In the novel, troubled Hollywood heartthrob

Zach Broussard has abandoned

Tinseltown for a more private existence in

rural Cornwall. The last thing he wants is to

be railroaded into joining the community

pantomime production - but upon

meeting ex-concert pianist Rosey, he starts

to wonder whether he could change his

mind, and not just about acting....

Angela admits her own panto memories

are “lost in the mists of time”, but produces

photographic evidence including the

ensemble image shown below. "I was in

the Junior chorus rather than having an

acting part,” she says, “but it was great fun

to be involved with lots of the friends I was

growing up with."

The company was created by Harold

Lander in the 1940s to raise wartime funds

for the village, touring the clay villages

to entertain the wider community. The

group has seen highs and lows in its eight

decades, among the latter a devastating

case of fraud that threatened its very

existence. Fortunately, vigorous support

from St Stephen and its neighbours –

including fellow amateur groups – enabled

2020’s Sleeping Beauty, its 75th production,

to go ahead as planned.

A two-year break for the pandemic

did little to dim the enthusiasm - the

company returns with a team of more

than 80 volunteers, including a cast of 16

speaking parts, a 28-strong chorus line

and a backstage crew managing scenery

and props, lighting and sound, costumes,

music and front-of-house.

While most professional pantomimes take

place during December, amateur productions

are popular throughout Cornwall in January

and February. “It gives us all something to

look forward to after Christmas,” says musical

director Steve Polmounter.

Preparation begins straight after the

previous panto: calling in perusal scripts for

consideration - for many years, the company

has paid royalties to use professional scripts

by Alan Frayn - an initial readthrough in

June, auditions in July and twice-weekly

rehearsals from September.

The recipe: something for everyone.

“Panto is probably a child’s first experience

of a live show, so we’re looking for that

magic,” Steve explains, “as well as a bit

of innuendo that will go straight over their

heads but entertain the parents.”

Steve chooses the music, often writing

topical and amusing lyrics to chart tunes

that younger chorus members can learn

easily. "There aren’t many groups where

you can have eight-year-olds working

alongside 80-year-olds, and where we all

get along, learn from each other and have

fun,” he grins.

“We have children in the chorus whose

parents and grandparents were in the panto

too. It’s lovely to see, and for the tradition of

panto to be kept alive. Oh yes, it is!” l

A Little Christmas Panto is published by

Choc-Lit and available via Amazon.

Robin Hood & the Babes in the Wood

runs from January 29 to February 4 at St

Stephen Community Centre. For tickets,

call 01726 824248.

--------------------------------------------------------

Dick Whittington, Redruth

Regal Theatre, January 11 to 15.

redruth.merlincinemas.co.uk/home

--------------------------------------------------------

St Blazey Amateur Operatic Society:

Cinderella. January 21 to 28, The Keay

Theatre, St Austell. Tel 01726 879500

--------------------------------------------------------

Jack and the Beanstalk, Epworth

Centre, Helston, January 24 to 29,

www.helstontheatrecompany.co.uk


Enjoy seasonal entertainment from pantomime to choral music and classical ballet

1 2 3

4 5 7

1. Treasure Island, at the Hall For Cornwall

until December 31, stars Edward Rowe

(aka Kernow King) as Long John Silver

and is packed to the gunnels with songs

you’ll know and enough silly jokes to

make the sternest pirate giggle. Ooo-arr!

www.hallforcornwall.co.uk

2. In Miracle Theatre’s Sleeping Beauty,

the well-known fairy tale is given the

Miracle treatment! At the Cornwall Riviera

Holiday Camp in 1959, the Yellowjackets

are bursting to entertain the campers with

their mangled version of this classic story,

following the adventures of a resourceful

princess with insomnia when a resentful

fairy’s wicked spell goes horribly wrong.

Age 7+. December 8 to 11, Guildhall, St

Ives; December 15 to 31, Princess Pavilion,

Falmouth. www.miracletheatre.co.uk

3. Sit back and enjoy The Royal Ballet

on the big screen, as Peter Wright’s

spectacular production of The Nutcracker

comes to Cornish cinemas. Created in

1984, it remains true to the spirit of the

original Russian classic, set to Tchaikovsky’s

irresistible score and featuring sweeping

snowscapes, magical stagecraft and a

showstopping series of dances performed

in the dream-like Land of Sweets. It will

be broadcast live from Covent Garden on

December 8, and will be shown at selected

Cornish cinemas including Newquay

Lighthouse and Redruth Regal.

4. ‘Owdyado Theatre’s Twisted Christmas

is a darkly comic evening of seven

macabre mini plays all with a festive

flavour: how to buy the perfect gift for your

unloved ones, the dark side of Christmas

cracker jokes, and one woman’s maniacal

plot to murder Santa Claus. Suitable for

14+. Saturday December 10: Blisland

Village Hall; December 11: Cornish Bank,

Falmouth; December 14: St Austell Arts

Centre; December 16: Launceston Town

Hall; December 17: Perranporth Memorial

Hall; December 28: St Mawes Memorial

Hall. www.owdyado.co.uk

5. The Christmassy Christmas Show of

Christmassy Christmasness is a delightfully

silly one-man show from Squashbox

Theatre. Saturday, December 10, The Old

Library, Bodmin; December 11, Princess

Pavilion & Gyllyngdune Gardens, Falmouth;

December 17, Minack Theatre (indoors);

December 22, The Acorn, Penzance.

6. The Mediaeval Baebes perform

Christmas carol classics, traditional

folksongs and arrangements from their new

MydWynter album at Truro Cathedral on

December 15. A spirited show of beguiling

choral music backed by exotic and period

instruments. www.mediaevalbaebes.com

7. Near-ta Theatre’s cult comedy

Christmas.Time. returns to The Poly in

Church Street. Charlie and Toby are in the

clink on Christmas Day. What’s stopping

them from creating Christmas around

them? Absolutely nothing! Join them in

their festival of carols, Claus, Christ and

custody... December 15 to 18, 20 to 23.

www.thepoly.org The Alverton, Truro,

December 27.

8. David Mynne performs Charles Dickens’

A Christmas Carol as a mesmerising oneman

show. Suitable for age 8+. St Ives

Guildhall, December 17; Acorn Penzance,

December 23. www.mynne.com l

n 20 | My


The Grey Lurcher

Scilly Flowers

With gifting soon to be at the forefront of

our minds, this luxurious silk scarf from Diana

Wilson will make this purchase extra special.

A generous 40x40 inches of pure luxury these

gorgeous limited edition designs are extra

special. These scarves are versatile and will

become a classic addition to any wardrobe.

Diana’s pieces are timeless and beautiful,

alongside her scarves we stock her vintage

re-purposed jewellery and her printed velvet

cushions, if you are a fan of minimalism these

aren’t for you!

Pop in to see them in all their eye popping

glory, we open from Tuesday to Saturday 11-4.

The Grey Lurcher, 20 High Street,

Falmouth, TR11 2AB

www.greylurcherfalmouth.com.

Send sustainable Christmas greetings to

friends and family with a gift box of scented

narcissi, delivered straight to any UK doorstep

direct from where they’re grown on the Isles of

Scilly. These beautiful scented flowers flourish

outdoors in the small traditional fields dotted

across the islands. Blooms from Churchtown

Farm on St Martin’s are sent wrapped only

in paper to minimise plastic waste, and this

Christmas, prices have been frozen so you pay

the same great price as last year - from as little

as £13 with free delivery, making this a great

value Christmas gift.

Call 01720 422169 or visit

www.scillyflowers.co.uk

Lost Gardens of Heligan

Colwith Farm Distillery

Spread joy and cheer this festive season with

Heligan’s specially curated Christmas gift

boxes, inspired by the flora and fauna of the

historic 200-acre estate near Mevagissey.

• The Bee Gift Set (£14.95): a sweet collection

of honey fudge, honeycomb chocolate, a

seedball mix and notebook.

• The Explorer’s Kit Bag (£19.95): everything a

mini-adventurer will need to get up close and

personal to nature this year.

• The Pineapple Lover’s Gift set (pictured,

£17.95): a pineapple tea towel, fruit-flaked

chocolate bar, soap and exclusive pineapple

and rhubarb jam.

• The Potting Shed Essentials gift box: a

practical collection of gardening must-haves.

More information online at heliganshop.com

Could there be a more festive gift than

Christmas Pudding Vodka? Aval Dor’s seasonal

offering is a rich and decadent spirit infused

with no fewer than nine exotic fruits, handpeeled

fresh oranges and hints of cinnamon

spice. Serve with premium ginger ale and

a dash of bitters for the ultimate Christmas

cheer. Sister spirit Colwith’s Christmas Gin

entices with fresh orange and piney juniper at

the fore, giving way to delightfully balanced

cinnamon and nutmeg, plus lingering notes

of aromatic cloves. Both are sustainably

made from Cornish potatoes in small-batch

production on the family farm near Lostwithiel,

and retail at 35cl £29/70cl £42.

Find further information and view the online

shop visit www.colwithfarmdistillery.co.uk


© Mike Newman

1 2

3 4

Welcome 2023 in traditional fashion, with fireworks and Auld Lang Syne – or go

back even further by commemorating the winter solstice and Twelfth Night.

1. WASSAIL!

The wassail ceremony has its roots in

the pagan custom of visiting orchards

in the hope of ensuring a bumper crop

the following season. Features include

frightening away bad spirits by banging

pots and pans in an infernal racket;

hanging toast from trees to attract good

spirits (usually in the form of robins);

sprinkling tree roots with cider, and sharing

a communal wassail bowl filled with warm

spiced cider. In the Tamar Valley, Cotehele’s

annual Wassail takes place at 11.30am

on Saturday, December 17. Fancy dress

encouraged! Free; no booking required,

normal admission prices apply.

2. THE WINTER SOLSTICE, PENZANCE

On December 21, Montol in Penzance

revives Cornwall's traditional customs,

including Guise dancing and burning

the Yule log. Family-friendly activities

take place throughout the day and early

evening around Market Jew Street, Green

Market and Causewayhead - a procession

leaves the top of Chapel Street at 6pm,

and proceedings take a darker turn (aka

“misrule”) later in the evening.

3. NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS, TRURO

On Saturday, December 31, there are two

firework displays to be viewed from Truro’s

Lemon Quay: one at the family-friendly

hour of 7.30pm, and the main event at

midnight. Both are organised by Truro City

Council with kind permission from Truro

School. www.visittruro.org.uk

4. CATHEDRAL MASQUERADE, TRURO

The New Year’s Eve Cathedral

Masquerade returns for a second

outing. Step into a whimsical world

of masks, ballgowns and tuxedos and

enjoy a whirlwind of entertainers, aerial

acrobatics, live bands, lasers and a silent

disco in the incomparable surroundings

of Truro Cathedral. Over 18s only.

www.quickpandaproductions.co.uk/nye/

5. TWELFTH NIGHT, FALMOUTH

Degol Stul, the Twelfth Night of Christmas,

is celebrated with Cornish music and

dance by Nos Lowen, a monthly night of

Celtic wildness. Ceilidh band Skillywidden

and vocal harmony trio Arbrevyn will

play at The Cornish Bank on January 8.

Be prepared to dive in and have a go at

dancing, and if you play an instrument,

take it along. l

n 22 | My



in style

Need to recover after the indulgence of Christmas?

Whether you want to get away, or bring the family with you,

there are plenty of quality Cornish hotels and resorts

who can do the heavy lifting while you just relaaaaaax...

St Michaels Resort

However 2022 has treated you, New Year’s Eve is an evening to shrug

off, celebrate, indulge and look ahead to 365 days full of positivity

and possibility. A one-night New Year's Eve break at St Michaels in

Falmouth gives you the opportunity to do exactly that.

Delicious Dining. Cornish executive head chef Darren and his

brigade work closely with local producers, farmers and fishermen.

Passionate about using Cornish-grown, reared and hooked produce,

together with head chef Ady he crafts dishes that are big on local

flavours and low in food miles. For New Year, Darren and the team

have created something a little bit special, with the option of four

courses or a seven-course taster menu designed to take you on a

tour of Cornish fields, farms and waters.

More than just a meal. After an evening of relaxed refinement and

seasonal fare celebrating the very best Cornwall has to offer, it’s time

to swing into the sounds of a live band, peruse the cocktail menu

and countdown to midnight while being amazed by the magician

doing the rounds.

A good night’s sleep. An airy Luxury King bedroom promises a blissful

end to the night, as well as a full Cornish breakfast on New Year’s Day.

St Michaels’ one-night New Year break starts from £249pp.

St Michaels Resort is delighted to announce its official charity

partner of 2023. Cornish mental health charity Sea Sanctuary is one

of the world’s leading advocates of ‘Blue Health’, championing the

belief that being around any blue space - be it the sea, lakes, or

rivers - rejuvenates the body and mind, reducing stress and anxiety.

Call 01326 312707 or visit www.stmichaelsresort.com

Molly and Masquerade

at The Polurrian

Put your feet up on Boxing Day at The Polurrian on the Lizard,

in the company of a Woodfired Sessions favourite: St Ives

winner of The Voice, Molly Hocking. Keep the festive cheer

turned up to 11 as Molly melts your heart with beautiful

renditions of classic hits. Boxing Day available from noon to

4pm; to book, call reception on 01326 240421. Molly will sing

at 5pm; entry is free. A New Year’s Eve masquerade house

party with live music is the highlight of a three-night New Year

break. Rates from £960 based on two adults sharing a room.

n 24 | My


www.polurrianhotel.com

Sands Resort, Newquay

Twixmas breaks at Sands Resort Hotel are the perfect opportunity

for a short holiday between Christmas and New Year. Relax, enjoy

the stunning sea views, take time to explore the surrounding

area, and make the most of the spa and numerous on-site

activities including a warm indoor pool and a fun-packed family

entertainment programme. Little guests can have a laugh

with Chloe the Clown and Jules the Ventriloquist, explore the

enchanted winter maze, take part in the treasure hunt or boogie at

the glow stick silent disco. Creative families will love the arts and

crafts club, while grown-ups can recharge their batteries in the

hot tub and sauna or catch up over dinner while taking advantage

of the complimentary baby listening service. See in the new year

with a special four-course dinner and kids’ party, as well as live

music for all the family. Stay from £152 per night.

www.sandsresort.co.uk

The Greenbank Hotel,

Falmouth

At the Greenbank Hotel in Falmouth, you’re spoilt for choice.

Head to the annual Riverbank house party, where you can graze

on delicious canapés ahead of a three-course menu before

strapping your dancing shoes on and twisting the night away

before the big countdown! £89pp. Alternatively, splash out on

a five-course feast in The Water’s Edge Restaurant £109pp; or

if a cosy Cornish pub is more your style, tuck into five of the

Working Boat’s favourite dishes from 2022, £70pp.

Call 01326 312440 or visit www.greenbank-hotel.co.uk

The Alverton, Truro

Keep the Christmas spirit going at The Alverton in Truro.

Near-Ta Theatre make an annual appearance with anarchic

comedy 'Christmas. Time.' on December 27. And on New

Year’s Eve, you can raise a glass to 2023 while diving into a

celebratory seven-course tasting menu held in the restaurant

(sample dishes: lobster and crab bon-bon; Cornish gouda

rarebit; trio beef, venison and pork fillet; prime local fish;

chef’s assiette of desserts, and cheese board), followed by

dancing in the magnificent Great Hall and Truro fireworks at

midnight. £99.

Call 01872 276633 or visit thealverton.co.uk


The Park, Mawgan Porth

Check out the latest availability for December and January at The Park,

Mawgan Porth. You'll find a range of holiday accommodation nestled in

27 acres in a secret valley a stone’s throw from the beach. Choose from

luxury lodges, cosy cottages, lavish yurts and stunning Park Cabins. The

extensive facilities - swimming pools, sauna, steam room, pool bar and

restaurant, DVD Library - mean you won't have to set foot off site, unless

you choose to! Many properties are dog-friendly, some with enclosed

gardens; pooches receive a complimentary bowl, frisbee and treats, and

are welcome in our restaurant. There’s also an enclosed dog exercise

area, and dog showers - perfect after a day on the beach or a muddy

walk! Look out for kids’ activities: on Tuesday, December 27, Screech

Owl Sanctuary will bring birds to meet the children, and on Wednesday,

December 28, it’s beach bushcraft time with Mark and Lizzie; build a

den and toast marshmallows on the beach. Stay two nights or more and

enjoy a free daily breakfast in The Kitchen By The Beach (until March 30,

excluding February 9 to 26).

Call 01637 860322, www.theparkcornwall.com

St Moritz, Rock

Wake up to the North Cornwall coast on January 1. The St

Moritz two-night New Year package includes dinner, bed and

breakfast. Enjoy a Gala Dinner on New Year's Eve (adults only)

with canapés on arrival and bubbles aplenty, a DJ and dancing,

and a separate children's party with food and entertainment.

Get 2023 off to a good start with a spot of pampering in the

Cowshed Spa. Prices from £720; Cosy, King, Twin and Garden

Suites available. (Children aged three to 12: £120 per child,

when sharing parents' room).

www.stmoritzhotel.co.uk

The Penventon, Redruth

Penventon is the place to be this New Year’s Eve. Glitz yourself

up, put on your mask, and let your carriage bring you to the

Masquerade Ball. You’ll be welcomed with canapés and a glass

of fizz; mingle with your fellow Masqueraders before sitting

down to an indulgent five-course meal in the Dining Galleries

or Venetian Room. Dance the night away to classic hits in the

Grand Forum Ballroom. Then comes the countdown, the stroke

of midnight and the traditional bagpiper’s welcome. Grab a

pasty if you’re peckish, and enjoy the celebrations until 1am.

£90pp, or upgrade to an overnight package.

www.penventon.co.uk

My

n 26 | Issue 75 | December 2022 - January 2023

Includes:

• 30-minute massage or facial

• Use of the pool & steam room

• Lunch with a sea view

• From £45 per person

T: 01637 872864

www.sandsresort.co.uk/spa

Sands Resort Hotel, Porth, Cornwall

Available Wednesdays-Fridays, 1st December until

31st March 2023. Excluding 19th – 31st December.


n 28 | My


A new book draws attention to the plight of

increasingly rare birds

Artists and writers have joined forces

to raise awareness of the plight of

birds on the UK Red List, and to

help secure their future by raising money

for conservation work. Published by the

British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), Into

the Red brings together 70 artists and 70

writers to raise awareness of the plight of 70

birds; contributors include artist/comedian

Jim Moir (aka Vic Reeves), musician David

Gray, actor Mackenzie Crook, and TV

environmentalist Megan McCubbin.

The Red List is revised every six years to

reflect the species of highest concern

as identified by Birds of Conservation

Concern assessments. The first edition

counted 67 species, meaning things are

heading in the wrong direction. While

species like curlew and turtle dove

are regulars, the addition of relatively

common birds like swift, house martin and

greenfinch is new cause for alarm.

“Birds enrich our lives, but almost a third

of UK species are now in population

freefall,” says Into the Red editor Kit

Jewitt. “For the 70 species on the UK Red

List, their voices are no longer simply calls

and birdsong, but SOS messages and

clarion calls to take action. We must listen

to them, before it is too late.”

A good number of the species in the book

can be found in Cornwall, and one is worth

singling out as both the artist and writer

for the species are based in the Duchy. The

shag has been depicted by landscape and

bird artist Daniel Cole, who was named

Swarovski Bird Artist of the Year 2016 and

has work in the collection of the Royal

Cornwall Museum.

Author, curator and environmentalist

John Fanshawe first learned of the shag

from Christopher Isherwood’s poem, The

Common Cormorant, and discovered

it in person after relocating from

Buckinghamshire to North Cornwall.

"The move turned this mythical animal

into a near daily reality, as shags are

a regular sight along the north coast,

and for the artisanal lobster-potters

that venture out of Boscastle when the

weather allows,” he says.

"Close to home, one small cove supports

half a dozen pairs each year, and I loved

lying in the warm heather watching

their antics, not least the gathering (and

robbing) of seaweed to build their nests.

“Shags strike an ancient cruciform pose in

flight, and when ‘drying’ their wings. In the

early days, I watched them from afar with my

first pair of binoculars, their awkwardness

on land a contrast to their evident delight

in the surrounding seawater.”

Falmouth illustrator Holly Astle takes

inspiration from the natural world and is

passionate about its preservation. She has

previously worked on marketing campaigns

for Unesco and charity Christmas cards for

Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

Holly provided the illustration of the roseate

tern, seen on the cover of myCornwall.

While common terns are, well, common in

Cornwall, roseate terns are not; but Holly’s

landscapes were nonetheless influenced

by those she sees on a daily basis.

“When the BTO put a call-out for illustrators,

I leapt at the chance,” said Holly. “I’m such

an advocate for environmental causes –

seeing the destruction of nature breaks my

heart, so any way I can use my platform to

encourage people to turn things around,

I will.

“Birds are one of my favourite things

to draw, and I was drawn to the roseate

tern because I love the shape – it's quite

angular - and living where I do, I naturally

love sea birds.”

Elsewhere in the book, printmaker Faith

Chevannes - whose work has been

included in the Royal Academy Summer

Exhibition - indulged her love for wild birds

by illustrating the willow tit.

BTO is the UK's leading bird research

charity, with a growing membership and

up to 60,000 volunteer birdwatchers who

contribute to surveys, collecting data that

underpins conservation action in the UK.

Cornwall regional rep Simon Taylor took on

the volunteer role in 2017, and in October

was awarded the BTO Jubilee Medal for

his “truly transformative” work.

Simon joined the BTO as a volunteer

in 2009, and later became volunteer

warden at Stithians Lake, where he began

contributing to the Nest Record Scheme,

monitoring the breeding performance of a

wide range of birds. “What started off as a

casual interest became an obsession,” he

says, admitting that his day job on the tugs

in Falmouth Harbour “gets in the way but

pays the bills”.

Today, he organises the local Heronries

Census and surveys including woodcocks

and wetland birds. He also organises

talks, workshops and guided walks around

Cornwall, handles social media coverage

on Facebook and Twitter, sends out

quarterly newsletters and coordinates a

weekly garden birdwatch survey.

Why is it so important? “Some might say

bird extinction is natural selection, but I

believe human beings are destroying their

habitats – field hedgerows and gardens,

for example. Once you’ve lost something,

it’s hard to get it back; reintroduction

programmes can take years. It’s better not

to go there in the first place,” he explains.

“If you do nothing, nothing will improve.

BTO gives me the opportunity to turn my

obsession in a direction whereby I can

do something good, beyond personal

satisfaction. I don’t want to sit in a bird

hide all day, then go home; I feel as if I’m

making a real contribution.” l

To obtain your copy of Into The Red and

find out more about the British Trust for

Ornithology, visit www.bto.org

For information about local events, visit

www.facebook.com/BTOCornwall


Hospital shot by

Morag Robertson

Edward Hain photos

courtesy of the Hain family

St Ives’ hospital bears

his name, and is about

to embark upon a new

role in community health

When buildings bear

the names of their

benefactors, they also

carry a huge weight of

historical and emotional significance

in their communities. This is certainly

the case for the Edward Hain Memorial

Hospital in St Ives. The NHS closed the inbed

wards in 2016, deemed the building

“surplus to requirement” four years later

and announced its sale in December

2021, a century after it was gifted to

the townsfolk.

The hospital's League of Friends charity

made its boldest decision in its 60-year

history: to buy the building and reopen

it as the Edward Hain Centre for Health

& Wellbeing. The bid was backed by

members of the community and Hain

descendants, and as myCornwall went to

press, contracts were due to be exchanged

and a manager appointed.

That the purchase was able to happen at all

is thanks to active community fundraising.

When it closed, the Friends had a healthy

nest-egg of £600,000, accrued over many

years of campaigns and bequests, which

gave them a solid foundation on which to

build a campaign.

When a price of £1,020,000 was announced,

the sizeable kitty came into play, along

with private donations, a mortgage and

further fundraising events: quizzes and

luncheons, golf and gigs, fashion shows, a

whisky auction and an ongoing GoFundMe

campaign with a current target of £25,000.

Lynne Isaacs, secretary of the League

of Friends of the Former Edward Hain

Memorial Hospital, said: “If we hadn’t

been in a position to launch the appeal,

I have no doubt the building would have

been converted or, worst-case scenario,

simply demolished to make way for new

holiday or second homes. I think that’s the

main reason the town and community are

so supportive of the fundraising.

“The hospital had a very emotional pull

for a lot of people. Everyone has some

memory of using it - it was easy to access,

helped people’s lives go smoothly and

contributed to the wellbeing of the

community in general.

“Like most Cornish towns, we have lost all

kinds of facilities and people are having

to travel more. For hospital treatment,

for most people that means Treliske -

Penzance has a limited range, Hayle too.”

Who was Edward Hain? The only son of

Sir Edward Hain - six-times mayor of St

Ives, MP from 1900 to 1906 and generous

benefactor of the town - Teddy was a keen

sportsman and member of the Oxford

University dramatic society before training

to take over his father’s business, the

Edward Hain Steamship Company.

In 1913 he married actress Judith Wogan-

Brown, but their marriage would be shortlived;

Teddy joined the Devon Yeomanry as

captain when war broke out, and was killed

by shellfire on November 11, 1915, when

handing over command of his unit within

hours of shipping home from Gallipoli.

n 30 | My


Aerial shot by

Alban Roinard

To create a meaningful memorial to their

only son which would also benefit the

town, Teddy’s parents founded a hospital

converting Albany House and putting it in

trust for the people of St Ives. It opened

in April 1920, shortly after the death of

Teddy’s father (with no male heir, the Hain

Steamship company was sold). Capable

of taking 12 to 16 patients and geared

towards seamen and soldiers, the hospital

was initially managed by a trust including

Teddy’s sister, Kate, until 1948 when it was

taken over by the newly-formed National

Health Service.

Kate’s granddaughter, Kit Hain Grindstaff

(once half of the Marshall Hain duo,

whose 1978 song Dancing in the City

was an international hit), is now based in

the USA but visits regularly and takes an

active role in the campaign. In 2017, she

and her brother Tim wrote a song, Hands

Across the Harbour, to promote an event

which saw 600 people gather in their

dressing gowns, representing patients

who had been denied care since the

hospital closure.

A year later, on November 11, 2018 – the

centenary of the end of the First World

War – they were present to see Captain

Hain’s portrait drawn in the sand on

Porthmeor Beach as part of Pages of the

Sea, an event conceived by film director

Danny Boyle to commemorate the Great

War heroes.

“Captain Edward Hain would have been my

great-uncle,” says Kit. “My grandmother

adored him, and he was a mythical figure in

our family. When the hospital was closed,

Having learned of the loyalty of the people

of St Ives to the Hain name, how could I

not respond? The hospital was part of the

town’s lifeblood.”

The idea of the hospital being disposed

of by the NHS was so inconceivable that

a clause was never added to ensure it

should come back to the town in such

circumstances. “The deeds were handed

over, and what happened is entirely legal,

if not as moral as we would like,” says

Kit. “However, when buildings like this

are given up, they have to be offered first

to a local government body, and St Ives

Town Council stepped in on our behalf

to mediate.”

For the business side of things, the Friends

turned to Simon Ryan, whose specialist

field - creating community organisations

and raising funding to buy obsolete

buildings for repurposing as community

facilities – mostly deals with housing, but

fitted the Edward Hain to a tee.

Simon helped with “the dull but vital

stuff”: the legal registration of the new

charity; communications and negotiations

between the Town Council, NHS Property

Services and the Friends; setting up

the detail of the contracts, including

loan finance and staffing structure; and

talking to funders, planners, lawyers and

accountants “who each speak their own

specific language”.

One area that posed no problem was

raising community funding to match grants

and loans. “I've been in this line of work

for many years, and I've never, ever seen

this level of community support - it's jawdroppingly

amazing,” says Simon.

There are limitations to the services Edward

Hain will be able to provide in future. “It’s

not cost-effective to run as a hospital

today,” says Lynne, adding that any nursing

care would need to be under the auspices

of the NHS. “We have to be realistic -

medicine has changed enormously, and

there are things you can be treated for now

that you couldn’t before.”

So Edward Hain will be a health and

wellbeing hub, home to organisations

like Age Concern. “There’s a huge need

for services that support people who live

here permanently, exacerbated by Covid

and now the cost-of-living crisis, but there

is more to medicine and good health

than simply having an operation or taking

tablets,” Lynne continues. “For example,

there has been an increase in mental health

issues, and anything that helps to alleviate

that – including preventative medicine and

social prescribing - is really valuable.”

Kit Hain is understandably thrilled to be

close to completion of purchase, and

grateful to everyone who worked and

donated to make this happen. “I imagine

that my great-grandparents would have

something to say about us having had to

buy back the hospital they provided for the

benefit of the town they loved,” she says.

“But I also imagine that they would be

blown away by the community’s dedication

to the facility, and amazed that Teddy’s

story is remembered with such love and

respect over 100 years later.” l

To make a contribution to the campaign,

visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-buyback-our-hospital-building

For details of how to send cheques

or wire transfers, please contact

edwardhaincentre@gmail.com


The Light

Among Us

The life of Penzance luminary

Elizabeth Carne as told by American

author Jill George

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Elizabeth Carne (1817–1873) was a

woman of many talents: author,

geologist, mineral and shell

collector, philosopher, philanthropist,

even banker. Born in Phillack, near Hayle,

to a wealthy and influential family of

mining agents, merchants and bankers,

she moved in distinguished circles: her

friends included Quaker sisters Anna

Maria and Caroline Fox of Falmouth's

shipping and mining family. With them,

she became an early member of the

Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, and

was also the first woman to be elected a

member of the Royal Geological Society

of Cornwall.

And yet, while so many of Cornwall’s

male figures – Sir Humphry Davy,

Richard Trevithick, Richard Lander – are

commemorated in stone, very little is

heard about Elizabeth Carne. American

academic and author Jill George intends

to change that with her latest novel: The

Light Among Us is part biography, part

love story; the profile of a brilliant woman

with a quest to create a more unified and

prosperous society.

Launched in July at Elizabeth’s former

home, Chapel House in Penzance, the

novel sees Elizabeth torn between her role

as an heiress and her love for Henry, a man

from the lower order. As a woman without

a college education, she struggles to gain

credibility in her father’s banks as she

tried to maintain her family’s long legacy

of wealth and philanthropy. Amid murder,

smuggling, famine and restrictive social

norms, Elizabeth fights not only for her

love, but also for the rights of local miners

in the face of a failing industry.

Jill lives in Pittsburgh, and is an industrial

psychologist whose written work includes

several books and articles on leadership in

engaging work cultures. She has travelled

the world and met thousands of leaders,

using her findings to create deep and

intriguing characters in her fiction, which

draws equally upon her fascination with

the Victorian era.

The Light Among Us grew out of lockdown.

“I had three teenagers at home and was

trying to home school being principal,

nurse, janitor, counsellor and teacher all

in one - it was completely overwhelming,”

she recalls. “As a tonic for what felt like a

world crashing all around me, I spent time

researching the geography of one of my

favorite places: Cornwall.

“I came across a photo of Elizabeth Carne,

and found that very little was written about

the whole of who she was. She was listed

by many websites list as a woman who

inherited a box of rocks, and yet she was

incredibly bright, an author, a scientist! I

decided her story needed to be told.”

Jill came across an online article about

Elizabeth by Melissa Hardie of the Hypatia

Trust in Penzance. “I peppered her with

questions. When she told me she herself

lived on Elizabeth’s street, in a building that

used to be a bank, and that Elizabeth’s own

house was a B&B, my head exploded.”

Chapel House would provide the perfect

accommodation when Jill visited Penzance

to check the finer details of her setting in

the company of historian John Dirring,

a specialist in Victorian-era banking who

would become a key collaborator.

“I was in history heaven,” says Jill. "We

visited all the sites I had drafted in the

book to make sure we described them

accurately and their distances from each

other. We went in St Mary’s church and its

Methodist counterpart - everywhere we

could think that Elizabeth would go. We

walked through thick mud and bramble to

see Boscawen-Un, the standing stones she

owned and took care of near St Buryan.”

As well as discussing Boscawen Un with

archaeologists, Jill and John corresponded

with Victorian shipping experts, read

numerous books on women in Victorian

Cornwall, contacted and visited most

of Cornwall’s libraries and worked with

Exeter University and the Royal Geological

Society of Cornwall. “We had at least eight

Ph.Ds working with us on this novel. That

is why I say history is a team sport - no one

person has all the answers.”

Much of the content is drawn from

recorded fact. Elizabeth’s father, Joseph,

was the director of the Cornish Copper

Company, and the cellars of their home

were fitted out as laboratories for exploring

the smelting processes of copper and

tin and the constituents of minerals and

rocks - the young Humphry Davy visited

for experience of a scientific environment.

Later, Elizabeth would inherit her father's

partnership in the Penzance Bank, and

used her wealth to build several schools in

Penzance and a museum for the mineral

collection she had amassed with her father.

More hazy is the existence of a suitor such

as Henry. Elizabeth never married, but for

Jill, Henry is more than just one man. “The

clergyman at her funeral stressed that

she was loved by everyone and many,”

Jill explains. “To me, someone with her

goodness must have been admired and

adored by anyone who really knew her, as

so many did from her generous service and

philanthropic deeds. So I created Henry as

an ‘everyman’ character to represent an

amalgamation of the public she adored

and served, and who loved her back.”

Although The Light Among Us is a

historical novel, Jill feels many of its

themes resonate today. “Key things are

as precious and fragile now as they were

then. Freedom, for example, was not a

given in the Victorian era, for individuals

or country states. Women in particular had

little freedom to do anything without a

man, and arguably we are still fighting this

battle 200 years later.”

Sadly, the summer launch was marred by

the untimely death of Melissa Hardie days

before the event. “We’d planned a grand

party at the Women in Words bookshop,

but instead had a subdued book signing,

during which I reflected on how lucky I

was to have found her and worked with

her. I dropped off copies at shops and

local libraries - everyone knew Melissa and

enjoyed the stories I told about us working

together on this novel, which was one of

her last projects."

While many a Cornishman went to the USA

during the Great Migration, Jill has yet to

find evidence of any family links to Cornwall,

although she does have ancestors on this

side of the pond. “I do feel as if I am in the

wrong country, like I belong in the UK, and

am just hotelling it over here in Pittsburgh.

Most of the areas where the Cornish

settled are far from Pittsburgh – and, well,

that is a rabbit hole for

another day.” l

The Light Among Us by

Jill George with John

Dirring, is published

by Atmosphere Press.

www.jillgeorgeauthor.com


Carn Euny, one of the best-preserved ancient villages in Cornwall

Photo: Tim Pearson

The work of Cornwall Heritage Trust

It’s no secret that Cornwall is steeped

in heritage, spanning all eras from the

Neolithic to the 19th century Industrial

Age. At the forefront of caring for this

precious legacy is Cornwall Heritage Trust,

which has 13 sites under its watchful eye,

spanning the breadth of the Duchy. All

are free to visit, making them the perfect

destination for a winter walk.

Between Land’s End and Penzance, you’ll

find Sancreed Beacon, an area of granite

upland inhabited during the Bronze Age,

now a Site of Special Scientific Interest and

part of West Penwith International Dark

Sky Park. In September, conservation and

restoration work turned up archaeological

finds in an area used as a 19th-century

midden or refuse site. These included an

Elliman’s Embrocation bottle, which would

have originally housed a medicine made of

eggs, turpentine and vinegar, said to help

with aching muscles and joints.

In mid-Cornwall, Treffry Viaduct,

near Luxulyan, was the first large civil

engineering structure of its kind to be

built in Cornwall and is part of the Cornish

Mining World Heritage Site, as designated

by UNESCO. Built between 1839 and 1842

by Joseph Thomas Treffry, the viaduct

had the dual purpose of carrying both a

tramway and a high-level leat across the

Luxulyan Valley for the mining industry.

A recent appeal saw 15 people (including

Kim Conchie, Chief Executive of Cornwall

Chamber of Commerce) join as life

members, raising £6,500 to conserve the

adjacent 19th century Crib Hut which

provided welcome shelter for viaduct

workers during their breaks.

Further sites, all free to visit, range from

Carn Euny, a well-preserved Iron Age

village in West Penwith to St Breock

Downs Monolith, the heaviest standing

stone in Cornwall; and from The Hurlers,

a line of three early Bronze Age stone

circles on Bodmin Moor, to the little-known

Trevanion Culverhouse, a 14th-century

dovecote near Wadebridge. Having

taken on the ancient hill fort of Caer Bran

in February 2022, the trust made its 13th

acquisition in November: the 15th century

St Cleer’s Well.

What makes it all so special for the trust’s

CEO, Cathy Woolcock, is that heritage is

far from dead, with current generations

the latest in a long line of custodians who

will one day join their predecessors. “Here

in Cornwall, it’s part of everyday life to be

in touch with the past, seeing the history

and walking among it” she says. “The

well house, for example, is situated in the

middle of the village of St Cleer and we

want this historic place to continue to be

at the heart of the community for many

generations to come."

The trust currently has around 7,000

members, including individuals and

families. Why join when you can visit the

sites for free? Well, membership will also

give you free access to English Heritage’s

Cornwall properties - including Tintagel,

Restormel, St Mawes, Pendennis and

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Castle an Dinas, one of the largest and

most impressive hillforts in Cornwall

Dupath Well, the largest and most

impressive Well House in Cornwall

Caer Bran, an important multi-age

hillfort site near Sancreed

Sancreed - Cornwall Heritage Trust's archaeological

team was on hand to process and record the finds

Treffry Viaduct, a 19th-century viaduct

hidden in the beautiful Luxulyan Valley

Trethevy Quoit, a burial chamber from

the late Neolithic period near Liskeard

Launceston castles, and Chysauster

Ancient Village - and Geevor Tin Mine,

and half-price entry to Wheal Martyn,

King Edward Mine (adults only) and the

Arthurian Centre.

But you'll also be supporting the trust

financially, enabling it to care for its sites

and, crucially, to foster a love of heritage

among younger generations. Since 2014,

the School Transport Grants Scheme

has funded 540 trips for nearly 22,500

Cornish primary schoolchildren. With the

costs of petrol and vehicle hire rising and

school budgets tightening, support like

this is vital to enable the next generation

to experience Cornwall’s ancient sites,

museums and historic properties.

“Sadly, enrichment activities like trips are

all too often the first things to be cut when

times are hard,” says Cathy Woolcock.

“When we asked schools what the biggest

barrier was to visiting heritage sites, the

vast majority told us it was the cost of

transport. We get amazing feedback from

schools who apply to us for grants, so we

know how much children benefit from

visiting these special Cornish places and

learning about their heritage.”

So much work is carried out by volunteers,

including leading guided walks, helping

at events, site conservation, research

and recording finds. In November, many

public-spirited individuals and groups

were rewarded at a special event at

Scorrier House.

The Heritage Champion Award was given

to myCornwall contributor Elizabeth Dale,

who also blogs as The Cornish Bird - you

might even have seen her on television

with the likes of Fern Britton. “What she

has achieved is incredibly impressive,” says

Cathy. “She has 7,500 Twitter followers and

to be shining a light on Cornwall’s hidden

places and untold stories for so many

people is outstanding. She is an extremely

worthy winner."

St Columb Old Cornwall Society received

a group award for its active support,

including hosting a Platinum Jubilee

beacon at Castle-an-Dinas; while Trevor

Smitheram, from Hayle, was given a special

lockdown award in recognition of his social

media presence during the pandemic,

sharing historical anecdotes and dialect by

video to keep spirits high.

“Ultimately, it’s not just about places – it's

about people, stories and communities,”

says Cathy. “They all make up Cornwall’s

unique and distinct heritage, and to be the

custodians of that is such a special thing.” l

For a full list of sites, and for details of

how to become a member (from £15pa),

visit www.cornwallheritagetrust.org

iWalk Cornwall have compiled a list

of their circular walks that include

Cornwall Heritage Trust sites.

www.iwalkcornwall.co.uk/walks/org/cht


British sheepskin pads, £34 each - pop on a bench seat or armchair

for added comfort and style; Faux eucalyptus garland, £29.95; Little

red robin tea towel, £14 - 100% cotton, hand-illustrated, UK made;

Handmade alder bowl, £48 - Cornish-grown alder wood, hand-turned

in Penzance; Natural wood hanging star decoration, £4 each.

All from Marcel Rodrigues Interiors of Nansledan, Newquay.

Facebook @marcelrodriguesinteriors, www.marcelrodrigues.co.uk

Charlotte Dawson of Chestnut Interiors

turns her attention to the darker months

n 36 | My


As the seasons turn and we begin to

spend more time indoors, it’s a treat

to make some simple adjustments

that bring warmth and cosiness into

Cushions

Candles

© Just Delights

our homes. Afternoons spent hibernating

and watching the garden change through

the window become all the more enjoyable

with some scrumptious essentials. Snuggle

down and read on for some quick tips that

will help you maximise heat on cooler days.

Blankets and throws

© Charlotte Dawson

These are a must-have for sofa and beds.

When choosing blankets for a living room

or bedroom, the priority is to opt for

materials you enjoy to touch - that way,

you’ll find it hard not to wrap yourself up!

Choose sumptuous fabrics and use colours

that compliment your interior scheme.

Consider the weight of the material to add

extra cosy points and guarantee yourself a

sweet spot you won’t want to leave.

It’s easy to transform a bedroom by

layering blankets and mixing materials: for

example, a fine knit mixed with a waffle

cotton. Ensure choices are practical so as

not to slip off, and not too heavy so they

can be layered. My personal favourite

places to shop for blankets in Cornwall

are Atlantic Blankets, Brocante and Jenny

Aves. In a recent project, my client chose to

bring warmth to a white room by layering

a green woollen blanket with a lightweight

striped cotton bedspread.

© Victoria Williams

Adding scatter cushions to your living

room furniture and beds brings another

layer of comfort. For an average threeseater

sofa, it suits to pair a 22in cushion

with an 18in cushion at each end. This is

an opportunity to add some interest to a

plain sofa, and the good news is they don’t

all have to be the same – in fact, it’s better

if they aren’t. It’s therefore possible to mix

favourite colours, patterns and fabrics.

Something to consider to make cushion

shopping easier is to stick to a colour

palette and play with slightly different

hues and textures: for example, a deep

green velvet paired with a sage green

and oatmeal linen stripe. Add in a burst

of colour for a central cushion, in this

example perhaps a print with green, rust

and charcoal.

When purchasing cushions, feather-filled

will be miles more comfortable. If you’re

having covers made or buying them

separately, remember to size up by two

inches. Victoria Williams Upholstery offers

creative upholstery across the county using

an extensive range of gorgeous fabrics.

For a greater sensory experience, add the

flicker of candle light to a relaxation ritual.

By inviting other senses into your home

and burning your favourite candle, you will

enjoy a gentle glow and beautiful scents

- absorb the tranquillity. Candle makers

recognise the calming impact their candles

have and tailor them specifically for sleep,

to soothe the mind and ease anxieties. Just

Delights in Penryn have recently filled their

shelves with autumn and winter candles

including fragrances such as Silver Birch &

Black Pepper, and Green Fig & Cedar.

Ceramics

© Laura Lane

While enjoying the physical nourishment

and opportunity to rest and rejuvenate

amongst comfortable cushions and

blankets, the final addition for some extra

cosiness is, of course, your favourite hot

chocolate to be enjoyed from a finely

crafted mug. In Cornwall, we are fortunate

to have talented potters in our midst,

among them artist Laura Lane, who has

designed and created a range of beautiful

cups and mugs using locally sourced clay

from St Agnes. Perfect for those restful

days at home. l


Laura Tucker explores how a community garden project

in Par has transformed a derelict site into a social hub.

The National Garden

Scheme (NGS) is well

known for its annual

donations to nursing

and health charities,

but it also supports

community gardening projects under the

Community Gardens Award Scheme and

has dramatically increased its funding in

this area.

“The pandemic highlighted the critical

importance of access to green spaces for

everyone’s health and wellbeing,” said

NGS chief executive George Plumptre. “It’s

easy to see why more and more people are

creating or joining community gardens;

these projects involve people from the

whole spectrum of society, often giving

crucial individual benefits while also having

a substantial impact at a local level.”

Until recently, Jubilee Corner in Par was

a derelict piece of land next to the highly

successful Par Bay Community Garden. It

had been an overgrown eyesore and hazard

for many years, with two old fire engines left

to decay on the site of an old house.

Work on the main garden had begun in

2015, with the aim of improving an unused

parcel of land for the benefit of all. The

site has been transformed gradually

over the years: raised beds of different

heights, accessible by wheelchair, have

been built and planted with flowers and

vegetables, grown from seed by local

individuals and groups.

The garden is open daily for people to

come and go as they choose, to tend the

beds or harvest the produce, or simply just

to sit and enjoy the green space. A popular

‘swap and share’ arrangement allows

anyone to take or donate spare seedlings,

plants and excess produce.

The Community Garden has quickly

become a central hub where people

meet, socialise and enjoy the whole

shared process of sowing, nurturing and

harvesting. Primary schoolchildren get up

close and personal with the plants, pushing

their fingers in the soil and picking a few

flowers to take home. Local groups meet

or stop off here, while individuals without

their own garden read the newspaper in

the shade of the apple tree.

Friends bring a picnic and teenagers just

hang out, sometimes over a pizza. During

lockdown, musicians practised and T’ai

Chi sessions took place in the open-sided

covered area. In the summer holidays,

home-grown talent ran art and craft

sessions, while local churches organised

Songs of Praise events.

Sonia Clyne, who had the initial vision

for the project, says: “It’s wonderful to

see the transformative effects the garden

has on people, relieving anxiety, building

confidence and self-esteem, and bringing

such joy.”

Along with John Elkington, Sonia has

enthusiastically taken up the challenge

of the Jubilee Corner extension. The site

has been cleared and work has begun to

incorporate it into the Community Garden.

“Lots of local residents have shown a great

deal of interest in the initiative to reclaim the

site,” John explains. “People have come

forward with so many stories and photos

from years ago that we are working out how

best to preserve and present the history.”

“We are very grateful for donations of

benches to sit on, troughs to plant in and

paving slabs,” adds Sonia. Eden Project

staff visited to identify existing plants

and offer advice on what to plant in the

challenging conditions.

Earlier this year, the NGS gave Jubilee

Corner an award under the Community

Gardens Award Scheme. The prize money

will be used to secure the site with fencing

and to do the jobs volunteers can’t do

themselves. Next year, Sonia and John

would like to sow a mix of wildflower seeds

and plant espalier fruit trees along the

border. They anticipate that Jubilee Corner

will become a space for open-air events to

be enjoyed by the whole community.

Applications for the 2023 Community

Garden Awards are invited from October

17 until midnight on January 31. NGS

ambassador Danny Clarke says: “We

want to see this funding going to the

heart of community projects, helping to

invigorate the people they support and

introduce new audiences to the huge

benefits that gardens and gardening

bring to their health, wellbeing and to

the surrounding environment.” l

To apply, visit https://ngs.org.uk/who-weare/community-gardens-award/

G @CornwallNGS

A @cornwall.ngs

n 38 | My


THE WANT LIST

Just Delights

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9

Just Delights, Commercial Road, Penryn, TR10 8AQ

Open Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 5pm, Sunday noon to 4pm.

T: 01326 379075 • www.just-delights.co.uk • A @justdelights

1. Beautiful selection of Mouth-Blown and Hand-Finished baubles made in Ukraine - From £3.50

2. Majoie vegan leather journal - £22 3. Wonderful collection of pillar candles in an assortment colours and sizes - From £6.50

4. Beatnik Buddy Sausage Dog by Jellycat - £27 5. Vegan friendly festive soap by Toasted Crumpet - £7.50

6. Great selection of diffuser and scented candles by Stoneglow - From £23.00

7. Plastic-free Crackers and matching napkins - Napkins £4.75 + Crackers £20.00 8. Chunky knit beanie hat by Brakeburn - £23.00

9. Winter Trailing Back Pack by Brakeburn - £65.00


n 40 | My


uneeka

Tell us how it all began

Louise Walter, Customer Care and Visual

Merchandiser: Uneeka first opened as a

small unit in Truro’s Lemon Street Market in

2004, sourcing creative and ethical products

to an initial concept of ‘A Lifestyle Made Fair’.

Over the years the business has developed

and grown into three Truro stores: Uneeka

Home in City Road, and Uneeka Life and

Café Uneeka in Boscawen Street. Most

recently, we have expanded to Falmouth,

where we have opened two stores.

What’s it like being part of the

independent retail community?

We are proud to be one of Truro’s small

independent businesses. We firmly

believe a busy local high street thrives on

positive interaction between consumers

and local businesses, and Truro has a

great community which went out of its

way to support city businesses during the

pandemic - we really valued the support

we received. Similarly, Falmouth has a high

street with tremendous potential, and we

are really excited to be part of that. We

have a whole new team of creative staff

who worked incredibly hard to establish

Uneeka there, and people have been really

welcoming and receptive to our brand.

Who comes through your doors?

Our customers are socially and ethically

aware, and community minded. Falmouth

also has a big university full of young

creatives who want to support small

independent shops and keep their

community interesting and thriving.

We think a lot about that when we buy

products, set up the space in our stores

and employ staff.

And who will we find on the shop floor?

We really are a multifaceted team. We

pride ourselves on harbouring creativity

in the workplace, and many of our brilliant

staff are training in or have a background

in the arts. We love to see their ideas

flourishing in our stores: window art, shop

displays, social media design, exciting

new recipes in the café... We even stock

products from previous staff members who

have made ventures of their own.

What's on the shelf?

We have always supported local artists

and makers, as well as sourcing stock

from ethical and eco-companies who use

sustainable practices, such as reusing and

recycling. We have fantastic suppliers who

are dedicated to innovative practices such

as biodegradable packaging, chemicalfree

dyes, water collecting and wind

turbines/solar energy, as well as using

recycled fabrics and reclaimed wood in

manufacturing. It goes without saying that

we are committed to reducing our own

impact on the environment by reducing our

carbon emissions throughout the business.

You’re also committed to Fairtrade

Yes, we support better prices, decent

working conditions, local sustainability and

fair terms of trade for farmers and workers

in the developing world. Our Fairtrade

suppliers seek to work with disadvantaged

and marginalised producers and to

develop business with them, helping them

become financially stronger and more

independent. When you shop with us,

you don’t need to compromise on style to

shop ethically.

What pieces are currently

proving popular with shoppers?

It changes all the time, but most recently

one of our popular lines at Uneeka Home

has been the Ploughman Chair. It’s a really

large, snuggly, velvet-covered armchair

that customers just flop into when they’ve

done a lot of shopping. Then they realise

how comfy and cosy the chair is and order

one for home! The Life Store’s selection of

St Eval Candles is always popular, but even

more so at Christmas with those gorgeous

warm scents such as Embers, Orange and

Cinnamon, Figgy Pudding and Inspiritus.

And of course, the Café is always a popular

meeting place for a chat over freshly baked

cakes, toasties and salads. l

Uneeka

5 Boscawen St, Truro, TR1 2EL

39 Market St, Falmouth, TR11 3AR

01872 888530

hello@uneeka.com

www.uneeka.com


Hedra vons lies den hwath ow tybri hansel po ygeri rohow

dhe myttin Nadelik, kansow a dus a wra bos ow pareusi rag

hengov dihaval yn tien. Oll a-derdro an Dhuketh, enevow hardh

ha kales a wra mos dhe’n trethow rag an bledhynnyek Dydh

Nadelik neuvya-mor. An bush a neuvyoryon a guntel yn nervus

war an treth hag ena, dhe dheg po unnek eur, i a boen a-dreus

an tewes oll warbarth ha sedhi pennkynsa y’n donnow, gans

gwithyasow bewnans yn ogas parys dhe ri gweres. Dhe nebes

hwarvosow, nyns yw alowys dillas-glyb hogen – saw dillas

omvadya po tollwisk yw da lowr!

While many people will still be eating their breakfast or opening

their presents on Christmas morning, hundreds of people

will be preparing for a very different tradition. All around the

Duchy, brave and hardy souls will take to the beaches for the

annual Christmas Day sea swim. The crowd of swimmers gather

nervously on the beach and then at 10am or 11am, they all run

across the sands together and plunge headfirst into the waves,

with lifeguards on standby to provide any assistance. At some

events, wetsuits are not even allowed - only swimwear or fancy

dress will do!

hedra

while

dybri

to eat

myttin Nadelik Christmas morning

rohow

presents

hengov

tradition

hardh

brave

bush

crowd

yn nervus

nervously

poenya

to run

tewes

sands

sedhi

to dive

gwithyas bewnans lifeguard

da lowr

good enough

alowys

allowed

dillas omvadya

bathing suit

tollwisk

fancy dress

Leverys yw troghyans dowr yeyn dhe vos da rag agan

yeghes, yn arbennik rag kylghresyas goos hag an system

anklevesadow. Y tyllo ynwedh ‘dopamine’ neb a brovi

neuvyoryon omglewansow meur a lowena. Yma towellow sygh

ha diwosow tomm rag oll pan yns dus yn-mes an mor. Hwarvos

an brassa yn Kernow a hwer dhe Treth Crooklets, Porthbud, le

may kemerons rann moy es pymp kans neuvyoryon ow sevel

arghans rag alusennow leel. Hwarvosow-neuvya re wrug synsys

dres degvledhynnyow dhe Treth Porthminster yn Porthia,

Porthsenan ha Pollsygh rag ensempel, gans choklet tomm,

gwin tomm ha hogennow Nadelik rag an gevrenogesow,

dendylys yn ta!

Let's Speak Cornish

It is said that cold water immersion is good for our health,

especially for blood circulation and the immune system. It also

releases dopamine which provides swimmers with great feelings

of happiness. Once out of the water, there are dry towels and

warm drinks all round. The largest event in Cornwall takes place

on Crooklets Beach, Bude, where more than 500 swimmers take

part raising money for local charities. Swims have also been held

for decades on Porthminster Beach in St. Ives, Sennen Cove and

Polzeath with hot chocolate, mulled wine and mince pies for the

deserving participants.

troghyans

immersion

dowr

water

yeghes

health

kylghresyas

circulation

goos

blood

anklevesadow

immune

provia

provide

neuvyor/es

swimmer

omglewans

feeling

towell

towel

diwes

a drink

alusen

charity

sevel arghans

to raise money

hogen

pie

kevrenoges

participant

dendylys yn ta

well-deserved

NEBES LAVARENNOW NADELIK | SOME CHRISTMAS PHRASES

Nadelik lowen ha Bledhen Nowydh da!

Happy Christmas and a good New Year (translated literally)

Gorhemynadow an Seson Season’s Greetings

Gans pub bolonjedh da... With best wishes...

“Yw dha wydh Nadelik afinys hwath?”

“Is your Christmas tree decorated yet?”

“Ke dhe weli mar mynnydh Tas Nadelik dhe dhos!”

“Go to bed if you want Santa to come!”

“Meur ras rag an ro splann!”

“Thank you for the great present!”

“Prag y hwruss’ta gasa dha gowlennigow?”

“Why did you leave your Brussels sprouts?”

“Moy a win tewyn, mar pleg!”

“More sparkling wine, please!”

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

n 42 | My


The Devil's Teeth,

Bodmin Moor

Elizabeth Dale meets Sam Davison author

of a new book showcasing stunning

photography of Cornwall’s ancient sites


Men-an-Tol,

West Penwith

With more prehistoric sites per square

mile than anywhere else in Britain,

Cornwall has a seemingly endless

supply of enigmatic ancient remains just

waiting to be discovered. So when Samuel

Davison set himself the challenge in 2019

of visiting every standing stone in the

county, it was an ambitious quest that

would see him chased by angry cattle, lost

on wild, foggy moorland, trudging through

waist-high bracken, crossing rivers while

balanced on rotten branches, and perhaps

questioning his own sanity!

Three years on, Sam believes he has

visited somewhere between 200 and 300

sites across Cornwall, and has just released

his first book of photographs documenting

this amazing adventure.

Matter of the Otherworld - the Ancient

Stones and Megalithic Structures of

Cornwall - is lovingly designed and

thoughtfully curated. It does not contain

images from every single stone that

Sam has visited over the past few years

- that would be one weighty tome - but

it does gather a wide range of ancient

monuments from the familiar to the much

more obscure.

Over more than 400 pages, the book

covers some 44 prehistoric sites -

standing stones, stone circles and quoits,

the length and breadth of Cornwall. Each

entry contains multiple images of the

featured megalith taken at all times of

day and night and in different seasons

or weathers, capturing the changing

moods of these amazing monuments. A

short description of the site’s history is

included along with vital statistics and

map coordinates to help you to discover

these forgotten places for yourself.

Sam was born on Cornwall’s north

coast, and beyond his love of landscape

photography he has also worked as a

luthier and jazz musician. His interest in

the prehistoric world was piqued just a few

years ago, when he was inspired to research

some of the more famous megalithic

structures, such as the Great Pyramids

and Stonehenge - places that have been

puzzling and exciting archaeologists

around the world for centuries.

“Esoteric science, geomancy, sacred

geometry, quantum mechanics, ancient

eastern philosophy, you name it, I was

reading a book about it!” he told me.

“It sounds strange now, but for a while I

had no idea of the parallels between the

ancient stones in Cornwall and the rest of

the world. One day, it just dawned on me

to see what was here in Cornwall, and you

can imagine my joy!

“Before I knew it, my dog Cody and I

were travelling all over the place in my

beat up 20-year-old car, trekking across

all kinds of moorland and all sorts of offthe-beaten-track

places, in all kinds of

weather - often getting chased by large

animals in the process!”

Once Sam started visiting the prehistoric

sites on his own doorstep, such as Brown

Willy, Rough Tor, Trethevy Quoit and the

n 44 | My


Goodaver Stone Circle,

Bodmin Moor

Lanyon Quoit,

West Penwith

Stripple Stones,

Bodmin Moor

Drytree Menhir,

Goonhilly Downs

Hurlers, he was completely hooked and

decided that he wanted to see them all. “I

became completely drawn to finding and

photographing them as best I could,” he

recalls. “It turned into a sort of treasure hunt,

I guess, and it became impossible to stop.

“It wasn’t until I started capturing certain

stones in a certain way that I began to

see them in a different light, and then the

idea to create a book about them was just

something I had to do. Little did I know the

challenge ahead!”

It seems a simple enough idea on paper;

after all, plenty of these ancient sites are

very well-known and easy to find. But

there are many more obscure stones that

are at best vague dots on an Ordnance

Survey map, and at worst just a halfremembered

rumour of some relic hidden

somewhere in a bramble-covered hedge.

Anyone who has found themselves

wandering in circles on Bodmin Moor in

the wind and the rain in search of a fallen

granite standing stone among piles of,

well... granite stones will know just what

a challenge this must have been.

“Some of the stones were so difficult to find,

it almost felt like I was being put through

some kind of initiation process by them, and

only through sheer determination would

they reveal themselves to me,” Sam laughs,

adding: “Nothing to do with my inexperience

of trekking in the wilds, of course.”

Sam re-visited individual stones many times

to get the right shot, at different times of

the day/year, in all kinds of weather. “I’m

certainly not complaining - it’s been one

of the best experiences of my life,” Sam

explains. “But I didn’t quite realise the task

at hand, if I’m honest!”

One site in particular became very special

to Sam: Men Gurta, also known as the

St Breock Downs Longstone. This giant

standing stone towers nearly 5m high and

weighs an estimated 16.8 tons – reputedly

the heaviest standing stone in Cornwall.

The menhir stands only a short distance

from Sam’s home, but he didn't realise it

existed until he started his quest. His shots

of this stone - and its close neighbour the St

Breock Downs Menhir, juxtaposed against

the backdrop of the nearby modern windturbines

- are particularly striking.

What really shines through in these pages

is the author’s love of and connection with

these wonderful stones. And an important

part of Sam’s mission is to get others

interested in and excited about these

ancient sites, and to encourage them to

follow in his footsteps.

“By going to some of these places, you

really get to see parts of Cornwall you

would never normally know about - there

is just so much to explore,” he says.

“You never really know what’s going to

be beyond that hill, across that field, or

hidden in those woods. Whenever I’m

driving around now, I’m always looking for

where the next hidden stone might be!” l

Order a copy of Matter of the

Otherworld from Sam’s website:

www.matteroftheotherworld.com


MMY CORNISH WORLD

Y CORNISH WORLD

n 46 | My


The South African singer-songwriter's

music has amassed over 250 million global

streams, and will bring a ray of sunshine to

the darkest of winter days

Hi Jeremy! How are things?

Great, thanks! I’m at home in Cape Town,

where it’s the end of spring. The skies are

blue, the jasmine and bougainvillaea are

in bloom. One of the benefits of being a

touring musician is that you can chase the

summer and leave when it gets cold! I was

in the UK for your heatwave.

You first came to Cornwall in your teens

Yes, I was 19. Growing up, there was a real

stigma attached to going to work in the UK.

There was a stereotype called the Heathrow

Injection: people would go to London, work

in bars, eat lots of pies and come back 10kg

heavier. Surfers like me vowed never to do

such a thing. Instead, I worked my way

through the RYA sailing qualifications and

travelled the world on multi-million-pound

yachts. Then a friend who was working in

Polzeath said: “We’re having a blast – you

should come.” It sounded more fun than

being isolated on a yacht, so I did. I taught

surfing and worked in bars such as Carter’s.

Where did you stay?

I camped, but was shocked to discover

how much things cost, so I bought a tiny

tent and a couple of chairs, thinking that

would be enough. When my friend’s mum

came to check on us, she was so appalled

at my living conditions that she marched

me to a camping shop in Wadebridge and

kitted me out with a family-sized tent, a

clothing rail... The end result was that I had

an enviable bachelor pad for the summer!

How was the surf?

Terrible! But Cape Town is a surfing mecca,

so it’s not a fair comparison. In Cornwall,

it’s less consistent, less swell, so you have

to look harder and be prepared to travel

– but when you find it, it’s very exciting.

It was often about hunting specific waves

and breaks. Tregardock beach on the north

coast was a favourite place.

Do you come back often?

I try and visit every year if I can. My friend

still lives near Rock. I figure that if you can’t

live in a place as cool as Cape Town, the

next best thing is to live by the coast in a

place like Cornwall; the communities are

similar to those we knew growing up. I’ve

also played festivals there, like Tunes In The

Dunes and Boardmasters.

How did your musical journey start?

I was a late bloomer. After my travels, I

went back to South Africa to do a business

degree. It was horrific, and I bought a guitar

as an outlet for my creative angst. I taught

myself to play, then learned the harmonica.

Then I found a loop pedal in a store – it

allowed me to record and accompany

myself at a time when I didn’t feel confident

enough to play with others. I started

busking, learned to interact with crowds

and developed a cult following. Within

my third year of performing, I was selling

out 5,000-seater venues in South Africa;

today, I sell out shows all over the world.

I’m very aware of my carbon footprint, and

launched Greenpop, an eco-project that

has planted more than 150,000 trees across

sub- Saharan Africa, in a bid to offset it.

On your latest album, Heard You Got

Love, you collaborate with Ed Sheeran and

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

I’ve always been a huge fan of Ladysmith

Black Mambazo, who famously worked on

Paul Simon’s Graceland. I had written This

Town for the album, but it felt like there

was something missing. A friend said,

“You need a choir – why not Ladysmith

Black Mambazo?” I replied that I couldn’t

just ring them up and ask, and he said: “If

anyone can, you can.” So I asked – and they

said yes! As for Ed, I was invited to his show

in South Africa, and received a personal

invitation to his private party. Several

months later I went to his countryside studio

to work on some ideas - Better Together

was co-written with the team behind Shape

Of You.

You’re a household name in South Africa –

what's that like?

It’s a nice feeling, but I’m cognisant of the

impact on my privacy. One thing I love

about touring in Europe is I can go to a

public gym, for example, or take a sauna

before a show - hanging out semi-naked

back home would be a recipe for disaster.

When are you coming back to see us?

I’m looking forward to returning to the UK

next summer to perform at festivals, and

Cornwall is very much part of the plan. l

Heard You Got Love is available on

streaming platforms including Spotify


n 48 | My


50 ART NEWS

55 BARBARA HEPWORTH: A LIFE IN ST IVES

56 THE LIGHTENING DANCER:

A NEW SCULPTURE FOR HELIGAN

58 VERY IMPORTANT PIECE:

TOM LEAPER AT ST MICHAEL’S MOUNT


Art News

WHITEWATER

CONTEMPORARY EXPANDS

The ongoing success of Whitewater Contemporary

Polzeath has resulted in its expansion into the space

previously occupied by its neighbouring gallery.

Having generated huge interest in its monthly

Featured Artist series over the last two years, owners

Nick and Suki Wapshott are adding a host of new

names to their coveted list of painters, sculptors,

ceramicists and makers. “We’ve had a fantastic

response to Whitewater Contemporary so far” says

Nick. “We wanted to bring the perfect mix of Cornish

and British art to Polzeath, and that has been well

received by art lovers here, as well as our seasonal

visitors from the UK and abroad. Our Featured Artist

series means there is always something new to see

at the gallery, and an additional collection of mixed

works is always on show.” The series continues

throughout December with an exhibition of work by

emerging young talent Max Leuchars. l

Whitewater Contemporary, The Parade, Polzeath,

PL27 6SR. For further information and to take

a virtual tour of current gallery exhibitions see

whitewatercontemporary.co.uk

DAVID GRAY AT THE

CUSTOMS HOUSE GALLERY

A new collection of work by St Mawes artist David Gray has just arrived at

the Customs House Gallery in Porthleven. David's work evokes a real sense

of place and emotion, depicting harbours as moody and misty, or bright and

colourful after a bout of rain. This collection is no different. "I have always had

a love of boats," David explains. “If the tide is in with turquoise water, you get

reflections and shadows; if the tide is out, the boats lean over as if they are

drunk on the sand. The colours of boats, buoys, fishing nets and fishermen are

all a pure joy to paint." The gallery is open daily in the run-up to Christmas and

all work is available to view on the gallery website. l

www.cornwall-art.co.uk

n 50 | My


CIRCA 21 JOINS ONLINE CHRISTMAS FAIR

Circa 21 joins the UK's freshest and finest creative independent shops and

makers in the third Just a Card (JAC) online fair, this time with a Christmas

theme. It’s free to view until December 23 at justacard.org. Circa 21 owner

Esme Burton has been creating jewellery in her upstairs studio space, inspired

by whatever the seasons show through the windows overlooking Mount's Bay.

Butterflies are one such natural beauty, and the resulting earrings are now part

of a limited edition jewellery collection this winter. Remember: Shop Small,

Shop Local! l

Circa 21, 21 Market Jew Street Penzance TR18 2HR. Open Monday to

Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Call 07876 124449, email circa21pz@gmail.com or

visit www.circa21.co.uk

Safe Harbour Newlyn

Watercolour by Ellen Visser

Evening glow over the Mount

Acrylic on canvas by Wendy Powell

TRELISSICK GALLERY

Autumn/Winter Exhibition

Until January 2023

Focus on Glass Artist Helen Eastham

Runs from 10th November – January 2023

Open daily between 10am - 4.30pm

www.cornwallcrafts.co.uk

The Cowhouse Gallery is run by a group of local artists and craftspeople

and this independence allows them to offer a wide range of original

arts and crafts at very affordable prices.

Painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, ceramics, glass,

jewellery, textiles and woodturning are all beautifully displayed in this

bright light art space.

A stroll away is Perranuthnoe Cove and breathtaking coastal walks,

looking towards St Michael’s Mount in one direction and to Prussia

Cove in the opposite direction.

The

Cowhouse

Gallery

Winter Openings: 11am - 4pm

Lynfield Craft Centre,

Perranuthnoe, Cornwall, TR20 9NE

Tel: 01736 710538

www.cowhousegallery.co.uk

Gloria Bardell

I am a professional artist living in

Poundstock Bude where I have

my studio. Living in London,

rural villages, and quaint market

towns with lots of character has

provided me with many sources

of inspiration for my art.

After being enthralled the first

time I saw Turner’s paintings in

the National Gallery I quickly

realised that my dream was to

become an artist.

Over the years I have crafted an

eclectic portfolio by painting in

acrylic, oils, and charcoal.

At the beginning of every

painting, I draw Reiki symbols on

the canvas before applying the

underpainting. It gives another

dimension and positive energy to

the painting that will remain within

wherever is its forever home.

I have several exhibitions and

events coming up in 2023 so

please visit my website for details.

For more information or if you

would like to visit my studio

please telephone or text

07795 108577.

www.gloriabardellart.com

E: gloriabardellart@gmail.com gloriabardellart


LITHOPRINTS FOR LOCAL CHARITIES

The Jackson Foundation is releasing a new limited-edition Kurt Jackson

print to raise £30,000 for charities in the St Just area. As well as hosting

world-class exhibitions by renowned artists, the Jackson Foundation

Gallery in St Just also offers affordable and desirable Kurt Jackson related

items for the art-lover (perfect as gifts) such as books, jewellery and prints

including Four Seasons in One Day (pictured). The Jackson Foundation

will donate 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this beautiful limitededition

print, with the aim of raising £30,000 for the benefit of local groups

and various projects including the Nancherrow Centre youth club, as well

as helping to fund the provision of a minibus and free art equipment for

local schools, and supporting a project that supplies and delivers free

hot meals to elderly people in Penwith who find themselves alone on

Christmas Day. l

Find our more at www.jacksonfoundationgallery.com/fourseasons

CORNWALL CRAFTS

ASSOCIATION

The gallery at Trelissick is always

busy during the Christmas

gifting season, then normal

business resumes with the 2023

Exhibition Program, launching

with Craftsmanship 2023 from

January 28. Starting each year with

a ‘Best of the Best’ of members’

work is something of a tradition

for Cornwall Crafts, running since

the association’s inception in

1973. That makes 2023 its 50th

anniversary and there will be

celebrations: watch this space!

Pictured: Ceramics by Karen

Carlyon. l

SHINE AT BEDRUTHAN

An exhibition of work by nine Design-Nation

members in Cornwall and Devon, runs until January

4 at the Bedruthan Hotel, Mawgan Porth. SHINE

features work across several disciplines, including

glass, textiles, ceramics, jewellery and lighting.

selected artists showcase personal responses to the

land, its history and its objects. Artists are guided by

tactile curiosity and emotional response. For some,

found objects are considered lost treasures and

reinterpreted; for others, work grows organically

and materials create exquisite results. Artists: Alison

Shelton Brown, Bridget Macklin, Carin Lindberg,

Fiona J Sperryn, Helen Eastham, Lucy Spink, Lynne

Speake, Sam Isaacs (Reworked) and Susan Kinley. l

My

www.cornwallcrafts.co.uk

n 52 | Issue 75 | December 2022 - January 2023

The Customs House Gallery

Harbourside - Porthleven

T: 01326 569365 | WWW.CORNWALL-ART.CO.UK

CREATIVE & CULTURAL LIVING

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADVERTISE IN OUR

2023 ART GUIDES PLEASE CONTACT JENI SMITH

TEL: 01209 494003 • EMAIL: JENI.MYCORNWALL@GMAIL.COM


ART LECTURES

Catherine Wallace is an independant freelance art historian, author and

lecturer who has taught independent courses in Cornwall since 2013. Her

January programme includes lectures on Canadian artist Elizabeth Adela

Forbes (1859 - 1912), wife of Stanhope and member of the Newlyn School

(January 10, 11am on Zoom or recorded on YouTube); and The Nicholsons -

An Artistic Dynasty, a study day covering Sir William Nicholson (1872 – 1949),

his son Ben and their wives and daughters, including Winifred Nicholson and

Barbara Hepworth (Tuesday, January 17, Truro Library; Tuesday, January 24,

The Centre, Newlyn Trinity Methodist Church; Thursday, January 26 on Zoom

or recorded online video. All £35). Tickets via www.cathwallace.co.uk l

Pictured: Children in a Garden, watercolour by Elizabeth Forbes © Sunderland Museum

SUPER NATURAL

Plants feed, fuel and nurture humans, provide the

very air we breathe, and colour the fabric of our

lives. A new exhibition at the Eden Project explores

this interdependency: Super Natural features work

including site-specific commissions from a range of

high-profile international artists, including Ai Weiwei,

Kedisha Coakley, Patricia Domínguez, Iman Datoo,

Ingela Ihrman and Eduardo Navarro. "Whether

through senses and signals or elemental cycles,

we are all connected to a complex and dynamic

web,” says Eden curator Hannah Hooks. “Today,

however, some cultures - including our own, for the

most part - have become separated from nature,

both in language and in action. The hope is that this

exhibition will act as both inspiration and provocation

to demonstrate that we - like all life on Earth - are just

really, really natural.” Until February 26. l

Pictured: Ai Weiwei's Fly (2019)

KING ARTHUR AND THE PRE-RAPHAELITES

A major new touring exhibition from Falmouth curator traces the stories of

Arthurian legend and the Pre-Raphaelite artists across the UK. The Legend

of King Arthur: A Pre-Raphaelite Love Story signposts relics and landmarks

across the country, creating an immersive experience that allows audiences

to walk in Arthur’s footsteps and see it through new eyes. Curated by

Natalie Rigby of Falmouth Art Gallery, the year-long exhibition is currently

at the William Morris Gallery in London, moving to Tullie House in Carlisle

from February 2023 and arriving in Cornwall – famed for its geographical

connections to Arthurian legend – on June 17 for a final stint at Falmouth Art

Gallery, ending on September 30. Each stage of the tour sees the exhibition

tweaked to tell the Arthurian stories relevant to the region. Work by Pre-

Raphaelite artists such as William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, Dante

Gabriel Rossetti and Edward Burne-Jones will be on display, as well as the

entire Lady of Shalott series of paintings by English painter John William

Waterhouse, exhibited together in the UK for the first time. l

www.falmouthartgallery.co.uk

WHEN THE COWS COME HOME

Elaine Turnbull

captures the essence

of life in Cornwall -

rugged landscapes,

rural scenes and

ancient traditions

- through a bold

and sensitive use of

colour and form. Cows amble back to their barns

for the evening, sheep graze the fields, dog walkers

meander through the landscape, and bathers brave

the autumn sea. “When I look at a landscape, I see

the human actions that have shaped it: the buildings,

the cows that have trampled the paths, the feet that

have walked across it. Those layers are fascinating

to me, and I try to explore that through my work.”

When The Cows Come Home runs at Livingstone St

Ives, Westcotts Quay until December 23. l

www.livingstonestives.co.uk

YOUNG PENWITH ARTISTS

Cornwall-based artists aged 35 and under are

invited to apply for a month-long exhibition in the

Studio Gallery at Penwith Gallery, for a solo or joint

show over Summer 2023, funded by the Penwith

Society of Arts. The Young Penwith Artists scheme

was launched in summer 2022 with invited artists

Sophie Fraser and Alice Ellis-Bray. The deadline for

2023 applications is 11pm on Tuesday, January 10. l

For details, email mail@penwithgallery.com

n 54 | My


Barbara Hepworth

at her Trewyn Studio, 1957

EXHIBITION FOCUS

HEPWORTH: ART AND LIFE

A landmark exhibition has opened at Tate St Ives celebrating the work and

influence of the iconic British artist Barbara Hepworth (1903–1975).

Encompassing almost 50 sculptures, as

well as rarely seen paintings, drawings,

prints and designs, Barbara Hepworth: Art

& Life will focus the special significance of

St Ives on her work.

The show was originally staged at The

Hepworth Wakefield, which collaborated

with Tate St Ives to reimagine it for the

Cornish context in which Hepworth lived

and worked. It will emphasise how the

area’s rugged landscape and close-knit

artistic community became important

sources of inspiration.

Hepworth was born in Wakefield in

1903, and relocated to St Ives with her

husband Ben Nicholson and their young

family at the outbreak of war in 1939.

She lived and worked in Trewyn Studios

– now the Barbara Hepworth Museum –

from 1949, buying the Palais de Danse

opposite in 1961 for a larger working

space. Hepworth died in 1975 following

an accidental fire at Trewyn.

Stringed Figure (Curlew)

v2, 1956 C. Tate

Visitors to the exhibition will follow

Hepworth’s early artistic journey from her

initial studies at Leeds School of Art in

1920–21 to her travels across Europe, and

her subsequent life in London in the 1930s,

where she started a family while continuing

to create work, moving away from overtly

figurative work towards abstraction.

During her early years in St Ives, she

quickly embraced the artistic community

and was a founder member of the Penwith

Society of Arts in 1949, with Nicholson and

artists including Peter Lanyon and Bernard

Leach. The landscapes of West Cornwall

captivated her and generated a period

of extraordinary creativity which saw her

adopt bronze as a principal medium.

The show will explore Hepworth’s forays

into stage design and her interest in the

movement of the body, with a particular

focus on the creation of her monumental

Single Form for the United Nations

headquarters in New York.

The exhibition also explores her wider

interests: music, dance, science, politics,

religion and her lesser-known fascination

with space and spirituality, including a visit

to Goonhilly Earth Station on the Lizard.

This exhibition has already been on

show at the Hepworth Wakefield gallery,

near the artist’s birthplace, and now

celebrates her extraordinary life and

achievements in the place she considered

her ‘spiritual home’. l

Barbara Hepworth: Art & Life is at Tate

St Ives until May 1, 2023. Open Tuesday

to Sunday 10am to 4.20pm until March 1,

then daily, 10am to 5.20pm.

Cornwall residents can get unlimited yearround

entry to Tate St Ives and the Barbara

Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden

for just £5, by presenting proof of address.

Find out more at tate.org.uk/stives


EXHIBITION FOCUS

THE LIGHTENING DANCER

A new nature-inspired sculpture for the Lost Gardens of Heligan.

A beautiful listed building at the

heart of The Lost Gardens of Heligan

has reopened following a revitalising

refurbishment project, with an exquisite

sculpture as its centrepiece.

Nestled in the heart of the gardens,

surrounded by pom-pom hydrangeas

and lilac blooms in blues and cream,

The Steward’s House was built around

1850 as a home for John Way, and was

subsequently home to Samuel Gillard,

James Wonnacott, John Martyn and

George Hay Henderson. Squire Jack

Tremayne moved in during the First World

War, freeing up Heligan House for use as

a convalescent hospital for officers of the

Royal Flying Corps.

Most recently, The Steward’s House was

used as a seasonal tearoom and offices

until closing last autumn for renovation.

The refurb team worked closely with two

Cornish artists to connect past and present,

inside and out, and using materials from

Heligan’s woods wherever possible.

Sculptor, painter and site-specific artist

James Eddy is no stranger to Heligan,

having undertaken a year's residency in

2010, culminating in the creation of the

Growth & Decay charcoal sculpture: a

living and decaying piece which interacts

with nature, gradually changing with its

surroundings. His latest contribution is a

tree sculpture created from fallen oak from

the garden, now weaving and bending

its way through the walls and ceiling of

the dining room as though nature has

magically sprouted within the house.

In fact, one led to the other. “I was on

my way to tend to Growth & Decay when I

noticed the building team in the Steward’s

House,” says James. “It transpired that

they’d had a design meeting and had

come up with the concept of having a

tree across the ceiling – and my name had

been mentioned.”

James produced a design, and the hunt

was on for a suitable tree on the estate.

Having consulted with the head gardener,

it turned out Storm Eunice had brought

down an oak tree only recently. The estate

team swung into action, helping to extract

the tree with tractors and chainsaws.

James stripped the tree of bark and

pith, and carved the trunk with chisels

for a permanent bark-like texture. An

environmental science graduate, James

has preserved mosses from the tree to

be rehomed as part of a future project,

while wood offcuts have been turned into

pieces for his MA in Fine Art (one was even

exhibited at the Inter-Celtique Festival in

Lorient in August).

For the installation, it was important

to consider that, unlike Growth & Decay,

the work would be both indoors and

permanent, in a public space used for

all-day dining, celebrations and intimate

weddings. As such, it needed to take

building regulations into account, as well

as health and safety requirements.

The finished work, known to James

as The Lightening Dancer, is a bit of a

“Frankenstein’s monster” by his own

admission. “By its very nature, oak is zigzaggy

and gnarly, and to keep it above

head height across the ceiling, getting

the angle right, could take forever,” he

explains. “We used the middle part of

the tree with other stable bits of wood

added on, so there is clear space where

people are walking, but you’ll be sitting

underneath the work.”

Branches have been positioned across

over the doorway and arch, while another

goes diagonally across the room. Each

glistens with oak leaves and acorns,

strategically added for depth of foliage

and to cast delightful shadows in carefully

planned lighting.

James called upon his friend, St Ives

metalworker Sharon McSwiney, who drew

each leaf by hand and brought it to life

in rich red, copper and golden patinated

brass, using a photo-etching process.

“My designs were transferred onto the

metallic surface,” Sharon explains. “Each

leaf was then individually soldered to a

wire or rod, heated a couple of times,

sometimes with added flux, to create the

variations of surface colour. I aimed to

emulate the natural forms you would find

on autumn leaves, and applied a lacquer

coating to bring out the colours.

“The acorns are made using the lost

wax casting method and an actual acorn,

hence the very realistic appearance. These

were given a polished finish to contrast

with the copper leaves. There aren't many

acorns on the tree, so it is lovely when you

spot one!

“It was a really exciting project to be

involved with, especially with the scale and

the fact it was to be a permanent display

at Heligan. I love to visit the Gardens, and

now feel I have even more of a connection

to them.” l

The Steward’s House is available for

bookings – visit www.heligan.com

n 56 | My


Photographs by John Hersey


VIP

A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE

n 58 | My


ST MICHAEL BY TOM LEAPER

The Steward’s House on St Michael’s

Mount was built around 1815 to act

both as a residence and an office for the

Mount Steward. The village population

at that time was about 300, with three

pubs, a school and a thriving harbour.

The grand house is one of the few

buildings to survive the great Victorian

restorations on the island that started

in the 1870s. It still belongs to the St

Aubyn family, who recently transformed

it into an art gallery; it now houses the

Sheila Hichens Collection, comprising

Newlyn School artwork depicting life in

West Cornwall.

For a newly-created intimate walled

garden at the rear of the house, Lord

and Lady St Levan commissioned a new

work by sculptural artist Tom Leaper.

St Michael is an abstract artwork cast

in patinated bronze and plated with

gold. The archangel is represented with

sweeping wings, slaying Satan (in the

form of a serpent) with his sword.

The precise placement of this piece is

significant: when sunlight falls upon the

work from the west, it casts a shadowy

silhouette of the serpent on the ground.

It also stands in alignment with the

church on top of the Mount, which in

turn aligns with the seven locations

dedicated to St Michael found upon the

ley line. These are also referenced by

seven circles of gold on the handle of

the sword.

Entry to the Steward’s House is free for

visitors to the island until April 30, 2023.

For opening dates and times, visit www.

stmichaelsmount.co.uk

CREATIVE & CULTURAL LIVING

CIRCA 21

INSPIRE MAKERS

JACKSON FOUNDATION

Feel inspired this winter - discover Circa 21, a

wonderfully creative shop in the heart of Penzance,

established in 2014 by Esme & Alan Burton.

XMAS SHOPPING event on Sunday 18th

December 11am-4pm.

Spread over two floors, you’ll find work from some

of the region’s top potters like John Webb &

Lincoln Kirby-Bell. West Penwith is bursting with

originality and Esme has captured some of this

talent for you to admire and fall in love with.

Original art from Theresa Shaw and Steph Croydon

are among 30 Cornwall based makers, including

owner Esme’s pretty silver & copper jewellery that

she makes in-house.

CIRCA 21, 21 Market Jew Street, Penzance,

Cornwall, TR18 2HR • Open 10am-4pm

(closed Sundays & Bank Holiday Mondays)

A circa21pz • www.circa21.co.uk

Please check website for seasonal opening times

North Row, St Just, TR19 7LB • T: 01736 787638

www.jacksonfoundationgallery.com

KURT JACKSON:

HELFORD RIVER

Until February 2023.

In this new collection

Kurt Jackson revisits

the Helford River, its

creeks and tributaries

reveal stunning

beauty and incredible

biodiversity.

ANDER GUNN:

SEVEN DECADES

Until February 2023.

Photographer Ander

Gunn has spent a

lifetime turning his

lens to the world,

from working class

Londoners to the

brightest lights of the

St Ives School. This

exhibition of black

and white images

reflects his output

over the last 70

years to offer a small

sample of his portrait,

landscape and street

photography.

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

SHARON MCSWINEY

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

A bright gallery space showcasing metalwork, silver jewellery &

artwork. Inspired by the Cornish coast unique pieces created by

Sharon in St Ives.

Sharon McSwiney, Gallery on the Square,

12 Island Square, St Ives TR26 1NX

Tel 01736 448293 • www.sharonmcswiney.co.uk


n 60 | My


62 FOOD BITES

64 WINE WORLD: KNIGHTOR

67 PLACES TO EAT: HOT CHOCOLATE

70 MEET THE CHEF: HOTEL MEUDON

72 WEEKEND AWAY:

PENVENTON HOTEL, REDRUTH

74 EXPERIENCE:

GREENBANK HOTEL, FALMOUTH


bites

TOLCARNE AT 10

Chef-proprietor Ben Tunnicliffe is celebrating

10 successful years at the helm of The

Tolcarne Inn in Newlyn. A Signature Dishes

Menu featuring some of his favourites from

the last decade will run every evening from

Tuesday to Saturday until December 15, at

£35 for three courses. At Ben’s second pub,

The Packet Inn Smokehouse at Rosudgeon,

the menu has been adapted to feature a

competitively priced burger menu, early

dining deals and loyalty cards in response to

the current economic climate. “We’ve really

cut back our margins because we want to

see as many loyal regulars and new faces as

possible,” says Ben. “I am so scared for the

future of our industry - a lot of great, familyrun

restaurants face going out of business

this winter. Even if you can only afford to

pop in for a beer once a week, or a modest

lunch once a month, do it!” l

Diary dates

Porthleven Food Festival will return

from April 21 to 23, 2023, presented in

partnership with renowned chef Jude

Kereama. The free foodie event attracts

around 35,000 people to the picturesque

harbourside and seeks to celebrate

Cornwall’s leading food and drink

producers, stimulate the local economy

and raise awareness of key issues relating

to the environment, food culture and

sustainable food production. Watch this

space for further details. l

Barrel

aged spirits

Colwith Farm Distillery of Lanlivery has

introduced a new limited edition aged

vodka and gin to its award-winning

collection of Aval Dor premium spirits.

Founder Steve Dustow says: “We couldn’t

resist laying down our award-winning

vodka in first-fill American oak barrels, just

to see - the result is better than we ever

imagined!” The combination of time and

charred oak can transform and enhance

the spirit, offering both the trade and

consumer markets something unique to

experiment with in serves and cocktails.

The Barrel Aged Vodka (70cl, £44) has

been enriched with sweet, creamy vanilla

undertones, subtle spice and charred oak,

while the Barrel Aged Spiced Gin (70cl £47)

with its juniper, orange zest and nutmeg

botanicals, “has reached a whole new

level” according to Steve. Both arrive in

time for the festive season, along with a

gift pack (4 miniatures, £27) and a hamper

(£99) while stocks last. All products are

distilled from Cornish potatoes, grown on

the fifth-generation family farm. l

Find out more at

www.colwithfarmdistillery.co.uk

Open/Shut

It’s all change on the restaurant front

across Cornwall. The 16th-century Prince

of Wales pub in Newtown on the Lizard

has reopened following a successful

community rescue mission; and William

Speed and Tamara Costin, owners of the

acclaimed beachhouse and schoolhouse

in Devon, have taken over the Seven

Stars in Flushing, which will reopen in

early spring 2023 following a full structural

refurbishment. Route 38 US-style diner

at Trefulefoot, near Saltash, has been

acquired by Loungers, owner of Lounge

café restaurants in Newquay, Truro and

Falmouth. Meanwhile, The Harbourside

Refuge in Porthleven – previously owned

by Rick Stein and in Michael Caines’

stable since July 2020 - has closed “for

the forseeable future" due to soaring cost

increases, and the Old Grammar School in

Truro is now permanently closed. l

n 62 | My



n 64 | My


The 2022 heatwave produced a bumper

harvest for English winemakers like Knightor.

While climate change is a major

cause for major concern resulting

in global summits, there is one

industry that has found a silver

lining. English winemakers saw bumper

yields in 2022 thanks to optimum vinegrowing

conditions, while warmer

temperatures have enabled growers to

produce a wide variety of still and sparkling

wines from grape varieties that were

previously much harder to cultivate, such

as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling.

“The heatwave might not have been great

for growing potatoes, but it was perfect

for vines,” says David Brocklehurst, head

winemaker at Knightor. “Flowering began

around two weeks earlier than we usually

expect, coinciding with good weather and

resulting in a good fruit set.”

Having joined the team in 2012, one of

the wettest summers on record – local

attractions saw their income decimated

as visitors stayed home to watch the

Olympics and the Golden Jubilee on TV

– David knows how extreme weather can

make or break a harvest.

The winery was founded by Adrian Derx,

whose Italian heritage ignited an interest

in wine. Having sought out suitable sites,

he planted his first vines near Looe in 2006,

followed by Portscatho on the Roseland

Peninsula in 2007.

Both sites are coastal and south-facing,

meaning plenty of exposure to the sun.

There’s another important factor: “The soil

is free-draining,” David explains. “A lot

of Cornwall is solid clay, and with quite a

high rainfall you need something to offset

that.” There are now 17,000 vines across

the two sites, a mix of varieties: big hitters

including Pinot Noir, Bacchus, Seyval Blanc

and Riesling, alongside less familiar names

such as Madeleine Angevine and Rondo.

Vines take three years to establish, so

the first crop was harvested in 2010 and

pressed at Sharpham in South Devon.

Knightor subsequently opened its own

winery site in a converted cattle shed at

Trethurgy, next door to the Eden Project

on land acquired from Imerys. It gave the

wine its name - the settlement of Knightor

is first recorded in 1305, and the 18thcentury

manor house is now available as

wedding accommodation.

David studied oenology and viticulture,

and was looking at jobs around the

world. He chose Cornwall for its variety

and willingness to experiment. “Winegrowing

regions are restricted by law as

to what they can grow. In comparison to

more traditional regions, English wine is

relatively new, and we can grow grapes

to produce white, rose, red and sparkling

wines... It’s not your typical winery, which is

why I enjoy it.”

CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE


Pruning is about to begin – about 90% of

the previous year’s growth will be snipped

off, leaving two shoots which are tied

down to the trellis. Cornwall’s mild climate

ensures frost, which can damage the buds,

is less of a problem here than for other

UK vineyards. By June (“usually around

Wimbledon time”) the vines have grown

and are flowering. “That’s the critical time,

as it determines what the yield will be like.

Good weather will ensure good fruit; bad

weather, poor yields.”

Vine care continues throughout the

summer, with trellis work and canopy

management aiming for neat rows rather

than a jungle, and leaf removal in mid-

August to ensure a good flow sunlight

around the fruit for maximum ripeness.

In 2022, the harvest began in the first week

of September, with the team picking a

high-quality Pinot Noir Précoce grape

at Portscatho; the final variety of Seyval

Blanc was collected in the first week of

October from Seaton vineyard. The wines

are now ageing in a tank; still wines are

aged before being bottled and some will

be taken to retail within six months, while

methode champenoise wines can be aged

in the bottle for five years or more.

Yields are up on the previous two years,

and David and his team are pleased the

overall quality, anticipating that next year’s

offerings will be some of the best yet.

David predicts some good sparklings,

very good still whites (including a “really

promising” still unoaked Chardonnay) and

rosés, plus the return of a few reds such as

a Portscatho Pinot Noir Précoce red, which

will need a year in the barrel to soften. “In

general, everything from this year will be

fuller bodied than typical – really fruity and

characterful,” says David.

The urge to innovate extends to new

products: last summer, canned rosé spritz

Aprèz was launched onto the market in a

bid to appeal to a younger audience. “It’s a

single serve and you can take it down to the

beach as part of a picnic.” In 2023, you’ll

see the winery’s first “orange” wine, a oneoff

small batch of white Muscat fermented

on skins. “We’re always looking for new and

different things to do, which is great fun.”

The fun doesn’t stop at wine. You can tuck

into Sunday lunch at the winery, while The

Vine by Knightor at Portscatho serves small

plates on long sharing tables with panoramic

views over the Roseland coastline. Look out

for special events including a Burns Night

celebration, a Scandi feast night and a

Valentine’s Day crab smash! l

Knightor Winery, Trethurgy PL26 8YQ.

Wine shop and tastings: Wednesday to

Saturday, 11am to 4pm, Sunday 1pm to

4pm (Sunday Lunch served noon to 3pm).

The Vine by Knightor, Portscatho TR2 5EH.

www.knightor.com

n 66 | My


HOT

Chocolate

Warm your cockles this winter with a delectable hot chocolate.

Hunker down in front of a toasty log fire or brave the elements on the

windswept coast. Apparently, January 31 is National Hot Chocolate Day,

but why wait until then?

Where’s your favourite hot chocolate spot? Email kirstie@mycornwall.tv


THE PENVENTON PARK HOTEL,

REDRUTH

It won't matter what the weather’s like outside when you’re wrapped

up warm inside, sinking into a deep-set sofa with your hands around

‘The Naughty’ hot chocolate: Sloanes luxury hot chocolate with Curly

Wurly chunks, topped with marshmallows, cream, dark chocolate

shavings, caramel sauce, crushed Maltesers, a Curly Wurly and

wafer rolls for garnish. Be extra Naughty and add a Baileys shot. It’s

practically a meal! www.penventon.com

THE BEACH HUT, WATERGATE BAY

Anyone who has ever surfed or simply walked on Watergate

Bay on a blustery winter’s day will tell you that such a

bracing experience deserves an Extreme Hot Chocolate

from The Beach Hut. This is hot chocolate less as beverage,

more as dessert: Tiramisu, Black Forest Gateau, Mint Choc

Chip... all with a generous helping of squirty cream and

special extras on top. It’s thick and creamy (the secret is in

the cornflour). Peel your wetsuit/gloves off and wrap your

hands around its cosy goodness.

www.watergatebay.co.uk/eat/the-beach-hut/

LAWRANCE’S, TRURO

It’s build-your-own here. Choose a base of milk, white or ruby

chocolate; add a flavour – from caramel or hazelnut to Aero or

Biscoff, or even a dash of something naughty – then cream/

marshmallows (or throw caution to the wind and have both!), plus

a sprinkle of Maltesers, jelly beans, or other delights to finish. Pure

heaven in a mug. www.lawrances.co.uk

BIEN MANGER, FLUSHING

You’ll find this street food vendor flying the Tricolore

flag every Saturday from 9am to 1pm at the Food Barn,

Tregew (TR11 5UG). French-born chef-patron Vincent

lovingly prepares a Chocolat Chaud recipe influenced by

his grandmother; made with 74% cocoa, full-fat milk and

heavy cream, with a choice of toppings including whipped

cream, chocolate shavings, marshmallow or the triple

whammy, it's quite simply magnifique! It’s sure to be a

highlight of the Food Barn Christmas Markets throughout

December. Tel 07563 205281, Instagram/Facebook @

bienmangermangercornwall. www.foodbarn-tregew.co.uk

DUCHY OF CORNWALL NURSERY,

LOSTWITHIEL

This delightful tearoom is tucked away in a valley within sight

(and walking distance) of historic Restormel Castle. Belgian hot

chocolate buttons (choose from dark, milk or white chocolate) are

steamed with Rodda’s dairy milk, with an optional luxurious topping:

whipped cream, marshmallows and chocolate sauce. The café will

be closed from Christmas Day to January 16, and upon reopening

will be re-homed temporarily in a tipi on the new Woodland Terrace

due to exciting development works – watch this space! www.

duchyofcornwallnursery.co.uk

n 68 | My


CORNISH BARISTA, HALVASSO

What started out in a domestic kitchen in Truro is now a fullyfledged

café at the Via Ferrata Cornwall site near Penryn. Their

hot chocolate is topped with the biggest marshmallow you’ve

ever seen, and 10% of all café sales goes towards supporting

the charity work of BF Adventure with young people. Van

available for weddings, corporate events and festivals. Winter

opening hours: 9am to 4pm, daily. www.thecornishbarista.co.uk

ICED ON THE QUAY, HAYLE

ICED on the Quay falls under the umbrella of Philps Bakery. The

Winter Hot Chocolate menu includes Black Forest, Mint and ‘The

Works’ in White with toasted marshmallows and blondie chunks,

all loaded high with cream, chocolate dust, sauces and toppings.

Vegan variations are also available. Hot chocolate powder is

supplied by Cornish Tea & Cornish Coffee (www.cornish-tea.co.uk).

Find them on East Quay from Friday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm.

POLDHU BEACH CAFÉ, THE LIZARD

Ask anyone in West Cornwall where the best hot chocolates

are to be had, and the chances are they will say Poldhu. This

beach café is legendary for its hot chocs, topped with swirly

cream and a variety of naughty sweet treats: gingerbread,

Maltesers, Oreos, honeycomb, you name it. Open daily (bar x

and y) from 9.30am.

CLEMENTS & HOPE, POLPERRO

A contemporary coffee shop in Polperro with a chilled-out vibe,

serving awesome specialty coffee and epic cakes and bakes.

Owner Abby relocated from the Cotswolds in 2020, and has quickly

established a following: one reviewer declared the white hot

chocolate “to die for”. Open Thursday to Sunday, 9am to 4pm.

WHEREVER YOU ARE

Cornwall has several great chocolatiers, and many produce

drinking chocolate for you to whisk up at home. Chocolarder’s

vegan-friendly powder is a cut above, made from a house blend

of two single estates in Ghana and Indonesia, producing a

deep, sweet, creamy hot chocolate drink with tasting notes of

nutty cocoa melting into sweet caramel and fudge with subtle

flavours of soft brown fruit. Ooh la la! Alternatively, Kernow

Chocolate and Josh’s Chocolate both produce hot chocolate

spoons – dip in warm milk and watch the magic happen. Find

a heart-warming Alpine hot chocolate (pictured on page 67)

recipe containing Cornish clotted cream at www.roddas.co.uk/

recipes/cornish-hot-chocolate/


MEET THE CHEF

Charlotte Vincent

HEAD CHEF AT HOTEL MEUDON, FALMOUTH

HOTEL MEUDON, MAENPORTH ROAD, FALMOUTH TR11 5HT.

TEL 01326 250541

WWW.MEUDON.CO.UK

n 70 | My


Tell us about yourself

I was born in Devon and grew up absorbing

cooking techniques from my family,

following the breadcrumb trail left for me

by my late grandmother. My formal training

came in the British Army, then I took on my

first chef role with Michael Caines at the

Royal Clarence Hotel in Exeter and the two-

Michelin Star Gidleigh Park. From there, I

went on to head up the kitchen at the Five

Bells in Cullompton, during which time it

became one of the UK's Top 50 Gastropubs.

You took over as head chef at Hotel

Meudon in August. Have you been busy?

Oh, it’s been crazy! I had to hit the ground

running. Like so many restaurants, we have

been short-staffed and just had to keep

things going; now I have a great team, and a

waiting list of people who want to work with

us, which is a much better position to be in.

What rules do you live by

in your kitchen?

Kindness, equality, patience and nurture.

The stereotypical idea of a head chef

shouting at people and bullying them

isn’t my thing at all. I like to build a really

strong team and give everyone a voice in

my kitchen. Like Tom Kerridge, I see them

as a little gang of pirates and treat them

well. It works - I’ve got people on my team

who have been with me five or six years,

and have moved around with me.

You’ve been working on the menu –

what should we expect?

The previous chef was very good – fish,

fresh ingredients, classical style – so I

didn’t want to fiddle around with it too

My food is

quintessentially

English but

drawing influence

from my Nordic

descent (on my

father’s side) and

time spent in Japan

much, just put my own touch on what’s

already there. I’ve gone for more seasonal

variation - we’ve got Bodmin venison on

the menu at the moment (and on New

Year’s Eve) - and foraged ingredients.

Are you using ingredients

from your doorstep?

Yes, we’re right on the cove, and I’m out

there most days looking for inspiration.

When I first came, it was fresh seaweed

and herbs; now it’s mushrooms and rock

samphire, which is great with turbot. We

also have an exotic garden to pick from

– I have made fig leaf ice cream, which

is so fragranced and fruity, and the fruit

of the dogwood tree is like a lychee and

delicious in sorbet.

How would you describe

your own food?

My food is quintessentially English but

drawing influence from my Nordic descent

(on my father’s side) and time spent in Japan

– I’m a third degree blackbelt in Aikido, and

while studying in Japan on a ten-year hiatus

from cheffing, I immersed myself in the local

cuisine and studied that too.

Tell us about some of the highlights of

your cooking career

Earlier this year I competed in BBC2’s

Great British Menu. The theme was 100

years of the BBC, so for the South West

heat I cooked dishes with a local flavour

- based on Wallace and Gromit, which

originated in Bristol, and a duck dish to

reflect the classic episode of Fawlty Towers

in Torquay. While I felt I didn’t achieve as

much as I’d have liked on the show, people

seemed to like the way I came across – real

and honest.

Did it lead to other opportunities?

Yes, off the back of GBM, I was invited to

cook for Boris Johnson PM at 10 Downing

Street in June. Most recently, I’ve been

busy filming content for an upcoming

campaign with Italian cheese brand

Galbani and Lactalis UK to introduce their

products to a British audience. So far, I’ve

devised recipes for canapes, Christmas

snacks and family meals.

What ingredients couldn’t

you live without?

My Japanese vinegars, dashi powder,

seaweed and nature!

What is your guilty food pleasure?

Something comforting and sweet,

decadent and indulgent. l


The Pimm's Patio

ESCAPE THE ORDINARY

at The Penventon Park Hotel

Mere minutes from the A30, The

Penventon in Redruth is perfectly situated

to explore Cornwall’s vibrant gardens and

picturesque beaches, while tucked away

from the crowds. Spend your evenings

immersed in a lively atmosphere designed

for late nights and long conversations,

and be sure to eat in the Dining Galleries

restaurant, enjoying global cuisine and

a bewildering array of wines and gins.

Forget about designated drivers - simply

rest your head in an artisan room, each

one different from the next.

The Penventon is a luxurious Georgian

mansion built in the early 19th century

by John Penberthy-Magor, a partner in

nearby Redruth Brewery (now Cornish

archive centre Kresen Kernow). The house

was renamed Penventon, meaning “top of

the valley”, by the following owners: the

newly married Molesworth-St Aubyns, who

were seeking a marital home conveniently

located between their respective families

in North and West Cornwall.

Subsequent owners included county

magistrate John Hayle, JP and Sir Arthur

and Lady Edith Carkeek. The Penventon

became frequented with wealthy and

influential local, titled families, who

enjoyed attending lavish garden events at

the grounds. But having lost much of their

wealth in the Great Depression of 1934,

the Carkeeks became the last residents to

occupy The Penventon as a private home.

In 1969, brothers David and George

Pascoe and their wives, Paola and Joan,

pooled funds to buy The Penventon and

run it as a hotel. It has been in the family

ever since. Each room has a unique

design based on the history of the hotel

and family, from Georgian to Venetian,

reflecting Paola’s Italian background.

Feature rooms include hand-carved fourposter

beds which were rescued from a

Georgian manor house in South Devon,

renovated and now sing with Cosmopolitan

mattresses and crisp white linen; Steamer

Trunk Bars, containing your personal fridge

filled with a range of chargeable goodies;

and on your first night, a gin decanter filled

with two free double measures.

The hotel bar, meanwhile, draws upon

Cornwall’s mining heritage with its rippled

copper sheeting. This is Cornwall’s largest

gin bar with over 140 gins, as well as more

than 130 wines and counting. The Dining

Galleries restaurant is famed for its steaks

and Italian food, and The Penventon has a

big afternoon tea following too.

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The Copper Gin Bar

The Lounge

Galleries Restaurant

Feature Room

During the quieter months, The Penventon

makes the perfect base from which to

explore Cornwall’s treasures – climb the

lofty summit of Carn Brea, or walk the

windswept sands of Portreath.

The Escape Together two- or three-night

winter package runs until March 2023,

and includes an afternoon tea, one or

two evening meals, a Superior Double

room and full use of the leisure facilities.

Sink into the bubbling jacuzzi, take a

dip in the swimming pool, relax in the

infra-red or traditional saunas, and book

an appointment with a spa therapist.

From £459 (two nights, based on two

people sharing).

The January Sparkling Stay & Dine offer,

which runs throughout the month, includes

a glass of fizz on arrival in the Copper

Bar followed by a dip in the pool and a

delicious two-course evening meal in the

Dining Galleries, before sinking into bed

for a peaceful night’s sleep in a Classic

Double room. Rates from £179 (based on

two people sharing).

Young and four-pawed family members

receive the warmest of welcomes here.

Kids stay free in family rooms, with

dedicated family swim times and a teepee

in your bedroom for younger children.

Well-behaved dogs also stay free; the

ground floor Superior Family Rooms are

ideal, with plenty of space for up to two

dogs, and an open patio with a small lawn

area. Dogs are welcome in the Arbour,

Lounge and Copper Bar areas (but not

permitted in the Dining Galleries), and

receive pooch welcome baskets including

treats such as a cosy fleece blanket, a

super-comfy sink-in bed, food and water

bowls. Towels, blankets and water are

available in public areas.

There’s even a doggy menu, thoughtfully

devised with nutrition in mind, served at

set times and cooked fresh to order (never

from a tin!). Whether it’s baked chicken

and pumpkin, a two-egg omelette or the

4oz sirloin steak and peas (endearingly

known as “I’ll have what dad’s having”), it’s

clear four-legs eat just as well as two here.

So if you’re looking to escape the

ordinary, look no further – The Penventon

awaits you! l

To find out more and make a

booking, call 01209 203000 or visit

www.penventon.co.uk


THE GREENBANK HOTEL,

FALMOUTH

Head to the Water’s Edge at The Greenbank on Thursday, January 26 to savour a

unique dining experience that will have you lapping at the shoreline.

Bobby Southworth, head chef of the

Greenbank Hotel, has expertly crafted

and curated a tantalising six-course menu

that will both excite and indulge your

taste buds and give you a true taste of all

our coastal region has to offer.

The menu has heavy influences of

traditional Cornish recipes with a modern

Greenbank twist. Take your seat in the

intimate Sundeck area, with its panoramic

views of the River Fal, and listen as Bobby

chats informally throughout the courses

so you’ll also be able to learn some tips

and tricks for your own cooking at home.

Expect mouth-watering locally sourced

ingredients, from grass-fed beef and

cheeses to freshly caught lobster and sole.

Dishes will also be devised to make the

most of seasonal produce: for example,

October’s menu included Autumn apple

and blackberry trifle with candied almonds

and blackberry sorbet.

The wine flight has been carefully crafted

by our expert sommelier Holly Bennetts,

with each glass perfectly pairing with

every forkful. If you’re coming to the end

of Dry January, an optional non-alcoholic

drink flight will also be on offer.

Alternatively, to avoid having to designate

a driver, why not stay over? The Taste of

Cornwall escape includes dinner with two

tempting tipples, followed by a luxury

harbour view room and a hearty Cornish

breakfast.

Six-course menu £69pp; wine flight £25;

Taste of Cornwall Escape from £439 for

two people. Bobby’s Taste of Cornwall will

also take place on April 27 and October

19, 2023. To book a place, visit the

booking diary at www.greenbank-hotel.

co.uk and choose the 7pm time slot on

your chosen date. l

The Greenbank Hotel,

Harbourside, Falmouth, TR11 2SR.

Tel 01326 312440,

www.greenbank-hotel.co.uk

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MyCornwall Magazine - Dec/Jan

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