Porthcurno .mobi

BIG surf, strong winds and some welcome sunshine has prompted RNLI lifeguards to issue warning to water users on Gwithian this weekend.

The difficult conditions on the beaches along the north Cornwall and Devon coasts have already resulted over 200 people needing assistance on one day this week.

And with surf conditions looking set to remain good the charity's lifesavers are urging inexperienced water users to stay within their depth and between the flags.

At Gwithian the RNLI lifeguards have been busy assisting a number of surfers and bodyboarders and were able to head off a few serious incidents.

Phil Drew, RNLI Area lifeguard manager said: "The RNLI lifeguards rescued about 33 people on Gwithian, mostly these were people learning to surf, who'd been deceived by the lull in the sets to get themselves out back and then found that they couldn't make their own way back in.

"At one point there were about 12 people who'd either paddled or been blown out back and were then caught in the surf zone as the set came in. We had RNLI lifeguards out on paddleboards securing the casualties, and the RWC coming out to collect them and take them back to shore.

"However tempting it is to try and join the more experienced surfers, we'd urge those less capable to stay in waist depth water and stick between the black and white flags if surfing or red and yellow if bodyboarding or swimming."

ST IVES' Leach Pottery dates back to 1920 when the small fishing village was already an established haunt for artists. At the time the St Ives Guild of Handicrafts was keen to attract a potter into its mix.

And so Bernard Leach was approached. At the time he was living in Japan, where he had returned to complete his studies.

He was a child of the colonies and his links to the Far East were strong; his father worked in Asia as a lawyer, and Bernard was born in Hong Kong during 1887.

His mother died during labour and the first four years of Bernard's life were spent in Japan where he was cared for by his maternal grandparents.

Like many British children born abroad, Bernard was schooled at 'home', first by the Beaumont School at Old Windsor, before studying at the Slade School of Art in London and later under Frank Brangwyn at the London School of Art.

He returned to Japan in 1909 to teach etching, but after being introduced to ceramics at a raku party he was caught by a desire to learn the craft. Under the tuition of Kenzan VI he learnt traditional methods of throwing, glazing and firing. In 1917 he opened his first pottery with exhibitions establishing his reputation abroad. Then he received the offer to make a life and home in the far west of Britain.

Married, with a family of three and twins on the way, he headed for St Ives to set up a pottery.

Backed by a local philanthropist, Francis Horne, they began producing raku and tableware, large dishes and individual pots from their Oriental climbing kiln.

Bernard was invited to Dartington in 1925 to set up pottery on the estate of a wealthy American heiress, Dorothy Elmhirst, and her Yorkshireman husband, Leonard. The couple were attempting to set up a utopian community in Devon where they would bring together Eastern and Western thought.

For five years Bernard had struggled to keep the St Ives pottery financially afloat and found the offer tempting, but unwilling to compromise his artistic freedom he suggested someone else should run the Elmhirsts' pottery.

Finally, in 1932, Bernard accepted the Elmhirsts' offer. The financial situation in St Ives had not improved and his growing intimate relationship with Laurie Cookes was now making life with his family untenable.

He negotiated good terms, including a salary for himself and wages for two assistants who would keep his St Ives base going in his absence.

A site was identified at Shinner's Bridge where he planned a large pottery, and he intended to keep his options open as far as a return to Cornwall was concerned.

The experience of working within the refined and experimental atmosphere of Dartington was profound. The mix of art forms, ranging from dance and music to weaving and painting, allowed Bernard to immerse himself in his art.

He returned to Japan for a tour of country potteries in 1934 and while he was away made the decision to end his marriage and move to Dartington with Laurie Coakes.

While Bernard was in Japan the Elmhirsts suggested his son David would benefit from a course in pottery management, and so he enlisted to study in Stoke-on-Trent.

After three years, David came home to St Ives and started making changes which would see the pottery become financially sustainable.

These included the installation of electricity, the purchase of machinery to carry out mechanical tasks, converting the kiln from wood to oil and introducing a new set of wares.

Funding from Dartington allowed a coming together of form and function, commerce, science and art in the production of standardware at the St Ives pottery. This was a range of pots for table, kitchen and oven. Made to a measured shape from a known weight of clay, these pots were made of hard-wearing stoneware rather than earthenware.

From 1942 Bernard returned to St Ives on a semi-permanent basis as it was now an attractive proposition. The pottery was stable and had a skilled workforce. In comparison, the kiln at Shinner's Bridge was inefficient and the cabin he lived in was bad for his health. In St Ives he could throw individual pots and make use of the regular kiln firings.

He recommended Sam Haile to the Elmhirsts as his replacement. Following Sam's untimely death in 1948 his wife Marianne de Trey took over at Dartington where she continued to work until 2009.

The exhibition on the Dartington Years runs at the Leach Pottery until the end of the year, while the 90th anniversary is celebrated on Sunday with the launch of a new book by John Edgler, Slipware And St Ives.

The pottery is open daily from 10am unill 5pm, Monday to Saturday, and 11am to 4pm on Sundays.

AWARD-WINNING architect, accomplished artist and always the frontiersman, Barrie Briscoe, who died last week, will be greatly missed by his many friends.

Architecture, art, humour and a fierce and free individualism were the threads that wove the fabric of Barrie's rich and varied life.

As a boy he moved from England to Canada with his family and after school, as a 16 year old, he went into the wilds of Alberta, working at the tough end of oil drilling, and then to Australia where he laboured on the railroads, on farms and in mining.

These early experiences gave Barrie a lifelong respect and admiration for the artisan and working man and a healthy disrespect for cant and humbug in all its forms. It also shaped his quirky and ribald sense of fun, cowboy humour as his wife Petra calls it, which was never far away in any time spent with Barrie. Asked one time where a friend had gone, Barrie's response was: "Went for a dump and the hog's musta got him!"

Scholarship

Returning to Canada he studied petro-chemical engineering, winning a scholarship to Washington State University where he transferred his talents to the study of architecture, in tandem with studying modern painting at art faculty. Graduating from there, he pursued his architectural studies at the University of Pennsylvania, becoming a Master of Architecture and then went on take an MA in architecture and city planning at Yale, graduating in 1966.

He began working for Skidmore, Owings and Merrill in New York and started his own practice in Toronto. He spent a few years making large scale graphic murals before moving to the UK.

He spent some time teaching drawing at the University of Edinburgh, then took up a post at Sheffield University teaching architecture. He moved to Cornwall in 1974.

Barrie had always practised art and architecture hand in hand.

There are more than 100 fine examples of his architectural work in Cornwall and beyond, including award-winning buildings at St Ives, Zennor and Penzance that stand testament to his creative and particular design talents.

Barrie's architecture combined traditional design skills with modernist and green principles. In west Cornwall he developed a signature style that always made the most of the sun and the views, that respected the local tradition, but were unmistakably contemporary. He loved to use craftsmanship in the execution as well as the design of buildings. Often he gave his clients a present of a stained glass window which he had made himself.

He has exhibited his paintings here in Cornwall, France, Italy and Scandinavia, and there is an exhibition of his work beginning on November 6 at Badcocks Gallery in Newlyn. He drew his inspiration from the landscapes around him with a collection of works reflecting his time here in Cornwall, in Brittany where he once lived, and latterly in Italy around their home near the shores of Lake Trasimeno. A lyrical painter, sensitive with the use of colour and shade, his work was a true and moving response to the sense of peace and inspiration Barrie found in the natural world around him.

In his last days some of his work adorned the walls of his room at St Julia's Hospice. Talking about them, Barrie mused: "Pity I haven't got another 10 years, I coulda gotten really good!"

And reflecting on what was inevitable and his thoughts about that, with his typical brand of humour, he said: "Hey, everyone wants to have one more kick of the cat, don't they?"

His was a life of creative achievement, but beyond that endeavour Barrie loved to spend time with his friends over a decent meal and a couple of bottles of reasonable wine.

Quirky

He had his own quirky, eclectic tastes, enjoying country and western music hand in hand with Beethoven, French vehicles of a certain vintage and in the early days big hair and a beard that would have qualified him as a fully paid up member of the Furry Freak Brothers. He was always good company, always good fun, always up for it. Challenging, funny and energetic, if things got too serious he could always get it back on the right course.

"I guess I'll just fly away with the birds," he told us when he knew time was running out.

Barrie is to be laid to rest tomorrow, Friday September 3, at 3pm at Tremenheere Gardens, between Gulval and Ludgvan (www.tremenheere.co.uk) and there will be a get together later at the PZ Gallery, Coinagehall Street, Penzance. All are welcome at both events; his wish was for no black to be worn, and in lieu of flowers, donations to ShelterBox or Water Aid. Petra and his friends would like to thank all the staff at St Julia's Hospice for the wonderful care they gave Barrie.

CELEBRITY chef Rick Stein described Newlyn as a "jewel" of Cornwall as he returned to the fish festival after more than a decade to open the event in glorious sunshine.

The Padstow-based TV personality added a touch of glamour to the twentieth annual Newlyn Fish Festival, which attracted visitors from across Cornwall and beyond.

As thousands flooded through the gates, with ticket sales slightly up on last year at just over 7,300, he was grabbed by people asking for his autograph at every corner.

Former MP David Harris, chairman of the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen for which the fish festival raises money, introduced the TV chef to the stage, saying he had "done more for the fishing industry than perhaps anyone else".

Mr Stein, who was joined at the official opening by local mayors and dignitaries from across West Penwith, then told a delighted crowd: "Newlyn in the sunshine this morning is a really pretty fishing port.

"The majority of the fish that we use in our restaurants comes from here and I have been filming here for, probably, the past 15 years. I have got a great deal of time for the Fishermen's Mission. What I really like about the Newlyn Fish Festival is the sense of informality about it. I think the reason it works so well is people love to see a working port."

Pete Goss, with his lugger the Spirit of Mystery, also returned to Newlyn this year, alongside a host of lovingly restored vessels and displays from the Mount's Bay Lugger Association, Barnabas from the Cornish Maritime Trust and the Newlyn-based Ripple, with owner John Lambourn.

Inside the food hall, a fish display, with all produce donated by local fishermen, proved a major attraction, with experts on hand to talk visitors through the different species.

Local chefs including Keir Meikle, from the Navy Inn, Sanjay Kumar, from the Greenbank Hotel and Andy Appleton, from Fifteen Cornwall, gave demonstrations of their work.

A huge variety of food stands, selling sea produce from Devon fishcakes to Cornish Sea Salt; shellfish to pilchards; Thai dishes to Indian curries, helped show just how diverse seafood could be.

Among the new attractions were the Old Newlyn Marquee, which welcomed hundreds of people to its stands displaying old pictures of Newlyn and information about the history of the port.

Pam Lomax, acting archivist for the Newlyn Archive Centre, which organised the stall, said she had received information from several people about the missing names of boats pictured in the archives.

She said: "This is the first time the Archive has been here because we only started just before Christmas."

Liz Harman and John Wallis were also on hand at the marquee in period costume, to share their storytelling skills with the crowds.

Festival secretary Steve Ryman said he had attempted to widen the scope of the festival this year to give something for everyone.

He said: "I wanted to create a wider ranging festival. It is obviously all about fish but to add something different, something that has not been here before.

"When I started organising the festival I had big ideas for it. You are limited by the topography of the site but it will not stop us thinking about how we can expand in other ways.

"Although we raise money for the Mission, it is important to make it a community event and give people a good time."

A NEW MULTI-MILLION pound cinema complex in Hayle could finally kick-start the long-awaited regeneration of the town, according to a group of local social entrepreneurs.

Over the Bank Holiday weekend Hayle Pioneerium brought a mobile 3D digital cinema to the town centre for five days to demonstrate the benefits such an attraction could provide for local businesses, residents and visitors alike.

They hope that within the next two years a permanent cinema based at Foundry Square will give the town a much-needed boost.

The plans have been supported by ING, who helped fund the Screen Machine mobile cinema and are now looking to carry out a feasibility study into a new cinema complex.

Chairman of the trust, Bob Amos, is confident that the group, which was only set up in March this year, will be able to "kill two birds with one stone".

He said: "We want to bring a cinema to the town and kick-start the regeneration of Hayle.

"We have a fairly high population of some 100,000 people living within a 15-mile radius of the town and Hayle is only second to Newquay because of its many campsites for visitors.

"But all these visitors tend to exodus from Hayle to visit places such as the Tate in St Ives or the Maritime Museum in Falmouth, because we do not have a cinema, galleries, or even an indoor swimming pool. We want to provide visitors with somewhere to spend their holiday money in town."

The trustees hope that the complex, which they believe would cost several million pounds, could be realised by 2012. Funding will be sought from public and private sectors as well as donations.

The complex would be owned and run by the community with all the profits poured back into the development and benefit of the town.

Mr Amos continued: "The town does not have a social hub. With our plans we could have a two or three-screen cinema, restaurant or bistro and even a climbing wall for the younger generation. All this would provide other sources of revenue and keep it profitable all year round.

"The smallest screen could even be used for conferences, exhibitions and product launches.

"We are looking for an opportunity and hopefully, as things move forward, that opportunity will open up for us."

An ING spokesman said: "As part of our plans for the harbour we intend to seek permission for a cinema on South Quay. We would like this to be a digital cinema that could either be two or three screens. We have been talking to the Pioneerium team since early July and we were delighted with the Screen Machine and we were pleased to assist with a significant amount of financial support.

"We will be undertaking a feasibility study into cinema in Hayle but feel confident that there is support within the town to make a cinema a reality.

"We will be unveiling plans for the cinema and the Phase 1 regeneration plans shortly."

Howard Lyons, visiting fellow of the university business schools in Exeter and Sheffield and a member of the Pioneerium project, added: "The coalition Government's championing of community-based enterprise trusts is central to Hayle's Pioneerium proposals.

"The support of harbour owners ING for the Screen Machine cinema visit demonstrates their sympathy for such enterprises, which are designed to retain profits in local communities and provide towns like Hayle with the otherwise unachievable task of keeping the control of new assets with locals.

"Hayle has some great new digital businesses and a digital cinema able to showcase their work and that of the exciting developments in local schools and colleges would put Hayle back into the centre of the latest industrial revolution, just as it was central to the first industrial revolution."

A NEW ceremonial sword will be used at the Cornish Gorsedd at St Ives on Saturday.

The purpose-made Joining Sword of harmony will be the centrepiece of a recently introduced feature at the annual colourful gathering.

The two halves of the sword are symbolically joined by bards from the Cornish and Breton Gorsedds and presented to the Welsh Mother Gorsedd as a sign of respect, peace and unity.

It has been made by craftsman Colin Rescorla of St Columb Major, who makes the silver hurling balls used in that town's famed festival.

He said: "The wood for the handle of the sword is St Columb yew. I thought this would be appropriate. Henry Jenner, the Gorsedd's first Grand Bard in 1928, was born here. The silver on the handle is from an offcut from the making of a hurling ball which further symbolises the strong link between St Columb and the Gorsedd".

Grand Bard Mick Paynter from St Ives, will lead the ceremonies on The Island on Saturday. He spoke of his appreciation of the work by Mr Rescorla and the great amount of time donated by him to get the best possible result.

Funds towards its manufacture had been raised by bards.

Engraved on the blade are the words, Lymm ow own heb own a boon, which is Cornish for, Sharp my blade without fear of pain, which are from a poem by bard Tim Saunders.

Members of the public are encouraged to visit The Island for the ceremony and the Gathering of the Bards.

On the eve of the Gorsedd celebrations, a new book is being launched to honour 52 past St Ives Bards. Cornish Bards Of St Ives gives brief biographies of the members, their contribution to the Gorsedd and the life of the town.

"This is not just a book about important St Ives bards who have achieved national or international fame, like Barbara Hepworth, Bernard Leach and Peter Lanyon – who are of course all mentioned – but also the early leaders of the Cornish revival like Robert Morton Nance and his family who worked hard to establish the first Old Cornwall Society in 1920 and the Gorsedh Kernow in 1928," said Ann Trevenen Jenkin of Leedstown.

She is a past Grand Bard and the chairman of the Gorsedd archives and publications group. "There are also the grass-roots citizens from St Ives, people like Beryl James, Cyril Noall and John Tucker Barber, as well as many others who did so much to preserve and conserve the best of St Ives and Cornish culture and history.

"Archaeologists, painters, Cornish language enthusiasts, historians – all are there. It is a fascinating picture of one particular Cornish area," she added. Material has been researched and compiled with energy and skill by St Ives Archive volunteers under the supervision of Janet Axten and steered through by the publications committee.

Derek Williams has edited it from the mass of collected research. The book is illustrated with black and while photographs of bards and includes a list of main sources for each study, a list of present St Ives bards and a reading list of Gorsedd publications. The launch will take place at 11am at the Guildhall with the present Grand Bard, Mick Paynter. The book, costing £6, will be available at the launch and later at the St Ives Archive Centre in the upper parish rooms.

For postal copies or multiple orders please contact David Lindo, Gorsedd treasurer, Enys, 13b Trevone Crescent, St Austell P125 5ED.

​This open letter is being sent to every household and business in Newlyn, to all stakeholder organisations, and to the media, from Gilbert McCabe, Chairman of the Newlyn Pier and Harbour Commissioners.

The aim is to make clear, in the light of current rumour and misleading reports, the reason why the Newlyn Pier and Harbour Commissioners (NPHC) voted to decline grants offered by the European Fisheries Fund (EFF), European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and offers in principle from Cornwall Council, to build the proposed new fish market.

This decision was not a popular one with the wider community, who felt that we have brought an end to the regeneration of Newlyn, and to the fishing industry. Our view is the reverse: that we have secured the future management of our own finances, and our assets, so we can deliver what is needed. All the Commissioners are committed to the future success of the fishing industry in Newlyn, which in itself is the key to the future prosperity of the town. We chose to go about the process of regeneration very differently from our predecessor Commission.

The work behind the current proposal began about 10 years ago, and was initially to replace the current fish market. Over the intervening years, ideas for improvements to the fishing industry were aligned with the wider regeneration of Newlyn as a whole. At one point potential applications for funding would have needed to be in the area of £120million. In the last four years, the proposals put forward were more modest, eventually resulting in a single building to include a fish market, offices, and some public space.

In recent years, certain proposals and grants were indeed taken up, including construction of the pontoons, new fish grading machines, and new chill space: and the Commission's accounts went substantially into the red, to provide match funding for those improvements. This meant that there was no cash contingency with which to manage our other assets and liabilities. At the same time, external operations and financial challenges to both the fishing industry, and to the Commission, grew apace. The Commission moved to a position of minimum repair and no further investment, due to its financial health- or lack of it.

The Department for Transport determined that changes in the governance of Newlyn Pier and Harbour needed to be made in accordance with the Guide to Good Governance - Trust Ports Review which was applicable to all trust ports in the UK. Consequently, as a result of the Newlyn Harbour Revision Order (HRO) 2010, new Commissioners were appointed. They include persons having special knowledge, experience, or ability in one or more of the qualifying criteria as set out in the HRO – Constitution of the Commissioners. These appointments became effective 12 weeks ago. After ten years of discussion under the previous Commission, the new Commissioners then had until August 19th to accept or decline the grants on offer, which required matched funding. We, the Commission, had no funding available, and the best offer of such funding came from Cornwall Council, in the form of a 15-year loan, tied to our property assets - or part of them. To qualify for the matched funding, we had to demonstrate our financial health, support from the fishing sector in Newlyn, and our advances in governance. We were also aware that the EFF and ERDF grant offers had twice been deferred, and we could not have accepted them 'in principle' to buy ourselves more time to consider the future.

In terms of good governance, please note that, since the new Commission came into being, our meetings are now held in public, with a public participation element: we have met as a Board 8 times in 12 weeks, set up 4 committees, held two public meetings and two consultation days, all of which demonstrate our commitment to transparency and inclusion. We have a website, www.newlynharbourcommissioners.com. The previous Commission met only once in the last year, effectively to conclude their affairs.

Continuing consultation confirmed strong community support for the proposed new market, but also confirmed the lack of overall support of the fishing industry (those boats who decide to land their fish in Newlyn, and those also who sell their fish in Newlyn). Evaluating this support, and demonstrating that support to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) in respect of the EFF grant, and to Cornwall Council in respect of their grant and loan, was a requirement of these grants. Over four days of meetings and discussions, it became clear to us that the overall support for the proposed new fish market by the users, was not there. We received very clear messages about the work needed to make the harbour fit for purpose; and we have much to do.

Parallel to this, we commissioned Winter Rule, Chartered Accountants, to independently determine our financial health to repay a loan. We provided them with a range of scenarios, including current and recent sales, to test viability.

The Winter Rule report confirmed that there were a number of scenarios in which a potential loan from Cornwall Council for 15 years could be met. There were others where it might just, or would not, be able to service such a loan. Any such loan would have required a charge over much of our property assets, thereby removing from us the opportunity to use all of our assets more creatively in the regeneration of the harbour. The Commission resolved to make its own decision about accepting the Cornwall Council loan, independently of any decision coming from the Council, so that it could show confidence in driving itself forward.

We also commissioned Vickery Holman to appraise our assets, the actual and potential return on these. The result was not good news. Many of our buildings are in poor repair; some are not serving our tenants well; none are giving the NPHC a sensible return. We know that the potential value of our property portfolio can be one of the keys to a successful regeneration programme in Newlyn.

These reviews resulted in our deciding not to take up the offers of loans and grants. Why?

Although numerous business case studies were meticulously prepared to support various proposals and scenarios, there was no business plan for the Harbour Commission itself. Nor could we satisfy ourselves overall, or Cornwall Council, that we could meet loan repayments and operate a new market from our current financial position. Neither, it transpired, did we have evidence of strong support from the fishing sector- the very sector that would make or break the new market.

The way forward now is to prepare a sound business plan looking forward 5 and 10 years, ideally by Christmas. It will concentrate on how we will strengthen our harbour, fish auction and operational position so that we will be able to make decisions for the harbour and the community's future from a position of financial strength. This plan will look at all aspects of harbour management and forward planning. It will consider the major decisions to be made within that time period and the financial implications. We acknowledge that we are not currently following best practice in all areas of our harbour operations: this will have to change.

What will not change is the determination of this Commission to be transparent, to engage with the wider community and the harbour users. The HRO requires us to take into account all stakeholders, including the community of Newlyn, through an independently-constituted Advisory Body. To this end we are in the process of convening such a body, made up of 12 persons who will have direct access to the Commission.

The HRO also requires us to deliver a specific return on our capital as defined by the UK Treasury's Green Book rules. All the evidence before us, gathered over the last 12 weeks, led us to the conclusion that our current financial position is not as strong as it should be. Had we decided to accept the grants and loans, our hands would have been quite tied, and freedom of choice in terms of contemplating options would have been quite restricted.

We acknowledge the effort and expertise put in by so many organisations and individuals, particularly the Newlyn Fish Industry Forum; we will use much of this work to help construct our business plan. Our decision not to proceed with the proposed new fish market does not mean we have decided to abandon regeneration in Newlyn. Far from it, we are fully committed to playing a full and significant part in Newlyn's regeneration. We know there are many challenges that face us, especially within a small community. I, as Chairman, am confident that as we learn to work together as effectively as possible for the best interests of both the community and the users of Newlyn harbour, we will have a strong future.

DESPITE being immobilised for three days in the Ukraine with car trouble – which they solved by the simple application of a lump-hammer and angle grinder – and almost falling foul of Russian police because the light bulbs on their vehicle were allegedly too big, three islanders have completed the Mongol Rally.

Will Ash, 20, James Druce, 26, and Nick Mackey, 28, drove from Goodwood to the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar in 29 days, 17 hours, in a Citroën Saxo, raising a remarkable £10,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis charity, with more pledged.

They were placed 76th out of nearly 400 teams that started, covering 8,500 miles and negotiating 14 countries.

"Actually, some 25 entrants pulled out or retired, so we can claim to have finished in the top 50," said James. "We're really happy with that."

The trio hail from Tresco where the only form of mechanised transport permitted are golf buggies and tractors. However, in preparation for their marathon, the Citroën was allowed in for practice purposes.

Before the rally the car already had 57,000 miles on the clock and had an engine smaller than 1.3 litres, as specified in the rules of the rally.

They were stranded for three days when they discovered they had bent the entire car and the back wheels were rubbing, solving the problem by taking drastic measures with the lump-hammer to cut away part of the arches.

The driving – in temperatures ranging from 45 degrees in Kazakhastan to minus 6 on the Mongolian border – was done on roads that were acceptable up to Romania, but thereafter deteriorated steadily until, in the Gobi Desert, they were mere tracks.

Shifts

James took the morning shift, Will the afternoon and Nick the evening, with an average day's driving lasting 13 to 14 hours.

Despite having no arguments en route, James admitted a certain "grumpiness" in the mornings was not uncommon. After catching the ferry to France they passed through Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary ,Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhastan, Siberia and Mongolia.

"We were impounded on the Mongolian border for three days, trapped in a fenced off area because of paperwork problems," said James.

"In Russia and the Ukraine we were often stopped by police who would make up stupid taxes to try and extort money. Hence the light bulb farce. We got out of most of them by paying £2 to 3."

They arrived at 8.44am UK time on the 29th day into the trip with front shock absorbers gone completely and only first and fourth gear left.

James sums up the experience as "quite hardcore, absolutely incredible, and with minimal sleep and food, definitely an endurance test".

"At times we felt isolated although in Mongolia the people were so friendly. Locals went out of their way to help, jumping into their car and showing you the way out of the city."

Driving through the Altay Mountains in douthern Siberia was "fantastic", said James.

Race over, they backtracked to the UK via Moscow, having spent two days in Ulaanbaatar where they abandoned the car, equipment and camping gear for the rally organisers to put up for auction, with proceeds going to an orphanage.

James described himself as "exhausted". "It's taken its toll," he added.

A NEW ceremonial sword will be used at the Cornish Gorsedd, at St Ives on Saturday.

The purpose-made Joining Sword of harmony will be the centrepiece of a recently introduced feature at the annual colourful gathering.

The two halves of the sword are symbolically joined by bards from the Cornish and Breton Gorsedds and presented to the Welsh Mother Gorsedd as a sign of respect, peace and unity.

It has been made by craftsman Colin Rescorla, of St Columb Major, who makes the silver hurling balls used in that town's famed festival.

He said: "The wood for the handle of the sword is St Columb yew.

"I thought this would be appropriate as Henry Jenner, the Gorsedd's first Grand Bard in 1928, was born here.

"The silver on the handle is from an offcut from the making of a hurling ball, which further symbolises the strong link between St Columb and the Gorsedd."

Grand Bard Mick Paynter, of St Ives, who will lead the ceremonies on The Island on Saturday, spoke of his appreciation of the work and the time donated by him. Funds towards its manufacture had been raised by bards.

Engraved on the blade are the words "Lymm ow own heb own a boon" which is Cornish for Sharp my Blade without fear of Pain, words from a poem by bard Tim Saunders.

Members of the public are encouraged to visit The Island for the ceremony and the Gathering of the bards.

On the eve of the Gorsedd celebrations, a new book is being launched to honour 52 past St Ives Bards.

Cornish Bards Of St Ives gives brief biographies of the members, their contribution to the Gorsedd and the life of the town.

"This is not just a book about important St Ives bards who have achieved national or international fame, like Barbara Hepworth, Bernard Leach and Peter Lanyon – who are all mentioned.

Early leaders

"It includes the early leaders of the Cornish revival, like Robert Morton Nance and his family, who worked hard to establish the first Old Cornwall Society in 1920 and the Gorsedh Kernow in 1928," said Ann Trevenen Jenkin, of Leedstown, past Grand Bard and the chairman of the Gorsedd archives and publications group.

"There are also the grass-roots citizens from St Ives, people like Beryl James, Cyril Noall and John Tucker Barber, as well as many others who did so much to preserve and conserve the best of St Ives and Cornish culture and history.

"Archaeologists, painters, Cornish language enthusiasts, historians – all are there. It is a fascinating picture of one particular Cornish area," she added.

Material has been researched and compiled with energy and skill by St Ives archive volunteers, under the supervision of Janet Axten and steered through by the publications committee.

Derek Williams has edited it from the mass of collected research.

The book is illustrated with black and white photographs of bards and includes a list of main sources for each study, a list of present St Ives bards and a reading list of Gorsedd publications.

The launch will take place at 11am at the Guildhall, with the present Grand Bard Mick Paynter.

The book, costing £6, will be available at the launch and at the St Ives Archive Centre, in the upper parish rooms.

For postal copies or multiple orders contact David Lindo, Gorsedd treasurer, Enys, 13b Trevone Crescent, St Austell, PL25 5ED.

WEST Cornwall GCSE pupils followed national suit with most local schools celebrating their best results.

Among the hundreds of happy faces celebrating the end of compulsory education was cancer survivor Tamsyn Jilbert from Cape Cornwall School. The brave teenager was rewarded with some magnificent grades, despite missing a year of school after she was diagnosed with bone cancer.

She said: "It has been hard but I am just over the moon; it's hard to describe how I feel.

"But thanks to Kernow Cyber School I got my GCSEs and I can go to Penwith College."

Her head teacher, Brett Elliot, who took over the helm last year, was also over the moon with the results.

He puts the school's best results yet down to hard work and dedicated staff, students and parents. He said: "The children worked extremely hard so I am really pleased and I hope these results give them all they need to go to college and progress further."

Humphry Davy School's star student achieved a staggering 13 A* or A grades.

Head teacher Bill Marshall said: "I am absolutely delighted at the outstanding results today which are easily the best in the school's history and I wish to pass on my warmest congratulations to all our GCSE students who worked so hard. On behalf of the governing body I would like to thank the staff for their dedication and parents for their ongoing support which made it possible. They can all be very proud today."

The school was particularly pleased with its outstanding GCSE PE results where over half of all the students attained an A* or A grade and its music BTEC First Diploma students where an 87 per cent attained an A* or A grade.

The results at Mounts Bay School were also hailed as the best to date.

Of all the 717 pupils who attended one of the five West Cornwall schools, including Hayle and St Ives, 365 achieved the benchmark of attaining five or more GCSE passes at grades A* to C in English and maths, a pleasing 51 per cent.

Nearly 71 per cent achieved five or more passes at GCSE at grades A* to C in general.

In particular the head teachers and governors said they would like to congratulate Kieran at Mounts Bay for gaining 12 A* and 5 A grades making him the top performing student in the school's history.

They have also extended their congratulations to Kate at Cape Cornwall who gained 3 A* and 8 A grades, Sean at Hayle for his 3A* and 8 A grades, Rebecca at St Ives for gaining 7.5 A*s, 3 As and an ICT Level 2 First Certificate in OCR Nationals and at Humphry Davy, Freya, Imogen and Emily who achieved 30 A* and 5 A Grades between them. GCSE results from Five Islands' School in the Isles of Scilly were again exceptionally good, with 86 per cent achieving five results at grades A to C. Head teacher Bryce Wilby said it was an advance on last year's 80 per cent figure and showed a consistent trend of improving results over the past three years.

WHEN Captain David Perkin was rummaging through a toolbox left to him by his late grandfather, he was surprised to find a number of valuable, decorated tin lids.

A closer inspection of these contents revealed the hand behind the work to be that of Alfred Wallis – the famed fisherman turned artist.

Some of the lids were even signed and were a gift from Wallis to Emma Richard Perkin, David's mother.

Now, one of these items has been put up for auction by David to raise money for our St Julia's Hospice – Build The Vision Appeal.

The piece will go under the hammer on October 21 at Lay's Auction House in Penzance with the proceeds going towards the extension work and improving outpatients' facilities at the Hayle hospice.

A view of Smeaton's Pier in St Ives, including the lookout and lighthouse, is captured on the tin lid.

But to prove their worth they needed to document their provenance – a story told by Captain Perkin.

He said: "I was born in St Ives and lost my mother when I was very young. My life went topsy-turvy for a time after that."

He was sent to live with an aunt, a year later his grandmother died, and when he turned 15, his aunt asked him to leave.

"I went to Falmouth to the nautical college there and studied navigation," the 65-year-old told The Cornishman. "I was there for a year and then went to sea."

He passed his second mate's ticket when he was 16 and soon after married his first wife. The next summer he returned to St Ives to run a boat.

A toolbox owned by his mariner grandfather, who had recently died, was given to him, but due to circumstances he decided to store it at another relative's home, unaware of its valuable contents.

He said: "I never really touched the box because it was all I had of my family, until about four years ago."

By this time his relative had grown old and called to ask him to collect his things. When Captain Perkin went through the toolbox he found it contained all sorts of items.

"I emptied the chest out and found all these things in there that I couldn't remember, including these works which were signed to my mother. They must have known Wallis," he said.

So he began tracing those involved, his family and the artist, finding out that they would probably have known each other from living in St Ives' Downlong area.

Captain Perkin contacted an expert on Wallis, Robert Jones who helped with getting the pieces back to their former glory.

"Robert told me Wallis would paint on anything – cigarette papers and bits of board, scraps and tin lids, as he couldn't always afford canvas."

Mr Jones said: "This is a delightful little painting and, having looked into its provenance at a time when it is very unusual to find new work by this artist, I have no doubt that this is a genuine piece by Alfred Wallis."

Your reaction to the Acorn closure:

"The Acorn closing its doors is a sad day for Penzance and west Cornwall. Unfortunately it is reflection of the hard financial times we are living in.

I have many happy memories of the Acorn over the years and seeing some wonderful musicians and performers on stage - many have since become my friends. I was privileged to play at the Acorn in June for the first night of Golowan Festival sitting in on guitar with Gypsy Jazz group Djazz Celtica. It was a wonderful evening but I got the feeling everyone knew the writing was on the wall.

Let's hope someone will come along and re-open a venue that is a huge part of local culture."

Larry Douglas

"I just wanted to say the Acorn closing is a tragedy. I, like so many people, have great memories because of this place.

I have seen musicians, comedians and actors at the beginning of their journeys and well-known ones come to somewhere they realise is as magical for them as it is the rest of us. It is a loss for employment and as a tourist attraction.

What an absolute shame on the council etc for not continuing support."

Deb Davidson

"The best gig I have ever been to was The Magic Band at the Acorn in 2005, who reformed and toured without Captain Beefheart for the first time in twenty-odd years.

I was so overjoyed to hear such fantastic music again that I emailed the band who replied that it was the best gig of their European tour. Looking at their website a few months later, they said the same thing and said what a great theatre it was and how they loved the feel of Penzance.

Money doesn't buy that: the Acorn is loved because it is a real centre for the arts and the community. Mighty oaks from little acorns grow."

Steve Ryman

"The closure of the Acorn Arts Centre is a devastating loss to Penzance. To permanently lose this great cultural facility within the town would be huge blow for Penzance. While the Trust appreciates that the decision has been taken with enormous regret and has become unavoidable given the deep grant cuts faced by the charity who own the theatre, it will leave an enormous gap in local cultural provision. The Acorn is a unique venue in Penzance and is one of only a few traditional theatres remaining in Cornwall, with many others having been demolished or converted for more profitable uses over the years. Planning and Heritage Adviser Mark Price on behalf of The Theatres Trust

Like many people I've enjoyed some amazing evenings at the Acorn: off the top of my head, from Blowzabella in 1987 to Bragatanga for Golowan 2010 via Skolvan, Nos Lowen, Cyber Nos Lowen, Dalla CD launch party, Bagas Degol, Chris Wood/Andy Cutting, Any Old Time, Lost Your Tongue poetry festival, Anna Murphy.... I'm also lucky enough to have played and worked at the Acorn myself a few times over the years... I'll miss it.

Frances Bennett

A NEW MULTIMILLION-pound cinema complex in Hayle could finally kick-start the long-awaited regeneration of the town, according to a group of local social entrepreneurs.

Over the bank holiday weekend, Hayle Pioneerium brought a mobile 3-D digital cinema to the town centre for five days, to demonstrate the benefits such an attraction could provide for businesses, residents and visitors alike.

They hope that within the next two years a permanent cinema based at Foundry Square will give the town a boost.

Confident

Chairman of the trust Bob Amos was confident that the group, which was only set up in March, would be able to "kill two birds with one stone".

He said: "We want to bring a cinema to the town and kick-start the regeneration of Hayle.

"We have a fairly high population of some 100,000 people living within a 15-mile radius of the town and Hayle is only second to Newquay because of its many campsites for visitors.

"But all these visitors tend to exodus Hayle to visit places such as Tate in St Ives or the Maritime Museum in Falmouth because we do not have a cinema, galleries or even an indoor swimming pool. We want to provide visitors somewhere to spend their holiday money in town."

The trustees hope that the complex, which they believe would cost several million pounds, could be realised by 2012.

Funding will be sought from public and private sectors as well as donations.

The complex would be owned and run by the community with all the profits poured back into the development and benefit of the town.

Mr Amos added: "The town does not have a social hub.

"With our plans we could have a two or three-screen cinema, restaurant or bistro and even a climbing wall for the younger generation.

"All this would provide other sources of revenue and keep it profitable all year round.

"The smallest screen could even be used for conferences, exhibitions and product launches. We are looking for an opportunity and hopefully, as things move forward, that opportunity will open up for us."

The group is in the process of completing a feasibility study and a business plan and talking with different development companies.

Howard Lyons, visiting fellow of the university business schools in Exeter and Sheffield and a member of the Pioneerium project, added: "The coalition Government's championing of community-based enterprise trusts is central to Hayle's Pioneerium proposals.

Revolution

"The support of harbour owners ING for the Screen Machine cinema visit demonstrates their sympathy for such enterprises, which are designed to retain profits in local communities and provide towns like Hayle with the otherwise unachievable task of keeping the control of new assets with locals.

"Hayle has some great digital businesses and a digital cinema showcasing their work and that of the exciting developments in local schools and colleges would put Hayle back into the centre of the latest industrial revolution."

AN ACT of "desecration" at a war memorial in Germoe has sparked outrage among those who care for the site.

A passing villager was shocked to see a group of young people disrespecting the monument by climbing up to its cross in front of a large crowd.

The man, who does not wish to be named, took this picture of the scene, which he then passed to the parish council.

Parish clerk Colin Chapman said: "The picture was taken during the last weekend in July and we have reported it to Helston police.

Apology

"What we want is information about the group and at the very least, an apology from them."

The memorial to soldiers killed in action was built on top of Tregonning Hill following the First World War.

Upkeep of the memorial is paid for by the local community and over the last five-years around £5,000 has gone into its preservation.

Mr Chapman said he was angered by the lack of consideration for other people and for those killed in the war.

He said: "I'm of the generation who can remember how things were after the war. This is disgraceful."

His sentiments were echoed by the Royal British Legion. RBL county chairman Clive Rawson said he was saddened by the act and blamed those climbing on the memorial and the onlookers who said nothing in equal measure.

He said: "I was shocked to see the photograph.

"The Germoe memorial lies within the boundary of the Breage branch of the legion which, along with my capacity as the county chairman, I am responsible for.

"Each year on November 11 we gather there to lay wreathes in honour of those named on the memorial and those who have died in all conflicts.

"In Britain we take pride in our free society.

"We have laws to protect people from racial, sexual and religious discrimination, yet the memorials in place to honour our fallen have no such protection, leaving them open to an ever-increasing level of abuse.

"To see these young people committing this act of desecration with such apparent enthusiasm defies belief.

"I am sure that if confronted they would apologise.

"However, it is a sad indictment of today's society when young people cannot see, without being told, that they are committing a vile act in showing such disrespect to a memorial dedicated to those who have given their lives for freedom.

"It is not just those on the memorial, but also those who remained silent while these antics took place; they are all guilty."

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the police on 0845 2777444.

TWO years ago Clowance Golf Course was on its last legs – membership was down and green fees were falling off. Course maintenance had slipped and then the owner gave up the franchise.

The few remaining members were faced with the bleak possibility of finding a new club.

However, Chris Wharton took over and breathed new life into the course at Praze-an-Beeble. Since then, the club has gone from strength to strength, adding new members who work together, committed to building a better future.

Treasurer and vice-captain Mick Yould said: "We're not like big clubs where you are just a number. Here, everybody knows everybody and we all get involved – even the wives come along and help out.

"Many of us are involved with the committees, even our groundskeeper works free of charge – he gets to play golf for cutting the grass."

Atmosphere

A strong group atmosphere has grown at the club, fuelled by the knowledge of what they nearly lost.

In 2008 the club had reached its lowest ebb. Mr Yould said: "We were down from maybe 55 members in 2007 to about five or six.

"One day there were a few of us walking down the fairway when Michelle from Seasons Holidays, which owns the estate the course is on, came over and started a conversation."

She said the franchise was up but added there was someone interested in taking it on, golf professional Chris Wharton.

Mr Yould said: "A lot of time and effort has gone into the course, we're getting new machinery and all of the members have been involved."

Those efforts include work on the clubhouse where those with trades have worked free of charge – for the good of the club.

Their good work has been rewarded and attendance is rising. Mr Yould said: "From when we were getting eight members turning up for competitions, it is quite possible for us to get 26 or even up to 40 people coming along now."

Franchise owner Mr Wharton said: "The last year has been fantastic, it has grown beyond what I thought it could and they are a great bunch.

"We started out with just a few members but we're now pushing 60.

State

"It was in a state when I took over but everyone has helped out – I've never experienced anything like it in my life."

Clowance Golf Club hosted its annual captain's day on Sunday, with all proceeds going to the St Julia's Hospice Build A Vision appeal.

Last year's event made more than £500 and they are already well on the way to breaking that figure.

JOHN NAVIN, 23, of Pendennis Road, Penzance, pleaded guilty at Truro Magistrates' Court to being drunk and disorderly in Penzance on August 1.

Prosecutor Jill Wilson said police officers saw him being restrained at the rear of a club by door staff at whom he was screaming and shouting: "I'll kill them" and kicking out with his legs. He then swore at police officers, refusing to calm down.

Navin told the magistrates he was really disappointed with himself for what he had done and said it was out of character. "I am ready to accept the consequences," he added.

He was fined £35 and £15 victim surcharge.

● JAMES AARON TREVASKIS, 19, of Godolphin Cross, pleaded guilty at Truro Magistrates' Court on August 20 to burglary on November 4 and was told to attend an attendance centre for 36 hours and pay compensation of £190.

● JAMES KENNETH PERRY, 22, of Penare Road, Penzance, pleaded guilty at Truro Magistrates' Court on August 17 to assault on July 10 and was told to attend an attendance centre for 36 hours.

● JESSIE PAUL QUICK, 56, of Leskinnick Terrace, Penzance, was convicted in his absence at Truro Magistrates' Court on August 17 of speeding on September 17, 2008, and fined £175, and of failing to produce a driving licence on the same day.

● ROWAN FREDERICK SHAW, 27, of Turnpike Hill, Marazion, was convicted in his absence at Truro Magistrates' Court on August 17 of failing to display a tax disc on April 21 and fined £120.

● NICHOLAS MARK TAYLOR, 47, of Beacon Estate, Sancreed, was convicted in his absence at Truro Magistrates' Court on August 17 of having no insurance on May 12 and fined £525.

● JULIA MARY WRIGHT, 60, of Belle Vue, Penzance, pleaded guilty at Truro Magistrates' Court on August 19 to drink driving on July 27 and was fined £400 and banned from driving for 20 months.

● ANDREW KENNETH PALMER, 23, of Church Street, Penzance, pleaded guilty at Truro Magistrates' Court on August 19 to being drunk and disorderly on July 28 and was fined £120.

● CLIVE RICHARD ANTHONY MAYES, 40, of Colinsey Road, Penzance, pleaded guilty at Truro Magistrates' Court on August 20 to drink driving on July 10 and was fined £100 and banned from driving for three years.

● MARTIN DURHAM, 53, of Trewellard Road, Pendeen, Penzance, pleaded guilty at Truro Magistrates' Court on August 12 to drink driving on May 28 and was fined £100 and disqualified for 14 months.

NEWLYN'S Harbour Commissioners have vowed to deliver major changes to the port despite recently rejecting £3 million in grants to build a new fish market.

Among the improvements promised are a new electronic auctioning clock – a system widely used in other major ports such as Plymouth and Brixham.

The pledge forms part of an open letter being sent to every household and business in Newlyn to reaffirm the commissioners' commitment to the future success of the fishing industry in Newlyn.

Gilbert McCabe, chairman of Newlyn Pier and Harbour, says the aim of the letter is to make clear, in light of recent rumours, the reason why they voted to decline the grants.

He explained: "There are rumours such as because the market has not gone ahead that's the end of regeneration in Newlyn. People feel the market would have unlocked every opportunity.

"But we are looking to the future, step by step."

Mr McCabe says the community will have to continue using the existing market for a period of time.

But he said the industry could see the much awaited electronic auctioning clock being installed within the next two years.

He continued: "I think it would be safe to say that the commission anticipates that there will be an electronic auctioning clock.

"But it is like building a virtual building that has to be created to meet our specifications and that takes time so we'd like to seen that happening within the next two years."

The letter reads: "This decision was not a popular one with the wider community, who felt that we have brought an end to the regeneration of Newlyn, and to the fishing industry. Our view is the reverse: that we have secured the future management of our own finances, and our assets, so we can deliver what is needed.

"All the commissioners are committed to the future success of the fishing industry in Newlyn, which in itself is the key to the future prosperity of the town. We chose to go about the process of regeneration very differently from our predecessor commission. The way forward is to prepare a sound business plan looking forward 5 and ten years, ideally by Christmas. It will concentrate on how we will strengthen our harbour, fish auction and operational position so that we will be able to make decisions for the harbour and the community's future from a position of financial strength."

THE LAST band to play at the Acorn Arts Centre before its closure after two decades of hosting live entertainment said it was an honour to be part of the "closing ceremony".

The Penzance theatre was full to capacity for the final gig on Saturday night with fans of the ten-piece Latin band Kabasa joined by hundreds of the venue's well-wishers.

And as the doors closed for the final time, lead singer and guitarist Andy Lowe echoed the hopes of many Acorn supporters who are keen to see the building saved and put to community use in the future.

Mr Lowe said there was an overwhelming feeling of support from the gathered crowds, some of whom had to be turned away at the door as the venue was full.

He told The Cornishman: "It was great to see such support for the venue. The fact that it was packed was great. There were quite a few salsa dancers who were there for us but there was also a lot of people who were there for the Acorn.

"It was an honour to play there. It was nice to be able to be part of that closing ceremony but all the time with the hope that it was not actually closing, it was transforming into another kind of venue.

"It was a capacity crowd and everybody ended up stamping their feet."

Cornishman columnist Fi Read, who has worked at the Acorn for around 10 years, said she felt it had not sunk in for a lot of people that the venue was closing.

"The hardest part about it was people asking if it was really closing," she said after spending her last shift behind the bar on Saturday night.

"It was sad and it was nice to have the support from people that came who did not necessarily come for Kabasa, they were there because they felt it was an important thing to do.

"But it was not until the gig had finished and we had a few bottles of Champagne and we as staff said our farewells and gave a bit of a toast that it really sunk in."

Despite a huge groundswell of support, with more than 3,400 people joining the Save The Acorn Arts Centre Facebook group, it is now closed, with five members of staff made redundant this week.

AN ACT of "desecration" at a war memorial in Germoe has sparked outrage among those who care for the site.

A passing villager was shocked to see a group of young people climbing up to the monument's cross in front of a large crowd.

The man, who did not wish to be named, took this picture of the scene, which he then passed to the parish council.

Parish clerk Colin Chapman said: "We have reported it to Helston police.

"What we want is information about the group and, at the very least, an apology from them."

The memorial to soldiers killed in action was built on top of Tregonning Hill following the First World War.

Upkeep of the memorial is paid for by the local community and in the past five-years about £5,000 has gone into its preservation.

Mr Chapman said he was angered by the lack of consideration for other people and for those killed in the war.

He said: "I'm of the generation who can remember how things were after the war. This is disgraceful."

His sentiments were echoed by the Royal British Legion (RBL).

County chairman Clive Rawson said: "I was shocked to see the photograph. The Germoe memorial lies within the boundary of the Breage branch of the Legion which, along with my capacity as the county chairman, I am responsible for.

"In Britain we take pride in our free society. We have laws to protect people from racial, sexual and religious discrimination yet the memorials in place to honour our fallen have no such protection, leaving them open to an ever-increasing level of abuse.

"To see these young people committing this act of desecration with such apparent enthusiasm defies belief. I am sure that if confronted they would apologise. However, it is a sad indictment of today's society when young people cannot see, without being told, that they are committing a vile act in showing such disrespect to a memorial dedicated to those who have given their lives for freedom.

"It is not just those on the memorial, but also those who remained silent while these antics took place.

"They are all guilty."

A WEST Cornwall midwife who was involved in the delivery of only the second child born to a serving prime minister in 150 years has spoken of her excitement at being part of the historic occasion.

Sharon Tucker, from Illogan, was on an early shift last Tuesday morning when David and Samantha Cameron arrived at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro and just a few hours later, the couple welcomed their 6lb 1oz daughter, who was born by caesarian section.

"When I came on shift the unit was busy," the 51-year-old senior midwifery sister said in an exclusive interview with The Cornishman.

"A colleague of mine rushed me to one side and said: 'Sharon, Sharon come here, the Camerons are downstairs'."

As Mrs Tucker got to the entrance of the maternity wing, she said Mr Cameron jumped out of his car and shook her hand and introduced himself. She then took the couple to the maternity ward where she made them comfortable before the caesarian was carried out.

"He (Mr Cameron) changed into scrubs and I said to him that he looked lovely, just like me."

It was Mrs Tucker who offered them a name book which included many Cornish names. "I was saying that my grandson's got a Cornish name of Sennen after Sennen Cove and they loved it.

"We shared a joke about Jethro and I also taught him a few Cornish words like 'dreckly'," she laughed.

"And because my son was getting married that weekend he even wrote them a card and when I left the ward he gave me a kiss and wished us a lovely wedding."

"I thought to myself I could be really nervous around them and say silly things or I could be myself and do the job I have done for the past 28 years. It was really special to be part of it, a real honour."

Mrs Tucker and her husband Mike have been invited to visit the Camerons at No 10 Downing Street in December.