TheWhistlestop Don’t Forget To Get Your Copy Of

The Whistlestop is the new newsletter from the Whitstone Whistler. It will be available each month when the Whistler is not published. The aim of Whistlestop is to support the Whistler in providing a regular method of communication for Whitstone. We encourage you to use the Whistlestop for: Details of local news and information Publicise details of planned events Advertise dates and times of community group meetings Any small classified ads The 2006 publishing timetable is as follows;:

August Whistler September Whistlestop October Whistlestop November Whistler December Whistlestop January (07) Whistlestop The Whistlestop will be available

for collection from Whitstone Shop

All contact details for the Whistlestop are the same as the Whistler. The best method of contact is by email whitstonewhistler@gmail.com Alternatively, contact any member of the committee (details inside front cover) Please submit articles & information giving as much notice as possible. the whistlestop deadline will be 22nd of the month prior to publication. (publication date is 1st of the month)

Out Sept & Oct In The Village Shop

The Whi ts tone Issue 7 - August 2006

Whistler The community magazine of Whitstone Free to each household

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The Whitstone Whistler The quarterly community magazine for Whitstone The Whistler Committee Chairman: Brian Martyn Tel: 341376 Secretary: Maggie Stanbury Tel: 341332 Treasurer: Richard Horn Tel: 341482 Editor: Daniel Cock Tel: 341114 Publishing Phil Tucker Tel: 341617 Junior Editor: Jasmine Keen Delivery Co-ordinators Pat Nasmyth Tel: 341469 To contact us, or submit an article for inclusion in the Whistler, please email in the first instance to: whitstonewhistler@gmail.com Or by post to: The Whitstone Whistler C/O Seaview Bungalow Whitstone EX22 6LD Or via any member of the committee listed above. Deadline for the next issue - See back cover. For Advertising, please contact Richard Horn (341482) or email whitstonewhistler@gmail.com The Whitstone Whistler is not necessarily in agreement with the opinions expressed in this magazine. The Whitstone Whistler accepts no responsibility for transactions with private or trade advertisers. All information correct at time of going to press. E&OE © All rights reserved 2006.

Raingauge The

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J F M A M J J A S O N D

MonthRa

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ll (m

m) 2003

200420052006

The data is kindly supplied by Margaret Short of Langaton Farm and Roger Pickard Of Seaview. Until June, and with the exception of April, the trend of a few days heavy rain making for a high total rainfall for the Month continued in May (114mm this year Vs only 45 in May last year). However With that said, April, June and July have been the driest for 4 years with only 16.5, 28 and 32mm of rain respectively compared with 68, 36 and 67mm last year. So its anyone's guess what will happen in August remembering the Boscastle Floods 2 years ago !

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Welcome ! To the August issue of the “Whistler” I would like to use my column this month to express my sincere thanks for the help and support that both myself and my fellow carnival committee members received from you all during carnival week. I am sure you will agree with me when I say we had a brilliant year in every way, the weather, the amount of money we have raised for the village, and perhaps more importantly, the great sense of community, enjoyment, and generosity that was apparent at each and every event this year. The response to our first attempt at a “Whitstone in Bloom” was truly amazing. I was surprised when Richard told me how many planters had been collected form him, but to see them all come back to the hall, planted so beautifully and with such care and effort was truly incredible. It was the various events of the carnival week that were filled with the spirit of a community, and I believe that everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and indeed the great social aspect of the various events. So this month I say how fortunate we all are to live in our village where we have demonstrated that community spirit is alive and well, and most importantly enjoyed by all who are part of it. Once again, my thanks to each and every one of you who as always and without question, helped to strengthen our community. I hope you enjoy this issue and as always I look forward to hearing from you, With My Kind Regards

Daniel Cock—Editor whitstonewhistler@gmail.com

Contents

The Whistler Contacts

2

Welcome ! 3

News 5

Carnival 18 19

Church News 14 15

Chapel News 21

W I 11

Postbag 12 13

Brian’s 28

School News 30 31

Diary 23

Stories 32 33

Messages 25

Competitions 16 17

Parish Plan Notice 23

Rainfall 35

Front Cover: This Months front cover picture is by Darcie Chandler.

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‘While I’m in the library, why don’t you two go to the art gallery or the museum,’ the mother suggested to her children. With an expression on his face compounded of three parts distain and one part pity, the boy replied: ‘We don’t want to.’ He went on to add that he didn’t find either art galleries or museums at all interesting, although his description of his experiences of such institutions was more succinctly expressed in the four letter word that begins with ‘c’, ends in ‘p’ and rhymes with strap. Not wishing to create an embarrassing scene in so public a place, the mother instructed her children to wait for her return outside the library. The two siblings, however, had other ideas.

They spent the time of their mother’s absence riding up and down in the lifts that served to ease the burden of the old and infirm who visit the three institutions mentioned above. The nuisance and inconvenience their inconsiderate behaviour inflicted on the lifts’ other passengers was eventually brought to the attention of a security man, who possessed a hissing walkie-talkie, a much-creased newspaper and an alien eye. He was about to rebuke them in blunt terms of his own when the mother emerged from the library. On this occasion the security guard had to content himself with simply escorting the two delinquents and their mother off the premises with a last ride in one of the lifts, this time officially sanctioned. This task completed, he returned to his small, glass-fronted room in the lobby and resumed dispatching the flies that buzzed around him in his sanctuary with his weapon of choice – the well-creased newspaper.

As the mother and her son and daughter crossed the square, the children pretending not to be listening to their mother’s admonishments, the boy abruptly veered to his right. In one swift movement, displaying skills that would have brought credit and the admiration of the crowd to a rugby three-quarter, he’d bent down and picked up a bag that a woman, encumbered with numerous bags and children, had dropped, and returned it to her. This small act of kindness, totally unexpected, and like a shaft of light from a suddenly-riven cloud, revealed that there was, perhaps, some hope that the boy wasn’t completely lost to the dark side; a good deed had been done in an otherwise dark corner of the world.

Strait is the gate and narrow is the way…

By Ean Lawrence

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It was, I think, a Sunday morning towards the end of summer last year. August may even have reached the end of its shift and been replaced by a September eager to take its place. Whenever it was, it was still warm enough to sit comfortably in the garden. I had just finished a late breakfast and was savouring the last half-cup of coffee I had kept in reserve in the cafetiere. This last ingestion of stimulant was to aid me in deciding which bastion of the Sunday papers was to be the focus of my opening assault. I resolved to go straight for the supplements, avoiding the front page headlines fortified with the all-too-familiar tales of human frailty.

One of the topics under discussion in the review section was a radio programme that had included the comments of some children about what they had done during the long, hot summer holiday. One of the children was unembarrassed – and, seemingly, unconcerned about the teasing he might suffer at the hands of his friends, and others of a less sympathetic disposition – about admitting how much, unexpectedly, he and his younger sister had enjoyed an outing to an art gallery that had been organised by their hard-pressed parents. It was some measure of the parents’ desperation that they had hoped to relieve their children’s holiday boredom by an enforced visit to an art gallery of all places. Perhaps this was an entry at the bottom of a long list of activities that the parents had worked their way down in the attempts to dispel the boredom that lay like a dark shadow over the holiday. Nevertheless, it had seemed to do the trick.

This confession reminded me of a brief conversation I had overheard between a boy, a girl and their mother outside a building that housed an art gallery, museum and library under one large municipal roof.

C o m m u n i t y

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Last Night Of The Male Voice Choir !

By Maggie Stanbury Whitstone Male Voice Choir was joined by past members for their final concert at Whitstone Methodist Chapel on May 28th. The chapel was full to capacity with chairs in the aisle and benches in the front porch to hear the choir, led by Mr Wilfred Woodley, give a varied and reminiscent repertoire of the songs they have sung over the years. There were two chair persons for the evening both having travelled with the choir to many locations in Devon and Cornwall. Mrs Anne Rowe chaired the first half of the concert and spoke of their achievements throughout the past 58 years: helping chapels raise money for everything from electricity to pipe organs! Anne, as everyone has come to expect had relevant poems, verses and readings to appropriately intersperse the message of the choir’s songs. Peter Parsons with his usual effervescent energy reminded everyone that the choir’s main aim was to praise God and speak his message through song. Anne Rowe, on behalf of the choir members, presented Mr Woodley with a Cornish Slate Clock in recognition of his unfailing leadership. Mrs Ruth Allen was the soloist for the evening and sang three songs ranging from the very traditional to the

modern. It was good to hear her sharing the wonderful gift of music she has. Likewise, Mr Jonathan Clarke, who accompanied her and also played his clarinet giving a lovely rendition of Love Story Theme music. The choir was melodically accompanied by Mr Tony Littlewood who played the keyboard for the choir for many years and also Mrs Carol Woodley who has been their accompanist of late. Rev Marion Proud gave a vote of thanks which reiterated the true feeling of celebration for a choir which had provided a Christian witness during their 58 years. A faith supper provided by chapel and choir members continued the time of fellowship and many conversations strolled down memory lane Mr Woodley has decided that at 90+ it is time to hang up, not only his meat hooks, but also his song sheets! Having led the choir since its formation in 1947 he surely deserves a rest! It was a memorable evening enjoyed by the largest audience Whitstone Chapel has seen in a long time!

Maggie Stanbury Rev Marion Proud conducted her last service as circuit minister at Whitstone Methodist Chapel on Sunday 23rd July. She was presented with a small gift by the chapel members as recognition of all her hard work for Whitstone Chapel. She has always been enthusiastic and supportive during chapel events and inspirational in her attitude and enthusiasm for setting up Smile Club and The Cell church group which meet at the home of Godfrey and Linda Cole for study and prayer. She will be

missed by us all but as is the routine for ministers they move circuits every 5 years so our loss is Hastings gain! We wish her and her husband Dave well in their new ministry and we will remember them for their cheerful and lively approach to church life. Hopefully they will return to visit us from time to time. Marion has requested to have The Whistler via email so she will be able to find out what we are all up to!

Fond Farewell To Chapel Minister

New Hope For Lower Speed Limit ?

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A recent article printed in the Western Morning News (9th Aug 06) has detailed how the Department for Transport (DfT) has published new guidance for local authorities in setting local speed limits. The article goes on to say how authorities have been asked to specifically review limits on all of their A and B roads, which theoretically should include be the B3254 through Whitstone. The Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman has said: “ Our new guidance encourages lowering speed limits where the evidence warrants it” . Peter

Moore, the chief engineer (transportation) at Cornwall County Council said that the authority had approved its speed management strategy in December 2004 and the guidance from the DfT was “consistent” with work already being done in the county. He also went on to say, “We will review our A and B road speed limits as the Secretary of State requests in accordance with the new guidance. We don't anticipate there would be many changes as a result”.

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with the restrictions that have been imposed on them as the result of the building project, and who are to be commended for their patience and uncomplaining forbearance. The work on the extension continues steadily. The roof is on, the windows and doors are in and the exterior walls rendered and painted. Many of the internal walls have been rendered and plastered, and the debate over the choice of colours for the floor coverings, walls and fixtures and fittings has been settled. On our return to school after the summer holidays, we expect to see that a giant step has been taken towards the completion of the main element of the project. Summer terms are usually busy ones, and this one has been no exception. There have been various sporting events and tournaments, and the children have been on many educational visits, venturing as far as Truro and as near as Bridgerule. On their trip to Truro, they went to the museum and saw the 2,500-year-old mummified remains of an Ancient Egyptian called Ast Tayef Nakht and handled many artefacts from the time of the pharaohs. They also went to Truro cathedral, where they put on the choristers’ robes and the ceremonial vestments of the clergy, including the Bishop’s robes. They also had the privilege of being allowed to sit on the cathedra, or Bishop’s chair. In Bridgerule, they went to the old mill. They looked at the materials used in the construction of the existing mill building (which dates from the Victorian period, although there is a reference to a mill on the site in the Doomsday Book), and learnt about the milling process, the power for turning the grindstones and working the ancillary machinery provided by a water-wheel. While at Bridge Mill, they also enjoyed a walk along the River Tamar and in the adjacent meadows, marvelling at the abundance and variety of insect and plant life. An enjoyable time was had by those who were able to go on the residential trip to Bristol, where, as well as visiting the sights and places of interest in Bristol, the opportunity of being close to Bath was taken and a visit made to the Roman baths there. All in all, a term packed with activities that we’re sure will feature in the children’s recollections in leavers’ assemblies in the future. I would like to end by offering a thank-you on behalf of the children, staff and governors to everyone who has supported the school over the last year. I hope by the time of the next issue of The Whistler to have had the pleasure of welcoming many of you to the opening of the new extension. Paul Woolner - Headteacher (Headteacher)

As you may have seen in the last issue of The Whistlestop the village Primary School would like to form stronger links with the local community. One way of achieving this is to have more people forming links with our school. If there is anyone out there who feels that they could give the school half an hour of their time to hear children read, help them with practical skills, accompany them on village walks etc then please contact the school where the Headmaster Mr Paul Woolner would be delighted to hear from you. School Telephone No. 341241. School starts on September 5th

T h e W h i t s t o n e

Support Your Local School

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The end of the academic year is always an emotional time. We say farewell to those pupils moving on to secondary school and extend a formal welcome to the children who will be starting full-time education in September. For both of these groups of children, it is an exciting and an apprehensive stage in their lives. The part of the leavers’ assembly we look forward to most eagerly - but not without a little anxiety -is when the children recall what for them were some of the more memorable experiences of their time at Whitstone. We shouldn’t really be concerned: all the memories turn out to be happy ones. Perhaps this feeling is best reflected in the number of former pupils who are willing to return to Whitstone for one reason or another. This term, for instance, we have welcomed eight former pupils to their old primary school, who have discovered that the children, from the oldest to the youngest, have coped remarkably well

Summer Holidays Are Here Again !

Helen Chubb A Delightful concert was given recently by the Minstrels and Mini Minstrels of Canworthy Water, followed by a buffet supper. A solo song was also sung by committee member Angela Edgecombe.

A Big thank you goes to all who so generously supported and helped with the evening. £460.00 was raised for Cancer Research UK.

Concert Raises £460 For Cancer Research

Further Minor Accident at Blackspot

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Following a shower of rain after the long dry spell, one motorist ended up on his roof recently at the notorious Green Lane End corners. Although shaken, the driver was reported to be OK.

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The Whistler Wants To Hear From You We welcome your letters, news, views and opinions.

Please send your articles to us either by email (whiststonewhistler@gmail.com) or by post (Address inside front cover) or by hand to any member of the committee.

Please remember to put your name and address on your letter.

WHITSTONE CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY

Whitstone Christian Assembly dates back to 1960 when Chris Peters Senior started a small Sunday School in his lounge at 4, Meadowside.

His aim was to attract children who did not attend Sunday School and teach them the Bible stories.

His hope was that they would receive the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, something he had done as a boy, and which he never forgot because it changed his life.

The Sunday School still continues with the same aim and we would love to see more children join us. Over the years the house church has developed from that small beginning and now meets several times a week. Our aim is to spread the gospel message and also to practice and teach those things that we find in the Bible. Our gospel meeting is at 6.30pm every Sunday.

It is open to everyone and we would be pleased to see you. We preach the Bible message that Jesus Christ is mans only hope of salvation, that his death on the cross is the means by which God can forgive our sins, and that by repenting of our sin and believing in Him we receive eternal life. If you have any queries we would like to answer them so please ring Chris and Margie on 01288 341498 or Andy and Hazel on 01288 341459.

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Brian's More Tales From The author of “Land of Milk & Honey”

More Antiques (From Padstow)

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As you will have seen on the Time Out Competition pages, Our Chairman Brian has managed to obtain what we are all hoping will be the first of many pictures of a celebrity enjoying the “Whitstone Whistler”. The following tale accompanies Brian's picture, Ed.; Pictured on the competition page is Michael Aspel fascinated by the article “Antiques and Unpredictability”, this time at Prideaux Place Padstow in 2006. We may be lucky and get a mention on the road show when it is broadcast in October. Anyone interested in local history will find Prideaux place intriguing , originally built E shaped in honour of Queen Elizabeth 1st. the mansion has 81 rooms, 46 of whom oval bedrooms, only six in use today, the rest left just as the American Army left them after WWII. The Prideaux family are related to the Glenville’s of Stowe Kilkhampton, Stowe mansion was built by the Glenville’s and used for less then 100years then demolished, the best fitments and

grand staircase were loaded on a ship at Hartland Quay and then into Padstow, there is a dedicated bedroom to the Glanville’s still in use. A word of advice anyone looking to collar a personality such as Michael Aspel, he has a technician come minder, get him on your side and it’s easy, I asked for a whole minute which seemed to cause a laugh. Regarding the Antiques appraisals they come in two kinds the valuable and the curios. Mine were both curios, a very small stoneware pot; found when burying a dead sheep, Eric Knowles valuation, - worth the same as your dead sheep!, also one had a large glass bead found in a ladies necklace, found on the site of a cob cottage at home. Not a necklace at all but part of a linen spinning apparatus about 200years old. Value ZERO.!

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District & County Council News

From Bob Booker - District/County Councillor

Traffic Speed Through Whitstone.

Since being elected to the County Council I have continued to support the interests of residents in their wish to reduce the speed limit through the village. This is something I lobbied hard on as your district councillor when together with the Parish Council we managed to have the 40mph extended. I have put in two separate requests through the Divisional Surveyor to have the 40mph reduced to 30mph. I have met on site three times with our divisional surveyors to make my views known. I have personally measured the road in order to compare the situation with adopted policies. Both these requests have gone through the full procedure and have been turned down after appropriate traffic investigations. Current policies do not support a 30mph limit on such roads through villages where adequate footways exist. Previous manually operated speed checks and the results from the recently installed flashing speed visor do not support the need for additional traffic calming measures.

Not being satisfied with theses results on the 26th of July I met Mr Ian Pearne a Senior Traffic Engineer on site in Whitstone. This is the fourth meeting on site I have had within the past year. As a result of this meeting Mr Pearne will have further manual traffic checks carried out on site and investigate the possibility of other measures which could be adopted in Whitstone.

Interestingly despite being in use for some time, the flashing variable 20 / 30 mph speed limits which have been piloted by Cornwall County Council cannot be considered for use elsewhere as they haven’t yet been approved by the Department of Transport.

Cllr Bob Booker cc

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The May meeting of the WI was held in the Methodist Sunday School room, presided over by the President, Mrs Judith Ibbotson. Whitstone WI had been asked by the County Federation to invite members from their link WI to attend the May meeting, as a speaker from the County would be attending to discuss the resolutions. Ten members from North Tamerton attended, but due to unknown reasons, the speaker failed to arrive. After a discussion, the resolutions concerning “Renewable Energy” and “Sport for a Healthy Population” were passed. Mrs Phoebe Medland attended the IGM in Cardiff and voted for both WI branches at the meeting. Mrs Linda Cole attended the Spring Council meeting at Truro. She gave a report to other members. The main speaker for the Truro meeting was Miss Kate Adie, Reporter of the Year and holder of an OBE. She gave an excellent talk about her life; everyone enjoyed her stories, both amusing and serious about her work with local radio and as a journalist. She received a standing ovation from 1600 women in the Hall of Cornwall. The meeting in Whitstone continued with tea and biscuits, the draw was won by Ivy Cann and Sylvia Cox from North Tamerton. The competition for a childhood photo was won by Phoebe Medland and Ivy Cann and Flower of the Month winner was Elsie Short. The June meeting for the Whitstone WI was the Annual Outing, a mystery trip. Mr Howard Ibbotson was driver of the

minibus whilst Mrs Judith Ibbotson mapped the route and navigated. It was a lovely sunny day as the bus travelled further into Cornwall, arriving at Polperro, where a ride on the horse and trap took us down into the fishing village. The lunch break was taken in Polperro. Very enjoyable too!! Afterwards it was time for some shopping. Then members took a walk down to the harbour to take in the views. Back at the minibus, members enjoyed an ice cream, before carrying on with their journey, for a ferry trip to Fowey then back on the road again, through St Austell to St Mawes, with its many boats in the harbour. In St Mawes, members stopped for tea, before it was time to take the return journey home. After a lovely day out, thanks were given to Howard for driving the minibus and to Judith for navigating. The July meeting was held at the home of Ruth and John Mill, where a barbeque was prepared by John Mill, Howard Ibbotson and Godfrey Cole. Ten members sat down for a tasty meal, with various meats and salads and also different sweets prepared by Ruth, Judith and Linda. Afterwards, a short talk was given by Phoebe Medland, about the IGM that she had attended in Cardiff. Thanks were given to the chefs, and also to Ruth, Judith and Linda for preparing the meal. The evening was enjoyed by all. Jean Kendall Kendall.

Whitstone W.I.

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Dear Editor,

As the “new boy on the block”. I could never have envisaged that my life could have been so full of so many new challenges, and the privilege of meeting so many new people; who have become personal friends, (in just one year). When our moving date arrived, I was rushed into hospital (Derriford), with so many arrangements in place, my wife was frantic. Should she cancel or struggle on? Then to our rescue came two wonderful people from next door, Gerry and Marlene Stephens. Our thanks to them will be eternal. It also opened up to use the huge amount of charity work that is ongoing in Whitstone, Trevor Tucker is very enthusiastic in this field. My wife learned from The Whistler about the band of knitters frantically clicking away, to make blankets for the Children’s hospice. Many thanks to Sheila Orchard for giving her the opportunity to join such a worthy cause. I know there are other people doing equally worth while work in the village, to which I have yet to meet. It would be rewarding if the forthcoming meeting by the Parish Council to be held in the village hall on Wednesday 13th September was really well attended. This will be an open meeting to discuss a “Parish Plan”, which will highlight the weaknesses and strengths of the Parish. I have documentation which I will disclose at this meeting on several issues affecting this Parish and others close by. Just to highlight one: - A Health Care Commission held a meeting in Plymouth on 15th June 2006.

THE POSTBAG Your letters to the “Whistler”

Messages To place your message in the whistler,

please contact us by email whitstonewhistler@gmail.com or to any member of the committee

listed inside the front cover

The Big

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St Anne’s Village Hall

To book call Ruby Edgcombe on 01288 341309

Dave and Carol Richardson of Budds Farmhouse Titson would like to say a big thank you to the people that supported their roundhouse sale in aid of Cancer Research. Over the 2 days and 2 subsequent car boot sales they have raised

an amazing £760.

The Hall Committee would like to thank David Fowler for his weed killing success in the hall car park It is much improved.

The next meeting of the St Anne's Hall Management Committee will be held in the Hall on Tuesday 10th October at 7.30 p.m.

Helen Ecott - Secretary

Interview The Big Interview is taking a break this month but will return in the next issue.

CARNIVAL PHOTOS Ivy Cann very kindly has the Carnival Photos on display now for you to browse and

order reprints.

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Dear Editor, As new residents in Whitstone we were very pleasantly surprised by the excellent presentation of this year's Carnival. This was greatly enjoyed by us and we would like to thank the Committee and helpers for such an active and enjoyable week of festivities. Fran and Keith Slade.

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Dear Editor, With all the redevelopment work currently in progress Whitstone C.P. has been a little hectic in the last few months and I have therefore not been in touch with developments within the village as much as I would like to have been. However, whilst reading the Whistler recently two items caught my attention. The first was the campaign to reduce the speed limit on the B3245 through the village and the second was the development of a play park on land to the rear of St Anne’s’ hall.

Both of these issues are important ones for the village and especially for the children attending the school. I would therefore like to offer my support and would be grateful if you could inform me should you feel there is anything I, or the governing body of the school, could do to assist.

P.Woolner - (Headteacher)

This event covered Devon & Cornwall, but for some reasons (not disclosed) North Cornwall was excluded. Unless these issues are dealt with on a democratic basis, it will affect the quality of life of us all in the rural areas. I cannot emphasize enough how important everyone’s support to establish A PARISH PLAN is needed.

Raymond Feltham

Please see the Notice on page 23 - Editor

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An August morning very early, and village and country without ownership. I sit in the rectory garden, musing over a steaming pint of strong tea, as the sun arrives cutting into the interior of the beeches with rapier like beams, making the leaves jump with its brilliance. The first office-cleaners have reached somewhere which won't be called Plymouth for another two hours. Animals profile themselves on the Whitstone horizon, making a nice frieze. Nobody owns them at five a.m. Whitstone Head across the valley looks forlorn in long shadows, so I scan other properties on that side of the valley, Belvedere, Froxton, the chimney stacks of Nethercott and I reflect sadly on friends from our early days in Whitstone now long gone. But at this dawn moment, these interesting properties, as agents call them, are nobody's property, having shrugged off deed and tenure to exist in the freehold of time itself.

Yesterday morning having been sombre with heavy mist, St Anne's Church was swathed in a Himalayan cloudscape. But this morning is God's gift of a morning, and across the valley the early sun bowls along the ridge, is briefly blacked out by the trees at Highbury, then, still low lying, lights up the grey stone of the little church, covering it in gold leaf like Monet's ‘Rouen Cathedral’. Ironically, few are as privileged as those of us living at the Week Green end of Week St Mary with so fine a view of Whitstone's church and, savouring the spectacle, I understand why St Anne's is described in our Church Trails as ‘one of the gems of North Cornwall’.

Long ago, this would have been pilgrimage-time. The roads would have dried up, the beasts would have been turned out, and the seed sown, thus little to do before the hay; so off you went to a shrine. Chaucer's pilgrims set out, South from Southwark to A'Becket's Canterbury in July, and rode into August. But, other early-morning pilgrims, too, would have faced West to Whitstone and walked to its little Church to seek a cure for their ills. Descending the steep path at the East end, where one has a sense of stepping back in time, the same pilgrim feet well may having have cut this route because, six-hundred-and-forty years ago, the church, or at least one of its graves, was a shrine.

In 1358 the then rector of St Anne's, Richard Buvyle, died and was eventually interred in his own graveyard. In life, Buvyle's virtuous and pious disposition had earned him a saintly reputation, so that after his death many came seeking some kind of posthumous blessing at his graveside. And it was here that some of those pilgrims who were sick or crippled reported themselves to have been healed of their infirmities. So widely were these 'miracles' recounted, that the Bishop of Exeter ordered an inquiry to be held at nearby Week St Mary. A jury of twelve examiners then thoroughly investigated ten such reports, and verified every one of them!

Although the cult of 'Saint' Richard Buvyle has long since expired, and St Anne's can no longer claim to be the Lourdes of North Cornwall, it can lay claim to pilgrims of an even more ancient tradition. Hidden away in the hillside at the lower end of the

Ruminations from the Rectory August 2006 Get your event in the diary by emailing whitstonewhistler@gmail.com

Whitstone Waddlers Baby & Toddler Group For Babies - 3 years old Meet in St Anne's Hall

Tuesday 9.30am - 11.30am Wednesday 12.45pm - 3.00pm All Welcome call Kyla 01288 341114 1st Session Free.

Diary

IMPORTANT NOTICE

The Parish Council would like to invite parishioners to a special open meeting to discuss the feasibility of a

PARISH PLAN for Whitstone

The meeting will be held on Wednesday 13th Sept 06 at 7:30pm in St Anne’s The Parish Hall

Your Attendance and views would be appreciated.

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Week St Mary Revel will be held on 16th September and will be a great family fun day with an Oriental Theme. The Procession of the Harvest Queen starts at 2pm at The Green Inn and ends at the Playing Field with the Crowning Ceremony. The Fancy Dress Parade will be Oriental and the Camelford Band will head the procession. Public Tea is the final afternoon event from 4.15pm In the evening we have our usual Live Music Lantern parade from the Square to the Playing Field followed by a Sumo Wrestling Contest. There will be a bar and a disco. Everyone welcome - see local press for further details

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Ruminations from the Rectory August 2006

15 + RevdRob

churchyard is St Anne’s own ancient and particularly beautiful holy well, of which one could believe anything. Few know of its existence, so that it is bypassed unobserved and yet of such antiquity and interest that it is now scheduled as a national monument.1

The well basin itself is of granite, and by ancient reputation has never failed to hold water, even in the longest droughts. That the water remains at a constant level and temperature is confirmed by the delicate mosses, ferns and ivy that continually grow inside the basin around the water-line. Within living memory, its water has been used for baptisms in the church, which has no other source of supply. A small granite chamber, with an arched roof covers the well basin. At the back of this chamber is a greenstone arched niche which once probably held a statue of St Anne, but, more significantly, above it is a crudely carved face of the same stone, but of a much different inception!

This effigy is widely believed to be pre-Christian and the well itself a shrine to the pagan water spirit, ‘Annas’, which would have been venerated by pre-Christian pilgrims long before the Celtic saints set foot upon a Cornish shore. The custom of worshipping springs and wells is certainly known to have characterised pre-Christian religions in Britain, and it is clear that some of the most ancient of Christian holy wells originated as earlier sacred sites in this way. However, Christian custody of Whitstone's holy well is now safely confirmed by its dedication to the legendary mother of the Virgin Mary. And herein lies the paradox; for why, amongst all the possible other well substantiated saints and martyrs of Christian tradition, did this little church receive its dedication to the mythical Saint found in the letters carved into the granite around the archway of the well: ‘Saint Anna’ ?

But now, as holiday makers now begin to swarm into our parishes, we face pilgrims of an altogether different variety, many of whom come seeking they know not what. Even leisurely Week St Mary is not left alone: smart family cars slow down at the square, and then drive on; posh Landrovers, without a trace of farmyard mud on them, crammed with excited dogs and hopeful children; in our village shops working clothes give way to smart casuals with designer labels. What do they seek, these pilgrims to our highways and our byways; an adventure, or something sensed as lost, another myth half-hinted at by an older generation and sustained every evening by the ‘Archers’? In a few days time, on the twentieth of the month, is the celebration of Bernard of Clairvaux, the sagacious and inspired twelfth century founder of the Cistercian monastic order, who once said, “Theirs is an endless road, a hopeless maze, who seek for goods before they seek God.” But, in each of our churches, the books signed by our summer visitors proclaim, also, pilgrimages of the old order and I thank God that he can still be sought and so easily found at such sacred shrines as little St Anne’s Church, and that something of the way of life which we value may be also a key to their re-creation.

Sponsored By

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Please email your answer to whitstonewhistler@gmail.com or hand to any member of the committee or by post,

(address inside front cover) £10 for the first correct entry received.

S o d u k o 3 1 7 5

8 4 9 3 1

9 8 2 4

6 4 2 3

4 7 8 2

2 3 5 9

5 6 9

6 1 2 7

5 4 2 6

There is just one simple rule in Soduko. Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3x3 box. This is a logic puzzle, and you should not have to guess.

Winner: Margaret Peters

Well done to

Margaret, and thank you to the runners up, for your entries.

S o d u k o - Last Issues Solution

1 3 6 4 5 7 9 8 2 8 9 4 2 3 1 7 6 5 7 5 2 8 6 9 4 3 1 3 4 1 7 2 6 8 5 9 2 7 8 3 9 5 1 4 6 9 6 5 1 8 4 3 2 7 5 1 9 6 4 3 2 7 8 6 8 3 9 7 2 5 1 4 4 2 7 5 1 8 6 9 3

Whitstone Methodist Chapel

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A Goodbye message from Rev Marion Proud to all my friends at Whitstone. I can hardly believe that five years have passed since I first came into the Holsworthy Circuit and first visited Whitstone. In that time I have come to know many of you as firm friends and that makes saying goodbye ever more difficult. Rev Rob and Sue Dickenson were among the first people to contact me when I arrived and I still have their card of welcome and encouragement in ministry. The picture on the card is entitled, Farm in the mist-Cornwall and the inscription on the card reads, 'Pockets of mist slowly clear as the first light of dawn casts a warm glow over this Cornish Farm.' Rob wrote a lovely message saying, 'Marion & David, Hope the inscription above is indicative of your unfolding ministry to us.' I have experienced the warm glow of your love as I have come among you. There is something very special about rural life and the support you give each other especially in times of need which I will long remember. There has always been a warm welcome at St Anne's and as I have gone in to lead worship services each month. The music that met me at the door each time, opened up our hearts to the Lord before the service even began. I've enjoyed taking the occasional assembly at Whitstone school and have just had a lovely book of letters saying goodbye from the children. It is a delightful school to visit and you are very blessed in Whitstone with a very special headmaster and teaching staff. I've been delighted at the Chapel to see the dawning ministries of others taking place and I pray that God will continue to bless all the work you are involved in and especially Smile for the young people and Cell Church for the young at heart. My five years here have made a big difference in my life and I don't just mean I've got a lot more grey hairs now, I need the glasses all the time now and my waist line has enjoyed too many Cornish pasties and cream teas! (although all that is true) I came here reliant on God's promises but now I know more of His faithfulness and His grace and love. It has been a time for me of gaining more confidence - not in myself - but in our wonderful Lord. My prayer for you comes from Ephesians And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to all the measure of the fullness of God. May the pockets of mist clear more and more and may the love of Christ dawn bright in our lives more and more - Goodbye and God bless - Marion.

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Most original tableaux and Best in Carnival Cup went to Whitstone free-range field hospital – Stratton YFC. There were two visiting Carnival Queens from Bude and Holsworthy. The winners of the Queen of Queens competition were: Best Queen, and Best Queen and Group, was won by Holsworthy. Mia Worden Holsworthy Carnival Queen wore a laced white dress with a full train from America. Her older attendants Natasha Walter and Isabel Westwood wore full-length dresses of dusky pink, with the little ones, Rihana Ogborne and Eleanor Abbott wearing white tuille layered dresses from America. Winners of the Fairy Queen were Bude. Lauren Eason was the Fairy Queen her attendants were Assumpta Gifford, Phoebe Dymott and pageboy Aiden Dymott. Lauren’s dress was ivory with a purple bolero, attendants were in purple dresses with lilac boleros and

Aiden wore a purple suit with ivory shirt and lilac waistcoat. The Queens were served a Queen’s tea at St Anne’s Residential Home by kind permission of Mr and Mrs J Medland. Many thanks also go to the judges for the day. The entries for the Whitstone in Bloom competition were extremely high and the winners were: First Prize Mr & Mrs A Mills, Second Mr Ean Lawrence, Third Mr Andrew Cowling. Many thanks to John Guest Ltd for their generous support and thanks to Mr T Morris for judging this event. The evening continued with a music and a bar was kindly run by Andrew Adamson at the village hall. The Carnival Chairman Daniel Cock expressed his sincere thanks to everyone involved for all their help during a busy and successful week.

Pictured Left: The popular children's bike race on sports day, and below: Bude Town Band Entertain on carnival day

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Sponsored By

Hooray ! We Have a Photo !

A big congratulations to the Whistler Chairman, Brian Martyn for this,

the first “Celebrity Reader Of The

Whistler”.

Brian managed to catch Michael Aspel at

the BBC Antiques Roadshow in Padstow recently (you can find out more about that in Brians column on page

28)

Can you provide photographic evidence

of a copy of the “Whistler” being read

by a celebrity or someone famous?

Send your entries to us by email

whitstonewhistler@gmail.com or to any member of the committee. (details inside front cover)

Don't forget to carry a copy of the “Whistler” with you - Just in Case!

Whitstone Carnival Pictures

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Above: The 2006 Whitstone Carnival Royalty, and below; the Whitstone in bloom entries on display.

Below Left: The children's sports day management deep in thought, and Below Right: The overall winning float by Stratton young farmers.

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By Julie Tucker Whitstone’s Carnival week began on Friday 14th July with the crowning of the Carnival Queen followed by radio play “Out of my way” written by Ean Lawrence. This year’s Queen is Katie Fry and her attendants are Emily Medland, Amber Sobey and pageboy Daniel Woodward. Katie wore a lilac empire line dress with embroidered bodice and carried a bouquet of ivory silk flowers. Emily and Amber wore lilac chiffon dresses with ivory bodice and butterfly detail, and carried ivory dolly bags. Daniel wore black trousers with a lilac shirt waistcoat and matching cravat. The hall was beautifully decorated for the occasion by Mr and Mrs Fry and family. Stacey Bluett, who was Queen for 2005, thanked everyone who helped her and wished Katie good luck for the forthcoming year. The radio play “Out of my way” was a very entertaining sketch and enjoyed by all. The play was performed by Angela Edgcombe, Daniel Cock, Andrew Adamson, Maggie Stanbury, Pat Nasmyth, Ean Lawrence, Debbie Bishton and Di Hughes.

Skittles were played on Saturday 15th July and the cup winners were the Collins family. On Sunday 16th July a united service was held at St Anne’s Hall, led by Revered Rob Yeomans. The whist drive on Monday 17th July was well attended with 16 tables. The flower and produce show held on Tuesday 18th July, had a high level of entries for 43 classes. Overall Flower and Produce Show Cup Winners for 2006 were: Ladies cup – Pearl Hopper and Jane Wiles Mens Cup – Brian Wiles WI Rosebowl – Margaret Stanbury and Jane Adamson Many thanks go to the judges, Mrs M Stopher, Mrs V Hale, Mrs C Greenaway and Mr E Tribble.

Great Weather, Great Carnival !