Officers

 

Chairman and Librarian: Lewis Hocking  01872 863630

 

Vice Chairman :- Martin Hughes

 

Secretary: Mrs Beryl Hinton  Restharrow, Penpol Hill, Penpol, Truro TR3 6NS   01872 864611

 

Treasurers :- Barry & Kate Gaskill

 

Recorder: Phil Davey  Helenes Cottage, Quenchwell Road, Carnon Downs  01872 865400

 

Committee :- Murray Hinton & Margaret Dale

 

email contact

 

 

 

 

 

Programme

 

Our meetings are held at Carnon Downs Village Hall on the first Tuesday of each month

The meetings begin at 7.15pm

Subscription is £7.50

Visitors £2.00

 

 

2017

 

September 5th. Mr. Tony Mansell. Cornwall - A Land Apart.

 

October 3rd. Mr. Vivian Hendra. 19th Century Truro

in Paintings.

 

November 7th. Mrs. Janet Axton. A History of St. Ives.

 

December 5th. Mr. Mike Edwards. The Lake's Pottery, Truro.

 

2018

 

January 2nd. Social Evening with Entertainment.

Bring-and-share Supper.

 

January 12th. New Year Lunch at the Falmouth Hotel.

 

February 6th. Mr. Colin Retallick. St. Piran and the

Oratory.

 

March 6th. Mr. Duncan Matthews. John Smeaton.

 

April 3rd. A.G.M. Bring-and-share supper.

 

Next Meeting - September 4th. 2018.

 

 

 

 

Report

 

There have been 2 Summer Outings. The first was to the Bodmin and

Wenford Railway for Steam and Cream. It is the only full size railway

with steam engines in Cornwall. We sat in the restored Pullman dining

carriages of the Cornish Belle for the 2 hours and 13 miles journey.

From Bodmin General the train went up to Boscarne Junction where it

stopped for a while while the engine was run round for the return

journey. We were served with freshly baked scones and plenty of jam and

cream and large pots of tea at our tables, which were complete with

table cloths and china. We were able to sit back and relax and enjoy

the views of the Cornish countryside. On the return journey we stopped

again at Bodmin General where there were milk churns on the platform

waiting to be collected and a trolley load of luggage, typical of the

1950s. From there the train went passed the Walker Lines sidings and

reached Colesloggett Halt, a very small, quiet station in the

countryside and then the train went on to Bodmin Parkway which connects

with the main line. From there the train steamed back to Bodmin General

station. Everyone agreed that the Outing was most enjoyable.

The second Outing was to Porthcurno Telegraph Museum. After it was

built in 1870 Porthcurno was the largest and busiest telegraph cable

station in the world for 100 years. The Falmouth Packet boats had

carried messages prior to the development of Porthcurno. The Museum

underwent refurbishment last year and an additional new building was

constructed as a learning centre and to store the archives. Many of the

exhibits we saw were hands-on and we could try out various things.

There were also talks and many displays. It was interesting to hear

about the history of the cables coming ashore on the beach at

Porthcurno. There were examples of the different types of cable used

over the years from the thin cover used over the wires initially which

lead to the cable breaking easily, to the armour plating used

subsequently. We heard about the problems of laying the cables and the

very large ships needed to carry them. Gradually the world became

linked by cables and 14 came to Cornwall. Now 5 fibre optic cables come

to Porthcurno.

We were also able to explore the tunnels used in WW!!. Members agreed

that it was a fascinating Museum to explore.