....The Curates Egg with an Invitation

"There's no such thing as a free lunch." So the saying goes. But this month, on Saturday 25th at St John's from 1200
- 2.00pm, that's exactly what is on offer. A free lunch, which is free for everyone - young, not-so-young, young-atheart,
and in between. Yes, everyone. You are all invited to come along for a slice of pizza - or several - from a selection, all of which will be freshly cooked by our very own pizza chef(s), and all of which will be accompanied by a choice of hot or cold drinks.
And the reason? There's this building, St John's, in the heart of the village. A building which, over the years, has had a lot of love and care lavished on it by generations of families and villagers. In more recent years, a lot of thought, planning and fund-raising went into re-vamping it inside, so that it was more adaptable, able to be used for a wide variety
of activities and functions, not only by the church but by anyone, in its new, additional role as Community Rooms. There are currently a few groups that use St John's on a regular basis, but for the most part, although still lovingly cared for, it sits closed, empty and unused. The Church Council (elected church members who are responsible for the
general oversight, maintenance and use of the building) feel that this is a great shame, a waste of a valuable resource. What do you think? Are there ways in which St John's could be used, which it isn't at present? Are there opportunities that we're missing? Possibilities we're overlooking? What do you think?
We invite you to come to Pizza Plus and share your thoughts and ideas, in an informal gathering, over a bite or two of lunch. Come when you can, stay as long as you want. Eat as much pizza as you are comfortable with.
Let's dream dreams together. And let's turn at least some of them, one day, into realities.
See you there - St John's , Saturday 25th , any time between 1200 noon and 2.00pm
Your priest and friend ,
Revd Deryn Roberts

FROM THE METHODIST MINISTER

One of the buzz phrases in our Coalition Government Circles is 'The Big Society' which I understand to be David Cameron's attempt to put a focus on local communities for caring and decision making. We can only wait and see how it works out nationally and locally.

As I move around the various communities in the course of my work I receive many comments about the life and carein the Oelabole community of which many are envious. People often say to me that Delabole is an example of a good community. This was exemplified in our Carnival Week - it would be interesting to know how many different people attended the events in the Carnival Marquee. The climax of Carnival Week was of course the Carnival itself in which the majority of the participants were from our own community.
Community events do not of course just happen and behind each event are a band of hard working folk, usually enjoying what they are doing, giving of their lime and skills to make possible all that we share in. To all those who were involved with Camival Week in any way I will take this opportunity to say 'Thank You' on behalf of us all
The contrast to our Delabole experience of community is that which one hears of occasionally when people express that they feel lonely in some of our urban areas. l once had a work colleague who went to visit his mother in the London area once a fortnight and he was the only person that ever visited. As she was housebound, or rather flat bound, she was reliant on that visit for her supplies of food and household essentials. In between visits their contact was by telephone.
As I write I am conscious of one of the stories in the Bible which you will find in John Chapter 13. In the story Jesus undertakes the menial task, which would not be expected of a visiting teacher in those days, of washing his friend's feet and insisting on doing so despite their protestations. He then went on to telf that that he had set an example for them what he had done they should be prepared to do for each other. later in the conversation he told them that they must love one another as he loved them. Here within a friendship group is an example of how 'community life' is meant to be as we genuinely share in 'loving care' for each other giving and receiving according to our life situation.

Good experiences of living in communities are valuable to all of us but it involves us all in having positive attitudes to it. Hopefully we all value living in our Delabole Community.

Every blessing,
Bryan Ede

P.S. We all have an opportunity of sharing in community life through our Village Harvest Festival Celebrations on Friday 17th and Sunday 19th September. The Harvest Supper with entertainment will be held at the Methodist Church on the Friday evening at 7p.m. Our Sunday Celebrations will be a Family Service at the Methodist Church led by Rev. Deryn
and myself at11a.m., and a Songs of Praise with Camelforcl Band at SI. John's at 7p.m. Come and join the Community
Celebration.

The History of the Methodist Church in Delabole

The History taken from "Delabole in the Days of Yore" written by the late Cyril Hicks, recounting some of his recollections of life in Delabole. Here are a few details from his book:

In 1784 John Wesley sent Adam Clarke to Delabole Quarry to preach and the spot was named after him as 'Clarke's Hole'. It is still known as this, even today.

The first Methodist Chapel was built in 1806, when Robert Blake. Quarry Owner, gave John Wesley land, materials and £40 to build it. The first Bible Christian Chapel was built in 1835, on the site of our Sunday School and the new Chapel was built in 1863.

The United Methodist Free Church was built in Grove Street in 1839, and moved to new premises in 1865. The new Wesley premises were built in 1869 and St. John's Church in 1881.

In 1979 the decision was made by the three Methodist Churches - Wesley. Pengelly and Medrose. to form one Society and in 1980 the merger took place. The Medrose building was renovated and modernised and became the Delabole Methodist Church - and that was almost 25 years ago. How time flies!

Two years ago we took on a large project to modernise the Sunday school building, which is now light and airy and well heated. Last year we decided to replace all the window in the Chapel. This work has now been completed. Enough of buildings!! - We were very pleased to be part of the Tsunami Fundraising events - hosting the Band Concert and Auction at the Chapel. It is great to be part of such a caring village community.

Patricia Molloy (Steward).

Local News & Photographs

‘Invisible sheep’ graze the cliffs at Tregardock!

Local farmer Janet Cant, in partnership with the National Trust, is currently grazing the cliffs at Tregardock with her sheep.  But these are not ordinary sheep; they are beautiful little Hebrideans; a now rare breed, which was once common in the Scottish Highlands and Islands. 

Hebrideans, being adapted to the extreme conditions of north-west Scotland, are able to cope with, even thrive on, poor vegetation and to tolerate cold, wet weather.   In terms of these abilities they are almost on a par with wild animals and, in fact, are thought to be very similar to ancient, primitive, prehistoric types of sheep (and indeed their wild ancestors).  It’s not difficult to imagine travelling back in time, to a point before Christianity took hold, to find similar beasts grazing this very same area.

But venture down to Tregardock Beach or walk the coast-path there and you might not spot them easily, for this breed is not the usual white but a dark brown, almost black, in colour (Janet, incidentally, produces fleeces and blankets in these natural colours as part of her business).  In combination with their small size, these animals can therefore be almost invisible, their dark tones blending in well, in camouflage with the varying backcloth provided by gorse, heather, bare earth and slate alike.

We therefore ask local people and visitors to take great care when walking dogs on these cliffs, particularly if your pet is likely to chase sheep.  Dogs chasing sheep on the cliffs are a real danger to the sheep and a disaster for the farmer.  This can also be a danger to the dogs themselves, however.  As they charge in excited pursuit, they can easily loose their footing and topple off the cliff to be injured or killed.

These sheep will bring much more life back to this special place.  By grazing and browsing, coarse grasses and scrub, they will increase the number and variety of colourful wildflowers, butterflies, insects and birds on this site. 

Wild-looking Hebridean sheep are, however, an attractive feature in their own right.  They bring additional colour, interest and beauty to Tregardock, hopefully enhancing and enriching the visitor experience for locals and holiday-makers alike!

Derek Lord
National Trust Area Warden
(Contact telephone number: 01208 863821)

Plastic milk bottle tops.

It is time that I gave you an update on what is going on with my plastic milk bottle tops.
I nearly reached my first tonne back in March and the company I send them to, sent me a cheque for £80 which I have passed on to the Falmouth branch of Guide Dogs for the Blind.
When I started collecting progress was slow, but word has got around and it is picking up well now. The good news is that plastic milk bottle tops are coming in from all over Cornwall, and beyond. Sacks full, which I pick up from Penryn, Illogan, Tresillian, Bodmin, Falmouth, Truro and so on. The bad news is, we are now in a financial depression and our recycling factory has said not to send any up at the moment as the market is so bad he will not be able to give me a good price for them. He was going to pay £100 a tonne as they are so well sorted, 'clean' is his word.
At this time I am still collecting, sorting, double bagging, labelling, weighing and then storing all the tops in an empty garage. I don't know what I will do if I lose this garage, as I may well do if the house is sold. Currently I have one and a half tonnes ready to go, that's 210 black sacks full. I still have at least another tonne to sort, bag etc., which, given time and patience I will get around to.
Please, for now anyway, keep saving your milk bottle tops, only plastic milk tops will do as it is only this type of plastic that I send up to Bridgewater for granulating.
I will let you all know when I can again start sending them up country.
For now anyway, thanks for collecting and keep up the good work.
Sue Theobald

BOOKS of LOCAL INTEREST

New Book of Cornish Poems
about
Delabole and North Cornwall
by Cornish Bard Tim Saunders

Tiredh Ughel
High Territory

The book is published in digital format here

'Legacy of the Sphinx'
by
Michael Goulding

You may Order the book now at Amazon.co.uk

NOW AVAILABLE ON KINDLE – CAN BE DOWNLOADED DIRECTLY ONTO YOUR PC 
    Visit www.legacyofthesphinx.com
Still available on Amazon, this book has alrready sold1000’s of copies and is set in North Cornwall in the fictional area of Tregellan. The story features a number of familiar local places and landmarks and its author, Michael Goulding (we knew him as Jeff Goulding – former editor of the original “Lancer” and author of the Insider Guides) tells us:
“The book’s web site now includes one of the many radio interviews I was asked to participate in, as a result of which, the book has attracted considerable international attention. The follow-up to the story: “Angel of Death”, again featuring Connor Tremayne, a controversial former Jesuit Priest, is completed and currently being read and assessed by the Headline Publishing Group (formerly Hodder and Stoughton); and several large U.S. publishers.
‘And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and he that sat upon
        him, his name was death. And hell followed with him.’
                          Revelations Chapter 6, Verse 8

The story opens with the crucifixion by a hooded man, of a group of Islamic terrorists responsible for the kidnapping and public execution of an American oil executive and a British member of the Red Cross. The event is filmed and later televised; and the savagery of the retribution and the anonymous man’s use of biblical quotations and imagery attracts the attention of the world.

The identity of the hooded man becomes the most sought after and talked about in Western Europe for years and Connor Tremayne, the man responsible, is later called to account for his choice of execution by the Head of Decree Four, the Jesuit dominated, secret Organisation of which he is a member. His Superiors are concerned that the Roman Catholic Church should not be associated with the event. At that meeting, Connor is also briefed on an assignment that is nothing less than to attempt to save the human species from the greatest threat it has ever faced.

His task is to break up the elite Group whose aim is to create and control an artificial intelligence, the existence of which threatens to engulf and destroy us all. And it is one that will bring him face to face with the men who caused the death of a woman once very close to him. Their headquarters are contained within a skyscraper block in the financial area of downtown Manhattan, in New York . . .
     Visit the web site : www.angelofdeath.co.uk

Visit www.legacyofthesphinx.com

Connections
Aspects of the History of North Cornwall
by Catherine Lorigan
.This book examines a number of aspects of the history of North Cornwall. These include the probate records of St Teath parish, music and musicians, buildings, emigration and potters and pottery. Not least, it explores the lives of men and women who dwelt and worked in North Cornwall and the histories of some who, born there, later moved away to London, Oxford and as far afield as Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America to seek their fortunes. These themes in­terlink and provide the raison d'etre for the title of the book.
350 pp, 100 black and white and 25 colour illustrations                ISBN-978-0-9554792-1-2

Books may be ordered from
Pengelly Press, 2 St David's Close, Caversham, Reading, Berks RG4 7PX
at £22 per copy
+ £4.50 postage and packing (one copy)
+ £7.00 postage and packing (two copies)
Please make cheques payable to Catherine Lorigan

Pengelly Press, 2 St David's Close, Caversham, Reading, Berks RG4 7PX
E-mail: catherine@thelorigans.demon.co.uk

A book about Delabole has been written by Catherine Lorigan PhD.
Described as "The History of the Slate Quarry and the Making of its Village Community"

Priced at £14.99 plus £3 postage and packing is available by mail order from
Pengelly Press, 2 St Davids Close
Caversham, Reading, Berks. RG4 7PX
Please make cheques payable to Catherine Lorigan

The book is also available from all good bookshops
and The Visitor Information Center at Camelford

We hope to publish an extract from the book occasionally

Nothing Broken
Recent Poems in Cornish Edited by Tim Saunders

A long‑awaited collection of poetry written in Cornish in the last twenty years.
A coming of age for the Cornish language and its literature.
Eighty poems by twenty‑eight authors,
brought together by the celebrated Cornish poet Tim Saunders.
The poems are accompanied by parallel translations into English.

Nothing Broken will be available at the end of August at £10. 99 Paperback 205 pages ISBN 190342 7304. Take advantage of the pre‑publication offer only £9 with free postage and packing ‑ until the end of August.

Webbys note: Tim is a former Delabole boy who now lives in Wales.
He is one of the leading poets writing in the Cornish language today.
and has also produced poetry and other work in Welsh, Irish and Breton as well as in Cornish.

Also available The Turn of the Ermine a Bilingual Anthology of Breton Literature.
Selected and translated by Gwyn Griffiths and Jacqueline Gibson.
This important anthology brings together for the first time numerous Breton language texts and other extracts that illuminate Breton culture over two millennia; plays, folk tales, ballads, lives of saints, stories and poems. A strikingly original work that allows the reader to discover the secrets of the Breton soul.
Essential for anyone interested in Cornwall's sister language.
Paperback 506 pages ISBN 190342 7282 £20 out now.

Air Ambulance Charity Shop

We hope by the time you read this the shop will be back to normal opening times.
Apologies for the disruption caused by the snow and ice.
The takings for Nov 2009 were £1648.05. This included a donation of over £400.00 in memory of Yvonne Baycock who was one of our helpers. Thanks to Half Acre Art Group who raised this money.
December sales and donations amounted to £1037.07, which included £120.00 from the `Dragon' and 'Christmas' raffles.
Thanks once again to every one who helps, in any way, to keep the shop open.

BOOK SALE
All hard back novels 25p each or 5 for £1 during February

Opening hours are posted on the door but are, subject to the availability of our volunteers.

Click on an image for a larger Photograph

Delabole First Responders receive a cheque from the Carnival Committe photo by David Flower	The First Snow of Winter 10am Friday 25th November photo by Chris Hore
Don't forget to feed the birds this winter photo by Chris Hore	Camelford Carnival Nough Said photo by David Flower
Delabole Carnival Queen at Camelford Carnival photo by David Flower	Delabole Football Club The Ghost Train at Camelford Carnival photo by David Flower
Camelford Carnival Emily Jane's and Flowers from Bruallen photo by David Flower	Recent aerial of Delabole
Roughtor looking from Delabole