PERRANWELL - MONTHLY MEETINGS:

U3A Carrick Group cover a wide ranging area, embracing both Truro and Falmouth centres. Since there is a lack of large meeting places within the district, the U3A determined a need to provide three separate locations for our monthly gatherings.

Perranwell Village Hall:

This is the largest of the halls which we use on the first Wednesday each month, that can accommodate over one hundred people without difficulty. We generally commence from 10.00 am with Tea, Coffee and Networking between friends, served before the main meeting commences promptly at 10.30am. Speakers are booked by Duncan Tribute

 

Bus Timetable Changes for service to Perranwell - 2013:

As from January 2013, First have changed the time of 2A bus (to Helston) from Truro bus station to the earlier time of 9.50am, getting to Perranwell VH at 10.09ish. Returning, there is now a 2A bus, leaving outside the village hall at 11.45ish, or the Royal Oak at 11.49. The 500 only goes from the Royal Oak at 12.12 pm. Basically these buses are on time.

 

Recent Meetings:

2nd January - "Cornish Birds"

John Chapple showed us another of his superb films about Cornish birds. This time he concentrated on rare migrants that had been blown off course by American hurricanes or strong eastern winds from eastern Europe and the Himalayas. The quality of his high definition photography was quite remarkable. It all looked very easy, but he said he sometimes had to wait long periods for a bird to move and display itself.

There were also occasions when he had to down tools and drive quickly across the county when he heard of the sighting of a particular rarity. He gave an interesting commentary as he showed the film. Apart from the fine photography, it was John's knowledge and immense enthusiasm for the subject that made this a rather special presentation. (Tony Herring)

6th February: - "The Saints' Way"

Peter and Maureen Robinson spoke at Perranwell on the subject of walking 'The Saints' Way' from North to South, the 72 mile route across the six parishes of the Cornish peninsular from Padstow to Fowey, as followed by pilgrims from both Ireland and South Wales, heading for Rome or St. Iago de Compostella.  

Over the years, the Robinsons have travelled around England and Europe, sometimes in their caravan, and taken pictures as they went.  This group of slides had been digitised for an illustrated presentation on the computer, with music and sounds such as cows and birds singing.  It was extremely well researched as is all their work.  Each show is produced after many evenings in their own home, going towards the goal.  

Peter was a teacher and headmaster in his career and every word could be well heard. One of the questions after the show asked how many times they had covered the ground.  The answer was 'twice'.  After first showing the presentation to North Kerrier U3A they had walked parts of the route with their local walking group and had arranged for cars to pick up the walkers at the end of the day's stretch of about 5-8 miles. The work on this show clearly went down well with the audience, since they had the unbroken attention of all throughout their presentation!

The Village Hall at Perranwell is to be updated this year, especially the heating, and we have been invited to have a U3A demonstration table at their Summer Fair. (Marion Tapp)

6th March: - "Auctioneering"

Mr David Lay, FRICS, wooed us at the Perranwell Meeting on 6th March.  He knew how to interest an audience with his years as an auctioneer.  He gave an expert valuation, description, history and date of goods laid out on three tables and the stage.  He began with a Lalique bottle which would in perfect condition have been worth £4,000-£6,000 at the present time.  He went on to porcelain and earthenware.  Items which once had a high price but are not now collected were still worth something.

In rapid succession he went from the Chinese who first made porcelain, to English copper warming pans much wanted in 1830, but not now.  From a Japanese vase he moved to European ceramics.  Dresden made china in the white and various well known factories round about did the painting.  He knew the names of the various shapes.  There was a chocolate cup, cover and stand.  These had gone down in value as had the German candelabra.  After nodding novelties he moved to dolls with German porcelain heads.  However an Italian porcelain owl night light was given a higher value.  From a green Mediterranean pot he moved to English companies;  Moore and Co, Royal Doulton at Lambeth, English ironstone, Green & Co with Cornish Kitchen Ware, Honiton 1920's.  It was the connections that made goods more valuable, two stirrup cups, a Pub jug, Eric Revilias, Wedgewood.

He then came to glass and silver, William Commins of London, still collected.  He said that the price of silver as scrap was so high that an article with all that work in it would only bring in another £20 or so.  He said that electroplate had marks which were similar to silver and had to be read carefully.  He liked the punch ladle dating from 1775.  He said that silver picture frames always kept their money even through they were mainly wood with the silver sheet stamped with a design on top.  He looked at two Mersham pipes and a cheroot holder.  He spoke of the Miner's safety lamp used in the coal area as the gas could not pierce the gauze to explode from the lamp.

The next leap was to a box of painted and crochetted doilies.  He thought they were 20th Century, maybe Constance Spry.  There were three silhouettes which he valued at £150. He suggested that those with books or toys should contact his office, as he was not an expert on these. www.davidlay.co.uk

Before he began he was hard at work trying to confirm prices on the internet by using his mobile phone.  We are going to follow up the broadband which is available at the Hall to understand how we can use it.

Other items he found interesting were old newspapers and a Pears Annual, Edwardian brown trays and Christian Dior jewellery. He picked up and examined a silver bracelet with theatre box tickets and two silver seals.  These items were priced quite highly.

He stopped to break and cock a pair of pistols with Duncan Tribute and the excitement went on and on. 
Apart from stopping to crack a joke or two he did not stop until 12.15 pm, when after thanks he made a hurried exit.  I am sure we all felt it had been a wonderful morning. Marion Tapp

3rd April: - The U3A Carrick AGM

A sunny, but fresh morning, free refreshments and the prospect of further entertainments drew in over 130 members to participate in the Annual General Meeting. There's a detailed summary in 'Chairman's Comments'. Just click on this link!

1st May: - Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust

Eurocopter EC-135 'Helimed 181'taking off from Perranporth Beach

Jackie Eastwood, a member of the CAAT promotion team, together with colleague Becky Wise, undertook an update presentation to our monthly meeting, in the knowlege that some members had recently visited their new hanger and operations centre at Newquay Cornwall Airport. Jackie was careful to explain that recent publicity regarding the transfer of the nationwide military-based Search and Rescue services to a private operator would have no impact upon the Air Ambulance across the country.

However, the Cornwall Air Ambulance have also announced some major changes, due to come into operation by the end of 2014, when they contract their helicopter service from a new operator, Medical Aviation Services, to replace Bond Helicopters who have been supporting the operation for some years. Part of the change has been due to a change in aviation law, which will now permit some night flying, together with an expansion to operate two helicopters from their new Newquay base. These two machines will be McDonnell Douglas MD Explorers and like their present equipment will allow operation to any part of the county within twenty minutes flight time and to the Isles of Scilly within twenty -eight minutes.

This will place greater strain on funding, with their annual operating costs being in the region of £2 million per annum. The average cost per shout is now around £700.00

A vote of thanks, spoken from the heart, was offered by Bob Wicks, as a grateful past customer of their service!

A Grateful Postscript:

Dear Duncan
 
Re: Cornwall Air Ambulance Donation
 
Many thanks for the sum of £81.19 received from your members, as a donation to the Cornwall Air Ambulance following our recent talk from Jackie.
 
The air ambulance benefits the whole community in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and has been flying since 1987 thanks to donations like yours. This very busy helicopter and its dedicated paramedic air crew attend around 1000 emergencies each year, and in some cases, the time saved can make a significant difference to the treatment options available to them, long term prognosis and patient outcomes. Many individuals and families write and thank us, and it is on their behalf that we are thanking you.
 
To find out more about the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, please visit our website www.cornwallairambulancetrust.org, where there is a lot more information about fundraising, events and the work of the air ambulance in Cornwall.
 
Once again, many thanks for supporting the Cornwall Air Ambulance, it is very much appreciated.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Susie Smith, Fundraising Manager
Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust
Email: susie@cornwallairambulancetrust.org

 

Forthcoming Meetings:

5th June:

Steve Huxley will be speaking about the work of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, based at the Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre at Falmouth

3rd July:

Steph Haxton, with extensive knowledge of Cornwall in the Middle Ages will be speaking about "Siege & Surrender - Fortress Falmouth"

 

 

For all activities, please check our Google Calendar to confirm dates, times and location

Groups Coordinator - Jon Skelton or (01872) 865316