Truro Day 2014

Truro Day 14 September 2014

 

 We went to Cornwall especially for this event. My wife, Hilary, comes from Truro and has been following websites about Truro and out of them heard about Truro Day which was conceived about six months ago, so 14 September went into the diary. A committee of ten organised every aspect and it all happened at Boscawen Park about a mile out of the city. Altogether it was a very impressive occasion. After attending Truro Methodist Church and stopping for a sandwich and tea in the city centre we headed off on foot along the riverside to the Park. It was a lovely sunny day and lots of other people were going the same way and shuttle buses were travelling forth and back too. 

 

There was a bandstand/stage which was occupied by a variety of performers; groups, choirs and bands all compèred by Hilary’s brother, Justin, in his Roy Orbison outfit. Around the nearby field there were stands occupied by various local organisations and charities. There were bouncy castles and pony rides and the Truro history theme was followed in a tent which housed a large collection of photos. Hilary was signing the visitors’ book when a lady recognised her name and they got talking and during the afternoon she came across several other friends and acquaintances so the time passed quickly.

 

 After buying pastys and tea we listened to the rugby club choir, world champions no less, who concluded their hearty session with ‘Trelawney’, words printed in the programme for all to join in. This piece, ‘The song of the Western Men’, was written by Robert Hawker of Morwenstow who reinvented the Harvest Festival in the nineteenth century and his poem has become a national anthem for Cornwall. There were tributes to the Truro Day committee and that made it clear what a lot of work and skill had gone into putting it together and raising the £8500 needed to stage the event. And 13 September 2015 was publicised for the second ‘Truro Day’. 

      We, and the 1000s of people who went there, had a wonderful time and as we left the Park we were grateful for the shuttle bus that took us the last mile or so into a quiet city centre.

Shropshire Holiday 2014 Final Part

Shropshire Holiday 2014 Final Part

 On Sunday 29/6/14 we went to Church Stretton Methodist Church. It is a very nicely decorated building [see below]. The Revd JV Roberts who is an Anglican took the service and as it was the day of Peter and Paul he took that as a theme with surveys of New Testament teaching and encouragement to learn from those who have preceded us.

After the service I chatted with a very tall gent who turned out to be the Revd Tony Hearle who looks very fit and has been retired for 27 years and is 92! We also met a couple from Wellington, Somerset! We didn’t know them but knew the man's sister who lives near us. They had come up to see a grandchild and the other grandparents came from near Tiverton.

Church Stretton Methodist Church - after the substantial congregation had gone for coffee!

The thatched church in Little Stretton

We went on to have a delicious meal at the Green Dragon, Little Stretton, which had been recommended to us and lived up to expectations. Hilary had the roast beef dinner and I had salmon and we agreed that they were delicious meals. Hazel Ratcliffe and her husband Philip were there too and we chatted with them. Their circuit is absolutely enormous.
    After lunch we looked at the 1903 thatched church nearby with its shepherd trail.We then went back to Church Stretton and went on the Rectory Wood walk and farther on than we had before - it is very pretty indeed with a pool and stream and quite some climb to the top and down again. We looked at some shops and had a cuppa at the cafe near the bus stop and then returned to Wentnor to relax at the campsite.

 

In the Rectory Wood, Church Stretton.

In the Rectory Wood, Church Stretton.

 The campsite was very quiet by Sunday evening. We met a woman who comes from London and finds it wonderful here but is very much attached to London life.

 A red kite flew over earlier, it was high up but there was something about the flight that made me suspect it was not a buzzard and the binoculars showed the forked tail.

We played several games of Scrabble over the holiday; Hilary won every timel!

On our last day of holiday, Monday 30/6/14, we went to Ludlow on a bright day (not ‘amidst the moonlight pale’) that was cool in the morning and got warmer as the day went on. The Park and Ride was a good option and an interesting circuitous ride into town. We walked round the market had a cup of coffee there (much cheaper than Church Stretton) and went on to the castle which covered extensive grounds and there were wonderful views from the top of the keep. Many school parties were there too on history trips. 

 

Ludlow Castle

Ludlow Castle

View from Ludlow Castle

Feathers Hotel Ludlow

Ludlow has blue plaques all over the place and many old half timbered buildings. Hilary was especially taken by the Feathers Hotel but there were many more. The church of St Laurence is huge.

The Methodist Church was refurbished a few years ago and has a cafe where we had coffee and cake. We went across the road to the town house where the Gwyn family lived around 1750. Charles Wesley married Sarah Gwyn.

Ludlow Methodist Church

Ludlow Methodist Church

Blue at Gwyn House

Gwyn House

The ride back was via a school where we picked up many children. Their uniform logos were in different colours which they told us were for their houses - red, white, green... (not very original). A Cornish couple were on the bus too and we chatted with them. We all agreed that Shropshire is very scenic and interesting. We have had an excellent time and the campsite has turned out to have been an excellent choice. It has the basic facilities in a very, mostly, peaceful surroundings.

The market had a bookstall and I picked up a book of Jack Hobbs' memories which should prove to be very interesting and in the bookshop Hilary got a Scrabble dictionary!! She also bought a very nice dress in the market. 

We left on Tuesday and travelled home via Cardiff and spent some time there with Sophie Joy and her parents. We took Sophie on a walk in Bute Park so that Alison could get some sleep. We arrived home about 2130, somewhat tired but very happy after a splendid holiday.

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