Welcome to Golant Cornwall

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On the evening of Saturday 27th January a serious investigation took place at the Fisherman’s Arms Public house in Golant after the body of a senior Inland Revenue official was discovered. Police investigations revealed that the man had been bludgeoned, stabbed, strangled, drowned, shot and poisoned to death.

After the usual suspects had been rounded up, and a vigilante group of investigators had quizzed all, it was determined that a barman, known locally as ‘Legs Johns’ had performed the beastly and grizzly crime. As yet, no motive has been ascertained.

Police investigations were somewhat hampered by the large numbers of locals, many of whom had taken drink, who gathered to witness and comment on, the gruesome proceedings.

A big thanks to Steve and Ann Marie at ‘the Fisherman’s’ for all the hard work that they put into organising this event.

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Maurie and Gail have been having a visitor who feels a little sorry for itself. A juvenile
Barn Owl (pictured above) with a damaged wing has been regularly visiting their terrace.
The Bird can fly well and looks in good condition; this is surprising given its injury and the wet weather which Barn Owls hate, as it prevents feeding.
Super photo Maurie!
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In July this year the first ever 'Ascot by the Sea' Race Night was held at the Fishermans Arms. The writer was refused admission for not being posh enough, but, as consolation, he was given a selection of fantastic photos. An arbitrary choice is pasted below.

Belated thanks to Richard Strode for the super pictures.










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05.06.09 The Air Ambulance uses the Village Green as an impromptu landing field. A visitor who had fallen in the Village was airlifted to Truro Hospital.

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HUG A TREE

We all shrink a little in height and expand in girth as time goes by, but for a tree to be old and fat is no disgrace, in fact these are now sought-after features.

The great Ancient Tree Hunt is on; part of a national five-year project to find and map all the ancient trees across the UK. Why this interest in very old trees? There are more ancient trees in the UK than anywhere else in Northern Europe. Cornwall may be one of the least wooded areas in Britain but it is one the richest for ancient and significant trees. These trees may have been around longer than our historic houses and some are historically important in their own right. As well as being rich habitats for wildlife, (oak trees are host to more than 500 species of flora and fauna), great trees can be important markers of previous land use, indicating early field boundaries, the last vestiges of an ancient deer park, orchard or holy site or incorporated in the gardens of a great estate. Some have personal interest, did you ever carve your name and that of a loved one on an old Beech Tree? Colvithick Woods shelter one such beech tree with the date 1922 carved on it and similar messages survive elsdewhere from the 19th Century.

Last November I joined a group of interested individuals, Parish Councillors, Tree Wardens, and keen tree-huggers for an Ancient Tree Hunt training day at Lostwithiel’s imposing Community Centre. We were shown where to look for really old specimen trees, how to measure them and to record them on the Ancient Tree Hunt website. We were also given advice on maintenance, what to do and not to do, and some popular myths were dispelled. We then looked at some ancient oaks on the Restormel Estate, two of which were thought, by our experts, to be more than 400 years old, connecting us to the Civil War, Cromwell and the Stuarts and possibly even the Tudors.

If you want to take part in the hunt then ancient trees are most likely to be found in isolated positions rather than deep inside woods. Hedgerows, Fields, Parkland, and the perimeter of woods are the places to look. If you find something interesting you can simply measure it in ‘hugs’; the British Standard Hug is fixed as 1.5 metres.(5 ft.). The distance from finger tip to finger tip is approximately the same as your height. Measure the tree at chest height, trying to avoid any lumps and bumps. Anything over 3 hugs, depending on species, is likely to be of interest. More accurately measure it with a tape, photograph it, and record its position on a map, and then enter the details at the Great Tree Hunt website or contact Loveday Jenkin, details below. One word of caution, do not enter private land without the owner’s permission, but note any likely-looking tree which is visible from a public right of way. Owners can be traced by the Project Organiser and arrangements made to measure the tree.

Remember, you don’t have to be barking mad to hug a tree anymore.

In Cornwall this project is being co-ordinated by the National Trust, Cornwall County Council and the Great Trees of Cornwall Project.

Useful addresses:-

Great Trees of Cornwall Project Officer is Dr. Loveday Jenkin, Kennels Office, Lanhydrock Park, Bodmin, PL30 4DE. Tel. 01208 265276 or email her at loveday.jenkin@nationaltrust.org.uk

Woodland Trust, Autumn Park, Grantham, Lincs. NG31 6LL. 01467 581111 www.woodland-trust.org.uk (The Woodland Trust own Lantyan Woods, most of which is within our Parish.)

One Cornwall (CCC), County Hall, Truro, TR1 3AY. 01872 222000. Colin Hawke, Natural Environment Service, and Ann Reynolds, Historic Environment Service.

The Ancient Tree Hunt recording form can be downloaded from www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk or completed on line and you can follow the links from Golant’s own website, www.golant.net.

Books to read,

Trees of Britain and Europe. A Field Guide by Alan Mitchell.

Trees and Woodlands in the British Landscape by Oliver Rackham. An historical perspective.

I’m a bit of tree-hugger myself so I will be happy to answer any questions.

Stuart Young, Telephone 01726 833688, or email cspyoung@googlemail.com

New Community Police Officer

PC Phil Dingle has taken over as our Community Beat Officer. Phil introduced himself at the June Parish Council meeting and described his experience, policing, in the past, Truro and the Clay Villages. A warm welcome was extended and everyone was pleased to hear that Phil is committed to this post for at least 3 years. Phil can be contacted via St Blazey Police station on 01726 815141 or, 0172677444 24hrs.

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The driver of a fork lift truck had a lucky escape when his vehicle overturned on the Cormorant Hotel driveway recently. The only damage was to the Cormorant's signboard.

The current situation at the sewage works is illustrated by the following letter from Mr Richard Strode. Chris Loughlin
Chief Executive
South West Water
Peninsula House
Rydon lane
Exeter
EX2 7HR

Dear Sir,
        I am writing to you personally in order to make you aware of the serious shortcomings regarding the installation of the sewage system at Golant, Cornwall PL23 1LN.
        This scheme ( at a cost of 1.7 million pounds) has been beset by technical and operating problems and is currently not working due I understand to pump failures. As a resident of Golant I attended all public meetings on the matter and was assured at several meetings that the scheme would work and despite my considerable reservations, that pumps installed in the village to move sewage to a newly created treatment works some 300 feet in elevation above the pumping station would operate satisfactorily and also emit no odours. Unfortunately neither is true and after twelve months of disruption to village life whilst roads were dug and the system installed, the village, despite your assurances to the contrary is now faced with a visit from a tanker up to five times a day to empty waste from the pumping station. This involves access down a narrow single track lane and further noise and disruption to village life.
      It seems from the meetings held with South West Water that no individual in your organization is prepared to accept ownership, responsibility or culpability for the scheme and this is totally unsatisfactory.
      Would you please be kind enough to provide me with an explanation of why the scheme does not work, how quickly the defective pumps can be repaired or replaced and what assurances you are able to give on the ongoing satisfactory operation of the system.
      At the same time I believe it wholly reasonable to ask for a reduction in the sewage treatment part of my water rates as compensation for the ongoing disruption in Golant.
     Yours Sincerely
     Richard Strode.

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Although work on the sewage scheme has finished the parish council and its advisor’s are far from happy with the performance of the installation. There are two specific problems, the first is that the noise levels at the pumping station are running considerably higher than plan. The council was assured by South West Water (SWW ) that noise output would be minimal and surveys by SWW and confirmed by Cornwall County Council as part of the planning process allowed a specified a decibel level of up to 35. Initial consultation documents indicated that there would be a decibel level of 19. As the actual decibel level is at 39 then quite clearly there is much work to be done in achieving the targets agreed.

A more serious problem is that the pumping station seems unable to deliver the raw sewage to the treatment plant and that somewhere between the two there is a massive infiltration of rainwater into the system of approximately 150 tonnes per day. Dye tests to trace the loss are being conducted as this article goes to press and a remote camera that inspects the entire length of the foul sewer pipe is scheduled to arrive for inspection work to be completed in the next few days. St Sampson Parish Council is extremely fortunate in having an retired process engineer living in the village and he is working exceptionally hard in attempting to get SWW to resolve these problems. One of the principal difficulties is that SWW appears to sub contract the majority of its process engineering work to a separate company and they in turn sub contact out yet again. Finding an individual to take responsibility is therefore extremely difficult. A further site meeting is due in early February and if the outcome of this is not satisfactory the parish council intends to register an official complaint with SWW and the corresponding regulatory bodies.

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The village hall will continue in 2008 with its successful soup kitchen. Held each Thursday from midday delicious home made soup, a roll and great company is available at a nominal cost of £ 2.00. The soup kitchen has proved immensely popular, is open not just to villagers but to all visitors to the village and comes highly recommended. (now transmogrified, in summer months, to the 'Salad Bar' )

Salad bar Thursdays !!

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Another Great Fireworks night

Golant enjoyed a fantastic display this year. Large crowds enjoyed an amazing and extensive show. Our thanks to Sharps Brewery of Rock, Cornwall for sponsorship and for the Doombar Ale. A big thank you is also due to all the hard working organisers and helpers.

Cider Making starts again

Its that time of year and the photograph below shows the revival of the old cider making traditions in the village. We hope to report on the tasting in the spring!! photo courtesy M Parsons

Its an aerial theme this month, we has some great views as the red arrows did their routine over Fowey and then a young lad fell on the rocks at Cliff and was taken to hospital by air ambulance which landed on the village green. he was discharged later that day.

above photo courtesy A Bar

Steam Train

Monday 29th May saw the first steam train for many years on the Lostwithiel to Fowey line. Large crowds gathered in Golant to see the train go past.

Easter festivities attracted a large crowd and entries for decorated eggs, Easter bonnets and egg rolling were numerous.

Decorated egg winners Claire Couch,Jake Allin, Hayley Hodges and Jasmyn Hodges

Childrens Easter Bonnets

Egg rolling

Egg throwing, the cup winners 2006

Wednesday 7th December 200?

The day that the snow came ! Every 10 or so years we get real snow in Golant, Friday 29th November it came with vengeance. The village was accessible only in 4 x 4's and those people who managed to make it as far as Castledore abandoned their vehicles for the night and walked the rest of the journey.

Wedenesday 30th November

The Harvest Festival included a fund raiser that gave villagers the opportunity to buy into cider making. Guided by masterbrewer Ted Luck and haid cider press a small group purchased shares in the project and have in the past few days pressed the first apples. The results will be interesting and I hope that in my capacity of webmaster that I will be entitiled to taste the final product and the report on it. Two pictures below show thefirst press of apples.

Monday 25th July

We are pleased to announce that the Golant village website has won the bronze award for the best website in Restormel. Its good to see a small village with a non outsourced website from such a large number of entrants receiving such an award. Size isn't everything !

Tuesday 21st June

Castledore Rowing Club has opened its new clubhouse. Ed Coode olympic gold medallist is pictured alongside Rosemary Knapp national manager Amateur Rowing Association, Marylin Wellman Mayor of Restormel, Peter Welch club captain and Alastair Barr club chairman. (photo courtesy of jonathan barker)

and the new building is now officially open (photo courtesy Jonathan Barker)

Wednesday 4th May 2005

The annual parish meeting was held on Thursday 21st April and the minutes of this meeting appear in the parish council minutes page of this site. The meeting was preceded by a presentation from South West Water (SWW)on the sewage treatment works. Many of the questions asked by villagers were not answered by SWW but they have subsequently attended an additional parish council meeting held on Tuesday 3rd May and have now produced what appears to be the best compromise plan for all for these works. The key elements of the proposal are as follows: The pumping station will be located to the north side of the gallery and the wooden sheds there are to be demolished. The treatment works will be at "Harrys Field" at the top of the hill around 200 metres from the church. A pipe that will connect the two sites will follow a path along the pill, up water lane, up school hill past the church and then left into the treatment works. These works will mostly be underground and will be visible to no more than one metre above ground level. The pumps at the bottom of the village will also be underground although a control panel will be located above ground. At this time the majority of the villagers seem to be content with the proposals. Work is scheduled to start in mid September and last until the end of the year. A planning application will be submitted later this month.

The subject of pay and display parking was also discussed in detail and the parish council has undertaken to constantly monitor and review the issue.

Monday 25th April

It is with deep regret that we report the passing away of Daphne Jennings. Daphne was a much loved and respected member of our community and our thoughts and condolences go to her husband Tony and their family.

Monday 11th April 2005

"Probably the most talented artist and best event ever staged in the village hall" was one of many similar comments about the Gordon Gilltrap concert to a packed village hall on saturday evening. Could a guitarist keep an audience interested for nearly 2 hours ? you bet he could in the most awesome demonstartion of guitar playing . Thankyou to Gordon , an internationally recognised artist for coming to Golant.

Wednesday 23rd March 2005

Pay and Display is now in operation for the main car park alongside the quay,this will not make any effective reduction in the number of spaces available so its very much business as usual.

Friday 11th March 2005

It is with great sadness that we report the sudden,tragic and unexpected death of Phil Reardon. Our deepest condolences and thoughts go to his wife Sue and their family.

Everybody knew Phil, he was an immensely skilled wood turner and also wrote the script for many of the village pantomines and organised many of the village hall events as well. The millenium human sundial was another of Phil's projects together with the cybervan ( who else could have thought of turning a gypsy caravan into an internet cafe for villagers and visitors). Phil was also at the heart of walk on water,the duck race, dilley race and raft race to name but a few of the events that he actively ran , organised and promoted. Phil was the village auctioneer at all of the fund raising events and performed all of his self enforced duties with his unique fun loving disposition and humour. Phil was a key member of the Fishermans Friends and I know he would have had a quiet chuckle if he had seen the firework display that followed his funeral. Standing room only was the order of the day at the crematorium where just about the whole village turned out to pay their respect and say their goodbyes together with his many friends outside of the village. Perhaps Phil's life was best summed up at a packed village pub that evening where after a toast to the celebration of his life a spontaneous singing of " For he's a jolly good fellow " was heartily sung by all. Phil, we will all miss you so much.

Golant survives the floods. The night of 27th October saw the combination of spring tides, low pressure and storm force south easterly winds. This gave us huge tides that reached a level not seen for more than twenty years. The village green was flooded and the raised footpath alongside the pub on the front was impassable. I am pleased to report that no major damage has been reported. High tide was at dusk and the photographs shown below have been digitally enhanced to provide light.

High tide 27th October 2004

Friday 3rd September 2004

It is with much sadness that we report on the passing away of two members of our community.

Stan Rickwood passed away on Saturday 28th august after a short illness. Stans funeral is to be held at the Glynn Valley Crematorium Bodmin on Wednesday 8th September at 11.30 am.

Roy Slater passed away suddenly on 1st September. Roys funeral is to be held at the Glynn Valley Crematorium on Thursday 9th September at 3.30pm.

Our thought and condolences go to their families, we shall miss them both as respected and well loved members of our community and as part of our village life

Sunday 11th April

Easter festivities were in full swing and pictures of the easter bonnet and egg rolloing competitions appear below.

Sunday 7th March

The Cornish evening at the village hall was attended by 52 people who all enjoyed a pastie supper and a fun evening. More than £160 was raised towards village hall funds.

Tuesday 21st October

Golant now has its own floral boat, situated on the village green next to the human sundial it will further enhance and add colour to that part of the village. The boat has been made possible thanks to a donation to the parish council from Ted South in memory of his late wife.

23rd June 2003 Alexander Golant is a professional photographer residing in Osnabruck, Germany and after finding the website and village that shares his name has very kindly sent us his book entitled "Seen on the Road". This hardcover book totalling 126 pages is full of his photographic work with pictures from around the world. I am sure it will find its way to a village exhibition at some time. Thankyou Alexander for sending us a signed copy of your fine work.