St Petroc Christmas Tree Festival
This was a brilliant event with a display of over 90 trees and it was well worth a visit.
Every year the ‘Friends of St Petrocs Church’ organise a Christmas Tree Festival and give all organisations, which are mostly charities, the opportunity to join together and celebrate Christmas in the beautiful church of St Petroc.
We decorated our own tree for the event.
2019 Summer Fete a huge success
Our 2019 Fete was a huge success in spite of the overcast sky and wet and windy conditions. Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, organisations, hospital staff, patients, friends and members of the public the fete was a happy, damp and profitable event.
We were thrilled to welcome author Jill Murphy to cut the opening ribbon, with the help of the Bodmin Town Crier, Terry Williams and Matthew the Balloon Man. Tina Roberts, or Firebird to use her professional name, has, every year, given her time, talent, music and entertainment to MC the fete, completely free of charge. This year she added another talent to her cast of stars – her young quadraplegic son Bobby Roberts opened the proceedings by playing faultlessly on his keyboard ‘World in Union’ which left not a dry eye in the house.
Having had to postpone the fete in June due to circumstances beyond control and, after a week of perfect weather in September, Saturday 21st presented with gusting winds and heavy downpours. In spite of this, thanks to the generosity of local businesses, organisations, hospital staff, patients, friends and members of the public, the fete was a happy, damp, but profitable event. In fact we raised £4,500 which, while less than previous years, was an excellent result.
The fete could not have gone ahead the second time around without the help of Cornwall Council, Bodmin Town Council and Midas who all worked together to ensure the site used – that is the Rose Garden of the old St Lawrences Hospital – was available for 21st September prior to its being developed.
Susie Gore, Chairman of the League of Friends said:
“We are so grateful to so many: to Jill Murphy whose presence at the fete was delightful and so much appreciated, especially by all the young, and not so young, Worst Witch fans. Of course to Tina and to all the organisations who helped: to Norman Trebilcock of FLEET (the land ambulance charity), to the Bodmin Lions and Rotary Clubs who did a wonderful job helping to set up and dismantle the gazebos, tables and everything else. To the young performers who were all outstanding: Bodmin Town Youth Band, Future Youth Dance and Bodmin Musical Theatre Company, to the Bodmin Army Reserves who erected two of their gazebos to shelter the Band and helped with dismantling. Also, to Jenny Hick, the Dog Show Judge who turns out every year to make this event so popular; the Kernow Party Karts team; Face Painter, Louise Wadsworth and Matthew Adams, the Balloon Man and the Fire Engine team – all who braved the weather to put on a great show. And to all the wonderful friends who baked a second time around and came to help on the day, all the local businesses who donated plants, cup cakes, scones, prizes and so much more, to the staff at the hospital who, despite their busy jobs, set up a wonderful selection of stalls and games, to all friends and families, and last, but not least, the brave public who came spending their hard earned cash generously making the Fete, against all odds, a very successful and enjoyable day.”
A walk in the country to generate more funds
A group of nineteen people set out from Rock on 19th May on a sponsored walk and litter pick organised by Vic Luke. The destination for some was Port Isaac – about 12 miles, sometimes over very difficult terrain. Others didn’t go quite so far but had a very enjoyable day. Participants paid £10 each and a total of £300 was raised – well done to all!
The group found very little litter to pick – a credit to local people, visitors and the Council. However, eagle eyed Nick Fooks won the ‘Litter picking’ trophy for managing to collect the most.
The ‘ Friend’s are very grateful to Vic and all the walkers who gave up their time to raise money in this very enjoyable way and to Geoff and Ron who waited at strategic points to take walkers back to their cars in Rock. Vic, who is approaching 72, spent his time running back and forward between the walkers helping them on the difficult bits. Once again, thank you Vic.
A new Garden for Sowenna
Tony Ryde opened his beautiful garden at Fletchers Bridge several times during June 2019 to raise funds for the Invictus Trust and Sowenna – the new Adolescent Mental Health Unit adjacent to Bodmin Hospital which opened in September.
The ‘Friends’ were very pleased to be asked by Tony to help with the catering for two of these events. His aim was to raise £2,000 over the month but he actually raised over £5,000. BHLF did the teas on Sunday 9th June when we raised £128 for our own charity from the sale of cakes and refreshments. Some of us also volunteered to serve a selection of canapés for the Evening Soiree on 15th June (this was a personal gesture by those involved and not part of BHLF activities). The evening featured, apart from the chance to walk around Tony’s beautiful garden in pleasant evening sunshine, a very moving address by Sharon Cowburn of the Invictus Trust, a sculpting demonstration by Richard Austin and the music of George Gershwin played on Piano and Clarinet by Marlene Bowden and Patrick Saunders – a really delightful evening.
It is expected that Sowenna will now come under the umbrella of Bodmin Hospital League of Friends as do all the other wards and departments of Bodmin Hospital where our aim is to supply equipment and services for the patients and staff which the NHS is unable to supply. You can find out more about Sowenna at https://sowenna.cornwallft.nhs.uk/ and the Invictus Trust at https://www.invictustrust.co.uk/.