Mustard Seed Coffee Morning

Next Tuesday March 14 The Mustard Seed Evangelical Church are holding a coffee morning at the church from 10.00am to 12noon, giving us a chance to get together during the week; this will be a weekly event.

Russell presided

Russell Deacon presided at Callington Brotherhood's Sunday service. The speaker Leslie Wright based his talk on the Bible text, 'The steadfast Love of God'.

William Coombe gave the scripture reading. Musical items were presented by sisters Linda Curtis and Margaret Smith, who sang the gospel songs 'O happy day' and 'Count your blessings'. Cecil Pearce chose some of his favourite hymns and pianist Barbara Taylor accompanied the singing.

Changing thoughts

The recent meeting of Callington United Sisterhood was chaired by Mrs Elsie Trevorrow.

Happy thoughts were read by Mrs Margaret Brough on changes, Mrs Vida Pearce of Bill's sister and Mrs Elsie Trevorrow of the crocus.

The speaker, Rev Howard Curnow, spoke on his ministry in Carlisle.

Mrs Rena Wooldridge played for the hymns and Mrs Jean Burnard and Mrs Edie Pridham served tea and biscuits.

Seventh season

The Callington museum in Liskeard Road opens its seventh season with an exhibition called 'Calstock Parish bits and pieces'. This includes many items on the mines, brickworks and the river.

The opening weekend starts on Friday March 31 from 10am until 4pm, and then every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday throughout the summer and autumn. There will also be a mystery item on display to intrigue visitors.

Planning appeal

A refusal by Caradon council of a planning application for a site at The Croft, 120 Launceston Road, Callington, has led to an appeal by Mr H Dawe. The appeal is to be dealt with by the written representation method.

A solo and poems

At the recent guild meeting at Callington Methodist church a return to the 'Gentlemen's evening' was arranged by Mr Barry Higgins who gave a piano solo and poems.

Mr W Coombe read well known Bible readings, Mr R Hope, showed holiday slides and sang a solo and Rev Howard Curnow read several amusing poems, some he had written himself.

The Rev Curnow and Mr W Coombe then served refreshments. The next meeting will have Mr M Stearns as the speaker

Sing a special song for charity

Local songwriter Alexandra Ward is appealing to everyone to sing one of her popular songs to raise money for Children in Need.

Alex's 'Lantern Song' from her acclaimed musical 'Morwenna and the Legend of kit Hill' is attracting much attention. Now Alex has organised Lantern Link 2000. She would like everyone to perform her song and collect sponsorship for doing so. Anyone can get involved - small community groups, schools, WIs or even a group of friends or family members.

Besides helping Children in Need some of the funds raised will go to The Compassionate Friends, a charity which supports bereaved parents, and which focuses on light and candles as symbols of hope.

Anyone wishing to form a group to sing, or help out with printing sponsorship forms or photocopying should contact Alex on 01579 382000.

Brotherhood Concert

The renowned Holman Climax Male Voice Choir are to visit Callington to sing for the Brotherhood's Spring Concert.

The event will take place on Sunday April 9 starting at 7.45pm in the Methodist Church, Haye Road.

Expansion plans for

Sterts are approved

Caradon council has given approval, with conditions, for expansion plans for the Sterts arts centre, near Upton Cross.

However, the plans approved have been pared down from those initially mooted by the centre.

The go-ahead, which has followed months of planning and negotiations between the centre and Caradon, have been giving the go-ahead by the planning sub committee (west).

The council has ensured that the approval is linked to a legal agreement which ties proposed workshops to the overall arts complex.

The scheme was initially discussed by the sub committee last October, when a site meeting was arranged. A further site meeting was abandoned in November, but the public were able to outline their concerns about the plans at a meeting this month.

It was noted at the recent meeting that the cost of the proposed developments - once placed at around £3 million - will now not exceed £1 million, and that some proposals for housing have now been removed from the plans. A business plan has also been submitted.

The new developments will comprise an indoor performance facility; exhibition hall; craft workshops, a sculpture park, and a cricket pitch and pavilion plus changing rooms and toilets. Theatre extensions were approved as part of previous applications.

Eight clauses have been added as part of the approval, these including a traffic management scheme for Upton Cross, adequate parking facilities, and protection for the site's hedges and Cornish banks. Use of the workshops is limited to arts and crafts, and residential staff only can be accommodated in the management housing.

Club news and church services

With more and more news from clubs and organisations coming in from our local towns the Cornish Times has decided to give them a special place in the paper each week. You will find news from local clubs throughout the area on the community pages from this week - and every week.

Church services from the towns have also been changed, and given a special handy guide to check at a glance. See page 18 for this week's combined church services panel.

Extension approved

A proposal for a two storey extension to Colley Cliff Cottage, Gunnislake has been approved by Caradon council's eastern group of planners.

The applicants, Mr and Mrs Whitney, wished to provide extra family accommodation but the initial application was regarded as excessive in scale and design and the scheme was deferred.

Revised plans were then submitted.