Trip of a lifetime

to Estonian link

Seventeen people from the Callington area have just returned from a trip of a lifetime.

Fourteen young people and three accompanying adults travelled as part of a four-way European link to the distant and, for Britons, not well-known country of Estonia.

Organised from this end by the Callington and District Twinning Association, the trip formed the fourth leg in a cycle of projects which have allowed young people from France, Germany, Estonia and Cornwall to come together with a common aim - to improve the local environment in each of the home countries.

Following last year's successful Environmental Camp in Callington, the circle was completed during the last two weeks when groups from Guipavas in Brittany and Barsbuttel in Germany joined the Cornish contingent in Keila, just west of the Estonian capital Tallinn for the fourth annual camp.

The two week project centred on work at the newly installed local water purification plant, where land clearance and tree planting was carried out to enhance the local environment. Further improvements were carried out along a riverside walk in the River Park in the centre of Keila and will form the basis of new leisure facilities in the town.

The two-week long trip was not solely given over to hard work, but also allowed the visitors to get to know Estonia. The hosts did a magnificent job and the entire group came away feeling they had really got to know this country. Visits to Paldiski in the North, Pärnu on the western coast, the700-year-old medieval city of Viljandi in the South and the Virumaa region bordering on the Russia frontier in the east all showed the many facets of Estonian life, fauna and flora.

Probably most striking of all was a two-day trek into the Soomaa region of southern central Estonia, an area of bogs and wetlands which are being preserved as national parks. Although home to beavers, moose and brown bears, the group saw none of the wildlife except for dozens of storks - not forgetting, of course, the hordes of mosquitoes and horse flies.

In and around Keila itself visits included the international golf course where coaching was given, a guided tour of the local castle ruins and regional museum, as well as a dip in the pool of the magnificent new sports complex. Trips included a day at the Viljandi Folk Music Festival, and an outing to the mediaeval city of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, and an absolute jewel waiting to be discovered by the travel companies.

The final day saw an exhibition organised by the youngsters from each town which will run until the end of August This was reinforced by a local Environmental worker talking about what the country has done nationally.

Finally, an impromptu concert including folk dancing, singing and a wide variety of music was enjoyed by all present. A sketch and three songs given by the Callington group went down a storm amongst fellow workers and local onlookers alike.

As is ever the case with such international ventures, the departure was marked with many a tear, as all the visitors were sad to say goodbye to their new friends. Nevertheless, addresses were exchanged and plans are already in hand for round five of the camp which moves to Barsbüttel next year where most, if not all, of the young people will once again renew their friendships.

Andrew Long

Fred's farewell

to the school run

WHEN Plymouth schools started their summer holidays, Fred Rookley said his farewells. Fred has driven the Plymouth Citybus schools service from Callington to Plymouth since its inception eight years ago.

The pioneering service has gone from strength to strength and the Callington run carries over 70 pupils each way each day, callington at Devonport High School for Girls, Plymouth High Schools for Girls and Devonport High School for Boys.

Fred has four children and eight grandchildren so he will still have plenty of youngsters around. He will be kept busy as well, with a long list of jobs to tackle in retirement at his Gunnislake home. But Fred will also have to take it easy to enjoy one of his many farewell gifts - a garden bench. Fred said: 'That will be going outside the back door so I can sit and enjoy the sunshine!'

Fred had been made redundant when the new schools' service was launched by Citybus eight years ago. 'It came at just the right time and I have enjoyed everyday. The secret is, the youngsters have to know who is in control - and as I'm the driver, I am in charge.' he said.

Fred will also be missed by his regular passengers on the Tesco supermarket run, which he operated during the day between morning and afternoon school journey.

Fred is pictured above with some of his regular school passengers.