A BUSY facility in the thriving village of Golberdon is South Hill parish hall, which serves the communities of South Hill, Maders, Mornick, Golberdon, Trevigro, Trewoodloe and some of Bray Shop.
Chairperson of the impressive hall is Liz Moir of Golberdon, with Myra Locock as secretary. The hall's success means that, despite Golberdon (which is in South Hill parish), having no shop, nor post office, it remains very far from 'sleepy'. After years of fund-raising the original building - recently extended due to much organisation, further fund-raising, and letter-writing by Myra - was opened in 1966.
Run by a committee of locals, responsible for upkeep and financing, it is the meeting place for South Hill parish council, South Hill WI, South Hill Piecemakers, Golberdon Christian Fellowship, the Monday club and Callington Torch Fellowship etc, as well being used by St Sampsons church, South Hill, for some social and fund-raising events, and the South Hill horticultural society's show every August.
Social events last year included a medieval night, with Millennium eve seeing elegantly dressed residents enjoying a huge meal in a hall transformed into the Titanic's dining area. Last week the committee organised a harvest supper, while the facility has staged many private parties.
Impressive
The 1999 extension included an impressive entrance porch, improved toilets, facilities for the disabled, a baby changing area and a new kitchen, store room and committee room. Cornish Millennium Projects, jointly funded by the Millennium Commission and several other co-funders, provided the major grant, with money also coming from the County Environmental Trust, Countryside Agency and Caradon council.
A children's play area, and cricket field lie adjacent, the field used by the Callington Colts, and the play facilities a draw for youngsters. Jacquie Crow, now president of South Hill WI, knows well the joys of the play area, as she spent hours galore there when a child, as did her mother and grandmother before her. Jacquie is mum to Joshua, who will be two in February when she and husband Darren are expecting their second child. Her stint as WI president will then end
The WI meet in the hall on the first Wednesday each month. When Jacquie was appointed president she followed in the footsteps of her mother Shirley Shears, aunt Jill Reynolds and grandmother, Dorothy Buckingham who was also a founder member.
Jacquie said the WI is a vibrant organisation, keeping abreast of all main national and local issues. Starting in Golberdon last Monday were Bones in Mind classes for members, which include a series of gentle exercises to help prevent osteoporosis.
Evacuee
Jill who joined the WI aged 12, as did her sister, has been a member for 50 years. Some of her memories include fancy dress parades on the field, and a hot air balloon and glider ditching on Golberdon Down. Other long-standing villagers are Freda and Les Doidge and Victor Williams.
Shirley explained everyone is made to feel very welcome in the village, and all who want to be involved work together in friendship. Husband Roy belongs to the South Hill Investment Club (SHIC) which regularly meets in a convivial pub atmosphere and mainly carries out 'penny share' investments. Initially the portfolio showed a deficit, but by the time the parish Millennium Diary, which charts the village from l900 to 2000, was written the group was showing a 'very nice increase' on every pound invested.
Many family weddings were held in Golberdon's Methodist Chapel, where Jacquie's great grandparents, George and Beatrice Buckingham, were caretakers. The church was built in l863. In l891 a schoolroom and a stable and coach house were added for visiting preachers. It closed in l993, and is now an attractive private house, retaining many original features.
Painting
Dorothy Buckingham has lived locally since the l930s, having met her late husband, Leonard, in 1932. After settling briefly in Kelly Bray they moved to a small Golberdon cottage which they rented for 2/6d a week. Later Leonard built a number of houses, one of which Dorothy still lives in. She was a dinner lady at Callington primary school, where a chance remark about art lessons led to her taking up painting when aged 60, a pastime she has very successfully mastered.
Dorothy, who has five daughters - Jill, Shirley, Sheila, Karen and Myra - said she was a 'flapper' when she arrived in Golberdon at 19. She believes that over the years just over 20 new houses have been built, and remembers when there were two shops, and a post office, and when petrol was served locally. Dorothy helped open the hall's new extension, and unveiled the plaque. She recalls Mr Mancel of Wagmuggle 'selling everyday things such as clothing, pots and pans and paraffin' and Mr and Mrs Bunkum of Berrio Mill which ground the farmers' corn.
Ann Brewer has lived in Golberdon since l940, arriving aged three with her nine-month-old sister to live with a couple who were to foster them. When she married her husband Tom they moved into the cottage next to where she had lived.
Pupils
Her sister, Brenda, sadly died of multiple sclerosis but her children Kingsley Mortimore, and Helena Scandrett, still live nearby. Ann's daughter, Elaine, resides next door to her and has two sons, Zachary 9, and Aaron 8. Son Andrew lives in Callington with his wife Helen and step-children Jonathon and Lee. Ann and Tom were parish councillors, but she stepped down when Elaine joined - not liking the thought of the family dominating proceedings!
Chapel organist until it closed, she explained that as most people were determined to keep a Christian witness in the village they formed the non-denominational Golberdon Christian Fellowship.
This meets on Sunday evenings, and Ann plays the electric organ for hymns. A Christian children's group, led by Geraldine Parkyn, meets on Mondays.
Ann, who says Golberdon is 'happy and trouble-free', belongs to the patchwork club, the South Hill Piecemakers. Members are working towards an exhibition next year, following a successful similar event in l999 when over £1,000 was raised for the Primrose appeal. Money from the next exhibition will go towards the charity Lupus.
Pat Moren edited the Millennium Diary, compiled following a discussion locally and a WI suggestion about making a diary record. South Hill's excellent effort describes the parish during the last century, and records wartime activities, farming changes, effects of land enclosure and rise in population and car ownership etc.
There are memories both old, and the young - such as Helen Skelton whose father farms at Trewoodloe. She wrote: 'From our patio we see Caradon, Cheesewring and Sharp Tor'.
Funding was from 'Help the Aged Millennium Awards', and all who gave information about their house had a photo taken by Jill Long. Pat has lived in the parish for ten years, coming from Harrow with husband David.
She said it is 'a brilliant area'. Now retired, she nursed at Derriford and Treliske hospitals. Together with David she spends much time in their attractive garden which was 'like a field' when they moved in.
Farm
Sue Hicks, of the parish's Glebe Farm, is churchwarden at St Sampsons parish church, together with David Brent. She has been involved with the church for 30 years, since marrying and moving to the farm, which has been in husband Dennis' family since l9l2.
Sue, who met Dennis at Liskeard YFC has, with him, been among those heavily involved in fund-raising for repairs to the tower. They said the church is grateful to all the efforts of local people, as well as to English Heritage and Cornish Historic Churches for funds. The tower needed repointing, and some rebuilding, and scaffolding went up in June.
However, when The Cornish Times called last week it was in the process of being removed by Hewaswater Scaffolding. Fund-raising events for the church, known to date from at least 1333, have included auctions, a flower festival, safari suppers and Sunday lunches.
Sue can easily turn an accomplished hand to cooking because she is a whizz at sugarcraft, which she took up ten years ago. As a result she makes mouth-watering wedding cakes which are superbly decorated - and also turns her hand to catering.