February 2016

Callington Newsletter

Three murders and a suicide -Nota title to cheer you up on a

dreary wet January morning, our firstmeeting of 2016, but Simon Dell, aretired Policeman talked about hisexperiences with wit and humour.

His stories were all linked by thecounty pathologist  Dr Frederick

Hocking. The first tragedy we heardabout was the murder of a tobac-conist from Falmouth. Dr Hocking'sinvestigation centred on a gun left atthe scene which had been stolen ina robbery some years earlier It wasidentified by it's serial number, andthe main suspect in that previousrobbery was visited. He had in hispossession a packet of WoodbineCigarettes, again with a serial  num-ber, and identified as coming fromstock delivered to the tobacconistthat day,  A repaired ten shilling notewas also found on thesuspect, which matched a piece cutfrom paper found in the waste bin inthe shop. He was found guilty.

We then heard about a wartime  affair which ended in

tragedy when the lovers, about to beparted, decided on a suicide pact.They decided to shoot  themselvesin the summer house of the hotelwhere they were billeted as theyworked on defence intelligence. The

investigation by Dr Hocking provedthat the lady involved could not haveshot herself twice as her loverstated, as the second bullet, whichkilled her, was shot from 18 inchesaway- hardly likely from an alreadyseriously wounded lady.  It was re-lated twice over future years that aweeping lady matching her descrip-tion was seen in the hotel's garden,still awaiting her lover, who wasjailed.

Constantine in 1963 was the finalmurder we heard about.    A

young man, who avoided going towar in 1917, lived a secret noctur-nal life helping to run the family farm.When his father and brother died,his mother moved away and theyran an isolated farm together. It wasnot until 1953 when the new Queengranted an amnesty for all war timedeserters, that he was able to liveopenly. Ten years later he was killedduring a robbery at the farm. A localman was suspected, and whenquestioned admitted that he hadbeen there, but an accomplicehad killed the farmer. During the triala paper, written in Esperanto wastranslated to reveal the whereaboutsof savings of £8,000 hidden at thefarm. The farmer had been killed try-ing to guard his treasure.

Dr Hocking lived to be 98,  andwhen his wife died he decided

he wanted to be with her and com-mitted suicide. He left notes explain-ing what pills he had taken and howthey would have killed him, and alsoan apology to the Police Constablewho had to deal with the suicide -Simon Dell!

Jane Black

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� Singing for Pleasurethe Singing for pleasure dates for Feb-ruary are  8th and 22nd meeting from3.30 to 5 o'clock at the CallingtonMethodist Church.Contact: Rosalind Bunkum 38317

� StrollersNot the weather for strolling this monthbut we still managed to meet up for cof-fee.  We have had one stroll when wedid the Callington Mural Trail.  This wasvery interesting but we felt that some ofthe murals needed a bit of updating.We then adjourned to the recently refur-bished Bulls Head where we weremade very welcome. I hope February 'sweather is better.Contact: Pauline Husband 350379

� Table TennisContact Ray Geatches 350638

� Walking Group 1Walking group1 had a successful firstwalk of the year on 8th Jan. With theweather being fine that day teh groupwalked from Minions to Sharp tor viagold Diggings quarry. For future walkssee the web site orContact: Ann Martin

� Walking Group 2The first walk of the year led by Paulaand Don Jackson along Seaton beachreturning through the village of Down-derry was a gem in sunshine. Thecrashing waves glittered in the sun.Some higher being had turned the tapoff just long enough for us to completethe walk and get comfortable in thebeach café for coffee and cake....and History Group Combined:Members were treated to an entertain-ing and informative guided tour of thePlymouth Barbican area by JosephineKing who bravely carried on despitethe chill of a winter wind. She took usback in time to imagine the Pilgrim Fa-thers leaving in the Mayflower from theoriginal quay steps which are now onlyavailable to be seen in the Ladies looof the Admiral MacBride Pub. The set

of steps seen today with plaques con-taining information about that time arereproductions to show and inform vis-itors to Plymouth.Jo reminded us of Sir Francis Drakesroll in defeating the Spanish Amadaand explained that the harbour wasoriginally navigable further inland butdeposits from the mines caused therivers to silt up. Jo guided us throughElizabethan and Tudor areas explain-ing the ship’s Captain’s stayed hereamongst the filth and smells createdby the detritus of the fishermen, pubsand hoar houses. Jo’s talk containedinformation about the Three CourtHouses surrounding the paradeground and which eras they were builtand used in.The flat cobbled area called the pa-rade ground was exactly that and usedby the local military.Contact: Lucy Thomas 350018

SilentWitness

Officer Contact NumbersChairman: David Seward t: 384631

Vice Chair: Jenny Wheeleyt: 351662

Secretary: Jo Earlt: 382859

Treasurer: Ian MacDonald t: 351221

Editor: Colin Mills t: 208598Email: colin-mills@talktalk.net

Group Leaders and other contributors - Please Note: All Copy to the editor by 25th of the preceding month please.

(N.B. I cannot guarantee inclusion of copy sub-mitted after this date - but exceptions may bemade wherever possible for groups meeting inthe fourth week of the month)

The Newsletter is published at the start of eachmonth.

Disabled members: Contact Peter Watson 384509

N.B. Phone numbers without dialling codes are for the 01579 area.

Future Meetings:� MarchGlyn Dean - Hedgehogs

� AprilAGM

� MayMike Hayward - Voyage of the Mayflower

� JuneRev.Martin SmithSlow Progress Tortoise School

� JulyPhilllip Rodda -Rodda Creamery

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� Flower ArrangingContact Eileen Sturt 350639

� Food & WineContact Maire Warwick 350711(maire.warwick@btinternet.com)

� Game OnOur games group continues to meet onthe second and fourth Sunday after-noons of the month at Lucy's house.Please contact me if you enjoy a varietyof board games and would like to join us Contact Jenny Wheeley 351662

� HandbellsContact Maire Warwick 350711

� HistoryContact Josephine King 350890

� HumourOur first meeting of the year was a reallaugh that began with Helen focusing onTommy Cooper. He was of course acomedy genius and the real master ofthe one liners. After telling us about hiscareer Helen started to tell us a joke butshe couldn’t because she was laughingat it so much. Eventually she told us thefollowing:“I went to the doctors the other day andsaid it hurts when I do that. He said welldon’t do it”. We all read out some of his best ones.“I went to Blackpool to stay so I knockedon a door. A woman came to the doorand I said ‘I’d like to stay here’ and shereplied ‘That’s OK’ and closed the door.I met my wife at a dance”...“ I thought shewas at home with the kids”.The next meeting is on Monday 15thFebruary starting at 10.00am at Chris-tine’s house. David will focus on the ‘Din-ner Ladies’. Come and join us. Contact Keith Lane 370713or by email kandslane@hotmail.com.

� ItalianContact: Sally Thomas 01822 832017

� Jazz Appreciation9 members met at Christine’s in Januaryfor the first meeting of 2016. It was an-other members’ choice session andamongst others, we listened to big bandmusic from Tommy Dorsey, Woody Her-man and Harry James, sax of CharlieParker and Gerry Mulligan, and new to

the group, from John Handy and TommySmith. Also new were the guitar jazz ofGeorge Barnes and vocals from BuddyGrecko. The next meeting will be onWed 11th February at Christine’s, an-other member’s choice but featuringslightly longer tracks than usual. If youare interested in joining us for an after-noon of jazz, contact David Seward 384631

� Music AppreciationFor our January meeting we weretreated to the wonderful music ofGeorge Gershwin the American com-poser and pianist. Gershwin's composi-tions spanned both popular andclassical genres, and his most popularmelodies are widely known. Among hisbest-known works are the orchestralcompositions Rhapsody in Blue (1924)and An American in Paris (1928) as wellas the opera Porgy and Bess (1935) Weenjoyed a CD of his most famous clas-sical masterpiece and several otherclassical compositions..The next Music is on Tuesday  February9th at 2pmContact: Pat Ferguson 384402

� NeedleworkNormally meet on the second Thursdayof the month. Details from Ann Martin

� OperaThe new season began with Verdi’sopera, Falstaff performed by The Metro-politan New York, based on Shake-speare's play The Merry Wives ofWindsor.  The Libretto by Arrigo Boitohalved the number of characters in theplay, and gave the character of Falstaffmore depth by incorporating dozens ofpassages from Henry IV. The rotund Am-brogfio Maestri was excellent as therogue Sir John supported by StephanieBlythe as Mistress Quick and AngelaMeade as Alice Ford. A delightful rompwith many twists and turns and theBard’s usual mistaken identities muchenjoyed on a cold winter’s afternoon. Inour next sessions we will be exploringthe works of Gioachino Rossini a con-temporary of Verdi.Next Opera is on February 16th at 2pm-Please to let me know if you are coming

so I can arrange seatingContact Carol Dowell 382158

� PhilosophyContact: Doreen Johnson 343152doreen.johnson@onetel.com

� Play ReadingContact Jean Rose 350029

� PoetryFor the first Poetry of the year wewatched a video of the famous and old-est surviving long poem in Old English.It was written in England sometime be-tween the 8th and the early 11th centuryby an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet.The poem is set in Scandinavia. Be-owulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to theaid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes,whose mead hall in Heorot has beenunder attack by a monster known asGrendel. After Beowulf slays him, Gren-del's mother attacks the hall and is thenalso defeated. Victorious, Beowulf goeshome to Geatland and later becomesking of the Geats. After a period of fiftyyears has passed, Beowulf defeats adragon, but is fatally wounded in the bat-tle. After his death, his attendants cre-mate his body and erect a tower on aheadland in his memory. Although thefilm itself was received with mixed feel-ings, judge by some to be too violent, itgave an interesting insight into the leg-ends and myths of the Dark Ages.The next Poetry is on Friday February5th at 2pmContact Pat Ferguson 384402Contact Pat Ferguson 384402

� ScrabbleThe group, led by Lesley Cheetham ather home, meets in the evening on thethird Wednesday of each month. Contact Lesley Cheetham 383632

� ScribblersNext meeting on Feb. 4th at3 Grenville Close from 2-4pmAnne Cooper 382267

� AllotmentsTwo allotments are being cultivated. Contact Ann Martin

� ArtOur February meetings will be on the 4thand 18th, 10am - 1pm....the meeting on the 18th will be a work-shop based on my Chinese art lessons inHong Kong over Christmas

...here is my teacher, Uncle Ho. He doesn't speak English & I don't speakChinese, but fortunately his niece trans-lated for us!Contact Tony Walpole 833082� BakingThere was no meeting in January due toits closeness to Christmas and New Yearfeasting so our next meeting will be onFebruary 4th, 3 pm at Marian's. As oneof our group will be celebrating a birth-day on that date the task is Party Food.

Our group is now full but please contactme on the number below if you are inter-ested in being put on our waiting list.

Contact Jenny Wheeley 351662

� Birding GroupWadebridge Tuesday January 12th 2016

Eight of us went to Wadebridge. Wetravelled through rain but our destinationwas dry and overcast with a strong coldwind. We went to the Walmsley Reservewhere we fitted neatly into the hide andwere out of the wind. The hide is well po-sitioned and looks out over an extensiveview of water with many islands and lots

of birds. Whilst there we saw 25 differentspecies, the majority of which wereducks. One of the ducks, “a greenwinged teal” is a rarity. After lunch webegan to walk into a head wind along theCamel Trail where we saw some waders.After a short time we decided that thewind was winning and we called it a day.The trip on February 9th will be to HayleEstuary. We may make an 8.30am startbecause of the distance. We will meet inthe FCP. More info will be availablenearer to the date.If you have any questions

Contact Keith Lane 370713or kandslane@hotmail.com

� Bookworms“Oscar and Lucinda” by Peter Carey.Luckily we had a long book to tide usover the Christmas break, although insome cases this proved to be a distrac-tion as people thought they had plenty oftime and all of a sudden it was time forour meeting!!The book “Oscar & Lucinda” by the Aus-tralian author Peter Carey, proved to beone of those books that tended to con-fuse us with many characters, some ofthem not very pleasant, and an intricatestory line. Those of us who did finish itfound the ending quite unexpected andsad. On the whole I think the author’sstyle and language were admired, butthe story somewhat unbelievable. Wehave also obtained a copy of the DVD ofthe film which makes things a lot clearer,but the ending, although slightly changedstill sad.Our next meeting will be on Friday 19thFebruaryContact Hilary Howarth 382172hilary.howarth@btinternet.co.uk

� BridgeThe Bridge Group is now meeting everyTuesday evening at 7.30pm, in theMethodist Church. Please use the sideentrance in Valentine Place. Parking isavailable at the rear of the church.Contact Roy Burridge 389018

� Computer GroupThe computer group operates as a selfhelp group. If you've a problem comealong and see if we can help. We don'thave a set agenda it all depends whoturns up. Please bring your lap top or

tablet if you have one and we can ex-plore the computing world together.This month topics the group explored in-cluded;1. Using Picassa.2. Libre OfficeWe meet in members houses so pleaseask me where to meet. This normallytakes place on the third Thursday morn-ing of the month. The next meeting willbe on the 18th February at 10.00.Contact Peter Watson 384509

� Cornish CultureOur first meeting for 2016 on the 11thJanuary included our wider curriculum.It covered Alfred Munnings who lived atLamorna, this time was covered in thefilm mainly shot in Cornwall called“Summer in February”   He was one ofEngland’s most famous horse paintersand became president of the RoyalAcademyin 1944 when he received aknighthood.   The Carews of Antony andthe Edgecumbes were then covered andthe exciting period of the English CivilWar.Then a completely different topic of Mar-ket Gardening in the Tamar Valley.  It isdifficult to believe it was such a busyplace with fruit being carried on theTamar to be sent to many places in Eng-land.   8,000 to 10,000 people worked inthe industry.Our next meeting will be at MargaretDavis – 5 Fowey Crescent, Callington onMonday 8th February – 2 pm. to 4 pm.Contact Anita & Tony Bowden Joint Co-ordinators 350668

� Crime Fiction AppreciationWe did not meet in December and Jan-uary’s meeting was too late for thisnewsletter so details will be on the web-page. Our next meeting will be Thursday25th Feb at Lucy’s at 2pm. If you are in-terested in joining us to discuss or learnmore about crime fiction, please contactDavid Seward 384631

� Family HistoryFamily History Monday 22nd February2.30pm at Eileen's. Venue may have tobe changed. If it is, members will be no-tified.Contact Eileen Sturt 350639

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