Page 33 - recollections of a life in Porthleven

Chapter 7

The Spirit of Porthleven

I had to return to Porthleven recently for a friend's funeral. It was on a Friday
afternoon so I decided, to enable me to have time after the funeral and at the
wake to meet up with old friends, I would stay the night. My wife was unable
to accompany me as she could not get the time off work.

I parked my car in the car park adjacent to the infant school I attended many,
many years ago. Going into the church I was christened, confirmed and sung
in the choir brought back many memories, some good and some sad. I arrived
at the church 5 or 10 minutes before the service. It was quite a small funeral
for a dear friend who had just returned back home to Porthleven to live. Like
many, he had to leave Cornwall for many years to find work.

After the service and burial family and friends went up to the Atlantic Inn
for a private meal. Just like the meal, the company was good. Slowly numbers
began to reduce as people said their farewells. As I was staying the night I
decided I would walk back and have a few late drinks with some old friends
in the Commercial Inn, as I was staying there that night.

I was sure that as the drink flowed throughout the evening into the night the
landlord would give his permission for after hours drinking (this was a long
time ago....)

As I had a few hours spare before meeting up with my old friends I had time
to go down to the village store to buy flowers to put on my parents and
grandparents graves. It was a lovely summer evening but the light was
starting to fade.

After sharing the flowers between the two graves, which are close to each
other, I sat for a while on a bench where I could see both graves. I reminisced
while listening to the evening songbirds. I was the only one in the graveyard
but I thought I heard a whisper. There it was again... 'Hello there Johnny'.
The voice sounded familiar but from a long time ago. Without a second
thought I turned around, looking and started to shake. Was it with fear or
excitement? There standing behind me was The Spirit of Porthleven'.