Page 59 - recollections of a life in Porthleven

All the children would be given a St Peter’s Tide bun and you would not
have believed the size of them! They were the size of a dinner plate (well
they were in my eyes). Then in the early evening Margaret, Stephen and I
would be taken across the road to the fair. I think it was called ‘Whitelegs’.
Anyway, we were given a handful each of pennies to spend. After the fair it
was a tiring walk back home to Trewarvas. It was not that long a walk but
after a day of fun the three of us would be exhausted.

Time passed by and I remember our Grandfather became very ill and never
improved. Sadly he died when I was about ten years old. After his death life
went on the same for us children but Gran’s love for the three of us seemed
to get stronger and stronger. I mentioned this to Dad years later and he said
that the love your Grandfather had for you all he gave to our Gran, who in
turn gave it to us. This is what I still believe today.

School summer holidays, while we were still at the Church school were made
special by Gran. She would take us out on coach trips all over Cornwall and
life was great for us. If for any reason Gran was involved in something and
wasn’t able to take us out I can remember Mrs Gwenny Toy, Mark Toy’s
mother would take us out. One trip I can recall is her taking us to St Michael’s
Mount, (did you go with us Rosemary?)

In the evenings Gran would hold meetings in our front room with different
committees, such as the local cancer group which raised funds. They would
organise concerts at The Public Hall consisting of local talent from
Porthleven and the surrounding villages. These concerts always filled the
Hall. On another evening Gran could have a meeting for the Church
committee or the Womans Institute. She loved the village and loved to be
involved in events which were going on in Porthleven.

A few years later Gran suffered an illness and was admitted to Barncoose
hospital for a few weeks. Dad and we three children would visit her every
evening. When she came back home to Trewarvas it was close to Christmas
and she had to stay in her bed until she had fully recovered. One evening