ON Saturday, April 28, Launceston and District Cats Protection held their Easter Fair in Lifton Community Centre.

From the start it became apparent that customers had turned out in force, eager to discover what bargains could be found.

With over 25 tables displaying goods for sale at affordable prices, from books to craft, children’s lucky dip to plants, jewellery to bric-a-brac, cat goods to clothes, tombola to delicious cakes and hot food!

Thanks were expressed to Shelley Vanstone at Launceston Tesco for donating some super raffle prizes yet again.

We’re over the moon to report that we raised an incredible £1,483 that will help continue our efforts to make a substantial difference in the lives of many cats and kittens that depend on us every day. Such a result could not be achieved without the support and generosity of the local community, it’s very much appreciated.

“Looking forward to seeing you next time!”

Keep an eye out for future events listed on our website www.cats.org.uk/launceston or on Facebook Launceston-District-Cats-Protection-Branch.

ON Wednesday, April 8, Launceston Old Cornwall Society took a pilgrimage to a relatively new museum "The Story of Emily" at St Ive, near Liskeard.

Here it tells the forgotten story of a British hero, a Cornish woman who went out of her way to improve the lives of thousands of women and children during and after the second Anglo Boer war. She was a British welfare campaigner, pacifist and humanitarian best known for exposing the appalling conditions of the British concentration camps during the second Boer War. (1899-1902). Her fearless advocacy helped save thousands of lives and forced the British establishment to improve camp conditions though she was heavily criticised and even imprisoned for a time.

Emily was born in St Ive, the daughter of the Anglican Rector in 1860. She spent her early adulthood caring for her father until his death in 1895 after which she did social work among the Cornish miners in Minnesota USA. Upon learning of the suffering of the Boer women and children she formed the South African woman and children distress fund and travelled to South Africa in December 1900. She visited numerous concentration camps, witnessing high mortality rates caused by overcrowding, lack of food and disease.

Emily exposed the barbarism, she was put down and called an hysterical woman. Not giving up Emily wrote a detailed report on the camp conditions that shocked the British public and led to the Fawcett Commission, which corroborated her findings and forced reforms. Despite this, she was branded a traitor by some in Britain and imprisoned and deported upon trying to return to South Africa in 1901.

After the war, Emily returned to South Africa to assist with rehabilitation establishing the Boer Home Industries to teach women and girls marketable skills like weaving and lace making.

We had a remarkable day out at "The Story of Emily" the staff there were very helpful.

Launceston Old Cornwall Society 80th anniversary year 1946-2026, meet once a month. We welcome new members old and new. For more details why not visit the web site: www.kernowgoth.org

THE choir of St Mary Magdalene, under the direction of its director of music, Dr Sean Sweeney, sang choral evensong on Sunday, the service being taken by James Wonnacott who also acted as cantor in the Responses by Sanders.

The canticles were sung to an arrangement by Stanford in C and the anthem was “Now the green blade riseth”, a traditional French melody arranged by Simon Lindley. Dr Sweeney played the organ in this with the choir conducted by Bernard Pink who also sang the tenor solo.

At the end of the service Dr Sweeney played a postlude by William Mathias. The next choral evensong at St Mary’s will be on Sunday, May 3, at the usual time of 5.30pm. However the choir has been invited to lead the choral evensong next Sunday at St Stephen’s at 4pm when Bishop David will be preaching.

THE Launceston Folk Dance Club ‘Spring Dance’ will be held at Launceston Town Hall on Saturday, April 25, 7.30pm to 10.30pm.

Band: Dartmoor Pixie Band with caller Sarah Bazely

Entry payable on door. Bring and share supper and raffle.

ON a fine spring day in March, over 100 people gathered at the Parkhouse Centre in Bude for Bude Inner Wheel’s annual charity lunch.

The ladies of the Inner Wheel Club of Bude worked very hard to prepare and serve a delicious two course buffet lunch which was much appreciated by all the guests.

The raffle was very well supported and a total of £1,800 was raised for the President’s charities, Adsurf and Cornwall Mind.

Bude Inner Wheel would like to thank everyone who came for their generosity. Thanks also go to the volunteers who helped the members in the kitchen with the daunting task of washing up all those dishes.

Bude Inner Wheel meets on the second Monday of the month at 7.30pm at the Falcon Hotel. More information can be found at [email protected]

BUDE Choral Society presented Mendelssohn’s monumental oratorio ‘Elijah’ to an appreciative audience at St Michael’s Church, Bude last Saturday.

The unfolding drama relies heavily on a full-throated choir and a dramatic, authoritative Baritone in the title role.

The choir, nor Julian Rippon as Elijah, did not disappoint.

Under John Hobbs reliable baton, choral entries were energetic and diction clear, especially in ‘The Fire Descends’, ‘Be Not Afraid’, ‘Behold! God the Lord passed by!’ and the ‘Cry to Baal’.

Julian Rippon, in the title role, produced a commanding performance both imposing and expressive, from the opening Introduction to the final ‘For the mountains shall depart’ as he is taken into heaven in a whirlwind on a fiery chariot.

The contralto Rebecca Squire provided some wonderfully lyrical singing. ‘Oh rest in the Lord’ was particularly moving.

What a treat to have the 18-year-old treble Scarlett Nott from West Buckland College singing the Youth with such clarity. And it was a masterstroke to include her with Rebecca in the trio ‘Lift Thine Eyes’, with Pam Mattos stepping out from the choir, a highlight of the concert.

Praise also for Jill Johns who joined in the quartet ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’.

Tenor Ben Hoadley provided nuanced phrasing as Obidiah, Ahab and the narrator.

Soprano Emma Hewetson completed the line-up of soloists.

Stephen Tyrrell, the choir’s rehearsal pianist, provided assured accompaniment on the organ, letting rip with the final ‘Thou fillest heaven with Thy Glory!’

Members look forward to the choral society’s next concert of the Faure ‘Requiem’ and Poulenc ‘Gloria’ on November 28.

Choir: Sarah Battams, Rosie Beat, Sally Blayney, Chris Bradbury, Jane Bradbury, Jackie Bromley, Greg Choules, Annette Cole, Robert Cole, Sarah Conibear, Martin Daniels, Mary Dobson, Sophie Down, Bruce Duns, Fiona Field, Wendy Frost, Lynette Hare, Robert Heard, Elizabeth Heaven, Peter Hillenbrand, Jennie Hillman, David Hyndman, Jill Johns, Sue Kershaw, Crispin King, Lesley Larkum, Pam Mattos, Pamela Melville, Clare Monro, Eibhlis Patrick, Patricia Philp, Alicia Prowse, David Puddick, Jenny Rogers, Lynne Sullivan, Richard Sullivan, Sue Tierney, Mary Tilzey, Linda T-Davies, Mike Viner, Carole Wakefield, Cherry Warne, Mike Warne, Pauline Warnock, Ros Watson, Chris Willoughby, Rob Willoughby, Liz Wilson, Dan Woolacott.

St Melor's Church — Mondays weekly, morning prayer at 10am. Sunday, April 19, Evensong at 6.30pm.

St Paul's, Upton Cross — Sunday, April 19, communion at 10am.

Easter services — On Good Friday a service of Reflections was held at St Melor's at 10am which was arranged and led by Lay Minister, Roy Cooper and members of St Paul's Church also attended. Readings were delivered by members of the congregation.

On Easter Day an all age service was held at St Paul's, Upton Cross at 10am.

There was also an evening Communion Service at St Melor's service at 6.30pm which was conducted by the Rev Steve Payne.

Advanced notice - The Bishop of Truro, the Rt Rev David Williams will be attending St Melor's Church when there will be tea at 3pm followed by a service of Evensong at 4.30pm.

Sterts Arts and Environmental Centre, Upton Cross — The Sturrock Studio and Community Hub have been renovated, also the community hub has refreshed bar facilities, a new workshop space and step free access from the car park to the studio.

There are now two EV charging points and co-created four new willow sculptures that will act as way-markers on the site, with funds from the UK government via the Shared Prosperity Fund, and allocated through Cornwal Council's Community Levelling Up Programme.

New volunteers needed across front of house, gardening and maintenance. If anyone would like to get involved email [email protected]

The next event will be The Dave Hankin Big Band, from Glen Miller to Count Basie and beyond on Friday, April 24, in the Barn Theatre.