THE Inner Wheel Club of Launceston held their most recent meeting on Monday, March 23, at Trethorne Golf Club.

Following the usual meal together, a short business meeting took place, at which the club officers for 2026/27 were elected.

Liz Williams, the zone district leader, then gave an update on Inner Wheel events at district level and interesting discussions concerning Inner Wheel took place.

The Inner Wheel Club of Launceston meet on the fourth Monday of each month at Trethorne Golf Club.

They meet at 5.30pm for 6pm where they have a meal together. This is followed by a short business meeting and often an activity such as a speaker or craft making.

If this is something anyone would be interested in then contact [email protected] for more information.

“The Merchants of Bude”

ON Monday, March 30, more than 60 members and guests attend Bude-Stratton & District Old Cornwall Society’s March meeting.

The audience were treated to an in-depth view of merchants who had traded in Bude from the end of the 18th century through to the early 20th century.

Carole Wakefield gave a well-researched talk about the key merchants who had traded goods brought in or sent out by sea and along the canal before embracing the arrival of the railway. Using sources such as newspaper reports, tithe maps and census information, she had pieced together the complex story of more than forty merchants who traded in Bude as it grew from a mere seaside hamlet to a fully-fledged town.

She began in the late 1700s with John Bray, who started trading before the breakwater was built to make the harbour safer and ended with WW Petherick, whose large white warehouse on the Upper Wharf was a familiar sight in Bude until it was replaced by flats in the late 20th century.

Many of the merchants were both ship owners and agents for wrecks – looking to benefit from all eventualities! The high-risk nature of this business saw many of them come and go very quickly, often through bankruptcy and shipwrecks.

Finally, a great-grandson of WW Petherick, Bill Whateley, who was attending the meeting, regaled the audience with some of his family’s history, thereby adding colour to the earlier talk. Michael Heard, the society’s President, gave the vote of thanks and Dennis Balsdon, helped by Alan McIntosh, drew the raffle.

The next event will be on Monday, April 27, at 7pm in the Parkhouse Centre when Mike Vanstone will be speaking about his experiences as Bude Harbourmaster.

REV Meg Slingo led the Holy Communion service at Morwenstow Methodist Chapel at Shop on Palm Sunday.

During the singing of the first hymn, ‘Holy, holy, holy’, Rev Meg handed out palm crosses to all.

Other hymns sung at the service were: ‘Give me joy in my heart keep me praising’, ‘Make way, make way for the King of Kings’, ‘Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us’, and ‘And can it be that I should gain’.

The organist was Colin Tape.

The lessons were read by Debbie French and Ken Boundy.

We shared the peace and the Holy Communion was administered by Rev Meg and Bill Cleave in the form of intinction, during which, Colin rendered 'Nearer my God to Thee' on the organ.

After the service there was a chance to chat in The Wesley Room when simnel cake was shared with coffee.

Quiz — A quiz to raise funds for the El Shaddai Charitable Trust was held in Chilsworthy Village Hall on Saturday, March 28. The quiz raised money to help children living on the streets in India.

Circuit Gathering — There was no service at the Methodist Chapel on Palm Sunday. The congregation attended the 'Circuit Gathering' at Bodmin Street Methodist Church in Holsworthy which was led by Rev Meg Slingo after a Bring and Share Lunch. The theme of the service was 'Hope'. Roland Nancekivell spoke on the work of the Farming Community Network (FCN) and he went on to give his own, personal testimony. Clive Smale spoke on the work of Ruth Jones for 'Connect' in local schools. The organist was Shirley Davis of Bradworthy and the collection was for FCN.

Village Coffee Morning — The monthly coffee morning for April was held in the Social Club on Thursday, April 2. Hosts, this month were Ros Watson and John Cleave. Hot cross buns and biscuits were enjoyed with coffee.

Maundy Thursday — A service of 'Shadows' was held at the Methodist Chapel on Maundy Thursday and was led by Rev Meg Slingo. Lessons were read by Rev Meg, Linda Broome, Geoff Broome, Karen Shepherd, Lesley Coxon, Mark Banks, Mary Care and Ruth Bealing. One of the seven candles on the communion table was extinguished after each lesson was read. The service included Holy Communion with Mary Care acting as Communion Steward and the communion was administered by Rev Meg and Ruth Bealing. The pianist was Christine Tratt and the hymns sung were: ‘As your family, Lord, see us here’, ‘Were you there when they crucified my Lord’, ‘When I survey the wondrous cross’, ‘Such love, pure as the whitest snow’, and ‘Jesus remember me’.

The congregation left in complete silence and in an air of solemnity.

THERE is to be a spring quiz run by St Swithin’s Church in Launcells Parish Hall, on Friday, April 10 — 7pm for 7.30pm.

The quizmaster will be Chris Hutt. It is £10 per person to include a raffle, one free glass of elderflower and nibbles.

Book a table or just come along and have some fun. First prize and booby prizes available.

Enquires to Maggie Cooper 07900 898904.

THE choir of St Mary Magdalene, under the direction of its director of music, Dr Sean Sweeney, sang a service on Good Friday entitled “The Cross in music” which was led by Rev Helen Davies who also preached.

The choir opened the service by singing Bob Chilcott’s arrangement of “God so loved the world” in which Amber Newton was the soprano soloist before Don Sharpe read the lesson from Isaiah. John Bull’s anthem “In the departure of the Lord” followed before Rob Tremain read the second lesson from Paul’s epistle to the Hebrews and then the congregation read the Benedictus from Luke’s gospel and said the creed.

After the address the choir sang Richard Shephard’s “A new commandment” before James Wonnacott carried the cross to the Sanctuary and then Dr Sweeney led the choir in the Reproaches which this year were read. The final choir item was the final movement ,“In Paradisum”, from the Fauré Requiem with Dr Sweeney playing the organ and the choir conducted by Bernard Pink who also sang.

After the hymn “Take up thy cross” Rev Helen led the congregation in the Shortened Litany before the closing prayers and the hymn “In the cross of Christ I glory”

The congregation was then invited to continue to St Thomas for “The cross in word” and St Stephen for “The Cross in sacrament”.

On Easter Day Rev Helen also conducted the service, preached and presided at communion. Rob Tremain carried the cross and began the service of Light in a good baritone which suggested that he should be recruited by the choir. Rev Helen led the prayers at the Easter Garden before the first hymn. Rob Tremain read the first and second readings before Helen read the gospel reading and led the renewal of baptismal vows at the font. Don Sharpe then led the prayers of intercession.

After the eucharist the choir sang as an anthem the “Hallelujah” chorus from “Messiah” by Handel with Dr Sweeney leading from the organ with Bernard Pink conducting the choir as well as singing. After the blessing Dr Sweeney played Widor’s joyful “Toccata” from his “Symphonie V.”

THE world’s last seagoing paddle steamer will be visiting two Cornish ports for the first time in a long time next month.

The Waverley, which has carried more than six million passengers over the years, will be operating excursion trips off the South West coast in the second half of May.

There will be an evening cruise from Plymouth on Friday, May 22, that will take in the coast of the Rame Peninsula in South East Cornwall.

On the same weekend, the paddle steamer will be visiting Mevagissey on the south coast of the county for the first time since the 1990s, the port receiving the iconic vessel on Sunday, May 24.

The following day, spring bank holiday Monday, the Waverley will be sailing off Land’s End. Then the day after, Tuesday, May 26, the boat will be undertaking her first sailing this century from Padstow on the north coast.

With 80 years of history, Waverley has operated in preservation since 1975 and is regarded as a “national treasure”, registered on the National Historic Fleet as a vessel of pre-eminent national significance.