Wadebridge Male Voice Choir is among the oldest choirs in Cornwall.

It can boast of the fact that it has one of the longest servicing chorister’s Mr Dudley Halling, who sings in the baritone section and joined the choir in January 1965. Over the years Mr Halling has held almost every post on the committee.

On the day of his presentation, April 16, it was World Voice Day, a fitting day for the presentation, Mr Halling’s commitment and dedication to the choir is outstanding, his love of singing, the joy he and the choir has brought to countless people is inspiring.

Mr Halling is the choir’s president, in recognition of his service to the choir, he has made many friends and welcomed many changes in musical directors. The choir holds him in high esteem and are proud of his achievement.

Anyone interested in singing, can join the choir at 7.30pm at the Churchill Bars every Wednesday evening. You will find a warm welcome, and the possible start of your journey to reach sixty years of dedicated service.

The VE Day celebrations at St Mary’s began with an organ recital by Dr Sean Sweeney, director of music, which opened with the well known Spitfire Prelude by William Walton followed by the reflective piece Lantana from The Plymouth Suite by Percy Whitlock.

He then played one of his favourite pieces, J S Bach’s Prelude in C minor, which recognised that, although our opponents then, the Germans have been our allies for the last 80 years, followed by an interesting arrangement of Greensleeves by Stanley Roper.

Processional by Welsh composer William Mathias was a jolly, rhythmic piece which was followed by what Dr Sweeney described as an organist’s nightmare, Handel’s The arrival of the Queen of Sheba which requires great coordination of hands and feet in the running passages (not to mention page turns) which was followed by On a clear day, which must have been a relief from aerial bombardment in May 1945, arranged by Lislotte Kunkel, which showed that the organ could be played like a theatre organ.

Dr Sweeney finished his programme with the popular Dambusters March by Eric Coates.

The following day the mayor and several councillors attended an 80th anniversary Thanksgiving and Commemoration Service led by James Wonnacott. After a welcome, opening prayer and hymn, O God our help in ages past, Sarah Vinson read from Zechariah about living safely and in peace.

After the second hymn, Lord for the years, Graham Chester read from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians in which he exhorts them to be reconciled to God and Kate Hancock read a poem by Patricia Denise Newman written for the 70th anniversary of VE Day before the choir sang the anthem, O Thou the Central Orb, by Charles Wood.

Suitable prayers preceded an Act of Commitment led by RBL Chaplain Rev Mary Williamson. After the final hymn, I vow to thee my country, Methodist minister Rev David Miller gave a homily before the final blessing and the National Anthem.

Dr Sweeney was the organist and he played Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March no.1 at the end of the service.

Twenty nine members of the Lezant Lunch Club were welcomed by Ken Scoble at Trebullett Hall on Wednesday, April 30.

Members enjoyed a delicious meal of gammon and parsley sauce, served with roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese and beans, followed by jam sponge with custard. A vegetarian alternative was available.The caterers were Irene Nash and Ruth Burden. The servers were Jackie Warren, Mary Bridger, Rebecca Gentry, Julie Dinnis and Helen Judge.

During coffee, members were entertained by a picture quiz presented by Angela Morrison. The theme was TV detective programmes.

The Lezant Lunch Club meets on the last Wednesday of each month. The next meal will be held on Wednesday, May 28. The cost to members will be £5 for two courses plus coffee. Phone Ruth on 01566 782286 to book a place.

More than 60 people attended a very successful VE Day lunch on Monday, May 5, in St Stephens Community Hall. The event was organised by four ladies from the village.

The wonderful profit of £320 will be donated to the Launceston branch of the Royal British Legion.

On May 5 the community of Stratton came together to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the ending of the Second World War in Europe by having a tea party in the Social Area of St Andrew's Church with many local folk keen to celebrate it all together.

In all 50 Strattonians were able to sot down to a delicious High Tea with a hum of conversation to remember the importance of 80 years ago. Traditional English Tea was helped by some of those present who as children could add their own reminiscences of living though the 1945 activities.

A display of the details of the many men and women from Stratton who gave their lives in the Second World War was available to peruse along with war time memorabilia that included an active "Spiv" trying to sell his doubtfully acquired purchases.

The churchyard path entrances were decorated with Union Flags with the Tower Union Flag flying high above.

On VE Day, May 8 the bell ringers rang a peel at 6.30pm.

On Tuesday last, the Chilsworthy Ladies Group ‘The Ladybirds' were incredibly well entertained and educated by a lady representative from ‘The Lundy Island Trust'.

She gave us a superb, illustrated talk about Lundy Island, it’s long history and the Flora and Fauna to be found there, in particular the seal population and their life cycle.

She was extremely knowledgeable and humorous and packed her talk with information, much of which was news to us all.

We were all so pleased that we were lucky to have been there and can’t wait to visit Lundy Island as soon as possible.

The Ladybirds meet on the last Tuesday of the month in The Stable, next to the Methodist Chapel in Chilsworthy. We welcome new members.

Mondays weekly - morning prayer at 10am.

Sunday, May 18 - Holy Communion at 6.30pm.

Sunday, May 18 - Methodist Communion at 9.15am.

At the last meeting Mike Stephens gave a talk entitled “Bulbs of the Month.” He projected on to the wall in the Parish Hall in Upton Cross flowers of all varieties and shades. His enthusiasm was catching and the well deserved vote of thanks was given by Sue Morton. Member Viv Trill won the raffle and the Posy Challenge and Marion Turner won the competition.

In the business section there was a reminder that the annual subscriptions were due before the AGM on May 14 at a cost of £43. Following the AGM , a member of the group, Beverley Underwood is then going to talk about Aromatherapy.

The programme for 2025/2026 was handed out during the evening which includes talks on topics such as “Owls,” and “Secret Army” will be an open meeting so that anyone is invited to attend. For more information please contact the President via [email protected]

Their AGM will take place on Wednesday, May 14, in the Parish Hall at Upton Cross at 7.30pm.

Three members of the local Archive Group recently met the Rowe family from South Dakota to guide them around the district to places connected to where some of their descendants lived and worked in the local mines here.

Some lived at Sharptor, Higher Stanbear and North Darley, also farmed in the Henwood area too. Four men of the family left to work in the gold fields of Western Australia. A few years later another left seeking mining work, emigrating to Canada.

Apparently the Grandma of the family took her pasty making skills to America, so there was a break in the local “tour” for a Cornish pasty lunch of course! Also a visit to St Paul’s churchyard to see the great grandparents’ grave with a fine gravestone there.

On Thursday, May 8, Archive member, Peter Sharp gave such an interesting talk in Rilla Mill Village Hall of each of the men and their roles during the two World Wars, whose names appear on the War Memorial at Upton Cross. His great research of each of them was much appreciated by those who attended, appropriately on Thursday, May 8. A vote of thanks was given by the group Chair person, Sally Ellicott.

A History Group walk will take place on Sunday, June 1, ‘Rising from the Phoenix’, Phoenix Mine Through the Ages, which will be led by Ian Rowe. Please meet at the Hurler’s car park at 1.30pm.

The next film to be shown in the Parish Hall at Upton Cross on Saturday, May 17, is “JoJo Rabbit.” 7pm for 7.30pm.

The recent tabletop sale made more than £100 for hall funds.