Penzance, Cornwall

My great grandfather

This is a photo of Henry Kitchen, my mother's grandfather, who was also one of Stanhope Forbes' favourite models.  He was painted sitting in the rowing boat in Forbes' painting 'The Lighthouse', which now hangs in Manchester Art Gallery, and I have also read an account of  a diary which he kept, when taken to London to be presented to Queen... [more]

SAILORS MISSION, NEWLYN

As a boy during the Second World War I served as a Sea Cadet at Newlyn where on numerous occasions we made use of the facilities at the Sailors Mission. I loved to listen to the old sailors talking about past memories and often shared in a mug of steaming hot tea.
Every so often my mother would ask me to... [more]

I wish I had one!

This town is where my ancestors started to spread far and wide, beginning in 18th century or thereabouts. Some distant cousins still live there, I'm sure.

The churchyard at Ludgvan

My father, Joseph Martin and Ruth, my mother, are buried at Ludgvan, together with his parents (Joseph and Sarah). The latter died in 1949/1950 and had lived at Castle Gate (Badgers Cross). My father attended school in Ludgvan and worked as a journalist pre-War and until 1952 on many local papers including The Cornishman, in Penzance, sometimes writing under the pen-name... [more]

All Saints Church

Marazion celebrated 500 years of being a town in 1995! This shows the parish church for the town.

Fore Street

They demolished the shops on the left cos it was so narrow, then built the bypass! The Silvermine gift shop is there now.