Phillack, the Church 1892

karen_broadbent@hotmail.co.uk

My memory is of the Cove Cafe in 1991, my name is Chris Broadbent and I now live in North Cheam in Surrey. I spent a glorious summer in Hayle and made friends with Ben Bailey who runs the cafe. I sold ice creams on the beach during the summer season and then spent all the profits on drink in The Bluff pub along the coastline. I was going throuigh a particular lost period in my life and this summer season really calmed me down and gave me focus on where I should be heading. I have recently returned to the area with my family for a short break and was pleased to find Ben and his partner still running the cafe, they wil never know how much that summer meant to my life. I also found out with much sadness that a man nicknamed Podge had recently commited suicide, Podge was also one of the nice people of the world and even though I have not seen him in 15 odd years I will miss him greatly. RIP Podge you were a nice person.

Lelant

In 1976 I worked for the Francis Frith Collection in Baker Street, and then in Charles Street, Berkley Square. In 1977 it was purchased by my then boss, and now friend, Mr. John Buck. We continued to work together from his home in Finchampstead for a short while. I then left to move back to my native Cornwall in October 1977.
When I moved to Cornwall I brought with me about 20 framed Frith prints which I ordered when it was still owned by Rothman's.
In November 1977, my aunt Kathleen called on me at Lelant and said it was her husband's (Louis') birthday and she didn't know what to get for him, so I invited her to look through the 20 framed prints and select one for him. She had much difficulty in deciding as they were all, of course, so good, but finally settled for the one shown, (or one very much like it). She duly presented this to Louis and they were both dumbfounded when he exclaimed "Do you know who that is in the picture?.....It's me!!! Louis was a market gardener for one of the local gentry families in the 20s, and would go to this little cove each week for seaweed for the garden. This time he was unknowingly caught in the act!!!  To this day, we still talk about the amazing coincidence. That I should have chosen this view in the first place, and that she should have chosen it in the second placed is beyond coincidence.
May I wish The Francis Frith Collection, and John Buck in particular, continued and well deserved success.
Chas Curnow.
PS: Thanks for the superb memories that I have.

Another St Ives Relative

The man on the step here is a distant relative of mine, possibly my great-great grandfather. Another picture that I have known of for ages but never known its origins.

My Great-Grandfather

I've known of this photo for a long while. The man in the middle of the photo is my great-grandfather who as well as being a Lifeboatman, won many sailing trophies.