Camborne Nursing Home

A Memory of Camborne.

How amazing to see this photo of Camborne Nursing Home where I was born in 1949! Sadly now, as with so many places, turned into flats. On the opposite corner is Elmhurst Preparatory School my first proper school in 1954! All my family are from Camborne. We lived in Trelowarren Street and my Mum’s brother, Treve owned his own radio shop (Rowling Radio) in the town. Prior to that my grandfather (Isaac Stanley Rowling):and his father before him were Coal Merchants in Camborne and I can remember going to Hayle in the coal lorry with my Pops to collect coal from a ship in the harbour, this would have been in the 50s.

I have such happy childhood memories of Camborne and Hayle where we would spend the whole summer in my Aunt’s chalet on the Towans. I remember going to the pictures at the King’s Cinema in Commercial Square which was akin to any West End Theatre with its plush red carpet and gold fittings with pictures of all the movie stars of the time covering the walls. Then going to Saturday morning pictures for children at the Scala just by the town clock. I was quite small then and remember having to sit on the top of the upturned seat so I could see the screen properly. Did anyone else ever go there?

I also remember happy times spent in the recreation ground but being too scared to go on the large swinging bench. There also used to be a couple of little glass summer houses in the park where all the old men would sit and chat, I used to be fascinated by them. After that Mum would take me for ice cream in an ice cream parlour near the Nursing Home. We would sit upstairs and I would have a “North Pole” which consisted of ice cream fruit and raspberry sauce.

Does anyone remember Penrose’s corner shop in Trelowarren Street and the fresh fish shop next door? There used to be a big poster with a toucan advertising Guinness on the wall of Penrose’s shop. Then there was Norton’s fish and chips and ? Cann’s fish and chips and R Hamblyn the butcher. I also have a memory of a small bakery in Trinity Street. And, of course, not forgetting Woolies in Trelowarren Street. How sad to see all these places go.

I would love to share the memories

I now live in Norfolk but I am still very proud to be a Camborne girl.