Author: crowlasludgvanwi

In two visits, one in April and one in May, members attended a guided tour by local historian Keith Pearce of the locked, Grade II listed, Penzance Jewish Cemetery.

Keith has researched the transient Jewish settlers who came from the Rhineland and Holland, made their home in the port of Penzance back in the 17th and 18th centuries.

He told how they worshipped at a Synagogue in the town and their most important acquisition was a place of burial.

As merchants they prospered then as the local economy declined, due to the collapse mainly of mining, they moved on.

Keith’s story telling ability had us all transported back to before many houses were built in and around Penzance and how they managed to acquire their cemetery site from local gentry.

Keith gave all who attended a copy of his booklet on the subject to take away. 

Following on from our two trips to Leach Pottery in St Ives, the pots made by our creative members were returned to us, fired and glazed. At our May Meeting everyone voted for their favourite, and Jill was awarded a certificate for coming ‘Top of The Pots’.

Snappers (our renamed Camera Club) were kindly invited to meet the latest additions to Rosie and Barry’s small sheep flock. They were delighted to have welcomed nine lambs to their five Zwartbles ewes. Set in a delightful location above Mount’s Bay it was a delightful way to spend the afternoon, photographing the friendly sheep and their lambs.

Our May Meeting began with a discussion about the 2023 WI Resolution:

Clean rivers for people and wildlife

Water quality in our rivers is shameful. Legally, designated bathing waters must be regularly monitored for pollution. The NFWI urges its members, the wider public, local authorities and Government to make, support and promote applications for official designated bathing sites on appropriate stretches of rivers in their area. This will be as instrumental to the clean up of rivers as it has been for water quality improvement at coastal beaches.

After a vote as to whether to put forward a Yes or No to our delegate for the Annual Meeting in Cardiff later this month, members were invited to toast the new King, Charles III with a glass of bubbly, and enjoy a delicious slice of cake. God Save The King was sung, and everyone had a chance to be photographed with The King.

Crowlas and Ludgvan Artists ! A wonderful way to spend a very wet day is to rediscover your love of painting , and our group of 6 produced some very accomplished pictures of an abandoned boat on a beach . It was fun and challenging but  everyone went home satisfied with the result . Well done to everyone .

‘An extraordinary life’ was the title of the talk given by Floyd Steadman on April 17th at our monthly meeting. It certainly has been extraordinary, so much overcome and so much achieved ! See more by clicking here FLOYD

A perfect log for our picnic in the sun at the end of our April Walk. A boggy start meant we had to backtrack but we soon found dry land. Goldsithney’s back yard was full of spring flowers and the burnt wasteland after last summer’s wild fire was a beautiful black sculpture show!
The great outdoors at it’s best .

This month’s Meet and Eat subgroup had a lovely lunch at The Fire Engine Inn in Marazion, while enjoying the spectacular views of St Michael’s Mount. Next month they are off to The Coldstreamer in Gulval. There will be a sign up sheet at the April Monthly Meeting if any CLWI members would like to go along.

Have you ever wondered what happens to those black bags of waste you put out for collection?

Well, on a very wet and windy day in April members of Crowlas and Ludgvan WI (and some husbands) went up to St Austell to find out at the Suez Waste Processing Plant. After receiving a friendly welcome and a play on the interactive display, the group listened carefully to the safety briefing. Half the group were then provided with fluorescent jackets, helmets with visors, gloves and earphones (necessary to hear the guide as it was sometimes a bit noisy around the plant) Once kitted out this group went on the tour, up flights of stairs, along metal walkways, into control rooms. They marvelled at huge grabbers, furnaces ,conveyor belts, generators and saw a lot of pipe work! Meanwhile the other half of the group watched a video about the plant and had the opportunity to ask questions on everything waste related. The groups then swapped over. A very interesting and educational trip!

The website below contains lots of information about what goes on at the site.

Energy recovery

Following on from our recent monthly meeting where we welcomed Eloise and Ellen to the Murley Hall, last Wednesday a group of Crowlas and Ludgvan WI members visited Leach Pottery in St Ives. Ellen Love, the Learning and Participation Manager gave us a guided tour of the museum,  work rooms, and kilns, giving us a fascinating insight into the Leach family history.

In the workshop Lily Parkinson, a potter, demonstrated how to make a pinch pot and several ways to decorate it using tools,  a shell and ‘slip’.

From  balls of clay we created our own pinch pots and decorated them.  Our pots will be fired and collected at a later date.

Thank you Ellen and Lily for a very interesting and inspiring afternoon.