THE Memorial Hall Collacott Room is the home of the ‘Village Archives’, and is open on Wednesdays between 10am and noon.

The team receive many enquiries from families far and wide.

It holds many school photographs dating back to the beginning of the 19th century.

David Bert Cole, who attended Bradworthy School, is a regular visitor to the Collacott Room. When Bert saw the archive had a 1953 school photograph on file with himself sat in the front row, he decided to gather his ‘School Chums’ together for a photo-call.

On Wednesday morning the History Society were pleased to take the photographs for Bert and his School Chums.

MEMBERS of Holsworthy Hamlets Flower Club welcomed Fiona Hammond to the Bodmin Street School Room in November when she entertained with one of her brilliant imposed demonstrations, entitled ‘Take That’.

The committee supplied Fiona with the flowers, foliage and containers for her to create her designs. She amazed the audience with six arrangements using a variety of styles and techniques.

Sandra Huxtable charmed the members in December with her demonstration ‘Christmas Delights’. Five designs were created including a low design constructed in a box made by Sandra’s husband Colin. The box was filled with a green and gold pyramid shaped candle, conkers, fir, ilex berries, osmanthus, hypericum berries, button chrysanthemums, carnations, eucalyptus, fir cones, roses and alstroemeria.

Another of Sandra’s arrangements was a red and white design in a cylindrical cage made using wire covered in red and white wool set in a slice of wood on which the flower arrangement sat. Fir, bay, euonymus, holly, ilex, green chrysanthemums, red roses, red baubles, white carnations and red and white ribbon were all used in this fabulously seasonal design.

Sylvia Harris thanked Sandra for entertaining us following which refreshments were served.

The next meeting will on February 10 in the Bodmin Street School Room at 7.30pm when Nancy Passmore will be demonstrating, ‘Spring is just around the corner’.

THE 36th Bude Jazz Festival was held from August 26 to 29.

It was another successful festival, and the Committee are finalising arrangements for the festival in 2026.

The format was similar to recent years with all the venues in walking distance of each other, two or three gigs at each venue per day, and staggered intervals so that festival goers could move around without encountering breaks. Most of venues were the same as in recent years and included the Falcon Hotel, the Ivor Potter Hall in the Parkhouse Centre, the Methodist Church, the Carriers Inn, and ‘Upstairs Social’. The bar and catering at the Parkhouse centre, by ‘Outside Inn’, were again very well received.

The festival included the usual parade and prizes were given for the best adult and children’s brollies. Arrangements for the parade were altered in 2025 following a review of marshalling, and so a different route was adopted going along the Wharf, past the Castle to stop by the river for judging of the brollies. From there the parade returned via the Wharf to finish at the Brendon Arms. The new route received favourable comments.

Other features included a strolling band playing at various locations around the town on two days, busking sessions outside the Falcon every morning, and dance lessons each day, led this year by the Swingsters, Mike and Mel.

Although the roots of the festival are in traditional jazz, this coming year there will also be bands playing gypsy, mainstream, swing, jump/jive, big band, skiffle, boogie-woogie as well as various eras of traditional jazz.

For those who might not know Bude it is an attractive seaside resort on the Atlantic coast of Cornwall; the sea can be seen (or heard!) from some of the venues. There are wide sandy beaches and a sea pool. In between gigs there are lovely walks, over the downs, along the coast, or up the canal. Historic features include the breakwater, the storm tower, the canal sea lock (the only one in England), and the Castle Heritage centre/museum. There is plenty to do besides the jazz.

The festival has, in recent years, been on the four days following the August bank holiday. The committee are looking at options for 2027 which include moving to later in September, or to cover a weekend. Feedback on this would be welcomed via the website www.budejazzfestival.info

The 37th Bude Jazz Festival will run from Tuesday, September 1, to Friday, September 4, 2026. Tickets will be on sale from January/February 2026. There is a choice of one or four day strollers which give entry to every venue; or you can pay on the door for an individual gig.

EVERY spring, Bude Inner Wheel hold a charity lunch at the Parkhouse Centre, which is very popular and well supported by the local community and at the same time raises funds for local charities. People often ask "what is Inner Wheel" so here is some background information.

Inner Wheel was founded on January 10, 1924 by Margarette Golding, the wife of a Manchester Rotarian and was originally established for the wives of Rotarians. By 1934 the idea had grown and the Association of Inner Wheel Clubs of Great Britain and Ireland was formed with the object of promoting true friendship, encouraging the idea of personal service and fostering international understanding. The movement spread around the world and in 1967 International Inner Wheel was formed. It is now one of the largest women's voluntary service organisations with members in over 100 countries. Since 2012, membership of Inner Wheel is now open to all women over the age of 18 and no connection to Rotary is necessary.

Bude Inner Wheel celebrated its 60th anniversary last May and would welcome new members. Meetings are held at the Falcon Hotel on the second Monday of the month and an informal lunch is held once a month at various local venues. We are looking forward to an interesting programme in the coming year in which we hope to include some community initiatives. If you are interested in finding out more about us, contact [email protected] or follow us on Facebook.

Every year, the president of Bude Inner Wheel selects a main charity or charities and this year it is Adsurf and Cornwall Mind. As well as these, we regularly support Bude Food Bank, send gifts of toiletries to the Cornwall Women's Refuge and make donations to ten local charities at Christmas. We also support an International Charity. This year it is Mary's Meals.

THE Launceston Community Market is delighted to have raised £200 for Launceston Home Ed Choir (LHEC) which is a local good cause run by Paula Every.

The LHEC is for home educated children aged eight to 18. They meet at Launceston Methodist Church on Thursdays from 11am to noon. Home educated children obviously don't get the opportunity to join a school choir so this group give them the chance to develop and enhance their singing abilities. It also gives them extra contact with other children and helps to build their confidence and self-belief and they all thoroughly enjoy it! The choir is currently particularly hoping that boys will join to add to the predominantly girl group.

The choir performs various concerts around our area and more details about these events, and joining the choir, can be obtained from Paula via email at [email protected] or on Facebook (search Launceston Home Ed Choir).

The Community Market, with a wide range of local produce and crafts, meets on Friday mornings from 9.30am to 12.45pm at Methodist Central. It has so far raised £22,000 for local organisations and would welcome suggestions for the next local charity or good cause.

THE Launceston Ladies’ and Men’s Probus clubs held a joint Christmas lunch, including guests, at the Eagle House hotel.

Men’s Probus chairman Christopher Cooke welcomed those present and reflected on an entertaining and successful year. It has been a year which has seen a variety of interesting speakers and the formation of Launceston Ladies’ Probus. Both clubs have been pleased to welcome new members during the year.

Prior to the meal those present were entertained with a recital by award winning local harpist Bethany Coggon. Bethany continued throughout the meal, playing a selection of Christmas carols on her harp - surely a fairly unique privilege for a Christmas lunch.

It was agreed by all present that both the entertainment and meal were most enjoyable.

Mens’ Probus meet on the second and fourth Monday of each month and Ladies’ Probus on the third Monday of each month, with a speaker followed by an optional lunch.

The clubs are primarily for retired or semi-retired people, providing a relaxed atmosphere with a focus on entertainment. For further information on past and future activities of Probus, including talks and visits, visit the website at probusclub.net/launcestoncornwalluk or the Facebook page ‘Probus Club of Launceston - Cornwall’.