Our coffee morning at the Central Methodist Church in Launceston on June 3 was a great success again thanks to everyone who took part, donated and supported this annual fundraising event.

There was a raffle, Tombola, lots of home-grown plants and herbs for sale plus home-made savoury goodies, cakes and donated puddings.

Once the coffee morning was over, members enjoyed a pasty lunch followed by an abundance of puddings to choose from off the sweet trolley, which had all been made and provided by the club volunteers.

It just so happened that the coffee morning took place during ‘ Volunteers Week’ and our fabulous band of helpers and organisers were shown appreciation and thanked by iSight Cornwall for all their hard work and commitment to our club, which helps it continue to provide those living with sight loss in our local community friendship, support and of course lots of fun and laughter along the way.

June has been a busy month for Launceston Probus Clubs. The Ladies Club held their inaugural meeting when the structure of the club was agreed and officers elected.

The Probus Launceston Mens’ Club was entertained by illustrated talks on undersea mining and diagnostic imaging. The second meeting was the clubs’ quarterly lunch to which partners were invited. At this meeting guest speaker Simon recounted his experiences during a career in diagnostic imaging.

He showed slides and described the different techniques and terms used in imaging.

He described how X-rays worked by picking up different densities in the body, and could detect conditions such as osteoporosis (weak bones) with DEXA. The images are usually two dimensional, but can be panoramic.He showed how procedures had evolved, no longer using film or radioactive material. We may recall when shoe shops X-rayed feet, but this is now recognized as hazardous! Images are stored in digital archives - one company alone has one billion - and can be accessed from any location.

Imaging has other non-clinical uses, such as detecting fractures in propeller blades.

Simon outlined the different imaging systems. Fluoroscopy produced a live image, and could be used in conjunction with Ultrasound. This enabled such procedures as treatment of kidney stones and embolisms, procedures formally known as interventional.

Computer Tomography (CT) scans using a rotating tube and has superseded CAT scans. CT is quick but expensive, and the image can be coloured using appropriate software.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) works by using a magnetic field to get images by realigning atoms in the body. This is not as alarming as it sounds, as only a very small percentage (0.06) of the atoms are affected. This can be more patient friendly, using an open scanner which makes it less claustrophobic.

Ultrasound uses reflected sound in a similar way to sonar. It is cheaper than CT or MRI, but is more reliant on the operator.

Nuclear Medicine uses a radioactive material which is injected and into the body where it accumulates in specific areas. This can aid the diagnosis and treatment in diseases such as cancers. This is a safe procedure due to the very short half-life (period of existence) of the isotope used.

Simon concluded by answering questions from the audience. In response to one question he said that taking an X-ray before hip replacement was vital to make sure that the replacement could be correctly implanted. When asked about AI he commented that it has a role in imaging, and is being increasing used to identify abnormalities in scans.

Simon was enthusiastically thanked by members for his talk and discussion continued during lunch.

Our first July meeting will be an illustrated talk by member Paul on Bastille Day.

Mens’ Probus meet on the 2nd and 4th. Monday of each month and Ladies’ Probus on the first Monday of each month, with a speaker followed by an optional lunch.There are no meetings on Bank Holidays or during the month of August. 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, please visit our website at probusclub.net/launcestoncornwalluk/ or our Facebook page ’Probus Club of Launceston - Cornwall’.

The Inner Wheel Club of Launceston recently presented cheques for £100 to Launceston Memory Cafe and for £100 Launceston Food Bank.

Twenty five members of the Lezant Lunch Club were welcomed by Ken Scoble at Trebullett Hall on Wednesday, June 25.

Members enjoyed a delicious meal of cottage pie served with carrots, peas and beans. The desert was strawberries and cream accompanied by a shortbread finger. A vegetarian alternative was available.The caterers were Marilyn Davey, Carolyn Reynolds and Ruth Burden.The servers were Rebecca Gentry, Irene Nash, Mary Bridger and Helen Judge.

During coffee, members were entertained by a picture quiz presented by Angela Morrison. The theme was technology we used in previous decades such as the Walkman and a mobile phone the size of a brick!

The Lezant Lunch Club meets on the last Wednesday of each month. The next meal will be held on Wednesday, July 30. The cost to members will be £5 for two courses plus coffee. Phone Ruth on 01566 782286 to book a place.

The June Community Breakfast was a great success. Thank you to those who prepared and served the Full English and to all those from the wider community, who came and shared the delicious meal. The Community Breakfast's continue to be served in The Stable at the Methodist Chapel on the third Saturday of each month and all are welcome.

There was no service at the Methodist Chapel on Sunday, June 22, as the Chilsworthy congregation joined for Worship with friends at Bodmin Street Methodist Church in Holsworthy which was led by Ruth Bealing.

A CLUB in Bude is celebrating following a new addition to its racing fleet.

Since its inception in 2002, Bude Pilot Gig Club has had only one racing gig: Bedehaven. Although training gigs are made of GRP - also known as fibreglass - racing gigs are carefully crafted in wood and are a requirement in order to take part in Regattas, where gigs from all over Cornwall compete with each other.

Following the creation of the new clubhouse at the end of last year, Bude Pilot Gig Club has now raised the funds to purchase a new racing gig, thanks to sponsorship from local companies and the hard work of its members.

The new gig has been built by Charlie Jenkins, a boat builder based in St Agnes. This has been his first pilot gig and the club is very excited at how beautiful she looks. Her name is Summerleaze and she was delivered to BPGC’s boat house on Sunday, June 29.

Following its delivery, the Reverend David Saunders from St Michael and all Angels of Bude performed a blessing on the new gig on Summerleaze Beach, after which she was be taken on her first row.

With excitement surrounding the new gig’s arrival, members’ names were drawn from a hat for the honour of being the first crew to take her out to sea.

Club members also celebrated this exciting moment in the club’s history with a barbecue following the blessing, on the beach and in the boat house.

A spokesperson from the club said: “With two racing gigs kept in the boat house in Summerleaze carpark and two – soon to be three – training gigs kept at Tamar Lakes, Bude Pilot Gig Club is delighted to be able to offer its members increased opportunities to train and race together.”

The service at Morwenstow Methodist Chapel at Shop on Sunday, June 22, was led by the Merrytones Praise Group.

The projector was controlled by Stuart Ash.

The Circuit Prayer, prayers of adoration, thanksgiving, repentance and intercession were led by Bill Cleave.

Colin Tape was the organist for the hymns: ‘All things praise Thee Lord most high’, ‘Be still for the presence of the Lord’, ‘Jesu, Thou joy of loving hearts’ and ‘Colours of Day, dawn on my mind’.

The lessons were read by Debbie French and John Cleave.

The Merrytones Praise Group sang: 'A stranger's just a friend' and 'Love you every second'.

Coffee and a chance to chat followed the service in The Wesley Room.

In celebrating forty years of the Morwenstow Community Centre, there were Open Gardens in Morwenstow Parish on the afternoon of Sunday, June 22.

Starting off from the Community Centre, entry to the Gardens was free to view five Gardens, both large and small, in Shop, Woodford and Brownspit, plus the Woodford Community Garden which is situated in the rear of the grounds of Woodford Methodist Chapel.

Refreshments were available throughout at the Community Centre. Thank you to all who helped out with the event, especially to those who opened up their beautiful Gardens for the event.

A coffee and cake morning was held in the hall on Friday, June 20, in aid of St Pancras Church bell fund.

There was a good number in attendance and £258 was raised and thanks go to all who supported this event.

In 2024 one of the bell wheels broke. The church has a peel of five bells, in addition to the repair of the broken bell wheel, conservation works are desperately needed for the rest of the peel the church wardens have consulted with specialized engineers for the repair works to be done, which could cost as much as £50,000.