Grumpy Volunteer's Corner

by Keith Evans

The helicopter is proving to be the biggest 'wow' factor this year, judging from the 'Ooo's and 'Ahh's as visitors enter The Hold. However, it doesn't convince everyone. One lady said "It's not real is it. It doesn't have a propeller on the top." Which just goes to prove you can't fool the oldies. One chap, who looked like Charlie Chaplin's brother said "How did you get that in here? Through the roof?" "No," I said "we took the easy way and brought it through the doors. We didn't like the idea of taking the roof off." "I suppose not" he said, quite seriously. Another chap said "What's that doing in here? I thought it was a maritime museum." "Well," I said "it can float." He gave me a look of disbelief.

Two old ladies came out of the lift in Lookout just as a hoard of kids came rampaging up the stairs. "We've been trying to get away from them all morning" one said in a broad Welsh accent. "Never mind" she said "like you, we must be getting old." Oh thanks, I thought, you've made my day! "Where are you from?" I asked. "Denbigh, North Wales, said the other. "My nephew has a hair dressing salon in Denbigh" I said. "Now that's funny," she said "what's his name?" "Jones" I said. "Ah now, look you," she said "it would be wouldn't it."

There's no end to Jonathan's enthusiasm. He was seen recently in the Main Hall with a feather duster, a pink one at that. Not that he was dusting anything. I think he was using it as a tickling stick to boost morale.

Sunday PM shifts

by Mike Pennell

We’re short of Volunteers
for PM Sunday shifts;
There’ll have to be incentives –
maybe Bribery or Gifts!

Free lunch could be an option
(no cooking for their wives)
but only one small portion –
(so that catering survives).

It could be in our contract
“Two PM shifts a year”
It would surely be a burden
that most of us could bear.

Or maybe just a guarantee
“No Waterfront at all”
There’s many who would welcome that
as they stayed in Main Hall.

A special badge upon one’s fleece
and that would show each Guest,
just who’s prepared to give their time
while others are at rest.

Falmouth harbour

The arrival of the Shieldhall, the 2009 flagship of the National Historic Ship and the last large steam-powered ship, onto County Wharf inspires some thoughts about how lucky we are this week.

The Matthew, a replica 16th century ship, is sitting on our pontoon making a wonderful attraction. Such ships must have been common visitors to these waters in their day. A number no doubt popped in to take shelter in the waters in front of Arwenack House but got a surprise when they were plundered by the Killigrews (allegedly).

On the main pontoon we can look out at four sleek superyachts: Velsheda, Unfurled, the lovely Adela and William Tai. Each is steeped in history but Velsheda, the J class, stands out as a relic of the glorious days of sailing when rich magnates raced great gaff-rigged yachts for the America's Cup so beautifully captured in Beken of Cowes pictures.

Which brings me back to Shieldhall which was a sewage dumping ship on the Clyde. She would collect sewage and head out to sea to dump it in deep water. The poor of Glasgow were taken as deck cargo to give them fresh (?) air and a trip on a ship. Run by volunteers, her engines are immaculate: the engine room hot and faintly oily in just the way enthusiasts enjoy. Her current colour scheme is a homage to the Titanic.

And finally, we have been enjoying the sight of the Finns from many nations heading out to race from the Watersports Centre. FRA, GER, NED, GBR declare their sails, going off to do peaceful battle in the bay. Fantastically well sailed they have had their attendant fleet of small colourful ribs.

The Finns are a reminder how the world has changed over the years. At the end of the 19th century, ships of many of the same nations would have been calling in to Falmouth 'for orders'. Now their descendants come to compete in leisure pursuits.

So, from the 16th century to the cutting edge of modern competition. All we are missing is something from Nelson's navy or a tall ship. Hang on: what is that coming around Trefusis Point ... ?

Bretons who knew their onions!

Regular annual visitors to our Cornish shores between the two World Wars & for sometime afterwards were the Johnnie Onion Sellers from Brittany. In fact according to an historical trade record from Brittany it first started as early as 1300s.

The hardy Bretons would make the hazardous trips across in open sail boats (many lost their lives on these journeys) with their onions to several centres along the south coast of England.

My beau-père (Father in law) Jean Le Jeune (pictured circ. 1950, standing about where Trago Mills is now) was born just outside Roscoff in Brittany in 1926. He was a Johnnie Onion Seller in the Penryn, Falmouth Helston, Penzance & Mousehole areas on his trusty bike with the onions hanging off the handle bars each string would weigh about 1 kilo.

He made his first trip to the UK as an Onion Seller in 1950 sailing for 16 hours in a 50-ton sail boat from Roscoff to Penryn (other vessels made for Plymouth or Portsmouth). The return trip to Brittany was made by ferry from Newhaven to St Malo.

On Dales Farm on Eastwood Road, Penryn there was a big store in which the onions were kept, there was also a storage point in Penzance. They used to sleep in the old sail lofts at the bottom of St Thomas street in Penryn, but not until they had strung their onions ready for the next day. There were 3 or 4 sellers in each group, the leader had a car & the others English bicycles although the last year that Jean worked selling he used his own French bike (see photo). The car driver would travel to Padstow, Newquay & Mevagissey leaving the others to cover the local area on their bikes. I once asked why we no longer see the Johnnies here anymore & he said “It’s because the youngsters didn’t want to come.”

Jean said “It was easy to sell the onions because of their high quality and longevity ”They would be able to be kept for up to 6 months if stored correctly." The rose coloured Roscoff onion is favoured by top chefs because of its mild sweet taste. French sailors would eat the pink Roscoff onions raw for weeks if not months on end.

The sellers had permits allowing them to stay in the UK for 3months only. Jean came every year & in 1953 married a Penryn girl which allowed him to stay for 12 months without renewing his permit. In 1954 he applied for a residential permit & returned to his original trade as a Mason, taught to him by German soldiers during WWII where he was conscripted to build bunkers & gun emplacements in Brest. He was working in Brest during the raid on St Nazaire when he said the Germans panicked & moved them to another camp till the next day. He worked for several local builders & Falmouth Docks working on the wall that’s in front of the dry docks.

After he retired he made several trips back to Roscoff with his wife for holidays & sometimes returned with some onions, but not to sell!

Michael Hill, not so new Gallery Volunteer


Relaxing holiday

We have just returned from the most relaxing holiday I have ever had, and if anyone wants to be totally idle for two weeks, I recommend the river trip from Amsterdam to Budapest. The scenery is spectacular along the rivers Rhine, Main and Danube with many castles, acres of vineyards and forests; there is also the addition of 64 locks to negotiate – varying in height from 10 feet to Eighty-nine feet!!

The ship was 150 metres long and barely had enough room to enter the narrow locks.
Accommodation was excellent, with a balcony for the glorious weather, and mouth-watering menus to suit the area we were in each day – plus free dinner wines.

With only 150 passengers (a mixture of US, Canadian, NZ & UK) and 51 crew, the atmosphere aboard was very friendly. The crew were extremely efficient.

Apart from the free excursions at various towns, local entertainment came aboard on some evenings.

Mike Pennell