JULY 2026
ISSUE 377
In this issue:
who sadly passed away on 9th May 2026
St Teath School – Can You Help?
At St Teath School, we’re lucky to have a dedicated group of people working
quietly behind the scenes to help make our school the very best it can be. This is
what we call governance – a team effort that helps keep our school safe, well run
and focused on giving every child the best possible experience.
Within the Westcountry Schools Trust (WeST), governance is a key part of how all schools are
supported and protected. The Trust describes governance as providing the right checks,
guidance, and assurances to keep standards high and children safe.
So, what do we need from you?
We need a member of the local community to join our team – WCC2 (WeST Community
Council 2) – to help represent the community of St Teath.
We want someone who:
- Understands the needs of the local community and can share a local perspective back to
Trust leaders; - Has time to be able to support WCC2 by undertaking school monitoring visits across any
of the four schools, attend training, attend termly governor meetings, read papers and attend
school functions; - Can help us to improve connections between the school and wider community;
- Is NOT a parent of a child at St Teath, Otterham, Camelford or St Breward Primary Schools
We are particularly looking for anyone with social care, health or a legal background – but this
doesn’t exclude you if you do not have this type of experience. Governance is all about making
sure our school is safe, well led and full of opportunities for every child. It brings together the
voices of staff, families, and the wider community to help shape a school we can all be proud of.
Do you think you could be the person to help represent St Teath? If so, please do look at the
WeST governance section of our website for further details of our roles, time commitments and
expectations (https://www.westst.org.uk/governance).
For further details or an informal discussion, please email the Chair of WCC 2 Karen Whalley on
kwhalley@westst.org.uk.
Charity Bingo
Friday3rd July in the Hall
Doors open 6.30, Eyes down 7.30.
Proceeds to The Acrewood Project
Jane Poynder (1930–2026)
Jane, born with the name Muriel Hilary in 1930, sadly passed away on 9th May at St Breock Care Home, aged 95. Growing up in the West Midlands, she insisted as a child that she should be called Jane because she wasn’t a Muriel, let alone a Hilary, causing endless mix-ups until she finally changed to Jane by deed poll in 1975.
Jane and her family lived in St Teath for a great many years, first in Knights Mill then in her cottage in Hatherleigh Terrace. Jane adored her children Shan, Bear and Toby; her grandchildren, Polly, Ayla and Thomasina (known as Teeps) and her great-grandchildren, Troy,
Kian and Jake. And of course, her cats, who, being cats, believed they were the true centre of her universe. She also had a rare capacity to show genuine interest in you, to listen and, most importantly, to hear you.
Jane was one of the team of amazing women in St Teath who threw themselves into village
activities in the mid-1990s. These included the restoration of the Community Centre, for which she was secretary, known for carefully rolling and tying the minutes with ribbon before handing them to Yvonne Tew. She was part of the Village Lunches, the Gardening Club and many Church Flower Festivals, where she and Grace Harris were always ready to welcome visitors. She was also part of the team that earned St Teath the title of Most Caring Village in Cornwall in 2006.
Jane was one of the founders of Timepiece alongside the dynamic Anne Perisic and the illustrious Roy Crosley. In true St Teath style, the idea of a village newsletter was suggested only in August 1988 but, by December of that year, the first issue had dropped onto people’s doormats. This feat was only possible because of Jane’s enthusiasm for the project and because she and Anne P shared the same qualities of determination, energy and a passion to make Timepiece successful, reflecting the village that they both loved. The pair edited as a team, with Jane’s enjoyment of writing and compiling evident in every issue. Her deep interest in other people also shone through.
Our former editor Barbara Strachan recalls that even after Jane moved to Highpoint Lodge, she was still perusing every copy with great delight and hadn’t lost any of that enthusiasm or passion for village life despite her health problems and being away from St Teath for so long. Jane continued to proofread the Timepiece after her retirement as editor, and Anne P was determined to ensure that she was still included – hence Jane’s unique title as the Timepiece’s honorary editor.
I imagine that Jane would agree with some words from that first issue, penned almost 38 years ago by county councillor Fred Whiting: “I am sure that the Timepiece will have a great future, because your village is a place where you all work together to get things going.”
Jane was a central pillar of the community spirit in St Teath, with the Timepiece as part of her legacy that continues to hold the village close together to this day. I hope that we on the team can continue that legacy and keep Timepiece ticking along steadily for a good few more years to come. On behalf of us all in St Teath, thank you Jane.
Anne Blewett; with contributions from Claire Salzmann, Ian Martin and Barbara Strachan (thank you!
Methodist Musings – Comings and Goings
Life is full of beginnings and endings. We start life, we come to the end of life. We start school and eventually leave school, though our learning never stops. We move out of the family home and move into living with our forever soulmate, husband, wife or partner; some-
times, things don’t work out and this happens more than once. It is all a part of life and its rich tapestry.
Julie and I are due to move on this summer – we’re leaving Cornwall and moving to West Sussex. For me, it is to retire and for Julie, it is to take up a role as youth and community worker at a local Methodist church. In Methodism, retirement is called ‘sitting down’ – this is
mostly so that you can stand up again if needs must!
We will desperately miss Cornwall, having lived both on the Lizard as well as in Tintagel. Cornwall and the Cornish people will forever have a place in our hearts. Moving on often leaves us with a sense of loss, though we are also excited for what the future holds. The bonus is that we will be living close to our children and grandchildren, and I suspect that grandparenting will play a large part in our lives after the move.
Things will not be left unattended here in the Camelford and Week St Mary circuit, however. The lovely Rev. Debbie Keegan will be the new Superintendent Minister and Deacon Dave Keegan will have the role of missioner across the circuit with some emphasis on new and existing projects. Both of them come with a variety of experiences and with many gifts and graces that will be most welcome in the area. They arrive at the end of July, and are due to start their work on 1st September.
If you are a praying person, please keep them and our local Methodist churches in your prayers in this time of transition, and do give Debbie and Dave a proper Cornish welcome.
If at this moment you are undergoing times of change and uncertainty, my prayers are with you. I pray that whatever is happening in this transition, may you know the peace of God and know the love of those around you.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4: 6-7)
May peace, love and joy be with you.
Blessings,
Rev Steve and Julie Swann
Co-editors’ note: Thank you Steve and Julie for all your Methodist Musings in Timepiece. We wish you all the best with your move and lots of happiness for your new chapter in West Sussex.
North Cornwall Miniature Railway and Toy Museum
Open Day Free Entrance – donations to support Timepiece
We are pleased to announce that Bob Lanaway has kindly offered to support the Timepiece at his next fabulous Open Day at NCMR Coldnorthcott on Sunday 26 July from 12noon to 5pm. Entry is free.
If you are a regular visitor, you will know that this is one of the best days out in North Cornwall. If you haven’t been before, you are in for a treat. You can ride on the trains and enjoy an amazing Toy Museum. The home-made refreshments are delicious (and will be
served by the Timepiece Team) and Bob and his team of volunteers will be there all day to answer your questions and drive the trains.
Donations will be collected on the day for Timepiece and donations of cakes would be very
much appreciated because Bob can’t be expected to wave the flag, blow the whistle, drive the trains and bake the cakes! We look forward to seeing you all there:
North Cornwall Miniature Railway and Toy Museum, Coldnorthcott, St Teath, PL30 3LL.
Congratulations Amy – and Cornwall Women’s Rugby!
On Saturday 6th June, Amy Warman was part of the Cornwall women’s rugby team
that won the Gill Burns county championship division 2 final at Twickenham Stadium by 46 points to Durham’s 27.
Amy has been part of the Cornwall women’s team since she was 16 and has always dreamt of playing at the home of English rugby. She finally realised her dream in her 25th season, playing every minute of every game this championship at the scrum-half position, and also as vice-captain.
I would like her to know how immensely proud her family and friends are of her!
— Andrew Warman
And well done Amy from the Timepiece team on behalf of the St Teath community!
If any readers have a good-news story or achievement they want to share, please do get in touch: details on the back page.
Speedwatch
In four sessions in May and June, a total of 65 speeders were recorded in the St Teath 20 mph zone:
1 x 34, 2 x 33, 2 x 32, 5 x 30, 3 x 29, 9 x 28, 3 x 27, 9 x 26, 15 x 25, 16 x 24
Please reduce your speed!
– The Speedwatch Team
Last month’s cover challenge: update
The cover of last month’s issue of Timepiece pictured an undated postcard of St Teath,
showing the view from the Square before the lych gate was built.
We received an email from a St Teath visitor staying in Piran’s Pad, Lindsay Page, who used
Google Lens to find a similar postcard online by the same photographer, T. Harris.
Showing ‘The Royal Albert Bridge, Saltash’ (Brunel’s bridge), it is dated 1904. According to
Lindsay’s web search, the photographer died in 1922. Thank you Lindsay!
St Teath Fairy Queen 2026
The Carnival Committee would like to thank the Tuesday morning coffee ladies in the
Community Centre for welcoming us along to officially crown our Fairy Queen for 2026,
Hetty Warman (pictured centre by the Clock Tower, and seated left in the indoor photo).
We were very lucky to have two former St Teath fairy queens in attendance, with Elaine (standing, in the indoor photo) and Ella (seated right in the indoor photo) who have both represented the village in the past. Ella was last year’s retiring queen and Elaine retired some 35 years ago! A few other former fairy queens were also in the Community Centre to watch Hetty receive her tiara.
Hetty promises to do lots of waving during any carnival she attends, and says she will absolutely use the crowds as target practice when she’s throwing out sweets to her adoring fans.
We’d also like to say a very big thank you and well done to all of last year’s carnival royalty.
Ella, Popi and Nelly did a fantastic job bringing home lots of prizes from all the different carnivals they attended.
Lastly, thank you to Elaine – the queen of carnival crowning – who always makes it a special
event. We wish Hetty lots of luck for this year’s carnival season. We are very proud to have you as our fairy queen. Try not to work Mum and Dad too hard!
Art Group News
On Wednesday 3rd June, probably the hottest day of the year so far, 15 members of the Art
Group took part in a watercolour workshop on trees led by artist Wendy Parkyn. The Community Centre was very full and very warm and the challenges set by Wendy were – well – challenging.
Wendy began with an exercise to paint three trees with a background, a mid-ground and a
foreground. She explained how: the shapes change from smaller to larger; the colours change
from cool to warm, and from weaker to stronger or more vibrant; and the level of detail changes from more or less none to very detailed.
Wendy then introduced some techniques using a palette knife and fine water spray. She used
the palette knife to spread a range of colours across the lower part of a painting, then turned the picture upside down and put on a very wet wash. Where the wash touched the paint, it created ‘runs’ that she transformed into trees (some in the foreground, others in the mid-ground or background). The spray technique created leaves in the mid-ground. She also used a fan brush for leaves. We all had a go – with varying levels of success (see pictures below).
Parish Council Art Competition
Can you paint, draw, collage or photograph a scene from St Teath for our official stationery?
There are three categories: • Up to and including Year 6 • Years 7–11 • Age 17+
Winning art will be printed in the Timepiece and used by the Parish Council in posters and
stationery. The competition closes on 17 July 2026.
St Teath students can hand their entries in at school. Entrants in Years 7–11 and adults: please
contact Jo Fleet on fleet.joanne@yahoo.co.uk to arrange for collection of your work.
Timepiece Crossword
Carnival Week 2026
Sunday 26th July – Saturday 1st August
Plus carnival breakfast on Sunday 2nd August
Once again we’ve got a week full of fun for everybody. The full programme will be delivered
through your door in early July, but we thought we’d give you an idea of what we have going on this year.
Kicking off Carnival Week is Sunday Funday with lots of live music, including Will Keating on
Sunday evening playing plenty of Cornish songs and shanties.
For the rest of the week there is so much to choose from. Alongside the ever-popular bingo and quiz nights are meditation and yoga, craft sessions and pop-up play during the daytime.
Other events to whet your appetite include Country night, a book launch and Punch and Judy. For the food-oriented there will be a cream tea and a Cornish lunch. For our furry friends there’s the dog show, followed by more live music with lots of great local bands, including three up-and-coming acts featuring local teenagers – real home-grown talent.
New for this year we are hosting a Speed Shear and the Great St Teath Duck Hunt, then to top it all off, we thought we might have a carnival on Saturday 1st August! So start thinking about your costumes and props, and let’s make this year’s carnival the best ever!
WANTED: Stewards for Carnival Day on Saturday 1st August
If you are able to help steward the carnival parade and shake a collecting bucket along the route, please contact Tracy Kitto on 07702 227226. Thank you!
The 34th Annual St Teath Village Show
Dust off your cookery books, landscape your miniature gardens, weed your carrots and get outthose craft boxes! It’s nearly time for the village show!
Our fine show was established in 1991 by the enterprising David Jasper (pictured below), to bring lighthearted rivalry to a local arena and allow friendly, neighbourly competition centered around growing and making in the community. David was initially approached by WI member Pam Hiles about starting up a show, and soon a committee consisting of Peggy Crosley, Brenda Rendle, Eve Addelsee and Patsy Little, later joined by Elaine Everitt and Glanda May, formed the backbone of the show for many years. We are very grateful for their hard work, which paved the way for those to come.
Alongside the usual vegetables and flowers, this year we see a new category with miniature
gardens open to all ages, not just children – so we hope to see some beautiful, imaginative entries across the generations. Last year we had low entries in the home-brewing sections and the under-16s flower arranging, so we do hope to spark some interest in those areas. If you’ve been thinking about it, then DO IT!
Photography categories include Around the Parish, Holiday and Cornish Landmarks, with an additional section exclusively for under-16s of Toys or Gadgets.
With cameras in our pockets wherever we go, keep your eyes peeled for those inspirational moments and capture them when you can. We do politely ask that there is no photoshopping of the pictures please.
We are always mightily impressed with the quantity, standard and range of art entries produced by the villagers, and we look forward to admiring the pop-up art gallery. The creativity doesn’t stop there, with a plethora of handicrafts from the hands of our
industrious villagers. It doesn’t matter if you made it last week or last century – as long as it has never been entered into the Village Show before, we’d love to see it.
Jams and chutneys are as popular as ever, and our judges love to see the different flavours and varieties entered. Jellies are constrained only by your imagination, with sweet and savoury alike vying for attention. Curds are a much more subdued section, so you’re almost guaranteed to get a placing in the top three if you make one.
This year, our ‘bake to a recipe’ category is the old traditional Cornish Thick Biscuit, using the recipe submitted by Mrs Greta Richardson to the St Teath Church Cookbook. The hotly contested Cornish Pasty comes with bragging rights for the winner and a keen group of followers hoping for a taste!
The men-only class is yeast buns – possibly the most competitively challenging category, with the winner basking in the glow of admiration from his competitors. Yeast buns have a tricky recipe with plenty of scope for their failure to rise, resulting in a tough, chewy consistency. Who will prevail? If you know the right person to ask, you might get some top tips!
We had a lovely lot of entries from The Acrewood Project last year, giving the children there a sense of community, inclusion and appreciation. I’d like to acknowledge how important that is to some children who have always struggled in the education system to fit in and achieve, with their strengths and skills largely ignored by the current syllabus.
We also look forward to entries from our wonderful village school and pre-school, which have
been sorely missed over the past few years. To enter the show, you must live in the Parish or
satellite hamlets, be part of a village organisation or go to the school or other education facility here. More information and rules, alongside all the categories for this year, can be found in the schedule included with this issue of Timepiece.
There will be a coffee morning on Saturday 8th August to raise funds for the show, including
demonstrations, a raffle, cream teas and plenty of cakes, pizza and sausage rolls, with an opportunity to meet the committee members and ask any questions you may have. Your support and involvement would be greatly appreciated.
We look forward to seeing you and your entries (and your wonky veg) on Saturday 22nd August!
In anticipation,
The Village Show Committee
Many Thanks
The Timepiece team would like to say a big thank you to the family and friends of the late Jane Poynder for their generous donations in Jane’s memory at her funeral in May.
We are extremely grateful for the kind gesture.
Revd Nicki Writes…
Dear Friends,
Over the last few weeks I’ve had the joy of chatting with wedding couples as they plan and prepare for their special day. Some are right at the start of their planning while others are putting the finishing touches to their arrangements.
Some of the weddings are small and intimate, while others gather friends and family from near and far, but each is a cherished celebration of promises and a profound commitment of love and trust.
As I listen to couples talk about venues, flowers, music and guest lists, I am reminded that
beneath all the preparations lies something far deeper. A wedding day is not simply a beautiful event; it marks the beginning of a shared journey. It is a public declaration that two people choose to walk through life together, supporting one another through all that the future may bring. Marriage can also be a time of committing and affirming a friendship and long-standing relationship with one another.
In a world that can often feel uncertain and fast-moving, there is something wonderfully hopeful about a couple standing before their loved ones and making lifelong promises. Those promises speak of faithfulness, perseverance and a belief that love is strongest when it is nurtured with patience, kindness and generosity.
One of the most familiar passages, often read at weddings, comes from St Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians: “Love is patient, love is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4). These simple words have endured through the centuries because they describe love not merely as a feeling but as a way of living.
True love is expressed in everyday acts of care, forgiveness and commitment. Marriage offers the opportunity to build a partnership, rooted in mutual respect and trust.
Whether you are recently married, celebrating many years together, or simply reflecting on
relationships that matter to you, weddings offer us all a moment to pause and consider the
importance of love, commitment and community. Having recently celebrated my daughter’s
wedding, with guests from around the world, and my in-laws’ diamond anniversary, celebrated
with an intimate family gathering, I am reminded of the importance of relationships and that we flourish not in isolation but in connection with others. Jesus brings this connection to a personal level, calling us his friends, and it is a personal invitation when he invites us to follow him.
Jesus himself celebrated a wedding in Cana. By choosing a wedding feast as the setting for his first miracle, he affirmed the importance of love, commitment and joyful celebration, reminding us that the milestones of life are worthy of honour and thanksgiving.
As we celebrate the weddings taking place in our churches this year, let us wish every couple
happiness and strength for the journey ahead, and give thanks for the love that continues to
enrich our families, friendships and communities. If you would like to find out more about the
wedding, thanksgiving and blessing services we offer or would like to book a wedding in your
parish church, please get in touch – we would love to help you arrange this special occasion.
(revnfarr@icloud.com)
With every blessing,
Revd Nicki
New Faces at St Teath Church
Dear Friends,
It’s with excitement that I write to introduce myself to you all! Known as Jan, I am married to Tony. By the time you read this, I will have been ordained a Deacon in the Church of England, and licensed as an Assistant Curate to serve in the Camel-Allen Benefice, which includes the two Camelford churches and those of Delabole, St Teath and Advent.
In late 2024, I undertook a three-month placement in the Benefice during my training for priesthood. I loved that time: it was full of friendship and love, wonderful hospitality, worship and a feeling that the Holy Spirit is very much at the helm, guiding Revd Nicki and her ministry team. I am thrilled to be back to continue my training under Revd Nicki’s excellent supervision and to learn from every one of you!
Tony and I have four children, seven beautiful grandchildren, a pet dog and a cat. Since I was a small child, I have always lived in a village: village life and community are important to me, where we look out for each other and where I feel closer to nature. For 10 years of my early adult life, I worked as a midwife in a busy neonatal unit in Swindon, followed by a more than 30-year career as a nurse working in both general practice and elderly care. It was the during the latter years of this career (when I thought that I was going to retire) that God called me to explore my faith more, leading me into a ministry journey. He obviously had other ideas! Besides this, for over 20 years, I volunteered with the Scout Association, empowering young people to enjoy the great outdoors and learn life skills. This took me on many wonderful adventures, including to Meghauli in Nepal, following fundraising for a water well and the Friendship Clinic there, which provides affordable health-care services to the community.
Consequently, I love children, wildlife, gardening, arts and crafts, oh and of course people! I can’t wait to meet everyone, and discover who you all are, as we journey in life and faith together. Do say hello if you see me, but until we meet, may the light of Christ continue to shine brightly upon the Camel-Allen Benefice!
With every blessing, Jan.
The Camel-Allen Churches Ministry Team – Revd Nicki, Rev Geraldine and Claire – very much look forward to welcoming Jan and working with her in the months and years to come.
In other St Teath Church news: after our Annual Parochial Church Meeting, we thanked Gareth Stubberfield for his dedicated and thorough work as Churchwarden over the past 6 years, and we welcomed Bob Collings (pictured right) to take on the role. He can be contacted for practical matters relating to the running of the church, and his number is in the church porch on the display board inside.
St Teath Community Bus
There are two special trips planned in the coming months.
The Garden House (gardens) at Buckland Monachorum near Tavistock on Tuesday 7th July.
Leaving the White Hart at 9.30am, returning to St Teath at approximately 3pm.
The cost of this trip is £24, which includes entrance fee and Bus.
Hall for Cornwall to see Lord of the Dance
on Saturday 26th September at 2.30 pm.
Leaving the White Hart at 12.45pm latest. The cost of this trip is £37 including Bus.
Please call Di Cox on 01208 850983 to book a place on these trips.
Any other enquiries regarding the bus contact Mandy Woods on 01208 851346.
SERVICES
Mondays: Truro 9.30am from the White Hart (Returning at 2pm)
Fridays: Wadebridge / Tesco 9.30am from the White Hart (Returning at 12noon)
Rubbish Ramblers
A quiet report for May. Roads and streets with very little litter. Come on you night-time
fast-food munchers, let’s be havin’ you along the Trehannick Road – we miss you.
Come and join the Ramblers on the first and third Thursdays of the month. We meet at
10 am by the pub. Exercise and enlightening conversation guaranteed. Dates for your
diary: 9th and 23rd July, and 13th and 27th August. Be there or be something rhyming
with there.
Jonathan
County Council
As we head into July and the start of the school holidays, many of us are getting ready for long beach days, early morning swims and evenings watching the sun drop behind the headland.
Whether you’re a daily sea swimmer, a rock pool explorer, a paddleboarder or someone who just loves a quiet walk along the shoreline, clean and safe water matters to all of us. It’s why the past few months have been spent digging deeper into the real picture of local water quality and what can be done to protect the coastline we treasure
One of the first steps this spring was meeting with Surfers Against Sewage to discuss concerns around the accuracy and consistency of sewage discharge alerts affecting our coastline. That conversation encouraged a wider look at how water quality is monitored locally and highlighted the need for stronger community involvement in gathering evidence.
Over Easter, I signed up as a citizen scientist and with the help of Cllrs Rosie Moore, James O’Keefe and Ben Maguire MP, we endeavoured to learn more about water testing across our local beaches.
We also spoke with a Cornwall-based business specialising in rapid water testing technology, to better understand how community-led sampling could help build a clearer picture of what is happening along our coast.
Those conversations have helped spark plans for more regular local testing and closer
collaboration with residents, campaigners and environmental groups. Leading us to develop
a more reliable evidence base around water quality in our area.
I went along to a public meeting hosted by Clean Sea Newquay, where residents, campaigners
and solicitors from Leigh Day, a national law firm, discussed possible legal action against water polluters over the impact on coastal communities. The possibility of including North Cornwall in any future action is now being explored, depending on the evidence and experiences shared by local residents and businesses.
For me, this is not just about policy. As someone who gets in the water whenever I can, whether scuba diving, kayaking or snorkelling, I feel the importance of this personally. Our beaches are central to our identity, our wellbeing and our local economy. If you have been in the sea and felt unwell afterwards, or if your business has been affected, please get in touch. It would be helpful to hear about your experience and how this has affected you or your business.
As the holidays begin, let’s enjoy every moment by the sea while continuing to build the
knowledge and momentum needed to protect it for the long term.
Councillor David Garrigan
St Teath and Tintagel | Cornwall Council
Cllr.David.Garrigan@cornwall.gov.uk | 07722 923412
A Letter From Your MP
One issue I’ve continued to push hard on these last few weeks has been NHS dentistry, after recent figures from an FOI request I sent found that £1.22 MILLION allocated for NHS dental services in Cornwall was shamefully handed back to the Government by the ICB, despite
thousands of local people here struggling to access appointments (which I know many of you here in St Teath have also experienced).
That funding could have delivered more than 40,000 dental appointments, while around half of Cornwall’s children are currently missing out on NHS dental care. This simply cannot be right. I am demanding answers from the ICB and driving forward at full speed with my cam-
paign for urgent action to improve access to NHS dentistry across North Cornwall. If you would like to support my petition on this issue, you can find details on my Facebook page and social media channels by searching ‘Ben Maguire MP’.
I was also pleased to welcome the Cornwall Air Ambulance team to Parliament recently. They
highlighted the growing financial pressures they face, including around £120,000 in additional
annual fuel costs. The Air Ambulance provides such a vital lifesaving service across the Duchy, and is a highly valued asset for all of my constituents. I’ll be working cross-party with colleagues to push for the improvements they need, including a dedicated and safer air ambulance crossing at Treliske Hospital, and I’m writing to the Government Minister responsible to fight their case.
Supporting local businesses here of course remains another major priority for me in the run up to a busy summer season. Having recently met with even more hospitality businesses across North Cornwall these last few weeks, I’ve heard at first hand how many are really struggling with rising costs. Speaking on BBC Politics Live, I highlighted the example of Trethorne Leisure Park near Launceston, which wants to create more opportunities for young people but is finding it increasingly difficult due to rising National Insurance contributions and other business costs. We should be making it easier, not harder, for employers to offer jobs, apprenticeships and valuable work experience to young people starting their careers.
Alongside my parliamentary work, my team and I continue to help residents here in St Teath and right across North Cornwall with a huge range of individual casework issues. During May alone, we resolved almost 1,000 cases from people right across the constituency. Recent successes last month alone included securing a VAT refund of more than £20,000 from HMRC for one constituent, resolving lengthy delays to a Personal Independence Payment claim and securing compensation, helping a local church finally obtain a long-delayed broadband installation and urgently raising concerns with the Foreign Secretary after a North Cornwall constituent was detained aboard the Sumud Freedom Flotilla.
Finally, casework is one of the most important parts of being your Member of Parliament. I’m often writing directly to Government departments and raising issues around health care, housing, pensions, immigration, benefits or local services, on behalf of my constituents to push for solutions to their problem. My team and I are always here to help wherever we can please just reach out with any questions, queries, or casework via ben.maguire.mp@parliament.uk and I’ll do my best to help with whatever it is.
Ben Maguire | Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall | ben.maguire.mp@parliament.uk
What’s On
Crossword Answers
