ABOUT THE SOCIETY

Pentewan Old Cornwall Society 1954-2009

By Maureen Prettyman.

THE BEGINNING

A meeting was convened by Mrs. Edith M. Jolly and Mr Cyril A. Evans on Tuesday 18th. January 1954 in the Hillside Methodist Schoolroom by kind permission of the trustees. Thirteen people were present. Mr. Evans spoke on the history of the village of Pentewan from prehistoric times to the 20th century. A discussion followed and it was decided to form an Old Cornwall Society, and meetings were to be held monthly on the third Monday of the month throughout the winter season.

The Officers elected were:

Vice Presidents; Mr. R. Brewer, Mr. A. J. A. Jolly, Miss. Menhenick. Hon. Secretary; Mrs. E. M. Jolly

Hon. Treasurer; Mr. Cyril A. Evans.

Hon. Recorder; Miss. Matta

Committee Members; Mesdames, Butler, Evans, O'Halloran, Storey and Trudgian. Misses Barbary and K.Trudgian.

The subscription was set at three shillings and six pence with Junior members under 21 and over 12 paying one shilling and six pence.

At a second meeting of the society held on Monday 15th. February 1954 Mr. Edward Blight accepted the office of President and Mr. Harry Carveth was made a Vice President. The society colours were adopted;

Miss Menhenick presented to the society a model of a Cornish chough, but this disappeared, and at the 40th Anniversary Dinner, 1994, Mr. Mac Waters a present member, replaced this with a model of a chough made by his son. Several Mid Summer Eve Bonfires were held in the early days, including 1954 and 1955 on The Round. Mrs K. Batchelor became the society Recorder in 1956 and was followed by her daughter Mrs Charity Rowlandson in 1975. She continued until her departure for New Zealand in 1993. These two ladies made, between them a life contribution to the Society. Mrs Rowlandson also designed and made the Society banner in 1957.

CONTINUING

A change of venue in 1957 took place to the present village hall. Membership went up to 55 by 1957 much as today, but during the 1960's, 70's and 80's numbers were much lower. In 1966 the meetings changed to the third Saturday monthly but reverted to the third Monday in 1987 when it was decided that a Saturday would not attract younger new members. As early as 1968 the Society had leaflets printed on the history of the village and in 1975 an order for 5000 was delivered! In 1971 it was agreed to combine with St.Austell OCS for Summer Pilgrimages and this idea continues today.

Towan Well has been looked after by members from both St.Austell and Pentewan and last November a working party did some work cutting back and cleaning the area around the well building. The Society has not just continued as an evenings 'entertainment' but has tried to fulfil the Old Cornwall motto, 'Gather up the fragments that are left, that nothing be lost'.

Several exhibitions of the Society's work have been held over the years including a celebration of our 50th anniversary in August 2004.  This has only been possible because of long serving and very committed members. Mrs Phillipa Peters en our Secretary, was elected Secretary first in 1975, then served on the committee, and was re-elected Secretary in 1985, and is our longest serving committee member. Our President and Chairman, Mr.Robert Evans, is the son of founder member Mr.Cyril Evans, who was Treasurer in 1954, Vice President in 1960, Secretary in 1966 until 1970 when ill health forced him to relinquish his position on the committee. Mrs Maureen Prettyman our Recorder, is the granddaughter of Mrs Mary Storey who was a founder member and served on the committee from 1954 to 1968. Today the membership of the society stands at 55, drawing people from Mevagissey, Gorran Haven, London Apprentice, Tregorrick and St.Austell but unfortunately very few members from the village.
 

COMMITTEE

PENTEWAN OLD CORNWALL SOCIETY

President and Chairman Robert Evans

Vice Chairman  George Muskett

Vice Presidents  Mrs M Trevanion,  Mrs P Peteresen,  Mr G Prettyman

Hon.Secretary Mrs Valerie Jacob

Hon Treasurer  Graham Honey

Hon Recorder  Mrs Maureen Prettyman

Hon Dialect Recorder   Mrs Carole Stark

Committee Members:

Les Burgess
Brian Jacob
Geoffrey Prettyman
David Stark
Mac Waters

 Subscriptions:  £3.00 per annum

Society Colours:  Gold/Green/Blue

“Old Cornwall”  Journal published twice per year


 

PENTEWAN OLD CORNWALL SOCIETY

PROGRAMME 2010-2011

Meetings held in Pentewan Village Hall at 7.30 pm -

-  usually on the third Monday of the month

* * *

RECORDERS REPORTS

Click here to read or print the latest report

THE SOCIETY ARCHIVE

THE PENTEWAN OLD CORNWALL SOCIETY HOLDS A COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS, POSTCARDS, DOCUMENTS, MAPS, RECORDER BOOKS AND SOUND RECORDINGS RELATING TO LIFE IN AND AROUND THE VILLAGE OF PENTEWAN.

IN 2005 THE SOCIETY WAS GIVEN GRANTS BY THE MILLENIUM LOTTERY FUND AND RESTORMEL BOROUGH COUNCIL TO BUY THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT AND BEGIN THE PROCESS OF DIGITISING THE ARCHIVE AND CREATING AN ARCHIVE INDEX. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS WAS TWO-FOLD. FIRSTLY TO PRESERVE THE ARCHIVE CONTENTS AND SECONDLY, ULTIMATELY, TO MAKE IT MORE GENERALLY ACCESSIBLE.  ALTHOUGH THE PROCESS IS NOT YET COMPLETE A LARGE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL HAS BEEN PROCESSED.

BECAUSE OF COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS IT IS NOT YET POSSIBLE TO  MAKE THE ARCHIVE DIRECTLY ACCESSIBLE ON LINE  BUT IT IS POSSIBLE TO VIEW THE ARCHIVE BY APPOINTMENT .  THERE WILL BE A CHARGE MADE FOR ANY ACCESS OR WORK DONE BY THE SOCIETY AS A RESULT OF ANY REQUEST.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR REQUESTS FOR VIEWING PLEASE CONTACT:

GEOFFREY PRETTYMAN    TEL: 01726 842793      EMAIL ADDRESS:  lamorrick@tiscali.co.uk

OTHER CONTACT NUMBERS:

  ROB EVANS   EMAIL ADDRESS:  robertevanspentewan@hotmail.co.uk

 

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