John and Pippa met in Southampton when Pippa was working as a social hostess on the SS Himalaya. John's direct approach and prowess on the dance floor won her heart. Some three months after becoming engaged they were married in St. Keverne, with John arriving 10 minutes late for the ceremony having spent too long in the Three Tuns! The couple stayed in Hampshire for some 4 years before the call of Coverack drew Pippa back to Cornwall. During his following 30 odd years at sea, John would always send post cards to Pippa and their children, Susan and William, from each port of call - he always looked forward to his time at home with his adored wife and their growing family.
A keen sportsman, John's passion for rugby was well known, but he was also fascinated by golf and played on courses throughout the world. However, none more so than the links at Mullion where he founded and organised the WAGS - Wednesday Afternoon Golf Society. He was always a key figure in Coverack life, chairing the Regatta and Carnival Committees and becoming a driving force behind the Christmas Lights. He was a magnificent support to Pippa in her work for cancer research and in her political career. Immensely proud of her achievement, and in true Dennis Thatcher tradition, John offered only positive support, although it is suggested that he would most likely have welcomed the opportunity to address the County Council and put them right in many of their deliberations!
John and Pippa opened their magnificent garden and laid on cream teas to raise funds for local charities and, every summer since his retirement, he staged the Jazz in the Garden event and raised over £25,000 for local medical charities.
John is described as 'a giant of a man', with firm opinions and a direct manner; however, this brisk exterior concealed a kind hearted and generous man who looked after his neighbours and was always willing to help anyone in difficulty. He loved the sea in all its moods and used to take part in the annual L'Arber Wrac'h sailing race. Also he loved ice cream and when no longer able to drive, would insist that Pippa take him into Coverack where they would park outside the Mill Shop so she could buy an ice cream cone for him.
Perhaps as good a tribute as any is that paid by one of his former shipmates: "The Bopper (as he was known in his sea-faring days) held a great presence in on-board life and was one of the biggest characters that you could meet during your time at sea."
John's funeral service was held in St. Keverne Church on 5th December 2011 and was followed by committal at Treswithian Downs Crematorium, Cambome.
Harold Martin died on 5th December 2011 at Porthgwara Nursing Home. He was born in 1928 at Trewolsta in Coverack and went to school in the village. He enjoyed all of the local activities, particularly making and riding "butts" down School Hill (a 'butt' being a home made go-cart). In competition with the other local youngsters, Harold's forte was to start at West House at the top of Sunny Corner and end up on the Dolar -hopefully in one piece! Fast it most certainly was, but safe it was not!
National Service was spent in the electrical maintenance section of REME with a final posting to Pendennis, which was very fortuitous. On completion of his National Service, Harold did an apprenticeship with Holmans at Camborne, with time out at the Technical College to qualify fully as an electrical engineer. This enabled him to take charge of the ground maintenance at Culdrose where he worked for some 20 years. Towards the end of this time Harold had his own boat, the Southern Star, and he left Culdrose to begin fishing full time out of Coverack.
In 1968 he met his wife-to-be Sheila, whose parents had a holiday home at Coverack. Sheila's father was a keen fisherman and regularly went out in Harold's boat. One thing led to another and just three days after meeting Sheila, Harold proposed (having first secured three drives in her Triumph Spitfire sports car!). They were married three months later at Brockham Green in Surrey and the rest, as they say, is history! Some two years after this, Culdrose persuaded Harold to go back to work for them, which he did whilst using his precious boat whenever he could.
Harold had a remarkable memory for names, especially for those who had given him a good lip' following a fishing trip. In one instance he was able to address by name a former 'client' who had visited the area only once and that being some 40 years previously!
Always involved in village life, Harold was a member of the Lifeboat crew, was the Harbour Master for many years and an ardent supporter of the RNLI; he was also on the Village Hall Committee, a prime mover in the Christmas Lights and an active member of the Cornwall Vintage Vehicle Society and the Jaguar Drivers Club. He was exceptionally proud of his daughter Annabel who has been at sea for some 17 years as Press Relations Officer for Cunard. Harold was able to join her on board the QE2, The Caronia and more recently the Queen Mary II during her shakedown cruise, when he was a "test passenger" to give constructive criticism to the crew (which he did of course!).
Fortunately, Harold was able to spend his last days in Coverack at Porthgwara, thanks to his loving family; and the only things he asked to be on his bedside were models of his Morris Traveller and his Westie, together with the beautiful model he had made himself of Southern Star, as well as a lovely photograph of Sheila and Annabel which he had taken himself.
Harold is described as 'by any measure, a larger than life character', a warm and kind man who was an inspiration to all and who will be sorely missed, with his liking for a good chat and his 'toot toot' as he went through the village. Following his funeral at St. Peter`s Church on 14th December 2011, Harold was buried in the churchyard.
Margaret Clayton died in Treliske Hospital on 21st December 2011 aged 71. She was born in her Gran's cottage in St Anthony in a leap year, but just in time to ensure that she would be able to celebrate a birthday each year. For the first 21 years of her life, Margaret lived at Trevaddra Farm. Being the eldest of a family of eight, much of her time was taken up in helping to bring up her younger siblings. She possessed good cooking skills which she had learnt at an early age, standing on a chair helping her mother. These skills were put to good use in her late teens when she was called on to help her Gran in the Manaccan School canteen. They would bake anything up to 130 pasties at a time for the children of Manaccan and St Martin Schools combined.
Before Margaret and Peter met, Peter had but two goals in life - to own a Triumph Speed Twin and to have his own farm. Having achieved both of these, it was in fact the motors bike which brought them together, Peter having given Margaret a lift home, at Margaret's behest. She greatly enjoyed the experience and suggested they might like to do it again, however this time to no avail. Undeterred, Margaret persisted and eventually their first date was a visit to the pictures in Falmouth.
The relationship blossomed and at Christmas 1959 they became engaged. They were married in the Spring of 1961 and Margaret moved to Trewoon Farm, where they soon started a family with Jeff s arrival in 1962
and Christine following in 1965. Never one to be idle when there was something to be done, on the day before Jeff was born Margaret wired down 126 cases of cauliflowers!
Although a very private, modest person and not one to push herself forward at all, Margaret was nevertheless very sure of what she wanted and very determined when she had set her mind on something. She was always willing to help out anyone in need and in the last three years, when she had great trouble with her eyesight, she made light of her own problems and was more concerned that other people were all right - and she never lost her wry sense of humour.
Many people can pay tribute to Margaret's qualities as a person and her service to others: as an older sister to her siblings; as a mother to Christine and Jeff and as a granny to James, Emma and Melanie, of whose achievements she was fiercely proud. She was a loving wife and support to Peter for over 50 years and great emphasis is laid by Peter on the absolute trust between them. All in all Margaret's life was lived according to Christian principles.
Following her funeral in St. Keverne Church, Margaret was cremated at Penmount on 4th January.
Rita Howells died on 5th January in Godolphin House. Rita's funeral was at St. Keverne Church on 16th January and we hope to print a tribute to her in the next edition of The Beacon.
and let light perpetual shine upon them.
The Editorial Team
St. Keverne Churchyard ©D.J.S.
