The annual competition winners were announced by president, Linda Willan, at the April Meeting of the Coad’s Green WI.

Vivienne Daniel was presented with the Flower-of-the - Month plate and Christine Walters was presented with a trophy for second place.

Linda Willan was the overall monthly competition winner and received the competition cup. Alison Gribble was the runner up.

Linda delivered her annual report highlighting a host of activities that had taken place during the previous year, contributions made to the Launceston Show and the local Farmers’ Market at Coad’s Green. She thanked the committee and the members for all their support.

Janet Ham presented her with a plant on behalf of the members to thank Linda for her leadership over a number of years and to wish her every happiness in her move to Truro.

There will be a bring-and-share supper on Wednesday, May 14, in the Coad’s Green Chapel Parlour at 7.30pm.

The Hall was Packed for the April meeting of Marhamchurch WI who welcomed for the second time Medical Herbalist Katrina Werren.

Katrina is a registered member of the National Institute Of Medical Herbalists and her studies included 500 hours of practical, clinical experience.

Katrina’s previous visit was a November visit so the plants she brought with her were different to the Spring Hedgerow plants she had at this meeting.

A great time of year for plants which can be used as a tonic and to cleanse the body.

First plant up for identification was cleavers or goose grass remembered by the group as the plant which sticks to clothes etc. This plant can be steamed as a vegetable, juiced or made into a tincture. Katrina also passed on a tip to freeze it in ice cubes to add to drinks. It is useful as a tonic and also helps with the treatment of Gout, cystitis and other bladder problems. Members were treated to a very palatable sample of a cleavers juice.

Also part of the spring collection Katrina had brought Comfrey an efficient wound healer its roots are mashed and make a good plaster for broken bones. The roots are much stronger than the leaves and should be used carefully but the leaves can be gently steamed and eaten as a vegetable, dried infused in an oil.

Next we had the humble stinging nettle which should be picked when young before it gets stringy again gently steamed for about two minutes and used as you would spinach. It is a treatment for excema, asthma and hay fever. The seeds can be dried or frozen and improve kidney function. Katrina had brought a nettle soup for all to try which was very tasty.

The final plant was burdock also known as beggar’s buttons because of the hook like structures on its flower heads. You can roast the roots or make a tea. It is a good blood purifier. It is a very strong herb and should be used carefully with expert help. It has also been shown to slow down the reproduction of cancer cells and can be use in between treatments for cancer in traditional medicines. As a bonus Katrina had brought the popular drink dandelion and burdock.

As Katrina pointed out herbal plants used to be in extensive use – our grandparents probably had knowledge of treatment using hedgerow plants. The use of herbal medicines is becoming wider as people realise their value.

Sadly the visit of Katrina came to an end all too quickly. Perhaps another visit for another season’s plants?

Katrina would be happy to see anyone wishing to explore the use of herbal medicines . She has a Clinic- The Green Physic which she runs from the family farm at North Petherwin where there is a herb garden at hand and plenty of nearby hedgerows. Details can be found on her website.

Members had thoroughly enjoyed Katrina's talk and she was thanked with an enthusiastic round of applause. The meeting finished with refreshments.

Next month’s meeting is the annual meeting and Resolution Meeting.

A small St Mary’s choir of 10-depleted by sickness and other absence- was delighted to welcome 21 specially invited singers to join them to sing a service entitled ”Requiem” devised by its musical director Dr Sean Sweeney on Palm Sunday.

He selected movements from the requiems of Duruflé, Fauré, Mozart and Rutter to form a complete service which was led by the vicar Rev Dr Michael Dobson.

After the opening collect the service started with the Requiem and Kyrie from the Mozart Requiem which was followed by a reading from the Oration of the palm branches by Andrew of Crete succeeded by the Sanctus, Hosanna and Benedictus from the Duruflé Requiem.

After a reading from the book of Zechariah Amber Newton was the soprano soloist in the Pie Jesu from the Rutter Requiem before a prayer and then the Agnus Dei from the Duruflé Requiem.

The final reading was from John’s Gospel before the augmented choir sang the Duruflé Lux Aeterna. After the final prayer the choir ended the service with Fauré ‘s In Paradisum.

The choir was conducted by Dr Sweeney and the organist was Josh Hughes who played despite being unwell, including a tour de force in the Duruflé as well as the Fantasia in G minor by J S Bach at the end of the service.

Circle members travelled to Tregadillett on Friday, April 11, as St Stephens hall was unavailable. Here they welcomed Bernard Mills who gave a presentation from his travels in the USA in 1975.

This was a continuation of what he had shown us in April of last year. This time he concentrated on the Eastern Seaboard. This was the area that Bernard worked in and a number of the trains he commuted to work on were shown a lot of which had been in use since the 1930’s and 40’s But at that were being replaced with more modern trains and as he pointed out that as that was 50 years ago most of those have now been replaced. Views of New York and long Island were shown as well as New Jersey.

The Philadelphia raised subway was featured. Also a number of heritage lines were covered and Bernard finished up with many pictures of Steam Town where at the time there was a very large collection of steam locomotives. This museum has since closed and the exhibits dispersed all around the USA. Also there were the Big Boy steam locos that Bernard photographed.

The next meeting is on May 16 which is an addition to our indoor meetings. We will be welcoming back David Hill-Smith, Dave Gordon and Ewan Murray from ‘Connect Launceston’. This is a follow on meeting from last November when the feasibility and possible routes for this project will be discussed.

At our First April meeting Chairman Christopher welcomed club members and guests

The talk at the meeting was an illustrated presentation by Paul Ford on the history and activities of the Cornwall Air Ambulance.

Paul opened by stating that Air ambulance was started in 1987 with the aim of covering Cornwall by air and road. Our Air ambulance has the distinction of being the first such service in the UK, and initially started as a trial with a borrowed helicopter. The trial was funded by the NHS but this funding did not continue and since then the service has been reliant on voluntary contributions,

The trial showed the need for a helicopter and one was leased to continue the service. The service is awaiting the delivery of a second helicopter this year meaning that two machines will be available.

Funding is currently a combination of public fundraising and grants. In 2022 the service received a grant to improve the facilities at Newquay, including upgrading the crew quarters.

The helicopter is based at St Mawgan near Newquay, St Mawgan was chosen as a good central location as any where in Cornwall can be reached in 20 minutes..The site is unusual in that the public is welcome to arrange visits. The helicopter covers Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The service currently has a regular team of pilots and paramedics, supported by maintenance staff, administrators and fundraisers, most of whom are volunteers. The helicopter is on call for 19 hours a day - from 7am to 2am. Responsibilities include emergency calls and hospital transfers to other parts of the country.

The Air ambulance is effectively a flying hospital and has included in it’s on board equipment an ultrasound machine, a chest compressor and blood supplies. Paramedics are not only qualified to administer drugs, but can handle the aircraft in an emergency. The helicopter also carries a supply of teddy bears for younger patients.

In response to questions Paul stated that the Air Ambulance costs £7-million a year to run and currently flies around 1000 mission a year. The only tax relief received is on fuel.

He also explained how the service works in conjunction with other services such as the RNLI and Coastguard.

In response to a question on landing sites the helicopter can land on gentle slopes. It also has ‘bear paws’ for soft ground and built in flotation chambers should it have to come down in water. The service surveys and keeps a record of appropriate landing sites and would appreciate contact from members of the public such as landowners who believe they have somewhere suitable.

Chairman Christopher thanked Paul for his detailed and interesting talk and discussion continued over lunch.

Christopher reminded members of our planned trip to the RNLI station at Rock next month and proposed trips later in the year to a concert at Carnglaze Caverns and to the Air Ambulance base at Newquay.

After the meeting and buffet lunch founder members of Launceston Ladies’ Probus met to discuss the organisation of their first meeting.

Our second April meeting will be a talk on the life of an X-ray engineer when club member Jim will recount his experiences in the job.

Probus meet on the 2nd and 4th. Monday of each month, with a speaker followed by an optional buffet lunch. The club is 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’.

CHAPEL anniversary was celebrated at Boyton Methodist Chapel on Palm Sunday.

This year, celebrations included the re-opening of the Chapel following the completion of the renewing the Chapel ceiling, which began to fall away last year. Worship and activities have since been held in the Sunday School Room and also in the Parish Church of the Holy Name Hall when the need arose.

Rev David Miller welcomed everyone and presented gifts from the Chapel to Bernard and Angela Strout and Lorraine Sluggett in appreciation of all their work in gaining grants and funding towards the cost of the work and for generally organising so much during this time of upheaval.

Rev David then welcomed and handed over to Rev Gillian Newton (nee Duke) who grew up in Boyton Parish and attended Sunday School at Boyton Chapel. Rev Gill spoke of the many people she could remember at Boyton Chapel who shaped her life and faith, encouraged her to become a Sunday School Teacher, play the piano and Chapel organ, train to become a Local Preacher, candidate as a Methodist Minister, going on to become President of the Methodist Conference, a position from which she has now retired.

The worship singing just about raised the roof, the ceiling of which there is now, thankfully no need to be concerned about and was led by Rev Gill's husband Leslie playing the piano, together with Rev David playing the guitar. Lessons were read by Greta Davey and Sue Martyn.

The flowers on the communion table were arranged by Ruth Allin and the flowers in the windows and on the Tea tables were arranged by Bev Hunt. Rev Gill gave us a message of encouragement and with a lot to think about, not just in the season of Lent, but all the days of our lives. Lorraine Sluggett gave a vote of thanks, giving special thanks and mention to those present including members of the Parish Council and Parish Fund, the Parish Church of the Holy Name for use of the Hall and to Albert and Yvonne Prout of A C Prout Builders Ltd who were contracted to undertake the renewal of the ceiling.

After the service a delicious Savoury and Sweet Afternoon Tea was served in the Sunday School Room. By request, Sandra Shepherd (nee Colwill) and Rev Gill rolled back over forty years and sang a duet, 'Because He Lives'. This was something they did throughout the District for many years, prior to their marriages at the Chapel and leaving the Parish. A collection was not taken but there was an opportunity to donate to the Chapel funds and furtherance of its work. There are so many people who could be mentioned in thanks so Boyton Chapel says, 'thank you all'.