Chris Gregory, the Duchy Land Steward, has sent us this update on the Oyster Farm:

Plans for the re-opening of the Helford oysterage continue apace. The Duchy have selected Tristan Hugh-Jones as their preferred new lessee and are now working to conclude details for the new lease agreement. Tristan was born on his family oyster farm, where the main focus was to breed and grow native oysters, using ponds for breeding the young spat. He has worked with oysters for over 20 years, both on the farm in Ireland, and also setting up tanks in London for distribution. He now lives in Penberth, near Penzance, with his wife Vickie and four young children. He is delighted that this opportunity to revive a native oyster bed is possible, and at last, close to home!

Tristan will be farming native oysters using traditional cultivation techniques, with the oysters being grown directly on the seabed. Oysters and other shellfish will still be processed from the depot at Port Navas but on a much reduced scale compared with the previous lessee and we are confident that the new enterprise will sit comfortably with the continued use of the quay by the community, under the terms of the agreement that the Duchy has with the Village Hall Committee.

Potentially our greatest challenge concerns the depot building itself. Sadly two engineers have now advised that the building is beyond economic repair and we are therefore having to consider demolishing the existing structure and replacing it. Plans for this have been prepared and an application for planning permission has recently been submitted to Cornwall Council. The full details of the proposals will be sent to Constantine Parish Council in the usual way and they will of course be available to view on line through the Cornwall Council planning portal. We have tried to introduce as few changes to the design of the current building as possible. The most significant addition is the inclusion of a small managers flat under the eves on the first floor, which will provide on- site accommodation and will, we feel, provide for better overall management of the site.

Alongside the planning application, we are also assembling a funding package and if all these pieces come together, we would look to start construction in the early part of 2019. We look forward to updating this post when we have news of the progress of the planning application.

Port Navas Oyster Farm – Proposed elevations
Click to enlarge

Chris Gregory, the Duchy Land Steward, has sent us this update on the Oyster Farm:

Plans for the re-opening of the Helford oysterage continue apace. The Duchy have selected Tristan Hugh-Jones as their preferred new lessee and are now working to conclude details for the new lease agreement. Tristan was born on his family oyster farm, where the main focus was to breed and grow native oysters, using ponds for breeding the young spat. He has worked with oysters for over 20 years, both on the farm in Ireland, and also setting up tanks in London for distribution. He now lives in Penberth, near Penzance, with his wife Vickie and four young children. He is delighted that this opportunity to revive a native oyster bed is possible, and at last, close to home!

Tristan will be farming native oysters using traditional cultivation techniques, with the oysters being grown directly on the seabed. Oysters and other shellfish will still be processed from the depot at Port Navas but on a much reduced scale compared with the previous lessee and we are confident that the new enterprise will sit comfortably with the continued use of the quay by the community, under the terms of the agreement that the Duchy has with the Village Hall Committee.

Potentially our greatest challenge concerns the depot building itself. Sadly two engineers have now advised that the building is beyond economic repair and we are therefore having to consider demolishing the existing structure and replacing it. Plans for this have been prepared and an application for planning permission has recently been submitted to Cornwall Council. The full details of the proposals will be sent to Constantine Parish Council in the usual way and they will of course be available to view on line through the Cornwall Council planning portal. We have tried to introduce as few changes to the design of the current building as possible. The most significant addition is the inclusion of a small managers flat under the eves on the first floor, which will provide on- site accommodation and will, we feel, provide for better overall management of the site.

Alongside the planning application, we are also assembling a funding package and if all these pieces come together, we would look to start construction in the early part of 2019. We look forward to updating this post when we have news of the progress of the planning application.

Port Navas Oyster Farm – Proposed elevations
Click to enlarge

A weekend of activity in the hall has just finished, with tutor Mel Chambers instructing in the art of encaustic tile making. By the end of Saturday we had engraved our tiles (click to see picture) and covered them in blue “slip”. On Sunday we scraped off the slip to rediscover our designs. There was much hilarity when one of the students was heard to say “I’ve lost my eye, I couldn’t have put it in”, and another asked “Can you put back toenails?”.

Mel will now glaze and fire our tiles and we will get them back in about three weeks time. Mel will be running more courses next spring; you can be a complete novice and still produce something to be proud of. All the materials and tools are provided, as are the soup, bread, cheese and delicious chocolate brownies.

A weekend of activity in the hall has just finished, with tutor Mel Chambers instructing in the art of encaustic tile making. By the end of Saturday we had engraved our tiles and covered them in blue “slip”. On Sunday we scraped off the slip to rediscover our designs. There was much hilarity when one of the students was heard to say “I’ve lost my eye, I couldn’t have put it in”, and another asked “Can you put back toenails?”.

Mel will now glaze and fire our tiles and we will get them back in about three weeks time. Mel will be running more courses next spring; you can be a complete novice and still produce something to be proud of. All the materials and tools are provided, as are the soup, bread, cheese and delicious chocolate brownies.

It is with great sadness that we are reporting the tragic loss of Richard Winfrey who was laid to rest at Mawnan Church on Saturday.  Richard was a huge character who will leave an indelible mark on this community – in Mawnan Smith, within the shooting fraternity and on the Helford as a rower, sailor and drinker.

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It is with great sadness that we are reporting the tragic loss of Richard Winfrey who was laid to rest at Mawnan Church on Saturday.  Richard was a huge character who will leave an indelible mark on this community – in Mawnan Smith, within the shooting fraternity and on the Helford as a rower, sailor and drinker.  Richard was a fierce competitor at the Port Navas Regatta from an early age and I can personally attest to this, particularly in the Run And Row.  He was also a fantastic commentator for a number of years.  This summer he and his son Sam won a number of races and thereby added another Winfrey name (8 year old Sam) to the Presidents Cup for the overall points winner.

The service at Mawnan Smith was emotional but also very beautiful and made a huge impression.  The variety of people, as well as the sheer number, is a testament to his huge character.  On behalf of everyone at PNYC, we send our best wishes and thoughts to his wife Brush, his four children Harriet, Georgie, Treve and Sam and the wider family.  We are poorer for his early passing.

Tom Elleman

Nick Hillyard, Grand Draw winner, with Tiffa Meadows who drew the prize tickets.

Click here for one more photo sent in by Melissa Cooke.

Ros Woodard has sent these photos of the Row & Run. Thanks Ros.

A few photos from this year’s Regatta. If anyone has more photos we’d love to show them here. Just email jeff@mdws.net.

Click for photos…