I arrived in St Ives on the 31st May 2024 for my usual two month break in the UK from my home in South Africa. I primarily choose these two months to get away from the South African winter and enjoy the summer months of June and July in beautiful Cornwall. The start of my stay was dull and wet with a permanent grey sky hanging in gloom with not a chink of blue that I could look forward to as I stared longingly out of the flats 1st floor ancient sash windows. My great love is to walk in shorts barefooted through the cool Atlantic water of St Ives beaches, Porthminster, the harbour, Bamaluz, Porthgwidden and Porthmeor, but mizzle, drizzly weather wasn’t to my liking, even tennis was out! so I concentrated on reading, writing and relaxing.
I attended a Doctor’s appointment for an annual check-up which they like to do on people over a certain age. A nurse did this on the Doctors behalf and as I was about to leave the Doctors room I suddenly asked her to look at a small cold sore which wasn’t clearing up properly on my lip. She immediately paged my new young Doctor who, she told me, had specialised in dermatology. He arrived and it didn’t take him a second look with his magic torch to be concerned it might well be a SCC (squamous cell carcinoma). He was going to send me to a specialist in Truro. I was put on ‘fast forward’ and from there everything was centred upon getting my lip better.
Walking back from The Stennack Surgery down towards Royal Square I popped over to see what films were on at The Royal Cinema.. Much to my surprise I saw that ‘Catch The Wind’ was being premiered on the 20th June – the film was inspired by my book ‘St Ives Unframed’ for which I had been interviewed and filmed on several occasions by film maker Diana Taylor. That put a spring in my step but I wasn’t quite sure why I hadn’t been informed of this special occasion. I later learned that Diana thought that I was 6000-odd miles away on another continent and at the time, but had indeed included me on the red carpet for the Big Party premier at the St Ives Arts Club Theatre at the St Ives Festival I September.
Myself, together with a group of friends arranged to attend the premier of ‘Catch The Wind’. The tickets were a sell-out and the cinema had to put on another screen for the 400 people attending. We had a pre-party in the Kettle and Wink bar of the Western Hotel then into the crowded entrance of the Royal Cinema where it was all glitz and glamour and red carpet atmosphere in the foyer. The lights were lowered and the film began and there I was, the first person on the screen – it was quite a shock to see oneself in celluloid, then later named in recognition of my book – phew! Stuff writers dreams are made of. We celebrated again at the after-party as we packed into The Kettle and Wink.
Heady times as I became a personality in St Ives. The butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker all seemed to recognise me – it was great fun and I loved it. The book sales went flying off the shelves as the film was being shown in other parts of Cornwall and repeatedly in St Ives throughout the summer season.
In the meantime I visited hospitals in Truro and the decision was made to excise the SCC on my lip. I was given a date (a cancellation) Sunday 7th July at 5.00 pm at Veor Surgery in Cambourne – yes, the doctors operate throughout the weekend. I was the last in and the Dr told me he had removed 28 cancers over the weekend. He is a maxillofacial surgeon (from the neck up). One hour later I looked as if Dracula had attacked me. What I thought might be two stitches turned out to be about ten. Hey-ho the SCC was out and that’s all that mattered. God Bless the NHS and the hard working Doctors and staff at Treliske Hospital in Cornwall – I salute you!
My trip to visit Devon had to be cancelled as I spent a week recovering quietly at the flat, no speaking (only like a ventriloquist) little eating, drinks through a straw, and heavy antibiotics – the wound began to heal as I watched unadulterated tennis at Wimbledon on the TV. After a week I went to my friend Deborah’s house along with twelve other friends for Sunday lunch in her garden in Zennor, it would be my first outing since the excision. Quite a good way to get thrown in amongst a lovely group of friends who (if I hadn’t pointed my lip and chin out) would not have noticed. Best fun day ever sitting in that garden on the West Penwith Moors.
I have been privileged to become one of the race officers team for St Ives Sailing Club. We set a course and time the racing boats atop the old (original) lighthouse on Smeaton’s Pier. I love doing this with my buddies Mike and Dave who have long been active and good sailors of the club. Much camaraderie goes on between us – but we do keep a keen eye out for our sailors as these fast boats can easily be turned over and we have to alert the safety boat which is always out there during the racing. After the racing we all meet at the boat pen in The Sloop car park where the boats are hosed down and chatter about the days racing. This takes place mostly with a beer or a glass of wine in hand. Halcyon days.
30th July and it’s time for me to leave beloved St Ives, my array of wonderful friends, my beach buddies, beach barbeques, sea and sand. To leave one of the most beautiful places in England is hard, but Africa calls and I must go . . .
Cal McCulloch, my 25yr old great nephew flew from Manchester to Uganda on the 25th May this year together with his bicycle to do an epic ride through Central East Africa – alone.
He arrived in Stanford on Monday 19th August having cycled through Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. He completed his journey on 4th September in Cape Town. “Well Done” Cal, I’m very, very proud of you.
‘Catch The Wind’ was included in the St Ives Festival in September, shown at The Arts Club Theatre. People attending were encouraged to dress up in 60’s gear which they did Big Time. Although I wasn’t able to attend the show, friends sent many photographs of the event which was a sell-out and hugely successful. This film has really taken Cornwall by storm and boosted the book sales of St Ives Unframed immeasurably.