EHC’s Second Birthday Event under Sunny Skies
On Saturday, September 6th from 11AM to 4PM, we held our second birthday Community Open Day at the Edward Hain Centre.
Mayor Johnnie Wells opened the event at 11AM, and gave a wonderful speech about our progress. He then presented EHC Chair, Lynne Isaacs, with a facsimile cheque from the National Lottery Community Fund – large both in size and amount! He differentiated between capital grants and revenue grants. Capital grants are for material items (building works, new roof, etc); revenue grants for running costs, staffing, etc. Ours is a revenue grant: notoriously hard to come by, so a fantastic boon over our next 3 years.
With many thanks to Tony Mason and Cornishpastyman for the videoing
The grant came about chiefly through the hard work and dedication of our volunteer fundraiser, Samantha Peters. She first applied late last year – that’s how long the process took! We owe her – and the Community Fund – a massive thank you.
Events throughout the day
About 4 minutes into the above video is the next highlight: a ceremonial naming of The Middleton Room. This is to honour Serge Middleton, previously vicar of Zennor, who has made two generous donations to the EHC. St. Ives’ MP, Andrew George, officiated with some thoughtful words about Mr. Middleton, whom he knows as a kind and generous man.
The day continued with its busy schedule: a demonstration of chair yoga from Tracey Opie of Root Yoga; an all-day unique workshop from Ruth Purdy of Make It Better CIC, where people were asked to write their memories of the Edward Hain, from which Ruth will create origami butterflies in a display that will grace our entrance hall; and all-day free ear checks by Beth Reyhani in her lovely, airy Penwith Ear Care clinic (complete with handsome young receptionist).
In the afternoon, EHC volunteer Catherine Gaskell gave an engaging talk on her and husband Geoff’s experience of volunteering. She also explained its benefits to volunteers themselves. Later, Wendy Stoten offered an impressive hour-long presentation of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT, or ‘tapping’) to 10 participants.
Top, L-R: Tracey Opie, chair yoga; Sharron, and Ruth Purdy of Make It Better CIC; Beth of Penwith Ear Care. Bottom, L-R: Beth’s son Elliott, aka assistant for the day; Catherine Gaskell and her ‘The Community Cure’ talk; Wendy Stoten, EFT expert
Courtyard Café
Naturally, no celebration would be complete without refreshments – and we were well supplied all day by generous donations from Cafe Art, Sea of Coffee, The Makers, and our own trustees and volunteers. A fabulous feast to accompany tea or coffee.
St. Ives Foodbank founder Chris Wallis created a new cafe area in our courtyard where, from around 12:30PM, he barbecued his truly fabulous Food Bank Burgers, complete with yummy balsamic onions created by his volunteer assistant Shelley Jackson. Shelley volunteers both for the Foodbank and for EHC.
Noshers were accompanied by the gentle harmonies of Spaven Mor. The duo consist of EHC trustee Claire (seen below with our centre director, Sharron), and her new husband, Kev. Congrats to the happy couple, who were recently wed in California while visiting Claire’s daughter.
And a good time. . .
…was had by all! We were incredibly fortunate with the weather, which had been forecast as overcast and windy. So far, all three EHC celebratory events have been blessed by sunshine. The same was true for the Armistice Centennial ‘Pages of the Sea’ event in November 2018, as well as for Hands Across the Harbour.
It’s nice to think that the Edward Hains – Sir Edward, his son Teddy after whom the Centre is named, and Sir Edward’s grandson, also Edward – have been looking out for us. Whether or not, Sept. 6th shone brilliantly. How fitting for an event which also celebrated the Lottery grant, and the next stage of the EHC’s growth to which it will contribute. A big Next Step, which we are excited about – and also grateful for, as we are to to all who contributed to the event, and those who came to celebrate with us.
Thank you thank you thank you. Here’s to the future!
