War flags in churches

This flag from World War Two in Boldre Church in New Hampshire hangs in a corner - very much like the huge ensign from the Battle of Jutland in St Just Church, Cornwall. We are still gathering stories and information for Heart of Conflict, our work in Cornwall marking the centenary of World War One.

The Boldre Church flag marks a tragedy. It's a memorial to battlecruiser HMS Hood which was sunk by the German ship Bismark in 1941 with the loss of 1,415 lives. Only three people survived.  One of those who died was Vice Admiral L.E. Holland who had been a member of the congregation at Boldre Church for many years.

There are so many war graves in Boldre Church graveyard: there was a Canadian airbase nearby during World War Two. 

Event at Penponds Church - November 2015

It seems a long way off now - but why now mark Friday 6th November (evening) in the diary now?
We'll be at Penponds Church near Camborne, in Cornwall, as part of our World War One project Heart of Conflict.
The evening - which starts at 7pm - will look at the background to the extraordinary World War One War Memorial in the church created by Canon James Sims Carah.
Craig Carey-Clinch, a member of the congregation, has done extensive research into the names on the memorial as has Carol Richards, who lives locally and is a graduate of Camborne School of Mines (CSM). Many students from CSM attended the church. The evening will present this research and other local stories.

Visit to Helston Museum with Redruth Boys' Brigade

A great visit last night to Helston Museum with Redruth Boys' Brigade as part of Heart of Conflict, our work marking the centenary of World War One.  We were VERY grateful to Tracey Clowes for opening the Museum especially for the group. Also to Mike Semmens for driving the minibus over.
It was a very important date to visit - 4 August 2015 was exactly 101 years on from the start of the War.
The group of boys (and one girl) had the chance to handle objects and ask lots of questions. This visit followed on from our visit to the Boys' Brigade meeting in Redruth Wesleyan in April.

Tracey Clowes (left) led a tour through the Museum

Helston Museum plans a WW1 exhibition this autumn, looking at women's roles

We got the chance to handle various pieces from the Museum's collection - here a pair of football boots 

The group, spellbound. Daniel (third left) was spotted taking notes.

What a privilege to visit a museum with one else there and having the curator to ourselves!

Back to the bus. Very many thanks to Mike Semmens who drove the group over.

Truro skateboard

A rainy afternoon in Truro but great to drop into the Royal Cornwall Museum and see that Nick Jensen's skateboard (painted as part of Bridging Arts' Whatever It Takes project) is still on display.
The lovely receptionist tells me that, when it first went on display, large numbers of boys came in to pay homage...
We're thinking of touring the other boards in the exhibition this autumn. They've been on display up to now at Penrice School, St Austell.
For more about Nick Jensen and Isle Skateboards click here.

The painting on Nick Jensen's board was inspired by an arrowhead in the Museum

Nick Jensen skating at Tower Bridge, London

Nick Jensen's skateboard at the Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro

World War One grave at St Just in Roseland

Very poignant to see this in July sunshine on the Roseland peninsula in Cornwall. A world away from the battlefields of France.
France.
Work on Heart of Conflict continues. We're currently finalising an Education Pack for use by schools this autumn.

Every reason to head to Caffè Nero

Before...I might have hesitated at Terminal 5 - now it's clearly the thing to do. A percentage of every coffee bought goes to Bridging Arts if you register your credit card at Easyfundraising.

The moment you've all bean waiting for....

Caffe Nero's pun, not mine!
But... for the first time EVER you can raise donations for Bridging Arts when you grab a coffee at Caffe Nero thanks to a new in-store donation scheme.
As Caffe Nero says "...whether it's a flat white that takes your fancy or a cappuccino that catches your eye, from this moment on it'll be rich in flavour as well as rewards."

It's easy to sign up - just register your credit card by following this link. You don't pay a penny: Caffe Nero does.