Bournemouth-Cornish-Association\index

Bournemouth Cornish Association

Welcome to our website.

There are more photographs in the programme page

OFFICERS

President: Mr Croydon Parsons
Vice-Presdent: Mrs Jean Martin
Immediate Past President: Mr Fred Hancock
Hon. Secretary: Mrs Anne Parsons
Hon.Treasurer: Mrs Barbara Hancock
Membership Secretary; Mr Gerry Mosney
Dinner Secretary: Mr Aubrey Lane
Publicity: Mrs Mary Sherry

Since 1921 the Bournemouth Cornish Association has existed in order to draw together Cornish exiles in the Bournemouth area. It seeks to promote friendship and provide opportunity to enjoy Cornish culture in an alien environment. Highlights of the year include pasty suppers, and the annual dinner. There are strong links with other Cornish Associations and also with other local exile groups, especially the Caledonian and Welsh.

Secretary:- kewsel@tiscali.co.uk or 01202 678447

Webmaster:- fj_hancock@sky.com or 01202 649518

The Association meets most months in the Moose Hall in Charminster. See the Programme for more information. New members are always most welcome so come on all you cousin Jacks and Jennys in Bournemouth, come and join us!

For details contact our membership secretary, Mr Gerry Mosney.

There is another connection between Cornwall and Bournemouth.

Bournemouth is said to have been founded by a Cornishman, Lewis Dymoke Grosvenor Tregonwell (1758 – 1833).

There is a statue of Tregonwell outside the Bournemouth International Centre and a plaque at the Royal Exeter Hotel commemorating the erection of the first house in Bournemouth.

Our association marks his birthday (14^th Feb) every year by raising the St Piran Flag over the B.I.C

and laying flowers on his tomb.

Here is our President’s ‘potted’ personal history.

Perhaps some other members would care to do likewise

Croydon, the eldest of six children, was born on 20^th February 1935 at Smeathers Farm, St Minver and

when he was six months old the family moved to Higher Tynes Farm, Delabole. He attended Delabole

School until he was 14 and the family moved to St Neot for a short period. Another move in 1950 took

the family to St Austell where Croydon finished his schooling at West Hill School.

On leaving school he worked as a ‘kettle boy’ on a building site, then for a grocery shop at Tregonossey

helping the van driver with deliveries. In 1951 he went to work for a local butcher and stayed for eleven

and a half years. He remained in the butchery trade until moving to Dorset in 1998. Before moving to

Dorset he was living in Nanpean.

He married Anne in 1989. He has three children by his first marriage, and three grandchildren. Two

granddaughters are living in Cornwall and a grandson in Spain.

Interests:- He played water polo for St Austell ‘B’ team from 1950 until 1955. He was a member of

the East Hill Rifle Club for approximately five years attending indoor and outdoor matches against

teams from Truro, Falmouth, Bodmin, Fowey and many more. Croydon has been a keen motor

cyclist since the age of 18 and still rides classic motorcycles. Before moving to Dorset he played

bowls for Lake View Country Club at Lanivet.

He joined our association in 1999 and became President in 2008.