Living next door to Cornwall's 'great neighbours'

People who have been praised for being a top neighbour in their community have been nominated for a BBC Radio Cornwall Make a Difference Award.

A Pendeen performer, the creator of an outdoor shared space in Perranwell, a man who was a chainsaw clean-up hero after Storm Goretti and a community stalwart from Portreath have all been nominated in the Great Neighbour category.

The awards, which are in their fifth year, recognise and celebrate the people and groups who really do make a difference in their communities across Cornwall.

The winners will be revealed at a ceremony in Truro in September.

"Just as long as I can make one person smile a day, my day's not wasted."

Gavin Hosking is a man on a mission in the west Cornwall village of Pendeen.

The man, who calls himself 'Cornish Gavlar' after the character in the BBC TV series Gavin and Stacey, loves performing and sharing his antics on social media.

Hosking said: "I try and raise funds for the parish hall with a bingo night, it's the second Monday of every month and I do little fundraising bits like quiz nights around the village, try and keep people entertained.

"I dressed up as the Easter Bunny and did a village Easter trail right through the village with little pictures up and there - I just like little fun things around the village."

The efforts that have won him a nomination in the Great Neighbour category are not a recent development.

Hosking said: "During Covid, I tried to keep people entertained by dressing up as Mr Blobby, doing an online quiz and dressing up as Pikachu.

"I also dressed up as 'Where's Wally', took photos of myself around the village hiding and then added to social sites for people to find.

"It keeps people entertained and it gives people something to do and smile about."

Sue Kneebone runs a community space called The Chalet in a former meadow at the family farm on the edge of Perranwell near Truro.

Kneebone explained: "Originally it was just a hay field and a very grown-in orchard.

"We started just trying to create a nice space for the grandchildren and then when it came out so nice, we thought we ought to share it.

"Since then, it's gone from strength to strength, not just with little kiddies, but we get a lot of senior ladies and mums that have just moved to the village and want to meet their peer groups."

Watching Kneebone chat with the people sitting around long wooden picnic tables and drinking tea, it was clear that everyone felt very welcome.

"As a social place it's really worked because you get all the little ones mix in with the older ones and they've got a reason now to put their lippy on and come out for a chat," Kneebone said.

"We thought it would be nice to share with everybody, we love seeing everybody enjoying it and it does such good for our older friends."

In January, Storm Goretti left a trail of destruction right across Cornwall.

But the village of St Erth had its own force of nature called Dave Corrigan who jumped into action after the gales had subsided.

"Basically I just worked locally around our road here to try to get it open as soon as possible really with cutting up removing trees and offering our shop and cafe area to people to come and charge their mobile devices and get hot water etc if they needed it," he said.

Corrigan runs the local pitch and putt golf course, so had the tools and the expertise to help, but said it was far from a one-off for the village.

"Everyone just rallied around locally to help each other out at the time, we just live in a great community in St Erth," Corrigan said.

"I've been part of the village my whole life, just moving away briefly not far to Hayle, then coming back.

"I think everyone just looks out for each other really - the community, friends, family, everyone mucks in when they need to.

"Something like Storm Goretti did just put that across, how much people are there for each other when they need to be."

"My week is quite full," said Penny Platts from Portreath, in a breath-taking piece of understatement.

"I love doing things in the village, I love looking after different things and helping different people as much as I can.

"Monday is walking with a group of friends, Monday afternoon is visiting a care home, where I take a group from the choir and we sing along for an hour-and-a-half.

"Monday evening is the sewing club Stitches, that's a crazy gang, it's wonderful.

"Tuesday evening is Illogan Community Choir and Wednesday is Hidden Help, which is amazing."

Platts explained how the charity Hidden Help takes donations of furniture and household items and passes them on to people in need.

"Thursday morning is usually prep for going into school in the afternoon, where I do some textile work with various classes," she added.

"Fridays is keep fit in the village with the group and then other things on Friday afternoon if we have time.

"Weekends is grandchildren and family, it's wonderful, love it, it keeps me busy and I'm waiting for the day when I get bored, I haven't had one yet."

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