Cornwall Branch

The Branch was founded in 1974 by Fred Compton, James Fleming, Norman Allan, Robin Penna, Paul Hodge and Tony Goldsborough. In the early days the traditional meeting place was Fred’s huge bungalow at Padstow. Fred had long been a victim of polio but still had taught himself to be a skilled and determined letterpress printer. About half of the bungalow had been adapted for wheelchair access and over the years he turned out much high class work for his own satisfaction and for his many friends. He and James, who also lived in Padstow, ran the branch between them and it was not unusual for over thirty members to be present at the meetings, with Fred’s wife Peggy filling them all with cups of tea and good Cornish food.

In later years the running of the branch fell to Norman Allan, Gordon Oaten, Roy Krause, Jane McCallam, John Mitchell, Jack Foster and a “foreigner” from Plymouth (but born in St Austell and so allowed to join).

More recently we have two more Plymouth members — current Secretary Bob Shaw and Treasurer Jon Beverley. In the mid-nineties the branch, together with our friends from the Devon branch, ran five very successful Open Days at Yelverton in Plymouth. Sadly the Open Days had to be cancelled due to a lack of support from the general public and most of our