Mysterious Manxman

Curiouser and curiouser. Someone from the Isle of Man apparently rolled into the Sloop last Thursday (12th) asking after me. Unfortunately I was between shifts at the time and he had disappeared without leaving any sort of message by the time I arrived for the evening shift.

If you know who this mystery person was or want to admit to being 'Elusive from Ellan Vannin' drop us a lion at the usual address.

The Wild One

As you've probably noticed the news bulletin is late yet again. However, this has allowed me to witness the advent of Bagfest (see Old Gnus - 30 August 2002). They all met up outside the Sloop this morning (14th) and went roaring past the kitchen window as they set off to rebel against whatever.

Disappointingly, I was unable to get any piccies of the event as I was up to my ears in breakfast orders at the time. If I can find any other sources of info on what they've been up to I'll let you know.

The Past Is Not What It Used To Be

The St. Ives Reminiscence Project has been sending the school sprogs round blagging fish stories and other anecdotal musings from the local old codgers. They have now collated some of the more memorable (and possibly, publishable!) ones on a video which can be obtained for a mere ten of your English pounds if you ring 01736 795983.

Alternatively, you can just go and talk to them yourself as most of them are fairly harmless! My neignbours are, respectively, President of the local Operatic Society and the son of one of the crew killed in the 1939 lifeboat tragedy, so it just goes to show that there are interesting people out there if you bother looking. (Just don't try looking in August as they will all be hiding from the em's!).

Oops!

September 30th this year marks the 50th anniversary of the grounding of the minesweeper HMS Wave. There is a new expedition in the St. Ives Museum (which we can't show you any of because the silly sods won't allow any photos) which is full of pictures and paraphernalia relating to the incident.

Apparently, the Captain decided to park the boat (despite warnings from the local fishermen) off Smeaton's Pier for the night. However, during the night the strong tidal current caused the ship's anchor chain to snap sending it crashing onto the Pednolva rocks. 62 of the crew had to be winched to safety using a Breeches Buoy. Apart from the museum you can also see old photos of the event in the Union pub (see Pub Scouts Section - The Union).

According to local legend, when the Admiralty got news of what had happened they said 'the unfortunate Captain commands our sympathy ... and henceforth, that is all he will command'! 

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