UNTIL last year, New Year?s Eve had seemed to me to have become yet another victim of commercialism, and the celebrations I experienced in the 60s, in my youth, where all were made to feel valued had long departed.
The genuine greetings at the local inn appeared to have been replaced by ?The Men In Black? who if you hadn?t purchased a ticket at an exorbitant price for the night, grunted and wouldn?t let you pass the threshold.
If you were lucky enough to have booked a table for a meal, you then found it necessary to remortgage yourself to meet the grossly inflated bill. Should you pass any comment on the same, a visit to your table from those ?Men In Black? helped clear your misguided thoughts you had that the landlord and staff took you as a mug.
Well, last year dear friends of ours invited my wife and I to stay with them in Lamerton and New Year?s Eve was reinvented for us.
At their local, the Blacksmiths Arms, which was across the road, we were made to feel most welcome by both customers of all ages and the landlord, landlady and their crew.
We were able to wine dine, and dance the New Year into the small hours at reasonable everyday prices. The atmosphere was brilliant without anybody being loutish, aggressive or noisy.
We enjoyed ourselves so much, that when the invitation was received again for last week?s celebration, we were there like a shot and once again have had another memorable night.
So through your paper, please will you pass on our good wishes to the good folk of Lamerton, especially to Rob, Janey and their hardworking crew at the Blacksmith?s Arms as they have something which is quite unique these days, in that the village pub is still at the heart of their community and long may it be so.
Hugh Jones
7 Huthnance Close
Truro, Cornwall