Newquay, Cornwall

[mossie]

I recently had a little coach holiday in Newquay with a group of friends. Newquay is possibly the surfing capital of the UK and has some ready made sand beaches. The town is on the north coast of Cornwall but faces nearly west, so the Atlantic rollers have little to counter them until they roll up the beach.


I didn't see a lot of surfing, they mostly seemed to be practising falling over


There is also a small harbour which used to support a fishing fleet. It has some nasty looking rocks close by


The whole coastline is very rocky with high cliffs where the tough Cornish granite has been beaten by the sea


The gulls are always on the lookout for food and I didn't like the way this one was eyeing me up


The cliffs also had this thrift growing all around


I took the local bus in to Truro and had a walk round the cathedral


I also paid a visit to Newquay Airport, once the main southern base of the RAF Coastal Command.
Here is the recently established Classic Air Force with a collection of mainly post war British aircraft. This is an Anson on which I was trained, not too successfully, how not to lose our valuable aeroplanes. I also finished my RAF career flying in these helping to train Air Electronics Officers for the V bomber force.


They also have one of the very pretty de Havilland Dragon Rapides, which were a pre war small airliner adopted by the RAF for training crews and as a light transport. they were phased out soon after the war and sold for civil use

[bixaorellana]

Yaay, Mossie is back in the picture posting saddle again!

What a gorgeous area. Isn't one of your old b&w pictures very similar to the one of the harbor in this thread? I think it's in a thread about your training days.

I get a kick out of the fact that, in the midst of all your great photos -- the gull, the cathedral, etc. -- the one most perfectly framed, most lovingly photographed, is the Anson. ;D

[spindrift1]

Newquay is a very popular place. How long did you stay there, mossie? Your great pictures of the seagulls and cliffs remind me of Ireland.

I like the shape and colours of the Anson. Was there space for a second pilot? I bet you could put her down on a sixpence! The de Havilland is quite something. Are these aircraft taken out and flown sometimes? I hope so!

[lagatta]

Well, Spindrift, Cornwall is also part of the Celtic Fringe... Their language is closer to Welsh and Breton than to Irish or Scottish Gaelic though.

Loved the planes - indeed the de Havilland Dragon Rapides is a very pretty little plane. Did any of those see action in the Second World War? Yes, that is why Newquay was a familiar name - I'm sure I've read stories about the airbase and history of flight there.

This one is a happy little story, but of course there were many more tragic ones: www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/54/a4400254.shtml That couple were so young.

[htmb]

Wonderful photos, Mossie. It looks like you had a nice little trip.

[mossie]

Most of their aircraft are maintained to fly and some are used to give pleasure flights, a valuable source of income. They also display some at air shows.
The Anson had a seat beside the pilot, when I was on my last job I would sit there if it was sensible for map reading. There was also one particular pilot with whom I could swap places and pretend to fly it. Typical stupidity, although when I had been on squadrons and got a ride in the trainer version, I would be allowed a go. In fact my regular pilot Joe, taught me to do basic aerobatics. Good for a laugh as I generally dropped it ;D ;D

[tod2]

What lovely weather you had Mossie! That sea looks as good as any beach holiday destination! Thanks for the name of those pink bunches of flowers.....I've always wondered what they were called.
Whilst you were having a good time with your friends I was craning my neck (and camera) skywards to takes some pics of the aerobatic team giving us a super display of daredevil flying at our annual Agricultural Show. I am getting it all together and will post soon. (Don't know what heading yet).

[Deleted]

Well, you've certainly had nicer weather than we've had in Paris, and the area looks quite beautiful. I bet you spent most of your time in the hangar, though.

[htmb]

Reminds me of an old BBC television series I watched years ago called Poldark.

[lugg]

Oh now I have a yen to visit Cornwall again soon. lovely pics and nice planes too.

The gull does indeed look mean, last time I was in Cornwall ( Padstow) one attacked a little boy who was eating fish & chips , his head was bleeding badly and boy did he scream , nearly as loud as his Mum had.

[nycgirl]

Cornwall looks very pretty. Love the shots of the water, wildflowers, and rocky cliffs.