Members, family and friends of Hayle Surf Life Saving Club bravely turned out on Christmas Day morning to take part in the Club’s traditional annual ritual to take a dip in the sea without wetsuits.  Six year old Daisy Petterson, who can’t wait until she is seven and old enough to become a Nipper member, was the youngest participant and founder member Gil Tredinnick, who can always be relied upon to be there, was the oldest.

Club Captain, Dave Parker, said “I don’t think any of us were looking forward to our “dip” this year with the sub-zero temperatures we’ve been experiencing lately, but Christmas Day morning dawned sunny and comparatively “warm” compared to earlier in the week and I was surprised to see so many turn up for the challenge.  As usual there were more people watching than actually going in – perhaps they’ll join us next year!  After a hot shower, some mulled wine, chocolates and biscuits we were all warmed through again and ready to enjoy the rest of Christmas Day and looking forward to another successful year for the Club in 2010.”

Information and up to date news about the Club can be found on their “news” website at http://hayleslscnews.website.orange.co.uk

“We are just two of the groups who are working hard to discover more about the history of the Hayle Area and want to preserve it forever with interviews, photos, film and in print. We like to show what we’re doing and encourage volunteers with their stories or photos to come forward and help make these projects successful” says Lucy Frears, the Hayle Oral History Project Coordinator.

Both projects are based over the road from Hayle Library at the Brewery Office on Sea Lane. Hayle Community Archive has new opening hours of 10am – 1pm Tuesdays commencing 15th December. You are invited to bring in original photos of Hayle and the parishes of St. Erth and Gwinear Gwithian to be scanned and added to the community archive (without taking your originals) or pop in to look at the collection which has been carefully gathered for many years and is just starting to be digitised. If you know about the copyright of any photos or postcards please come to speak to us.

“The Hayle Community Archive website has already made several collections of photographs available for internet viewing with images ranging from 1900 to just a few years ago. They provide a unique pictorial record of the history of the Hayle Area and the changes that have taken place over the years. Please do not let your photos deteriorate in the attic, they need preserving for the benefit of future generations” John Farrar, Hayle Community Archive volunteer.

The Hayle Oral History Project also needs volunteers - for example those over 65 from the Hayle Area are requested to come forward to be interviewed, anonymously if they wish, while people of all ages are needed to interview and record memories or transcribe interviews. Those with MP3 players, mobile phones, digital cameras or camcorders are encouraged to film or record short interviews with grandparents for the project, once the grandparents’ permission has been granted. A book using excerpts from interviews, expert articles and archive photos will be available at the end of next year. The exhibition in Hayle Library is open until 1st February and will be refreshed with new photos at various points.

“Hayle Library is very happy to host the exhibition and opening as we are always keen to support community projects and people of all generations in the Hayle Area” says Sally Faulkner from Hayle Library.

Call the projects on: 01736 753962 for more information or visit their websites: www.haylearchive.org.uk, http://hayletaleshome.blogspot.com/

The Hayle Area Plan Partnership and Hayle Town Council have now released the Town Logo for local groups and businesses to use on their advertising and stationery.  There are four 'strap lines' to choose from:

• Welcomes you
• Three miles of golden sand
• Good for business
• Its happening!

Click the logo to find out more.

At the award ceremony for the South West in Bloom competition on 17 September 2009 we heard that Hayle had swept the board!  In the morning session the Neighbourhood Awards were announced and we won all three that we had submitted:

• The Library Garden
• Adopt-a-Plot Scheme
• The Millpond

We were also delighted to hear that Emma Coster of the Hayle Community School won first prize for her painting in the 12-16 year old category.

The big news was in the afternoon session when it was announced that we had achieved: GOLD for the fourth year in a row.

And then, to crown it all, we were again awarded the SWTA cup as best in our group.

Finally, there was a 'discretionary award' and cup and this went to the Library Wildlife Garden. 

Congratulations to the Hayle in Bloom team, the Hayle Library team, our first-class gardeners and to our excellent council supporters.

Mrs June Allen, Female Citizen of the Year 2009

Chairperson of St Julia’s Fund Raising Committee.

Treasurer of Hayle Youth Project.

Church Warden of St Elwyn’s.

Mr Alan Conquest, Male Citizen of Year 2009

Secretary to Hayle Royal British Legion Branch for past18 years.Organises Remembrance Parade and assists with Poppy Appeal. RBL Area Welfare Officer. SSAFA Forces Help Divisional Secretary

Hayle Pump Editorial Team, Organisation of the Year

The team have for fifteen years, successfully produced the local magazine completely voluntarily. The Pump is a very community orientated newsletter which provides a medium for local news, opinion exchange, useful information and lively correspondence. 

Hayle Surf Life Saving ‘Nippers’, Youth Organisation of the Year

Nominated for the achievements and work throughout the year. The Club trains local youngsters to be safe in the sea and teaches them, at an early age, the skills of lifesaving and the importance of working as a team. 

Lewis Nicholls, Young Person of the Year 2009

Lewis has fundraised £1396 since 2005 for Children in Need and Comic Relief collecting at Wharfside, Penzance with a bucket.  He has now started to collect for World Vision as well.  At school he is immensely helpful as a school pupil manager (prefect) and is known for his confidence in compering quizzes for a Hayle Chamber of commerce event and the school’s Master Chef Competition. He is an ideal role model for his fellow pupils.