DAISY CULMER - Museum Curator and Artist

After studying English Literature at university, Daisy undertook a graduate internship with the British Library, fuelling her desire to forge a career in the heritage sector. She obtained a place on the Norfolk Museums Service Teaching Museum Programme, completing her curatorial training within Norwich Castle Museum’s Fine and Decorative Art department.  

Since 2016, Daisy has worked as the Curator for Harvey’s Foundry Trust, Hayle, home to the Cornish Beam Engine. She is an Associate Member of the Museums Association (AMA) and was recently awarded a PG(Cert) in Archival Studies from the University of Dundee, now acting as Project Archivist for the Hayle Community Archive documentation backlog. Her work endeavours to provide access for all to Cornwall’s rich industrial heritage, as well as to the stories held within Hayle’s collections, in creative and inclusive ways.

This storytelling is embedded in Daisy’s art practice, comprising mixed-media collages, monotypes, experimental drawings, and other small works on paper. Having grown up in West Penwith, her work draws inspiration from the unique culture and landscape of these rural, far-western reaches of our county; megaliths, moorland, working fishing villages, weathered granite and Cornish folklore feature prominently in her work. Her studio is at Krowji.

Daisy is also a founding member of the Cryséde Collective, a group of artists, historians, museums, libraries and archives working together to share and preserve the story of Cryséde Silks and women in the Cornish textile industry.

1.   What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Truthfully, it’s having maintained – whether or not I feel confident doing it - the ability to "dance on my own" in life: to travel alone, move away and live alone, walk on the coast alone, eat alone.

As I child, I'd tell myself long stories and I remember thinking "I'll never be bored if I have my imagination". I suppose that's still true. 

2.   What motivates you to do what you do?

Passion and a deep connection with the place I’m from. This is true of both my art practice and my curatorial work. My art explores the concept of “home” (which, for me, is so deeply entrenched in the wilds of West Penwith) and so the imagery comes just as much from my heart as it does from observation.

And having gone to school in Hayle (and grown up in nearby St Erth) I’m committed to sharing its stories at the museum including its remarkable engineering accomplishments which, though small and geographically remote, saw the town achieve international renown in the 19th century.

I’m also motivated by the dedication and enthusiasm of my museum peers; it’s a sector full of such genuine excitement for what we do.

3.   What do you owe your mother?

A love of reading. Also, writing - being scrupulous and concerned with clear communication. When my brother and I were growing up, I watched my mum work hard in the evenings to complete her OU degree and, just last year, she published a fascinating local history book: an enormous undertaking. I really admire her diligence.

The approach I’ve learned from her is invaluable to me in all manner of tasks: funding applications, creative writing, cataloguing, and exhibition content.

4.   Which women inspire you and why?

All of my friends - among them mothers, artists, mentors, givers - as well as the women I don't yet know but see doing amazing things at Krowji, and other creative and community spaces. 

Right now – with the county championships fast approaching – I’m especially in awe of my gig rowing sisters, because racing our hearts out on the Scillies in high winds and against clashing oars really does forge a bond like no other.

5.   What are you reading?

Right now, I'm reading "The Story of a New Name", the second book in the Neapolitan Quartet by Elena Ferrante: a beautiful tale of female friendship. Also, "Wessex Tales" by Thomas Hardy and "The Fragrant Mind" by Valerie Ann Worwood.

6.   What gender barriers have you had to hurdle?

As a woman in the industrial history field – a vocational, qualified museum professional, rather than a subject specialist - I’ve certainly felt the need to prove myself. The more pressing challenge as I see it, however, is to interpret forgotten herstories. This is a long-term project as there are so many women from Hayle’s past whose stories I aim to share through outreach, exhibitions and collections-work. These include the women who risked their lives at work at the National Explosives Factory at Upton Towans, and the writer Kitty Lee Jenner, who was instrumental in Cornish language revival.

7.   How can the world be made a better place for women?

Better representation of diverse bodies through formal education, from an early age.  

8.   Describe your perfect day?

A walk out West; St Loy’s, Portheras or Penberth Cove are all favourites. Spending time in my studio, painting and collaging. Then in the evening, hunkering down in a cosy pub – The Tinners at Zennor or The Ship Inn in Porthleven - to sing with The Shantillies, an all-women shanty band a group of my friends and I have recently formed.  

9.   We've noticed there really aren't many (if any) statues of women around Cornwall - who would you like to see remembered?

Elizabeth Carne. Carne was a Cornish geologist, conchologist, mineral collector, and banker, born in 1820 in Hayle. As a child, Elizabeth and her family moved to Penzance where she became aware of the deprivation and need for education in neighbouring mining areas. She went on to open several schools and a museum to display her extensive mineral collection. Elizabeth was Head of the Penzance Bank and the first female member of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall.

A practicing artist, Elizabeth worked in watercolour, painting Penwithian landscapes, and created delicate sketches of her beloved geological and conchological specimens. I recently had the incredible privilege of seeing her illustrated book “British Shells”, held in the archives at Morrab Library.

Notably, Elizabeth was second cousin to the Brontë sisters and close friend of the diarist Caroline Fox of Falmouth.

10. Give us a tip?

Acknowledge your internal growth. Don’t shy away from honest vulnerability; it is quite possibly your greatest strength.  

Instagram:

@daisy.culmer.art

@hayleheritagecentre

@crysedecollective

VICTORIA WRIGHT - Fashion Shop Owner @ Black Jacket Vintage

Growing up in the mecca of Manchester, Victoria moved to Cornwall in 2004 to study at Falmouth University. She returned to Cornwall in 2016 and after managing shops herself decided to go it alone and open her own vintage fashion shop, Black Jacket Vintage, in Penzance town centre.

Victoria has spent over 20 years in fashion retail, from supervising roles to visual merchandising; “I loved pulling together the trends and coming up with floor layouts, styling and window displays. I loved it! My side hustle was eBay! I’ve grown up in one of the best cities for fashion and vintage and I always collected vintage pieces. I like that there’s pretty much only one of everything, its more unique, and it’s had a life and a history of its own and that really appeals to me.”

1. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

My biggest achievement, well so far, it’s starting the shop I think. I’d been selling online for a while and working running other shops for so long. It was a huge step, and one I didn’t expect to be so successful from the very start. It’s been a bit overwhelming and I’m still learning, I have so much left to learn, but I love it! It’s been the most rewarding experience and the fact that people are so complimentary is incredible. I find it super touching and it makes me so happy and fulfilled when people leave the shop with things they love. I have a huge passion for sourcing, repairing and saving great clothes, and when other people love it too it’s just amazing. 

2. What motivates you to do what you do? 

I want to make myself proud really. I’ve worked so hard for so long for big, and small, companies and it seemed crazy to be losing sleep, working extra hours all the time and worrying over someone else’s business. So I decided to start the shop and put all my love and care into that instead. I still lose sleep, worry and work all the hours, but it’s mine and thats a bit special. I have really bad imposter syndrome most of the time, but when I stop and shake my head clear I’m super proud of what Ive created. It means the world to me, so that keeps me motivated to turn up and do my best every day.  

3. What do you owe your mother?

Oh everything! She’s the most incredible woman I know. I’m very lucky, I have two amazing parents. Mum is just a super hero to me though. She ran a business and brought up three daughters, and ran the house (including 2 huge dogs) and it all ran like clockwork. We were fed home cooked meals, clean house, read to and so loved, all while she was dealing with the stress of running a business through two recessions! We had no idea when we were kids, but now as a grown woman I have no clue how she did it all. She’s amazing, and my best friend. I can tell her anything and still do! Her motto when we were growing up was “If you don’t tell me, I can’t help you” and that meant we never feared being told off or made to feel silly, we always went to her with anything and knew that she would be there to pick us up. I can’t compliment my mum enough really. She brought us up to be honest, caring, strong and to always try our best. I love her endlessly and I tell her that all the time. I think we all call mum to say hello every day, she’s probably sick of us by now! 

4. Which women inspire you and why?

Like I’ve said above, I’m very lucky as I’m surrounded by inspirational women in my family and friends. All my female friends are entrepreneurial, independent, creative, smart and strong, and all of them champion the other women in their lives. Which is pretty amazing. I’m quite shy around big groups of women, I can find it quite intimidating, so most of my female friends have kind of adopted me. I always find that when I spend time with any of them I always come away feeling lifted, inspired and full of ideas. I find it incredibly inspiring to know that all of them have faced any challenges head on, even when they’re afraid and always overcome those obstacles. It’s the women around me, everyday, just living and thriving that I find inspiring. Why look to famous figures for inspiration when there are incredible people right in front of you? 

5. What are you reading? 

I wish I could say some obscure academic piece but no, I’m reading Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows for probably the thousandth time! It’s a bit of a comfort blanket for me, familiar. I probably know it off by heart! In troubled times, or if I feel stressed then familiarity is a huge comfort for me. 

6. What gender barriers have you had to hurdle?

This is tricky because it’s not hugely obvious at times, or could easily be misconstrued as my imagination, but I think probably getting taken seriously as someone running a business. It’s happened in many different ways, and can be subtle. For example, men will often ask me “Where’s the boss?” Or say things like “The boss man got you ironing, has he?”. These may seem silly, but they can feel frustrating. I find people think they can push me around a little, and are shocked when I tell them that I’m the boss. Its also very common, if I have a male friend, or my fiancé is in the shop then male customers will bypass me and talk to them about purchases etc, even after being directed to me they will only talk to the man in the room. That’s mostly funny to me now, and happens rarely these days as people know the shop, but still pretty annoying. I think even today when the majority of small business is female lead, people still assume that behind every business is a man in charge. It’s changing, but definitely a thing. 

7. How can the world be made a better place for women?

This is such a huge question and a tough one, because to make the world a better place for women then we need to make it a better place for everyone. It needs to be a collective effort. Starting with making it a safer place for women is a good place to start, and I think everything else will follow, as women won’t feel afraid to really go for it. One of the most heartbreaking pieces I ever read was an article asking women “What would you do if there were no men for 24 hours”. The answers were so simple that it felt incredibly sad. Things like “I’d go for a run alone at night” or “I’d wear what I wanted and go for a drink alone”. So simple! Things that men do everyday without a second thought were the things that women wished they could do but felt unable. I know I could live without that horrid drop in my stomach when the taxi turns off the regular route and in the back of your mind you think “this is it”. It’s horrid. I think it needs to start with education. Teaching children, all children, respect and boundaries from an early age. This is a huge subject for me and one that I’m very passionate about. I certainly like to think of the shop as a safe space for women, one where they can be themselves and just enjoy fashion. 

8. Describe your perfect day?

Oh, a leisurely breakfast with my fiancé and then absolutely NO AGENDA! When you work every day it’s sometimes nice to just do nothing, take absolute pleasure in it and see where the day takes you.   

9. We've noticed there really aren't many (if any) statues of women around Cornwall - who would you like to see remembered?

A Bal Maiden. The women and girls that worked the tin mines of Cornwall and Devon. I think it’s quite common to see statues of male miners, fishermen etc, but some recognition of the women in those industries would be great. 

10. Give us a tip?

It’s never too late to start something new. Jump in with both feet and see what happens. Easier said than done I know, but at least you know you've tried. We regret the things we didn’t do more than the things we did.

Black Jacket Vintage houses a collection of handpicked true vintage fashion and accessories. American vintage mixed with British heritage brands - sourcing, repairing and saving amazing pieces.

Open Mon-Sat, 9.30am – 5pm

28 Market Jew Street, Penzance TR18 2HR

blackjacketvintage.com

@black_jacket_vintage

PHILIPPA STANTON - Creative Artist & Writer→

1. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I have 2 which come to mind immediately: surviving childbirth and also, after working really hard a few years ago, I bought us a new boiler!

2. What motivates you to do what you do?

I do so many different things that it's hard to say what it is precisely that motivates me, but I think a big motivation for me is to demystify art and creative practice generally because it's always, always useful for everyone, not just an arty elite. I want creativity to feel accessible and acceptable across the board and that motivates me.

 
3. What do you owe your mother?

I owe my mother so much, but particularly her support of my surreal and abstract thought, her encouragement for me to always ask lots of questions and be actively interested in things that scare me, and her regular reminder to 'Be brave!'

4. Which women inspire you and why?

Lizzo
Gwendoline Christie
Karen Arthur
Maryam Keyhani
Judy Garland
Barbara Barondess McClean

All of these women have ( or have had ) such a strong sense of being; they are not frightened to be women, to inhabit their own sense of self and their multiple talents, they empower other women, and and their joy alone is a huge inspiration.

Dr Margot Sunderland fascinates me. Learning about her work for children's mental health and attachment in particular on the Trauma Informed Schools course has been invaluable.

Jessica Ennis-Hill's ability to get back to Olympic standard after becoming a Mother has also been such an inspiration. I don't know how she did it! All the women in my life inspire me one way or another. I'm very fortunate to be surrounded by so many wonderful ladies- shout out to them all!

5. What are you reading

'Act of Oblivion' by Robert Harris

6. What gender barriers have you had to hurdle?
Over the years, as a small woman of 5ft, I have had to hurdle a lot of patronising 'patting my head' behaviour both literally and metaphorically, particulary from men but also from other women! The fight against gender preconceptions towards me, coupled with height preconceptions, is still a constant one, so I often find myself trying to prove my worth, ( I find it difficult to accept physical help from men for example ) rather than just 'being'.  There have also been more subtle gender barriers I've come up against within my own family which stem from all those stereotypical and generational patterns which are incredibly hard to break through and change.

7. How can the world be made a better place for women?
This is a huge question which obviously doesn't have a simple answer, but I think maybe a continued shift and progression with listening to ALL women's lived experiences would help enormously; intersectionality is key.

8. Describe your perfect day?
Waking up early and pottering around all day doing whatever I fancy, guilt free, rather than having to tick all sorts of jobs off a list. Also not having to deal with any emails or social media would be essential for a perfect day... and having a pint at a cozy pub in the evening.

9. We've noticed there really aren't many (if any) statues of women around Cornwall - who would you like to see remembered?

I would like to see a statue of Cornish woman and activist Emily Hobhouse ... she fought to expose the true, appalling conditions of concentration camps for Boer families run by the British during the second Boer war. 

Being able to learn from our country's real history is essential; it's a history of colonialism, oppression and atrocity which is so often intentionally ignored in order to pedal an invented or romanticised version of our past. If history is distorted and people's stories are 'erased' it makes it incredibly difficult to understand the long lasting oppressive and racist foundations on which our country is built. A statue of Emily Hobhouse would definitely help open up this conversation, particularly as her death was not reported by the Cornish press at the time, even though her obituary was written by Gandhi.

10. Give us a tip?

Sit in a chair with your eyes closed and actively listen to all the sounds around you for 5 minutes

Bio

Philippa was born in Coventry, grew up in Warwickshire and went to school in Leamington Spa. She briefly studied History of Design at Manchester Polytechnic before decisively dropping out to train for 3 years at RADA and has worked for over 20 years in the theatre, radio, TV and film as well as continuing her work as a freelance artist. Her persona of @5ftinf happened accidentally when a friend suggested she start a blog in 2007. 

A large part of her work involves creating visual projects and social content for brands, and organizations which are as diverse as The Crown Estate, TUI, Green and Blacks and The History of Modern Biomedicine Research Group. Philippa's paintings often utilise her synaesthesia and during her time as Artist in Residence at Shakespeare’s Globe I created sound portraits of all the actor’s voices. She has also worked with perfumers, wines, whiskies, gins and coffees to produce paintings of scent and taste and has painted the sound of a pianist playing Mussorgsky’s ‘Pictures At An Exhibition’ live, at the Cheltenham Science Festival. Philippa's book ‘Conscious Creativity’ which encourages creative process and practice was published in November 2018 and it’s companion ‘Conscious Creativity – A Workbook’ will be published in September 2020.

You can find out more on Philippa's website: 5ftinf.com and her books ‘Conscious Creativity – A Workbook' and 'Conscious Creativity - Look, Connect, Create' are stocked in our in-person bookshop!

Angeline Morrison - Singer, Songwriter and Multi-instrumentalist

1. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

It's my current album, The Sorrow Songs: Folk Songs of Black British Experience (2022, Topic Records). It has been an intense journey and a real labour of love, requiring so much dedication, hard work, research, opening myself to horrifying narratives, and trying to find ways to allow those voices to have expression through me... I am really proud of having survived the creation process, and of the piece of work that is the end result.

2. What motivates you to do what you do?

Singing, writing songs and making music is just the same as breathing for me... I can't imagine not doing it. So I see it as more of a deep urge from within, rather than something I'm motivated to do...

3. What do you owe your mother?

My devoted love of Sam Cooke and collecting vintage dresses.

4. Which women inspire you and why?

Audre Lorde for fighting injustice with wisdom, beauty, brilliance and the awe-inspiring power of words.

Louise Bennett-Coverley for her lifelong and joyous collecting of Jamaican traditional folk song, dance, arts and culture.

Caitlin Moran for her fierce honesty, writerly genius, and foregrounding of women's experiences.

5. What are you reading?

The Watkins Book of English Folk Tales (Neil Philip).

Companion Piece (Ali Smith).

Britain's Brown Babies - The Stories of Children Born to Black GIs and White Women in the Second World War (Lucy Bland).

6. What gender barriers have you had to hurdle?

Specifically within music, it's mostly been a reluctance to believe I could have played any part in the composition of my songs. Thankfully that's changing...

7. How can the world be made a better place for women?

If more women held positions of power and influence, that would be a good start.

8. Describe your perfect day?

A rainy walk in the woods, a swim in the sea, books books books, digging about in a record shop or record fair, lots and lots of time and space and silence...

9. We've noticed there really aren't many (if any) statues of women around Cornwall - who would you like to see remembered?

There were many enslaved African women who lived in, or were trafficked through, Cornwall. There were also many Cornish women of the Wesleyan Methodist movement who were very active in the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. I would really like it if all of these women were remembered, though not necessarily in the form of statues - I think there are endless possible ways we can practice public remembrance and honouring

10. Give us a tip?

Fleece bedding has an immediate and profound effect on quality of life

Angeline Morrison is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist in the genres of wyrd folk, trad folk and psych folk. Angeline's latest album 'The Sorrow Songs: Folk Songs of Black British Experience', produced by Eliza Carthy, is out now on Topic Records.

Website: https://www.angelinemorrisonmusic.com

BandCamp: https://angelinemorrisonmusic.bandcamp.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelcakepie/?hl=en

Sarah Tagholm - Children's Author in Cornwall

1. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I had been an aspiring children's writer for years, and my son watched me receive rejection after rejection, but I didn't give up and in 2020 I bagged five book deals with three different publishers and a brilliant agent. I feel happy that he witnessed that climb, that in at least one way, I set him a good example!

2. What motivates you to do what you do?

I love writing so I don't need any motivation to do it. I have always needed a creative outlet and tried many different paths, but with writing, I enjoy the unexpectedness of meeting whatever has been creeping around my brain when it crawls out onto the paper.

3. What do you owe your mother?

My mum is an unfailingly cheery and friendly woman with a huge amount of energy despite being almost 70. I think I inherited her optimistic outlook, which has been a true gift to me throughout my life.

4. Which women inspire you and why?

SO MANY women inspire me... Tove Jansson's phenomenal creativity and imagination – the way she captured the most mundane moments in life and made them heartwarming and hilarious.

Margaret Atwood's incredible intellect, I wish she were running the world right now – we certainly wouldn't be in the mess we are if she were.

Coming from a working class background myself, I have huge respect for Cornwall's Natasha Carthew – founder of The Working Class Writers Festival and champion of working class women.

And of course Melissa Hardie of the Hypatia Trust – what a brain! What drive and ambition - she flung shit in the face of no – there was nothing she couldn't get done, I miss her so much already.

5. What are you reading?

I always have a few books on the go... one in the lounge - Fathoms by Rebecca Giggs, a non fiction about whales. One by the bed – Glimpses of The Unknown, part of a collection called Tales Of The Weird by the British Library, I'm always drawn to the bizarre. A few on the table where I write – folklore and mythology mostly – they help plug my brain into a socket of limitless imagination.

6. What gender barriers have you had to hurdle?

This question is the hardest one for all of us I think, because really there have been so many, an endless track of hurdles looping infinitely around the world. One example was when my school began arranging work experience for our class....

‘What would you like to do for work experience Sarah? I'd like to do plumbing. Hmmm, well we can get you work experience as a receptionist at a plumbers, none of the plumbers want to take a girl on – it would be too distracting for them wouldn't it.’

7. How can the world be made a better place for women?

Education for all girls, and women represented at the top alongside the men in every single area – gender parity.

8. Describe your perfect day?

A flat sea, like blue velvet, stretching out in front of my kakak. Exploring a new stretch of the wild Cornish coastline, maybe a seal or cetacean dropping by for company. Lunch and a dip on a deserted beach. Back home to read on the sofa in a quiet house. Then dinner cooked by my husband Hugo with our son Darwin and the three of us on the sofa watching an epic like Lord Of The Rings or Dune, though Hugo would be snoozing – he doesn't believe in dragons - poor thing!

9. We've noticed there really aren't many (if any) statues of women around Cornwall - who would you like to see remembered?

I'd love to see one for all of our Grandmothers, and those before them, hard working women who spent every day scrubbing the floors, washing the clothes and making do and mending for nothing more than the love of their families.

10. Give us a tip?

I think maybe, just really, go at it hard.

There's a book in the Hypatia Elizabeth Treffry Collection and I have never forgotten what it said about its author – a woman whose name I embarrassingly cannot recall, but she was described as ‘a great woman of genius in the art of living.’

I loved that, it really stuck with me, and I think it's a wonderful thing to aspire to do – to live well - to do as much of the things you love with the people you love, because really, it's all over in a flash isn't it?

Sarah Tagholm is a children's author who loves writing about confused animals, mischievous children and all things bizarro. She is passionate about encouraging a love of reading, libraries and availability of books for all children. Sarah lives with her family in Cornwall, where they spend so much time in the sea it's a wonder they haven't grown gills! Her debut, Wolves In Helicopters, publishes on Thursday 1st September - you can see it here:

Wolves in Helicopters by Sarah Tagholm | Signed & Dedicated Pre-order – Falmouth Bookseller

and of course it's available in Waterstones, WHSMITH, Amazon etc too.

“Wolves in Helicopters tackles nightmares head on with one fiercely brave little bunny and the love of her mother. Can Hop find a way to escape the wolves in her nightmares, even if they chase her in helicopters? Mummy thinks so...”

Leanna Cox - Social Prescribing Link Worker

1. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Definitely getting my BSc Social Science Degree in my mid 30’s whilst going through a particularly difficult period of my life. Never in a million years did I ever think I was capable of gaining a degree. Also, I am finally working in a job where I can make a difference every day. I love my job as a Social Prescribing Link Worker. During the past two years in the pandemic many more people have needed help and support and being able to actively help them is so rewarding.

2. What motivates you to do what you do?

Having been through my own personal troubles in the past, overcoming them and now living a happy and fulfilled life I love being able to give back and help people access the support they need to increase their health and wellbeing and live their life to the full, to build their confidence and reach their potential.

3. What do you owe your mother?

The belief that I can do whatever I desire. Also, my attention to detail and organisational skills (we are both Virgo’s!)

4. Which women inspire you and why?

Emmeline Pankhurst – Although she wasn’t perfect, she demanded equality for women as the leader of the suffragette movement. Her efforts led to the vote being granted to (some) women. She taught us to underestimate the power of a fearless woman at your peril.

5. What are you reading?

I am currently reading two books – ‘This is Going to Hurt’, By Adam Key, which is as hilarious as it is heart-breaking. And Brene Browns new book, ‘Atlas of the Heart’. I love Brene Brown.

6. What gender barriers have you had to hurdle?

Not sure if this comes under gender barrier but as a woman who does not have any children this seems to always raise opinions from people who feel they have the right to comment or give advice on this subject. This can be a sensitive issue for some and should not be a conversational free for all. I don’t see men going through the same clumsy and intrusive questioning.

7. How can the world be made a better place for women?

I feel more education is needed to help change attitudes to different stages of life, be that in relation to having, or not having children to the menopause (what a minefield that is!). And the promotion of self-care without feeling guilty!

8. Describe your perfect day?

Ooh, a lie in followed by a cheeky bacon roll for breakfast. Then either a walk in the woods or on the beach with my amazing husband. Living in Cornwall there are so many wonderful places to visit on our doorstep. Being in nature grounds me and being a highly sensitive person, I need to escape the madness of the world regularly. Not being a huge fan of cooking, a nice takeaway would finish the day off perfectly!

9. We've noticed there really aren't many (if any) statues of women around Cornwall - who would you like to see remembered?

Now that’s a question! To be honest I’m not sure statues are a good use of public money in this current economic climate. Money could be better spent on the increasing housing crisis in Cornwall.

10. Give us a tip?

I have a few tips for a happier life which I incorporate in my everyday life:

Avoid news overload

Keep company with good people

Express gratitude daily

Learn to say NO – still working on this one!

And Live, Laugh, Love - a cliche I know but I love it!

Leanna works as a Social Prescribing Link Worker helping people reduce health inequalities by supporting people to unpick complex issues affecting their wellbeing. Link Workers give people time, focusing on ‘what matters to me, take a holistic approach and work collaboratively with all local partners.

ASIST and Mental Health First Aid trained along with qualifications in Health and Wellbeing, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness and many more. Cornish born and bred, Leanna is passionate about supporting people struggling after the lockdowns with loneliness and social isolation to move forward again in their lives. Happily married with one cat enjoying the simple things in life.

Lizzi Larbalestier - Award Winning Blue Health Coach

1. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Everything I do is blue health related so whilst my business is a blue health coaching business, the volunteering activities I get involved with also link to protecting the marine environment - there is a natural symbiosis and what can appear separate pursuits are in fact intrinsically intertwined.

I am hugely proud of the ICF accredited blue health coach program Going Coastal Blue launched during 2020, having spent over twelve years developing this Coaching modality it is such a joy to share these skills with other Coaches. This is the first and currently only globally recognised professional coaching qualification that puts ocean-centric applied environmental psychology at the very heart of it. My husband and I received the Blue Mind Award in 2018 for demonstrating devotion to ocean health and marine life and that was quite an honour.

In respect of volunteering 2021 has been a high, receiving an award from BDMLR for outstanding contribution to the protection of marine wildlife. I project managed the build of Cornwall Seal Hospital during the summer having spent the previous winter caring for 139 seals at our home - a temporary hospital. Thankfully not all 139 were with us at the same time... and we of course had a team of amazing peers and volunteers who are equally committed to protecting seals. I also had the opportunity to spend five weeks on the Isles of Scilly playing a key role within a small team monitoring and supporting an arctic walrus who was lost - our actions undoubtedly enabled this magnificent animal to gain the strength required to safely return Northwards.

I guess when you ask about achievements nothing is ever achieved as an individual, so whilst aspects of the above were certainly led by myself, each achievement is the combination of the efforts and enthusiasm of many, and I have appreciated collaborating with some amazing people.

2. What motivates you to do what you do?

I am in awe of our planet and the amazingly diverse life upon it. Even in my lifetime I have seen a shift in the health of our coastal locations and an increase in convenience purchasing and businesses making decisions that are not necessarily healthy ones for the long term health of our planet. I am motivated to enable coaching clients to truly consider the choices they make from a perspective of connection and to transcend the kind of goal setting that is simply for personal gain / power / acquisition etc. My dream is that we each become more consistently mindful of the compromises we make on a day to day basis and of course we are always weighing up pros and cons. I would love business leaders to recognise the interconnections of all things, and to show up in way that emphasises environmental, social, psychological and physical coherence.... oh and for the phrase work / life balance to be a thing of the past.

3. What do you owe your mother?

Well if you mean what am I grateful to my mother for... her love of the ocean, quick wit and dry humour is something I remember fondly. She was pretty complex and struggled with alcohol addiction making her inconsistent, and yet in the moments we saw the real Sally-Faith she was a beautiful soul who was extremely kind hearted. When she was diagnosed with a terminal illness back in late 2005, long held frustration relating to her volatile behaviour dissolved, becoming completely irrelevant. As an NLP Trainer the concept of people being more than the sum of their behaviour was all too familiar and yet the awakening and the depth of compassion I felt when facing the reality of mortality was something that fundamentally shifted my world view. I love my Mum, she had a lot of sadness in her life and I realise how comparatively simple the world I inhabit is. The loss of my Mum taught me to have gratitude for each day and growing up with a Mum whose mood was less than easy to navigate I am certain provided me with many of the life skills I rely on as a professional Coach.

4. Which women inspire you and why?

There are so many and so I have chosen three otherwise this will be a VERY long answer.

Dr Sylvia Earle is the first that comes to mind - a champion for the ocean and absolute powerhouse. Sylvia is somebody who leads from a place of compassion, is creative in the way she approaches engaging others to love and protect the marine environment and she is courageous in challenging those in power to wake up. Sylvia inspires me to learn more about the ocean and the circular economy and to lean into both the awe and sadness I feel when I connect with the marine environment and witness the plight of our seas. Embracing this non-duality keeps me focussed on what really matters and motivates me to do more to advocate for the ocean and marine life at every opportunity. ‘Protect what you love’ is at the core of Sylvia's work.

A good friend (who I haven't seen in ages, but time and distance does not reduce the love I have for this lady) Fiona Crump has supported action to reduce food poverty. Not only volunteering at the Cornwall food bank, last year when running her cafe business in Falmouth she decided to give away lunches to those in need during the school holidays. She led this initiative from a place of trust being a heart-led leader. I have such admiration for Fiona, she is kind and honest, and a great source of counsel when the mind is muddled. She is a role model for following your passion, problem solving and stepping into a place of action. An extremely authentic individual who I trust implicitly - Fiona inspires me to be fearless in my pursuit of the causes close to my heart.

Julie Starke is another great friend and such an inspiration, an excellent communicator she arrives at any conversation with an energy that is fully present and attentive, warm and seeking to explore and help. Julie is an ideas person and has been at the heart of some amazing and innovative projects not least bringing Blue Mind into a more collective consciousness. A queen of interpreting the zeitgeist and encouraging social and environmental conscience, Julie is observant, articulate and has a sharp sense of humour which is one of the many things I love about her. Above all Julie is one of the most empathic people I know, she celebrates others and lifts them up, she is truly collaborative. Much as Coaches are there to enable and elevate their clients as a creative consultant Julie can often be an unsung hero being exceptionally generous with her support and guidance. Julie inspires me to view the world as connected, to dial my ego down and to be innovative, considerate and connected in the way I approach any challenge.

Essentially... women who have a heart led purpose and are fluid yet tenacious in their pursuit of collective wellbeing seem to deeply inspire me.

5. What are you reading?

Plenty of academic papers at the moment, blue health and neuroscience related, plus some proof reading of a couple of peers books about NLP and coaching. I am re-reading Deep currently by James Nestor because I love the way James writes, his book Breathe is amazing too. I also was clearing out some books recently and got pulled back into re-reading a couple so these are not new but I am loving a book called One Consciousness (an analysis of the comedy of Bill Hicks) by Paul Outhwaite... and The Ocean is Alive (revisioning our relationship with the Ocean) by Glenn Edney.

6. What gender barriers have you had to hurdle?

I haven't experienced a huge amount of these directly I don't believe. Of course I have come across behaviour of others that could be undermining if I allowed it to be (and this has not been limited to a gender dynamic - more a case of individuals). I think my formative years (despite going to an all girls grammar school), felt pretty gender neutral and I was encouraged to be independent, resilient and work hard for the causes I believe in. I'd say this year I came across a couple of situations where I was on the receiving end of actions from others (mainly men) that sought to intimidate and I have had other examples when working in very masculine dominated environments where a guy might speak past me to the other guy assuming "he" was in charge - but I largely found this amusing, the latter being an indicator of either lack of awareness due to social conditioning and the former coming from fear and insecurity.

Whilst not an awful lot phases me, I do often work with females who have felt their voice has been unheard or their potential limited through gender barriers. With these coaching clients I seek to build their sense of self and align their decision making so that they can show up fully in the world and shine a lot more brightly. I like to think of people as individuals, male / female / non binary / however people self define. There is certainly work to do around equality in a much broader sense of course.

7. How can the world be made a better place for women?

Female energy brings with it a high degree of empathy and as a water lover there is a natural fluidity to this. I love spending time with my girl friends and my male friends who have a lot of feminine energy. The opposite is true also, I love coaching guys and women with a lot of masculine energy - imbalance can provoke the most profound conversations and insights.

I have a non-dualistic world view and see that all is understood through contrast. A world without women is thought and consciousness without energy and creation, (for those into Tantric cosmology), or Yang without Yin if Chinese philosophy is your thing.

The world can be made better for ALL (including women) by acknowledging and valuing complementarity, by encouraging greater compassion, by shining a light on those who may not not see their light themselves and recognising that our very nature wills us to be connected and collaborative for the health of ourselves and the planet.

8. Describe your perfect day?

I quite love imperfect days, days that offer a bit of edge, and a chance to learn and grow.

A gentle or super enjoyable day might involve spending some time with wildlife. Perhaps a swim where some seals come and say hi, or a walk at the coast with my hubs Julian and our doggo Goose. The weather can be whatever it is, but the ocean is a given - since the best days involve time in and near wild water. Seven Bays is a very happy place for me - Treyarnon and Constantine Bay particularly.

I enjoy days where I can be of service - so days when called out to help wildlife can be distressing but also rewarding - rare days like successfully refloating a stranded dolphin is always a heart awakening experience - although I'd rather they don't get in trouble of course. But the sense of teamwork and camaraderie is palpable. Running big community beach cleans as an SAS Rep, or recovering massive ghostnets in my role with ghostnetbusters is also something I love doing and a great way to spend a day feeling you have made a difference with like minded and like hearted people.

Pretty much days involving water, wildlife, lovely people and a sense of purpose and service.

9. We've noticed there really aren't many (if any) statues of women around Cornwall - who would you like to see remembered?

Is there a statue of Rowena Cade? She is a bit of a legend for sure and I love how her tenacity created a space for the arts that so beautifully respects and celebrates the nature around it. Her story has so many lessons for women.

10. Give us a tip?

We ARE the environment we inhabit... please look after the ocean.

Lizzi Larbalestier is an award-winning Blue Health Coach and environmental activist based in Perranporth, Cornwall. She created the ICF accredited blue health coach program with Going Coastal Blue, the first and currently only globally recognised professional coaching qualification that puts ocean-centric applied environmental psychology at the very heart. She and her husband received the Blue Mind Award in 2018 for demonstrating devotion to ocean health and marine life.