My inspiration was my parents and my late partner. They meant so much to me and remind me of happy times. Mum and dad were on honeymoon in their photo. The other photo is of my partner Brian and me, when I was awarded my St. John Ambulance serving sister award at Number 10, the last time we went away. I have lived in Penryn all my life. I was born in my gran’s house and now live in the family home with my brother. I came back after I lost my partner.

In 2005 I was awarded an MBE and given the Saracen Award for services to Penryn. I’m involved with several organisations here and love the community spirit and friendliness of the people. I got involved with this project as a reminder of what Penryn is all about. It was a lovely project and well done to Megan and her team for all their help, and the laughter that was heard in the room. Everyone’s plate is unique and means something to them. It was lovely to get together, and the atmosphere was great.

My plate is to remember this Jubilee week and all the signing I’ve done. I sang the official song for the Commonwealth “A life lived with grace”. The idea was to sing the song at the same time all around the world. I loved that idea and wanted to do it, even though I was nervous. I ended up signing the song five times that week! Monday evening at a history talk, Wednesday at the tea party, Thursday on the Quay for lighting the beacon, Friday at the Mayor’s Ball and Sunday to open the Party in the Park. I was so nervous, my legs were shaking but I did it for the Queen! The design is celebratory, like confetti, with the musical notes representing the song I’ve been singing.

I was born in Penryn, on College Hill, and I now live a few roads along. I love the history, the friendliness of the people, everyone knows everyone. You can’t get away with much here! There’s a great spirit.

I wanted to represent all my family members on the plate. My husband, our four daughters, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. I love plants and flowers. We had a garden where we lived before my husband died and where I live now, I have a balcony with lots of flowers on it. On the top of the apartments where I live is a roof terrace. My neighbour kindly made some troughs and now we both grow our own vegetables up there.

I live in Penryn, I moved here twenty-four years ago because my husband is Cornish. He was born in Padstow and had moved away from Cornwall, but we moved back after he retired. I like the community atmosphere in Penryn, that’s the best thing.

I moved to Cornwall originally because my granddaughter moved here when Dartington College merged with Falmouth University. We had been here before on holiday and loved it. We used to go to Miss Peapods, which I loved. They used to have live music nights and I particularly liked the mixture of ages that would go along.

I decorated a hat for the Jubilee with red, white and blue roses and so that’s the inspiration for the plate. I learnt how to make roses from ribbons in the 60’s.

I have always liked gardening. From a little child going on my father's bike to his allotment, we lived in a city, to my allotment in Caerphilly and now my house here in Penryn, where I grow everything in boxes, pots and bags. I chose to bring herbs as they are small and varied, which I thought they would look good on the shape of the plate.

I thought the idea of making plates was a very clever idea. Plates have been used through the ages to commemorate important events but usually for important people, now ordinary people will have a chance to be remembered. I was a bit worried when I arrived as I am no good at drawing or painting, although I love flower arranging and craft with my hands. However my nervousness was soon gone with the wonderful help and explanations of your ‘helpers’. I really lost myself in what I was doing.

I am not a Ryner, I was born in Cardiff then lived in Caerphilly, before moving to Penryn in 1999. I did however have my daughter and her family living here since 1992, so I was always coming down to Cornwall to see my grandchildren. I like living here in Penryn, the town is not too big so you can get to know many people, the Cornish are like the Welsh, very chatty. It is close to the beaches if you like swimming, and the countryside around is ideal for walking. I have joined several organisations and have a busy life.

My plate is inspired by the Flicka Donkey Sanctuary. I just love donkeys, they rescue them from all over the world from abuse and neglect. I visit whenever I can and I raise money for them. They love ginger nuts so I’ve added a couple in to the plate. I’ve got bags of ginger nuts at home for when I visit.

I’ve lived in Penryn since about 1985. I just love it, the people are friendly, it’s just a lovely place. It’s an old town and I really like the history.

Some of the badges on the plate are from when I was in the Metropolitan Women Police, which no longer exists. This was 1956 to 1969. I had a great time, I was on stage the Beatles, keeping others off, at the Odeon in Walthamstow in the 60’s. The band had to climb over ladders in people’s gardens to get to the venue, there were so many people. In Leicester Square Odeon, Marylin Monroe was at the premier of War of Peace with her husband Arthur Miller. I had to usher her in and when I touched her dress it was like a second skin, green sequinned and so smooth. Another badge represents the WI and one is Windsor Castle where I’m a life member. Most important of all, I’ve included my little rescue dog Sophie who walked me every day through the Covid lock down.

I’ve lived in Penryn for 35 years, since 1986. My brother lived in Falmouth and we used to come down on holidays and just loved it down here.

I’d always wanted to live by the sea. I lived in the midlands, about as far from the sea as you can get. When my husband died, I decided I would move. I moved to St Ives on my own and lived there for three years, it was wonderful. Everyone was amazed when I moved down here, they thought I was mad because I didn’t know anyone. My daughter moved down here after me, then my granddaughter, so we’re all here now. My daughter moved to Penryn so it made sense to move from St Ives to Penryn when my lease was up.

When I moved to Penryn, I joined the WI to meet people and I’ve been a member for five or six years now, we all laugh so much and have gorgeous cakes!

I’ve always loved the sea so I’ve used shells to decorate my plate. These are shells I’ve collected on holiday in Portugal. If you look closely at them, they are so beautiful and delicate. One of them, it looks like the sun and the shading is so incredible. They reminded me of the sea but are also incredibly beautiful.

I used to be in the operatic society, I was a top soprano. The bagpipes are for my son who lives in Scotland. I was a great knitter until I got arthritis. The ring is a ‘keeper ring’, it was my great granny’s. And in the middle is Jessie, my lovely rescue dog.

I’m from Falmouth, I’ve lived in Penryn 50 years. I like everything about Penryn, my husband Peter Welch, was the mayor of Penryn. He met Prince Charles when he was deputy mayor 50 years ago, down at the Quay.

I am surrounded by seagulls at home, so they became the main inspiration.

It’s a fabulous idea to make plates and I enjoyed the workshop and flexibility of approach. I enjoyed doing something different, knowing lots of other people from the community would take part.

The design for my plate was inspired by a family photo that was taken when I was younger. It's an important photo to me as my Grandma and Grandad are in the photo, and they both sadly passed away. When I was asked to bring a photo or object with me to the project that was special to me, it was the first thing that I thought of. Having moved away from home to come to University in Falmouth, I think family is more important than ever to me.

I wanted to take part in the workshop because I wanted to meet some more of the residents of Penryn and learn about their lives. Sometimes it feels like I exist in a student bubble and don't interact much with the wider community. I loved speaking to the other participants, seeing the objects and photos that they had brought with them and learning a little about their long lives.

I lived in Falmouth and Penryn for nearly three years now. I've always felt very welcome and safe and have absolutely loved living here. I love the mix of creativity and nautical history - which I have tried my best to learn about.

My plate represents Penryn Buzz, which I’m really proud of, and the Town Hall which is also the Museum where I volunteer, so the items on the plate really reflect me. The dates mark the founding of the town to the present day.

The flowers are borage and sunflowers which are great pollinators. Penryn Buzz started back in 2014, the inspiration came from a young student, Charlotte Rankin, from Exeter University. We got talking at the café where I used to go and she said she wanted to do something for the town related to her studies around the environment. I suggested: if you want a project, we’ve got five sites around the town you could plant up and turn into a pollinating centre. Not only did she do it, but she got her friends involved and raised the money for the plants too, and that’s how it started.

It’s all volunteers and now we get people contacting us for help with their own projects. Penryn Buzz now has 730 members on Facebook from New Zealand, America and the Netherlands and all across the UK, which encourages them to do the same thing in their own towns as we’ve done here. The memorial garden is the crowning glory, with a tremendous number of pollinating plants there. This year, we’ve managed to create a pollinating corridor all the way through the town.

I was born in Falmouth. I lived at Old Hill, and it was easier to go down the hill to Penryn on my bike to play in the valley than it was to go up! I went away to the army for six years and then I returned to Penryn and have been here ever since. I was a postman, joined in 1965 when I came out the army. In 1972 I took over the Anchor Pub which used to be on Quay Hill. In 2015 I got elected to the Town Council and was Mayor in 2019.

I love Penryn, even though I was born in Falmouth, because in Penryn you’re always given a chance. If you’re prepared to get on and do something, then the town will support you. The community spirit is amazing.

I’ve been involved in music all my life as a pianist, church organist and chorister, playing and singing in the Falmouth and Penryn Methodist churches as well as lots of other places. I was a mechanical engineer working in a machine shop – a workshop where we made and repaired all sorts of items for shipyards, boats, mines and even farming equipment. I used to own motorbikes from the age of 18 for 45 years, this is a Honda CBF250, by last bike.

I was born in Falmouth and married a Penryn girl. We lived in Falmouth and then moved to Penryn three years ago. I enjoy living in Penryn, everyone’s friendly.

The Buddha image on my plate is a photo of a large, bronze Buddha that sits in the shrine room of Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery, Redwood Valley, Northern California, near where I used to live. It is a copy of a 7th century Buddha from the temple complex at Borobudur, on the island of Java, Indonesia. I am a lay member of Abhayagiri Monastery, and this statue reminds me of my spiritual home. “Abhayagiri” means “Fearless Mountain”, and the Buddha has his empty right hand raised in a gesture of peace, the “Abhaya” mudra: he is unarmed, and there is nothing to fear. In these troubling times, may we be at peace, with goodwill towards all beings.

The inspiration for the design is the importance of activity for wellbeing and health, and of course family also plays an important part. But for people who may not have family, any group you go to can also support you and provide a sense of belonging.

I’ve lived in Cornwall for 39 years since moving down with my husband who was in the Royal Navy. We then retired down here. I think Cornwall is heaven on earth! The beauty of the countryside and the light is amazing.

Following lockdown, I think a lot of us have still been feeling quite low. So being able to come along to the workshop was really wonderful. It was such a joy to do something I’ve never down before, I always like to try new things. With my dementia, it’s so important and such a support to do creative activities.

I thought immediately I’d like to take part and what came to mind was to make a cake plate. Blue is my favourite colour and I’m known for having many shades of blue at home and in what I wear. Whenever we have a celebration in my family it’s all about the cake and what we’re going to do and eat, rather than what we’re going to wear. My son is a really good cook and my daughters are into baking. My son often decides to come down from Exeter to see me and there is always cake available, even if it has to be quickly defrosted!

I’ve been in Cornwall since 1984 and moved to Penryn four years ago and joined the Chapel and the WI. Penryn is such a friendly town, my daughter lives in Falmouth and not being a driver it’s great to be so connected with the public transport.

Eli was one of the project helpers who volunteered to help us at the workshops. He is a Graphic Design student at Falmouth University. He said that he wanted his plate to commemorate all the celebrations happening the week of the Jubilee.

My plate was inspired by the unique flora and fauna of Cornwall. I really feel in love with the gardens in Falmouth and Penryn when I moved here to study and I wanted to reflect these in my design. Similarly, my interest in nature was how I met some of my best friends here, most of whom study zoology at Penryn and who have joined me in running the Student bee society on Penryn campus. I wanted to celebrate both of these in my design.

I really wanted to take part in the project as a way of connecting with and meeting some of the wider community. I wasn't able to do much in first year due to the pandemic and this was a lovely opportunity to meet some new people. I really enjoyed talking to the older people there and listening to their stories.

I've only lived in the area for two years as I'm just a student but I've really enjoyed the sense of independence an be freedom I get from exploring it's incredible coastline. I met a lot of my best friends while rockpooling in the area and so the beaches are really special to me.

I thought I’d draw these flowers as this is how I was taught to draw flowers in school. [referring to Keith’s plate] Keith and I travelled all over Cornwall on the bike in the 50s, just setting off for the day not knowing where we’d end up. There’s six generations in his family play rugby for Penryn. Keith and I are the first husband and wife to be life members of the rugby club.

When I began this design I was hoping to encapsulate all aspects of myself within my drawings, from the places that I hold close to my heart, the people who are my world, and the music and literature I have and will always adore; all the little things that pepper my life and have made me who I am today.

When asked if I wanted to take part in such a project I truly jumped at the opportunity wherein I could exert some creativity, meet some lovely people and hear about their designs and see them take shape, but also celebrate the Jubilee itself for a woman who has devoted her life to the service of this country. I was born and bred in Cornwall and Cornwall will forever hold a place in my heart, and it was beyond lovely to leave the project not only with a plate to remember this all by (can you believe how lovely they all came out?!) but with a new perspective of all the characters that make this county and this community what they are.

These are our three grandsons, who live in York: Harry, Oscar and Joseph. This photo was taken last Christmas. It was difficult not being able to see them during Covid, but at least we could see them online.

I was born and brought up in Penryn, moved to Falmouth when I got married, then came back three years ago. I’ve always felt it was my home. I like the history of Penryn and the friendliness of everyone.

I’m a Penryn Town Councillor and former Mayor of Penryn. I’m Chair of the museum and one of the Memory Café organisers. I lived in Africa many years ago and fell in love with elephants. I really enjoyed the creative experience of the workshop and was really surprised at all the different designs. It was good fun.

I've been living in Falmouth for three years doing a BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art at Falmouth University. While creating my plate, I wanted to work in a process led way without thinking too much about the final design. I used all bright colours so that the plate was a celebration of me finishing my degree and my time spent in Falmouth.

I took part in this workshop because I wanted to help people realise their designs and wanted to get to know more of the Falmouth and Penryn community. I had an excellent time getting to know people over 70, learning about their families and lives and finding things in common with them, like a love of baking and flowers. It was a great experience to have and really created a strong sense of community for me, I'd do it again in a heart beat!

I’ve written a poem:

Know that you are welcome when you step onto the pavement, Taking you up into the beautiful old town of Penryn.
For years the kindly folk who live hereabout have made newcomers welcome,
And with joy have introduced them to all that this ancient town offers to its people.

Heather worked with Fine Art graduate Hannah Purshouse to realise her plate design.

It’s all about family, the photo of me with my mum and dad is one my daughter gave us all at my dad’s funeral. The other is my four girls and stepson at my third eldest’s graduation. The dogs are Alfie and Ziggy, Alfie is no longer with us, but made it to the grand old age of 16.

We moved to Penryn 21 years ago from Buckinghamshire, we used to come on holiday and had our honeymoon here and then decided to move. It’s been an amazing upbringing for the girls. I love the community. I’m part of the Christmas Lights team, they call us Mr and Mrs Christmas! We got the Saracen’s award for doing the Christmas Lights over the past 20 years.

I moved to Falmouth last year for university so unlike some of the other workshop participants, I didn’t have many mementos of my time here. I’m a big fan of colour so knew that I wanted my plate to be bright and colourful! I love the combination of yellow, blue and pink together so chose those colours for my plate. I included the title of the project onto the plate, I like the idea that I can look back on it in the future and be reminded of the lovely workshops I took part in. I also added a little crown to incorporate a bit more of the jubilee.

I have been lucky enough to have weekly workshops at Grays Wharf gallery for the last couple of months and have loved them! When Megan mentioned the opportunity to take part in some workshops with others from the local community I was keen to get involved. I really enjoyed meeting other people from the community. It was lovely hearing the stories from some of the older folk about their experiences growing up in Falmouth and Penryn! I loved seeing the photographs they had bought along and seeing how the area had changed.

I moved down to Falmouth for university it 2020. It was an interesting time to move down due to COVID and I was in isolation/restriction times for most of my first year. Since regulations have started lifting I’ve loved exploring the area more. It’s such a fantastic place to live. I haven’t been to Penryn much due to being on the Falmouth campus, but from the people I met and the stories I was told, Penryn seem to have such a lovely sense of community which was so nice to see.

by Katie Bunnell

I designed this plate with art direction from my husband, Jeremy who was three in 1952.

The design features his profile full of the profiles of his six children - he is carrying them in his head. They are drawn out in different colours, and each of them has colour taken from all of the others. Positioning the smaller profiles inside his larger profile made me think about 1950's surface pattern designs that reference scientific cell structures and that informed my drawing.

Jeremy's comment on having six children filling his head in this design is cryptic and intriguing:

"I am seeking to make permanent my contribution to our common heritage in a way that the Queen does, but my actual father didn’t."

Jeremy has lived in Falmouth for more than 30 years and has a shed in Penryn.

When we recently moved to our current house we went from having a small courtyard garden to a huge garden, which has been a new challenge for us. My plate design symbolises the plants taking over :)

We moved to Penryn two years ago after 19 years in Falmouth. I love living here, being close to rural landscape, the sea and yet there is so much going on culturally, and within the local community.

I have a background in ceramics so love any project to do with plates. I am looking forward to seeing the designs all together, as I helped at a couple of the workshops and I loved the breadth of approach, and the different personal stories behind each design.

Giving some thought and having been given silhouettes of my photograph I wanted to use myself in something to, perhaps, hand on to the family. I tried for a Red, White and Blue theme using colours as close to these as were available.

With my connections to Penryn and Penryn Memory Cafe I enjoy trying to help maintain as much community spirit within the Town.

I moved to Penryn in 1990 and my wife joined me here in 1995.

I first became involved in 1999 on joining the Rotary Club of Penryn holding several posts within the organisation the best being Youth Chair for Cornwall. Working closely with Penryn Primary School and Penryn College, where I formed an Interact Club (Junior Rotary Club) the high point being when we won the Rotary European Youth Challenge for our fund-raising projects.

10 years ago I was appointed the Penryn Town Crier. A post which puts me out among people and allowing for much interaction.

My plate represents 40 years hairdressing, the family tree, flowers, the love of my family and nature and my time in Crete. We wanted to put are memories on a plate to celebrate our lives and returning to our beloved Cornwall and family.

Basically I love the sea. I moved here three years ago and I love the sea and the colour blue. I love to just go down to the beach to chill and relax.

My husband was born in Falmouth. I’m from Essex and we met on a cruise ship, so the sea is very important to our lives. I’ve got very involved in the Penryn community. I’m in the Penryn Camera Club and I help with the community craft group which meets at St Gluvias Hall on a Monday.

The forget-me-nots are for our singing group, we just formed last October and we meet every other week or so. We performed for the Jubilee celebrations, we’ve sung in the Methodist Church, for pensioners groups and the Penryn Memory Café. The rose is there because I love roses, I’ve got 22 varieties in the the garden, I do the arrangements for the Church and I did my children’s weddings. The photograph is my three grandchildren who live down here.

I was born in Penryn. RIP, reared in Penryn, we say. That’s what will be on our gravestones! I love the community really, you can walk down the street and always see someone to talk to. I’m very involved with St Gluvias Church and I’m a member of the WI and the Federation.

My design combines my profile with my son Tommie's profile. Where they overlap in the middle there's a bit of a mash up.

I was pleased when Tommie offered to help with a couple of My Jubilee workshops. He's 19 and a real people person. A workshop session with 10 or so participants is fun, busy and intense with people's individual stories. As a child Tommie would often mirror my mood so I was curious to see how working together would be for us. Afterwards, I asked if he had enjoyed it and if he'd noticed I was a bit stressed. "Yes, Mum" he replied, "but that's just because I know you so well, everyone else was oblivious. They were having fun!"

I am a ceramic artist and have lived in Falmouth for 23 years with a brief stay in Penryn in 2010/11. I worked in the Academy of Innovation and Research at Falmouth University where I explored ways of bringing digital technologies and craft practices together. I now work from my studio at Grays Wharf. The arts and crafts are a key part of the really vibrant creative culture of Cornwall, Falmouth and Penryn and I love being part of that.

I have wanted to do a community plate design project for some time. The happy co-incidence of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and Megan’s interest in developing community arts in Penryn made it possible for us to design a project, get the funding and get on with it! It’s fantastic working with Megan and all the participants and helpers and we’ve made a great collection of plates – “splann” as they say in Cornish!

I drew a warm sunshine with fronds of plants and long grasses extending along the edges, in many bright colours, to symbolise my hope for future learning and growth, and gratitude for the nourishing web of support and relationships I have around me. While drawing I thought about moments swimming underwater and looking at all the moving seaweeds, peering at unknown creatures on the coast path, pausing to listen to birdsong and precious conversations with loved ones. Being in the moment, enjoying every minute!

I first came to Falmouth for my art foundation in 2003 and I moved back to live here about 7 years ago. I like the buzz from all the local venues and art students, and down at the boatyard where I live and work where there’s a real sense of community. I like the nearby muddy creek walks, and swimming when it’s flat calm and crystal clear at Gylly.

It was lovely to take the time out and sit for a while drawing and chatting with everyone. I was one of the last people to make a plate, so it was amazing to look at all the drawings everyone had done — such a variety of mark making and beautiful stories.

I’ve lived in Penryn and Falmouth all my life, 83 year. I’m really James Lewis McCabe, but everyone calls me Lewis. I worked in M&S in Falmouth for 28 year. My father was a joiner at Falmouth docks, he’d moved down from Newcastle for work during the depression.

I used to live up College Valley, near the waterworks. I would walk down through the valley and back to Penryn every day. Me and my friends used to climb up the bank onto the viaduct. We’d put our ear to the rail and listen for a train coming. If there was one coming, we’d run like hell!

This Jubilee is the third time I’ve been Queen for Penryn. It started off when I was 23 in 1963, when I was the carnival Queen chosen by the judge from Culdrose air station. The second time was six year ago, for the Duke of Gloucester’s visit, all the kids came down which was lovely. In 2022 it was for the 70-year Jubilee, we came in on the boat and landed on the Quay for the celebrations. Luckily it was a calm day, though the pontoon was wobbling about.

I was born in 1940 over Glasney and I’ve lived in Penryn all my life. We were bombed during the war and moved to Falmouth for a couple of year and then came back to the same house again. I left there when I got married at 23 and lived in the Square, in a top floor flat. From there we went to Morecombes Row, and from there to where I am now on Permarin Road. I’ve been there 52 year, I shan’t move again now.

This is a photo from my wedding to my husband Roy. I met Roy in Portsmouth in 1961 when I only 16 and then we were married in 1964, he was in the Navy. The cross is the first gift he ever gave me. He loved his boats, we had about 50 boats over the years moored in Penryn River. We travelled all over in them, as far as the Manacles. This is one of the models he made, he made lots over the years, he had a lovely life bless him.

I’ve lived in Penryn all my life. I was born on Chapel Lane in 1944, in a house built in the 1700s. We had eight grandchildren. I used to go to school in the building we’re in now, when it was the infant school. I used to look over the wall when I was very small, I just lived a few houses up, and the teacher would say I wasn’t old enough to come yet.

I’m on the Town Council now and part of the Federation and the Forget-me-not signers too. Being born and bred here, I grew up with the people, all my friends and family, and so I know lots of people here. Lots of them are widows now, it’s hard but life goes on.

My plate represents the WI. I’ve lived in Cornwall since 1972 and have been a member of WI for over 30 years. I was President for seven years and Treasurer for eleven years before that. I enjoy the friendship of the WI, I’ve made a number of good friends over the years. I’ve lived in Penryn for 27 years and find the community here really friendly.

Penryn is where I live, and I have represented the town and residents for some 30 years plus as both a Town and County Councillor. With the Penryn Week and Fair Day committee (now known as the Events Committee), I organise the events in the town. Over the years I have also been the Mayor.

The design for my plate is all about life!

I wanted to bring together the different places I have lived: I grew up in Belfast, lived in London for 17 years and then moved to Cornwall in 2014. I love living in Cornwall and particularly Penryn where people are so friendly and welcoming.

Running Grays Wharf means I get to meet and work with lots of brilliant local groups and artists. It’s been fantastic working with Katie on this project and I’ve so enjoyed talking to everyone who took part and hearing about their plate designs and their lives. It’s been a real privilege to record everyone’s stories and I can’t wait to see all the plates together. I think they’re going to be a very special collection.

My jubilee plate was inspired by my time in Cornwall whilst studying at Uni. I absolutely love the different flowers around Cornwall, I aimed to incorporate that into my design. I made symbols from images of flowers that I had taken on my phone.

My Family who continue to be a great joy. They are all full of life, interesting and caring and hopefully they will appreciate being chosen as the design.

I thought it was a great idea to mark the Platinum Jubilee of the Queen. Let’s face it, it is a remarkable achievement and Queen Elizabeth II has achieved it with a very delicate touch, and with humour. A plate is for many a sign of coming together and sharing a meal and conversation in a family and the wider community. So an ideal object not only for Penryn but the wider world community as well.

Great project - not only did I learn a lot doing it - it certainly focussed my mind. I enjoyed meeting the students and seeing young talent and ideas - so thank you so much for asking me to get involved. It was also good to meet some of the other 70’s involved.

I’m looking forward to the exhibition.

I wanted my plate to be a record of all the places that have been a home for me and my family. I asked my sons to pick one thing that reminds them of each place. The blue horse is the one object that they said "if it’s there, it’s home!"

I moved to Falmouth from the North Coast 8 years ago when my sons left home, to live in a town that had a creative community with lots of things going on. I run a shop on the High street and I love being part of such a strong, supportive, vibrant community. I love Falmouth's connection to the sea and feel incredibly lucky to live here. I loved making my plate, I’m a director at Grays Wharf so it was fantastic to be able to take part in one of the workshops!

I do a lot of walking alone and sometimes with a group of people. Sometimes I go off on my own and just walk where my legs take me. We often walk from Helston to Porthleven, we’ve walked to Wheal Dream and back to Penryn before and round Helford Passage, to Restronguet, Mawnan Smith and back, around the Lizard, all over really. I like my walking and I love my cream teas, very often we’ve combined them! We thought the giant scone looked a bit like a cliff, so put the walking boots on the top. We’ve also got the boats and the outline of Porthleven Harbour, as we often go there.

I was born in Mabe, brought up in Falmouth. My family moved to the midlands when I was eleven, I hated it as I moved away from all my friends just when I was going to start my secondary education. I always wanted to come back but it was impossible because of work. It was my late 30’s when I managed to get a transfer and move back home, where I’ve been ever since.

My plate celebrates the Penryn WI, which I’ve been a member of since 2015, I’m currently the Secretary. When I moved down here it was a way of meeting people and making friends. To celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee, we planted a tree as part of the Queen’s Green canopy in Trelawney Park and I knitted Whinnie, the corgi. We drink a lot of tea, eat a lot of cake!

I’ve lived in Penryn since 2014, it’s a very friendly and welcoming place. I was brought up in west London, Notting Hill and Ladbroke Grove.

Peter worked in boat building, he built & lived aboard his boat in the 70s. He had a clock workshop in the high St,& the wharf in Falmouth in the 80s, making handmade wooden clocks, (small to grandfather). Lived in Falmouth for 20yrs, Lived on Crete 4yrs, Somerset 7yrs, Back Cornwall, Penryn for 10yrs. We wanted to put are memories on a plate to celebrate are lives & returning to our beloved Cornwall & family.

I have been working a lot with nature recently and so incorporated leaves in my design. I have lived in Penryn for about 5 years and love how vibrant the town can be. It’s a joy to see an increase in artistic activities that engage the community through Grays Wharf, helping new connections between members of the community who otherwise wouldn’t have met.

I love the freedom of a caravan. We had our first one in 1972. I’ve still got this touring caravan and used to travel all around the south of England. We used to come down to Cornwall a lot and went to the Isle of White.

I’ve lived in Falmouth since 1971 and I’m still there. It’s magical here, I go on long walks every day. I do more walking now because just over two years ago I lost my wife. It was a hard time but I found that walking has helped me tremendously. I can’t sit still for very long. I normally walk down to Swanpool, along to Gylly and sometimes right around to the castle and back again. It keeps me fit as well.

My images represent Cornwall, where I lived for over 30 years. The walking boots and arrow represents Santiago de Compostela where I walked the Camino a few years ago, as well as my walking all over Cornwall. I play the Ukulele, not very well, and we enjoy a drink as we watch the cricket!

The plate is all my loves in Penryn through the years starting with my flowers and insects. I used to work as an auxiliary [teaching assistant] in the late 70’s. I was at the infant school on the Terrace where Audierne is now. This is how we used to draw insects and flowers for the children.

It also shows my love of the Penryn Methodist Church which I’ve been connected with all my life. I was caretaker for 34 years and I lived next door on the Terrace for 17 years. And of course the love of my family, my late husband Roy who we lost 19 year ago, my son Mark and my daughter in law Carol and my grandchildren Kieran and Bethany. Mainly it is my real love for Penryn and the people.

I’ve lived in Penryn my whole life: born on West Street, when I got married I moved to St Gluvias Street for 20 years, then the Terrance for 17 years and just before Roy died we moved to Saracen Way. I’ve been there ever since, and there I’ll stay I think. I’m delighted to be part of the project and I really enjoyed the workshop.

I thought about key things in my life important to me. Where you live and who you love come together in Penryn. This included David Bowie who maybe did not ever drink in the Seven Stars but did have a keen interest in Cornish Artists such as Peter Lanyon. The stars also refer to my 3 children.

I have lived in this amazing town for 11 years where I work as an artist with my wife as part of a company called Small Acts. Penryn and its people and history inspire a sense of community that goes to the heart of our projects.

It is fascinating to be invited to make a souvenir of your own life when commemorative plates are more often dedicated to kings and queens. It reminds us that we are also part of and makers of history.

I chose my mum and dad ‘cause they gave me life. I chose my husband ‘cause he gave me my children. I love flowers, my nickname is ‘Queen Bee’.

I was born in a cottage in Penryn and I now live just outside of Penryn in Bissom, where I’ve lived most of my life.

I enjoyed that day of the workshop so much. I had a wonderful morning, thank you so much for that, the young lady that helped me [Hannah Purshouse] she was wonderful.

I’ve spent the last six years living in Cornwall, but before that I lived in Australia and I wanted to feature natural elements which I find particularly evocative of both of these places which I love so much. The Foxgloves and Chough represents Cornwall, and the Waratah and the Kangaroo represent Australia – and between them are lots of Ferns which seem to grow in abundance in both places.

My inspiration for my plate design was the hill that I see across the valley from my home in Penryn. It is a never-ending visual delight as birds swoop, deer graze and shadows made by the trees change throughout the day. I love the blue haze that appears as bluebells grow and the bright greens of summer that take over from dusty browns of autumn and winter. This view is the first thing I check when I open the blinds in the morning and the last that I see at night and I love it.

I have lived in Penryn for 5 years with my family. The 'My Jubilee' plate project was exciting to be part of and designing a commemorative plate was a first for me.

This photo was taken on the day I got engaged, in 1965. We both got a week off work to celebrate our engagement and travelled all over: York, London, Liverpool. We went to see the Beatles in Liverpool that week, it was great. I’ve always liked shoes and handbags, when I was younger I would try to match the handbags, shoes and gloves.

I’ve been in the WI for around 7 years and been in Cornwall 32 years.

I’ve only lived in Cornwall for two years, but it’s been two of the best years of my life. I come to visit my cousin Karen in Penryn.

My plate is all about alternative ways of living; living out in nature. I love the space and freedom in Cornwall and the people, the nature. I love to be amongst the greenery rather than the sea. I especially love Bodmin Moor and the sense of freedom up there.

I wanted to include the words 'love more, fear less' on my plate as I have long been involved in community development work and conflict resolution, at times with HRH Queen Elizabeth as the patron of the work I have done! I have no doubt that Her Majesty would endorse this message of peace. Often, conflict is borne out of fear of others and I am keen to bring people together in Penryn, recognising our shared values rather than our differences.

I have lived in Penryn for nearly 10 years - longer than I have ever lived anywhere else! I feel passionate about calling Penryn my home as I chose to live here and raise my children here. They will always feel connected to Penryn as well as they have grown up here. I love the variety and spark in Penryn. Fiercely proud locals jostle alongside visiting professors at the post office, artists carve a living in ancient, glorious houses that once were home to ship's captains and flower sellers. We have incredible views that change constantly, ancient woodland with twisting boughs and wild orchids, music and art around every corner and so much potential! Penryn has not been dominated by high street brands, meaning we have an opportunity to celebrate our incredible history and diversity through embracing the different demographics in our vibrant and special town and creating our own, fluid and vibrant Penryn identity.

I was honoured to be asked as I do not cross paths much with the other participants - some of whom were worried about me as an 'incomer'. I loved hearing the other painters share their stories and hope that more opportunities can be created for different groups of people to come together in art.

by Megan Beck

I made this plate for our friend Toby who really sadly died in January 2022, he was only 40. Toby was a talented Architect, an inspiring architecture tutor at Falmouth University and also an intrepid sea-kayaker who set himself the brilliant challenge of kayaking in all the Shipping Forecast regions. He made a series of beautiful drawings of his garden and I’ve incorporated one into the plate. The map of the Shipping Forecast is inside his head and St Anthony’s lighthouse is in the background. Toby asked for his ashes to be scattered in the sea near the lighthouse.

Toby moved to Flushing in 2019 and he definitely made the most of living here, whenever the pandemic allowed. He came to every single Grays Wharf exhibition and he would have loved to get involved in this project and make his own plate - it would have been brilliant! We all really miss him.

My plate is a reflection of some different stages and places of my life. There is the council building from Nottingham, a bucket hat representing my time in Manchester as a student, an architectural project and something to represent my current life in Cornwall. I was inspired by attempting to bring these different chapters of my life together.

I think the project is a fantastic idea that brings together so many interesting people and their histories. I’m really looking forward to seeing all the plates together and trying to interpret the stories they tell. The thing I most enjoyed about the workshop was meeting all the interesting participants and seeing their different approaches to their plate designs.

I moved to Cornwall in 2014 and have fallen in love with the place. I love the sea and can’t really understand why I didn’t live here before! I live in Penryn so to see the plates that will represent the different characters that Penryn is made up of will be a joy.

This is our first summer as a family with our 7-month-old son. We spend a lot of time in our garden from which you can see Penryn's clock tower, very useful for checking the time!

I lived in Falmouth as a student, moved away and came back to Penryn 6 years ago. I like being part of the friendly community of Penryn and Falmouth.

I took part as I wanted to contribute to a community project. I very much enjoyed hearing other participants stories about themselves and Penryn and seeing these translated onto the plates.

I’ve always been quite creative and very keen to draw but always felt restricted by not being able to draw very well or precisely but recently I’ve come to realise that it’s important to be imprecise and free with drawing and that’s what makes it fun so that’s what I did here I had an idea and I went a bit mad with it but I had fun and that’s what mattered.

I grew up in Falmouth and recently moved to university in Bristol and although I love Bristol Falmouth will always have a place in my heart. I miss the sea too much!

Well I volunteered to help my mum (Katie) and Megan facilitate two workshops. I got chance to both make my own plate and help the other people with there’s and I enjoyed both equally it was just as fun helping and chatting to older participants as It was designing my own plate.

I’ve been going to the Isles of Scilly since I was about two and I was 70 this year. Every year we go to the islands, we have our photo taken on the corner in St Martins. My parents always had their photo taken there, then me and now my grandchildren and great grandchildren, so four generations now! It’s our favourite corner on the island.

I moved here 40 years ago with my husband’s job and stayed, we’re in the same house up by the blue bridge overlooking the railway. I’m involved in the community and I’m president of Penryn WI and chairman of Mabe garden club. There’s no other place like Penryn. I always say to visitors, when you walk you walk down the street. I always say, look up, every single rooftop is different. It’s a very old, ancient borough and it’s great when the architecture is preserved. We’re very lucky to live in a community.

India and I worked together with Wendy to design this plate for Wendy’s sister Val as she was unable to come to the workshop. Wendy had brought along a beautiful old family photo album which included a picture of Wendy, Val and all their other siblings sitting in the sunshine in their swimmers against the quay wall at the beach in Flushing.

India carefully made a tracing from the photo and I cut out Val’s profile in a few different colours and arranged them on top of India’s drawing to echo Wendy’s design. While we were working Wendy shared memories about how they used to go quay jumping at Flushing and Tommie, my 19 year old son who was helping out said how much he loved to go quay jumping there too! It was a lovely moment of shared enjoyment of the same activity in the same place across time.

I’ve chosen the flowers which represent England, Scotland and Wales: the rose, thistle and daffodil. I’ve recently moved to Falmouth to be nearer to my daughter and her family. Although I miss my friends in Folkestone, I’m closer to the family and my grandchildren now, Harry and Rose. I wanted to get involved in this project as it’s nice to meet new people and be part of the project.

This is a photo of my family on a day out on Flushing beach. We used to go over on the ferry from Falmouth and we would jump off the pier. My mum, Vera was amazing, she had her hands full with all of us! She was never unkind in any way and was always wanting to do things for other people.

We lived on St Thomas Street in Penryn and we still all live in Penryn. We’ve made a second version of the plate using my sister Val’s profile, so she can have one too.

Flowers bring me back to when I lived at home with my parents. It’s nice to be with people and meet new people and be happy. I’ve coming to the Memory Café for a few years now. When I was younger I had cats, one called Ginger, one called Tom and the other was called Floyd. I live in Falmouth, I was born and bred in Cornwall. I make work at a studio in Krowji very Thursday when I can. I do different things there, painting drawing, printing. Drawing keeps me happy and active as well. I had an exhibition of my work here last September and recently another one where I made seaweed and bats from clay.

This represents my husband, Ron, who drove the Truorian coach all over the world. He was born in Bangladesh and moved to Penryn when he was six.

I’m from Carmenellis but I’ve lived in Penryn for 60 years, in Bissom. My window looks straight out over the river, and over fields with cows the other way. I used to work on the ships as a machinist, repairing the lifejackets when they needed it, I had to repair a whole ships-worth once. I volunteer at the Town Museum, so I know a lot about the history of Penryn. People say I should write a book, but I say: “I can’t as they’re all still alive!”.