After a quiet August, September has been a busy month for members. Events included a hilarious lunch at the Lowenac Hotel in Camborne, a social and games afternoon, a craft evening and providing tea and cakes for the Thursday Club.

At the monthly meeting president Lesley Lewis updated the meeting about the preparations for the Centenary Baton’s arrival in Helston in February next year. Lee Eggle, Faith Jones and Jill Blunn won many prizes at Helston Harvest Fair and Faith won three cups for Best in Section for Flowers, Fruit and Cooking. The Monthly Competition was won by Diane Lynes, Jill Hetherington came second. The winners of the Flower of the Month Competition: 1, Beryl Shaw; 2, Carol Padgeth; 3, Faith Jones.

The speaker was Gill Joyce who gave a talk on Memories of an Island Home. In 1930 Stanley Ager from London and Barbara from Newcastle arrived at St Michael’s Mount to work as butler and parlour maid. They fell in love and secretly married, in 1932, in Penzance. As there was a strict rule about men and women mixing, women slept in a different block to the men and the housekeeper kept a strict eye on the female staff. The only time they could spend together was at the Friday night dance at the Winter Gardens in Penzance.

In 1935 they left St Michael’s Mount to live and work in Edinburgh where they were able to live as husband and wife. Gill was born a year later and, a few years later, her sister Brenda.

In 1947 Lord St Leverne contacted Stanley to ask if he would return to St Michael’s Mount to work as the butler and the family moved to Cornwall. After the war there was fewer staff then when Stanley had worked there previously. Their home was above the laundry, which is now the cafe. The Americans had billeted at The Mount during the war so the place was a mess.

Gill had to learn about the tides, when the Causeway was closed duty boats left at specific times to go to the mainland. When travelling to school on the mainland they had to dress for the weather and change into school uniform in The Godolphin pub. The boatmen and gardeners lived at Marazion.

After retirement, her father, with Fiona St Aubyn, wrote a book title “Ager’s Way” about the skills of a butler. This book is now back in print and was consulted by Julian Fellowes when producing Downton Abbey. She entertained the audience with many stories of her happy childhood there and details of the lives of the hardworking staff.

The Harvest Supper and Auction of produce donated by members raised £137 for Cornwall Air Ambulance.