Last week the Packet gained an exclusive interview with Michael Jay, the owner of Lismore House in Helston, which is up for sale for the first time in 24 years.

In the second of two parts, he talks about his connections with royalty and reveals why part of Lismore's grounds could one day be built on.

Sat in the sunny conservatory overlooking the famous gardens of Lismore in Helston, owner Michael Jay causally dropped the bombshell.

He said since news broke that the property was on the market, people had expressed concern that Lismore could be bought by a developer and built on - something that, in reality, he said was "impossible" due to it being heritage listed.

"Planning permission would never be granted to do anything with Lismore," he said. "I've got to get permission to clip the trees!"

However, what is a very real possibility is that a second large area of it grounds, which many people don't realise exists, hidden as it is behind the gardens seen on Flora Day, could potentially be developed into housing.

Mr Jay revealed: "There is a big garden that you can't see - bigger than this [next to the house] - that leads to Five Wells Lane. It is a lot of land to be just lying there.

"In this time of people explosion and houses going up, it's a bit mean," he said.

When the time does come for him to leave Lismore it will be a big operation, as everything he has collected over the years, from his time abroad in 24 countries working in tourism development, will have to be sold.

"I shall miss the things I've got from different countries, from all over the world. They all have to go," he explained.

They include a fine collection of clocks, music boxes, silverware and Wedgewood, as well as many money-can't-buy artefacts.

Among them are an ancient lamp saved from an Islamic mosque in Zanzibar and the shell of a king turtle, presented to him by Ro Lady Lala Mara, the wife of the Governor-General of Fiji, after he organised a banquet for the Queen 30 years ago.

Falmouth Packet:

The shell of the king turtle, now pride of place in the fireplace of one of Lismore's sitting rooms

He recalls that, on another occasion with royalty, he had organised a big event for Prince Charles in Fiji, which featured a suckling pig.

"I met him afterwards and he said to me, 'You're from Cornwall; you're probably a tenant.' [As Duke of Cornwall, the prince owns the Duchy of Cornwall estate.] I said, 'You don't own all of Cornwall!'

"I thought I would get my own back. He said to me, 'What are you going do with all this food? Especially the wonderful suckling pig.' I said, 'I'll wrap up what's left and you can take it home!'"

Also leaving Lismore when he does will be his "wonderful" housekeeper, Valerie Filbey. She arrives every morning at 9am without fail and leaves at 9pm, running the house in between.

They play cards every day - although in 14 years she has only ever won three games.

"I don't cheat," promised Mr Jay. "She gets very frustrated."

There is much he will miss about living in Cross Street.

"It's very nice to be recognised in the town. People say 'Hello Michael', especially after Flora Day. That's the best bit about being in Helston," he said.

"I used to to be called 'Doreen's brother' [his sister worked for many years for Milne's the dentists in town]. Now they point to her and say, 'That's Michael's sister'," he joked.

He believes Helston is going through a difficult time, like many other Cornish towns, with the economy suffering, high rates and bad parking - although he is confidence it will recover.

And while the town may be in a state of flux, Mr Jay, who plans to move abroad, predicts once thing will remain constant. "Lismore will still be here in 100 years, I'm sure," he said.

"It's been wonderful to be in here. I shall greatly miss it. But there comes a time in everybody's life you say, 'What's around the corner and what will I be like in ten years' time?

"I'm 75 now; I've still got things to do. I haven't got things to see; I've seen everything and got the t-shirt. But I like to be involved in people.

"Somebody once said to me, 'What's the biggest thing I should do Michael?' I said, 'If you go around the world and meet such different kinds of people, cultures and customs, there is one gesture that means the same in every language - and that is the smile.

"I've not met a culture that doesn't understand a smile. I've spent a lot of time smiling and laughing."