Theft of Monies from Morrab Library and Church Charities in Penzance

by admin | Mar 17, 2015 | Morrab Library

With reference to the article in The Cornishman, 12.03.15, concerning the theft of monies from four charities.

One of those charities is Morrab Library, Morrab Gardens, Penzance – an independent subscription library, one of only 45 in the UK.

The Cornishman reported that our Honorary Treasurer had stolen £17,900 from Morrab Library – the only comment referring to the Library in the account of the hearing at Truro Crown Court, which took place on Friday 6th March 2015.

The Management Committee of Morrab Library would like its members, which number nearly 600, and the general public to know that we have received a cheque from Barclays Bank to the value of £62,049.32, refunded to our account, to its original position prior to the confirmed fraud, with their sincere apologies on September 10th 2014.

The Management Committee worked very closely with the Devon and Cornwall Economic Crime Unit (ECU) from October 2013 until the end of 2014, with their investigation of our Honorary Treasurer, who was elected to this position in March 2005 and dismissed in 2013. He was, as reported, sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to eight charges. A financial investigation will now be carried out and he will face a Confiscation Order under the Proceeds of Crime Act, to try to recoup some of the money stolen.

From the Library’s point of view we are disappointed and upset at the sentence as we consider this a gross betrayal of trust by the Honorary Treasurer – a volunteer to the Library and its Management Committee, who are all volunteers. This Library has been in existence since the early 1800s and depends on volunteers – from Management to the daily work in the Library, ranging from desk work, fund-raising, meeting and greeting members, private research queries and working in the Photographic Archive.

Having made ourselves as financially stable as possible, with new security measures in place, plus support from the Myner and Tanner Trusts, we feel that the Library can now only progress into the future. We have received many personal donations, mostly anonymous, over the past few months.

We have some 55,000 books, both fiction and non-fiction, most of which can be borrowed by members, and we offer a day rate for non-members to come and use the Library. Our Photo Archive Room, newly built and with new digital equipment, has made us one of the most sophisticated photographic archival units in the county. We are in the process of re-cataloguing and digitally scanning all of the 14,000 images in our collection with our present long term team of volunteers but also with seven new volunteers being trained. Our new Art Room, with a fine and varied number of books, is also proving very popular.

We also have a Newspaper Archive Room holding early newspaper copies, including The Cornishman and West Briton dating from 1815, in our basement archive.

The Borlase, Tremenheere and Dawson archives, containing 13 portfolios of Napoleonic prints, are also available for research.

Our membership fee is £25 per annum but we do offer Life and Group membership and daily fees for visitors – details available by contacting Annabelle Read at the Library in person, or by phone 01736 364474. We welcome new members and we offer research facilities, quiet reading areas, friendship and support. Each winter and spring a programme of lectures is organised, free for members and the public, on a monthly basis. Why not become a member and join us for our annual Summer Fete on Mazey Day, 27th June 2015. We look forward to hearing from you.

Mary Ellery

Chairman of the Morrab Library Management Committee

LIBRARY CLOSED FOR ESSENTIAL HOUSEKEEPING

by admin | May 30, 2014 | Morrab Library

Please note that the Library will be closed on Wednesday 11th, Thursday 12th, Friday 13th and Saturday 14th June 2014 for essential housekeeping.

We will re-open as usual on Tuesday 17th June.

Apologies for any inconvenience.

A Stormy History

by admin | Feb 26, 2014 | Morrab Library

Every now and then nature puts us firmly in our place – the recent storms being our timely reminder of the sheer force of the ocean and the elements.

Following the latest spate of weather disruption we found some incredible photos in our Archive from the Ash Wednesday storm, which caused considerable damage to Penzance & Newlyn in March 1962.

The Ash Wednesday Storm, much like the recent storms we experienced, was due to a weather front sweeping in from the Atlantic. The Great Storm of 1962 hit the Eastern Coast of the United States between 6 – 8th March bringing hurricane force winds, coupled with exceptionally high tides as a result of the Spring Equinox. The storm was thought to be one of the most destructive ever to affect the mid-Atlantic states. One of the ten worst storms in the United States in the 20th century, it lingered through five high tides over a three-day period, killing 40 people, injuring over 1,000, and causing hundreds of millions in property damage in six states.

On 13th March 1962 the storm hit the western tip of the UK wreaking havoc on the coastline of Cornwall – Penzance and Newlyn bearing the brunt of the damage. The promenade was breached, the Jubilee Pool smashed and the Tolcarne area of Newlyn pummelled by the full force of the storm.

In comparison here are some images of the damage caused in the same areas of Penzance and Newlyn by the recent ‘Valentine’ storm of February 2014:

Considerable damage has been caused to the prom, the lower sea wall and the Newlyn Green end of the coastal path, as well as major disruption at the Jubilee Pool. Many homes and businesses in Newlyn and along the promenade have been flooded but thankfully no-one was hurt. The Council have been very quick to act and the clean up operation is in full force.

So are we seeing the effects of global warming or is this another weather cycle brought about by a powerful combination of factors? Either way it is a reminder of the awesome power of the sea and the elements when they come together in force.

First World War Reading Suggestions

by admin | Feb 11, 2014 | Morrab Library

With the commemoration of one hundred years since the start of the First World War here are just a few suggestions of books relating to WW1 in the Morrab’s catalogue:

‘Mr Britling Sees It Through’ by H.G. Wells

‘Testament of Youth’ by Vera Brittain

‘Regeneration’ by Pat Barker

‘The Daughters of Mars’ by Thomas Keneally

We have many more titles – both fiction and non-fiction – relating to the First World War. Do pop in to the library to browse…

Major Bob Harrison has kindly donated to the library the work he has carried out on compiling the Penzance Borough Book of Remembrance – an extensive record of those from the Penzance area who gave their lives from the Second Boer War to the present day. This information is available as reference at the library (and will soon be available on our website) and a copy of the book is also held at the Penzance Town Council Clerk’s Office.

There will be an exhibition to commemorate the Centenary at the library later in the year.  Watch this space for more details.