Dave the Hedge

“Dave the Hedge” tree surgeon par excellence. A big strong man who gives so much to the community.

Dave does things that others wish they had thought about. Years ago he placed a dinghy, which came his way, in the children’s play area of the Millennium Green. In order to prevent the teenage children destroying it he made the metal mast way over-length and buried it deep in the soil. Consequently the Agnes Rose does not get tossed about. The transom board was removed so that toddlers could clamber aboard, sit there and dream of ocean trips. Dave did all the renovation work, Elaine provided the bunting as a finishing touch. 

He has a full schedule, as a tree surgeon, a job he takes very seriously, advising when a tree requires a haircut rather than destruction. In his spare time he was the Coxswain of the Inshore Lifeboat for the RNLI at Trevaunance Cove, then on other days he’s the National Trust Warden at Chapel Porth. If you have been to these places you may have seen him and his green Landrover. Talking about Landys, his son is learning to drive, in the Landrover. There’s defensive driving and then there’s “Oh my God!” 

The extra is a Magnolia, just about to burst forth. A few years after the Falkland's War (I was not involved) a lady on Once a Marine, Always a Marine website, suggested we all plant a Magnolia. Her idea was that although it was the wrong time of year and not an anniversary, the blooms are so powerful that they would be an annual reminder of our friends and comrades. It works each year. Well done LLoraine Hopkins, nutter of the first high water. (She was married to a Royal Marine Sgt at the time)