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by
Lucille Opie Of
a majestic yet restless beauty I speak Cornwall’s
northern coastline is unique, The
westerly winds hit hard in winter Twisting
the trees to shapes most sinister. The
Atlantic pounds into the land With
cruel, unrelenting destruction to sand, But
its location to the Atlantic makes Bude a haven On
this unfriendly coast where refuge is craven. The
rivers Neet and Strat flow down Sweeping
and surging through the town. The
Petrified Forest beneath Crooklets beach A
reminder of prehistory within reach. At
Maer Lake,
migrating birds in flight Swoop
and soar to ethereal height. Rock
strata studied by geologists worldwide Incredibly
awesome from the beach at low tide. The
history of the town is not so old, Has
taken four centuries to unfold, Though
there is evidence of prehistoric man Proof,
the Tumulii on the land. Blanchminster
the lord is well renowned, His
castle Binhamy still evident near town His
Trust Fund paid for six hundred years To
deserving people to allay their fears. The
Turnpike Acts of the seventeen hundreds Brought
the stagecoach, tho’ roads were hazardous. That
set in motion improvement to the roads, People
ventured further from their abodes. Coaching
Inns then came into place To
feed the horses - and the human race! The
Falcon, Globe & Carriers of fame, All
still serving, and with the same name. The
Canal, unique as it is locked to the sea Was
opened in eighteen twenty three. For
two miles it meanders to the Incline Plane A
feat of engineering the Victorians rightly claim. Navigable
only to Marhamchurch today, There’s
beauty & wild life enough on display For
both locals & visitors, when time for leisure Boating,
fishing, walking – give much pleasure. Along
with the canal the breakwater was set Saved
many a ship from being wrecked. The
railway came in eighteen ninety eight, Victorians
set the fashion, a holiday to take, Total
immersion in sea water much sought Health
giving & pleasurable it was thought. Later,
the Grenville rose up in Bellevue, Quite
decadent, with ballroom and awe-inspiring view. From
Summerleaze & Efford
the view of the sea Breathtakingly
beautiful, a wondrous place to be. Inhale
the atmosphere that lifts one on high Gaze
at the blue Atlantic against azure sky. Taste
the salt in the air with oxygen so pure Unique
wild flowers grow that look quite demure In
purples and reds and yellows and blues, A
wide range of colour of delicate hues. Sit
and watch the cricket, hear the crack of the bat, Listen
for the bowler to shout ‘Howzat’? Wander
north to Northcott, quite unspoiled land, Catch
crustaceans in rock pools, or picnic on the sand. Saunter
south along the cliff path to Widemouth Bay, ‘The
breakers all of twelve feet’ the surfers say! Visit
Sir Gurney’s castle, built on sand, Who
proved the impossible, as still it stands Strong
& proud, pivotal of the town, A
reminder of his brilliance that knew no bounds. Bude
is a rural town way out in the sticks, Neighbours
help each other if they’re in a fix. Here
the ‘Bush telegraph’ is second to none, Better
than any e-mail when alls said and done! I
could go on, there is so much more To
this wonderful town beside the shore Where
its location to the Atlantic makes it a haven On
this unfriendly coast where refuge is craven.
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