In Memorium

Alan Edward Murton

Alan Edward Murton CO51
1933-2025
I joined the celebration of life for Alan Murton yesterday (Wednesday 15 October 2025) at Perranporth Methodist Church, which was well attended. He married Patricia Trigger in Harrow in 1957; sons Christopher (1960), Gary (1963 – both Harrow) and David (1968 – Hemel Hempstead) followed.
Truro-born and educated, Alan Murton returned to Cornwall in 1994 with writing as a key aim in early retirement, and after a course at the Open College of the Arts with Cornish poet Philip Gross as his mentor. He sent some of his writing to Cornwall Today and was soon a regular in its pages until the West Briton took it over. He joined Truro Creative Writers in 1995 and worked with them for 20 years as chairman/secretary.
Sadly, Pat passed away in 2017; by now they were close by me in Goonhavern and were both members of our village Old Cornwall Society (I was Chair at that time). It gave Alan a great deal of pleasure to compose a “Cornish Quiz” as a part of the AGM meeting each May. Apart from competing in Old Cornwall Society competitions, he wrote for two subscription magazines and has been published nationally as well as locally.
Due to declining health, he spent his final months in the care of Kenwyn Care Home, where he passed away on 27 September 2025, aged 92 years.
Tribute by Alan’s friend, John Jackett CO58

John has shared an article Alan wrote about his time at Bosvigo School:

“My conclusion must be a tribute to Leslie Treloar, one of the great Primary School headmasters of any age. He was a gentle man with a good sense of humour, a winning smile and a warm chuckle, but he could also show the sternness and aloofness that befitted his status. It is my view that what distinguished him most was his awareness of the role he and his school must play for all his pupils in preparing them not only for the continuation of their education through the secondary stage but in giving them a set of standards to live by as good and contributing citizens – committed fully to the parable of the Talents.
His reputation was for achieving a higher-than-average success rate with pupils taking the Intelligence Test (the much maligned “11plus”) with as a result a high proportion of his output going to the excellent County Grammar Schools, the County School for Girls in Treyew Road and to either Redruth or Falmouth for the boys, the very bright were entered for Governor’s scholarships at Truro School and Truro High School for Girls. But I am convinced that his concern always was that children knew right from wrong, understood that it is not only at Christmas that it is better to give than receive and above all that we made best use of the abilities that were most natural to us.
I was one of the lucky ones, not merely because I enjoyed academic success but because I was a pupil at Bosvigo I have retained a set of values which I hope and believe I have passed on to my sons – that is why I consider that Bosvigo School was a major influence in my life and why I hope that in a much changed and changing world the School will carry on inspiring young people and giving them a solid launching pad into life.”

A poem by Alan Murton:

Malpas – A Favourite Place
Pause a while and share this seat
High on the bluff in Malpas village,
It’s where three Cornish rivers meet.
When the sun reflects from the flowing tide
Where else on earth would you want to be
With like-minded friends at your side?
In a silence so rich you could almost cry,
Just lapping water and the song of the birds
As the cormorant hangs out his wings to dry.
The house of the ferryman across the river
Is decked with years old Virginia creeper
The boats afloat sit still without a quiver.
The banks are clothed in shrubby trees
Decked bright green in their Spring-time leaves
Set a-rustling by the lightest breeze.
Their branches dip to the ebb and flow
But passing time is relentless alas
Time now to leave it behind and go.
Rest assured that I’ll come again
To my heaven on earth – luxuriant peace
Whether it be in sunshine or in rain.

John Warwick Dempster

John Warwick Dempster TS Prep 1940-42
1931 – 2025
Passed away peacefully at Peacehaven Nursing Home in Australia, where John had lived for many years. Loved husband of Gudrun (dec.). Loved father and father-in-law of Niels and Sarah, and Annette and Jon. Cherished grandpa of Liam, Calum, Isabella, and Nicholas.

John’s brother, Eric Dempster, is also an Old Truronian.

Obituary notice found online. We welcome personal tributes from friends and family.

Jeremy “Jem” Martin Trewhella

Jeremy “Jem” Martin Trewhella CO76
9 November 1957 – 7 June 2026
Jeremy Martin Trewhella, known to all as Jem, was born in Kuwait on 9 November 1957 to John and Joan Trewhella, joining his elder brother Roger, who passed away several years ago. His younger brother, Ross, later completed the family. The family returned to Cornwall before settling in Maidenhead. Jem’s happiest early memories were rooted in Cornwall, especially at his grandfather’s farm at Higher Lanner in Porthleven, where his love of family, animals, the land and Cornish life first took hold.
He attended Alwyn Infant School and Courthouse Primary School before becoming a boarder at Truro School in 1969, following in the footsteps of his father and, in time, sharing that connection with both his brothers, Roger and Ross, who also attended the school. Jem soon settled into school life and made lifelong friends. He was renowned for his musical talents, humour, spirit and fearless rugby tackling.
Music was one of Jem’s great passions. A self-taught guitarist, he developed into a songwriter and performer, playing with The Soft Dogs in Reading and later with Loose Change, which became The Tiger Tales, performing across Cornwall and bringing pleasure to many.
After school, Jem worked in the oil industry, both offshore and as a PVT laboratory technician in Reading. When he and his brothers Roger and Ross inherited Mudgeon Vean Farm, he returned to Cornwall to build the life he wanted on the land. Farming was demanding, but Jem’s determination was unwavering: once he set his mind to something, he saw it through.
Jem met Sarah and her daughter Victoria, and he and Sarah shared 36 years of marriage. She was his soulmate and ideal partner in farming life. Together they raised their family, with Jenna and Christopher later joining them, and created a home centred on Mudgeon Vean, Cornwall.
To support renovations at the farm, Jem returned at times to the oil industry, working in Syria, India, the North Sea, Kazakhstan, China and Russia. He enjoyed travel and meeting people, but his heart remained at home. At Mudgeon Vean, he and Sarah developed holiday cottages and created the award-winning Helford Creek Apple Juice and Cyder business, supplying produce across Cornwall and to prestigious locations in London. The success of the business led to several television appearances and an invitation to a garden party at Buckingham Palace.
Jem’s kindness was especially clear in his love of animals. He was immensely proud of his children and grandchildren, Summer and Amber, and spoke often of their lives and achievements.
In November 2025, on his birthday, Jem received a kidney transplant, and he and Sarah looked forward to retirement, travel and more time together. Sadly, the transplant did not function as hoped, and after a long and exhausting battle, Jem died following pneumonia on 7 June 2026.
He will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and friend; a proud Cornishman; a gifted musician; a hardworking farmer and businessman; and, above all, a kind, loyal and deeply loved man. His warmth, humour, determination and unmistakable smile will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

Mark Rainbow

Mark Rainbow TS 1982-1996
1941-2025

Mark passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday 2 September 2025, aged 83 years.
Much loved husband of Jane, loving father of Sam CO88, Dan CO90, Joe CO94 and Archie, and fond grandfather of Mingjur, Chime, Maisy, Elsa, Luca, Lily, Tom and Alfie. He will be missed by all who knew him, particularly amongst the Cornish singing community. Mark taught P.E at Truro School between 1982-86.
Obituary notice found online. We welcome personal tributes from friends and family.

From Terraces 1997

Mark was a long serving member of the PE department who brought a lively and idiosyncratic approach to the activities. He joined the school, part time in 1982, without actually meeting the Headmaster for 2 months and was also an active member of the parent committee at Treliske where he also worked one day per week. Teaching wasn’t his intended direction after selling a plastics firm in Essex during 1975. He held firm ideas about coming to Cornwall to live ‘the good life’ and had less concrete ideas about the practicalities of farming. As he once said himself, ‘I knew nothing about farming except that ideally one needed south facing slopes for success.’ His property had slopes, in fact they were at a 45-degree angle straight down to the creek. Yet with the help of an ex-New Zealand sheep hand he managed to set up his first flock, only to find that after two years his ‘expert’ announced he was off and simply left Mark with a list. The following day the first ewe came into lamb and Mark began his farming career in earnest! Cattle, geese, and goats followed and kept Mark very busy. In addition he fitted in building a house and teaching as well as driving the Constantine minibus to school and back every day.
Mark’s forte, however was in the gym and he was a very accomplished gymnast. Over the years he produced a large number of displays, and many pupils went on to have a lasting interest in this sport. It was not unusual to see Mark doing a series of backflips in the staff room or to be seen walking on his hands down a flight of stairs on a skiing holiday. (There lies another story…) It was through Mark’s interests that trampolining became established in the school. We have enjoyed many successes in the County trampolining competitions over a number of years. Throughout the summer he could also be seen at the side of the athletics track and was an important member of the coaching squad. As Master-in-charge of Athletics for a number of years school teams enjoyed successes in the County and the South West Tournaments.
He was a popular member of staff with the pupils and colleagues alike especially as he was prepared to offer such educational activities as skateboarding! He didn’t profess to be a games player and was keen to develop the individual aspects of physical education. In meetings he always had a point of view especially when everyone wanted to go home! Outside school he was and still is a talented singer and a stalwart of the Treverva Male Choir. In addition his popularity amongst staff was enhanced by the quality of his steak (!)
He took early retirement on medical grounds in the summer of 1996 and is currently enjoying his new life outside Truro School restoring a chapel. We wish him a long and fulfilling retirement.

GCW & VKN

William ‘Toni’ Anthony Carver

William ‘Toni’ Anthony Carver CO66
1948-2025

Toni was the driving force of Truro School Rock Climbing Club (TSRCC) in the 1960s and 1970s along with Peter Stanier CO67, Richard Nadin CO65 and others.
He formed the Minions Group, and together they explored and established bold lines in the Cheesewring Quarry on Bodmin Moor using the old Working Men’s Club building in Minions as their base.
Later, Toni was at the forefront of the development of sea cliff climbing across Cornwall, often from the Climbers’ Club hut at Bosigran, building on the initial explorations of the Royal Marines Cliff Assault Wing based in St Ives. Many other new climbing areas, often following bold lines on dodgy rock, attracted his attention.
His knowledge and love of the Cornish cliffs and their exploration made him highly respected in the development of sea cliff climbing.
Tribute from Old Truronian Bill Sharpe CO75

I knew Toni Carver since we met at school, where he was a leading instigator of the school’s Climbing Club – a sport at which Toni excelled and in which he was a leader throughout his life. He was an explorer of routes, a publisher of manuals and a good understanding friend to the many loners who populate the difficult challenges of faces, precipices, ledges and holds! He was a familiar face at the Minions and Bosigran climbing huts.
He was also a folk singer, whose bodhran and bouzouki playing supported many sing-around rooms, festivals and impromptu sessions. He listened intently and quietly supported those whose creativity found its outlet in that wide-ranging genre. He sang of deep emotions and universal themes and gently kept many an errantly wandering tempo in check and on course; and, of course, he was a counsellor, wit and companion.
As well as being a family man and a redoubtable champion for social justice and sensible liberal values, as most raised and educated in the Methodist tradition tend to be, Toni was a journalist and, most importantly, an editor. He paid his dues and offered his columns to a wide range of opinion – he made his paper the heart of its community – he was not respectful of power or money, but the truth of St Ia he held to with vigour!
The paper was not just written and edited but was also printed in St Ives. The Times & Echo Press is a fine printer and the creative relationship between printer and publisher is greatly valued by all those who have experienced the Carver approach. It is a detailed and aesthetic craft combining eye, mind and machine – Toni’s press ran smoothly.
The Times & Echo is one of the very few independent local newspapers left in the UK. Toni has guided it and cared for it for a lifetime. Many people have lost a witty, calm, kind and constant friend, and Cornwall has lost a passionately obdurate patriot – art has lost a champion and music has lost a voice – somewhere, in the air between tor and sea, in the vicinity of Commando Ridge and folk singing at Bosigran, an echo now escaped, the shackles of time will sound – Esse Quam Videri – RIP.
Tribute by Old Truronian Bert Biscoe CO71