Painted Nails

👥 Ann tells the story behind her colourful nails

One Wednesday, during Time Together friendship group, someone commented on my nails. They were painted, by Blossom Nails of Bodmin, green with black and red brush strokes—the colours of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry/Rifles Regiment.

My late husband served as a bugler in the regiment, and I still feel closely connected through my involvement with the Old Comrades Association.

Each year, two formal banquets are held to celebrate the regiment’s battle honours. They are truly grand occasions, with regimental silverware displayed on every table—a proud reminder of shared history and service.

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Keen to share history

Ann got in contact with James Inglis, a curator at Bodmin Keep, who said:

“The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry regiment was formed in 1881 out of an amalgamation of the 32^nd (Cornwall Light Infantry) Regiment of Foot and the 46^th (South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot. They were based in the Victoria Barracks in Bodmin and played a key role in conflicts from the late 19^th century to the 1950s including the Boer War, First World War and Second World War.”

For more information, the National Army Museum is a good source:

The Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry | National Army Museum

James added:

“Bodmin Keep, Cornwall's Army Museum, contains the collection of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry as well as its successor regiments: the Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry and The Light Infantry. This collection includes thousands of artefacts, documents and photos chronicling the history of the DCLI.”

Ann’s Time Together Tale

The Crochet & Knitting Friendship Group’s tree at St Petroc’s Christmas Tree Festival first inspired me to attend weekly gatherings in St Petroc’s Parish Centre. That was back in 2018, and I’ve remained connected ever since.

It was comforting to stay in touch virtually through Zoom during the Covid lockdown. We kept our focus and planned events together, including a 'Caterpillar Walk' so we could maintain social distancing once it was safe to meet outdoors again.

An initiative, Time Together —a café-style friendship group where people could simply enjoy each other’s company started at this time. The Crochet & Knitting Friendship Group moved from the Parish Centre into St Petroc’s Church to support this new venture, and the woollen creative work continued.

When the church underwent renovations, Time Together moved once again. I now regularly attend on Wednesday mornings at Shire House Suite, where the warm sense of community remains just as strong.

Ann's Contributions

Ann has contributed so much to our various ventures over the years, and we are truly glad she joined us. Her story is just one example of the connections, creativity, and community spirit that continue to grow through Time Together.