Cornwall-On-The-Thames

How can someone born in Manila be so totally cornish? Susan Penhaligon, one of our nation’s greatest acting talents explains why she cannot help thinking of herself as cornish rather than British.

- Susan Penhaligon

SUSAN Penhaligon had an unusual start to life since she was born in the Philippines, a far distance from the sandy shores of Cornwall.

‘My father, who had been in the Navy, was working as an engineer for Shell but we returned to England and back to Cornwall, which I always think of as my home. My formative years were spent in St Ives and I’m always tempted to fill in the nationality question on forms as ‘Cornish’

“My parents sadly divorced when I was quite young and my brother and I were sent to live with our grandmother for six months while my mother found a place for us to live. Granny Pen was proper Cornish. She made saffron cake and the best pasties I’ve ever tasted. She taught us about Cornwall and our heritage. Not just the history but the very nature of Cornwall; it’s people and what it’s like to feel Cornish. She used to say, ‘We don’t live in England, we live in Cornwall’.

“I think I get much of my drive and work ethic from her. My grandfather died in his twenties and she never remarried. She brought up two sons and worked as a welfare officer on Falmouth docks so she could send them to a good school. There’s an old Cornish saying ‘Cornish women be proud and stubborn’ and that was her - and possibly me - I loved her for it.

“A few years ago, a magazine did the Penhaligon family tree for me and traced us back to the 17th century. My ancestors were working folk, farm workers, hoopers, and clay pit workers. My great, great grandfather was known as ‘Cap’n P’naligon’ because he was leader of a clay pit band. He was a colourful character with a big white beard. Unfortunately he ran off to Australia leaving a wife and six children. I believe he started another family out there!