The day had finally arrived—the big day when we would introduce The Cornwall 500 to the world. Excitement, anticipation, and perhaps a few nerves swirled as we headed to The Alverton Hotel, the stunning venue chosen to host our launch.
We had an incredible lineup of speakers ready to bring our vision to life. The Lord-Lieutenant, Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho, graciously opened the event, setting a tone of gravitas and inspiration. Following him was Clive Kessell, the driving force behind the project, who shared the story of how The Cornwall 500 evolved into something truly special. Paul Ricketts, the manager of The Alverton, and our distinguished guests, Tim Bunting, CEO of the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, and Malcolm Bell of Visit Cornwall, rounded out the roster. Each of them added depth and passion to the day, underlining the importance of this initiative for Cornwall’s community and beyond.
We had everything meticulously planned—delicious canapés, champagne chilled to perfection, and all the logistics in place. All we needed now was for the press to show up.
As the minutes ticked by, our optimism remained high. Kirstie Newton from The Voice and Ross Lannan from Chaos Radio arrived to lend their support, and their presence provided some reassurance. However, with a general election just a week away, securing press attention was a tall order. Timing wasn’t on our side; this launch date had already been delayed once, and it became clear we had to move forward regardless.
The Lord-Lieutenant, en route to London, made time to be with us. That gesture alone reinforced our commitment to make this day count. Even if the press turnout wasn’t what we had hoped for, we knew we were laying a strong foundation for The Cornwall 500’s future.
We were also fortunate to have the talented Paul Richards from PR4Photos capturing every moment. His expert lens ensured we had stunning visuals to share with the world in the weeks to come. Joining us was Martin Sanders from Sanders Design, who had been instrumental in bringing our vision to life through his exceptional work on the Cornwall 500 logo, branding, and website. Their contributions helped shape the identity of our project, giving it a professional and polished look that we were proud to unveil.
None of this, however, would have been possible without the incredible support of Coodes Solicitors. Their sponsorship, spearheaded by Jeni Luke, was the cornerstone of getting The Cornwall 500 off the ground. Coodes not only believed in the vision but also backed Steven Webb’s ambitious 500-mile challenge. Their unwavering commitment played a vital role in making this project a reality.
The speeches went off without a hitch. Each speaker brought their own flavor of enthusiasm, vision, and heartfelt support for the project. And though the immediate press presence was limited, the coverage in the following weeks more than made up for it. People were captivated by the idea of The Cornwall 500—a journey around Cornwall, not just in miles, but through its culture, stories, and history.
Looking back, it was more than just a launch—it was the beginning of something remarkable. The Cornwall 500 is about connection: to the land, to its stories, and to each other. On this special day, we planted the seeds for a project that we know will grow into something extraordinary.
Sometimes, success isn’t measured by the number of people in the room but by the impact of the idea—and The Cornwall 500 is an idea with a heart and soul as vast as the Cornish coastline.
#TC500 #TheCornwall500
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