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Jeremy
Rowett Johns loves Polperro.
He
decided he wanted to do his bit to promote the beauty of the area
and the lives of people who lived there.
For
years though Jeremy never knew about his family's association with
Polperro.
"My
immediate family didn't know about our roots with Polperro," says
Jeremy. "But once I found out about the place I fell in love with
it and got more interested in the history. I have written about
the village in the past. I eventually set up the Polperro Heritage
Press which is a small publishing firm."
The
Polperro Heritage Press was originally established in 1997 to publish
non-fiction work relating to Polperro and South East Cornwall in
association with the Polperro Heritage Museum. It aims to bring
the history of the area to the attention of a wider audience.
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| The
Old Post Office in Polperro |
The
Heritage Press has since extended the scope its list, appealing
to a wider readership with several popular new titles.
Jeremy
himself had published a local book which had sold out after its
first print. When he heard it was not going to be printed again
he decided to do it himself and so the Press was born.
"It
is very difficult to exist in the publishing market which is hopelessly
overcrowded," says Jeremy. "I always tell people anyone can write
a book and get in printed but actually getting it sold and marketing
the book is so difficult. My background in promotions and marketing
is what has helped to keep my head above water.So far we have been
very successful because the Polperro books sell out here in Cornwall
thanks to the thousands of tourists. "
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| The
Polperro tram regularly runs through the narrow and picturesque
streets during the summer months |
As
well as publishing Jeremy is also the History and Family History
Editor for the Polperro website. It is a huge site with many pages
dedicated to life in Polperro today and yesteryear. It has several
thousands of hits each week.
This
excellent local website was set up three years ago by webmaster
Bob Tarr.
"I
was making enquiries among local residents about starting a website
when I discovered one had already been set up," remembers Jeremy.
"I phoned the gentleman who was running the site at the time and
found that I knew him well! Between us we built up the website.
Earlier this year we reached an amazing milestone when we passed
100,000 hits a month target which were delighted about."
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| The
rocky entrance into Polperro's harbour |
Most
of the traffic comes from people who have been to Polperro on holiday
or are planning to do so. The rest tend to be those who have links
with the village and they are now scattered all over the world.
"People
log on and find they have family links with Polperro," he says.
"They get in touch with me and I direct them to one of a large team
of experts who can help them to trace their family backgrounds.
It is amazing how the geneology has become so successful on the
site. We have launched the Polperro Family History Society and we
have already got 100 members of that."
Now
you have read about it why not visit this excellent website which
has everything you need to know about Polperro and more!
Meet
the local vicar
Local
lad Chris Curtis shares memories
Life
of a fisherman - meet Bill Cowan
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