News & Events

Dave Meneer’s further thoughts on 8 Cathedral Lane in Truro

“We opened our doors at No 8 Cathedral Lane in Truro in October 2023. Like all charities we are struggling to make ends meet and every little helps us keep the doors open. And every transaction in our little shop helps that.

“CLEAR is the Cornish charity with a vision for a community safe and free from abuse with opportunities to flourish after trauma. Our therapists and counsellors are trained, qualified and registered with all the appropriate governing bodies to carry out the work that we do, day in day out.

“So, if you’re a customer of ours at No 8 – THANK YOU! And if you’re a donor of the lovely stuff we sell thank you for that too. No donations – nothing to sell – no customers…no shop and no bigger impact by CLEAR. In fact if you have anything to do with us in our little world at no 8 on Cathedral Lane THANK YOU.

“We’ve already had plenty of thank-you’s and kind words from our customers like ‘excuse me, are you a charity shop or a boutique?’…followed by ‘great vibe and good prices’ and how about ‘the most beautiful charity shop I’ve ever been in’.

“One recent comment briefly started badly but finished well – ‘oh, this is a bad shop…a VERY bad shop…everything is so nice!’. Bad is good.

“Along the way we’ve had some great customers, some great donors and some great transactions…some great stories and some great comments. Please allow us to share a few…you might even find your own voice in there….

Boots, binoculars and something that irritatingly doesn’t begin with a ‘B”….

Boots?…the lady who loved them never bought them…but she nearly did. (And she got ‘em anyway.)

“She was looking for a present for a friend and we couldn’t quite deliver. But she noticed those fine brown boots. Tried them on. Fitted perfectly but buying that present had to take priority and we’re not pushy salesmen! So back on the shelf they went and she left empty handed – city centre retail failure, right there. A couple of days later a middle - aged gent walked purposefully in and went straight for the boots. Not really his style. ‘Ah, you’re lucky’ Mark said ‘they nearly had a buyer two days ago - a young woman seemed very keen’’.

‘I know’ he said…’that’s my daughter…and she can be very persistent -she sent me in with strict instructions. This isn’t the first time.’ Off he went. Job done. She got her present; I wonder whether her deserving pal ever got hers?

Binoculars?… They were given to us by a splendid chap who was doing some midlife laundering – a bit of a clear out.

“A couple of days later another chap comes in, let’s call him Mr Seymour and the bins caught his eye. Much taken he was; even stood in the door for a test drive…eyeing up the upper reaches of our friendly cathedral at the end of the lane. Focussing on those spires…they’re called Victoria, Edward and Alexandra you know. Though not many people DO know that. The big one is also too stubby to our liking but you’re not allowed to say that. 20 feet too short. But it is. Take a critical look.

“Anyway the deal was done. A couple of months later he reappears; sharply in focus. The ‘bins’ had been used – a safari in Africa and then another family member went checking out the beaches in the Caribbean – versatile things binoculars. From giraffes to palm trees. I wonder where they are now? Part of the family still we hope.

“Stop press: we soon found out! Our purchaser returned, Again. It had been Tanzania this time! Have ‘bins’ – will travel!

“And while we’re on BBBs, don’t forget B is for Books…we shift loads – watch out Waterstones! One regular lured in by the books simply said ‘I DO love this shop’. She’ll be back…why not join her?”

And one last little snippet…

“As part of the closure of a residential care home in west Cornwall the shop at No 8 received a whole host of donations - glasses, books, toast racks, tea pots, pictures and tablecloths. The tablecloths were of differing sizes and colours all sold as material either for their original use or for sewing projects. One such was a fabulous shade of orange. The lady who bought it said 'this is the perfect colour for a project I have - I will show you when I have finished it!’

“And true to her word a couple of months later she returned with photos on her 'phone of a stunning tapestry she had made incorporating part of the orange material in to a sunrise as part of a picture for a friend who was recovering from serious illness.

Dave Meneer, March 2025

The development of 8 Cathedral Lane is being supported through £37,120 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. In Cornwall it is administered through Cornwall Council. For more information visit