People Features

Lewis Penhall Bird is a big fan of all things Cornish. He may have been born hundreds of miles away in New Jersey in America, but there's a big part of his heart that belongs in the St Austell area of mid Cornwall.

"My mother came over to America from Tregrehan Mills in the mid 20's. My Uncle Lewis who was killed in World War One had come over at the turn of the century. I am named after him."

"When my father saw my mother for the first time he apparently said 'I'm going to marry that little girl' and he did in 1930."

Lewis wakes up to this view of St Austell Bay

Lewis was born in 1933 growing up in North Jersey, USA which is very much a lake district, a very hilly area. Lewis' Cornish mum died of cancer in 1938. But thanks to his Cornish family Lewis has painted a picture of his mother.

"My mother didn't put up with foolishness at all and had her own opinion. I so wish she had lived, so she could have told me her stories of Cornwall. But my Uncle Ern, who also came from Cornwall told me many tales of Cornwall over the years."

Lewis had heard about all the many places in Cornwall, but didn't visit them until he was 36.

"I was at a conference in Oxford and had some spare time, so I thought I must go to Cornwall. The places were more spectacular, more delightful than I thought they could ever be."

As soon as Lewis set eyes on Cornwall as a young man he fell in love with his mother's home.

New Jersey's Bruce Springsteen

"What a lovely land. This is just marvellous territory. I love the sea. I am a water person, so being by the sea is amazing. If it wasn't for the children and grandchildren I would live here."

New Jersey is famous for its iron production, and more recently for producing rock stars like Bruce Springsteen and bands like Bon Jovi.

"Many of the Cornish people came over to Dover in New Jersey to help mine the iron in the past. There is a Cornish Historical Society in New Jersey too.

"We all love the Cornish Pasty and as we call it Saffron Bread too. We always have that at Christmas time, although I eat it everyday when I am over here on holiday!"

Lewis visits Cornwall as often as he can to catch up with family who still live in the St Austell area. His heart certainly belongs in two places, hundreds of miles apart but with many special similarities.