Mike Chappell well known Cornish Campaigner takes well deserved rest

Mike Chappell well known Cornish Campaigner takes well deserved rest
by ThomasGraham

On 12th June, 2008 and at the new Hospital de Torrevieja de Valencia and following a suicide attempt, former Cornwall/Kernow Celtic League Branch Secretary,Celtic Congress Member, Republican writer and poet and animal rights campaigner, Mike Chappell, 50 years,was diagnosed with severe post traumatic stress disorder arising from seeing persons burn to death and then the discovery of a multiple infant deaths coupled with ritualistic murders during his long and highly decorated police career.

This longstanding illness, previously untreated, has recently been complicated by divorce proceedings brought about by his commitment to the Cornish cause.

Death threats and abuse arising from that commitment and so on proved too much for his marriage to endure. One of Europe's finest Trauma specialists, Doctor C. RICHEZ who has a private clinic in Pedro Lorca, Torrevieja, Valencia has arranged for Mike who is heavily medicated, to spend time in a private clinic in La Manga, Murcia away from all contact with the outside world for the forseeable future.The La Manga Clinic has been used by celebrities such is its success rate.

Mike is being visited on a regular basis by his friend, Reverend Dr. Joel Gonzalez Garcia from Cuba, an outspoken Evangelist preacher who has come to respect and admire Mike's rigid Methodist views.

Mike is described as 'utterly devasatated at his wife's request for divorce' and says'no matter what any lawyer or court on earth says, she will always be my wife, recognised by God and our marriage can be put asunder by no man. My vow was before God the Almighty and when I make such a vow, it is until death. She makes her own decision here but the time will come when she will have to answer for her actions in Heaven before the Almighty as we all shall. I shall never crave another woman ever. She was, is and ever shall be my wife.That is the Cornish way. That is the Methodist way.'

Mike values loyalty above all things. He gives it absolutely and he expects it in return. He reads the bible nightly and will doubtless find a passage there which relates to it. Once breached, he rarely leaves a stone unturned to bring those who have been unloyal to book.
For that reason, he virtually worships 'Cornubia - Land of the Saints' by John Miller and a print of it decorates his Bible. Cornwall is such he says, ' a land of the saints and fit only for the Saints. All else will burn in the pit of damnation.'

Mike came to note as a Republican many years ago when as a young policeman, he clambered down a cliff to rescue a holiday maker who had fallen whilst trying to rescue an expensive pair of sunglasses. Breaking his own leg in the process but heaving the holiday maker over his shoulder and climbing back up the 120 feet, a subsequent operation required 14 steel pins to rebuild his smashed left leg. He was awarded a Royal Humane Society Award for Bravery and invited to Buckingham Palace to collect the award.

He accepted the invitation on the grounds of nosiness wishing to see how the other half lived and turned up casually dressed much to the horror of the Palace staff. The conversation ran thus:

Prince Phillip: You've come a long way today ?

Michael : From Cornwall. I doubt you've ever heard of it. It is a long way for a piece of paper and a slice of Lyons Swiss Roll (which he had on a bone china plate held in in hand)

Prince Phillip: How do you feel being in the presence of Royalty ?

Michael: How do you feel being in my presence? If I had my way you lot would be given a council house and made to work for your living.

Exit stage left Prince Phillip. Exit stage right Michael's promotion prospects!

Another amusing yarn occurred during the so called 'Loving Cup of St George' protest in Truro when Royal band wagon member, Bruno Peek who holds a list of Royal Orders and Decorations brought an icon of England's St George to Cornwall, a Celtic Nation, something he dare not do in Scotland or Wales. Faced up by Mike Chappell, Peek started to quote the Bible. This was not a wise move for Mike was brought up a primitive Wesleyan Methodist - Chapel three times a day on Sunday, no alcohol and bible lessons in the Temperence Hall during the week and who virtually knows the good book back to front and upside down as well. Needless to say, Peek looked decidedly peaky !

Mike wishes his friends, particularly those in the Celtic League around Britain his very best wishes and particularly Iwan le Moine, Tony Leamon - who faces severe problems of his own with quite incredible bravery and dignity - and Sue Bowen in Cornwall as well as John Angarrack, Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, Dr Alan Kent and others. He kneels at his bedside and prays every day and will certainly be praying for them all.

The British Consul in Alicante and the Chief of the local Guardia Civil have also been in touch with Mike to offer their best wishes as have former close colleagues from around the world including a former head of Special Branch. His outspokeness has made him many enemies but he has always had money for the needy and the hungry and for stray dogs. Strangely, his outspokeness has also made him many friends amongst what is broadly called 'the establishment'.

He assures those who depend on him for what have become known as his special 'red cross' or as he calls them 'white cross' (after Saint Piran of Cornwall to whom he also prays) parcels that these will continue and that the necessary arrangements have been made with his bank.

Response One :

**Mike - my special pal - I was the IRA man - you were the Copper BUT you never, ever condemned me or my beliefs just my killing ways. Now I write or should I say 'lap top' and we have become buddies. You always have a home here. I know you want for Kernow what I want for all 32 counties of Eire and that made us brothers. Get better slowly, comrade and then come to see me. We can talk about what makes your blue Celtic eyes sparkle and flame - politics !
In solidarity, Tom.**


Response Two:
Maireid Sullivan
at 02:55 on June 23rd, 2008 good stuff:
ThomasGraham, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Response Three:
ThomasGraham, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Response Four:
Thanks Maireid - I'll pass on your thoughts and prayers to Mike. His own Cornish seem to reject him but we shall make him an honorary Irishman and embrace him. He is a true Celt. Kind, tempramental, deep, moody, fun. He has worked hard to bring Irish PoW's home particularly Noel Maguire, he loves the 32CSM with a passion as he does his animals, and he is, or was, always good for an arguement and good craic.