Lyther Bardhek - Bardic Newsletter

GORSEDH KERNOW The Celtic Spirit of Cornwall

LYTHER BARDHEK - BARDIC NEWSLETTER Mis Est bys dhe vis Hedra 2016 / August to October 2016

Solemnpnita Bardhek / Bardic Ceremony Please note…..if the weather is wet, the bardic ceremony will take place in St Keverne Parish Church, The Square, TR12 6NE. No parking outside the church please, parking is available at Roskilly’s Field by St Keverne Band Room, TR12 6NG.

Towlen Gool Esedhvos / Esedhvos Festival Programme Wednesday 31st August The Grand Bard’s chair will be on display in St Keverne Parish Church, The Square, St Keverne, TR12 6NE until Friday 2nd September. Free entry, but donations to the church welcome. There will also be a display of entries for the Gorsedh Young Peoples’ Awards.

Thursday 1st September 11am - 3pm Book launch & Cornish Book Fair @ St Keverne Parish Hall, Well Lane, St Keverne TR12 6LZ. Plus a series of short talks through the day. Free entry. Accessible for people with disabilities.

Gorsedh Kernow Awards 6pm Displays and video presentations @ St Keverne Parish Church, The Square, St Keverne, TR12 6NE. 7.30pm Presentation of Awards by Grand Bard Merv Davey, Telynor an Weryn, with performances and readings from winning entries. The majority of Award winner’s names and the categories for which they won an Award are on the Gorsedh Kernow website. The link is http://gorsedhkernow.org.uk/wp/?p=413

Friday 2nd September 10am - 4pm Conference “Border At Risk” @ St Keverne Parish Hall, Well Lane, St Keverne TR12 6LZ. by kind permission of St Keverne Parish Hall Committee (NOT Church Hall in Lemon Street). Full access to St Keverne Parish Hall for people with disabilities.

The Boundary Commission is currently reviewing Cornwall’s thousand year old border. This conference will explore the issues and make the case for keeping our border intact. Morning session - Chair Delia Brotherton, Myrghwyn Melynor, Gorsedh Kernow Communications Officer

10.00 Coffee & Tea

10.15 Welcome by Dr Merv Davey, Telynor an Weryn, Grand Bard of Cornwall

10.30 Dr Garry Tregidga, Map Rosvean, Director, Institute of Cornish Studies: “Historical perspectives on the border” - Cornwall’s ancient border and why it is important - how the past relates to the present 11.15 Break

11.30 Dr John Kirkhope, visiting Research Fellow Plymouth University & Notary Public: “Cornwall – a category of its own” - the relationship of the Duchy of Cornwall to Cornwall - Stannary – is this still a legal instutition? - a comparison between the Seigniory of Sark & the Duchy of Cornwall

12.15 Tom Fidler, President of the Association of Celtic Students of Ireland and Britain: “Cornwall’s border - English territory or Celtic frontier?” - exploring the relationship between Cornwall and the rest of Britain, within a specific geographical framework of the most easterly points of Cornwall.

13.00 Lunch

Afternoon Session - Chair Elizabeth Carne , Melennek, Deputy Grand Bard of Cornwall

14.00 Mark Owen, National Trails Officer, South West Coastpath: “Kylgh Kernow – the Cornish Circle” - how a new walking route around Cornwall could strengthen the cultural identity of Cornwall and boost the rural economy”

14.45 Ian Saltern, Penfound, Community Development Consultant: “The current position regarding the Boundary Commission” - The Boundary Commission is carrying out a review or Parliamentary Constituencies. The electoral register in Cornwall is to small to retain 6 MPs and there is a risk that the commission will recomend the creation of cross border, "Devonwall" constituencies. This presents a serious risk to Cornwall's cultural and political integrity and we need to submit a strong case to the Commission to keep Cornwall as a discrete political entity. Please see http://boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/2018-review/

15.30 Summary Session: Preparing our case for the Boundary Commission

16.00 Finish

FREE PARKING available at Roskilly’s Field by St Keverne Band Room, TR12 6NG ALL WELCOME – Tickets £5 inc pasty lunch. Pre-booking advised before Friday 19th August, please download the booking form from the Gorsedh Kernow website http://gorsedhkernow.org.uk/esedhvos.html and click on the link to the booking form

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7pm An Kerdh /The Walk – A Community Play by the Mullion Cornish Language Group. A lighthearted play, written by Ellen Moule, about Mary Kelynack’s walk to London for the Great Exhibition of 1851. Free.

8pm Cornish Troyl/Ceilidh with Penzance Guizers St Keverne Parish Hall, Well Lane, TR12 6LZ. Free. Parking at Roskilly’s Field by St Keverne Band Room, TR12 6NG.

Saturday 3 rd September Gorsedh Kernow Bardic Ceremony including installation of new bards. All welcome to attend, bring the family. Free entry. 11am Cornish stalls open @ St Keverne Playing Field, School Hill, St Keverne TR12 6NQ. 1.30pm Grand Procession of Bards from St Keverne Primary School, School Hill, St Keverne. 2pm Gorsedh Kernow Bardic Ceremony will take place @ St Keverne Playing Field, School Hill, St Keverne TR12 6NQ. Free entry. All welcome. If wet, ceremony will take place in St Keverne Parish Church.

7pm Gala Concert @ St Keverne Parish Hall, Well Lane, St Keverne TR12 6LZ. Tickets £5 on the door. Parking at Roskilly’s Field by St Keverne Band Room. Full access for people with disabilities. With Maen Voes Choir, The An Gov Players, The An Gof Band and St Keverne Silver Band.

8.30pm Cornish singalong @ The White Hart Hotel, The Square, St Keverne. Led by Matthi Clarke. All welcome whether singers or not. Free. Full access for people with disabilities. Parking in The Square (if you can find a space!) or at Roskilly’s Field by St Keverne Band Room.

Sunday 4 th September 10.00am – 11.00am “Boden Vean prehistoric site and fogou” talk by James Gossip, Project Officer, Cornwall Council Archaeology Unit, @ Porthallow Village Hall, Porthallow, TR12 6PN followed by refreshments. Free. Full access for people with disabilities. Parking on beach outside hall.

11am - 1pm “Myttin Lowender” Cornish language taster session @ Porthallow Village Hall. Free. All welcome. Full access for people with disabilities. Car parking on beach outside.

3pm Evening Prayer in Cornish @ St Keverne Parish Church. Free with retiring collection for the church. All welcome. Entrance to St Keverne Parish Church is via the south door. Disabled access is via a path beside the Band Room which takes you into the churchyard and thence to the church.

Gorsedh Kernow Esedhvos Festival of Cornish Culture is supported by St Keverne Parish Council, St Keverne Primary School, St Keverne Local History Society, St Keverne Parish Church, Robinson Reed Layton, Chough’s Brewery, Cornish Sea Salt Company and The White Hart.

(Please note some details of the Esedhvos programme may be subject to change. Please visit our website www.gorsedhkernow.org.uk for the latest information)

***************************** Berdh Nowydh / New Bards The Admissions Secretary Marion Coombe, Cum Morek, has confirmed the names of those who have accepted the invitation to become bards at the St Keverne ceremony. The names of these new initiates will be announced shortly by press release and by publication on the Gorsedh Kernow website and Facebook page, but their bardic names will not be announced until the day of the bardic ceremony.

Pewasow Gorsedh Kernow / Gorsedh Kernow Awards Following a complete overhaul and merger of the former competitions and awards a new Awards scheme was launched this year which has attracted a record number of entries. It was agreed by the Gorsedh Council that from this year onwards a new and separate Awards presentation evening would take place on the Thursday of Esedhvos week (please see details in the programme above) where displays and performances would be staged for an open audience, with just one or two Awards being presented during the bardic ceremony on the Saturday. Awards winners announced so far can be found on the GK website, the link is http://gorsedhkernow.org.uk/wp/?p=413

Tegennow nowydh Awen / New Awen jewellery There are four new items available in the St Justin Cornish tin Awen range - tie slide, drop earrings, clip earrings and lapel pin. All of the Awen range, plus selected pieces from the Poldark range are available to purchase from the Gorsedh Kernow website http://gorsedhkernow.org.uk/shop.html or via the Treasurer, Jerry Rogers. It was agreed by the Gorsedh Council that profits from the sale of St Justin jewellery will be put into the Gorsedh Kernow Capital Endowment Fund, which is open to all bards to make contributions. Diskwedhyans Kernow Riel 2018 / Royal Cornwall Show 2018 Following a visit to and report back to the GK Council about this year’s Royal Cornwall Show by the Deputy Grand Bard, Elizabeth Carne, Melennek and the Communications Officer Delia Brotherton, Myrghwyn Melynor, a small but influential working group has been set up to spearhead an ambitious project led by Gorsedh Kernow to create a “Cultural Village” at the centre of the Royal Cornwall Showground in 2018. Culture and heritage represents a very important part of the Devolution Deal and it was felt that both were very poorly represented at Cornwall’s premier showcase. It was felt that 2017 was too soon to get organised properly and that the RCS was probably already well into the planning and booking stage. 2018 will coincide with the 90th anniversary of the revival of Gorsedh Kernow, the proposed opening of the new Kresen Kernow in Redruth and allow time for the potential inclusion of an exciting crowdpuller as a centrepiece.

Planning for this ambitious project will begin very soon and expressions of interest to be part of it are invited from Cornish cultural organisations who are asked to send details of their organsation including a named contact, email and telephone number to [email protected]

Skrifenyades Konsel Gorsedh Kernow / Secretary to Gorsedh Kernow Council Esther Johns, Tamm Steren, has reported that she will be stepping down as Secretary to the Gorsedh Kernow Council and that a replacement for this position is to be sought before the February 2017 Council meeting. A “job description”will be compiled and will be advertised among bards, but if you feel you can help with this important role please get in touch as soon as possible by contacting Grand Bard Merv Davey, Telynor an Weryn, by email [email protected]

We are also actively seeking a volunteer to help with Sales and Marketing who will work in conjunction with the Archives & Publications group and the Communications group. If you can help with this role we would love to hear from you, so please get in touch soon with Gareth Parry, Chairman of Gorsedh Kernow’s Archives & Publications group by email on [email protected]

Kovheans / In Memoriam We are sad to report the passing of Ruth Proctor HIRST, Covathor Cay Noweth. Ruth was made a bard in 1971 at Merry Maidens, St Buryan. Her funeral was held on Wednesday 18th May 2016 at St James Church, Bream, near Lydney, Gloucestershire.

We are also sad to report news of the passing of another of our bards, Elizabeth Ellen LUGG, Trevalga, who passed away peacefully at Poole Hospital on 9th May. Elizabeth was barded at Perran Round in 1985 after 30 years’ service to the Bournemouth Cornish Association. She was born in January 1922 at her grandparent’s house at Kenningstock Mill, near Camelford where her Grandfather was the miller. The family then returned to Trevalga, near Boscastle, where they lived for 35 years before moving to Dorset. Her funeral service took place at Poole (Dorset ) Crematorium on 9th June.

Also, another of our bards Miss Frances Audrey HOSIER, who died in July in a care home in Albaston, near Calstock. Her bardic name Pons Mur recalls the Great Bridge of Grampound where Frances was born in 1920. She was made a Bard in 1948 at Carwynnen, Camborne and her roles within the Gorsedh included being a former Council Member and a former Judge in the Gorsedh Verse Competition. Her funeral was held at St Eustachius Church, Tavistock on Friday 22nd July.

Ann Trevenen Jenkin, Bryallen attended the memorial service of the late Charles Thomas, Gwas Godhyan. She attended as a representative of Gorsedh Kernow and as a personal friend who had had a long association with him. His extensive library is to be donated to the Royal Cornwall Museum.

Azook ha Kuntell Covathor Covyon / Azook and the Ted Gundry Collection Azook Community Interest Company is a not-for-profit social enterprise dedicated to growing cultural confidence amongst Cornish communities by connecting people with their cultural heritage. Former BBC radio broadcaster and bard Ted Gundry, Covathor Covyon, worked closely with the Azook team digitising the vast collection of audio which he had recorded during his long and distinguished career. Although Ted passed away in April 2016, his desk here in the Azook office is just as he left it. Ted’s recordings are nationally important.

Recorded to the highest professional standards Ted began interviewing, or “having a little chat”, with people across Cornwall from the 1970s until 2016. Some of the older people on his earlier reels recount their memories from the 19th century. Many of the accents have since disappeared. Ted travelled widely, visiting Cornish communities across the globe. His collection is irreplaceable and he made the decision to gift his entire collection to Azook, knowing that they would work hard to create public access to his life’s work. Azook are now in the process of creating a project to realise Ted’s aspirations and they need your help to support this work. Some of the tapes are very fragile and it is a race against time to work on them before they deteriorate further. If you would like to make a contribution towards this work please visit the Azook website via the link for full details http://www.azook.org.uk/ted-gundry- collection/

Dedhyow dydhlyver / Diary dates Saturday 27th August 12.30pm Penryn Fair Day and Commemoration. Bardh Meur in attendance. Wednesday 31st August – Sunday 4th September GORSEDH KERNOW ESEDHVOS FESTIVAL OF CORNISH CULTURE – please see detailed programme above Saturday 17th September 2.30pm KESVA Cornish Language Board graduation ceremony, Council Chamber, Lys Kernow, Truro Sunday 18th September 3pm St Ive (Callington) Methodist Chapel Harvest Festival Sunday 25th September 3pm Treslothan Parish Church Harvest Festival Friday 30th September – Saturday 1st October SKIANS 2016 - Cornish language research network annual Conference, Venue TBC Monday 3rd October 5.30pm Truro Cathedral Solemn Sung Eucharist for the Feast of St German Saturday 15th October 10am – 1pm Cornish Language Forum open meeting, Lys Kernow, Truro

Nessa Lyther Newodhow Bardhek / Next Bardic Newsletter News and information to be included in the next newsletter, for November & December 2016 and January 2017, should be submitted to Delia Brotherton, Myrghwyn Melynor, Communications Officer by email to [email protected] by the 15th of October 2016 please. If you have an email address and wish to receive the newsletter electronically please tell the Membership Secretary, David Holman on [email protected] Although everyone receives the quarterly newsletter there are often “short notice” events that members who receive paper copy will not hear about. You can also catch up with the latest news about Gorsedh Kernow on our website

www.gorsedhkernow.org.uk or you can or follow us on

If you use Facebook or Twitter it would be great if you would please “LIKE” the Gorsedh Kernow Facebook page and “FOLLOW” the GK Twitter page. Meur ras bras – many thanks.

Terebo nessa / Until next time………. Myrghwyn Melynor / Delia Brotherton.