Michael Kenneth (Mick) Paynter (Skogynn Pryv (Worm's Fool))

Born in Cornwall in 1948 he has lived most of his life in St Ives. He was educated in St Ives, Humphry Davy Grammar in Penzance and at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

For a short time he lived in London and Exeter before his return across the Tamar to work in John Heathcoat's factory at Pool.

For the next 30 years he was a tax officer, first in Redruth, and later in Penzance, where he was involved as a Trade Union Representative.

He began learning Cornish in 1999, becoming a Bard of the Gorseth in 2003 at Launceston. He has written three books of Cornish verse and is the language sub editor of Poetry Cornwall/Bardhonyeth/Kernow.

He is supporter of all things Cornish and of our precious language and culture.