Gorseth Kernow: Previous News 2005
 

John Bolitho

There is very sad news: John Bolitho, Jowan an Cleth, past Grand Bard, died on Monday 5th December.

The funeral procession led by the Gorseth Piper and the Royal Naval Association
standard bearer, both in Cornish tartan kilts

The funeral of John Bolitho took place in Bude on Tuesday 13th December 2005. Estimates of the number of mourners vary from 600 to 1,000. The service at the Methodist Chapel included a personal tribute from Grand Bard Rod Lyon/Tewennow in Cornish and English. This personal tribute and more pictures can be seen by clicking here. There cannot have been a dry eye when John’s 8 year old grand daughter sang “Amazing Grace”.

A procession of several hundred people, representing the many organizations John supported, followed the coffin the half mile to the churchyard. The procession was led by the Gorseth Piper and the Royal Naval Association standard bearer. They passed a café with the Cornish flag at half mast, and a Hotel with all the staff respectfully lined up along the front.

Part of the huge crowd at the funeral

The reception in a Hotel included the Cornish music of which John was so much a part. John never sought publicity for himself, but of Cornwall he could have sung “I have loved you dearly, more dearly than the spoken word can tell...”.

A brief biography can be found by clicking on Grand Bards Gallery and pictures of John’s visits to Australia are still on this site, to see them click here.

2006 Competitions Under Way

The 2006 Gorseth Kernow competitions are now under way. There are classes for both adults and young people in poetry, prose, Cornish studies, music (in English or Cornish), art and photography.

Full details of the classes and rules for entry are now available on this site. The closing date is 31st March 2006 and the awards will be presented by the Grand Bard at the Open Gorseth in Redruth on the first Saturday in September 2006.

For full details click here.

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Holyer an Gof 2006

Entries are now being sought for the Holyer an Gof Awards for 2006, for a Cornish publication produced during the calendar year of 2005.

The closing date for the receipt of all entries is Friday 24th February 2006. The Award Evening will be in July 2006.

This year there are seven categories.

For full details please ring Ann Trevenen Jenkin, chair of Holyer an Gof 2005-6, on or email .

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Gorseth Conference October 2005

Over 100 people attended the Gorseth Conference at Perranzabuloe organized by Eileen Carter / Gwythyades an log. In the morning Dick Cole explained the excavations the Cornwall Archaeological Unit have made at the 2nd church.

The Oratory, which some people think may have been built by St Piran himself in the 5th Century, was reburied in 1980. It is under the "hillock" in the center of the picture. The 10th or 11th Century second church was built on higher ground about 200 metres behind the camera.


In the afternoon the excavations at the second church were visited. In 1803/04 this church and cemetery were abandoned due to encroaching sand. Some of the stone and window frames were used in the present parish church about 2 miles inland.

For more information about the St Piran project click on www.st-piran.com.

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Myghal Palmer

Bard Michael Palmer (Perhyryn) died on Thursday 20th October, 2005 at the age of 70. He was made a Bard at Padstow in 1986 through his proficiency in Cornish.

Michael worked assiduously on behalf of the language for the remainder of his life, was a member of the group 'Agan Tavas', and was a popular man with everybody. He wrote many books, including, 'Jory', Rebellyans' ha 'Dyvroans', the latter being part novel and part the history of his family, who emigrated to Australia in the 19th century. He is a man who will be missed by us all.

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Breffni Hosking

Breffni Hosking died on the 23rd July, 2005. He was born in Australia but made a Bard when he was in Cornwall in 1951, at Padstow, taking the Bardic name 'Molgh Cannas'. He was received into the Gorseth for his work in the arts and the theatre. Breffni was the longest-serving Bard in Australia.

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The Wadebridge Gorseth

The Gorseth Piper and St Piran banner lead the procession back to the Town Hall

The Gorseth at Wadebridge on Saturday 3rd September 2005 took place in ideal weather conditions and was supported by over 300 bards.

For a gallery of pictures of this wonderful day and the splendid concert please click here.

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Geoff Orient/Howldrevel

Geoff Orient has died suddenly. He was 57 and the partner of Sue Roberts (Kembroes). He became a bard of the Cornish Gorseth in 1999 taking the bardic name Howldrevel. The Gorseth sends their condolences.

For a tribute from the Grand Bard, click here

Open Gorseth GK05

Egloshayle Road, Wadebridge
Saturday 3rd September 2005 at 14:15

Strategy For The Cornish Language

[left] Jori Ansell [right] Falmouth (Aberfal)

The Cornish language has had a momentous year: to read the report of the Strategy Steering Group Chairman to the Closed Gorsedd (in English), click here

The new minister for Local Government, Phil Woolas, has agreed to provide £80,000 for each of the next three years which (with an additional £20,000 from local sources) will be used as match funding for an Objective 1 bid for the development of Cornish. The money is specifically earmarked for the Objective 1 bid and cannot be used for any other purpose.

The cornerstone to the implementation of the Strategy will be the appointment of a Language Development Manager, with support staff and budget, to begin the work. The minister also approved the formation of a management committee, to include representatives of all the language organisations, councils and other Cornish bodies including the Gorsedd.

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Lilian James/Ula Ruthvelen

The Order of Australia Medal (OAM) has been awarded to Mrs Lilian James/Ula Ruthvelen for her service to the community particularly through the preservation and teaching of the Cornish Language. Mrs James became a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedd in 1988.

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Cornish Bards Meet In Australia

The Secretary Barbara Shaw/ Mentenor a'n Ertach, Ann Jenkin/ Bryallen, Rod Pascoe/ Gwas Jago and Professor Philip Payton/ Car Dyvresow, attended the annual gathering of Cornish Bards in South Australia in May 2005.

It took place in the week of the huge Cornish Festival centered on the Cornish Mining towns of Moonta, Kadina and Wallarroo.

Pictures of a previous festival are in this web site's archive and can be accessed from the site search engine.

[left] The Secretary and Tom Luke / Colon hag Enef yn Bendygo live 10,000 miles apart but are united by their work for Cornwall.
[right] Past Grand Bard Ann Trevenen Jenkin with the sheaf leading the bardic procession.

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Strategy For The Cornish Language

Gorseth Kernow met recently with Richard Bayly (GOSW, Government Office South West): it was a very useful meeting.

[Standing, left to right] Tony Steel (GOSW), Rod Lyon/Tewennow (Barth Mur), David Lindo/Carer Lowarthow (Alwhedhor), Richard Bayly (Head of GOSW, Plymouth). [Sitting, left to right] District Councillor John Bolitho/Jowan an Cleth (Past Grand Bard), Rev Brian Coombes/Cumow (Gorseth Chaplain), Vanessa Beeman / Gwenenen (Cannas Barth Mur).

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Gorseth Calendar 2006 and Cornish Christmas Cards

For full details please click here.

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St. Piran's Day 2005

The Pilgrims snake around the Towans to St. Piran's Cross at Perranzabuloe

St. Piran's Day was celebrated throughout Cornwall with many processions and events, most of them supported by Bards of the Gorseth.

[left] Howard Curnow, Kernow, at the cross, where pilgrims have laid their daffodils to honour St. Piran. [right] The Marshal, Maureen Fuller, Steren Mor; the Secretary, Barbara Shaw, Mentenor a'n Ertach; and Past Grand Bard, John Bolitho, Jowan an Cleth.