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Federation
of Old Cornwall Societies Newsletter
No 4 Summer 2008 |
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This Newsletter is for every member and anyone interested in Old Cornwall, what it is
about and what it is doing. Please
photocopy and circulate it as widely as possible.
The
Good News!
The
Federation has gained another affiliate in the Mawnan Old Cornwall
Society. This splendid news was welcomed by the President Ron Opie / Map
Carn Brea as “a great
pleasure” and the new Society as “a great asset”.
Mawnan OCS has had a former 10-year life as the Mawnan History
Group, which produced The Book of
Mawnan and we welcome enthusiastically all their members, old and
new, ‘into the fold’. The
Not-So-Good News
It
seems that Landewednack OCS has been unable to sustain itself through a
lack of would-be officers, and so is no more.
Its funds have been wound up and passed to the Federation.
This is a sorry event, but we hope that its members will enrol in
neighbouring Societies to continue their support of Old Cornwall. Miss
Rendell steps
down Bill
Roberts / Scryfer
Lanstefan
writes – At
the Spring Council meeting, held in Truro, Miss Joan Rendell, Cornish
bard Scryfer
Weryn,
who has been secretary of the Federation for almost 30 years resigned.
The Federation President, Mr Ron Opie thanked Miss Rendell for
her many years of service, which has included the organising of
Federation holidays throughout the United Kingdom over the last 15 to 20
years. He presented
her with a gift token for a garden seat and she was made a Life Member
of the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies. Miss Rendell, who is a past
President of the Federation, is still Honorary Secretary of the
Launceston Old Cornwall Society and is actively connected with many
societies and organisations within the Launceston and Werrington areas,
being Clerk to Werrington Parish Council for over 60 years and secretary
of St Martin of Tours Church, Werrington. Miss
Rendell wrote to the President as follows - The
garden seat so kindly presented to me on my retirement as Federation
honorary secretary has been delivered and is beautiful. My gardener is
going to position it next week when he comes to tidy up the garden after
the winter storms and we shall choose the sunniest spot! Will
you please be so kind as to convey to all my friends in the Federation
who have contributed to this splendid gift my warmest thanks for the
present. I certainly never expected such a thing (or anything, for that
matter) as I had only done my job as secretary, have always found it
enjoyable and interesting and have made many dear friends through it. I
have recently received many lovely letters from a number of Societies
and to all of them I am eternally grateful. The
seat is just in time for the start of summer and I hope to spend many
happy hours enjoying it in my little garden. My
very grateful thanks to everyone concerned; I will now have a constant
reminder of many happy friendships and shall be thinking of all those
friends every time I sit on the seat. With
all good wishes to you and everyone concerned. And
so does Mr Tangye … Michael
Tangye / Whythrer Meyn,
the Federation’s Archaeological Recorder for the past 25 years has
tendered his resignation. Michael’s
undying enthusiasm for archaeology and all local history is well-known,
and it is not a loss of interest that causes him to relinquish the
office, rather that he wishes to offer an opportunity for someone else
to take on a role from which he has gained so much enjoyment.
The Federation owes him an enormous debt of gratitude for a job
well done. Success
- at last! Revd.
Brian Coombes / Cummow
writes - Following
Handbook of the Cornish language
(1904) published by Henry Jenner / Gwas
Myghal,
which enabled the learning of Cornish, in 1929 Robert Morton Nance / Mordon
published Cornish for all
which ‘Unified’ the spelling and grammar on the basis of the Middle
Ages, the time of the Cornish plays, the Ordinalia. Although
it had its critics, this Unified Cornish provided the basis for teaching
and use of Cornish. In
1984 Ken George / Profus an Mortyd
proposed re-spelling on a phonetic (one letter, one sound) system and
this Common (“Kemmyn”) Cornish was adopted by the Cornish Language
Board (Kesva an Tavas Kernewek) although a minority continued with
Unified. At
the same time Dick Gendall / Gelvynak
lead a movement to revive the last-spoken Cornish from the 17th
century (“Late” or “Modern” Cornish) and this has its adherents.
Further Nicholas Williams of Dublin has suggested modifying
Unified on the basis of the later literature of the Middle Ages (Life
of Meriasek, Gwreans an Bys), now sometimes called “Tudor”. However,
Cornish gained official recognition and there was a need to teach it in
schools. The County Council
appointed Jenefer Lowe / Gwythvosen
as Language Development Officer
(later joined by Elizabeth Stewart / Losowenn
an Hav as Administrator), with a
Cornish Language Partnership to represent all parties.
With the help of experienced linguists from other Celtic
countries and elsewhere a “Single Written Form” has been devised for
teaching in schools and official use such as street signs.
Although different forms will continue to be used, the SWF should
be welcomed and supported. Tribute
must be paid to all concerned, especially to Jenefer Lowe and Elizabeth
Stewart but, for us, above all to Bill Glanville / Wylmet
Maghteth Lanherne, the
Federation’s nominee on the steering group for all her hard work in a
difficult job. Speaker
Phillip
Hunt / Lef a Vrest
of Saltash, well-known in musical circles, is offering Societies the
opportunity to hear his new presentation entitled “An Audience with A
L Rowse”. It
consists of recordings made by Phillip and others in which Dr Rowse / Lef
a Gernow talks about all aspects
of his life, in his typically forthright way, interspersed and linked
with Phillip’s own personal recollections.
Anyone interested can contact him on 01752-843919 or by email on brassmanpgh@uwclub.net
. Speaking Tour Two Australian Cornish cousins, Tom Luke / Colon
hag Enef yn Bendigo and his wife Libby will be visiting Kernow from 4 September to 17 September staying in Redruth. They
are happy to do talks for Old Cornwall Societies whilst they are here.
When asked if they charged a fee Tom wrote “Definitely
not.
We are only trying to promote Kernow and its effect worldwide,
particularly Australia.” They have donated copies of all the CD's and
DVD's they have produced to the Cornish Studies Library, Redruth and
have run a Worldwide Cornish Mailing List for over 10 years with about
400 current members. Here
are some samples of their multi-media presentations which you can choose
from: 1. The
Cornwall we love. "An Gernow a Geryn". A DVD is available from
the Gorseth on this. 7.
From Cornwall to the Mallee If
you are interested in having them along for a session then please send
Tom an e-mail at the following address but don’t delay as it will be
on a first come basis: tomluke@optusnet.com.au Preservation
Work Redruth
OCS has been fighting a planning application to build an agricultural
warehouse and various other structures on protected land below St Euny
Church, following on from unauthorised preparatory excavations being
undertaken. Some initial success has been achieved with the local
authority firstly taking enforcement action upon the excavation work,
and then refusing consent upon the buildings.
Inevitably the applicant has appealed and the results of a Public
Inquiry are awaited. This
is very much in line with our declared objectives and it is regrettable
that more OCSs do not feel that they should take a firm line against inappropriate
development destroying valuable fragments of old Cornwall which are
still left to us. Dialect The
Honorary Dialect Recorder, Brian Stevens, observed in his Report to the
June Executive Committee - Sadly since the
Spring meeting contributions from our 46 societies have been nil, but I
can present a report drawn from a certain source and my own research. Last week my wife
came home to tell me that a St. Ives woman whom she had met said to her
that the weather was ‘a bit shimmy’ You see the lady had dressed for
being in the sun, but when she came into a windy area she had the
shivers, hence shimmy = 'shivery'. Over the past twelve
months I have had the opportunity to research at the Morrab Library at
Penzance, and in the course of looking at indexes to certain 19th
century Cornish-based Journals, noted that there was quite an interest
in dialect. Therefore I thought for my own personal contribution for the
Federation Dialect Archives I would transcribe some of these. This I
have found most profitable and trust that perhaps others might do
likewise when they come across a list of Dialect words especially with
some comments added to them. In faith I am
trusting that I shall have news from other Societies for the Autumn
Federation Meeting and will then be able to present a more county wide
selection of our dialect. In the meantime please take back to your own
Society members that Cornish Dialect, Cornish likes and Dialect stories
are always welcome to be received by your Federation Dialect Recorder. I
am no further away than my address and phone number as printed in the
Old Cornwall journal. To
contribute to the dialect archive, Brian can be contacted at 20 Trenwith
Terrace, St Ives, TR26 1QE; Tel
01736-798017. Is
anybody there? As
a part of the Federation’s drive to improve communications with Old
Cornwall Societies, the President has been collecting and circulating
the postal addresses and telephone numbers of Societies’ officers.
At the last General Meeting in County Hall he also circulated a
request for email addresses for those willing to act on behalf of a
Society relaying communications and news items.
Many Society members responded but, at the time of writing, email
contacts are still needed for those listed below.
If you are willing to act in this for your Society, please email
your contact details to the President at ronopieathotmail.co.uk
(replacing at
with @). Bude,
Goonhavern, Hayle, Helston, Kea, Liskeard, Lostwithiel, Luxulyan,
Newquay, Padstow, Penryn & Falmouth, Perranzabuloe, St Buryan, St
Columb, St Goran, St Just & Pendeen, Saltash, Tintagel, and Torpoint. Enquiry Former
Grand Bard Rod Lyon / Tewennow
has requested knowledge from OC members regarding fishermen's landmarks
used to locate their fishing grounds.
Please contact him if you can help (tel 01209-831538). Royal
Cornwall Show Mrs
Bill Glanville and Mrs Val Bennallick of St Columb OCS with help from
Rev Barry Kinsmen / Bugel
Petrok of Padstow
OCS manned the stand (set up by David Stark / Tyskennor nans Vynnyk
and Terry Knight / Tresulwythen)
providing their usual warm welcome to interested show visitors over the
three days – quite a commitment.
They responded to a substantial number of enquiries, and received
over £285 gross income from the bookstall which will further the
objectives of Old Cornwall. So
it was a most successful event. Society
News PAR
OLD CORNWALL SOCIETY – Barbara Seed writes: The Par Old Cornwall
Society exhibition entitled “Celebrating Cornish Life” was held at
St Mary’s Church, St Blazey Gate from 15th – 17th May 2008. The exhibition was staged to support the launch
of the Par OCS Millennium project book “Par
Excellence” which has been researched and written by the
society’s chairman, Derek Reynolds, Cornish Bard Map Penwethers.
The book is priced at £6 and is available at the Par Post Office
on Par Green or by contacting the Hon Secretary, Barbara Seed, on 01726
814286. UK inland
postage/packing is £2.00 The exhibition featured displays on :-
ST.
IVES OLD CORNWALL SOCIETY: Mary Quick / Ow Melder
writes - Recently,
members and friends enjoyed an outing by coach in beautiful weather.
Known to the Old Cornwall movement as a ‘pilgrimage’, the first stop
was at ShelterBox headquarters for an introductory talk in a small room
from where the organisation began operations. It was the brain-child of
Rotarian Tom Henderson, former Royal Navy search-and-rescue diver and
marine consultant, who at first used his own funds. Nowadays, ShelterBox
is a humanitarian aid charity, sending emergency aid to disaster victims
all around the world, affiliated to Rotary clubs in many countries. Moving
into the large warehouse, we were given a guided tour of the
building’s various sections. Everywhere were stores of vital supplies
and the now famous green boxes waiting to be filled with life-saving
equipment. However, without the vital assistance of dedicated
volunteers, who often give up their annual leave to the project, it
could not function. Just one example was the large stock of
double-skinned plastic plates and bowls, six items of each wrapped in
film, time consuming work. Each box contains items selected to give a
family of 10 the basics of survival for a minimum of six months.
Although tailored to the different needs of recipient countries, tents
and water purifiers are always included. The organisers continually look
for ways to improve on the Box’s contents, and having recently fallen
foul of the USA’s insistence that water purifying tablets should be
classed as food, came up with an alternative; a self-sufficient
handy-sized unit providing clean drinking water that can even be hung on
a wall. Such innovations are continually sought. Boxes
are filled by means of a kind of assembly line. On a long shelf, fitted
with sections, volunteers set out the various items to be included; pots
and pans, tools, blankets and specially adapted ground-sheets. Dignity
has been considered with the inclusion of wooden spoons, a snip at
twopence each, eliminating the need to use a stick for stirring.
Everything that can be contained is protected in canvas packs that are
easier to arrange in boxes. There are special small packs for children,
containing drawing materials, pencils, chalk and a small black-board.
Each box is numbered and costs £490, which includes all expenses;
patrons are able, if they wish, to follow a particular one to its
destination. Transport can be a difficult and expensive procedure,
especially in countries where victims of disaster are often distant from
distribution centres. ShelterBox’s own teams travel with the aid boxes
often working with larger agencies which have more facilities. These
volunteers have intensive training, and judging by some of the
difficulties they have to overcome, need to be inventive, diplomatic,
resourceful, patient, and quick-witted. ShelterBox now owns the building
from which it operates, so greatly relieving the pressure on funds. Our
visit ended with a 6 minute video of African families amongst their
ruined homes and environment. It is almost impossible to imagine the
difference ShelterBox has made to the lives of 500,000 people
world-wide, and is well worth supporting. Our
party then moved on to Trevarno House and gardens, one-time home of the
Bickford-Smith family, whose fortune came from the invention of the
miners’ safety fuse. The estate was offered for sale in 1994 in 300
lots, but was purchased wholesale by two businessmen, who have pledged
that it will remain as a country house estate, and have plans for
further improvements such as walled gardens. Tea was taken in a very
large conservatory filled with exotic plants, where a water-fountain
completed the pleasant scene. Outside were green lawns and ancient trees
that have stood for many years, where peacocks and other fowl strutted
around freely. The contrast to the scenes revealed at ShelterBox was
inescapable, bringing realisation of how fortunate we are to live in a
land rarely visited by such tragedies. ShelterBox is to be congratulated
upon its heroic efforts to alleviate the sufferings of those not so
fortunate, which greatly impressed members of our party. May it continue
to attract loyal volunteers and donations, so enabling it to carry on
successfully. Cornish Bards in Australia Bill Roberts / Scryfer
Lanstefan
writes – Four Bards of the Cornish
Gorseth - Old Cornwall members - attended the 21st Cornish Assembly held
at Ballarat, Victoria, Australia in March.
They joined 27 Australian Bards in the re-enactment of the
Cornish Gorseth, which was held as part of a weekend in which 163
delegates from various parts of Australia had gathered.
The four, who were given a special welcome, with each bringing
greetings from their respective areas of Cornwall, were Keith Shaw / Kaswydth
and his wife Barbara / Menetor
a’n Ertach
of Callington OCS, Bill Roberts of Launceston OCS and Howard Curnow / Kernow
of St Hilary. Mrs Shaw also
brought greetings from the Grand Bard, Mrs Vanessa Beeman / Gwenenen.
The ceremony, held at 10am on
Brown’s Hill saw a welcome by the deputy mayor of Ballarat. During the proceedings, the lady of Victoria presented a
bouquet of dried flowers etc to the celebrant, following a dance by the
flower girls. This was only
part of a host of events held over a very hot weekend, which included a
“Meet the Cornish,” an Aussie breakfast, lectures, trips, concerts,
Cornish dancing, picnics and much more.
The whole ceremony was a very moving occasion. On the Friday evening during
“Meet the Cornish” there was a book launch — Our
Heritage, our Treasure by Joy Menhennet / Benneth
Lowen.
In it she gives a brief history of the Ballarat Cornish
Association and several historical facts of families who left Cornwall
during the early 1800’s in search of gold and from which the towns of
Ballarat and Bendigo grew. Howard Curnow gave a tale of the Cornish
pasty and in song told of
one made by a well known national supermarket —
which included peas, carrots and ..... a tin of kitty-cat?
Pure Cornish humour which delighted everyone. For anyone interested in Joy
Menhennet’s book, details came be obtained from: joymenheatvic.chariot.net.au (substitute the
symbol @ for at
in the address). It will
make for an interesting read. David Stark’s The Banners of the Old Cornwall Societies was given to Bill
Phillips / Mapwyn Whel Ros
from
Bendigo, one of the main organisers of the weekend, who with his wife
Gwen / Ertach
Penwyth
are both Bards. “It
was a book I was going to send for,” he said.
He was overjoyed to find out that the book had been signed by the
author. The Federation of Old Cornwall
Societies’ website has been overwhelmingly received by the Australian
Cornish. One of the things
they enjoy reading is the Federation’s Newsletters.
Perhaps in future they will send
some short articles to appear in this newsletter, so as to inform
people home hear of what they get up to! Many of the delegates present
had never been able to come to ‘their homeland’ to see exactly where
their families originated. Relatives Sought Betty Johns has asked the
Federation if they could help by seeing if she still has relatives by
the name of Phillips from Mount Hawke and Moyle from Redruth.
If anyone can help her, she would love to hear from them.
Her address is Box 155, Casterton, Victoria, Australia 3311.
Where Betty
is concerned the
Australian Cornish Associations
are extremely proud
of her, as she has recently, at the age of 73, gained some
extremely high marks in learning the Cornish language, both
orally and written, and during the
Friday evening proceedings, she was awarded
a plaque for her
achievements. The Cornish contingent were
overwhelmed by the fact that the delegates who attended from various
Cornish Societies in Australia have a tremendous love for Cornwall, each
one hailing from families who had emigrated all those years ago and in
fact they were found to be more loyal to Cornwall than many of the Cornish themselves! Forthcoming
Events September:
Gorseth One
of the spectacles of the event is the display of Old Cornwall Society
banners in the parade to and from the bardic circle.
The Federation’s Banners
book reveals their splendour and it is an excellent way to advertise our
existence as an organisation.
It would be wonderful indeed if every one of our Societies could
be represented at the Gorseth ‘flying the flag’.
How about it? October: AGM The
Federation’s AGM, which will be at County Hall on Saturday 4th
October at 2:00pm, is open to all members (although only two from any
Society are entitled to vote).
This is another chance to meet friends, make new ones, ands to
learn what the organisation has been and will be doing. November: Winter Festival After our spell of holding the Winter Festivals at
Wadebridge we have been invited by the Bodmin OCS to hold this year’s
celebrations at Bodmin Community College, Lostwithiel Road, Bodmin. It
will take place on Saturday 1st November starting at 2:00pm.
There will be lots of space to park free of charge. The speaker will be Mr Peter Davies.
Incidentally,
the remarks about the banners in the Gorseth paragraph above apply
equally here, and it is so disappointing in the role call of Societies
when a Society is called and no one is present.
Remember, all members are welcome. Note.
In the Old Cornwall Journal
No.5 (April 1927) A report on the 1927 Winter Festival held in January
says: “The most notable feature of this was perhaps the performance of
some dialect plays that were specially written for the occasion.” In
Journal No.9 there is an article on a Cornish Three Men’s Song, which says that it was performed in
Cornish by members of the St Ives OCS at the Winter Festival, which had
been held in Penzance. Publications Honorary
Publications Officer Contact
details: Mrs Anne Knight,
Wingfield, 5 British Road, St Agnes, TR5 0TX;
tel. 01872-552921; email:
knightatwingfield5.fsnet.co.uk (substitute the
symbol @ for at in
the address). New
Publications Published
in time for the Summer Festival and particularly aptly timed in view of
its location this year is Jason Semmens’s fine tribute to William
Henry Paynter / Whyler Pystry, writer, broadcaster, founding member of
Callington OCS, Cornish bard, creator of the Cornish Museum at Looe, and
researcher into Cornwall’s folk traditions.
The 256-page book - The
Cornish Witch finder: William
Henry Paynter and the Witchery, Ghosts, Charms and Folklore of Cornwall
- and will be available from the Hon. Publications Officer direct, from
our online shop www.shop.oldcornwall.org,
at a very reasonable £11.95 (plus p & p where required).
David
Stark’s The Banners of the Old Cornwall Societies continues to
sell, and it is a book which every OC member should have, and which
everyone can afford at just £3.00.
Once ‘Twas Serpentine
and Fish: Cadgwith by Michael Tangye has sold very well indeed
but copies are still obtainable. Other publications, such as the fine
series on the Stone Crosses of Cornwall by Andrew Langdon / Dyffresyas
Crowsow can also
be supplied. All
the Federation’s books (with the exception of the Banners
title) are obtainable from any decent bookshop. However, we have noticed
that local bookshops may have to order them in.
If you don’t see our books on their shelves, ask them why –
they may not know they exist – and tell them of our website for
contacts – “oldcornwall.org” is easy to remember. Old
Cornwall
journal It
seems likely that not every Old Cornwall member has the chance to see
every issue of Old Cornwall. If
in your Society the journal is handed directly only to those who
regularly ‘subscribe’ and you never get the chance to buy one, why
not ask? It is a
bargain at a mere £1.50 to Societies containing as it does 64 pages
minimum of writing about a wide variety of Cornish topics (see the FOCS
website for indexes of past contents). Postal subscriptions are also available to anyone
reading this Newsletter wherever you may be. Online
Bookshop This
is an easy way to buy the Federation’s publications, and items such as
the Cornish serviettes, OC badges, St Piran pin & bead badges, etc. Go to www.shop.oldcornwall.org
and pay via Paypal or credit card. Old
Cornwall members and their publications A
reminder that OC members can place their publications with us to sell
for a modest 20% fee. [This
must not conflict with any existing arrangement with a commercial
distributor]. Society
requests for additional books, journals, etc If
you wish to have extra copies to sell at an event, please can you let
Anne know in good time.
Our stock is kept in a store and needs to be fetched – I keep
just a few copies at home for immediate despatch. Website
Society
Secretaries are reminded that the new season’s programmes will be
needed by our Webmaster, George Pritchard (2 Penhalvean Cottages,
Redruth, Kernow) if your meetings and other events are to be listed on
your web pages. It
also keeps the information about any changes of officers are made
following elections. Members’
Competition Members
will recall that the Federation used to hold an annual Essays
Competition. Enthusiasm
for this waned and it ceased a few years ago.
We wish to try an alternative idea of a competitive project.
This is directed at Societies more than individuals (although no
one would be excluded) and we are hoping that, in line with our stated
objective to ‘gather the fragments’, this year teams of members will
work together to amass research and reminiscences on the theme of “The
War in Our Area” and produce a Project File which can be added to the
Federation’s collection at the Courtney Library.
The winning Society would hold the trophy for one year.
If suitable, publication of the results in part or whole would be
a possibility. More
information can be obtained from the website. The
Competition will run until Saturday 31st January 2009 and
entries should be submitted to: Mr
David Stark, Orchard Lodge, London Apprentice, St Austell, Kernow, PL26
7AR: Tel 01726-75423.
It would be interesting for the Executive to be aware if your
Society is already working towards an entry, and so perhaps you can let
Mr Stark know? Winter
Newsletter Please send any items for inclusion in the next Newsletter to Bill Roberts, at b.robertsatthepost.co.uk or Terry Knight, email knightatwingfield5.fsnet.co.uk (substitute the symbol @ for at in the addresses); or by post to Wingfield, 5 British Road, St Agnes, Kernow, TR5 0TX. |
