Gunwalloe - Church Cove
View across Church Cove in Gunwalloe at the base of the Lizard Peninsula.
The church is St Winwalloe with it's distinctively seperate bell tower and surrounding Tamarisk hedge....
newlyn house
Wonderfully painted frontage....
rogers tower
A folly built 18th C, for Mr Rogers, a local landowner....
Pol is Swordbearer in fact, and a fluent speaker. But like everyone else he's stuck with a script written by Jenner or Nance decades ago in the dawn of the revival.
How active the 'honoury bards' are I couldn't say, although they might well come out of the woodwork to oppose anything remotely radical. It's one thing to honour someone because you think they're a Jolly Good Chap, but is it right that ever after they should have a say in the running of the organisation? Do the sums. People are honoured for being secretary of the Trepolpen OCS for 40 years, etc. So they won't be on the young side. Then they remain bards til death, bit like the peerage. Is it just me, or has the average age increased over the years? What about barding people who you think are going to do great things, rather than waiting until they've past their peak -- fast-track bardship for rising stars maybe? Or some sort of parallel structure that does the dynamic bit leaving the old guard in peace to sing their dirges? If all else fails a fringe? Bit of street theater??
In my case, I was made a Bard for services to Cornish archaeology, after years of spare time, unpaid measured surveys of archaeological sites. I was nominated by the late Peter Pool, who was told that by the Gorsedd Council that they would not entertain my installation unless I wrote a book. So he suggested it and I did.
I became thoroughly disillusioned a few years later when I nominated Tony Blackman for his huge efforts to get Cornish subjects taught in schools (you might remember the folder containing details on all sorts of Cornish subjects, with an impressive number of contributors). They flatly refused that nomination but, instead, installed someone from a European country who had passed an exam in Cornish and who had never been to Britain, let alone Cornwall. To me, that added insult to injury.
OK, Tony was finally and deservedly Barded a few years later but that didn't explain the initial refusal.
You also publically criticised the Gorseth while a bard and refused to stop when requested. Why are you surprised that the Gorseth was less than cooperative with you?
They paraded through Looe on Saturday, I watched them whilst waiting for my bus to the footy. I must admit the average age looked to be about 85. I’m sure most people around the town didn’t have a clue what was going on!
I think it is best to stick to discussing the Gorseth as an institution and not about individual bards. I know many individuals who are hard workers for the culture and committed. However, they would probably still work in the same way if they weren't bards.
The comment about the procession by Fancyabrew is the impression most people in Cornwall have I reckon.
The question is: how to you alter that impression?
That is totally incorrect, so-called Archdruid and, if you insist that it is, then I will require proof. I complained - not publicly but to the Gorsedd Council - about the conduct of certain bards publicly attacking others; and then the deliberate sabotage of one bard's work by other bards - all totally against the Gorsedd's own code of conduct. Chesterfield chose to attack me instead for daring to challenge his cronies' conduct.
I did not go public until AFTER I had resigned my bardship.
So get it right, pal. Or, if you choose to make false statements about me, at least have the spine to do it under your own name.
This is all very interesting... now may I ask you all another question. If you had the power to do one thing to substantially improve the perception and effectiveness of the Gorseth, what would that be?
Those robes don't do it for me at all, I understand the history and the analogy between the other Celtic bards, but seriously they're so old fashioned.
They should be targeting a younger generation, encouraging the uptake of the language and the dancing and greater appreciation of the culture.
Until I seriously became interested in all things Cornish, when i was about 21 I hadn't even heard of them.
I have to say its a lot like MK, they are starting to focus on younger people, but for years they've been the beard and sandal party.
When are Cornish organisations going to realise that the strongest empathy is with the under 30s~40s. We're the one starting families, and its the Cornish organisations job to instill in us the Cornish values, which we can pass to our children.
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Where there's a Negative - there's always a Positive. You just have to find it.
Get them to find a way to relate to ordinary Cornish people; to interact with them in such a way that they will no longer be seen as a blue-robed elite but a real part of the Cornish scene.
I'd like to see the Gorsedd rid itself of the internal cliques that exist. Ban the term "language bard" for a start. A bard is a bard, irrespective of why he/she was installed in the first place. You don't get "archaeology bards", "music bards", "literary bards", so why this term that sets one set of bards apart from the rest?
I'd also like to see them grow a backbone (along with ArchDruid) and tackle head-on those central government issues that threaten to submerge Cornish identity and culture. I know that they have written and so on, but all in nice polite language. Namby-pamby words that make no impression whatsoever. I'd like them to go in hard. Hard hitting words. Gloves off. The current threats against us are alarmingly serious (the latest being the almost total erasure of Cornish culture from "Culture South West"). The Gorsedd has the potential to be the Champion of Cornwall and the Cornish people - hell, it contains all the talent that's needed - but it must learn to throw a few good punches and a few low blows besides.
There are no "language bards", but there are bards who have been installed for proficiency in the Cornish language. The perception of "language bards" as a distinct group says much about the prejudices of the perceiver. "Language bards" do not exist as a distinct group within the Gorsedd.
Perhaps people's criticism of the Gorsedh is that they do not argue as much, often in public, as other Cornish organisations. Perhaps this is an essential part of Cornish culture
More seriously, the news page of the Gorsedh website shows some interesting stuff, here and overseas:
Cornish culture certainly being seen to being enhanced there. More than I've seen recently by any other organisation.
A serious organisation like the Gorsedh should be approached directly with suggestions through the proper channels, not aired on a troll-ridden rat pit like this.
Accused teacher's apology letter
A letter of apology to sex abuse victims was not an admission of guilt a former outdoor instructor says.
Fewer Cornish homes repossessed
Fewer homes have been repossessed in Cornwall in the past year, bucking the national trend.
Man in court over shooting death
A man appears in court charged with murdering the father of his former girlfriend in Cornwall.
Robbery gang sentenced for raids
Five members of an armed gang who committed offences in Devon and Cornwall are sentenced.
Sailor in Spain saved by 999 call
Falmouth Coastguard coordinates the rescue of a missing sailor off Spain after his wife dials 999 in England.
Review urged over toll rise plans
Councillors in Cornwall want plans for a 50% increase in toll charges to cross the River Tamar to be reviewed.
Safety DVD helps migrant workers
A safety DVD aimed at helping migrant workers in Cornwall settle into life in the county is released.
MK CALL ON SW RDA TO SUPPORT SOUTH CROFTY PLAN
Members of the Camborne and Redruth constituency party of Mebyon Kernow have called on both the South West Regional Development Agency (RDA) and the Urban Regeneration Company (URC) for the area to drop any opposition to the current re-opening of South Crofty Mine. The MK members want statements issued in support of the mine.
