Newquay’s hard working local organising committee are busy working with bards of Gorsedh Kernow putting the finishing touches to this year’s Gorsedh Kernow Esedhvos Festival of Cornish Culture, being held in the seaside town of Newquay, one of Cornwall’s major tourist destinations.
“As an old Newquay boy, the town is very dear to my heart,”said Grand Bard Merv Davey, Telynyor an Weryn, as he prepares to lead the celebrations for the final time as Grand Bard, “and I know that I am passing the crown to an extremely capable successor.”
The Esedhvos Festival starts on Wednesday 29th August and on Thursday 30th the programme includes a mini Literary Festival featuring – “Meet the Authors” from Gorsedh Kernow’s Holyer an Gof Awards scheme. Audience members will have a chance to listen to live interviews with prize winning authors and contributors including Deputy Grand Bard elect Pol Hodge, Hilary Coleman and Sally Burley, Trounce Guy and illustrator Martin Impey. Gorsedh Kernow will also launch several new books at this event including ‘Cornish Bards of Newquay’ plus new publications from the Cornish Language Board, the Old Cornwall Society together with the much anticipated second edition of the Cornish Learner’s Dictionary.
Later that day locals and visitors will have a chance to view the newly opened exhibition of Adults and Young People’s Awards winners work which will be on display alongside the historic Grand Bard’s Chair in the Hotel Bristol, while that same evening the Gorsedh Kernow Awards presentation evening, compered by bard and member of Fisherman’s Friends, Jon Cleave, will be held in the hotel’s ballroom when winners will receive their Awen medals and certificates from the Grand Bard. All are welcome to attend this free event.
The one day Conference on Friday 31st August will once more tackle a thorny issue, and this year it will be exploring “Cornwall’s Cultural Assets – Time for Change?”
“Cornwall’s distinctive culture is a major asset that impacts upon the health and economic well being of our community,” said Grand Bard Merv Davey, Telynyor an Weryn, “and now is the time for Cornwall to take control of her own cultural destiny and to capitalise on the opportunities this offers. In this our 90th anniversary year we have once again lined up an impressive range of speakers for our Conference.”
Among many other events in this year’s packed schedule is a special performance of ‘Tide & Time’, Newquay’s seafaring past brought to life through one woman’s timeless story, a Troyl/Ceilidh with the ever popular North Cornwall Ceilidh Band plus special guests Kemysk Cornish Dancers, and the much loved gala concert on the Saturday evening with local performers and entertainers including Newquay Band, singing group Oll an Gwella, Cornish duo Davey & Dyer and the Grenaways. Later on the Saturday evening there will be a “Come All Ye” Cornish music and song session at the Great Western Hotel’s Steam Bar, hosted by Matthew Clarke.
On the Sunday there is a chance to try your hand at Cornish in the “Blas a Gernewek” taste of Cornish session being held in the Cribbar, followed by a heritage walk around the town with Len Sheppard and finally Evensong in the Cornish language at St Michael the Archangel Church.
The centrepiece of the Esedhvos Festival of Cornish Culture will be the 2pm blue-robed bardic ceremony on Barrowfields (right opposite the Hotel Bristol at Narrowcliff) on Saturday 1st September where 16 new bards will be initiated in recognition of their outstanding work in serving Cornwall and her distinctive Celtic identity.
It will also feature the installation of a new Grand Bard, Elizabeth Carne, Melennek, of Newquay and a new Deputy Grand Bard, Pol Hodge, Mab Stenak Vur. Entry is free and there will be plenty of space for the public to come and watch. Stalls with Cornish themed goods will be open from late morning alongside a demonstration of Cornish wrestling and a chance to visit the amazing Cornish Embassy and Tick Box Bus. Refreshments will be available all day.
Acknowledging the enormous amount of local help received, the Grand Bard praised the efforts of all the volunteers on the local organising committee.
“We are very grateful for all the help we have received,” said Merv Davey, “everyone is so busy these days but members of the local community understand Cornwall’s unique and distinctive culture and the importance of keeping it going.”
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Further notes and Esedhvos Festival programme “at a glance”
Gorsedh Kernow exists to promote and maintain the national Celtic Spirit of Cornwall and to give expression to such spirit, to encourage the study of Cornish history and literature, the Cornish language, to foster Cornish art, music, dance and sport and to link with other Celtic countries.
For full information about the Gorsedh Kernow Esedhvos Festival of Cornish Culture please visit the website www.esedhvos.org.uk or follow the link on the Gorsedh Kernow website www.gorsedhkernow.org.uk or contact Pat Parkins, Much Chereor, Esedhvos Events Manager, email esedhvos@gorsedhkernow.org.uk or tel 07762 169 733
For more general information about Gorsedh Kernow please contact Delia Brotherton, Myrghwyn Melynor, Honorary Secretary, Gorsedh Kernow, email hon.secretary@gorsedhkernow.org.uk
Links to other press releases:
6.8.18 Gorsedh Kernow names 16 new Bards for 2018 https://gorsedhkernow.org.uk/wp/?p=674
30.7.18 Gorsedh Kernow congratulates successful Cornish language candidates https://gorsedhkernow.org.uk/wp/?p=670
19.7.18 Gorsedh Kernow Adults Awards 2018 announced https://gorsedhkernow.org.uk/wp/?p=661
12.7.18 Holyer an Gof 2018 Publishers’ Awards winners announced https://gorsedhkernow.org.uk/wp/?p=655
2.7.18 Gorsedh Kernow Young People’s Awards 2018 announced https://gorsedhkernow.org.uk/wp/?p=651
ESEDHVOS FESTIVAL OF CORNISH CULTURE, NEWQUAY
Wednesday 29th August – Sunday 2nd September 2018
Members of the public are very welcome to attend these events, most of which are held at the Hotel Bristol, Narrowcliff, Newquay, TR7 2PQ and are free unless otherwise stated. The hotel is accessible for people with disabilities.
Wednesday 29th August until Saturday 1st September
From late afternoon on Wednesday 29th August – Grand Bard’s chair on display @ the Hotel Bristol. The Grand Bard’s Chair was designed, made and donated in 1982 by bard Leslie Hever Libby, Pengover, of St Ive near Liskeard. The Chair incorporates all the legends, past history, activities and festivals that are so much a part of Cornwall. Free entry.
Thursday 31st August
11am – 3.00pm Literary Festival, with Holyer an Gof “meet the authors” including Deputy Grand Bard elect Pol Hodge, Hilary Coleman and Sally Burley, Trounce Guy and illustrator Martin Impey, plus book launches @ Hotel Bristol ballroom. Refreshments available. Free entry.
12.00noon onwards Display of Gorsedh Kernow Adults and Young People’s Award winning entries plus the Grand Bard’s Chair @ Hotel Bristol small dining room. Free entry. Open until Saturday late morning 1st September.
4pm Tide & Time by Blystra Arts @ Hotel Bristol ballroom. Newquay’s seafaring past brought to life through one woman’s timeless story. Tickets £3 from Newquay Museum 01637 870611 or Hotel Bristol 01637 875181.
6.30 for 7.00pm Presentation to winners of Adults and Young People’s Awards by Merv Davey, Telynyor an Weryn, Grand Bard of Cornwall @ Hotel Bristol ballroom. With guest appearances by Sue Ellery-Hill, Tir ha Tavas, Pol Hodge and Jamie Toms & Lauren Chandler. Evening hosted by Jon Cleave, Lev Enev an Tir. Bar. Free entry.
Friday 30th August
9.30am for 10am – 4.30pm Conference “Cornwall’s Cultural Assets – Time for Change?” @ Hotel Bristol ballroom. With speakers Merv Davey; Dr Nichola Harmer, Lecturer in Human Geography at Plymouth University, Dick Cole, Bert Biscoe and Kim Conchie, CEO of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce. Tickets £6 including pasty if booked before Friday 24th August, otherwise £3 entry only, from Newquay Museum 01637 870611 or Hotel Bristol 01637 875181. All welcome.
7.30pm Cornish Troyl/Ceilidh with the North Cornwall Ceilidh Band and special guests Kemysk Cornish Dancers @ Hotel Bristol ballroom. Bar. Free entry.
Saturday 1st September
10am Civic Procession through the town with Newquay Town Mayor, civic guests and bards of Gorsedh Kernow from Beach Road to the Killacourt.
11am Cornish stalls open @ the Barrowfields, Newquay, plus a chance to visit the Cornish Embassy & Tick Box Bus.
11.30am Demonstration of Cornish wrestling @ The Barrowfields
12.30pm Oll an Gwella singing group @ The Barrowfields
1.30pm Procession of bards from Hotel Bristol to The Barrowfields
2.00pm Gorsedh Kernow bardic ceremony, led by Grand Bard Merv Davey, Telynyor an Weryn with Cassandra Sheppard as Lady of Cornwall @ The Barrowfields. Ceremony @ Hotel Bristol if wet. All welcome. Free entry.
7.00pm Gala Concert @ Hotel Bristol ballroom with Newquay Band, Oll an Gwella singing group, Cornish duo Davey & Dyer and The Grenaways. Compered by Bert Biscoe, Viajor Gans Geryow. Tickets £5 from Newquay Museum 01637 870611 or Hotel Bristol 01637 875181. All welcome. Advance booking advised.
8.30pm ‘Come All Ye’ Cornish music and song session @ Steam Bar, Great Western Hotel, Newquay, TR7 2NE. Hosted by Matthew Clarke. All welcome. Free entry.
Sunday 2nd September
10am – 11.30am ‘Blas a Gernewek – A Taste of Cornish’ session @ The Cribbar, Gover Lane, Newquay, TR7 1ER. Refreshments available. Free entry.
11.00am Heritage Maritime Walk around Newquay with Len Sheppard, starting and finishing @ The Cribbar. Free.
3.00pm Evensong in Cornish @ St Michael the Archangel Church, St Michael’s Road, Newquay, TR7 1RA. Collection for church funds. All welcome.
Gorsedh Kernow’s Esedhvos Festival of Cornish Culture is supported by Newquay Town Council, Newquay BID, RRL Chartered Accountants, the Hotel Bristol, Newquay Lions, Newquay Towan Blystra Lions and many local organisations and volunteers.
Meur ras! / Many thanks!
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