Press release for immediate use issued Monday 24th August 2015 by Delia Brotherton, Gorsedh Kernow Communications Officer.
The Council of Gorsedh Kernow has announced the winners of their annual awards, presented to people who have given outstanding service to Cornwall.
Individuals from the worlds of gig rowing and rugby are being recognised this year alongside heritage champions and those who encourage music making among young people, and in the year when the current Grand Bard Maureen Fuller, Steren Mor, passes the leadership role to her successor Merv Davey, Telynor an Weryn, the Awards committee have decided to honour Mrs Fuller’s past efforts by awarding her the Ambassador’s Trophy for the promotion of Cornwall beyond Cornwall.
“I have really enjoyed meeting new people from all walks of life and have especially enjoyed travelling to Australia, Brittany and Wales in order to promote Gorsedh Kernow, where I have made some wonderful friends,” said Mrs Fuller, delighted on hearing the news about her receiving an award herself.
“That would be enough in itself, but to have my work recognised in this way is very humbling.”
Nominations for awards are sent in each year by bards of Gorsedh Kernow and members of Cornish organisations, groups and associations for consideration and agreement by the Gorsedh Council Awards Committee.
Winners are invited to receive their certificate at the annual gathering of several hundred blue robed bards of Gorsedh Kernow, being held this year in St Austell, alongside special guests from the Welsh and Breton Gorseddau, the Mayor and local dignitaries of the host town, banner bearers and members of Old Cornwall Societies and members of the general public who are warmly welcomed to all Gorsedh Kernow ceremonies.
The townspeople of St Austell are looking forward to welcoming Gorsedh Kernow to their town and are busy pulling together the final arrangements for the celebrations.
“We are very proud to be hosting the Gorsedh of the Bards of Cornwall,” said Cllr Brian Palmer, Mayor of St Austell and member of the local organising committee, “and we look forward to welcoming one and all, locals and visitors, to the Esedhvos Festival and especially to the Bardic ceremony which will be held in St Austell AFC ground, Poltair Park on Saturday 5th September at 2pm.
“We will also be able to watch the initiation of Gorsedh Kernow’s 20 new bards and the presentation of competition prizes and the special awards.”
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The Awards winners for 2015 are:
LONDON CORNISH ASSOCIATION SHIELD
For outstanding services to Cornwall and Cornish people
Daphne Stone – born Mount Ambrose, now residing in Birmingham.
A past Treasurer and President of the Midland Cornish Association, this award celebrates many years of work by Daphne for Cornish Associations.
THE PAUL SMALES MEDALLION
For services to Cornwall by someone living outside Cornwall
Dickon Moon – The Redruth born Director of the London Cornish Rugby Football Club, a “rugby union club for Cornish exiles in London” took on the role of head coach for the 2003/04 season.
The award is made for outstanding service to Cornish rugby.
THE AMBASSADOR’S TROPHY
For the promotion of Cornwall beyond Cornwall
Maureen Fuller, Steren Mor – Saltash
Dedication to the recognition of the unique status of Cornwall within the U.K. and the Diaspora which has been an inspiration to all. Made a language bard in 1977 at Nine Maidens, St Columb Major, and taking the bardic name Steren Mor – Star of the Sea, Maureen Fuller has held the offices of Chief Marshal and Deputy Grand Bard and is now reaching the end of her 3 year tenure as Grand Bard of Cornwall.
CORNWALL ENTERPRISE
For outstanding achievement in Cornwall by someone showing initiative and attaining success.
John Cuthill – Perranporth
Over 50 years service to Newquay Rowing Club and long-term service to gig racing.
Chairman of the Newquay Rowing Club, an active coxwain, indefatigable fundraiser and former recipient of the “Sir Richard Trant” award for long term work in ensuring a safe future for the gigs of Cornwall.
EXCEPTIONAL ENDEAVOUR
For an outstanding Cornish achievement meriting international recognition.
Pip Richards – Praze-an-Beeble
For 25 years the driving force behind efforts to save West Cornwall’s woodlands, rare ecosystems and ancient monuments at Clowance, Crenver Grove and Carwynnen.
Founder of the charity The Sustainable Trust, known as SusTrust, which was launched in 2001 to help protect the long term health of the planet and those who inhabit it. Pip Richards is also recognised for her more recent outstanding success with the re-opening of the iconic Carwynnen Quoit.
MUSIC AWARDS
MUSIC SHIELD
For outstanding services to music in Cornwall
Truro School
For acting decisively to incorporate the Cornwall Music Service within the school as a Community Interest Company and supporting it to flourish for the future. The award will be accepted by Mr A.S. Gordon-Brown, Head Teacher of Truro School and Vice Chair of the Cornwall Music Service Trust.
BOURNEMOUTH CORNISH ASSOCIATION CUP
For the Best Music Group
The Aggie Boys Choir – St. Agnes
Winners in Cornwall’s Kan Rag Kernow and 2nd in the International Pan Celtic Song Competition in 2014, the Aggie Boys Choir is a “loosely formed, rag tag bunch of young upstarts from all over Cornwall”! All their songs are 100% original and written by the creative crux and de facto leader of the group Sam Stephens who will accept the award.
BRASS BAND TROPHY
Cornwall Youth Brass Band
The Cornwall Youth Brass Band (CYBB) was founded in 1955 and is the oldest county youth band in the United Kingdom. They work with some of the country’s foremost conductors and leading instrumentalists and perform a wide range of music to provide rewarding musical challenges as well as fun.
The award is given for continuous success in its 60th year. Megan Thomas, senior musician who joined the band in 2005 and one of two elected band representatives, will accept the award.
TREVERVA SHIELD
For an individual who encourages music-making by young people,
Andy Bilham – Lanner
A performing arts graduate, Andy Bilham’s career experiences include touring with a theatre company as a musician and actor and a period of time in the music retail industry. Following a change to teaching in Hertfordshire, where he founded the Hertfordshire Youth Jazz Orchestra in 1992, he returned to Cornwall to join the County Music Service in 1999, taking over directorship of Cornwall Youth Jazz Orchestra in 2002, with whom he is an inspirational leader.
He is also Head of keyboard studies with Cornwall Music Service.
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Further notes for Editors
Gorsedh Kernow exists to 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.
The procession of Bards for the annual Bardic ceremony on Saturday 5th September will be led by Grand Bard of Cornwall Maureen Fuller, Steren Mor, accompanied by the Mayor and Mayoress of St Austell, Cllr Brian and Mrs Alison Palmer, and local girl Sophie Halstead, a senior dancer with Maureen Pascoe’s School of Dance, as “Lady of Cornwall.”
The Maureen Pascoe School of Dance is now in its 27th year and has developed into one of the most successful schools in the area. The aim of the School, which has studios in Roche and Mevagissy, is to provide quality teaching and performing opportunities to as many students as possible in the rural areas of mid Cornwall.
Gorsedh Kernow ceremonies, including the main Bardic ceremony which will be held on Saturday 5th September in AFC St Austell Poltair Park as part of the Esedhvos Festival week, are conducted in the Cornish language but can be easily followed with the English translation. Part of the ceremony will include the installation of the new Grand Bard of Cornwall, Merv Davey, Telynor an Weryn, and the new Deputy Grand Bard, Liz Carne, Melennek.
All are welcome to attend the ceremony and there is no charge for this event. For more information about all the Gorsedh Kernow Esedhvos Festival events visit the website www.esedhvos.org.uk
For more information about Gorsedh Kernow please contact Delia Brotherton, Myrghwyn Melynor, Communications Officer, Gorsedh Kernow,
email communications@gorsedhkernow.org.uk
or visit the Gorsedh Kernow website www.gorsedhkernow.org.uk
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