Gorsedh Kernow has warmly welcomed news of the results from this year’s Cornish language examinations. KESVA – The Cornish Language Board – set up in 1967 by Gorsedh Kernow and the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies, has announced another year of impressive results from the 77 candidates who took their exams in June.
“Once again we are congratulating an increased number of successful candidates, almost 15% up on last year, who are joining the growing number of people learning and taking exams in our precious Cornish language, Kernewek,” said Grand Bard of Cornwall Merv Davey, Telynyor an Weryn, “ and I would like to say ‘Keslowena dhywgh hwi oll’ which means ‘Congratulations to you all’ in Cornish, you have all worked so hard.”
Bardh Meur Merv Davey Telynyor an Weryn
The results are spread across the four grades of examinations currently offered by the Cornish Language Board with the largest group of candidates based in Cornwall and after last year’s big increase in the number of students taking first grade exams, numbers in the higher grades are now gradually increasing.
“Kernewek is such a beautiful language,” said Merv Davey, “and a very important part of Cornish culture. We are seeing more and more examples of our language in our everyday lives, in shops, outside Council offices and police stations, online and on our tv screens with the Kelly’s ice cream ads! Many people want to know more about Cornish identity and we would enourage everyone to embrace Kernewek as part of our shared heritage. It doesn’t matter if you are Cornish born or not, it’s what is in your heart that matters and Kernewek plays a big part in many people’s lives.”
Cornish language students
The Grand Bard once again expressed his enormous gratitude to all the hardworking teachers and examiners, many of whom are bards of Gorsedh Kernow, who give a lot of their own time to help a variety of people of all ages and backgrounds learn Cornish at classes, with self teach books or individual online courses.
“The Council of Europe has long since recognised the Cornish people and the importance of our cultural assets, such as Kernewek, under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities ” said Merv Davey, “and once again we call on HM Government to honour their commitment to the Cornish people and reconsider their cuts to Cornish language funding.”
The successful candidates for 2018 are:
First Grade: Pass with Distinction
Raymond Bridgewater, St Ives
Paul Craze, Bristol
Wendy Dowse, Liskeard
Joseph Enys, Falmouth
Melanie Frankell, St Ives
Ivor Frankell, St Ives
Kerensa Moyle, Bristol
Fiona O’Cleirigh, Penzance
Amanda Odgers, Truro
David Pollard, Falmouth
Courtenay Rule, Dartford
Lucy Seale, Truro
Karen Sellwood, Falmouth
Carole Street, Redruth
Pam Vincent, Bristol
Christina Wheeler, Camborne
First Grade: Pass
Chris Beare, Truro
Linda Beskeen, Redruth
Susan Dabb, Truro
Cas Davey, Redruth
Andrea Dube, Sant-Servez, Brittany
Anna Dunstan, Bodmin
Christopher Ellery-Hill, Penzance
Charlie Fripp, St Agnes
Sarah Fuller, Helston
Kim Hopewell, St Austell
Moira King, St Austell
Thomas Pawley, Liskeard
Tracy Pithie, St Austell
Diane Pomroy, St Austell
Claire Rondel, Kallag, Brittany
Judith Scrimshaw, Helston
Sara Thorolfsdottir, Penzance
David Wheeler, Camborne
First Grade: Pass in Part
Jack Bolitho, Truro
Second Grade: Pass with Distinction
Frances Bennett, Truro
Kirsty Lauder, Saltash
David Matthew, Penzance
Rita Nield, St Just
William Orchard, Penzance
Tony Phillips, Penzance
Deborah Pollard, Redruth
Kevin Steede, Gunnislake
Second Grade: Pass
Colin Allen, Godalming
Jennifer Blockley, Launceston
Marie-Hélène Croizier, Ploumagoar, Brittany
Linnea Glynne-Rule, Camborne
John Goody, Scilly
Lee Kellgren, Penryn
Emily Keverne, Redruth
David Knott, Liskeard
Joseph Lewis, Redruth
William S. Pellow, Falmouth
Howard Peskett, Penzance
Victoria Reece-Romain, Liskeard
Nanette Tonkin, St Austell
Matthew Underwood, Plymouth
Jennifer Worth, Launceston
Third Grade: Pass with Distinction
Kensa Broadhurst, Truro
Owain Holland, Fowey
Andrew Johnson, St Austell
Wella Morris, Penzance
Third Grade: Pass
Judith Cayzer, Launceston
Lisa Crosswood, Liskeard
Yannig Laporte, Kemper, Brittany
Gilles Pennec, Kemper, Brittany
Samuel Rogerson, Grampound Road
Barbara Wyper, St Columb Major
Fourth Grade: Pass with Distinction
Andrew Bolton, Brussels, Belgium
Ann Short, St Austell
Ashley Taylor, Launceston
Fourth Grade: Pass
Alice Holland, Helston
Jamie Purves, Truro
Colin Short, St Austell
Marion Smith, St Ives
Fourth Grade: Pass in Part
Helen Pascoe, Camborne
Wayne Tonkin, Redruth
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 Kernewek, to foster Cornish art, music, dance and sport and to link with other Celtic countries.
The revival of Gorsedh Kernow started in 1928, and the organisation immediately began using the Cornish language Kernewek as the language of all their annual ceremonies.
69 of the successful candidates of the Cornish Language Board examinations are from Cornwall including one from the Isles of Scilly, 2 are from England and 5 are from Brittany. Several of these candidates will be presented with their certificates by the Grand Bard of Cornwall at a special Graduation ceremony in Lys Kernow (Cornwall Council Offices, Truro) later in September.
For more information about the KESVA Cornish Language Board please contact Tony Hak, Karer an Yeth, Examinations Secretary, email apposyans@hotmail.co.uk
For more information about Gorsedh Kernow please contact Delia Brotherton, Myrghwyn Melynor, Honorary Secretary, email communications@gorsedhkernow.org.uk