31.7.19 Gorsedh Kernow congratulates successful Cornish language candidates

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 82 candidates who took their exams in June.

“Once again we are congratulating an increased number of successful  candidates, a further 7% rise on last year, who are joining the growing number of people learning and taking exams in Kernewek,” said Grand Bard of Cornwall Elizabeth Carne, Melennek, “and I would like to say ‘Keslowena dhywgh hwi oll’ which means ‘Congratulations to you all’ in Cornish, you have all worked so hard.”

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.  Following previous increases in the number of students taking first grade exams, numbers in the higher grades continue to rise while numbers taking first grade exams is also being maintained.

“Demand for Kernewek is as strong as ever,” said Elizabeth Carne, “because it is such an important part of Cornish culture. As a teacher of the Cornish language myself I see every week just how many people want to know more about our shared heritage and Cornish identity and we would enourage everyone to embrace Kernewek as a unique part of our precious culture.

The Grand Bard once again expressed her enormous gratitude to all the hardworking volunteer 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.  While the majority learn at traditional weekly classes, sales of language textbooks are growing steadily and many individual students are also supplementing their face to face learning with online resources as a gateway to the language such as those available through the popular Go Cornish website.

“The Council of Europe, which is not connected to the European Union, 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 Elizabeth Carne, “and we call on HM Government to honour their commitment to the Cornish people and provide funding as recently promised so we can promote and share our culture, especially the Cornish language.”

The successful candidates for 2019 are:

First Grade: Pass with Distinction

Charmaine Ashwin, St Columb

George Batey, Ponsanooth

Susan Davies, St Ives

Annie Ferrari, Luxulyan

Lucie Gibbons, Ludgvan

Rosalind Hayward, Luxulyan

Emma Jenkin, Truro

Judith Lawrence, Penzance

Patricia Maloney, Herodsfoot

Tamsin Spargo, Redruth

Paul Tyreman, Penzance

First Grade: Pass

Victor Aussedat, Callac, Brittany

Christopher Bartram, Luxulyan

Mark Bunney, Newquay

Michael Cummings, Truro

Glynis Davies, Gulval

Jeremy Forbes, Clitters

Yvonne Frankson, Carnon Downs

Rachel Gannon, Tresillian

Gemma Goodman, St Stephens

Malcolm Gould, Luxulyan

Gareth Horner, Newquay

Servane Huonic, Graces, Brittany

Elowenn Jenkin, Truro

Liz McKenzie, St Mawgan

Michel Mermet, Moëlan-sur-Mer, Brittany

Graham Perry, Penzance

Philip Pring, Edenbridge, Kent

Thomas Rogers, London

Graham Rundle, Sticker

Martin Van Staeyen, St Ives

Stephen Waite, Plymouth, Devon

Jean Wood, Roche

First Grade: Pass in Part

Greta-Marie Kendall, London

Second Grade: Pass with Distinction

Sue Dustow, Connor Downs

Melanie Frankell, Carbis Bay

Kate Neale, Padstow

Fiona O’Cleirigh, St Just

David Pollard, Falmouth

Karen Sellwood, Falmouth

Carole Street, Redruth

Pam Vincent, Bristol

Christina Wheeler, Stennack Troon

Second Grade: Pass

Raymond Bridgewater, St Ives

Susan Dabb, Chacewater

Joseph Enys, Falmouth

Ivor Frankell, Carbis Bay

Charlie Fripp, St Agnes

Sarah Fuller, Breage

Kim Hopewell, Nanpean

Ian Marr, St Ives

Katrina Naomi, Penzance

Claire Rakotozafy, Callac, Brittany

Judith Scrimshaw, Manaccan

Lucy Seale, Truro

Marrick Taylor, Plymouth, Devon

Diana Trudgeon, St Austell

David Wheeler, Stennack Troon

Second Grade: Pass in Part

Serge Aubin, Bourbriac, Brittany

Third Grade: Pass with Distinction

Kirsty Lauder, Saltash

David Matthew, Heamoor

Rita Nield, St Just

William Orchard, Penzance

Howard Peskett, Penzance

Third Grade: Pass

Colin Gordon Allen, Godalming, Surrey

Frances Bennett, Newbridge

Jennifer Blockley, Egloskerry

Will Coleman, St Buryan

Marie Helene Croizier, Ploumagoar, Brittany

Thomas Kadleck, Liskeard

Joe Lewis, Illogan

Tony Phillips, Newmill

Deborah Pollard, Redruth

Kevin Steede, Plymouth, Devon

Matthew Underwood, Plymouth, Devon

Judith Vandy, Camborne

Fourth Grade: Pass with Distinction

Andrew Johnson, St Austell

Fourth Grade: Pass

Kensa Broadhurst, Camborne

Wella Morris, Penzance

Helen Pascoe, Camborne

Wayne Tonkin, Pool

Fourth Grade: Pass in Part

Sarah Smith, London

Further notes for Editors

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.

66 of the successful candidates of the Cornish Language Board examinations are from Cornwall, 10 are from England and 6 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 learning Cornish please see https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/the-cornish-language/cornish-language/learning-cornish/

The Go Cornish website can be accessed via https://gocornish.org/

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 general information about Gorsedh Kernow please contact hon.secretary@gorsedhkernow.org.uk