Gorsedh Kernow Adult Awards 2022 announced

The Grand Bard, Pol Hodge Mab Stenak Veur and the Gorsedh Awards Panel are pleased to announce this year’s winners of the prestigious Awen medal, together with a number of named awards, for outstanding achievement.

They are also pleased to recognise the extraordinary talent of Cornish People through the award of a Certificate of Recognition in a range of categories. This scheme, open to all, is a quality mark for new creative work that celebrates the Celtic spirit of Cornwall.

The Certificate of Recognition and Medal winners are honoured for promoting the Celtic spirit of Cornwall through exceptional creative or community work.

The Grand Bard, Pol Hodge said ‘We are delighted to be celebrating incredible people and projects that have made outstanding contributions to Cornish culture and our communities They have done this, each in their own way, with truth, love and wisdom and we take great pleasure in honouring them.’

Awards for Creativity are presented to individuals or groups for a body of work that is outstanding in its celebration of the Celtic spirit of Cornwall.

Community award winners have all been nominated in recognition of outstanding work in sustaining the Celtic spirit of Cornwall in their communities, from protecting and promoting local heritage to encouraging greater use of the Cornish language.

A number of named awards are presented in honour of individuals (as detailed below) for specific achievements and contributions. These include The Grand Bard’s award which will be presented to Mary Ann Bloomfield for her work on the Ordinalia in St Just. The St Just Ordinalia itself is awarded a total of six Certificates of Recognition for Community and Creativity and a Glenda Hartland Award for seeking to promote active community involvement in Cornish cultural tradition.

The second Glenda Hartland Award has been given to the Hall For Cornwall Youth Theatre for their production of Miracles and Mysteries while the Mab Hirnans Award, in memory of Stephen Gainey, for outstanding contribution to the Cornish language is this year presented to Tony Hak. The Mike Hartland award which recognises the importance of traditional music, singing and dance and sport in maintaining Cornwall’s distinctive Celtic identity is awarded to Roger Gool, leader of Padstow Carols. The awards also include the London Cornish Association Shield and Paul Smales Award in recognition of work beyond Cornwall, presented this year to John Webb and Marion Stephens of the Toronto Cornish Association

Medal winners will be presented with a prestigious Awen medal, made in Cornwall by St Justin Jewellery. This unique medal depicts the Gorsedh Kernow ‘Awen’ (Inspiration) symbol, a three-rayed Celtic design signifying Furneth (Wisdom), Gwir (Truth) and Kerensa (Love). Successful applicants for the Gorsedh Kernow Certificate of Recognition will receive a specially designed certificate.

Medals will be presented at a special Awards evening on 1st September, as part of the Esedhvos Festival of Cornish Culture, this year held in Hayle from 1–4 September.

List of all Awards

Grand Bard’s Award, for outstanding achievement:
Mary Ann Bloomfield, Diwysyk, for her work on the St Just Ordinalia

Mab Hirnans/ Stephen Gainey Award, for outstanding and distinguished services to the Cornish Language:
Tony Hak Karer an Yeth

Glenda Hartland Award. These awards, in memory of Glenda Hartland, seek to promote active community involvement in Cornish cultural tradition:
Helen Tiplady and the Hall For Cornwall Youth Theatre – Miracles and Mysteries
The Community of St Just: St Just Ordinalia

Mike Hartland Award This award recognises the importance of traditional music, singing and dance and sport in maintaining Cornwall’s distinctive Celtic identity:
Roger Gool, leader of Padstow Carols

London Cornish Shield, for outstanding services to Cornwall and Cornish People:
John Webb – Toronto Cornish Association

Pewas Map Trevethan/Paul Smales Award, for outstanding contribution to Cornwall by someone not resident in Cornwall:
Marion Stephens – Toronto Cornish Association

Awen Medal for Kemeneth/Community and Studhyansow Kernewek / Cornish Studies:
Andy Norfolk, Gwas an Tyr

Awen Medal for Kemeneth / Community:
Barry West

Awen Medal for Kemeneth/Community and Awenekter/Creativity:
St Just Ordinalia

Testskrif a Aswonvos/ Certificate of Recognition / Certificates of Recognition Winners:

Awenekter/ Creativity:
Jonny Dry – An Tarow
Bryher Flanders – Mowes
Marna Blundy – Cornwall The Land I Call Home
Awlyn – Tiger Balm
Paul Whiteman – Love and Riots
Nick Hart Ilewydh Sen Neot – Letters from Australia

Awenekter ha Kemeneth / Creativity and Community
Trevor Smitheram ,Gevell Gov an Hordh
Mordhleydh – The Cornish Early Medieval Warband

Skrif Kernewek/ Writing in the Cornish language:
Lianne Wilson – Lev Holan an Mor
Sam Brown – Growan Kales, Leghen Vedhel
Taran Spalding Jenkin – Taw

Studhyansow Kernewek/ Cornish Study:
Becky Orchard – An Investigation Into Representations Of Cornwall And Cornish Identity In Twentieth and Twenty-first Century Re-tellings Of The Tristan And Iseult Legend.