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The Federation of Old Cornwall Societies

 "Cuntelleugh an brewyon us gesys na vo kellys travyth"

(Gather up the fragments that are left that nothing be lost.)

The Organisation for those who love Cornwall.

 

 

 

 

Welcome to Cornwall
A worldwide link for all those
who love Cornwall both at home and abroad.

Welcome to Cornwallcast! The FOCS is delighted to bring you Sounds - Voices - Events - that allow you to listen to a flavour of home direct to your computer, wherever you are!

Some of the offerings that follow are a small part of a huge audio archive – the joint collections of Cornish Bards Ted Gundry and Chris Blount whose broadcasts were regularly heard between 1970 and 2003. In some cases, the material has not been broadcast, so you’re hearing it first here on Cornwallcast! Some of the content forms part of the broadcasters’ productions which are available for purchase and an appropriate link is provided.

Be sure to tune in regularly – Cornwallcast will be updated and added to from time to time.

What’s more…

Ted and Chris regularly give talks to Old Cornwall Societies and others. Here are their contact details:

   
Click on photo to send Ted an e-mail

Click on photo to send Chris an e-mail

Other recordings come from broadcast both at home and abroad and also from items found on You tube. If you find anything on the Web which you feel we should be featuring then send the URL to me at Cornwallcast@oldcornwall.org

In some cases a link will take you to the broadcasters web page just click on your back button to return to this site.

Documentary

"Cemetery Tourists" broadcast on Sunday 25th March 2012.ABC Open producer Jane Curtis takes a stroll through Bendigo cemetery with Libby and Tom Luke, and learns about grave etiquette, how to read tombstones, and what makes these tombstone tourists tick.

Listen  

Radio National, Australia

"God's Wonderful Railway"

This year marks the 175th anniversary of the Great Western Railway - here we have extracts from a programme Chris Blount made to celebrate the 150th in 1985....

Documentary

first Richard Angove sets the scene... Listen 2.14

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary About the arrival of 'foreigners' who came to build the railways in Cornwall... Listen 1.50

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary Benefits of the railway and Stanley Cock's funny story about emigration to America.. Listen 1.58

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary A Poem about the Newquay to Chacewater line from Margaret Hore + Hilda Rowse's story about girlish pranks whilst travelling to school... Listen  2.55

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary Margaret Hore on the helpful GWR. Listen 1.25

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary Arthur Anstis on the crowds who used the trains, Reg Hawker on the catering arrangements at Newquay,  Michael Craddick on his father's job at Liskeard and Stephen Jeffery, Stationmaster at Chacewater... Listen 2.44

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary Horace Thomas on a fire at Bodmin Road... Listen 3.20

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary The satisfaction of a fireman and Arthur Anstis on the pride. Also, Margaret Hore's story of a 'brass behind'. Listen 1.34

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary O S Nock on the 'Riviera', Richard Angove on the legend that was the GWR... Listen 2.04

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary Phil Rundle on polishing the bell on '6000'... Listen 3.03

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary A driver's view. Listen 1.10

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary A bird's eye view of the Fowey-Lostwithiel line + a hair-raising experience + the mermaid without a ticket. Listen 4.40

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary A war-time story. Listen 2.51

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary Wartime fireman's story + uses for the shovel. Listen 1.59

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary Animals on the rails Listen  2.39

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary St Ives - the railway's importance + Stanley Cock's story Listen  3.40

Chris Blount Collection

Monday 28th June 2010.

The following video has been loaded up to You Tube by Alan of "Steamclips" and below are his comments that go with the film. My thanks to him for allowing me to embed it on this site. Editor.


Proving what good teamwork can achieve in the right hands, 5029, 6024 and their crews put on a show to be proud of through Cornwall & Devon on the return leg of this GWR celebration tour. As the warm summer weather continues, the signal technician does me a big favour by closing the down line at Wainsford in the Glynn valley. A new day (and a new coal supply?) seems to have made all the difference as the pair charge up the climb from Bodmin Parkway to Liskeard with 271 miles still to go. After an on-time arrival and water stop at Plymouth, Hemerdon is tackled in similar positive fashion, clothing the gallery on the bridge with a fine covering of clag for good measure! Finally, in very difficult light conditions and summer heat haze we see that these two wonders of GWR design are not just climbers, but sprinters as they hit maximum permitted speed through Stoke Canon after the Exeter stop-over. Two days of great filming opportunities in unbelievable weather and something to really celebrate! Thanks to all involved.

May 2010 

"Obby Oss & Flora"

Lets us welcome in the summer with a visit to Padstow for "Obby Oss".

Music 

Charlie Bate of Padstow sings the Morning song 25/09/ 2007 Listen 0.52 Padstow Old Cornwall

Documentary

Tom Salmon reports from Padstow in the 1960s.

Listen 1.33

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

Chris Blount listens to the Nightsinging at Padstow and meets Margaret Brenton, lifelong 'Mayer' - c.1984.

Listen 4.33

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

Ted Gundry and Chris Blount meet an early morning children's 'obby 'oss - 1995

Listen 3.29

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

Ted Gundry and Chris Blount watch the Blue Ribbon 'Oss - 1997.

Listen 3.46

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

Chris Blount interviews visitors to Mayday, including Ernest Edwin Morton-Nance - c.2000

Listen 4.21

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

Guy Slatter hears about the history of Padstow 'Obby 'Oss from Donald Rawe - 1972..

Listen 4.00

Chris Blount Collection

Music 

Charlie Bate of Padstow sings the Farewell song 25/09/ 2007 Listen  1.03 Padstow Old Cornwall.

Video

The Video compliments the above recordings.  Watch 

Music 

Charlie Bate of Padstow sings the Old Grey Duck  25/09/ 2007 Listen  1.03 Padstow Old Cornwall.

Music 

Charlie Bate of Padstow sings Pleasant and Delightful.  25/09/ 2007 Listen 4.18 Padstow Old Cornwall.
 

Helston Flora Day - 8th May 1979 

Documentary

Frank Wintle/Ted Gundry describe the scene at 6.30am.  

Listen 3.09

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

Mayor of Helston, Mr Lionel Rogers.  

Listen 2.04

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

Marie Martin/Morris Burge - early dancers + Eddie Ashton(HTB).  

Listen 3.18.

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

Frank Wintle describes the start of the 7am dance.  

Listen 2.35

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

Ted Gundry describes the dance itself + Edward Cunnack, Chairman of the Stewards. 

Listen 3.55.

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

Ted Gundry on the route of the dance and a personal memory. 

Listen 1.10.

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

Memories of Flora Day from Vinnie Milne. .

Listen 2.31

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

Mark Christophers, Nigel Collins and Billie Pethick (HTB). 

Listen  2.51.

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

Dr James and Edna Michael at Lismore. 

Listen  2.33.

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

Nigel Pascoe/Karen Hendy - leading the Midday Dance. 

Listen  1.50.

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

Ted Gundry explains Furry, Flora and Faddy. 

Listen  3.27.

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

David Hughes on the social benefits of the Flora dance. 

Listen  1.26.

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

Hal-an-Tow - explanation by Ted Gundry and Edward Cunnack. 

Listen  4.28. 

Chris Blount Collection

Video

The videos on this link page compliment the above recordings.  Watch George Pritchard Collection

Music

Merv Davey and Rescorla Workshop playing "Cock in Britches" the music for a dance that describes the story of the harvest from sowing the seeds to thrashing the corn.  Listen  1.16 Merv Davey Collection  

Music

Merv Davey and Rescorla Workshop playing "The Broom Dance"   Listen  1.20 Merv Davey Collection  

 

April 2010

"The Horses Stood Still"

April is the month that we in Cornwall celebrate the life of Richard Trevithick. The main event takes place in Camborne on the week-end of  the 24th and 25th. Below we add our bit to the celebration with a documentary made by Chris Blount in 1989. We hope you enjoy it.

The Horses Stood Still.....(A documentary on the life of Richard Trevithick, broadcast 29/4/89)

This documentary was made by Chris Blount for Trevithick Day in 1989. It includes acted scenarios written by the producer and voiced by amateur actors and children from Penponds School. 

Documentary

The Life of Richard Trevithick Part One

Children from Rosemellin School, Camborne and Penponds School.

Holman Climax Male Voice Choir

History of early steam engines before Trevithick.  Boulton & Watt rivalry.

Wrestling match.

Listen 7' 55''

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

The Life of Richard Trevithick Part Two

Clive Carter on the mining scene when Trevithick was born and transport in the late 18th Century.

Place of birth, plaque and Trevithick’s childhood influences.

Listen  6' 28''

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

The Life of Richard Trevithick Part Three

Trevithick became engineer to many mines.  Influence of his friend Davies Gilbert.

Trevithick’s character, stature and strength.  Marriage to Jane Harvey. 

Improving earlier engines and  creating the ‘puffer’ for winding purposes.

High pressure steam.  Murdoch’s  experiments at Redruth.

Listen  7' 45''

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

The Life of Richard Trevithick Part Four

First steam loco seen on the road. Christmas trial of 1801 and the mythology of ‘Camborne Hill’.

Listen  8' 00''

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

The Life of Richard Trevithick Part Five

Children’s views. Trevithick continues work in Cornish mines.  Coalbrookdale.

London road carriage, Penydarren (1804) and the world’s first steam railway.  1805 and first use of flanged wheels.

Listen  6' 30''

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

The Life of Richard Trevithick Part Six

1808 – Thames Tunnel, Catch-me-who-can in London. Other inventions.

Roger Bennett song. Thoughts of Peru.

Listen  5' 12''

Chris Blount Collection

Documentary

The Life of Richard Trevithick Part Seven

Off to Peru for 11 years. Civil War and Blunderbus.  Chile, Costa Rica. Nearly eaten by alligators.

Robert Stephenson rescues the poverty-stricken Trevithick .

Listen  8' 00''

Chris Blount Collection

The General Collection

Reminiscences

LEVANT MINE DISASTER, 1919

Surviving miners recall the scene after the Man Engine broke, killing 31 men and boys. 3’25”.

(Recorded by Joe Pengelly – CB collection)

Listen 3.25 Chris Blount Collection

Available on a 55’ CD - Voices from Levant

Cornish Humour

Laugh again with Mrs Rosewarne from Camborne,  Cornwall's much missed funny lady - a compilation of her best stories

 Listen  3 04  

Chris Blount Collection

Available on a 55' CD -

The Best of Mrs Rosewarne

The Ted Gundry Collection

The following three tapes are from the Ted Gundry collection with the first being an examples of the Cornish dialect and humour  in the St Just / Pendeen area. The second item is from Mevagissey in the East of Cornwall and the third was recorded at Delabole in the North.

Reminiscences

"The Miners Boots"

 

Willie Warren and Billie Walters of Pendeen talk about miners’ boots. Thick accents and very entertaining!

 

Dialect words : -  

 

"Slougs" Boots

"Cute" Iron on the heel of a boot or shoe.

 

Dialect Sayings :-

 

"Foorth and Back"  - Going to and fro.

"You tell un you" :- That's correct.

Listen  1' 47'' Ted Gundry Collection
Reminiscences Around Mevagissey.

Eddy Lakeman of Mevagissey talks about the days when all the goods for the town were brought in by the “Ibis” (i.e by sea).

Listen  3' 54'' Ted Gundry Collection

Reminiscences

Great Train Robber in Delabole

Arthur Blake, Acky & Valerie Kelloway of Delabole recalling the war years when Ronnie Biggs, the Great Train Robber, was evacuated to the village.

Listen   Ted Gundry Collection

Each month we will feature Music from musicians /  singers who live and work in Cornwall. This month Ian Marshall from Liskeard has given permission to place four pieces from his CD's for you to listen to.  Ian has a number of CD's featuring mainly traditional Cornish music and some of his own compositions and you can find them on his web site. 

Music

April 24th sees the Trevithick Celebrations in Camborne. This song sung by Ian Marshall tells the story of the first car journey in the world. It is called "Camborne Hill" and is taken from Ian's 24 Traditional Cornish Songs CD. 

Listen 1' 57'' Ian's Web Site

Music

Ian Marshall plays "Paso Dobwalls" a modern take on the traditional Cornish song  "Sweet Nightingale"

Listen  1' 47'' 

Ian's Web Site

Music

Ian Marshall's third piece of music is another favourite  "Lamorna". This one comes from his C.D "Singing for Cornwall"

Listen 1' 30''

Ian's Web Site

Music

This forth piece was written by our Folksong and Music Recorder Merv Davey. The work was for a Folk Play called "Hard Rock Miner" toured by the Cornish Folk Dance Group Cam Kernewek to the Celtic Festivals in the late 1980s -  telling the story of Hard Rock mining in Cornwall through the medium of folk song and dance.

Listen  3' 04''

Ian's Web Site

The video below compliments the Trevithick tapes from Chris. Hopefully some of you will be able to make it to Camborne for the celebrations of the 24th of April. This video gives you a taste of what has become a very successful event.

Documentary

Trevithick 200th anniversary celebrations in Camborne 2001

Video library

Heritage Lottery Fund

                                                   "Cuntelleugh an brewyon us gesys na vo kellys travyth"

                                              (Gather up the fragments that are left that nothing be lost.)

The Federation of Old Cornwall Societies is a  Registered Charity.  No. 247283 

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