Latest News

All Cars
Free Parking at the Liskeard Secondary School, Callington Road, PL14 3EA
(Next to Police & Fire Stations) 200 yds from Public Hall.

All Coaches
Free Parking at the Liskeard Hilford Primary School, Old Road. PL14 6HZ.

Click to see programme

Stop by the Federation's on-line shop for some presents.

It is that time of year again and we have put together a Christmas page on the shop site with some ideas which include cards, books, CD's and of course a subscription to the Old Cornwall magazine.

Stratton Hundred Carols Published Click for details

Come and Sing in Bude

Come and hear The Washaway West Gallery Choir

will be including a couple of carols

that are in the book at their Christmas Concert

Federation sponsor's a Carol category at the Cornish Music Festival

With the publication of its second book of Old Cornish carols the Federation hopes to help stimulate the singing of them by sponsoring a new category, (D7 Choirs (any size) Cornish Carols), at the 2012 Cornwall Music Festival to be held in Truro in March 2012. If you and a group of friends would like to take part then Click here for an entry form and more information.

Click here to purchase words and music

Reduced prices for bulk orders

A FIRST FOR ST. AUSTELL – A TOWN MUSEUM

St. Austell Old Cornwall Society opened its new museum to the public on 16^th June, 2011 in part of the town’s historic Market House. Situated in an ideal position between the main entrance to the Market House and the Hop & Vine public house opposite the Parish Church, the museum occupies the two original police lock-up cells and part of the stairwell to the first floor of the building.

One of the cells has been maintained as a jail, complete with replicas of a prisoner and a police constable in period costume, whilst the other has been adapted to represent a kitchen of an earlier era. A collection of old advertising posters adorning the walls on the ground floor of the museum and the walls of display cabinets on the first floor of the Market House form a considerable part of the items on show and these give a valuable insight into the social activities of St. Austell and district. Numerous articles and photographs have been generously donated or loaned to the Society and put on show on the ground floor which has easy access at street level.

The museum is open until the end of October from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Monday to Friday and from 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. on Saturday. Entry is free.

bonfire

Death of Mrs Pat Snow of Madron O.C.S.

I have been asked to circulate the details below which appeared in today's Cornishman:

Mrs Pat Snow was the delegate for Madron OCS for many years and will have been a familiar face to many of you.

Patricia (Pat) Snow

Cornish Bard, beloved wife of the late Charles Snow and a dear Aunt and friend.

Funeral service at Madron Parish Church on Thursday 1 September at 2 pm.

Please wear something colourful.

Family flowers only but donations if so desired for the British Heart Foundation or Shelter Box may be sent to Burroughs and Kearey, Funeral Directors, The Rear of Barwis Terrace, Penzance, TR18 2AW

St Columb 'Crying Of the neck'

The ceremony will start at 7pm and will be followed by a short Harvest Service

St Columb OCS will be holding their 'Crying the Neck' on Tuesday 6th September. Location this year is Trenance, near St Issey.

Followed by service at St Issey church and pasty supper at St Issey village hall. Starts 7pm in the field.

Follow signposts from the A39 (Crealy turning). Charge will be £5 with pasty or £3 without.

Entertainment in the hall will be Mark Hawkin and his band. We require numbers of those wishing to attend so that we can order the correct number of pasties. Our contact is Mrs Val Bennallick 01637 869963

“Kerdh Palores – A Chough Walk” on the Lizard

By Barbara Shaw -- Mentenor a'n Ertach -- report.

Keith Shaw -- Kaswydh -- photograph.

Click to enlarge.

The Secretary to the Gorsedd Council, Esther Johns (Tamm Sterenn) issued a reminder concerning “Kerdh Palores – A Chough Walk”, starting on the Lizard Green at 11.00 a.m. last Sunday. My husband Keith and I joined twenty-five walkers – comprising several Bards, a number of members of S.W. Cornish Language classes and others, such as the Minack Wildlife Group.

We were delighted to have met Claire Mucklow, whose guidance and expert knowledge was invaluable. We walked about three miles to an amazing outcrop for lunch, seated on some rocks, where I was able to have an interesting chat with Claire.

On the return journey we paused again at a spot where Claire pointed out that we might be fortunate enough to encounter some choughs. Then – lo and behold – a pair of choughs appeared grazing on a grassy bank! Amazingly, Keith was able to take a photograph – pure serendipity – such a splendid moment to “walk in the light with the Spirit of Cornwall” – “Kerdh y’n golow gans an Spyrys a Gernow”!!

We continued our trek along to the lighthouse, where we saw the caves where the choughs nest – another moment for us to reminisce, as we had been there over thirty years ago when our sons were young boys. Sadly, we did not see any choughs so long ago, but were delighted to learn that if we go again in early June we may see choughs again in larger numbers.

Add a little Cornish to your mail

Ivor the Federation Secretary has suggested that we could help the spread of the Cornish Language by including a few phrases in our e-mails and letters. Here are a few of his suggestions:

George ker is Dear George but if I was addressing Sandra it would be Sandra ger.

Dydh da is Hello

Myttin da is Good morning

whilst Gorthugher da is Good evening.

Fatla genes is How are you?

and to end with Oll an gwella is All the best.

If we can encourage people to use just these few words it is progress towards satisfying one aim of the OC movement which is to encourage the use of the Cornish language and to make Cornwall a little more distinctive.

Oll an gwella (all the best)

Ivor

TV Programme on the Herring fisheries

Dear Sir,

On the 15th September 2011, a new series on BBC2 presented by Melvyn Bragg entitled 'The Reel History of Britain' will feature the steam herring drifters of Yarmouth and the herring industry of Port Isaac during the 1920s. The programme itself is named 'The Glory Days of Fishing'.

I travelled to Bristol where I was interviewed by Mr Bragg for the programme. I am from a Port Isaac fishing family and I have written two books on Port Isaac; 'The Fishermen of Port Isaac', and 'The Seafarers of Port Isaac'. I believe the programme is going out at 6.30 pm, but I am not sure about that.

For your information and your members.

Kind regards,

Geoff Provis.

Our New Project

Recording of Finger Posts in Cornwall

Coordinator Andrew Langdon

After the success of the post box survey, the Federation has been asked to help survey the many cast iron fingerposts that survive throughout the county. Over the last 50 years many of these distinctive direction posts have been lost, often due to road improvements and alterations, but many also through neglect. Several fingerposts have had their arms broken off by high sided vehicles, while others are just rusting away. These old signposts are far superior to the large and often obtrusive aluminum signs that litter our country roads today. During the last few years some local groups, parish councils and Old Cornwall Societies have campaigned to have their local fingerposts restored. This project is aimed at making this happen.

For further information and to take part Click HERE

"Smugglers, Coast Guard , Revenue Men of Cornwall

The Federation of Old Cornwall Societies "Smugglers, Coast Guard , Revenue Men of Cornwall " web site is now on line. This site has taken many hours of research and it is hoped that it will be beneficial to both members of Old Cornwall and others for its social history content and also in helping people with their family histories.

If you have information that you would like to submit for possible inclusion then please send it to smugglers@oldcornwall.org.

I hope you enjoy the site.

George Pritchard

Web Master.

Your Help Needed

Dialect "A" Words

Dear Colleague,

Brian Stevens, Pauline Hope and I have been working to get Cornish dialect words recorded on a web site. We are now at the stage where we need help to establish the areas where these words were used. We have almost 400 words beginning with the letter A and we are asking that you check those recognised as being from your area, and ADD to the list if you know of others. Please also give their local meanings if different to the one listed.

If you find a word in this list which in your area has a different meaning than the one given, please let us know the different meaning. Dialect words differed widely from district to district in both their application and their meaning and we wish to record as much available evidence of their use as possible.

The Federation will distribute a completed list of each letter for your Societies records once we have recorded the new data.

The list of Cornish Dialect words beginning with the Letter A and a list of the sources.

How to do the checking.:

1. The table gives a list of sources. Each Society has been given a number and if your group has sent dialect into the Federations recorder in the past you will find your reference number in the main document under ‘sources’. If you find your reference number in the list of words, Please do not take this as meaning that the work has already been done. We still need you to check if other words were used in your area.

2. Each dialect word has been given a number, i.e. AAKUM is number 1 and AZRY number 395

3. When you find a words you recognise as being used in your area, please make a list of the numbers.

4. If your meaning is different to the one listed then please add it next to the number in your list.

5. If you, or one of your members, knows when you or they first heard a word then please record the date and place.

6. If you or your members have any other information about a word, please also record it.

7. Once you have completed the list please e-mail it to - dialect@oldcornwall.org

If you need any information then please either ring me on 01209 860194 or E-mail dialect@oldcornwall.org

Web Site http://www.cornishdialect.oldcornwall.org/index.html

Thank you for your help George Pritchard