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 Photo of children and adults building snowmen outside Jenkins Smithy, Madron in 1929. The photo was taken by one of the Richards Brothers of Penzance. Click on photo for jigsaw and larger photo,

Photo courtesy of Morrab Library Collection.

The officers of the Madron Society are:-

Hon. President Mr. J Uren

Hon. Chairman Mr. R Mathews

Hon. Treasurer Mr .J. Uren

Hon. Secretary Mrs. P Hope Tel. 01736 362290

Recorders Messrs Nicholls and Richards

Press & Publicity Mrs H Bawden Tel. 01736 330526

Committee

Vice Presidents Mrs. E Green & Mr. J Hosking

Vice Chairman Mr. D Liddicoat

Publications Mrs. P Snow

Dialect Recorder Mrs. Zip Roberts 

General & Refreshments: Mesdames. Liddicoat, Bainbridge, Curnow, Herbert and Worledge.

Past Presidents: Doug Davies 2002 - 2004

Archie Richards 2004 -2006

Pat Snow 2006 - 2008

The Madron Old Cornwall Society meets at 7.15pm on the third Monday of the month at the Landithy Hall, Landithy,  Madron for a talk followed by a  pasty supper.  

The annual subscription is £3; visitors may be charged 50p. All are welcome so why not come and join us.

Map

Crying The Neck - A Harvest Celebration

Click to see photos

On Friday the 1st September at  6.30pm the Madron Old Cornwall Society held a "Crying the Neck" ceremony at Boswarthen Farm, Madron. The banners of both Madron (Doreen King) and Penzance (Burt Prigg) Societies were paraded. 

The M.C. was Don Liddicoat, Vice Chairman of Madron Old Cornwall Society and the hymns were accompanied by Penzance Silver Band. 

The first hymn was "Praise the Lord! Ye heavens adore him".

This was followed by a prayer which Pat Snow read in Cornish with the English translation being read by Pastor Russell Buley of Trenere Chapel, Madron. 

Don Liddicoat then gave an explanation of the ceremony.

'The standing corn was then cut by Mr. Tony Jenkin. After the last cut was made Mr. Jenkin then gathered and bound the corn into shocks and then arranged them into stooks. 

The last of the shocks is called 'the neck' and this was raised on high by Tony Jenkin who cried:

"I hav'n; I hav'n; I hav'n."

Everyone then cried together:

"What  hav'ee; what hav'ee; what hav'ee?

Tony then replied:

"A neck; a neck, a neck." and the crowd gave three hearty cheers.

The ceremony was then repeated in Cornish.

Tony: "Ma genef; ma genef; ma genef. "

All present: "Pandr' us genes;  pandr' us genes; pandr' us genes? 

Tony: " Pedn yar; pend yar; pedn yar. "

All present gave three hearty cheers.

The final hymn was then sung "We plough the fields and scatter" followed by the closing prayer.

The ceremony was followed by a service in Madron Chapel with Pastor Russell Buley conducting the service and giving the lesson. 

This was in turn followed by a traditional pasty supper.

The ceremony was led by  (L.to R.) Pat Snow (Cornish Prayer), Tony Jenkin (Reaper), Don Liddicoat (M.C.) and Mr Russell Buley (English Prayer) 

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Photos by Sandra and George Pritchard

Click on one to see enlarged version.

All Gods Gifts

                      The last cut                 Tying the shock         Building the Stock

I hav'n 

Enjoyed by all the family.

Pasty supper enjoyed by all.

Thanks to all the backroom staff. only some of whom are in the photo.

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A revised booklet on the 'Crying The Neck' ceremony with a colour cover and the words of the celebration of harvesting the final sheath of corn for the season in both English and Cornish can be obtained from:

Publications Officer, F.O.C.S., Map Tewen, 6, The Terrace, Pentewan, St Austell, Cornwall, PL26 6DE.

Price £1. Please add £1-00. post & packing to each book in the U.K. Elsewhere price on request.

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