Damp weather did little to dampen the spirits as Gorsedh came to Callington.

It was the first time in 40 years that the Cornish Gorsedh, which celebrates the Celtic spirit of Cornwall, returned to the town.

Dancers from local Moondance Studios were invited to dance as flower girls at the ceremony.

The week-long celebration of Cornish history, culture and identity culminated in the Gorsedh Kernow annual procession and installation of the new bards which was held in the grounds of Callington Community College on Saturday September 7.

The bard-naming ceremony, which is part of the Esedhvos Festival of Cornish Culture, saw 24 new bards accepted into the college of Bards of Gorsedh Kernow. Wearing their distinctive blue robes for the first time, they also received their new Bardic names in the ceremony, including two new bards from Callington: Cornwall councillor Andrew Long and Callington Old Cornwall Society’s Les Pierce.

The Lady of Cornwall and her attendants as the flower girls perform their Dons an Blejyow.
The Lady of Cornwall and her attendants as the flower girls perform their Dons an Blejyow. (Gorsedh Kernow)

Cllr Andrew Long was chosen for his work promoting Cornish identity through his community volunteering including the Calilngton Soup Run, his 30 years of volunteering for Callington Town Football Club, and many years serving as town and county councillor. 

His Bardic name is The Long One from Callington, in Cornish An Hir a Gelliwik. He said: “It was a massive honour for our community to host the event, and for me an even greater accolade that I was initiated into the Gorsedh along with Les Pierce.

“Protecting and promoting what is amazing about Cornwall and the people who live here is massively important and I will be continuing to work with all parts of our community to make them proud of where they live.”

Cornwall Councillor Andrew Long was bestowed with the bardic name of The Long from Callington at the September ceremony.
Cornwall Councillor Andrew Long was bestowed with the bardic name of The Long from Callington at the September ceremony. (James Kitto)

The apt bardic name of Artist Fireman (Artydh Tangasor) was bestowed on Les Pierce in recognition of his long and continued work for Kernow, and his 25 year contribution building the Tansys Golowan, St John's Eve bonfire on Kit Hill outside Callington.

Callington's Les Pierce is named a bard with the bardic name of Artist Fireman (Artydh Tangasor) for his role in the annual St John's Eve bonfire on Kit Hill.
Callington's Les Pierce is named a bard with the bardic name of Artist Fireman (Artydh Tangasor) for his role in the annual St John's Eve bonfire on Kit Hill. (James Kitto)

The Gorsedh 24 yn Kelliwik event in Callington had over 200 Bards, the most for over 10 years. Recognised for their service to preserving the Celtic identity, they paraded through the town alongside 38 banner bearers from the federation of old Cornwall societies from around the world including Australia, New Zealand and the USA.

21 VIP guests including four out of five of the new Cornish MPs, the Portreeve and Deputy Portreeve of Callington, and their town crier attended with children from Callington’s Moondance Studios dancing as flower girls at the event performing Dons an Blejyow.

New Grand Bard Jenefer Lowe takes over from Pol Hodge for the coming year alongside Duputy Grand Bard Loveday Jenkin.
New grand bard Jenefer Lowe takes over from Pol Hodge for the coming year alongside deputy grand bard Dr Loveday Jenkin. (Gareth Parry)

New grand bard of Cornwall for the coming year was bestowed on Jenefer Lowe taking over from Pol Hodge, with the new deputy grand bard named as Dr Loveday Jenkin. 

VIP guests from around the county included four of the five new Cornish MPs, the Callington portreeve, deputy portreeve and Callington town crier.