Delia Brotherton, living in St Ives.
I am a Cornish language bard and the volunteer Communications Officer for Gorsedh Kernow so I try and organise or get involved with anything that promotes Kernewek (the Cornish language) or raises the profile of Cornish bards and the work that they do. I am also a musician and songwriter writing mostly in Kernewek, performing as the duo “Tir ha Tavas” (which means land and language) with my husband. I use social media to spread the word and often use bi-lingual postings to help make the Cornish language more widely known and seen.
Definitely the networking. You never know who you are going to meet and everyone who attends Cornwall 365 days has an interesting story to tell.
Being made a bard of Gorsedh Kernow at Glasney College field, Penryn. My bardic name is Myrghwyn Melynor which means Miller’s Grand-daughter and the wonderful atmosphere created at Glasney made me feel very in touch with Kernewek and my Cornish family, who in previous generations may have spoken Kernewek themselves.
I am a life member of the National Trust and love days out with my husband Dave and our rescue dog Holly to Lanhydrock, Trelissick or Cotehele. One of the gardeners at Trelissick is a Cornish speaker so we’ll have a chat in Cornish if we see each other. Dave and I will probably have lunch there and if we’re lucky we might find a place for a proper Cornish cream tea on the way back home – jam first of course!
My darling husband Dave. If he didn’t fancy the gig then it would be my mum and dad, both of whom seemed, sadly, unaware of our extensive shared Cornish ancestry.
The Plen an Gwari at St Just in Penwith. It comes alive when crowded with performers with the audience sitting on the grass slopes, although in medieval times when it was first created the audience would have been in the middle watching the performers acting out their version of a Cornish miracle play all around the raised circular perimeter bank.
It depends on the quality of the performer and the sound engineer but the Hall for Cornwall is a good all round venue for concerts, bands and plays. However, I do love the St Ives Arts Club Theatre for the intimacy and complete cuteness of the place.
Anywhere around Zennor, or from home to Knill’s Steeple on Worvas Hill and across to Halsetown, St Ives.
There aren’t many good vegetarian places near to where we live, there was a really good one in St Ives called Spinachios but unfortunately it closed last year, but we still have the wonderful Bean Inn in Carbis Bay. Many restaurants perhaps need a bit more imagination with veggie food – lots of meat eaters like veggie food as well. I’m trying to persuade chef Lee Skeet to have a veggie evening at one of St Ives’ newest venues – Tassy Swallow’s “Surf House” on The Island. We could have some Cornish music there as well.
The Isles of Scilly, especially the little inter island boat connections. The first time I took the boat from St Mary’s to Tresco I was amazed at the clarity of the water and the beautiful little pink coloured shells on the beach.
You don’t have to walk far to get away from the crowds and find the real Cornwall.
When I had a busy full time job and came to visit mum in the holidays I was happy to just flop on the nearest beach and chill, but these days I want more than that and, for me, Cornwall has it all.
Pembrokeshire, West Wales, especially St Davids. My dad was born in South Wales and I love the feeling of familiarity when I see all the Celtic place names there and realise how similar they are to Cornish place names.
Like many people I worry about real Cornish culture being lost in a sea of mediocrity. Locals and visitors love Cornwall because it is so different, but we must guard against being insensitive or uncaring about this unique place I am lucky enough to call home.
Dave Brotherton, I live in St Ives
I was Chairman of the St Ives September Festival, on and off for 7 years, and before that I worked as an “ordinary” volunteer with the Festival for many years. We always featured some Cornish performers and artists who used the Cornish language, Kernewek. I also co-founded Bagas Porthia (St Ives Band) and Tir ha Tavas specialising in songs in the Cornish language.
The networking opportunities provided by Cornwall 365 – they have been invaluable in my dealings with others in the creative world.
Being support band to Bellowhead in the Guildhall at the St Ives September Festival with our Cornish band Bagas Porthia. Playing to a capacity standing/dancing audience was pretty amazing.
That’s really difficult as there are so many different sorts of day….a walk around the coast path at Zennor is particularly lovely, lunch at a local pub or café and then at the end of the day sitting on Porthmeor beach with our backs against the wall of the Porthmeor studios watching the sun go down.
Always my lovely wife Dee and maybe John Lennon if he was free!
The Chapel on St Michael’s Mount. I sang there as a member of a chamber choir and it was very atmospheric.
Hall for Cornwall is pretty good and probably my current favourite – but it varies depending on the act and the vibe.
I have a problem with favourites – it depends on my mood, but I do like walking along the coast path to St Ives and round The Island, and then taking in coffee and cake at one of our local favourite cafes.
Same as Dee really, but I also like Browns in Penzance and Truro.
Sailing on the Scillonian, chartered by a local travel agency from Penzance, round the Cape to Falmouth and being on the water right in among the excitement of the Tall Ships Race.
Where to find free parking in Cornwall.
North Wales, especially Snowdonia and Portmerion and my fascination for ‘The Prisoner’ and its setting although it’s totally off the wall………
Follow Gorsedh Kernow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gorsedhkernow/
Follow Tir ha Tavas on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tirhatavas
Follow Bagas Porthia on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bagas-Porthia-and-the-Baguettes-St-Ives-Guisers
If you like what you see and read please share and if you would like to get involved and contribute a guest blog post to “In the Know” please contact info@cornwall365.org.uk
