CLOSE to 150 people gathered in St Keverne last Thursday for the annual An Gof Commemoration.

A parade formed by a statue of An Gof, at the entrance to St Keverne, at 7pm.

At the start of the event Coverack School pupils Ella and Joe laid flowers by the |statue to remember those who marched to London from Cornwall as part of the Cornish Rebellion of 1497.

The procession made its way to the village square, with the An Gof Players leading the parade. Cornwall Councillor Loveday Jenkin then laid a wreath as a mark of respect before a |memorial service took place.

Finally the group moved onto the Parish Hall for some |entertainment. St Keverne and Coverack schools started the evening with a performance, while work from the |youngsters filled the walls of the hall as part of a competition.

This featured paintings, collages and poems all relating to the Mermaid of Zennor, the theme for the evening |production.

Many of the children were awarded prizes for their work and Coverack School won the An Gof Cup for the best |standard of entries. The schoolchildren also sang a song, which they had been learning all through that half term, while War an Dor played songs for people as they entered the hall.

When the children finished their performance on stage the An Gof Players performed.

The evening included a pasty supper, which was followed by more Cornish entertainment from Will Coleman, a storyteller, author and musician.

Francesca Martin, who helped organise the evening, said: “It was a really good event and I am so pleased with the great turnout. I would like to say thank you to all the |children that performed and I am very grateful. Everyone really enjoyed themselves.

“The point we try to get across is how important it is for the local schools to learn about their local history and how wonderful it is when the schools take part. I really appreciate everyone’s help.”

The rebellion was based around a tax demand, which the Cornish did not want to pay. It was led by Michael Joseph (better known as Michael An Gof, where An Gof is Cornish for blacksmith) and Thomas Flamank, who was a Bodmin landowner’s son and a London lawyer.

Unfortunately the rebellion did not stop the Cornish from paying tax and many who had marched were killed in London. Michael An Gof died on June 27, 1497.