The importance of staying a strong community was championed in St Keverne when villagers gathered for their annual tribute to a 15th century Cornish rebellion.

It was community spirit that was behind that event of 1497 also, when St Keverne blacksmith Michael Joseph - also known as An Gof, the Cornish word for his profession – and Thomas Flamank led a march on London in protest at what they saw to be an unfair tax levy from Henry VII.

Now, 521 years on, St Keverne still pays tribute to their dedication, which saw them hung, drawn and quartered in pursuit of their cause.

Last Wednesday a large group gathered in the evening sunshine, in front of the statute of the pair at the entrance to the village.

Here, Cornish song Hail to the Homeland was sung before Olivia Thornhill and Jacob Richards laid flowers in remembrance. This was followed by a rendition of We Remember You, a song written about the march, then everyone gathered walked in procession to the village square, led by the An Gof Band.

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Assembled once more, in front of the memorial plaque below the parish church, parish councillor and Cornish bard Anthony Richards welcomed everyone and the plaque inscription was read, in Cornish by Loveday Jenkin and in English by Mr Richards.

The song Land of Our Fathers was sung in Cornish before this year’s guest speaker, playwright Paul Farmer, spoke on the importance of maintaining a sense of community. He said this was something St Keverne and the whole of Cornwall was particularly good at, but it was under threat from austerity and now, more than ever, people needed to pull together.

Rosemary Stone laid a wreath in Cornish colours, there was a minute’s silence in honour of An Gof and Flamank, and a prayer was read in Cornish by Sarah Tresidder before Rev Deidre MacKrill gave a blessing and there was a rousing rendition of Trelawny to end the service.

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This was followed by entertainment in the parish hall, featuring storyteller Adrian Rodda, the An Gof Band and the An Gof Singers, dedicated to sculptor Terence Coventry and Francesca Martin.

The march on London by the Cornish rebels was in protest at King Henry VII's levying a tax to pay for an invasion of Scotland. The Cornish believed that this was a northern affair and had nothing to do with them. However, An Gof and Flamank were deemed to be traitors, and were hanged, drawn and quartered with their heads displayed on pike-staffs on London Bridge.