BAFTA winner Mark Jenkin among new bards of Cornwall 2020

They will join the existing 500 or so members of the College of Bards of Gorsedh Kernow, which was was established with the aim of celebrating and promoting Cornwall’s distinctive Celtic culture.

The list includes Colonel Edward Bolitho, Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, for 'being a great ambassador for Kernow', as well as Priscilla Oates from Cury for 'a lifetime’s work for Kernow,' James Kitto from Porthleven for promoting Cornwall through photography and BAFTA winning writer, director and film maker Mark Jenkin from Paul near Penzance, for promoting Kernow through film internationally with Bait.

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Others include Claire Tripp from Portreath for her 'extensive work for Cornish culture and identity', and FEAST project manager Jack Morrison from Redruth, formerly of Helston, for 'being an enthusiastic promoter of Kernow'.

Despite this year's ceremony in Bude being postponed until 2021 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the new bards will receive their titles as restrictions allow.

Grand Bard of Cornwall Elizabeth Carne, Melennek, said: "This year we have new bards whose work for Kernow reflects both traditional and modern aspects of our Cornish culture, which continues in all parts of the Diaspora.

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"These latest honours show an amazing diversity in many cultural areas from proficiency in the Cornish language, conserving old film, audio tapes and written evidence for use by future people, continuing traditional sports like Cornish wrestling and researching the lives of Cornishmen, for example who mined in India and making it into a modern musical performance.

"This reverence for Cornish culture is then showcased in thoroughly modern media, by photography, social media, film and in theatres, in community projects at the grass roots to films for global audiences.

"Each of these showcasing platforms proclaims to the world that Cornish culture is distinctive, traditional and modern, precious to the Cornish people and alive and well.”

The new bards for 2020 are:

Edward Bolitho, Tregwainton, for being a great ambassador for Kernow.

Andrew Bolton, Belgium, by examination in the Cornish language and continuing service to Cornwall.

Kensa Broadhurst, Camborne, by examination in the Cornish language and continuing service to Cornwall.

Matt Curnow, South Australia, for the promotion of Cornwall in the Diaspora.

John Gillingham, Troon, for being a valuable supporter of Cornish Culture and Language.

John Penrose Goody, Isles of Scilly, for his energetic promotion of the Cornish Language in the Isles of Scilly.

Peter Green, Gloucester, by examination in the Cornish language and continuing service to Cornwall.

Simon Harvey, Truro, for embracing Cornish Identity and Culture in the Media.

Brian Jacob, Tregonissey, St.Austell, for his continuing work for Kernow.

Mark Jenkin, Paul, Penzance, for promoting Kernow through Film internationally.

Andrew Johnson, St Austell, by examination in the Cornish language and continuing service to Cornwall.

James Kitto, Porthleven, for promoting Cornwall through Photography.

Wella Morris, Penzance, by examination in the Cornish language and continuing service to Cornwall.

Jack Morrison, Redruth, for being an enthusiastic promoter of Kernow.

Priscilla Oates, Cury, for a lifetime’s work for Kernow.

Helen Pascoe, Camborne, by examination in the Cornish language and continuing service to Cornwall.

Jamie Purvis, Truro, by examination in the Cornish language and continuing service to Cornwall.

Peter Sheldon, Truro, for a lifetime’s service to Cornish Wrestling.

Leonard Sheppard, Newquay, for his continuing work for Kernow. .

Wayne Tonkin, Pool, Redruth, by examination in the Cornish language and continuing service to Cornwall.

Richard Trethewey, Goonabarn, St.Austell, for the promotion of Kernow through Music.

Claire Tripp, Portreath, for her extensive work for Cornish Culture and Identity.