Falmouth was recognised as an Honorary Quidditch Town this morning in celebration of the new book, Quidditch Through The Ages Illustrated Edition, an essential companion to the Harry Potter series and guide on the wizard’s favourite sport.

To mark tomorrow’s release of the book, written by J.K Rowling and illustrated by Emily Gravett, Bloomsbury Publishing presented the Mayor of Falmouth, Councillor Steve Eva, with a decorative banner featuring gold Quidditch hoops celebrating the town’s fictitious Quidditch team, Falmouth Falcons.

Falmouth Falcons feature in the wizarding world’s Quidditch league and the banner also bears the town’s Quidditch team crest, a courageous design with a black and white falcon.

The Mayor of Falmouth, Councillor Steve Eva, was pictured next to the banner in an outdoor, socially distanced presentation with two young Harry Potter fans at Pendennis Castle.

During the official presentation, the young Harry Potter fans celebrated on their Nimbus 2000 broomsticks with breathtaking views out to sea.

Over the next three days, Honorary Quidditch Town presentations will continue safely and in line with government guidelines across the UK and Ireland.

The ceremonies are being held at prehistoric sites, stone circles, medieval castles, Roman forts and churches, celebrating the release of Quidditch Through The Ages and the real-life towns represented by Quidditch teams in the Harry Potter series.

Other scenes of celebration took place today at South Stack on Holy Island (Holyhead Harpies), Anglesey's most westerly point; Ballycastle Beach, Ballycastle (Ballycastle Bats), a 15th-century Franciscan monastery; and Montrose Basin (Montrose Magpies), an enclosed estuary home to over 80,000 migratory birds.

In total 11 towns and villages across the UK and Ireland, from Appleby to Wigtown, Ballycastle to Wimborne, are being honoured in celebration of the new book.

A spokesperson from Bloomsbury Publishing said: “We’re really proud to recognise Falmouth as an Honorary Quidditch Town alongside ten other towns and villages across the United Kingdom and Ireland.

“Harry Potter fans can now unearth the real-life towns and villages inspiring the names of Quidditch teams and we ask anyone planning a visit to Falmouth to first check national and local travel guidance on coronavirus to ensure their visit is made safely.

"For communities that are currently experiencing stricter measures, we encourage people to support their favourite Quidditch team virtually by visiting the official Harry Potter fan club, Wizarding World.”

The Mayor of Falmouth, Cllr Steve Eva said: “We’re delighted to be recognised as an Honorary Quidditch Town. Harry Potter’s favourite sport Quidditch brings joy to children and adults across the world, and this decorative banner, emblazoned with the town’s team colours, shows our support for our beloved Quidditch team.”

Lily-May Gunning-Bell, aged ten, from Falmouth Primary Academy, said: “I'm obsessed with Harry Potter and dream of playing Quidditch, so I’m really happy to find out that I now live in an Honorary Quidditch Town. I loved visiting the sign and it’s great that Falmouth has been honoured in this way.”

The 11 honorary Quidditch towns receiving the banners are:

• Appleby (Appleby Arrows)

• Ballycastle (Ballycastle Bats)

• Caerphilly (Caerphilly Catapults)*

• Falmouth (Falmouth Falcons)

• Holyhead (Holyhead Harpies)

• Kenmare (Kenmare Kestrels)

• Montrose (Montrose Magpies)

• Portree (Pride of Portree)

• Tutshill (Tutshill Tornados)

• Wigtown (Wigtown Wanderers)

• Wimborne (Wimborne Wasps)

Two fictitious Quidditch towns are also being honoured, Chudley Cannons and Puddlemere United, and fans can pledge their virtual allegiance to any of the 13 Quidditch teams by visiting the official Harry Potter fan club, Wizarding World (www.wizardingworld.com), to view the banners in-situ and uncover more information about each Honorary Quidditch Town.