FOCS Winter Festival at St Ives

Saturday 7th November 2015

The beautiful Guildhall St Ives

Around 200 members from 'Old Cornwall' Societies spanning the length and breadth of Cornwall gathered

at St Ives Guildhall on Saturday 7th November for their annual Winter Festival.

Greeting them were varied displays by the Federation of 'Old Cornwall' Societies, Gorsedh Kernow, St Ives

Archive Trust, St Ives Museum, Penwith Local History Society, and several other groups.

After a pasty lunch there was a wonderfully colourful parade of over 30 Society banners which were piped

into the hall to resounding applause and admiration.

After the formal welcomes by Mick Paynter [President of St Ives 'Old Cornwall' Society], Councillor Linda

Taylor [Mayor of St Ives] and Merv Davey [Grand Bard of Gorsedh Kernow], the customary roll call was

taken by the Federation's Secretary, Ivor Corkell of Camborne.

Then the entertainment began with a rousing selection of traditional Cornish songs and sea shanties,

beautifully harmonised by the local singers, the Bamaluz Bootleggers.

A short comedy sketch, entitled the “Royal Cornwall Show” had been written in Cornish dialect and based

upon real overheard conversations by Brian Stevens of St Ives 'Old Cornwall' Society. It was performed by

him with fellow members, Margaret Stevens, Elaine Woolcock and Hugh Trevarthen and attracted a great

deal of laughter and amusement.

Four talented young GCSE music students from St Ives School, Eddie Rice, Bailey Tomkinson, Hannah

Beadnell and Kai Accleton, provided variety with some contemporary music, playing guitars and singing

songs of their own composition.

The duo Tir ha Tavas - Delia and Dave Brotherton – provided more songs in English and Cornish and also

accompanied four adult Cornish dancers who were joined by a troupe of infants from the St Ives Girl Guide

Rainbows. They attracted thunderous applause, delighting the audience with their performance.

After a short break for the customary cuppa with a Cornish saffron bun, St Ives Community Choir took to

the stage. They sang a selection of Cornish Christmas Carols from the St Ives area, before leading members

in the singing of “Hail to the Homeland” and Trelawny”.

(Terry Knight)

Mary Quick for St Ives OCS in Blue print

When the Federation invited St Ives OCS to host its Winter Festival, there was some initially some apprehension that

the organising of such an event might be difficult for the society. However, after deciding to go ahead, a committee

was formed which would meet over many months, and the result was that the festival was held in the Guildhall on

November 7th, attended by OCS members from all over Cornwall. In the foyer, from 10.30 were displays of books,

local history, and ‘Visit St Ives’, while a rolling film showed scenes of Old St Ives. The Hall was full as Irene Tanner

recited some of her late father’s poems; bard John T Barber is remembered for his accounts of St Ives in other days

as well as many songs.

Early arrival

The Registration Team

The rafflers

Tea or coffee?

Tea for me

Fillin’ up

FOCS answer to Waterstone

Lookin’ worried Brian

The Recorder’s Meeting

While Irene Tanner does her bit

Pasties were delivered at noon, with tea and coffee available through the day.

(I wonder whose they were. They were bloody ansom)

At 1.30 came the parade of colourful banners, up and down the aisles, proudly carried aloft while the audience stood

in appreciation.

Comin’ on a bit now

“Look, that’s when you’re on”

Come on Keith, look as though you’re interested

Now what are they hatchin’?

The Parade’s on its way

The banners in all their glory

Mick Paynter: “Right then…all ready to go”

St Ives president and former Grand Bard Mick Paynter opened the proceedings by introducing mayor Cllr. Linda

Taylor, who, in her welcome address spoke of how a visit to Sark had spurred her interest in its Cornish miners, with a

connection to Mexico, where it seems the pasties contain unmentionable ingredients! Dr Merv Davey, newly elected

Grand Bard, also gave a warm welcome, followed by new president of the Federation, Miss Priscilla Oates. Then

came the roll call of the societies, their representatives standing in response to applause.

Cllr Linda Taylor, Mayor of St Ives

“Right now, who’s next?”

“Splann” Bardh Meur – Dr Merv Davey

The Boss – President of the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies – Priscilla Oates

The inimitable Ivor Corkell with the Roll Call

The afternoon’s entertainment began with the Bamaluz Bootleggers singing sea shanties and traditional Cornish folk

songs in wonderful harmony; the mixed group of 12 singers helps to raise funds for local charities. Then it was the

turn of Brian and Margaret Stevens with Elaine Woolcock and Hugh Trevarthen, in humorous conversation, based on

a visit to the Royal Cornwall show. They were followed by five young musicians from St Ives School, who sang and

played guitars to deserved applause. At 3.15 it was Cornish dance and songs, some in Kernewek, with Dee and Dave

Brotherton, [Tir ha Tavas, Land and Language]; four guest dancers joined them along with the S .Ives Rainbows, tiny

tots of the Girl Guide movement, who danced with great enthusiasm in circles and also with the adult dancers.

Bamaluz Bootleggers led by Sarah Hall

Dialect Story: Margaret and Brian Stevens, Elaine Woolcock and Hugh Trevarthen

Four Young musicians from St Ives School

Cornish Dance & Song from Tir ha Tavas (Delia & Dave Brotherton), St Ives Rainbows and guest dancers

We certainly enjoyed them

The raffle, how would we manage without the cracker box?

Tea with saffron buns was served at 3.40, after which the raffle was drawn. Then it was time to enjoy the St.Ives

Community Choir led by William Thomas, a mixed choir that performs modern, traditional and sacred music for many

charities, beginning with the popular ‘Proper Job’. After some well sung pieces, came a treat, Christmas ‘curls’ by local

composers, at one time sung around the streets by large chapel choirs. First came the Victory Carol, ‘Come strike the

Chord’ composed by Joseph Tanner in 1918 to celebrate the end of World War One, then Beautiful Child of

Bethlehem, and what is regarded as a St Ives anthem, Hellesveor. Composed in 1908 by Colan Williams, the carol is

named after the village where ‘Cully’ was the chapel organist, in spite of being blinded in a mine accident. A great

enthusiast, friend and assistant was the late Tommy Banfield, whose manuscripts of Hellesveor and other carols by

Cully are works of art in themselves, and are now preserved in the Royal Cornwall museum. As is the custom, the

audience stood while the carol was sung, with words presented on a screen.

St Ives Community Choir with “Proper Job”

President Priscilla Oates made a closing speech, thanking members for attending and the society for its hospitality,

after which the banners retreated to the singing of ‘Hail to the Homeland’, the first verse sung in Cornish before being

repeated in the original words. A rousing rendition of Trelawney concluded the Festival at five o’clock. Members of the

committee are to be congratulated on a successful conclusion to many months of sometimes frustrating work,

resulting in a memorable occasion enjoyed by all. The entertainment, arranged by Dee Brotherton was outstanding as

many visiting members remarked; the Mother society [1920] certainly gave her children a day to remember!

“Hail to the Homeland”

Charlie leads the banners out to the emotional and familiar strains of Trelawny

So it’s goodbye to another Winter Festival…a superb Winter Festival

It was great fellowship, ansom pasties and outstanding entertainment in a lovely hall

Meur ras Porthia – Splann