Report on the Cornish Language Weekend in Newquay 8.10/4/16
More than 100 people met together at the Sandy Lodge Hotel in Newquah for the 2016 Cornish Language Weekend. It was splendid to see that there were some new faces amongst those gathered there from Cornwall, the Scillies, Britain, Brittany and Germany – and doubtless other places! There were people at every level in the language – complete beginners to people who were fluent.
This was our ninth year at this hotel – there is always a warm welcome for us and the staff work hard to organise rooms for our classes and meals. The hotel is comfortable and the food great.
The programme began on Friday morning with the Tregedna Day led by Mark Trevethan – this gave us the chance to live all day immersed in the Cornish language. We weren’t allowed to speak anything else!
At the same time there was a Cramming Day for students studying for the examinations of the Cornish Language Board this summer. This was organised by Tony Hak with the help of many teachers who taught classes at all levels (first grade to fourth grade).
The main events of the Weekend began in the evening of the Friday with a brilliant concert of singers who sang in the Cornish language. In the first place, there were songs by Keur heb Hanow followed by Tir ha Tavas (Dee and Dave Brotherton). How splendid it ws to hear people singing in our very own language at such a high level.
On Saturday morning and Sunday morning there were classes for students at all levels of fluency. Thanks to Polin Prys for organising the classes and many thanks too to the teachers (including Polin) who delivered useful and enjoyable lessons.
After lunch on the Saturday there was a trip to Trenance Cottages (a walk of 15 minutes from the hotel). About fifty people walked to the cottages and, after we got there, there was a short talk by Christ Blount (the bard ‘Edhen A-varr’ who was on BBC Radio Cornwall) about the cottages. He’s a member of the Friends of Trenance Cottages which has undergone the renovation of the cottages during the last ten years. After this, people could explore the cottages which are a precious reminder of old Newquay. They are furnished om 1920s style and full of examples of the town’s history.
Later, after returning to the hotel, there was a very interesting talk by Stephen Gadd (translated into English by Roger Courtney) about the bard Robert Victor Walling who wrote a diary in Cornish exactly 100 years ago. Ann Trevenen Jenkin and Stephen have written a book about Walling called ‘Scrifer’ which is available from the Kowethas.
On Satuday evening there was a splendid troyl with dancing lead by Hevva. Lots of people danced to the beautiful music. Also Jane Kneebone led us in community singing. We sang well-known songs and also we tried less familiar songs – it would be good to include them more often in the future.
Early on Sunday Jane came back and – with the help of Heather West – a well-attended service.