Like many Societies, Bodmin Old Cornwall Society really love to engage with their community.
This photo is of the amazing Christmas Tree the Society decorated at Bodmin Parish Church,
Society President, Stephanie Thomas said, "The place looks amazing with all the trees."
Well done Bodmin OCS
Members and friends of St Columb Major Old Cornwall Society thoroughly enjoyed their musical evening in the church on December 9th.
The guest singers accompanied by brass and string instruments were the Washaway West Gallery Choir.Formed in 1999 by Peter Meanwell, the choir sung 19th Century Cornish Carols. Peter had developed a strong interest in researching these Carols and was able to give a 'potted' history of each Carol which was sung. Three verses of the well known Carol, 'While Shepherds watched their flocks' was sung using 3 different tunes.
Interspersed with the singers were verses read by members of the Choir. Also taking part was Mike O'Connor who introduced the Choir and related a couple of short stories. Lyn May gave a vote of thanks.
Afterwards everyone was invited to join together in the Vyvyan room for Mulled wine and refreshments.
The next meeting will be our 'Get Together' on January 21st at the Silver Ball for a carvery.
Bodmin OCS proudly displayed their banner at the town's Remembrance Parade this year.
We held our Crying the Neck on Tuesday 27th August, despite the rain. Fortunately it cleared up enough for our ukulele group (miraculously, 9 of them turned out) to play some folk tunes, and local Cornish expert Dr Ken George read the service in Cornish for us. John Little read the English and cut the corn, using the sickle given to Looe OCS by our Past President, Ken Terry. Someone had seen John in the Museum the previous Friday and told him that the sickle should be wrapped in a gold cloth and blessed with spring water, so we found some gold tissue paper and sprinkled the sickle with the Cornish equivalent of Peckham Spring!
The farmer had gone home in disgust as the corn was too wet for his harvester, but it did mean we were spared the dust from tractors going back and forth to the granary. At the time we fixed the date he was confident harvest would be over by the last week in August, but the weather intervened.
We served cider or apple juice and saffron cake to around 30 people, including the musicians, so while we haven’t achieved total authenticity it was the most enjoyable Crying the Neck we have had for years, despite the weather.
Bodmin OCS report on the annual service to commemorate Thomas Flamank, of Bodmin, and the Cornish Rebellion of 1497.
A write-up of St Ives Museum’s recent win at the Cornwall Heritage Awards, by Curator Andy Smith.
