Cunteller an Brewyon – Gatherer of the Fragments
The Old Cornwall movement has lost one of its most steadfast champions with the passing of Malcolm (Mac) Foster Waters, Bard of Gorsedh Kernow, Cunteller an Brewyon—“Gatherer of the Fragments”. Few titles could have suited him better. Throughout his life, Mac dedicated himself to collecting, preserving, and sharing the stories, images, and memories that make up the fabric of Cornish life.
Initiated as a Bard at Camborne School in 1994 for services to Cornish culture and history, Mac embodied the Old Cornwall motto “Gather ye the fragments that are left, that nothing be lost.” His knowledge, generosity, and quiet determination made him a familiar and much‑loved presence across the Federation.
Early Life and Working Years
Born and raised in mid‑Cornwall, Mac attended Biscovey County Primary School, leaving at 15 to work at Webbers, the bakers at Mount Charles. At 16 he joined the Merchant Navy, and by the age of 21 he had sailed around the world—a formative experience that broadened his horizons without ever loosening his deep roots in Cornwall. He remained in the Merchant Navy for a decade before returning home, working briefly at bakeries in St Austell and St Dennis, and then spending the remainder of his working life with ECLP at Parkandillick Calciner, St Dennis. Among his duties there was the care of the Parkandillick beam engine, a responsibility he carried with characteristic pride. He retired at 64.
A Life in Old Cornwall
Mac’s commitment to the Old Cornwall movement was extraordinary in both breadth and depth. He belonged to ten Old Cornwall Societies, and served as:
- Vice President of both St Denys and Probus OCS
- Past President of Probus OCS for an exceptional eleven years
- Member of the Executive Committee of the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies
- Place‑names Recorder for the Federation
He carried the Esedhvos Kernow banner for twenty years, a role he undertook with quiet dignity and unwavering loyalty. He contributed to the staging of the Gorsedh at Roche, and he appears in the Gorsedh publication Cornish Bards of the St Austell and China Clay Area (2015, p.71).
Mac also played his part in conservation and restoration projects, assisted with lectures and presentations on Cornish history, and appeared in films created by Storylines, including work centred on Carngrey Rock, Trethurgy, and Memories of St Austell filmed at Rescorla Chapel.
Collector, Historian, and Storyteller
Mac was best known to many as a passionate collector of postcards and ephemera. His meticulously arranged postcard albums—organised by place, theme, and memory—were legendary. Friends recalled that walking with Mac was “like being taken time‑travelling”, as he effortlessly connected landscapes with stories, images, and long‑forgotten details.
He gave talks and slide shows across the area, sharing his collections with humour, warmth, and an infectious enthusiasm. The Azook Cornish Memory Project is now digitising his collection, ensuring that his life’s work will continue to inspire and inform future generations.
He also served as Chairman of the St Austell Stamp and Postcard Club for three years and was active in the Friends of Rescorla. His contributions were noted in the St Austell Voice (29 April 2015) and the China Clay History Society’s ECC Press Monthly Newsletter.
A Gentle, Generous Presence
Those who knew Mac speak of a man who was kind, welcoming, and endlessly inclusive. He delighted in sharing snippets of Cornish lore, comparing postcard finds with friends, and encouraging newcomers to take an interest in local history. He collected Cornish tea‑towels with the same affection he held for postcards, and friends fondly recall his delight at receiving one featuring Probus Church.
He was part of the Luxulyan Museum Group, meeting in the old Sunday School room at Bridges Chapel, where he shared a friendly rivalry with fellow Bard Derek Reynolds over who had the better postcard collection. These were the small joys that animated his life.
A Legacy Rooted in Kernow
Mac’s life was a testament to the values at the heart of the Old Cornwall movement: memory, community, and the safeguarding of Cornish distinctiveness. He gathered fragments—postcards, stories, names, images, and memories—and in doing so, he helped preserve the soul of the places he loved.
His legacy will live on through the societies he served, the collections he curated, the projects he supported, and the countless people he welcomed into the world of Cornish heritage.
Kernow has lost a true servant.
May he rest in peace, and may the fragments he gathered continue to speak for generations to come.
Funeral Arrangements
1000hrs Friday the 6th March @ Trelawny Chapel, Penmount Crematorium, Truro. Following the service, refreshments will be available at St. Austell Rugby Club, Tregorrick Road.