Some images captured by Frank Stevens and Val Thomas
Trewey Hill was again the site for this years ‘Crying the Neck’. The crop was barley and much of the field had already been machine cut, but a wonderful wildflower border was left on the side to cheer us all up and encourage wildlife to thrive. The day was dry and, I thought, warm in St Ives, but it wasn’t quite so warm on the top of Trewey Hill!
Harry, Caroline Mann and their grandchildren had left a small patch of barley uncut especially for us and at 2pm were ready to commence the ceremony. Our banner was carried by Raymond Perkins, supported by Peny Melmoth and Diane Sullivan. Frank Stevens, our president welcomed members and spectators including St Ives Mayor, Johnnie Wells who attended with his partner.
Trelawny was sung and the history and origin of the ceremony was explained by Frank before Singing ‘We Plough the Fields and Scatter’. Dee Brotherton was our charismatic Cornish speaker this year and she repeated the prayer for the harvest in Cornish.
Our second hymn was ‘Come ye Thankful People Come’ before the traditional cutting of the crop was carried out by Harry with his inherited scythe. While Harry was cutting, his wife Caroline and Grandchildren were gathering the cut crop in small bundles which were placed on the sheaves they created. After cutting the corn Harry shouted the traditional words in English with Dee echoing him in Cornish. The audience then chanted the reply. This was repeated 4 times, to each point of the compass.
Shirley Beck, who was this years ‘Lady of the Flowers’ for our Midsummer Eve bonfire then explained what would happen to a small bundle of the crop after cutting, when it was either taken to the church or back to the farmhouse.
Our third and final hymn, ‘Now the Year is Crowned with Blessing’ was then introduced by this years Master of Ceremonies, Angela Stevens. St Ives Old Cornwall President, Frank, then thanked the spectators for attending this traditional harvest celebration and reminded them that St Ives Old Cornwall has now commenced their programme of talks for the next year.
Lawrence Eastwood, a beekeeper, had been kind enough to bring along a rack of his own scythes for display and then found he couldn’t resist cutting some of the crop himself with these super-sharp ancient farming tools.
Thank you to all who took the time to attend this ceremony and help to make it such a success and grateful thanks to the Mann family of Trewey Farm, Zennor for hosting us yet again.
