Unfortunately, The President Barbara Shaw – Mentenor a’n Ertach (Upholder of the Heritage) and The Secretary Keith Shaw – Kaswydh (Small wood or Copse) were unable to attend the Midsummer Bonfire this year for the first time in many years.
Merv and Allison Davy played music to entertain the gathering crowds prior to the Town Cryer – Tony Stentiford summonsing all to gather for the procession to the bonfire.
The Vice President Les Pierce led the dignities through the ceremony in Cornish and English. The Guest of Honour was the newly installed Deputy Portreeve and Deputy Mayor Mike Tagg, the Prayer for the Benediction of the Midsummer Bonfire was given by the Reverend Heather West – Gwas Duw (Servant of God) of South Petherwin Parish, whilst the Lady of the Flowers was Pam Cox, whose bunch of flowers to be cast into the fire included “wicked weeds, fast withering, let this fire kill!” – together with beneficial which would prevail “thousand fold to let good seed spring”.
It was a wonderful evening – with songs, and the stirring Cornish Anthem “Bro Goth Agan Taves”, followed by the familiar Cornish Anthem “Trelawny”.
