Circular - 1549 Service of Commemoration - 'Yes Kernow' at St Austell

1549 Commemoration

On behalf of Bodmin Old Cornwall Society, we bring you the following announcement:

News received from 'Yes Kernow' regarding the St Austell 'appearance

'Yes Kernow’ (YK) made another very high profile appearance on Sunday at the busy Mount Charles Roundabout in St Austell.

This follows appearances at other places around Cornwall including Chiverton Cross and Bodmin.

Support from hundreds of passing vehicles, including cars, buses, trucks, tractors and even motorbikes driven by locals resulted in many sounding their car horns in support whilst astonished passing tourists in campervans, cars pulling caravans and cars with the now familiar ‘granny boxes’ piled on to the roof and bikes strapped on, were seen to be taking photos in amazement!

Many motorists called out “Kernow bys vyken!” (Cornwall for ever!) and even returned with their own St Piran flags flying from their vehicles, whilst others spoke with the ‘YK’ members and were handed flyers.

In return the ‘YK’ members sang hearty renditions of ‘Trelawny’.

A police officer attended briefly and declared himself a Cornishman and found the ‘YK’ people to be peaceful, friendly and very controlled, proclaiming all to be very acceptable before departing after a few minutes.

Several members of the media called in at various times and the group were filmed by one journalist and members photographed and interviewed by others.

In closing the visibility action, the ‘YK’ folks went to a local pub and sang Cornish songs much to the delight of onlookers, many of whom were tourists, including a number sung in the Cornish language and to help participation, song sheets were handed out.

The landlord was said to be delighted and offered the group a function room for any future events.

The ‘YK’ group welcomes peaceful inclusivity and diversity in its very high profile visibility actions which involve people from those local communities and even those not born in Cornwall have taken to supporting the events.

The group has no leaders as such and once something is suggested by one of its members, an event is held if considered safe and responsible.

One of the ‘Yes Kernow’ members remarked to a journalist, “We are aware that some will accuse us of being nasty nationalists and xenophobes as well as say and write abusive and snide comments whilst coming up with reasons why we shouldn’t campaign for a better Cornwall, that is only to be expected. In saying this, they express satisfaction with the current system which any sane person can see is not working at all well. We see a different future for Cornwall as the people in Wales, Scotland and Brittany do for their countries, and we accept anyone to become involved no matter their ethnicity, gender identity, age, skin colour or background. The common bond is a love of all that Cornwall is and the desire to see democracy and decision making peacefully brought closer to the people and a brighter and more positive and equal future for one and all.”

‘Yes Kernow’ has established informal and friendly ties with ‘Yes Cymru’ in Wales, ‘Yes Scotland’ and ‘Yes Breizh’ in Brittany and these groups are a common sight in those countries.

Link to ‘Yes Kernow’ on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/247809633591657

Link to 'Yes Kernow' on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Yes_Kernow

Images: just two photographs of the ‘Yes Kernow’ team in action at Mount Charles

#KernowMatters #YesKernow #Anserghogeth