Torbay Cornish-Cuntelles Kernewek.

The next Cuntelles Kernewek will be held at the Best Western Livermead Cliff Hotel, Torquay
from Friday, 9 April to Sunday, 11 April 2010.

Dr Rupert Coles, a keen member of London Cornish Association ("London CA"), held the position of Head of Poultry Section at the Ministry of Agriculture. In this capacity he made regular visits to the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester. It was during these visits that he conceived the idea that the college could be an excellent site for a gathering of all the Cornish Associations.

This idea he put to the London CA Council and ,as we know, this resulted in the first CK. the week-end after Easter in 1966. London CA organised the first CK; thus setting the pattern for all future CKs.

In those days accommodation was basic in the students’ rooms, but the highlight especially for single ladies was being brought a morning cup of tea to the bedroom by the very polite Polish male staff.

On route to the students’ hall we were all fascinated by the many paintings on the walls of farm animals, including prize bulls, boars and sheep.

Meals were taken in the main students’ hall on large highly polished wooden tables with long benches to sit on.

Food was always plentiful and wholesome – assuming I felt that we all had appetites like the agricultural students. Home grown vegetables and meat from the farm ‘ansome’.

In those days everyone arrived during Saturday morning – the organising Association’s committee going the night before to prepare competitions etc. Plenty of choices available – competitions similar to today with all entries accommodated in the Boutflour Hall. In addition to picture competitions and quizzes displayed on the walls , knock out competitions of table tennis, billiards and darts continued all week-end until eventual winners were found before tea-time on the Sunday.

On Saturday afternoons, various coach outings were arranged to local places of interest including a trout farm, brass rubbing in Cirencester Parish Church, a local arboretum or visiting the college farm. Slide shows of Cornwall in college for those not going on outings or mixing, chatting or napping.

Saturday evenings after dinner there was always a social programme in the Tythe Barn, a beautiful room attached to the college, which was the students’ common room.

London provided the entertainment the first year. In the following years various associations contributed items. I seem to remember some of us from London did (or attempted to) the Can Can. We sewed rows and rows of coloured crepe paper on the underside of our skirts and pants. We certainly had some lovely entertaining evenings over the years.

After the concerts it seemed natural to accumulate around the bar where before long good Cornish singing was enjoyed.

Sunday mornings we all attended the service in the College Chapel with Cornish clergy coming especially. The time between the service and lunch was taken up around the bar – again with lusty singing from Sankey hymns to “Little eyes I love you, Camborne Hill, Grey Duck, Lamorna etc.” interspersed with the hymns. The barmen said they wished they didn’t have to wait another two years as they had never heard anything like it before.

No time to nap after the Sunday roast as we all gathered to watch and cheer on the finalists in the billiards, darts and table tennis unless already finished.

The final gathering was for the results of all the competitions in the Boutflour Hall – presentation of prizes and certificates. It was then announced which Association would be host in two years time.

I feel privileged to have attended each CK. I can hardly believe it has spanned 40 years. Many friends were made over the years and sadly now many from our early Cirencester days are not able to travel to be with us or we have been sadden by their passing.

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Cirencester - Circa 1972		Cirencester - 1976

Cirencester - 1978		Cheltenham - 1984

Torquay		Torbay Members - Torquay 1998

Torquay 2004		Torquay 2006

Torquay 2008		Torbay Members - Torquay 2008