SALTASH played host on Saturday to the 2009 Cornish Gorsedd held at Longstone Park, overlooking the River Tamar, with distant views of Brunell's Bridge and the Tamar road bridge. In a week of indifferent weather, the day was mostly dry and at one point the sun shone through in profusion.

The day began with a morning procession from the Wesley Church through the main street of Saltash, where outside the Town Hall a welcome was extended by the Mayor of Saltash (Coun Sue Hooper), a Bard in her own right, who gave a brief history of the town, which extends back many centuries. The procession, led by a local, band saw the street lined with hundreds of people

For the afternoon, the ceremony attracted a vast number of on lookers, many of whom came to see the recent round the world yachtsman and adventurer, Pete Goss receive from the Grand Bard (Vanessa Beeman) the 'Exceptional Endeavour Award.' This new award has been given by Barbara Shaw of Callington (Mentenor a'n Ertach) who earlier this year retired as the Gorsedd Secretary after nine years. Pete Goss sailed from Newlyn harbour to Melbourne, Australia in the Spirit of Mystery, recreating the epic voyage by the little Cornish lugger 'Mystery' over 150 years ago.

For the ceremony, about 250 Bards, including several from Australia, heard the Grand Bard call for 'Peace.' It then followed its normal pattern with a dance by the flower girls and the receiving by the Grand Bard the fruits and flowers from the Lady of Cornwall. Following the act of remembrance of deceased Bards, 15 iniaties were led into the circle by the sword bearer, Pol Hodge, who included Andrea Jane Watson of St Clether, who received her Bardship by examination in the Cornish language and for her continuing work for Cornwall.

See this week's 'Post' for a full report.