THE wonderful world of words, literature and Cornish language rang true at Launceston Town Hall, as authors, writers and members of the public alike flocked to the venue to delve into locally written books and novels on August 31, writes Rosie Cripps.

The event — which was a part of the celebrations of the much-anticipated Gorsedh Kernow Esedhvos Festival, which took place in Launceston — allowed the public to come along to ‘meet the authors’ of both local literature and factual books, written by authors from across Cornwall, and closer to home.

Thursday, August 31 saw the book festival kick-start with a series of book launches, including Bill Roberts’ Cornish Bards of the Launceston Area and Place Names of Launceston, published by Kesva an Taves Kernewek.

In the late morning and leading into the afternoon, members of the public were given the chance to purchase some books and meet the authors behind them, giving great opportunity to promote the work of these local writers.

Tim Hambly, an organiser of the Gorsedh Kernow events, was busy working behind the Cornish language books’ stall, alongside Shaun Rennie-Plume. Tim, part of the organising committee behind the Esedhvos Festival, explained to the Post that the week’s events had really come together.

He said: “It’s been very interesting. We’ve had lots of arrangements to make, and we’ve had to delegate jobs to people. Saturday is the main focus though, the bardic ceremony, and my jobs revolve around making sure the seats are put out at the castle green; people are given certain jobs to do at the ceremony.”

Speaking about the book festival, Tim continued: “This has been good. It’s the first time I’ve been to a book festival — it gives authors and writers the chance to talk about their books and chat to the public.”

Barded in 1991 at Roche Rock by examination of the Cornish language, Tim was co-opted to the Gorsedh council in 2016 and is ceremonial chief marshal. He is also the secretary of the Cornish Language Fellowship, a registered charity dedicated to promoting the Cornish language and educating people in the language.

He said: “It is known as Kowesthas an Yeth Kernewek, in Cornish. It’s a registered charity, set up to promote the language and allow people to take lessons and learn Cornish. We have stalls all around Cornwall, just promoting and getting people on board.

“The Cornish language and literature is pretty much central to this festival — it’s all about promoting the Cornish language and the county.”

Shaun Rennie-Plume explained that he had been learning Cornish at lessons held in Callington, while Tim holds lessons in Launceston. There are classes in Launceston, Callington, Saltash and Bude.

Tim added: “This is a PR exercise, as well as selling books. We can chat to people and then point them in the direction of evening classes and learning Cornish, which is very important to our culture.”

A member of the Gorsedh council, Pat Parry, was busy looking at the day’s success in takings. Pat was barded in 2014 at Torpoint, due to her participation in examination of the Cornish language.

She went on to join the Gorsedh Kernow council in 2015, and is also co-chair of the Holyer an Gof Publishers’ Awards.

Pat was particularly pleased with the success of the new bard book, Cornish Bards of the Launceston Area, with a picture of Launceston bard, Pat Tremain, on the front cover.

The book was produced by Bill Roberts, whose bardic name is Scryfer Lanstefan (Launceston Writer). Mr Roberts was able to produce the book with the help of Gorsedh Kernow’s archives and publi­cations committee.

Pat said: “It’s wonderful to be in the beautiful, historic surroundings of Launceston, which we so love.

“It gives people the chance to explore the Cornish language and local writing. We’ve had some interesting speakers, and people have been asking interesting questions — that part grows and grows each year.

“It’s turned from a book fair, into a book festival, so it’s fantastic.”

Authors and book enthusiasts had travelled from far and wide across Cornwall, with one lady who is based between Looe and Liskeard, feeling very positive about the day.

Jill Thomson, who had brought along with her a selection of both collectible and pre-loved books, had been handing out flyers for an antiques and collectors’ market in Lostwithiel, due to take place throughout the rest of the year, along with her vast array of books, and felt the day had been very beneficial.

Launceston author, Jane Nancarrow displayed works of late poet Charles Causley alongside her own.

Jane is able to boast an array of works, from the 19th century murder of 18-year-old Charlotte Dymond on Bodmin Moor, to a dark and powerful Victorian tale of the navies descending on a local village.

Jane, a former English teacher who now dedicates her time to working as an author and a town councillor for Launceston Town Council, has delved into the harrowing murder of Charlotte Dymond, a young woman working at Penhale Farm on Bodmin Moor, who is thought to have been brutally murdered, supposedly by her lover, Matthew Weeks.

Jane has been involved with field trips travelling to the slopes of Roughtor, the site where Charlotte was found in 1844, to tell the grisly tale of Charlotte’s fate, where her life ended by supposedly two swift and deep cuts to the throat.

Jane has also produced an informative book on the young Victorian woman’s death, which was available at the book festival last Thursday.

Taught by late Launceston poet, Charles Causley, as a young girl, perhaps this is what has inspired Jane’s love for words and writing, going on to teach English and continue her passion for writing through her novels. Jane was keen to chat to the public and discuss Causley’s works with them.

One of Jane’s main objectives at the book festival was to promote her own work, with three of her novels on show, available to purchase.

Jane told the Post that her first novel, Stones and Shadows, was published in 2010, followed by Echoes of Endsleigh in 2013 and her most recent book, Through Minty Meadows, in 2016.

She said: “I started off with short stories; I’ve always written, because, of course, I was an English teacher and loved words — so I’ve always loved writing.”

Through Minty Meadows tells the tale of Egloskerry girl, Mary Jane, whose peaceful life in the 19th century is disrupted by the navies who descend on the area to lay the railroad — the old North Cornwall railway.

Speaking about the event, Jane felt positive about the day, but had hoped more people would come along.

She said: “I thought there might be a few people that would come along from town, but overall it’s been a very interesting day. There’s been a range of different books and writers, so it’s been very interesting — I just wish more people knew about it.”

Jane believed that the book festival was a great thing for both local writers and Launceston.

She continued: “I think it’s excellent. Of course, it’s the centenary of Charles Causley’s birth — some of his work I’ve got with me today — so it’s really great to be able to promote that and make people aware of it.”

Jane explained that she is self-published, but that many authors have an agent. However, this wouldn’t be right for her. She added: “My friend is an author — she has to write about three or four books every year. I just wouldn’t want that, I write because I enjoy writing. I write pretty locally.”

Also attending the book festival were the Thorn cousins, David and Stuart, who, last year, released their book Thorns of Bude: Pioneers of Photography — Tintagel to Clovelly, a book full of Victorian pictures of Bude and the surrounding area, taken by their ancestors, who were pioneers in the new-found world of photography at the time.

David Thorn thought the book festival was both interesting and enlightening. He said: “The book festival was a new venture for the Gosedh Kernow, which will become a big event for Cornish writers and works on Cornish culture and history. There were various stands with all manner of books on Cornwall or by Cornish authors, including some of the past and present book award winners.

“Part of the day was devoted to meeting the authors of the winning publications in this year’s Holyer an Gof Awards, promoted by the Gorsedh.”

Four of the winners — Judy Scrimshaw, David Thorn, Rod Lyon and Bernard Deacon — were asked questions about their books, which David described as ‘a most interesting and revealing time’.

The four interviewers included Bert Biscoe from Truro, who is portfolio holder for transport on Cornwall Council.

David and Stuart were winners of the overall publication for 2017 at the Holyer an Gof Awards, held earlier this year. The pair were presented with a cup by Grand Bard, Merv Davey.