CORNISH people have Otterham School to thank for saving their blushes as thanks to their courage and stamina, the school became the first one to maypole dance up on Bron Wenelly (Swallow Hill) or Brown Willy as it is better known the highest point in Cornwall (420m/1275 ft).

Last year Bradworthy maypole danced on Willhayes Tor (the highest point in Devon) and were threatening to conquer Bron Wenelly.

David Dawson (who teaches at both schools) warned Otterham and they responded. With a bunch of willing parents and a photographer (to prove it) they walked round Roughtor and up Bron Wenelly with the maypole.

They danced two dances, Rainbow Cross-Cross and Spiders Web, on uneven ground in a very frisky wind, accompanied by accordion (Dave Dawson) and fiddle (Penny Thomas) and a skylark.

Such brave ventures are not unusual in Otterham as four years ago they co-starred with nine other schools (including Bradworthy) in setting a world record for the largest maypole dance ever (128 children).