LAST Thursday saw Launceston thronging with locals, all supporting the ‘Lanson Children’s St Piran Parade’.

Not daunted by the grey drizzle, 300 flag-waving children, Launceston mayor, town councillors and other invited guests paraded through the streets before stopping for speeches and poems in the town square, with Cornish greetings by mayor Dave Gordon, town crier and Cornish Bard Rob Tremain and Bard Jane Nancarrow, who read a poem by Launceston poet, Charles Causley.

Accompanied by Launceston Town Band, the assembled gathering performed a raucous rendition of Trelawny before the parade, led by piper Keith Sutherland, headed back to the town hall for Cornish singing and dancing.

Children from ten schools participated in the Cornish celebrations, including Boyton, Coads Green, Egloskerry, Launceston College, South Petherwin, St Catherine’s, St Joseph’s, St Stephen’s, Tregadillett and Windmill Hill.

The event was supported by Cornish Spring Water, Tesco, Cake Away, Launceston Lions, Launceston Town Band and Launceston Voluntary First Aid Service.

The intention was to perform the dancing on Parade Ground, but because of the soggy underfoot conditions, the children had to dance in the dry of Launceston Town Hall.

Totally filled to capacity, the pupils of the ten schools raised the roof with Cornish songs, dances, poems and thunderous shouts of Kernow bys vyken.

As well as seeing hundreds of smiling children enjoying the day, it is important that the youngsters of the town learn about their history and heritage.

Sitting amongst those 300 children are the mayors, teachers, doctors and police officers of tomorrow.

The event was co-sponsored by Launceston Town Council and Hay Common Developments as well as other local businesses and organisations supporting the parade.

A member of the council said: “The team pulled off an even bigger and better St Piran event than last year, which is quite a feat in itself — a proper team, working together and making it look easy, which it isn’t.”

Mayor of Launceston, Cllr Gordon, told the Post: “This is only the second year that Launceston has held a St Piran’s Day parade in this format, and it was absolutely amazing.

“The weather was king and every time we called out ‘Kernow Bys Vyken’ the children would reply with the same. This event is now an established annual event in our calendar and I am sure it will grow every year.

“I would like to thank all the teaching staff and the children from all the schools represented, they really put Launceston on the map — it was brilliant. Thanks should also go to Ewan Murray (Visitor Information Centre manager), Ruth Maunder and Lauren Greene (Visitor Information Centre assistants).”