A SPECIAL meal was held recently to celebrate 70 years of the Launceston Old Cornwall Society.

The branch was formed in May 1946 and to mark the 70th anniversary of its formation they celebrated at Trethorne Leisure Park.

Special guests were the Mayor and Mayoress of Launceston, Cllr Brian Hogan and Mrs Anita White and Miss Priscilla Oates, of Mullion, President of the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies, and friends from Callington and Bude Old Cornwall Societies who were all welcomed by Rob Tremain, president of the Launceston Old Cornwall Society, who acted as MC for the evening.

Prior to a carvery, Mrs Pat Tremain spoke grace in Cornish. Loyal toasts were raised to HM Queen and HRH Duke of Cornwall.

Mr Tremain, president of the Launceston Old Cornwall Society, to the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies, John Neale, secretary, Launceston Old Cornwall Society.

A toast to Launceston Old Cornwall Society was proposed by Miss Priscilla Oates who congratulated the society on reaching its milestone year.

John Ellacott, chairman, proposed the toast to ‘our guests’. Appropriate responses were made by the Mayor of Launceston and by Mr Tremain.

During his response to Miss Oates, Mr Tremain gave a short history of the society and some of its projects and activities, over the years; saving some of the old town wall, the re-siting of the Occazinney Cross, the rescue of sections of the Hender Memorial Fountain, the purchase of old Launceston trade tokens from a London auction house which items are now on display in Lawrence House Museum, the siting of local slate plaques in the town and donations to local church appeals.

Over the years several members had won prizes in the Gorsedh Kernow competition for photography, poetry and painting. Musical entertainment for the evening was provided by Mervyn and Alison Davey, of Withiel, based on the history of the minstrels at St Mary Magdalene parish church and the centuries old dancing, a way of telling biblical and other stories popular before books being written. The participants blackened their faces and wore strange costumes.

After Mervyn donned a grotesque mask, his pipe playing summoned up a strange figure from the period in the form of Alison Davey. A highlight was ‘Jan’, a Lilliputian dancing figure whose antics amused everyone.

The raffle was organised by Miss Vera Ellacott. The evening ended with a rousing rendition of Trelawny and the cry of Kernow Bys Vyken. Everyone was thanked by Mr Tremain.