THERE were smiles and applause all round as the winners of the Gorsedh Kernow awards gathered at Launceston Town Hall to receive their certificates and medals.

The awards night on Thursday, August 31 was hosted by Bard Edward Rowe, Mab Tregarrek, perhaps better known to many as comedian Kernow King.

Awards and certificates were presented to most of the winners by the Grand Bard, Merv Davey, Telynyor an Weryn.

The London Cornish Association medal and shield were presented by special guest Sir John Trelawny, direct descendant of Bishop Trelawny and president of the London Cornish Association (LCA). The LCA/Paul Smales Medal for services to Cornwall by someone living outside Cornwall went to Mrs Del Clinton (Cornish Association of New South Wales) of New South Wales, Australia.

The LCA Shield for outstanding services to Cornwall and Cornish people went to Mrs Anne Parsons (Bournemouth Cornish Association) of Poole, Dorset.

Among local winners was Helen Bartrop Hocking, from Bude, who received the Gorsedh Kernow medal for a song in English — ‘One and All’, which she made as part of the band tigerBalm with her husband Martin.

Helen, who is secretary for the Bude and Stratton Old Cornwall Society, member of Kernow Matters to Us, Mebyon Kernow and the Cornish Heritage Trust, said of the medal: “I’m absolutely over the moon, I didn’t expect to win it.” She dedicated the win to her grandmother, Christine Trewin.

She said she came to Launceston in 2003 when the Gorsedh last came to the town, and said she was looking forward to once again see the bardic ceremony at the castle on Saturday.

A film about late Launceston poet Charles Causley earned its makers The Glenda Hartland Award for film. Jane Darke made the film in collaboration with Andrew Tebbs. ‘The Poet Charles Causley’ was broadcast on BBC Four this year to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Causley’s birth. It was Jane’s fourth film, and Kernow King told the audience: “All the films are about Cornwall, and all are made by just two people.”

As well as the adults, young people’s awards were presented to the winners aged five and over.

Mr Rowe, aka Kernow King, told the Post: “It’s a great honour to be hosting this in Lanson, a real honour for me to do this — it feels like my role in the Gorsedh.

“It’s a massive honour to be a Cornish Bard, which I’m really proud of along with all my family.”