Welcome to Cornwall / Kernow A'gas Dynergh

New bilingual 'Welcome to Cornwall' signs have been put up on the Tamar Bridge, A30 and other crossings. It is after many years of either having basic 'Kernow' signs, or in the case of the A38, none at all.

The Cornish text says: "Kernow a'gas dynergh"

A sign in Cambridge confuses drivers

Motorists in a village in the middle of England were a bit confused today when they came across a road sign written in Welsh.

Luckily it also had an English translation.

Workers from Cardiff were installing a sewer near the rail station in Shelford in Cambridge, and had brought dual language signs with them.

Make a date for 27th June at St Keverne

For the first time for some years, events will be organised by the people of St. Keverne as a community effort. They want the events to be broadly cultural and not politically led. This means that they are making the decisions of what goes on. Several of us who have been involved for ever feel this is the right and natural progression for St. Keverne to take over events there. However, of course anyone and everyone is invited along to support them and to make the evening an important one for Cornwall. We shall all have our own interpretation of 1497.

Events will start at 7pm on 27th. June with a short commemoration at the statue. Then Neil Davey and Hilary Coleman will lead the procession down to the Square, where the second commemoration will take place at the plaque, which was erected 40 years ago this year. This will be led by the Grand Bard of Gorseth Kernow Rod Lyon. Anthony Richards will be MC as usual. The wreath will be laid this year, to commemorate 40 years since the plaque was unveiled, by Ann Trevenen Jenkin, Past Grand Bard, a founder member of MK, who was there forty years ago with her family. We shall also remember Frank Curnow, who did so much for St. Keverne.

After that, Neil and Hilary will lead everyone to the village hall where there will be a concert given by various groups, including a play from the school and the original An Gof play. There will also be some archive film of past An Gof events. The evening will finish off with the Cadgwith Singers. Cost for the concert will be £2.50 and pasties will be available at £1.50. There are no funds to cover this so please do all come and support St. Keverne. Any further information is available from Karen Richards on 01326-280864. Thanks to her for getting all this under way.

The first woman appointed: Sheil Healy

Sheila Healy, the Acting Regional Director for the Government Office for the West Midlands, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Cornwall Council – the first time a woman has held the post in the Council’s 117 year history.

Her appointment was unanimously confirmed at a meeting of the full County Council today.

Welcoming the appointment David Whalley, the Leader of Cornwall Council, said “I am very pleased Sheila Healy has accepted the post of Chief Executive. Her enthusiasm and experience will be a great asset to the Council. “

“The next few years will present many challenges for Cornwall and the Council. I am confident that Sheila will help us to meet those challenges.“

Sheila has worked in a senior position in a number of local authorities in the Midlands area, including Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council, where she was Chief Executive of City Challenge, a major regeneration initiative, and Walsall’s Director of Environment.

In 1997 she became Corporate Director for Environment and Economy at the new unitary Council of Telford and Wrekin. Subsequently she was asked to head up their new Community Governance Directorship dealing with the modernisation and improvement agenda. She then joined IDeA (Improvement and Development Agency) in 2003 as their new Regional Associate for the West Midlands.

In 2004 she was appointed as the Regional Director of Local Government Policy and Practice at the Government Office for the West Midlands, before being invited to take up the post as Acting Regional Director.

Sheila has a BA and an MA in Economics and Social Studies from Trinity College, Dublin. She has also undertaken a range of voluntary work, including Chair of Governors of a large primary school, Director and Vice Chair of the Ikon Art Gallery, and Chair of Audiences Central; a West Midlands wide body which encourages participation in the arts. She is also a member of the Theatrical Management Awards and an adviser to CIPFA on their Public Servant of the Year Awards.

Sheila said “I am delighted to be offered the post of Chief Executive of Cornwall Council. I very much look forward to looking with elected members, staff and the partners and the communities of Cornwall – to build on its success and help it meet the challenges of the future”.

We are sad to report the death of former Grand Bard John Bolitho. We offer our prayers to his family and friends at this time.

This morning, former Grand Bard of Cornwall, John Bolitho died. He died after battling against bowel cancer. We though he was getting better, however, he became worse in the past few days and died this morning. He was born in 1929 and became a singer who often used to sing on TV. We will always remember doing what he loved, singing. I (Matthew Clarke) was incredibly happy that he joined me in Ireland this year to see Cornwall win the Pan Celtic Sogn Contest again (he was a very loyal supporter of the Pan Celtic). He became a bard of the Cornish Gorseth in 1981, and was made Grand Bard 2000 - 2003. He will be missed without being forgotten.

Paradise Park in Hayle wants help feeding the chicks

The keepers at Paradise Park need the public to come forward with creepy crawlies to give the new born choughs. The chicks were born at the beginning of May to two couples of choughs at the centre in Hayle.