Skinners Bottom had a Male Voice Choir in the late 1940s and in 1954 the name was changed to the Skinners Bottom Glee Choir. A newspaper cutting said, “This choir has the unique distinction of being the only one which sings songs in the Old Cornish tongue” – they always started or finished with Trelawny sung in Cornish. The choir became famous even taking part in the Pan-Celtic Festival in Killarney. One of their records was played at the congress of the Federal Union of European Nationalities in West Germany and the BBC broadcast their rendition of the St Day carol sung in Cornish. They were clearly a choir of some distinction and in 1954 they were awarded the Cornish Gorsedd Music Trophy and William Garfield Stevens, their conductor, was made a bard and given the name Lewyer (Conductor). Members in 1954 were Maurice Wilkins, Will Trevillian, Garfield Stevens, Lester Harris, Bert Wherry, Will Skinner, Maurice Roberts, Dennis Wherry, Brian Wherry, Dennis Tonkin, Ray Wherry and Hartley Stevens.

(A History of Blackwater and its Neighbours 2004)

The date and newspaper for above cutting is uncertain but the West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser, 22nd April 1954 carries a short article: “The Skinners Bottom Male Glee Choir has accepted the invitation to attend the Pan Celtic Festival held at Killarney Eire on May 4, 5 and 6th. They will be the only choir to represent the Cornish people and Language”

There are several recordings of The Skinners Bottom Singers in the RTE archive  with the note “Possibly recorded at the Pan Celtic Congress in Killarney which was held during the An Tostal Festival in 1954“.  These Pan Celtic Festivals were organised by the Celtic Congress. Helena Charles was an active member of the Cornish Branch of the Celtic Congress and instrumental in organising similar Pan Celtic Festivals in Cornwall in 1949 – 1950s.

Notes

Clive Benney and Tony Mansell, A History of Blackwater and its Neighbours, Published by Trelease Publications, 2004 ISBN 0-9545583-4-0