Jim Wearne's researches into folk music and family history led him to an interest in things Cornish, and Cornish music in particular. He has since written many songs on Cornish themes, and performs these songs and traditional Cornish material at festivals throughout the USA, and in Cornwall.
I was born to Patrick Harry and Phyllis Annie Glasson on the 24th of September 1951 at Coronation Cottages Leedstown, the home of my maternal Grandmother and christened Phillip Harry. At just a few days old I was taken home to Clowance wood, near Horsedowns. My surname, Glasson, means ‘grass
‘A Newlyn maid who dearly loved to sing’, was how Brenda saw herself – although she became known by many titles around the world: La Grande Cornouaillaise, Mama Cornwall, the Voice of Cornwall and more. Brenda released more than 30 albums and is a major figure in the story of
In August 1971, whilst on a tour of Cornwall, the newly formed rock group ‘Queen’ played at the Driftwood Spars pub in St Agnes. The newspaper advert proudly announces: ‘The Legendary Drummer of Cornwall: ROGER TAYLOR’. Below, in a tiny font, is added ‘and Queen’.
Skwardya, formed in 1998 by Matthi Ab Dewi and Alan Pengelley, is a Cornish language folk/rock/pop band.
Charlie Bate (1919-1977) by John Buckingham Charlie was born in Padstow in 1919. His father also Charlie was a merchant seaman who served on several vessels including the Padstow registered ‘VIOLA’ a ‘Q’ ship in WW1. Charlie was still at school when his mother died and he was sent to
John Bolitho (1930 – 2005) was fond of describing himself as an “itinerant singer”, a description which belied a professional career that included work with the Billy Cotton Band show and two royal command performances. He was a fluent Cornish speaker and bard of the Cornish Gorseth taking the name
Brythennek – Brian Web Brian Webb o den jolif, bras y golonn, leun a hwarth. Ev a skrifas meur a ganow yn Kernewek ha Sowsnek, ha didhanus ha truesi. A-dar henna ev a wonedhi yn fen avel Skrifennyas Kowethas an Yeth Kernewek yn blydhynyow a-varr an bagas na, hembrenkyas
Jim Pengelly hailed from Padstow in Cornwall where he grew up, hence the name of this book ‘Den Lodenek’ which translated from Cornish means ‘Man of Padstow’.