Having felt for a number of years that the Windsor Chair next to the range in Bodmin Town Museum’s ‘Cornish Kitchen’ needed a male figure, Museum President, Peter Davies, was pleased to receive the Museum Committee’s support when he suggested this to them.

Funding for a new figure was received from the Blisland Commoners Association. The lifelike statue - a Cornish farm worker reading the first edition of the Cornish Guardian - can now be seen in the Cornish Kitchen along with the many other Town Museum exhibits.  

“The outcome has been very pleasing”, said Mr Davies, “and my thanks goes to ‘Robert Farrow Workshops’ for the quality figure and I am delighted that the figure is now in situ, particularly in time for the opening of the new season. The chair belonged to my grandparents, which I gifted to the Museum several years ago. I can remember feeling very proud and grown up when allowed to sit in it in my grandparents’ scullery and feel equally proud today for it to be still in use, all be it, of a sedentary nature.”  

The Mayor of Bodmin, Councillor Michelle Griffiths, was pleased to be invited to the ‘unveiling’ of the figure on Monday 7 April when the Museum opened its doors for the 2008 season.

 
You can find out more information about the Bodmin Town Museum, including opening times, here.

 

After giving a lead in the campaign for a Cornish public holiday by giving council staff a day off in 2007, Bodmin is making St Piran’s Day extra special on 5 March 2008 by extending the celebrations throughout the day with the support of all the schools in the town.

The day begins at Town Wall, Bodmin, with a procession commencing at 10.30am (assemble 10-10.15) including children from the primary schools. During the procession there will be a slight pause at the Flamank Stone in Fore Street before the procession reaches its destination at Mount Folly.

Once at Mount Folly there will be speeches by invited guests from the Cornish community and this will be followed by each primary school performing two songs or dance of their choice. After lunch there will be an entertainment by pupils of Bodmin Community College.

Androw Hawke Chairman of Bodmin St Piran’s Committee who has masterminded the day in partnership with Bodmin Town Council said “St Piran’s Day 2008 in Bodmin will bigger and better than ever. The event lasts all day with three processions taking place, the afternoon procession which leaves Mount Folly at 14.00 (assemble 13.30-13.45) is open to “One and All” and all Cornish organisations are invited to take part. The Bournemouth Cornish Association has already taken up the invitation and we urge all others to attend as well. Mount Folly will be decked out in St Piran banners and there will be Cornish stalls and music throughout the day. This will be the basis for even more in subsequent years when Bodmin will be the only Place to be on St Piran’s Day”.

Councillor Philip Kerridge of Bodmin Town Council said “Bodmin Town Council has given the campaign for a public holiday a kickstart by giving staff a day off. Since then more than a thousand people have signed petition on the Downing Street website. The best possible impetus for a holiday would be if all these people and more came to Bodmin on 5 March.”

The day concludes at 19.45 on Mount Folly when Trelawney will be sung following the evening procession which leaves Town Wall at 18:30pm (assemble 18.00-18.15) lead by Cornish Piper Merv Davey and the town’s cadet and scout organisations.

Contacts: Paul O’Callaghan, Town Clerk, Bodmin Town Council 01208 74159 Androw Hawke 07981736177 Philip Kerridge 07968 892195

  St Piran's Day Poster (PDF)