A NEW ceremonial sword will be used at the Cornish Gorsedd, at St Ives on Saturday.

The purpose-made Joining Sword of harmony will be the centrepiece of a recently introduced feature at the annual colourful gathering.

The two halves of the sword are symbolically joined by bards from the Cornish and Breton Gorsedds and presented to the Welsh Mother Gorsedd as a sign of respect, peace and unity.

It has been made by craftsman Colin Rescorla, of St Columb Major, who makes the silver hurling balls used in that town's famed festival.

He said: "The wood for the handle of the sword is St Columb yew.

"I thought this would be appropriate as Henry Jenner, the Gorsedd's first Grand Bard in 1928, was born here.

"The silver on the handle is from an offcut from the making of a hurling ball, which further symbolises the strong link between St Columb and the Gorsedd."

Grand Bard Mick Paynter, of St Ives, who will lead the ceremonies on The Island on Saturday, spoke of his appreciation of the work and the time donated by him. Funds towards its manufacture had been raised by bards.

Engraved on the blade are the words "Lymm ow own heb own a boon" which is Cornish for Sharp my Blade without fear of Pain, words from a poem by bard Tim Saunders.

Members of the public are encouraged to visit The Island for the ceremony and the Gathering of the bards.

On the eve of the Gorsedd celebrations, a new book is being launched to honour 52 past St Ives Bards.

Cornish Bards Of St Ives gives brief biographies of the members, their contribution to the Gorsedd and the life of the town.

"This is not just a book about important St Ives bards who have achieved national or international fame, like Barbara Hepworth, Bernard Leach and Peter Lanyon – who are all mentioned.

Early leaders

"It includes the early leaders of the Cornish revival, like Robert Morton Nance and his family, who worked hard to establish the first Old Cornwall Society in 1920 and the Gorsedh Kernow in 1928," said Ann Trevenen Jenkin, of Leedstown, past Grand Bard and the chairman of the Gorsedd archives and publications group.

"There are also the grass-roots citizens from St Ives, people like Beryl James, Cyril Noall and John Tucker Barber, as well as many others who did so much to preserve and conserve the best of St Ives and Cornish culture and history.

"Archaeologists, painters, Cornish language enthusiasts, historians – all are there. It is a fascinating picture of one particular Cornish area," she added.

Material has been researched and compiled with energy and skill by St Ives archive volunteers, under the supervision of Janet Axten and steered through by the publications committee.

Derek Williams has edited it from the mass of collected research.

The book is illustrated with black and white photographs of bards and includes a list of main sources for each study, a list of present St Ives bards and a reading list of Gorsedd publications.

The launch will take place at 11am at the Guildhall, with the present Grand Bard Mick Paynter.

The book, costing £6, will be available at the launch and at the St Ives Archive Centre, in the upper parish rooms.

For postal copies or multiple orders contact David Lindo, Gorsedd treasurer, Enys, 13b Trevone Crescent, St Austell, PL25 5ED.