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Search forBards blast Cornish logo
11:56 - 07-July-2008
Vanessa Beeman wrote a letter to council leader David Whalley expressing her fears that some people felt they were being stripped of their identity and has called for the interim executive to reconsider its decision.
On April 1 next year, Cornwall County Council and the six district councils will make way for one unitary authority.
Mrs Beeman wrote: "It is
important that any marque adopted by the new council describes
and evokes the essence of Cornwall because it is an
international symbol which signifies a place and a culture
which has a strong and growing international dimension.
"As Grand Bard, I sense that I am speaking on behalf of both the College of Bards and a wide cross-section of Cornish society in asking that the interim executive reconsider its decision and commission a new modern rendition of the traditional crest, including the fisherman and miner and the Cornish language, and with the addition of an evocation of the symbol of St Piran."
Cornwall County Council says the logo is "inspiring and dynamic, bringing a contemporary modern feel to the best of Cornish tradition."
The Gorsedd of Bards, which upholds Celtic traditions in Cornwall, promotes Cornish language, literature, music and history. While the not-for-profit group recognised the proposed logo was well-designed and, "in a benign way", sympathetic to Cornish culture and its Celtic roots, it felt it was insufficient in portraying the depth or range of Cornish identity and heritage.
Left, traditional Cornwall Coat of Arms and the current council logo
Mrs Beeman continued: "We strongly assert that, as the Cornish language has been recognised by the Council of Europe, and its future development is funded by the British Government, and it is clearly and widely identified with modern Cornwall, that any marque of any public sector body with specific responsibilities for Cornwall should be using Kernewek (the Cornish language) in its insignia and, in appropriate ways, in its communications, promotions and presentations of Cornwall.
"Gorseth Kernow feels that any marque for the new council should embody a very strong sense of the civic and constitutional identity of Cornwall, as well as an evocation of culture and heritage.
"It should be able to evoke pride and recognition amongst Cornish folk in Cornwall and amongst lovers, customers, colleagues, ex-pats and descendants around the world."
The Grand Bard said the Gorsedd recognised it was important to deploy modern design values and techniques in developing a corporate image for the new authority.
But she added: "We feel that a reworking of the familiar, well-known, widely recognised and much-loved crest assemblage would be more appropriate and that this might include the addition of a reference to the St Piran's Cross which has become so widely associated with the positive outward-facing cultural values of modern Cornwall."
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POST OFFICES are a lifeline in rural areas and should not be a political football. Our local PO is a MUST and can survive with the support of local people. The mood/swing is away from LARGE DICTATORIAL outlets.Times they are a changing.
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