AN ANCIENT Cornish tradition was enacted in Torpoint as Bards in their striking blue robes walked through the town to the waterfront. The procession was making its way to Rendel Park for the proclamation of the Cornish Gorsedh – the announcement that the open-air Bardic ceremony, a celebration of Celtic history and culture, is to come to Torpoint in September. The Gorsedh has only once before been held in the town – at Antony House, in 1987. Around 50 bards formed part of the procession, with Torpoint mayor Mike Pearn, councillors, representatives of local organsiations, and Captain Bob Fancy of HMS Raleigh. Chosen to be this year's Lady of the Flowers was local girl Rosie Hortop. The tradition of preserving Celtic history and culture through poetry, song, dance, music, art and spoken word, stretches back to the story tellers – or Bards – of ancient Celtic countries. In Cornwall the Bards take part in a unique open-air ceremony, the Open Gorsedh, each autumn, when new Bards are admitted, and awards are given. A taste of what is to come was seen in Torpoint as the coming of the Gorsedh was heralded. Conducted in both Cornish and English, the proclamation ceremony included the public invitation by the mayor to the Grand Bard to hold the Bardic ceremony in the town in September. 'We are very proud to be hosting the Gorsedh of the Bards of Cornwall,' said cllr Pearn, 'and this proclamation has given locals and visitors to Torpoint an exciting preview of September's event. 'I was pleased to see so many people at the ceremony and look forward to the main event in the autumn.'