Two people from South East Cornwall have been named among 19 proud initiates, of whom nearly a third are from outside Cornwall, waiting to take their place among the 500 or so existing members of the College of Bards of Gorsedh Kernow.

The village of St Keverne provides the setting for this year’s Gorsedh Kernow Esedhvos Festival which includes the main bardic ceremony on Saturday, September 3 at St Keverne Playing Field, right in the heart of the village.

The high point of the ceremony, which starts at 2pm, will be the inauguration of the 19 new bards in recognition of their outstanding work in serving Cornwall and her distinctive Celtic identity.

Rod Sheaf, from Liskeard, has achieved the coveted status by examination in the Cornish language and continuing work for Cornwall

Michael John Smith, from St Cleer, will be honoured for support for Cornwall and the Cornish language