’The Cornish are an open-hearted people, but we will not be taken for granted,’ said the Grand Bard of Cornwall, Merv Davey, Telynor an Weryn, as he addressed a substantial, flag waving crowd at Truro’s High Cross today (March 5).

Celebrating St Piran’s Day, the patron saint of tinners, the Grand Bard was inspired by the noisy crowd of enthusiastic schoolchildren, who with teachers and parents had joined the annual St Piran’s procession alongside countless Cornish supporters as they snaked their way through the town.

’It’s now almost two years since we gained recognition of our National Minority status and we must continue to consolidate and assert this identity.’ said Merv Davey.

’We must learn to rise above petty definitions of Cornishness and encourage and support  all those who feel that indefinable sense of place and longing to embrace our Celtic culture and play a full part.

’We have a long history of welcoming people into our culture and we applaud all those who cherish Cornish and Celtic culture as we do, but to those who are not so bothered about our heritage we say loud and clear, “handle Cornwall with care”.’