On Friday, I attended the launch of the new book about Richard
Jenkin titled “Richard G. Jenkin: A Great Son of Cornwall.”
My article in this coming week’s Cornish Guardian will “plug”
the book and will be as follows:
Throughout my adult life, I have been fortunate to meet and
work with many inspirational individuals, but one man who really stands out for
me is Richard Garfield Jenkin (1925-2002).
A new book, which celebrates his life and work, has just
been published and I was privileged to write one of the chapters. It is an
important book and I am confident that it will be welcomed by everyone who is interested
in modern Cornwall , its identity
and politics.
Richard Jenkin dedicated his entire life to Cornwall
and the revival of Cornish consciousness. A man of many talents and with a
tremendous work ethic, he was a key figure at the heart of a wide range of
organisations and numerous campaigns.
He was, without question, Mebyon Kernow’s most consistent activist,
serving at the heart of the party for over 50 years. A founder member of MK in
1951, he became the party’s first General Election candidate in 1970 when he
contested Falmouth and Camborne. In
1979, he polled over 10,000 votes as MK’s candidate to the European Parliament.
Richard rose to become Chairman between 1973 and 1983, before
being honoured with the award of the Life Presidency of the party in 1998.
He became a bard of the Cornish Gorsedd in 1947 and served
on the Gorsedd Council for decades, rising to the position of Grand Bard for a
total of nine years, between 1976-1982 and 1985-1988.
With his wife Ann, he edited the influential “New Cornwall”
magazine between 1957 and 1973, and he latterly edited “Delyow Derow” – a
Cornish language literary magazine.
Richard also served the International Celtic Congress and
the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies for many years and became President of
both organisations. He also sat on the Cornish Language Board and was
influential in the setting up of Esethvos Kernow.
Resident in Leedstown since 1959, he also served on Crowan
Parish Council for over thirty years.
Richard was a real polymath and one of Cornwall ’s
greatest champions, and this short newspaper column simply cannot do justice to
all his achievements.
Why not find out more? "Richard G Jenkin: A Great Son of
Cornwall” is published by Francis Boutle Ltd. It costs £12.50 and will be
available in good local bookshops or via www.francisboutle.co.uk
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