2020 has many special dates and anniversaries, however the Covid Virus prevented celebrations and events going ahead as planned. August 8th marks our Cornish Guise team Boekka’s 10th birthday. The last 10 years have been such an adventure.

The following photographs of Boekka are from the days when our ‘Oss Penkevyll briefly performed as Penglaz the Penzance ‘Oss.

Mazey Eve 2009

Devon and Cornwall Pagan Conference 2010

Cassandra and I were in the developmental stages of creating a Guise team known as Penglaz Guise, to travel to other parts of Cornwall and the U.K., However at this time. we did not realize that Penglaz was not permitted to perform outside of Penzance. In recent time this seems to have changed.

2011

When Penglaz Guise and our ‘Oss were dismissed from Penzance this set us free to re-name our ‘Oss and perform anywhere we desired. It took a while to change our image. The following photograph was at Penkevyll’s naming ceremony on 6th March 2011.

Boekka then made it’s debut with Penkevyll at Spring Equinox 2011 in Crean St Buryan. The Teazers were working on choreographed dances with a band that consisted of a hurdy-gurdy and drummers.

Creating and organizing a Guise team is hard work arranging practices, and events. A few more members joined after the Equinox and this inspired my son who had Morris danced since a small boy, to teach a team alongside Boekka’s Guise team.  Some of the community did not agree with the Morris inclusion as they considered it an English tradition rather than Cornish.

In 2011 we attended various events shown in the following photographs.

Cornwall Pride 2011

It also seemed to be a year for media work! We appeared with Sue Perkins on the television program All Roads Lead Home and also Paul Merton’s Caravanning Adventures.

Rochester Sweeps Festival was our first weekend away and Kent is a 340 mile journey. Penkevyll caused quite a stir as it seemed that no one in Kent was familiar with a skull ‘Oss.

2012

In 2012 the Morris side connected to Boekka had 12 members. More dances and events were introduced and as we were then without a musician, the teams performed with percussion only while I taught myself to play a melodeon. We also hired a minibus and travelled to Scotland in March to perform at the Scottish Pagan Conference.

Boekka performed at the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic’s Charm Day event in Boscastle.

We also performed at Godolphin Fair

In Marazion on a hot summer day.

I learnt the tunes for Boekka that were composed by my son as well as other popular folk tunes.

My son also played percussion on occasions for Teazer dances choreographed by me.

Teignmouth Folk Festival

Pasty Day Redruth

2013

By 2013 some members left for various reasons and new ones joined. Due to a lack of regular commitment in 2012, we were unable to reach the high standard of performance we desired with a limited number of good dancers. My son then taught new members the Morris dances. A local man who was a Cotswold Morris dancer joined us and rode Penkevyll on occasions.

Bodmin Riding Heritage Day

North Inn Pendeen

Lands End

May morning on Chapel Carn Brea

2014

In 2014 it was difficult to get new recruits as many performers were more interested in Cornish pursuits. My son tried to maintain a high standard of performance that most members found difficult to cope with. We continued howevere with the few dancers we had along with the Cornish Teazer and ‘Oss side of Boekka that remained strong throughout.

Teignmouth Folk Festival

Wreckers Day of Dance

Lands End

Bodmin Riding Heritage Day

Marazion

Lands End

Chapel Carn Brea

St Pirans Day

St Pirans Day – we usually team up with the  Whippletree band in the processions

Chepstow Wassail

The first All Hallows Dark Gathering 2014

We continue this journey in Part 2!