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Bert Biscoe

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Bert Biscoe
Picture of a Caucasian bearded man with gray hair and glasses standing against a blue background.
Bert Biscoe in 2015
Born1960 (age 63–64) (approx)
Cornwall
Other namesViajor Gans Geryow
Occupation(s)Bard, Councillor, Historian
Known forbard of the Cornish Gorseth
Mayor of Truro

Bert Biscoe is a Cornish politician, historian and bard of the Cornish Gorseth also known by the bardic name Viajor Gans Geryow.[1][2] He represents Cornwall Council's Truro Boscawen District as an independent Cornwall Councillor and Truro City Council councillor. Bert Biscoe is known locally for his work as a local historian[3] and for his activism related to the Cornish identity debate.[4] In 2012, his book of poems called "Trurra" won a Waterstones Publishers Award at the Holyer An Gof literary competition.[5] Biscoe was made Mayor of Truro in 2020 in an online ceremony.[6]

Personal life

Bert Biscoe was born in Stithians, Cornwall. He attended Truro School and his higher education was completed at Bangor University.[7] He lives in Truro, Cornwall.[8]

Bardic work

Bert Biscoe is a traditional musician and poet,[9] specialising in Cornish folk music, some of which is in the Cornish language.[10] Some of his audio works have been collected into a compilation titled "An Kynsa".

He was created a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedh in 1995 for services to Cornwall with the bardic name Viajor Gans Geryow, and has been a member of the Council of the Gorsedh since 2009.[11] He is the author of several books of poetry.[12] As a bard of the Gorsedh he is regularly in attendance at celebrations of Cornish culture and important cultural occasions.[13][14][15]

His poetry centres on the 'spirit of Kernow', he has performed with other bards in Cornwall.[16]

Political career

He is currently an independent councillor in Cornwall Council's Truro Boscawen District.[17][18] He is also a city councillor on Truro City Council.

Until 2017, he was Cornwall Council's portfolio holder for transport and was responsible for Cornwall's transport links. He was replaced by Councillor Geoff Brown.[19] During his time in office, he was involved in many projects including the A30 road improvements at Temple, Cornwall,[20] and one of the failed bus lane projects in Truro.[21]

Work as local historian

He is the Chairman of the Truro Civic Society, a registered charity based in Truro,[22] he is also current President of the Truro Old Cornwall Society.[23][24] He is also the honorary secretary and a trustee on the board on the Royal Cornwall Museum.[25] He is the author of two books about the history of Cornwall.[26]

Activism

Bert Biscoe is a relevant figure in the Cornish Identity debate and has campaigned for increased powers for Cornish local government and the creation of a Cornish Assembly.[27] [28] He has been the chair of the Cornish Constitutional Convention.[4]

Books

Bert Biscoe is the author of several books, mainly related to Cornwall and poetry.

  • MAUDLIN' PILGRIMAGE, book of verse set in the reign of Henry VIII.[29]
  • Rebecca, (1996).[30]
  • The dance of the Cornish air, (1996).[31]
  • At a wedding with Yeats in Turin, (2003).[32]
  • Trurra, Published by Dew Vardh, winner of the Waterstones Award at Holyer An Gof Publishers' Awards 2012.[33]
  • Words of Granite (ISBN 9780946143269).[34][35]
  • Mercifully Preserved Fictional account of the life of Sir John Betjeman[36]
  • On Yer Trolley: Poems Made During Complete Bed Rest!, (2008).[37]
  • White Crusted Eyes: Tales of Par, (2009).[38]
  • MEDITATIONS ON CARN BREA Poems and Pictures from a Cornish Hill, (2005).[39]
  • Accompanied by Larks.[40]

See also

References

  1. ^ Tregarthen, J.C. (2004). John Penrose : a romance of the Land's End ([New ed.]. ed.). Fowey: Cornwall Editions. ISBN 9781904880028. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Eseli Konsel Gorsedh Kernow". Gorsedh Kernow. Gorsedh Kernow. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  3. ^ "Squeeze Guts". cornwall live. cornwall live. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  4. ^ a b Simon, Parker. "Cornwall wants to go it alone". The Guardian. The Guardian. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  5. ^ http://gorsedhkernow.org.uk/HolyeranGof/publication_winners_2012.html
  6. ^ Lee Trewhela (11 May 2020). "First time in over 200 years new Truro mayor is sworn in online". Cornwall Live. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Biography". BB. Bert Biscoe Campaign. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  8. ^ "Bert Biscoe". Cornwall Gov. Cornwall Council. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  9. ^ "Dew Vardh, with Bert Biscoe and Pol Hodge". Penzance Literary Festival. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  10. ^ "A Kynsa". Cornwall 24. Cornwall 24. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  11. ^ "Council Members". Cornish Gorsedh. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  12. ^ "Jennet Campbell MBE: Cornish Gorsedd Honour - The Radford Charitable Trust". www.radfordtrust.org. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  13. ^ "Ceremony welcomes bards from all over the world to Lannstevan". Cornish & Devon Post. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  14. ^ "Guardians of a rich cultural heritage". Cornish Guardian. August 18, 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  15. ^ Council, Cornwall. "September 2013 - Cornwall Council". webcache.googleusercontent.com. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  16. ^ "Poets lead Cornish revolt against 'English imperialism'". The Independent. 18 May 1997. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  17. ^ Boscawen or Truro Boscawen is an electoral division and area of central Truro. "ONS Geography Linked Data | Truro Boscawen". statistics.data.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  18. ^ "data.ordnancesurvey". data. ordnance survey. Retrieved 9 September 2017. Boscawen Park is not located in the electoral ward but shares the same name.
  19. ^ Cornwall Council. "Profiles of Cabinet members - Cornwall Council". www.cornwall.gov.uk.
  20. ^ "A30 improvements finish date moves from spring to summer". ITV. ITV news. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  21. ^ "Scrapping of Truro bus lane costs £60,000". BBC. BBC Cornwall. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  22. ^ "TCS". Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  23. ^ "piran day article". falmouth packet. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  24. ^ "Truro Old Cornwall Society". Truro Old Cornwall Society. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  25. ^ "Trustees". Royal Cornwall Museum. Royal Cornwall Museum. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  26. ^ Truro Library Archives
  27. ^ "Councillor details". Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  28. ^ "About Bert Biscoe". Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  29. ^ Bert, Biscoe. "MAUDLIN' PILGRIMAGE". oldcornwallshop. BB. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  30. ^ "Rebecca". Open Library. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  31. ^ "the dance of the cornish air". Open Library. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  32. ^ "At a wedding with Yeats in Turin". Open library. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  33. ^ "gorsedh kernow awards list". gorsedh kernow. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  34. ^ Biscoe, Bert (1997). Words of granite : bearing witness : poems of time & place (1 ed.). Wadebridge: Lodenek Press. p. 53. ISBN 9780946143269. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  35. ^ Biscoe, Bert (1997). Words of Granite - Selected Poems. Lodenek Press. ASIN 0946143269.
  36. ^ "oldcornwall". oldcornwall.net.
  37. ^ Biscoe, Bert (5 December 2008). On Yer Trolley: Poems Made During Complete Bed Rest!. Creative Edge. ISBN 978-0956021816.
  38. ^ Biscoe, Bert (1 September 2009). White Crusted Eyes: Tales of Par. Creative Edge. ISBN 978-0956021823.
  39. ^ "MEDITATIONS ON CARN BREA Poems and Pictures from a Cornish Hill by Biscoe Bert: Biffworks, Cornwall Thin Card, First Edition, Signed by Author(s) - Polsue Books". www.abebooks.co.uk. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  40. ^ "Accompanied by Larks - BISCOE, Bert". www.cornishbookworld.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
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