Bert Biscoe

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]

Bert Biscoe
Bert Biscoe in 2015
Born1960 (age 60–61) (approx)
Cornwall
Other namesViajor Gans Geryow
OccupationBard, Councillor, Historian
Known forbard of the Cornish Gorseth
Mayor of Truro

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. 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.
  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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