For the first time, Perran Sands welcomed a woman to play the role of the patron Saint of Cornwall on Sunday at the county’s traditional keynote celebration of its national day. 

A ladder mishap took out the intended role-player earlier in the week so Sefryn Penrose, daughter of the late St Piran’s Trust chairman Perran, and herself a trust member, stepped into the robes as a last-gasp St Piran’s Day replacement for the re-enactment of the arrival of the county’s patron saint at the place where his once-lost oratory was built.

Joining Sefryn was Grand Bard of Gorsedh Kernow Pol Hodge, official piper Will Coleman and three other main characters: Badger, Boar and Fox played by Cornwall Councillor Julian German and husband and wife team Merv and Alison Davey.

The Reverend Anne Brown, Vicar of Perranporth, led the service.