MEBYON Kernow members and supporters celebrated the party’s 75th anniversary today [Tuesday, January 6]. Future events will include a party for members in June, plus a major autumn conference with international guest speakers.

Thirteen people were present at the inaugural meeting on January 6, 1951 at the Oates Temperance Hotel in Redruth. The party’s first leader was Helena Charles, who became the first MK councillor when she was elected onto Camborne-Redruth Urban District Council in 1953.

Four founder members – Ernest George Retallack Hooper (known as Talek), George Pawley White, Richard Garfield Jenkin and Ann Trevenen (later Jenkin) – were leading lights in the Cornish cultural and language revival and were named Grand Bards of Gorsedh Kernow. Coppersmith Francis Cargeeg became a Deputy Grand Bard, while renowned archaeologist Charles Thomas became the first director of the Institute of Cornish Studies.

In the 1960s, Mebyon Kernow was at the forefront of initiatives including campaigns for a Cornish university and support for traditional Cornish industries, as well as opposing railway closures and the amalgamation of the Cornwall and Devonshire police forces.

During the 1980s, MK activists took a prominent role in the fight against the poll tax and were instrumental forming of the Cornwall Anti-Nuclear Alliance, which campaigned against a proposed nuclear power station at Luxulyan.

On St Piran’s Day 2000, Mebyon Kernow launched a “Declaration for a Cornish Assembly” which was supported by over 50,000 people. Its present proposals are included in the policy document “Towards a Parliament for Cornwall”.

Cllr Dick Cole, who has been party leader since 1997, thanked all those who had contributed to the party’s efforts during its 75-year history. “I am extremely proud of how MK members have been a persistent force for good,” he said.

“Our activists have been at the forefront of so many initiatives and campaigns, looking to make a positive difference for Cornish society and for Cornwall’s culture, identity, economy and environment.

“MK has sought to place Cornish nationhood at the very heart of Cornish politics, and the key element of our work has been to campaign for a meaningful devolution settlement, similar to what has been achieved in Scotland and Wales.

“We have often reached outside of the normally partisan nature of politics and attempted to secure cross-party backing for more powers for Cornwall.”

Cllr Cole added: “I am particularly proud that MK members, along with others from across the wider Cornish movement, have worked hard to do the ‘groundwork’ that has led to some recent positive developments, such as the recognition of the Cornish as a national minority in 2014, and councillors on the unitary authority coming together in support of ‘fifth nation’ status for Cornwall, plus ministers recently ruling out the imposition of a Devonwall Mayoral Strategic Authority.

“But there is so much more to do. The UK government is still failing to treat Cornwall as one of the nations of the United Kingdom, so our campaigns for meaningful devolution, fair funding, social justice, housing justice and economic justice, and so much more, will continue.”