HE may have been wearing a Christmas hat, but Sir Humphry Davy remained straight-faced as hundreds of people gathered around the statue on Friday, December 12 to sing Happy Birthday to Penzance’s most famous inventor.

With support from Penzance Council, the Humphry Davy Lantern Parade is organised and sponsored by Penzance BID.

Since it began in 2021, the event - which always takes place on the Friday ahead of Sir Humphry Davy’s birthday - continues to grow in popularity, with eight local schools taking part this year.

A spokesperson for Penzance BID commented: “Each year, Penzance celebrates Davy’s birthday with a lantern parade, illuminating the town in tribute to his brilliance and humanity.

“The event not only honours his scientific achievements but also reflects the enduring spirit of creativity, care, and community that defines our town.”

Born in Penzance on December 17, 1778, Humphry Davy apprenticed to an apothecary-surgeon before moving to Bristol to study science when he was 19 years-old, then becoming a lecturer in chemistry at the Royal Institution.

The sea of lanterns paraded to his statue reflect Sir Humphry Davy’s most famous invention - the Davy safety lamp - which did not ignite with flammable gases often found in mines, thus saving the lives of countless miners. 

However, Davy was celebrated long before his safety lamp, investigating the effects of nitrous oxide and developing new methods of electrolysis to isolate the elements potassium, sodium, calcium, strontium, barium and magnesium.

Led by town crier Phil Northcott, mayor of Penzance Stephen Reynolds, and the Raffidy Dumitz Band, the lantern parade made its way from St John’s Hall in Penzance down Market Jew Street before gathering around the Humphry Davy statue and singing Happy Birthday.

This year, handmade lanterns were brought to the parade by pupils from Alverton School, Gulval School, Mousehole School, Nancealverne School, Madron Daniel C of E School, St Mary’s C of E School, St Mary’s Catholic School and, fittingly, Humphry Davy School.

Addressing the crowd gathered at the statue, Cornish Bard and Humphry Davy expert Paul Tyreman talked about the ‘playful’ inventor: “When Humphry was young, he liked reading stories, making things, and even tried his hand at fireworks – to entertain his sister! That playful spirit never left him, and it led him to discover new wonders in science.

“So, let’s remember his birthday, and share his playful curiosity. Remember even if some adults say you have too many distractions in modern life, you can still learn from playing, and you can definitely have fun - often with the help of your teachers - while you learn about the world around you. And who knows, maybe someone here will make the next big discovery!”