NEWS RELEASE FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE
CORNISH SIGNS TO BE RESTORED BY POLICE
A police inspector has told the media that Cornish language signs taken down at his police station, following a complaint, will be restored.
Senior police officer, Inspector Mark Bolt, told the BBC and West Briton newspaper that bilingual Cornish/English language sign put up at Camborne police station following a request made by a member of the public, were in fact removed because it looked “scruffy” and needed updating. Inspector Bolt added:
“I am now in the process of having the sign updated and made to look better. The new sign will be written in English and Cornish along with Polish and Lithuanian.”
Inspector Bolt was responding to a letter sent to Area Commander, Supt. Martin Orpe by the League’s General Secretary that the media picked up on, asking why the signs had been removed. The Celtic League had been informed of the removal of the signs by a member of staff based at the station who explained that the signs had been removed, because a member of the public said that they were offended by the language.
Kernow Branch Secretary, Mike Chappell, was interviewed by BBC Radio Cornwall about the police comments and later went onto the streets of Camborne to interview the general public about the use of the Cornish language on signs. Mr Chappell also debated the issue on his Celtic League radio programme `One and All’.
Mr Chappell said:
“The police were not going to replace the signs which had been taken down as they were too ‘scruffy’ (they weren’t but hey, beauty is in the eye of the beholder!). They said that they were having professionally commissioned signs made up to include the English, Cornish, Polish and other commonly used languages here. We shall watch this space with great interest! The challenge has been thrown down to the Colonial Police – let’s see if they rise to it!”
However from his comments, Inspector Bolt seems to be unaware that there was not just one bilingual sign at the station, but in fact seven of them, all of which are listed below.
Welcome to Camborne Police station – Dynnargh orth Gorsav an Kreslu Kammbronn
No smoking in this office – Megi difennys y’n sodhva ma
Push pad on right to enter/to exit – Herdhyewgh pad dhe’n dyhow dhe entra/mos ‘mes
Enquiries – Please ring bell once – Govynadow – Senewgh klogh unnweyth, mar pleg
Sorry, no public toilet facilities available here – Drog yw genen, nyns eus privedhyow kavadow omma
Enquiry Office – Open 8am to 6pm (closed Christmas Day) – Govynnva – Ygor 8kh dhe 6wh (deges Dydh Nadelik)
When closed please use wall phone on the right – Pan vo deges gwrewgh devnydh a’n pellgowser fos dhe’n dyhow, mar pleg
The GS is still awaiting a response at this date to his letter from Supt. Martin Orpe.
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League
10th September 2010
The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works
to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a
broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights
human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on
socio-economic issues.
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