Bert Biscoe

Bert Biscoe
Bert Biscoe
	Biscoe in 2015
Born	Martin Biscoe; 23 December 1952
Nationality	British
Other names	Viajor Gans Geryow (Kernowek)
Occupation	Cornwall Councillor
Known for	Bard of the Cornish Gorseth; Mayor of Truro

Bert Biscoe DL (born 1952), also known by the bardic name Viajor Gans Geryow,^[1]^[2] is a Cornish politician, historian and bard of the Cornish Gorseth.^[3] Biscoe represented Cornwall Council's Truro Boscawen District as an independent Cornwall Councillor until 2019, serving as an independent Truro City Council Councillor for the new Boscawen & Redannick Ward.^[4]

Bert Biscoe is known for his work as a local historian^[5] and for his activism related to the Cornish identity debate.^[6] In 2012, his book of poems called "Trurra" won a Waterstones Publishers Award at the Holyer An Gof literary competition.^[7] Elected Mayor of Truro for 2019/21, his installation ceremony was streamed online.^[8]

Personal life

Born in 1952 to Dr Charles Biscoe, a kinsman of the Tyndale-Biscoe family,^[9] he was raised at Stithians, Cornwall, and attended Truro School before going up to Bangor University.^[10]

Married to Susan Barker in 1990, the couple live near Truro, Cornwall.^[11]

Bardic work

Bert Biscoe is a traditional musician and poet,^[12] specialising in Cornish folk music, some in the Cornish language.^[13] Some of his audio works have been collected into a compilation titled "An Kynsa".

Created a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedh in 1995 "for services to Cornwall" with the bardic name Viajor Gans Geryow,^[14] Biscoe has been a member of the Council of the Gorsedh since 2009.^[15] He is the author of several books of poetry.^[16] As a Bard of the Gorsedh he is regularly in attendance at celebrations of Cornish culture and important cultural occasions.^[17]^[18]^[19]

His poetry centres on the 'Spirit of Kernow', which he has performed with other bards in Cornwall.^[20]

Political career

Biscoe was also an independent County Councillor on Cornwall Council for Truro Boscawen District until he lost his seat in the May 2021 elections.^[21]^[22]^[23] He remains a City Councillor for Truro City Council, representing the Moresk & Trehaverne Ward.^[24]

Cornwall Council's portfolio holder for Transport responsible for the county's transport links, in 2017, Biscoe was succeeded by Councillor Geoff Brown.^[25] During his time in office, he was involved in many projects including the A30 road improvements at Temple, Cornwall,^[26] and one of the failed bus lane projects in Truro.^[27]

Work as local historian

Chairman of the Truro Civic Society,^[28] Biscoe also serves as President of the Truro Old Cornwall Society.^[29]^[30] Honorary Secretary and a Trustee on the board on the Royal Cornwall Museum,^[31] he is the author of two books about the history of Cornwall.^[32]

Activism

Relevant in the Cornish Identity debate,^[33] with Dr James Whetter he popularised the campaign for increased powers for Cornish local government and the creation of a Cornish Assembly.^[34] ^[35] He also served as chairman of the Cornish Constitutional Convention.^[6]

Books

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.^[36]
Rebecca (1996).^[37]
The dance of the Cornish air (1996).^[38]
At a wedding with Yeats in Turin (2003).^[39]
Trurra, published by Dew Vardh, winner of the Waterstones Award at Holyer An Gof Publishers' Awards 2012.^[40]
Words of Granite (ISBN 9780946143269).^[41]^[42]
Mercifully Preserved Fictional account of the life of Sir John Betjeman^[43]
On Yer Trolley: Poems Made During Complete Bed Rest! (2008).^[44]
White Crusted Eyes: Tales of Par, (2009).^[45]
Meditations on Carn Brea, Poems and Pictures from a Cornish Hill (2005).^[46]
Accompanied by Larks.^[47]

References

^ 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.
^ "Eseli Konsel Gorsedh Kernow". Gorsedh Kernow. Gorsedh Kernow. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
^ www.express.co.uk
^ www.itv.com
^ "Squeeze Guts". cornwall live. cornwall live. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
^ ^a ^b Simon, Parker (12 January 2001). "Cornwall wants to go it alone". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
^ "Holyer an Gof". Archived from the original on 30 August 2017.
^ Lee Trewhela (11 May 2020). "First time in over 200 years new Truro mayor is sworn in online". Cornwall Live. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
^ www.burkespeerage.com
^ "Biography". BB. Bert Biscoe Campaign. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
^ "Bert Biscoe". Cornwall Gov. Cornwall Council. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
^ "Dew Vardh, with Bert Biscoe and Pol Hodge". Penzance Literary Festival. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
^ "A Kynsa". Cornwall 24. Cornwall 24. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
^ www.lordlieutenantofcornwall.org.uk
^ "Council Members". Cornish Gorsedh. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
^ "Jennet Campbell MBE: Cornish Gorsedd Honour - The Radford Charitable Trust". www.radfordtrust.org. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
^ "Ceremony welcomes bards from all over the world to Lannstevan". Cornish & Devon Post. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
^ "Guardians of a rich cultural heritage". Cornish Guardian. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2017.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Council, Cornwall. "September 2013 - Cornwall Council". www.cornwall.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
^ "Poets lead Cornish revolt against 'English imperialism'". The Independent. 18 May 1997. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
^ "data.ordnancesurvey". data. ordnance survey. Retrieved 9 September 2017. Boscawen Park is not located in the electoral ward but shares the same name.
^ 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.
^ "Big names were booted out at Cornwall Council elections". 10 May 2021.
^ "Councillors". Truro City Council. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
^ Cornwall Council. "Profiles of Cabinet members - Cornwall Council". www.cornwall.gov.uk.
^ "A30 improvements finish date moves from spring to summer". ITV. ITV news. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
^ "Scrapping of Truro bus lane costs £60,000". BBC. BBC Cornwall. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
^ "TCS". Retrieved 29 August 2017.
^ "piran day article". falmouth packet. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
^ "Truro Old Cornwall Society". Truro Old Cornwall Society. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
^ "Trustees". Royal Cornwall Museum. Royal Cornwall Museum. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
^ Truro Library Archives
^ www.thetimes.co.uk
^ "Councillor details". Retrieved 13 August 2017.
^ "About Bert Biscoe". Retrieved 13 August 2017.
^ Bert, Biscoe. "MAUDLIN' PILGRIMAGE". oldcornwallshop. BB. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
^ "Rebecca". Open Library. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
^ "the dance of the cornish air". Open Library. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
^ "At a wedding with Yeats in Turin". Open library. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
^ "gorsedh kernow awards list". gorsedh kernow. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
^ 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.
^ Biscoe, Bert (1997). Words of Granite - Selected Poems. Lodenek Press. ASIN 0946143269.
^ "oldcornwall". oldcornwall.net.
^ Biscoe, Bert (5 December 2008). On Yer Trolley: Poems Made During Complete Bed Rest!. Creative Edge. ISBN 978-0956021816.
^ Biscoe, Bert (1 September 2009). White Crusted Eyes: Tales of Par. Creative Edge. ISBN 978-0956021823.
^ "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.
^ "Accompanied by Larks - BISCOE, Bert". www.cornishbookworld.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.

[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. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.

[3] www.express.co.uk

[4] www.itv.com

[5] "Squeeze Guts". cornwall live. cornwall live. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.

[auto-6] Simon, Parker (12 January 2001). "Cornwall wants to go it alone". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 August 2017.

[7] "Holyer an Gof". Archived from the original on 30 August 2017.

[8] Lee Trewhela (11 May 2020). "First time in over 200 years new Truro mayor is sworn in online". Cornwall Live. Retrieved 8 January 2021.

[9] www.burkespeerage.com

[10] "Biography". BB. Bert Biscoe Campaign. Retrieved 30 August 2017.

[11] "Bert Biscoe". Cornwall Gov. Cornwall Council. Retrieved 30 August 2017.

[12] "Dew Vardh, with Bert Biscoe and Pol Hodge". Penzance Literary Festival. Retrieved 13 September 2017.

[13] "A Kynsa". Cornwall 24. Cornwall 24. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.

[14] www.lordlieutenantofcornwall.org.uk

[15] "Council Members". Cornish Gorsedh. Retrieved 29 August 2017.

[16] "Jennet Campbell MBE: Cornish Gorsedd Honour - The Radford Charitable Trust". www.radfordtrust.org. Retrieved 13 September 2017.

[17] "Ceremony welcomes bards from all over the world to Lannstevan". Cornish & Devon Post. Retrieved 13 September 2017.

[18] "Guardians of a rich cultural heritage". Cornish Guardian. 18 August 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2017.^{[permanent dead link]}

[19] Council, Cornwall. "September 2013 - Cornwall Council". www.cornwall.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2017.

[20] "Poets lead Cornish revolt against 'English imperialism'". The Independent. 18 May 1997. Retrieved 13 September 2017.

[21] "data.ordnancesurvey". data. ordnance survey. Retrieved 9 September 2017. Boscawen Park is not located in the electoral ward but shares the same name.

[22] 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.

[23] "Big names were booted out at Cornwall Council elections". 10 May 2021.

[24] "Councillors". Truro City Council. Retrieved 28 May 2024.

[25] Cornwall Council. "Profiles of Cabinet members - Cornwall Council". www.cornwall.gov.uk.

[26] "A30 improvements finish date moves from spring to summer". ITV. ITV news. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.

[27] "Scrapping of Truro bus lane costs £60,000". BBC. BBC Cornwall. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2017.

[28] "TCS". Retrieved 29 August 2017.

[29] "piran day article". falmouth packet. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.

[30] "Truro Old Cornwall Society". Truro Old Cornwall Society. Retrieved 12 September 2017.

[31] "Trustees". Royal Cornwall Museum. Royal Cornwall Museum. Retrieved 29 August 2017.

[32] Truro Library Archives

[33] www.thetimes.co.uk

[34] "Councillor details". Retrieved 13 August 2017.

[35] "About Bert Biscoe". Retrieved 13 August 2017.

[36] Bert, Biscoe. "MAUDLIN' PILGRIMAGE". oldcornwallshop. BB. Retrieved 30 August 2017.

[37] "Rebecca". Open Library. Retrieved 18 October 2017.

[38] "the dance of the cornish air". Open Library. Retrieved 30 August 2017.

[39] "At a wedding with Yeats in Turin". Open library. Retrieved 30 August 2017.

[40] "gorsedh kernow awards list". gorsedh kernow. Retrieved 30 August 2017.

[41] 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.

[42] Biscoe, Bert (1997). Words of Granite - Selected Poems. Lodenek Press. ASIN 0946143269.

[43] "oldcornwall". oldcornwall.net.

[44] Biscoe, Bert (5 December 2008). On Yer Trolley: Poems Made During Complete Bed Rest!. Creative Edge. ISBN 978-0956021816.

[45] Biscoe, Bert (1 September 2009). White Crusted Eyes: Tales of Par. Creative Edge. ISBN 978-0956021823.

[46] "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.

[47] "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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Bert Biscoe

Personal life

Bardic work

Political career

Work as local historian

Activism

Books

See also

References

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