ORGANISERS behind the Boscastle traditional sea shanty festival have presented cheques to 13 organisations seeking to support individuals in and around the village’s area.

The money raised came after the successful hosting of the third Boscastle Sea Shanty Festival, which has become a major fixture in the village’s social calendar since its launch, raising £30,000, which has been donated to charities and good causes.

Ahead of the cheque presentation to representatives of the 13 good causes, a raffle and auction was held in aid of this year’s event, followed by a traditional ‘shout’. Compered by Lee Edwards with Vernon Bright as the auctioneer, Mr Edwards began proceedings by telling those present how the festival came to be.

He said it was inspired by two Boscastle villagers and ‘legends’, in the form of Chris Edwards, a member of the Boscastle Buoys and Ivor Bright, the former landlord of the Cobweb Inn, where the festival is held. After the death of both men within weeks of each other in Spring 2022, their families and friends found themselves wanting to do something to honour the memory and legacy Mr Edwards and Mr Bright.

This in turn led to the Boscastle Sea Shanty Festival, which has endured to this day, with money raised each year being donated to a number of good causes, mostly locally.

This year’s recipients included three charities in the form of Kennedy’s Disease UK, Cornwall Hospice Care and Cornwall Air Ambulance in addition to ten Boscastle groups, namely Boscastle CIC Community Minibus, Boscastle CP school, Boscastle Football Club, Boscastle and Crackington Gig Club, Boscastle Pre-School, Boscastle Village Hall, Boscastle Volunteer Group, Camelford and District Age Concern, the Boscastle branch of the British Legion and Boscastle Coastwatch.

The next Boscastle Sea Shanty Festival will take place on the weekend of Friday, November 7, to Sunday, November 9.