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Richard Garfield Jenkin (9 October 1925 – 29 October 2002), was aCornishnationalist politician and one of the founding members ofMebyon Kernow. He was also a Grand Bard of theGorseth Kernow.[1]
In 1947, Jenkin was made a Bard of theGorseth Kernow through Cornish language qualification,[2] while serving in the British Army.[citation needed] He chose thebardic nameMap Dyvroeth, meaning 'son of exile'.[2]
He was a Grand Bard of the Gorseth Kernow twice, between 1976 and 1982 and between 1985 and 1988.[3][4]
Jenkin was secretary of theInternational Celtic Congress and later its president. He gave strong support to theCornish Constitutional Convention.[citation needed] He was president of theFederation of Old Cornwall Societies from 1991 to 1992.[citation needed]
In 1951, Jenkin was one of the founding members of theCornish nationalist partyMebyon Kernow.[2] Jenkin and his wife produced a magazine in 1952 calledNew Cornwall, which publicised Mebyon Kernow news and policies.[citation needed]
He served as the party's chairman between 1973 and 1983 and became its Honorary President in 1988.[2]
Jenkin was MK's first candidate for both theHouse of Commons and theEuropean Parliament.[2] Jenkin fought twoWestminster parliamentary elections (Falmouth and Camborne in1970 andSt Ives in1983). In1979 he stood for theEuropean parliamentary constituency on a platform of a “Cornwall Only” seat rather than one shared with part ofDevon and polled 10,205 votes, 5.9% of the total vote.[5]
He was a member ofCrowan Parish Council from 1964 until 1995.[citation needed]
Jenkin was born on 9 October 1925 inIlkeston,Derbyshire, where his Cornish father was in training as a clergyman.[citation needed]
Jenkin marriedAnn Trevenen (1930-2024), fromRedruth in 1954; their marriage produced four children: Morwenna,Loveday, Gawen and Conan.[6] Ann became the first female Grand Bard from 1997 until 2000,[citation needed] and served as the Honorary President of Mebyon Kernow from 2011 until her death.[7] Loveday served as the party's leader between 1990 and 1997.
Jenkin read Chemistry atManchester University and taught inPlymouth,Monmouthsire andTotnes before he settled inLeedstown in 1960, where he taught at Helston School.[2]
He died in Truro on 29 October 2002, aged 77.[citation needed]
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