Ray Edwards
Biography
Ray Edwards was Kernewek Dre Lyther’s founder and the author of the original KDL teaching materials.
Ray Edwards became interested in Cornish in 1980, after taking early retirement from secondary-school language teaching. He passed the Cornish Language Board's examinations and was made a Bard of Gorsedh Kernow (the Cornish gorsedd) in 1982, taking the bardic name Map Mercya—Son of Mercia.
In 1983, the Board asked Ray to organise a postal course to enable people not able to attend classes, particularly those not living in Cornwall, to study the language.
Since then, hundreds of students from across the world have enrolled, and Kernewek Dre Lyther (Cornish by Letter) has moved online and been translated into several other languages. Several of Ray's original students went on to play leading roles in the Cornish language revival.
After retiring as KDL Organiser, Ray remained very active in the field of Cornish language scholarship until his death on 2nd April 2008.
Book of Condolence
Following the announcement of his death, many tributes were paid to Ray by members of the Cornish-language community from around the world.
I think I was first aware of a Cornish language when my Uncle Ray brought with him on a visit a children's game he had made, consisting of wooden tiles with Cornish words burnt onto them, which he wanted me and my two sisters to try out. Later, we saw him barded at St Just, in 1982, and much later someone invented the Internet, and Ray requested my help to move Kernewek Dre Lyther online.
This seems like the end of an era, but Ray was always determined that, through the website and a broad team of teachers, KDL would continue after him because he didn't want to "leave anyone in the lurch"!
My part in this website is now dedicated to the memory of my uncle.
Ray will be remembered by Cornish speakers for his incredible work in the many things he did for them. His achievement was huge as teacher, course creator, editor, publisher, scholar, researcher, author and speaker... and not let's forget crossword compiler extraordinaire!
I'm not a natural scholar, so the fact that I passed my Cornish exams with distinction is largely down to Ray's skill, support and enthusiasm. As a teacher he was second to none. Those qualities he also had as a colleague at Kernewek dre Lyther, his vast knowledge, wisdom and patience were a tower of strength. He was a good friend.
He was greatly respected and, I'm sure, will be remembered as one of the true greats of the Cornish Language Revival, a memory richly deserved.
I'm very sorry for his passing.
We, Jarmila Coufalova, Drahomira Presserova and I, from the Czech Republic, are very sorry to hear that Ray Edwards has passed away. He was our KDL teacher and we remember him as a very nice and clever person who was patient enough to explain to us every problem that we encountered in our Cornish lessons. Without his help we could never have learned Cornish properly and reach as far as we did.
I will always remember my meeting him in person at the Gorsedd in 1999 when the three of us were made bards. He was a good-humoured, nice and enthusiastic man.
We greatly respected him and he will always remain in our hearts beating for Cornwall. Best regards,
Rostislav
Bwlc'h bras war y lergh. Ny'vydh y bar arta.
A big gap after him. His like will not be again.
Although I never met Ray, I am aware of the debt that the Cornish Language Revival owes to him. The wealth of literature and learned texts that he produced will serve as his memorial. He truly was one of the great figures of the language movement.
Most of all, though, I thank him for founding KDL, thus enabling those of us not resident in Cornwall to learn the language of our forefathers. It is a testament to the success of KDL that I was taught, not by Ray himself, but by Symon Harner, who was one of Ray's students. Now I am teaching another generation, thus building on the firm foundations laid down by Ray.
May God bless Ray, and bring comfort to his family at this sad time.
Cornwall, and the Cornish language that he so loved, are so much the poorer with Ray's passing.
Ray introduced me to Cornish through KDL, I remember him marking my 1st grade lessons.
He will be missed as one of the great leaders of the Cornish Revival.
Heb y ober mar splann re via re gales ragov ha rag lies arall dhe gavoes agan yeth ni, mar dhruth del yw hi.
Dyw genes, Ray.
Without his splendid work it would have been to hard for me and many others to acquire our language, precious as it is.
God with you, Ray.
I sent a letter to Ray in Cornish the day after he died. I later sent a translation to Mrs. Edwards, and have adapted this for the entry below.
I am grateful to Ray for all his help when I was studying for my Fourth Grade exam - now I myself have three students studying for the same exam.
But much more than that, we all owe Ray an enormous debt of gratitude for his monumental work in helping the Cornish language forward. His work with establishing and running KDL, his extensive writing - many books of the Bible, Alice in Wonderland, editing the old texts, Verbow Kernewek, Notennow Kernewek, poetry, numerous articles in An Gannas, etc. - the list goes on and on. In my estimation, Ray’s name is worthy to be set beside those of such as Jenner, Nance, and Smith in the roll of honour of notable servants of the Cornish Language.
We shall miss him more perhaps than we know.
A true gentleman and someone who did much to make Cornish literature accessible to a new generation. His postal Cornish course was an innovation unmatched before the rise of the internet.
Gans meur a dristans y klywyn a-dro dhe dremenyans Ray mes y'n keth termyn y hwodhon meur ras a'y vywnans druth ha'y oberow pals a-barth dhyn yn Kernow hag a-barth agan yeth.
Yn personek hag yn arbennik my a vynnsa godhvos gras dhodho a'y ober splann dres an blydhynyow a-barth Kesva an Taves Kernewek ha'n lyver-termyn An Gannas le may hwrug ev skrifa yn fenowgh.
Gans agan keskalarow lemmyn dhe Nora ha'n teylu oll.
With much sadness we hear of Ray's passing but at the same time we are thankful for his precious life and his great work for us in Cornwall and for our language.
Personally and specially I would wish to thank him for his splendid work over the years for the Cornish Language Board and for the magazine An Gannas where he wrote frequently.
With our condolences now to Nora and the whole family.
My a glywas a-dro dhe vernans Ray gans meur a dristans. Y ober a-barth an yeth o splann dres eghen, ev o kowr yn bys an Gernowegyon ha kales a vydh y holya. My a via profya ow keskalarow dh'y wreg ha'n teylu, hag a-barth eseli Kesva an Taves Kernewek my a aswonn gras anodho rag oll y ober.
I heard about the death of Ray with great sadness. His work for the language was superb, he was a giant in the world of Cornish language speakers and he will be hard to follow. I should like to proffer my condolences to his wife and family and on behalf of the members of The Cornish Language Board give thanks for all his work.
Soweth y fydhyn tramor dydh an ynkleudhyans, poken y hwrussen dos. Yn spyrys y fydhyn genowgh.
Yma dhymm kemmys a govyon a-dro dhe Ray.
Yma kov dhymm y dhynnerghi omma yn Kernow pan dho yn y garr byghan gwynn, diwweyth pub blydhen, rag an Bennseythun ha rag an Orsedh.
Y oberow rag an taves yw re efan dhe wul rol dien omma. Ragov an re an moyha a vern o y dhyllansow agan lien hengovek, ha'y Notennow Kernewek. An dhew o meur dhe les dhymm ha my ow pareusi an gerlyvrow.
Ken ha Malou
(translation)
Unfortunately we shall be abroad on the day of the funeral, otherwise we would have come. We shall be with you in spirit.
I have so many memories of Ray.
I remember welcoming him to Cornwall when he came in his little white car, twice every year, for the Language Weekend and for the Gorsedd.
His work for the language is too extensive to be listed here in full. For me the most notable were his editions of our traditional literature, and his notes on usage of words. Both were helpful to me while preparing the dictionaries.
Ken and Malou
Ray ker,
Ass yw enor bos onan a’th studhyoryon kyns. Ty a’m hembronkas dhiworth ow hynsa geryow y’n yeth kernewek bys yn eseleth an Orsedh avel bardh a'n yeth. Dyskador bryntin, heb par!
Ha lemmyn, war neb kor pur vyghan, my a assay oberi rag an yeth kepar dell wrussys - avel dyskador KDL, dyskador a'n yeth yn Loundres, hag esel Kesva an Taves Kernewek ha Konsel Kowethas an Yeth Kernewek. My a omwovynn mar tismygsys, pan skrifis dhis dhe'n kynsa torn nans yw blydhynyow, an yeth dhe vos ha bos, gans dha weres, brassa rann a’m bywnans, kepar dell wrussa hi ragos? Ny dhismygis vy henna, yn sur!
Kyn fyn ni trist, onan hag oll, drefenn nag esos y’gan mysk hwath, ni a yll bos lowen ha goethus ynwedh drefenn ni dhe’th aswonn, ha kesoberi genes, ha dyski dhiworthis.
Bys vykken y fydhydh patron ragon ni oll, Ray.
Meur ras dhis.
Tony
(translation)
Dear Ray,
What an honour it is to be one of your former students. You led me from my first words in Cornish right through to membership of the Gorsedh as a language bard. A wonderful teacher, without equal!
And now, in some very small way, I try to work for the language as you did - as a KDL teacher, a teacher of the language in London, and a member of the Cornish Language Board and the Council of the Cornish Language Fellowship. I wonder whether you guessed, when I first wrote to you many years ago, that the language would become, with your help, a large part of my life, as it had yours. I certainly didn’t!
Although we are all sad because you are no longer with us, we can be happy and proud too because we knew you, and worked with you, and learnt from you. You will forever be a model for us all, Ray. Thank you.
Tony
I think I met Ray from the first time he appeared at the Gorsedd to be made a bard. Certainly Richard, (my late husband, Map Dyvroeth, Past Grand Bard) became involved quickly as a marker of work for Ray from fellow students, when Ray had a huge amount of work for KDL.
I knew him too, as soon after KDL started, I used the material at Camborne School to help Cornish students who were doing Grade 1 and 2 and then CSE, which I was organising. He was unfailingly courteous and helpful both to the students and to me as a not very good Cornish language teacher. his advice was always clear and valuable. I and his students will be enternally grateful.
Roy has done so much for the Cornish language. It is impossible to estimate his over whelming influence but it is massive. Thank you Ray. Everyone will miss you. My sympathy to his family.
Bryallen, Past Grand Bard.
Tristyns bras veu dhyn, ow klywes a dremenyans Ray. Den pup-prys kortes, ha pup-prys igor dhe beub. Yth ov yn kendon bras dhe Ray - yn kynsa rag KDL, ena y ober war an Tekstow Kernewek, hag yn arbennik rag y ober rag an Bibel Kernewek. Privilej veu y aswonn, hag oberi ganso dres moy es 20 blydhen. Yma dhe Isabel ha my kovyow lowen a'y visitya yn Sutton Coldfield. Ni a dhannvon agan keskalarow dhe Nora ha dhe oll an teylu.
We were immensely sad to hear of Ray's passing. He was always approachable and courteous. I owe a tremendous debt to Ray - firstly for KDL, then for his work on the Cornish Texts, and especially his work for the Cornish Bible Project. It was a privilege to know him and to work with him for over 20 years. Isabel and I have very happy memories of visiting him in Sutton Coldfield. We send our condolences to Nora and to the rest of the family.
Hebdho ny via Kernewek war ow thaves. Synsys fest ov dhodho a'y weres. Re bo hanow a dhur dhodho.
Ray a dhemokratekhas Kernewek gans KDL. Enor o ragov vy studhya gans KDL ha gwella hwath ri kusul a-dro dhe henwyn tyller. Hebdho ny vien vy esel an Gesva. Koll bras yw hemma.
Ray democrotized Kernewek with KDL. It was an honour for me to be a student with KDL and better still to give advice abount place-names. With out him I might not have been a member of the Kesva. A big loss this is.
Mernans Ray Edwards yw kollva vras dhe'n yeth Kernewek.
The death of Ray Edwards is a great loss to the Cornish language.
Kernewek Dre Lyther a wrug dri an yeth dhe lies studhyor dres an blydhynnyow. Y 'vaban' KDL a bes hwath, ow kul ober splann abarth an yeth. Yma meur a daklow yn prynt a wra sevel yn kov bynytha a Ray, den meur a vri y' gan yeth.
Cornish by Letter (KDL) brought the language to many students over the years. His 'baby' KDL continues still, doing a great job for the language. There is much material in print which will stand as a permanent memorial to Ray, a man of great reputation in our language.
Pur drist oma woja clowes Ray Edwards dhe verwel en ker’. Dres an bledhednyow, ma dhe’nei lies dadhel - en arbednek adro dhe vaters a letherenieth. Bohes venowgh e whrusse’nei agria, bes dihevelep dhe lies erel nag ew acordys e’ga holonow, puppres e veu ’gan keschanjyow senjys gans revrons broas a’n eyl dh’e gila ha’gan dhew brederyans. En sur ew hedna token a dhen broas ha personoleth veur.
Pur dha ew e dhaffar deskas, dell predera’vy, hag a bris marthes uhel a veu e “Notennow Kernewek”. Lowender broas o redya e Gernowek, freth e vaner scrifa ha heb fayntys na falsury. Gorama meur ras dhis a’th ober, a Ray wheg, a’th sacrans gwir ha’th vos gene’nei hadre veus...
Dan Prohaska
Ray ow koweth lel ha hegar, kesoberyer dyskys ha diwysek. Ny yllir kompya agan koll mes miryn orth oll an gonis a-barth Kernow ha perthyn kov anodho y honan ha komptya agan gwayn.
English translation of my tribute written in Cornish.
Ray, my loyal and kind friend, learned and indefatiigable co-worker. We cannot reckon our loss but let us regard the work he did on behalf of the language and let us remember him himself and reckon our gain.
To the family and friends of Ray Edwards -- this is a sad day: the death of the Bard Map Mersya -- a very good man, always helpful, especially renowned for his work with Cornish by Letter and the Cornish Verb book. I believe that there will not be a better man to replace him. God bless you, Map Mersya.
Dhe'n telu hag oll koweth a Ray Edwards -- trist yw an jydh ma: mernans a'n Bardh Map Mersya -- den pur dha, heweres pup-prys, meur y hanow rag y ober gans Kernewek Dre Lyther ha Verbow Kernewek. My a grys na yll bos gorra yn y le arta an den gwella. Dursowenno dhis, Map Mersya.
What a sad loss. Although I was one of his early students I fear I was a disappointment to him (hence reduced to writing in Sawsnek).
He was a huge asset to the language movement and will be missed. On behalf of us all in Australia we give thanks for his life and contribution to Cornwall and the Cornish people around the world (including us down-under).
Muras Ray!Ray's funeral took place on April 24th at Sutton Coldfield Crematorium.
Nora and family would like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and tributes. We would also like to thank George Ansell and colleagues for their contributions in Cornish at Ray's funeral service.
"Janet Woolhouse, Col Gwynn a Gernow in Australia, sends sympathy to the family of Map Mersya (Ray Edwards) -- 'I am very aware of his contribution to the Cornish Language as I have studied some of what he has printed, and benefited from what he has taught others. The crossword in An Gannas was always fun to do, and his other contributions easy to understand.' "
Gans tristans my gwrug klywes yn kever mernans Ray. Ev o ow dyskador kynsa yn yethow keltek ha gans y weres ha'y gennerth, my eth war-rag dhe studhya yethow keltek ha bos dyskador ow honan. Dalleth a wrug puptra ragov gans Ray ha Kernewek Dre Lyther.
Meur ras dhis.
With sadness I heard of Ray's passing. He was my first teacher of a Celtic language and with his help and encouragement, I went on to study Celtic languages and become a teacher myself. Everything started for me with Ray and Kernewek Dre Lyther.
Thankyou.
Beannacht Dé lena anam!
Ow hov an gwella a Ray o pan eth dhe'gan kevewi 20 Blydhen an Klass Kernewek Loundres. Arbennik o agan dydh awos ev dhe dhos rag omlowenhe genen ni - hag ev a dhros sagh leun a'y lyvrow avel ro pennbloedh an klass! Hevlyna, y fydh kevewi 30 Blydhen an Klass Kernewek Loundres ha soweth ny vydh Ray genen an weyth ma. Ha byttegyns, y fydh ev genen y'gan brys, y spyrys ev.
I remember Ray best the day he came to our London Cornish class 20th Birthday party. He made our day special, coming all that way for our little party - and he brought with him a bag full of his books as a birthday present for our class! This year we celebrate the 30th Birthday of the London Cornish class - how sad that Ray will not be there with us this time. We will think of him instead.
Trist ov vy dhe glywes y fawrsa Ray Edwards. Kernewegor meur y vri esa; ha dyskador meur y skians, yethor meur y sleyneth, skrifer meur y awen. Meur a ras dhodho, y talav vy.
Den cuf ha hegar - a kind and likeable man who will be miised by all who knew him. He was excellent and patient with beginners in Cornish.
Trist en vy a vernans Ray. An den neb a dhyskas dhymm kernewek o ev, der “Kernewek Dre Lyther” a-dro dhe 1994-1998. Ni a wrug skrifa lytherow ynwedh treweythyow. Unnweyth my a skrifas towlenn rag jynn-amontya rag y vabwynn. Pes da o ev ganso dhe'm kov vy.
Den meur y vri o yn bys kernewegoryon, ha meur y ober gans agan yeth ynwedh.
Re bo Ray nevra ankevys!
I was sad at Ray's death. He was the man that taught me cornish through Kernewek Dre Lyther around 1994-1998. We sometimes wrote letters too. Once I wrote a computer program for his grandson, I remember him being pleased with it.
He was a prominent man in the world of cornish speakers, his work with the language was fantastic.
May Ray never be forgotten!