John Angarrack
Encyclopedia
John Angarrack is a Cornish
nationalist
who campaigns for greater recognition of Cornish identity
and is an author on Cornish affairs. He is best known for his books "Breaking the Chains", "Our Future is History" and "Scat t’Larrups?" His interest in the Cornish language
and history developed while he was studying at Liverpool Polytechnic in the late 1970s. On 12th Dec 2008 Angarrack took part in a debate on Cornish identity which was broadcast live on BBC Radio Cornwall's Laurence Reed show. The two other panel guests were Mebyon Kernow
leader, Dick Cole and Professor Philip Payton
of Institute of Cornish Studies
. Angarrack's campaign to revive Cornish culture and language has also been the focus of an article in Time Magazine, Europe edition.
and identity.
, a civil liberty / human rights organisation based in Bodmin
, Cornwall
. The group is currently lobbying the UK government over the specific exclusion of the Cornish from the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
. Angarrack believes the Cornish people
are a national minority, as they have their own distinct language and culture and the Government should undertake to examine fully the unique Constitutional status of Cornwall
.
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
nationalist
Cornish self-government movement
Cornish nationalism is an umbrella term that refers to a cultural, political and social movement based in Cornwall, the most southwestern part of the island of Great Britain, which has for centuries been administered as part of England, within the United Kingdom...
who campaigns for greater recognition of Cornish identity
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
and is an author on Cornish affairs. He is best known for his books "Breaking the Chains", "Our Future is History" and "Scat t’Larrups?" His interest in the Cornish language
Cornish language
Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate...
and history developed while he was studying at Liverpool Polytechnic in the late 1970s. On 12th Dec 2008 Angarrack took part in a debate on Cornish identity which was broadcast live on BBC Radio Cornwall's Laurence Reed show. The two other panel guests were Mebyon Kernow
Mebyon Kernow
Mebyon Kernow is a left-of-centre political party in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It primarily campaigns for devolution to Cornwall in the form of a Cornish Assembly, as well as social democracy and environmental protection.MK was formed as a pressure group in 1951, and contained as members activists...
leader, Dick Cole and Professor Philip Payton
Philip Payton
Philip John Payton is a British historian and Professor of Cornish and Australian Studies at the University of Exeter and Director of the Institute of Cornish Studies based at Tremough, just outside Penryn, Cornwall.-Birth and education:...
of Institute of Cornish Studies
Institute of Cornish Studies
The Institute of Cornish Studies is a research institute in west Cornwall: it started in 1970/71 as a research centre jointly funded by Exeter University and Cornwall County Council, with three core staff being employees of the University of Exeter...
. Angarrack's campaign to revive Cornish culture and language has also been the focus of an article in Time Magazine, Europe edition.
Writings on Cornish Nationalism
Much of his work deals with the detail of the core issues of the Cornish national movement as well as a re-examination of Cornish history. In 1997 Angarrack started writing his first book, Breaking the Chains, which was released in 1999, and looked at uncovering the truth about Cornish historyHistory of Cornwall
The history of Cornwall begins with the pre-Roman inhabitants, including speakers of a Celtic language that would develop into Brythonic and Cornish. Cornwall was part of the territory of the tribe of the Dumnonii. After a period of Roman rule, Cornwall reverted to rule by independent...
and identity.
Political views
Angarrack was one of the founder members of Cornwall 2000Cornwall 2000
Cornwall 2000 is a Cornish nationalist pressure group based in Bodmin, Cornwall, United Kingdom. The group was formed by John Angarrack, who has authored revisionist books on the history of Cornwall and has participated in the Cornish nationalist scene. The organisation is headquartered at John...
, a civil liberty / human rights organisation based in Bodmin
Bodmin
Bodmin is a civil parish and major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated in the centre of the county southwest of Bodmin Moor.The extent of the civil parish corresponds fairly closely to that of the town so is mostly urban in character...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. The group is currently lobbying the UK government over the specific exclusion of the Cornish from the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities was signed on February 1995 by 22 member States of the Council of Europe ....
. Angarrack believes the Cornish people
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
are a national minority, as they have their own distinct language and culture and the Government should undertake to examine fully the unique Constitutional status of Cornwall
Constitutional status of Cornwall
Cornwall is currently administered as a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England.However, a number of organisations and individuals question the constitutional basis for the administration of Cornwall as part of England, arguing that the Duchy Charters of 1337 place the governance of...
.
Publications
- Breaking the chains: propaganda, censorship, deception and the manipulation of public opinion in Cornwall, Camborne: Cornish Stannary Publications, 1999. ISBN 0952931311
- Our future is history: identity, law and the Cornish question, Padstow: Independent Academic Press, 2002. ISBN 0952931346
- Scat t’larrups?
- The book was released on 15 May 2008 and is Angarrack's follow-up to Breaking the Chains and Our Future is History, concerning police counter-terrorism activities in Cornwall during 2007. .