Upset at bid to change silver ball at St Ives Feast Cornwall

The comment came as St Ives Town Council discussed a safety review of St Ives Feast and, in particular, the age-old game of hurling the silver ball, an ancient form of rugby which originally saw two teams of men playing for the ball. In modern times the rough and tumble fun sees local children and teenagers trying to keep possession of the silver ball.

The meeting, last Thursday, became heated at times as some councillors believed changes should be made to make the event safer while others scoffed, saying it had been played for years with no incident.

The St Ives Feast is an ancient tradition that celebrates the consecration of the parish church of St Ia by the Bishop of Truro in 1434. The next event is on February 5, 2024, when the Cornish hurling will start with the Mayor of St Ives throwing the ball into the crowd on the beach at Lambeth Walk, while shouting “guare wheg ya guare teg” (“fair play is good play” in Cornish).

Children run across the beach to try to get the silver ball

The procession then returns to the Guildhall where councillors drop pennies from the balcony to the children in the crowd, and wait for the clock to strike noon at which point the child with the ball returns to collect their reward from the mayor.

The council’s clerk Louise Dwelly told members: “As a modern-day council we have to follow sensible health and safety practice which includes risk assessments for events.” She explained that was why the St John Ambulance was present at last year’s celebrations for the first time.

“We have the challenge of young people, rocks and sea, so there was a discussion about whether we did enough on health and safety, and managing the event, so asked Cornwall Council for a health and safety review of the feast”, which was “not about stopping things and not honouring traditions but about carrying on in a safe way in the modern world”.

There will be a high tide for the next event, so there was a suggestion that the throwing of the silver ball should be on a different beach – perhaps Porthmeor or a corner of the Harbour beach. A rolling road closure during the day was also raised in the report.

Mrs Dwelly added: “We have had a few accidents with children being hit in the eye with pennies, so Cornwall Council suggested throwing chocolate pennies.” Some councillors could be seen laughing at this as well as a suggestion that the balcony of the Guildhall should be safety checked due to the weight of them standing on it during the event.

“I can see some smiles around the room but these are sensible, basic health and safety recommendations,” said the clerk.

Cllr Tony Harris responded: “If you were to walk around the town and think of the most inaccessible, hazardous place to have a silver hurling event there’s that beach right there. It’s totally inappropriate so it’s right to change it.” He added he was pleased the event was proposed to be held in a more professional way.

However, Cllr Andrew Mitchell had a very different view. He said: “I couldn’t believe this report when I read it. I think every previous councillor who has sat in this chamber would totally and utterly disagree with what is being proposed. Those who are no longer with us would be turning in their graves.

“I totally support having a full risk assessment but a risk assessment is not to stop something happening. A rolling road closure, fine, no problem with that at all. The mayor throwing tangerines wrapped in tinfoil... I can’t believe that’s even been suggested. How would a chocolate coin hitting you in the eye be less of a problem than an actual penny?

“I am totally opposed to a change of venue, a change of penny and a change of ball being thrown. I’ve never said this in my life before but on this occasion this is health and safety gone mad. I will vote as many times as I can to oppose those things.”

Mayor of St Ives Johnnie Wells pointed out that the throwing of the tangerines in silver foil was part of the original tradition as decoys to the main ball.

Cllr Luke Rogers sided with Cllr Mitchell: “This is absolutely 100 per cent part of my family’s history for hundreds of years. I feel incredibly strongly about changing any of this tradition which has gone on for hundreds of years. People in St Ives are happy with this tradition – nothing needs to change. I’m absolutely shocked that we’re even discussing it to be honest.”

Cllr Steve Hynes supported the changes: “Cllr Mitchell says ‘I’m all for risk assessments’ but then when he gets the results through and doesn’t like it, he says ‘I’ll ignore that’. That’s absolute nonsense.”

Cllr Mitchell argued that wasn’t what he said. Cllr Hynes responded that was the gist of it. “You can’t ignore a safety recommendation like that because of tradition. Chucking the ball in its current location happened in the early ’70s, so it’s right to look again at this.

"Let’s get a grasp on reality here please, certain councillors. It is not safe to chuck a ball off a cliff on to rocks with young teenagers chasing it. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. When we had two teams of men on the beach it was safe.

“When an accident happens, the very last person who will be accountable will be Cllr Mitchell! The tangerine tradition is a great idea. As for chocolate pennies – I’ve had them chucked at me in my time – they are a lot safer than a small penny that goes in a child’s eye. I’m sorry but I just think it’s so obvious. To argue against it is absolute nonsense.”

The council was asked if there had been any complaints from the public. The clerk said there were reports from the 1980s asking for changes to be made but nothing in recent times. Cllr Senara Wilson-Hodges said there had been a serious accident when a man broke his leg badly on the rocks.

Cllr Kirsty Arthur added that no one has ever complained to her about being hit by pennies, even though her own son was hit by one.

The mayor said he has had people saying it’s “crazy” that it’s held where it is, “but what we’ve got to remember is that before the lifeboat house was built there it was a proper beach with sand on it. Since that was built that’s when the rocks have appeared and each year they get worse and worse”. He said it was the council’s responsibility not to change the game but to find somewhere safer.

Cllr Kenny Messenger told fellow members: “I wish I had a chocolate penny tonight for some of the statements I’ve heard.” He added that if the matter appeared in the local media, residents would be in uproar and there will be a “social media frenzy and so there should be”.

“The people of St Ives, who we represent, would be amazed at what we’re discussing here. This should never happen – leave it as it is,” added Cllr Charlie Hodson.

The council agreed to the rolling road closure, presence of the St John Ambulance and event management, but separate votes for the use of chocolate pennies, a change of beach location and tangerine ‘balls’ were all narrowly refused.

After the meeting, Cllr Rogers said: “I voted with some of my colleagues against any changes but I was very disappointed and upset by the number of councillors who were looking for change. I have never heard of any St Ives resident asking to change the event so I have no idea why the town council had to even vote on it.

“Luckily there was just enough of us to stop this attempted erosion of our culture and nip this in the bud for now. They’ll be wearing crash helmets and holding their mothers’ hands next.”