Report on the Conference by Maia, District Manager.

This year the weather was particularly beautiful and a very warm welcome was awaiting us all at Penstowe Holiday Park in Bude, Cornwall. It is a truly excellent location for a Pagan weekend as our District Conference is so much more than just the talks. Someone said to me, after watching the magnificent closing ceremony followed by the mad spiral dance with the Pipers “you lot really know how to end a conference”. He was almost right, but even then it was not yet at an end as we still had Damh The Bard to come, and DJ Summer Isle, and THAT was how to end the day. How many spirals can a Pagan do? I lost count.

Pagans came from all over the UK, and from every tradition you can name (including a 'nottapagan'!) yet all who could stand up, danced and sang as one from the moment we crossed the threshold on the Friday night. On the 'stats', we had 50/50 PF Members to non-members attending, and the total turnout including conference team and stallholders was around 200. I spoke to people who had travelled to us from Sunderland to Sussex, Wales to West Penwith, London to Liverpool, and they went out of their way to tell me they were having a great time.

The Friday evening began with storytelling woven with skill by Steve Patterson, followed by the return of the Fiendish Quiz. It was very well attended (17 teams entered) and highly competitive. The winners were the Thermal Daleks, who scored an amazing 35/37 without using their mobiles to google search (oh yes – we saw, and we know who you are!). After the presentation of the newly made wooden Trophy people began to mingle, spontaneous singing and chanting. It began quietly, built up the loving energy superbly, and we sang until we were hoarse.

The Conference Day began with a special moment in the Opening Pathway to focus on the situation in Japan following the recent earthquake and tsunami, creating the instability in the nuclear power stations. This sadness was quickly dispelled by a talk for Jo O'Cleirigh 'From Delta to Dakleh'. Jo's experiences in Egypt had people spellbound. He shared his observations as a biographical account, and we saw his work as an illustrator with his fabulous photographs and drawings. Many told me that they would have listened to him all day if they could, but we had much more on offer.

At that point, Graham King from the Museum of Witchcraft at Boscastle popped in to tell us that it was an important year for us: 40 years for the PF, 50 years since his Museum was opened in Boscastle and 60 years since the repeal of the Witchcraft Act. He also shared with us the possible future of the Museum following his retirement. He had a stall raising money for the Museum, which was very popular, and during the breaks there was a flurry of happy shoppers all around the room. All manner of great goods were available from handmade local products, to a great selection of books.

The next talk was more of a song and dance lesson, which gave us a lot of fun and laughter. Kate and Corwen are a talented couple, who gave us an opportunity to fully participate in folk songs and customs. We learned about Jarping, Cock Rating and Pace Egging; we ducked the flying crockery; and willing volunteers were dressed up for a Mummers Play featuring St George and Beelzebub. I was reliably told by one critic that the best bit was 'Daddy in a dress'. The indoor Maypole dancing was very popular, and I overheard many saying how much fun this session had been.

Levannah Morgan's talk on Kenneth Anger revealed a surprising life of a man with connections, who has left us on a trail that is still being followed. Her well researched and illustrated story took us from 1920 to the present day, and showed how Kenneth's influences on the film industry and other areas of creative art form are still hitting the mark today. We saw film footage of Mick Jagger which left the audience wide eyed. We were left wanting to experience the film 'Perfomance', maybe to enter his 'dark material world'. A deep and thought provoking talk, which many enjoyed.

The President of the PF Chris Crowley was present, so he popped onto the stage to remind us all that the PF is having a 40 th Anniversary celebration in London later this year, and more members are always needed on the PF Council. He also eloquently explained the Pagan Census campaign to encourage us all to put Pagan as well as our Path on the census form on March 27th. I overheard that the South West may have Paganism as the number two stated 'religion', if everyone actually owns up to it! We moved him on to judge the Competition masks, which he did with skill and diplomacy. They were all so brilliant that he chose two winners, one adult and one child, commanding them to each have the trophy for six months each. Our PF President was not allowed to rest, as it was time to draw the raffle. The prizes were really wonderful this year, donated by our most generous stallholders, and we raised £300 to be split between the two chosen charities for 2011: Museum of Witchcraft, and the Woodland Trust. Chris Sutton closed this part of the day by giving us a brief talk about Plymouth Pagan Pride Day 2011, details of which can be found on the web.

The final talk by Vivianne Crowley, took us deeply into the world of the Hare. We began with Maddy Prior's song, and the fact and fable were blended together to teach us how the whole world recognises the importance of this amazing creature. She showed us photographic evidence of the universality of the recognition of the hare as elixir of life and bridge to death. She reminded us that 2011 is the Year of the Metal (Golden) Hare, which in China means prosperity for all, which was a pleasant thought in these austere times to end the series of talks for the day.

'Mandala' then entered the space, and created a world for us to witness 'The Season's of the God'. The costumes and performances were second to none, as they took us through the wheel of the year. A truly magickal and uplifting closing ceremony. As they blessed us, Merv the piper and his Lady entered the highly energised space, and whisked all who could walk and weave into the Spiral Dance. We followed him round the room and out the door taking the love and power to all parts of Penstowe Manor. The staff were clearly feeling the loving energy too, and one young lady told me that she always felt we blessed the place ready for the tourist season. Penstowe always plan their year to open to the holiday makers the day after our conference ends.

The final shopping frenzy followed, and the space was cleared ready for the evening with Damh the Bard, ably assisted by Kate and Corwen. We danced and sang, spiralled and swayed, and the dance floor was full of happy Pagans from the beginning to the end. He really knows what we want, and he delivered it. The final disco with our DJ Summer Isle kept those with younger feet than mine dancing through to to the small wee hours. In fact without our DJ holding the energy in the sound and light box all day, we would have had a very sad day. We salute you Graham. The whole team worked brilliantly together, from planning stage onwards. There were many more than people knew, quietly going around completing their allotted tasks, and my personal thanks go to you all, and incidentally from all those many many people who thanked you all, via me, as they left for home. I thanked them too, as without them, there would be no conference.

Many people took the opportunity to visit the Museum of Witchcraft in Boscastle, which is opened especially for Conference people on the Sunday; as I said, at the beginning of this report, this Conference offers everyone so much more than fabulous talks. More photos will appear on the website in due course.

Job well done Lords and Ladies, and see you at Conference 2012, which is already in the planning.