The prestigious Trelawny Plate has this year been awarded to Steve Ellis from St Petrocs.
The Cornish award, awarded biennially, was presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Colonel Edward Bolitho, at a special service held near the home of Trelawny’s living descendants in Pelynt. The special service of thanksgiving and celebration was led by Revd Richard Allen, vicar of St Nun Parish
Church, and is especially arranged to reflect the culture and achievements of the recipient. This year included songs sung by Pelynt Academy Choir and Trelawny Male Voice Choir. The Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen offered prayers.
Unique to Cornwall, the Trelawny Plate recipient is chosen by a committee of senior Cornish figures led by Colonel Bolitho, Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall as a mark of significant recognition in the county.
On receiving the award, Steve said: “This is truly a humbling yet totally rewarding experience. This means
so much to my family, myself and everybody associated with St Petrocs. I take the responsibility of being
the recipient of the Trelawny Plate not only as life-defining but also an inspiration to be worthy of the award.”
Steve was chosen following 20 years of outstanding leadership of St Petrocs, working tirelessly to support some of the most vulnerable people in Cornwall. Under his stewardship the charity has played a major role in addressing the issue of homelessness in the county and has become one of the most widely respectedorganisations in Cornwall and beyond. Steve has recently stepped down from
the Chief Executive role, which he has held since 2002, and continues his involvement with St Petrocs as Vice President.
The plate originally belonged to Bishop Trelawny, who was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of
London in 1688, and has been donated by the Bishop’s descendant Sir John Trelawny. The original plate
is displayed at the Royal Cornwall Museum and each recipient receives a replica.
