Penzance have revived its midwinter celebration with the Montol Festival which like Padstow at times would have had people darkening or painting their skin to disguise themselves as well as masking.) Folklorists associate the practice with the widespread British custom of blacking up for mumming and morris dancing, and suggest there is no record of slave ships coming to Padstow. Once an unknown local charity event, the day has recently become controversial, perhaps since a description was published. Also some now suggest it is racist for white people to "black up" for any reason. Although "outsiders" have linked the day with racism, Padstonians insist that this is not the case and are incredulous at both description and allegations. Long before the controversy Charlie Bate, noted Padstow folk advocate, recounted that in the 1970s the content and conduct of the day were carefully reviewed to avoid potential offence. The Devon and Cornwall Constabulary have taken video evidence twice and concluded there were no grounds for prosecution. Nonetheless protests resurface annually. The day has now been renamed Mummers' Day in an attempt to avoid offence and identify it more clearly with established Cornish tradition. The debate has now been subject to academic scrutiny. Other similar traditions that use the black-face disguise and are still celebrated within the United Kingdom are the Border Morris dancers, and Molly dancers of the East Midlands and East Anglia. Notable people Paul Ainsworth, Michelin starred chef, runs four businesses in Padstow. Dr. Humphrey Prideaux, Dean of Norwich, was born in 1648 in Padstow Donald Rawe, Cornish publisher, dramatist, novelist, and poet, was born in Padstow. He became a member of Gorseth Kernow in 1970, under the Bardic name of Scryfer Lanwednoc ('Writer of Padstow'). Rick Stein, restaurateur and celebrity chef, owns several restaurants and businesses in the town. Enys Tregarthen, author and folklorist See also Padstow Coastal Gun Battery Padstow lifeboat References Henderson, Charles (1938) "Padstow Church and Parish" in: Doble, G. H. Saint Petrock, a Cornish Saint; 3rd ed. [Wendron: the author]; pp. 51–59 External links Padstow Tourist Information Centre Charles Henderson – Padstow Church: Its History and List of Vicars, 1927 Historical information on Padstow from Genuki Towns in Cornwall Civil parishes in Cornwall Ports and harbours of Cornwall Seaside resorts in Cornwall Populated coastal places in Cornwall Cornish Killas Manors in Cornwall