A whistle, a wassail about our town – part 2

Wick Court 18th Annual Wassail

In a galaxy a long time ago……..Bill and Eric

18 years, and still as popular as ever, the Wick Court Wassail has become a great regular event in our diary. Arriving early Bill took us through the house to show us a photograph of himself and Eric in their younger guise when this event was still in its infancy – as someone said, no wonder Bill knows the words so well!

People began to assemble and the side were all present for 7.30 and we set to dancing in the courtyard, endeavouring to avoid the slippy bit in the middle. Having avoided all disaster after completing 4 dances we went out to the orchard to wassail the apple tree. By all accounts it was the wettest underfoot for quite a while, pity those poor fools who forgot their wellies 🙂

Returning to the courtyard, and after a quick scrabble to change into costume, we performed our last mummers play of the season. We had Greeks playing Turks – providing humour with his dying dagger, heckling from the crowd – with a valiant repost from the Soldier Bold (or was that a bold repost from the valiant soldier?) and a new old woman with an old toothache (six years before she found it and seven since!). The treasury man was in great demand and we collected several pieces of paper as well as coins of the realm – which we duly donated to Wick Court. Our reward was great praise (best play yet!), hot soup and bread, mulled cider and an invitation to do it all again next year. Our thanks to the generosity of all who attended the wassail and put money into the hat.

Muso’s on the go

After all the merriment and food outside we retired indoors to warm our feet on the underfloor heating, and to enjoy the songs and tunes that follow such festivities where’er we go.

So ended another great season of wassailing; music, song, cider and fine company. May the orchards be fruitful again this year.

Pray don’t let the wassailers stay on the cold stones. Waes Hail!

A whistle, a wassail about our town – part 1

Eric’s Annual Wassail

As usual with Eric’s Wassail, the weather proved kind to us with a dry, if chilly evening. The media were well represented with both BBC Radio and the print media being present.

At the appointed hour the gathered might of Lassington Oak were there and ready to take on the wandering challengers from the Forest of Dean Morris Men (no doubt plotting how to steal back young Tom). We started off with a lusty Bluebells, managing to stay upright on the sloping ground. Forest took theie turn and we responded with Idbury Hill. The gloves were off and Forest danced again, this time in the darkness as the lights went out as they started to dance. Light back on and we were off with the Upton Hanky dance – our final dance of the night. Again Forest were up for their last dance and – the lights went out again!

Dancing done, light restored we donned our wellies and tatters and made our way to the orchard, carrying flaming brands, to wassail the apple trees. The Judas fire was lit and duly stamped out by the marauding morris men (top tip of the evening – remove bells before stomping around in a fire!). The ring of fire was light around the tree and words were said, songs were sung, more fire was lit and we processed around the tree three times singing and making as much din as possible. The wassail bowl was passed among the gathered masses and the proceedings brought to an end by three shotgun blasts.

Mine host, Eric Freeman

Returning to the farmyard we were met with mulled cider and a table full of goodies to munch upon. As the evening got colder and the food ran low people drifted off home and the hardcore made their way to the undercroft of the house to sing and play music until the early hours. Dave Blick sang the Rose in honour of a friend of the farm, a young lady who worked there and has now been struck down by serious illness.
Even Eric sang a song, at which point his dog came in and laid at his feet (his master’s voice calls).

The tunes and songs drifted into the early hours and so ended another fantastic evening of wassailing at Eric’s.