Dunmow Flitch Trials 2016

Saturday 9th July 2016 once again saw the ancient Flitch Trials take place in Great Dunmow, Essex. Held every leap year, five couples or 'the claimants' (who have to have been married for a year and a day) are put to trial in an attempt to determine that they have "not wisht themselves unmarried again" during that year and a day. If successful, the couples are awarded a flitch - a whole side of bacon.

The evidence is put to a jury of 6 maidens and 6 bachelors, with counsel for both the claimants and the flitch, whilst the proceedings are overseen by the Flitch Judge. Once awarded, the couples are paraded through the town on the Flitch chair before taking the Flitch Oath whilst kneeling on the 'sharp stones'

This was the first time I had covered the Flitch Trials and I was hoping that I would be able to enjoy the whole evening, from the back of the marquee where the press were allowed, without being interrupted by the vibrating buzz of my phone in my pocket. You see, I was expecting news, and at least from the back, I would be able to slip away easily if I needed...but more of that later.
Do scroll down through the pictures to see if I did indeed make it through to the end of the evening.

The sharp stones await successful couples

The Flitch Chair carried through the town by the 'simple folk'

The 'simple folk' who carry both the Flitch and the Flitch Chair
are distinguished by their traditional country smocks.

The Flitch is paraded through the town of
Great Dunmow in Essex

The Flitch Trial court beginning the evening session

The jury of 6 maidens and 6 bachelors are sworn in

Counsel for the claimants...

...and counsel for the Flitch

In his first year as Flitch Judge, lawyer and radio presenter Dave Monk provided interludes of quips, wit,
and variable expressions.

First couple for the night were Mr Mohammed Mizan Sabur and Ms Emma Marcus who were questioned about their desire for bacon even with their (non-practising) Muslim and Jewish origins.

Once the foreman for the jury had been teased by counsel for the claimants, for his Orville impression, he was allowed to deliver the verdict...

...a majority verdict that the couple should be awarded a flitch...

...the judge became a little confused as to what sentence he was passing!

Second couple for the night were...but where was his wife?

 

On the counsel bench! This created a bit of a dilemma

Until retired judge, Michael Chapman stepped up into the vacant role, whilst proudly showing-off his tie covered in pigs!

Couple, Dr and Mrs Parkes (aka Caroline Bradley for the counsel) discussed how on their skiing trips, that she had twice been transported down the mountain in a body bag.

Summing-up

A majority verdict was reached that they too should be awarded a flitch.

Now all that remained was for the triumphant couples to be carried back through the town by the 'simple folk'

Then to swear the Flitch Oath whilst kneeling on the 'sharp stones'

So, until 2020 when more couples will put the strength of their marriage to the test, in public...

See the full coverage here
http://bit.ly/2a4BaMN
http://bit.ly/2alkYYF
http://bit.ly/2a5bsqS

Tiananmen Square 1989

Twenty-five years ago today, an event was unfolding which would change so many things.

Tiananmen Square Massacre

Not least did it change the course of history but for a young me and himself, it was an incredible blow to what was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime holiday, for which we had been saving for months and months. We had been watching with interest, along with the rest of the world, as the '89 Democracy Protest was taking place in China. A country which until that time, very few people had visited and in the March of 1989 we were fortunate enough to have booked a tour of the country, to commence in the beginning of December 1989. Initially we thought everything would be fine, and then came the news from the Foreign Office that all travel would be suspended. We could be accommodated on an alternative tour elsewhere in the world - Africa, India maybe but no, it was China where we had always dreamed to go and we were determined to sit tight and see what would happen.

To cut a long waiting story short, we hung on and eventually our patience was rewarded and the tour went ahead as planned, although the three-tour-bus-worth of previous Kuoni tours was down to just 19 travellers. The small group size suited us and it was said that we were one of the first UK tours to travel into China following the lifting of restrictions. However, BA had opted not to re-establish flights into Beijing and we were transferred to Air China. I could tell you about our flight into China but that would warrant a whole blog post of its own but lets just say it was an experience (as were all the modes of travel which we took whilst we were there!)

We arrived later than scheduled into a crisp, dry-cold Beijing. On that December afternoon, the air was heavy with the pollution from the coal fires needed for cooking and heating. We were, however, carefully escorted at all times by our Chinese tour guide and were deposited at a five-star hotel where the rooms were brightly lit and far too over-heated for comfort. Outside our hotel window, we could see the odd single dim bulb lighting the confined rooms of large, shoddily built blocks, apparently with no glazing at the window. We had arrived in a place of contrasts.

The next day, we began with one of the highlights of the visit to Beijing - a visit to the now infamous Tiananmen Square and from there, on into the Forbidden City. It was clear that everything was still very raw and sensitive as we were given a pep-talk prior to being allowed out of the tour bus and which was memorably heavy with the aroma of garlic, exuding from both the driver and the tour guide. He instructed: No running, no hands in pockets, no sudden movements, no groups, no bartering with the locals, no photographing any military personnel, oh, and just 20 minutes.

The sense of enormity was the first thing that struck us. Not only the physical enormity of the square but also the enormity of the event which had taken place just 6 months earlier. As we walked deliberately and carefully along the almost deserted acres of the square, we could see evidence of the damage inflicted to the stonework of the steps. This sent an incredulous shudder through us all, knowing that the tanks which had left their mark on there, had also inflicted mortal damage. With these sombre thoughts, we looked around the square, noticing eyes carefully trained on all of us from the tops of the surrounding buildings. It left a huge impression on us all.

I have one physical impression of Tiananmen Square and yesterday, I went in search of that now faded photograph I had tucked  away with a handful of others in a Boots photo envelope marked China 1989. As I looked at it, I realised the opportunity to visit China today would not be too difficult but to see Tiananmen Square so eerily empty again would be an impossibility.

A chilling reminder of all those who stood for what they believed in 25 years ago.

Remember, remember...

As a kind of follow-on from the fireworks display on Saturday, today I was fortunate to go with a group of colleagues to visit the Houses of Parliament, accompanied by our local MP.
Im afraid I can't show you many pictures as photography isn't allowed inside the building. However, I did manage a few in the impressive hammer-beamed Westminster Hall, the only building to survive from the old Palace of Westminster. The picture above shows the stairs from Westminster Hall which lead into the Palace of Westminster as it is today.
However, what I can admit is that this time around I found the visit very interesting. (Last time I had visited as a mildly disinterested 9 year old!)

Grateful thanks to Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst for a knowledgeable and comprehensive tour.

So, mindful of the date, we were all happy to have safely concluded our visit to the Houses of Parliament.

End of one Era at One Myddylton Place

(This is a rework of a posting I made via social media back in 2010)

On Tuesday 5th September 2010 we booked to stay in Saffron Walden Youth Hostel, at One Myddylton Place.
This was to:
1. Have a look inside this wonderful old building.
2. Just to stay there for the fun of it, as we wouldn't have done it otherwise.
3. Because it will soon be closing for good.
4. We just wanted the hostel stamp in our books!

The warden was very friendly and confirmed, with and amazed smile, that we (as Saffron Walden residents) were the guests who had travelled the shortest distance to stay there (probably ever). To his joy, he was pleased to see that we had even brought our slippers.

To long established Youth Hostellers, the stamp in the book is an important part of the overnight stay, just as it had been important for our girls to collect the stamps during their many Youth Hostel stays they enjoyed whilst growing up. You don't have this much excitement staying in a Travel Lodge!

The self catering kitchen (aka the members kitchen) with the usual array of equipment and spare food. Remember all those steamy hours of cooking up boil in the bag rice after a long days walking?
Oh to have been able to afford the meals cooked up by the warden.

The cosy dining room in Saffron Walden Youth Hostel, sadly no longer serving up home produced meals. Vital repairs to the main kitchen had not been carried out during the 'winding down' process so it was self catering only.

Where else can you find accommodation in such fantastic architectural surroundings for fourteen quid a night? The YHA are closing these type of hostels due to maintenance costs and because 21st century hostellers don't want this type of unique experience. In are coming the sanitised en suite boxes such as those at Manchester YH.

When we selected hostels to have a family holiday we chose them often because of their character.
Saffron Walden certainly has that. These secret stairs went out of our dorm. 'Elf 'n safety is puttin' pay to all this fun for sure.

The building is crammed full of history. We explored and took a peek in the dorm named Sackhoist.

It is possible to sleep right beneath the remains of the old sack hoist. This reveals the previous heritage of the building, when it was used as one of the many maltings buildings in the town.

The Sackhoist Dormitory.
Dorms are no longer popular with hostellers and as it would be difficult to bring the required sophistication of en suite rooms to the building, it has been decided, amongst other reasons, to sell off the building.

Actually, we were very naughty as the Sackhoist dorm was for men only. Sadly we found not one man in there!

She always chose the top bunk and this night was to be no different.

Happily showing she had wrestled with putting the clean duvet cover on (no more taking your own sheet sleeping bag). Mind you, making your own bed was all part of feeling you got value for money. With the ready-made beds in hostels today you know you have paid for it somewhere.

I know I am past scrambling up into bunks or scraping my back crawling under a bunk, so I chose an ordinary bed from the dozen in the dorm. We had the room all to ourselves.

 
Or did we? Saffron Walden Youth Hostel is apparently full of ghosts. From dogs, cats and horses in the garden to priests who push visitors over and a grumpy old man who sits in the corner of our dorm.

 

 
Thought I'd left the grumpy old man at home?!!

No ghostly horse in the quaint little garden.

Don't expect we will ever see Bridge Street from this perspective again

 
Wakey, Wakey! Did the grumpy old man keep you awake all night?

 
Early morning adds sense of place to this medieval building.

The town of Saffron Walden is going to lose a facility that brought visitors from all over the world to this special little corner of Essex. The town has already lost the Bell School which also brought in world visitors.
How much more will we lose?
(September 2010)

Post Script

Now begins a new era at One Myddylton Place

The wonderful work that has been carried out since this piece was written, is a testament to understanding the importance of the heritage of such buildings. With this now being a family home, it is also a facility that is available for selective events.
Saffron Walden has some of the finest timber framed buildings in the area.



(In memory of a good friend of mine, KMN 1963-2011
 An assistant warden at Safffron Walden for sometime)