The return of the Wassail
Nick Nicholls revels in the return of a bigger and better than ever Bradford on Avon Wassail, after a lockdown-enforced absence in 2021
‘We all joined in the age-old chants and made a most satisfactory and deafening Hullabaloo’
When asked to report on the Wassail for the fifth time since its inception, my first thought was that readers have seen all previous reports and have a pretty good idea of how our Wassail works and don’t need a report of what it’s all about.
Then it occurred to me that all Wassails in the same place, in the same town, like any traditional festival such as Christmas or the New Year, though following old formulas, are never quite the same, as those stalwarts who attended our snow and ice Wassail in 2019 can surely testify. (You can still watch highlights of that event on YouTube!)
Well, after a two-year gap, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we certainly came back with renewed energy and a record crowd – reportedly around 300 – assembling at the Tithe Barn, where we had our fire basket glowing brightly in the fading light.
It was gratifying, for what is definitely an event for the whole community, to see so many families with young children among people of all ages. Word had certainly got around, partly due to the excellent social media coverage by both the Preservation Trust and the Town Council – one family had apparently come all the way from Portsmouth!
Once proceedings got under way, it was clear from the enthusiastic participation of all present that two years of restrictions engendered a pent-up feeling that was positively and noisily released in taking part in a real-life human event.
A surprise ‘first’ was the appearance of a father and daughter half an hour before the start, to ask me, as MC, if 15-year- old Ruby could play her Scottish bagpipes. Without hesitation I agreed and Ruby joined us on stage, where she delighted us all with a couple of superbly played jigs and reels. The cheers that followed her performance were even louder than her pipes!
There followed the singing – led by Eagle Alley and Chris Samuel – of our own ‘traditional’ Orchard song written especially for our Hens’ Community Orchard by Anne Gregson and Keri Hendy.
We were then treated to an excellent display of dancing by the Holt Morris, joined this year by Bell’s Angels, their sister side. Another first for us and wonderful to have a women’s side giving us some colourful dancing.
Next up were the Widcombe Mummers, a larger group than usual, who were in exuberant form with a new script with many amusing, topical references woven into the traditional elements of the play. Never a dull moment as their exuberance carried them away, even a little ‘off-piste’ to the mystified delight of all assembled. Again, this can be put down to the opportunity to perform once more after two frustrating years of restrictions. They also managed to involve Ren Osmond, our young Wassail Princess, who has been with us since our very first event in 2017. Another first!
Then followed our procession into Hens’ Orchard where our traditional ceremonies of wassailing the trees took place, pouring cider on their roots and hanging toast on the branches to attract robins – guardians of the trees – involving the young children and their parents. We all joined in the age-old chants and made a most satisfactory and deafening Hullabaloo to awaken the trees ahead of springtime and to rid them of any malign bugs and diseases. Well, it seems to have worked so far!
Of course, all this takes a bit of organising and thanks are due to members of the Trust, the Town Council and many others who helped with preparation, publicity and stewarding on the day. Thank you all – and WASSAIL!! We’ll see you again on Saturday 28 January 2023.
