Wassailing to the Apple Trees…Marlborough Community life at its best

What a marvellous mild winter late afternoon….a crowd of Marlborough residents gathered at the Priory Gardens and the Rector blessed the apple trees and the Bishop did his bit, and our lovely lady Mayoress watered them with cider and Marlborough Community Choir sang Wassail Wassail (and one of our members re-wrote the verses to include all the ancient types of apple tree that have now been replanted in Marlborough in this ‘town within an orchard’ initiative. The children hung toast on the apple trees to encourage the robins….all this to ensure a bumper crop and cider this year. We shouted ‘hat full, cap full, bucket full wassail wassail’ and people banged dustbin lids, stamped their feet and clapped and Rolo jumped into my arms! ….we moved around several locations in the town including the oldest orchard on the side of George Lane, finishing up with warm Apple Juice and cake in St Marys church and the Bishop blessed Rolo because he thought he was such a polite and well behaved little dog!

This time last year I was at Haxey Hood in the thick of the 700 year old traditional rugby scrum over a ladies bonnet…what a year its been! I love all these old English traditions – full of pomp and celebration and I embrace everything about living here. Wassail indeed!