Strawberry Fayre and Cream Teas

Since 2006, The Old Vicarage has been holding garden fetes for the residents and the community, and on Saturday 9^th August, we will be continuing this tradition with our Strawberry Fayre. This year we will be enjoying music by the Ulverston Town Band, whilst tasting the delightful cream tea and maybe even some Pimm’s! So very quintessentially English summertime!

Did you know,  the invention of the cream tea hails from the 11^th century when monks at Tavistock Abbey in Devon served clotted cream, strawberries on bread (not scones as yet!) to weary workers to replenish.

The Old Vicarage Cream Tea Scones

Not quite as old as the cream tea but with a long history, the Ulverston Town Band was established over 175 years ago and played at the laying of the foundation stone for the Hoad Hill monument in 1860. We are so pleased that they will be performing for us, and especially so, as Mike, a Senior Care Assistant, is part of this band of talented musicians. For more information about the Ulverston Town Band, please visit their website http://www.ulverstontownband.co.uk/ Mike, Drummer of the Ulverston Town Band

Thinking about how wonderful live music is in a perfect community setting, such as the mature gardens of The Old Vicarage, an old English Folk song that is aptly entitled Strawberry Fayre, came to our attention. Thankfully, H Fleetwood Shepperd of  Broadstone in Devon collected this song in 1891 for future generations to enjoy. You may already know this particular song, and the lyrics may jolt your memory. So here are some lyrics set out below for you to sing along to. For more lyrics, please refer to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry_Fair_(song)

STRAWBERRY FAIR

As I was going to Strawberry Fair,

Singing, singing, Butter-cups and Daisies

I met a maiden taking her are,

Fol-de-dee!

Her eyes were blue and golden her hair,

As she went on to Strawberry Fair,

Ri[fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-li-do,

Ri-fol, Ri-fol, To-de-riddle-dee.

As in previous years, we are very much grateful for the help of the Grange and District Lions Club, who will be serving Cream Teas and Pimm’s and have done so since 2013. This local charity raises funds for many other charities, and each year we donate half the proceeds from the Strawberry Fayre to this worthy organisation. The other half of the proceeds will be for this year’s selected charity, the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. For more information about this charity, please go to https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/

We will have a traditional Tombola Stall, otherwise known as UK Bingo. Tombola originated from Naples in the eighteenth century and has since been played at many British country fetes, ever since. Alongside this game of chance is Hook-a-Duck that needs a good eye and a steady hand to catch the bobbing ducks. Did you know the earliest rubber ducks did not float? If you would like to know more about the humble rubber duck, visit The Rubber Duck Museum website which has many surprising facts. https://therubberduckmuseum.com/blog/the-early-history-of-the-rubber-duck

So, the traditional Strawberry Fayre incorporates various customs inspired by distant influences, and it is hoped that enjoying cream teas and Pimm’s in a garden setting, accompanied by great company and charming music, will continue to be popular, fostering cherished memories of splendid summer days.