lundi 5 septembre 2005

Widecombe Fair, Devon Looking back 25 years... with Uncle Tom Cobley and All Widecombe-in-the-Moor is a small village located within the heart of the Dartmoor National Park in south-west England. The name is thought to have derived from "Withy-combe" which means Willow Valley. Today tourism is a major source of income for the village which is probably best known for the Widecombe Fair, held annually and celebrated by a well-known folk song of the same name, featuring "Old Uncle Tom Cobley and All" riding in on a grey mare... as tradition has it, he and his faithful nag will be there again this year! In the "Woolman's Exeter and Plymouth Gazette" dated Saturday, October 19th, 1850, it was announced that on the following Friday, "...a Free Fair will be held on the Green adjoining the Church Yard at Widecombe-in-the-Moor. There will be a large show of cattle and quantity of Moorland sheep offered for sale." Widdicombe Fair Richards, T. F. 24 in. x 12 in. Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com Framed   Mounted This is real Devon country fare with something for everyone. There is plenty to see including Livestock, Sheep shearing, Horses, Ponies, Dog Show, Terrier Racing, Gymkhana, Vintage Machinery, Rural Arts and Crafts, Fancy Dress, Uncle Tom Cobley Downhill Race, Bale Tossing and Tug-of-War. A variety of Trade Stands will be there plus a popular Produce Show and Children's Exhibition. Snack and food outlets with licensed refreshment will cater for all tastes... and in the evening it's Music and Disco! There is also plenty of activity in the village... "All the Fun of the Fair" on the village green; teas in the Church House; travelling players to entertain you in the square; food, drink and ice creams in the pubs, the Post Office and the Cafes. Local and national good causes always benefit including a charity specially invited to attend the Fair. This year the Multiple Sclerosis Society (Teignbridge branch) have agreed to be present. The day is competitive too... with events and prizes including the Lady Edith Brooke Challenge Cup for the best registered Dartmoor pony owned by a farmer on Dartmoor who obtains his living from his farm. In Sheep Class 6 you will find the best Grey faced Dartmoor Old Ram. Then there's the Nosworthy Memorial Challenge Cup for the first Local Lady or Gent home... 1st prize being (for an over 40) a bottle of gin! Classes for Vegetables and Flowers include Class 8 for Six shallots (on a bed of sand), and Class 22 for an arrangement of Floating Flower heads not to exceed 8". Or how about Class 27 for a Round Carrot Cake with raisins , cinnamon and cream cheese icing (7"-8" diameter), or Class 33 for an Edible Necklace on a string (children 7 and under). Uncle Tom Cobley and All... the phrase and song The phrase "Uncle Tom Cobley and All" is used as a humorous way of saying et cetera... sometimes to express exasperation at the large number of items in a list. The phrase comes from the Devon folk song "Widecombe Fair" - the chorus repeating a list of people. I've selected a few photographs I took 25 years ago during the 1980 Fair. Despite being situated on Dartmoor I don't think it always rains there... although every time I visited the further reaches of south-west of England, it tried to! The song can be traced long before 1850. The words and tune varied according to the part of the country, but always had the same theme of Tom Pearse and Tom Cobley. Whether Tom Cobley or the other characters from the song ever existed is uncertain. In the village of Spreyton to the north the churchyard contains the grave of a Tom Cobley, buried in 1844. However, the earliest recorded Widecombe Fair was held in 1850 - six years after this character's death. The song's lyrics, first published in 1880, are as follows... "Tom Pearce, Tom Pearce, lend me your grey mare. All along, down along, out along lee. For I want for to go to Widecombe Fair, With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all. And when shall I see again my grey mare? All along, down along, out along lee. By Friday soon, or Saturday noon, With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all. So they harnessed and bridled the old grey mare. All along, down along, out along lee. And off they drove to Widecombe fair, With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all. Then Friday came, and Saturday noon. All along, down along, out along lee. But Tom Pearce's old mare hath not trotted home, With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all. So Tom Pearce he got up to the top o' the hill. All along, down along, out along lee. And he seed his old mare down a-making her will, With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all. So Tom Pearce's old mare, her took sick and died. All along, down along, out along lee. And Tom he sat down on a stone, and he cried With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all. But this isn't the end o' this shocking affair. All along, down along, out along lee. Nor, though they be dead, of the horrid career Of Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all. When the wind whistles cold on the moor of the night. All along, down along, out along lee. Tom Pearce's old mare doth appear gashly white, With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all. And all the long night he heard skirling and groans. All along, down along, out along lee. From Tom Pearce's old mare in her rattling bones, With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all." This year's Widecombe Fair will be held on Tuesday, September 13th 2005... if you get there, take an umbrella, and have fun! 8:32:22 PM    comment []