top of page

Cambridge Champagne Fringe July 25
This event was organised by Baldock Folk Club and took place at Letchworth Rugby Club. The atmosphere was brilliant. We played 2 of our sets which were interspersed with fiddles, whistles, guitars and all sorts of folksy singing and music. The champagne was pretty good too!

VJ Day August 25 Loch Neaton Norfolk
We were pleased to take part in a very moving service at the side of the loch,which included the last post and the lighting of the beacon.

West Row VJ Parade  August 25
We  play with several pipe bands, recently we played with the new Norwich Caledonian Pipes and Drums to take part in this parade.  The West Row Scrubbers were great!

Strumpshaw Folk Festival 16 August
We squeezed in this folk festival in the afternoon. We love folk festivals!

VJ  Day Parade and Service Spalding August 25
This time we were playing with Peterborough Pipe Band, great turn out and a lovely service.The town Mayor joined us on the drums for an impromptu rendering of Highland Cathedral after the service. She did a pretty good job.

Search

Olney Pancake Race Feb-26

  • carolynbelcher2001
  • Mar 23
  • 2 min read

Updated: Apr 3




Olney Pancake Race is an historic event that takes place every year, open only to the female residents of Olney who are 18 and over, and resident in the town for at least three months, or who work in Olney.

The event supposedly has been in existence for over 550 years, having first taken place after 1445.

History and Tradition

No one is quite certain how the world famous Pancake Race at Olney originated. One story tells of a harassed housewife, hearing the shriving bell, dashing to the Church still clutching her frying pan containing a pancake.

Tradition declares that the race was first run in the year 1445, It was run on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent, and the whole day was given over to a festival of celebration, pranks and pastimes. It is not known where the original start line was but the finish line was at the Church door.

The race continued through the centuries, it is known to have taken place during the troublesome times of The War of the Roses (1445 to 1487).

The Custom Revived

After a lapse during the Second World War, it was revived again in 1948 by the Vicar of Olney the Reverend Canon Ronald Collins. In clearing out a cupboard he came across some old photographs, which had obviously been taken in the Nineteen Twenties and Thirties of women running with frying pans. Filled with enthusiasm to revive the ancient custom, he called for volunteers, and in response thirteen runners appeared on Shrove Tuesday that year. The race immediately caught the popular imagination and people of Olney set out to enjoy this simple and colourful link with their rich past, a day of festivities.

Piping & Amazing Grace

We play both in the Market Place and outside St Peter & St Paul’s Church piping in the Race winners and after the Shriving Service where we play Amazing Grace which coincidentally was written by the town by curate and former slave ship captain - the Reverend John Newton , for his sermon at St Peter and St Paul Church on 1 January 1773.

The "Welcome to Olney" sign proudly proclaims it as the "Home of Amazing Grace".

 
 
 

Comments

    ©2025 by Wintringham Pipers 

    bottom of page