SWAN UPPING

" Swan Upping is the annual census of the swan population on the River Thames from Sunbury to Abingdon dating from the twelfth century. It has always been the duty of the Sovereign's Swan Marker to count the young cygnets each year and to ensure the swan population is maintained. Here the procession passes through Penton Hook Lock before stopping to check two cygnets with their mother close to Barrington Court in Staines. The swans are seen being given a health check, weighed and tagged. The party then continued upstream to The Swan Hotel in Staines for lunch, and would eventually reach Abingdon after five days. There is a bronze statue depicting the Swan Marker in Fairfield Avenue in Staines town centre. "

HELSTON FLORA DAY FURRY DANCE

"The Furry Dance dates from so many centuries ago that no one knows how old it is. Helston in Cornwall holds this dance every year on 8th May unless it falls on a Sunday or a Monday, in which case it takes place on the Saturday before. There are four dances: The Morning Dance before breakfast. The Children's Dance, The Ancient Furry Dance at noon and the last Dance in the late afternoon. The main Furry Dance is danced by gentlemen and ladies dressed as if they were going to Ascot for the races while the others are danced in white and green for the gentlemen and summer dresses for the ladies. This second recording is of the main Dance held at Noon. It must never be confused with the "Floral Dance" which was a rip off composed about 1908 using similar music. However, the day of the dance is called Flora Day. The name Furry is thought to come from an old Celtic word for "festival"."

GURNING CHAMPIONSHIPS

CUMBRIA:

REGULAR GURNING COMPETITIONS HAVE BEEN HELD IN CUMBERLAND SINCE 1269