Old Town Week continues...

                    The Carnival Queens give a helping hand

Old Town week continues, with its curious blend of folklore and history.  Yesterday we had the Whelk Eating Competition and the Seaboot Race - the latter involving people running up and down Courthouse Street in a pair of seaboots.  Last night was the race for the Jimmy Read Memorial Trophy.

The road leading up to our house is called Crown Lane.  Once a year, in Old Town Week, there is a race the length of it, in memory of Jimmy Read.  Jimmy, we are told, died 25 years ago, but was known throughout the Old Town because he delivered meat on his bicycle - no mean feat with the land rising steeply on both sides of the Bourne.  It is said that one day someone suggested to Jimmy that a moped would be easier - but the idea was rejected, since he believed it would always be quicker on his bike.

Jimmy's bicycle has been preserved or replicated, and is used each year for the race.  Riders are on-the-spot volunteers, who pay their pound to the starting official at the bottom of the lane, by the Crown Inn.  The rules are simple.  An old ten shilling note is placed beneath the rider's backside, and has to remain there for the full distance.  The bike has no gears and is heavy, so getting it up the hill is no mean feat.  At the top of the hill an official with a stopwatch records the time as the rider crosses a chalk line.

Simple, really.  But that's the charm of it.  From shortly after five in the afternoon until darkness fell at nine a substantial crowd lined both sides of the lane, cheering on the competitors.  Drinks supplied by the Crown Inn no doubt helped people to volunteer.  The riders came in all shapes and sizes, and moved at varying speeds - the fainthearted were sometimes given a push, which disqualified them, but nobody seemd to worry.  A good time was had by all.  I'm afraid that we retired indoors before the final prize was awarded, but doubtless there was a drink or two to celebrate!

Antony Mair

PS More snaps of the event if you click here - click on "Diaporama" for a slide show.