Almanac

JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
EASTER
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER

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Calendar of Customs in Staffordshire

JANUARY

An old Staffordshire Clog Almanac in the possession of the William Salt Library, Stafford, 2007
1st JANUARY Ill luck to dig for coal on New Year’s day (an old North Staffordshire mining
supersition; though miners at Sneyd Colliery did in 1942 to help the war effort, and
indeed a violent explosion occurred killing 57 men) (ES Aug 15 2006 p12).
6th JANUARY In parts of Staffordshire, Twelfth Day used to be be celebrated with a dance call The Hays. It began with aman entering the village with a mock horse fastened to him, with which he danced, at the same time making a snapping nosise with a bow which he carried. He was attended by six fellow-villagers wearing mock deers' heads. The seven of them dance 'The Hays' and other country dances.
JANUARY (first appearance of the new moon immediately after New Year’s day)
Maidens in earlier C19 could imagine the appearance of their future husband if they
stand on gate spars or a stile and look at Wetley Moor in the evening after reciting certain
lines (ES Jan 15 2000 p17).
JANUARY (weekend in late month) Winter Tough Guy contest, an 8-mile assault course event at Tettenhall Horse Sanctuary (formerly South Perton Farm)
JANUARY Judge’s procession from their lodgings to a service at St Mary’s, Stafford, and
thence onto the Crown Court; prior to 1971 was the processional ceremony to start the
Assizes, and culminated at the Shire Hall (SN Aug 31 2006 p6p).
JANUARY (Saturday in late month) Sandwell Family History Fair, organised by Sandwell
CHAS, West Bromwich Town Hall 10am-4pm.

FEBRUARY

FEBRUARY (early in month) Lichfield Winter Beer & Wine Festival

SHROVE TUESDAY Shrovetide Fair and Pancake Race, Lichfield
SHROVE TUESDAY Pancake Bell tolled from St Mary's, Uttoxeter, told people to put their pan on the fire, time immemorial to 1935 (SA March 16 1935 p11 col 3)
SHROVE TUESDAY Pancake Day at Wednesbury was celebrated with a throw-a-
pancake contest from the steps of the Clock Tower, and the child who could step forward
with the biggest piece would be given a prize, 1950s (TB Sept 19 2002 p19p, Oct 3 2002
p21).

MARCH

St Chad's Day Service, Friday 5 March 2004
2nd MARCH St Chad's Day Service in Lichfield Cathedral; is held in the evening on the Friday
nearest the 2nd March.
2nd MARCH Custom of raising a glass of sherry to commemorate the departure of Dr
Johnson for London.
MARCH (about 3rd Sunday) Stafford Half Marathon and Fun Run by 2003 (TB March 27
2003 p33).

EASTER

Crucifixes placed on Wetley Rocks on Palm Sunday in 2007
PALM SUNDAY Erection of crucifixes on Wetley Rocks.
GOOD FRIDAY Unofficial walk/ picnic in Mill Dale, Balterley, to eat hot cross buns,
?1920s-1970s.
GOOD FRIDAY The Way of The Cross or Walk of Witness; a non-demoninational re-
enactment. Nicholson Monument, Market Place, Leek, noon, 2005- (ES April 15 2006
p6p).
GOOD FRIDAY Procession of The Cross from Trentham church to Hanchurch Hills.
GOOD FRIDAY Anglicans and Methodists procession of The Cross through Ipstones;
Cross erected at Noon Sun (ES April 15 2006 p6p).
GOOD FRIDAY Parade of the cross at Bilston, or Walk of Witness, procession with an 8 foot crucifix culminates at St Leonard’s where a Last Hour service is held to mark the third hours Jesus was on the church, at 2pm. In addition a repeat service at the church at 8pm (E&S April 18 2003 p6).
GOOD FRIDAY Walk of witness from St Philip’s to Aiden’s and St Joseph’s churches, in Penn. Another event also takes place at St Bartolomew’s Penn (E&S April 18 2003 p6).
EASTER SATURDAY Stone Easter Bonnet Parade organised by Stone Town Action
Group.
EASTER SATURDAY Dawn service in the vicinity of Dudley Priory ruins, organised by
Dudley Group of Churches, 1999- (TB April 27 2000 p16p).
EASTER MONDAY Traditional Easter horse parade round Lower Penn. About 30 brightly decorated horses, including 9 shires, lead from Langley Hall Farm, then Market Lane, Dene Rd, Pennstone Lane and Greyhound Lane, all of which are adorned with colourful bunting, starts 11.45am (E&S April 17 2003 p1pc).

APRIL

APRIL (A Cheshire event) Mow Cop ‘Killer Mile’ a 1:3 gradient race from the level
crossing at Kent Green, Station Bank to the entrance of Mow Cop Castle folly. 1982-;
lapsed 2001-04; revived 2005 (ES April 15 2006 p16).
APRIL Appointment of the Warden of Leek. Three nominations for this appointment
are made at the annual vestry, held usually in April in one of the churches in Leek.
All ratepayers may attend, and any ratepayer may be nominated. If there are more than
three nominations a town election is held.
23rd APRIL St George’s Court, Lichfield, the Court Baron of the Burgesses of the manor
of Lichfield.
23rd APRIL St George's Day (Sunday after). Servicemen's parade from Hanley to Bucknall War Memorial. 1918 to at least 1936, when in demise (SA May 2 1936 p11 col 3).
LATE APRIL Parade from the judge’s lodgings in Martin Street to St Mary’s, Stafford, to
inaugurate the Summer term at Stafford Crown Court (SN May 4 2006 p18).
30th APRIL-1st MAY Lichfield Mysteries

MAY

Grave of Charlotte Sparrow, decorated by flowers on her birthday, May 13. 2007
MAY (possibly a Wednesday afternoon in May as in 2006, but not fixed; 100th seminar in
2007 held on 3rd Saturday in March) Jack Leighton local history seminar, University of
Keele, organised by the Research Institute in Humanities, Keele Uni, with the British
Association for Local History.
MAY Judge’s procession from their lodgings to a service at St Mary’s, Stafford, and
thence onto the Crown Court; prior to 1971 was the processional ceremony to start the
Assizes, and culminated at the Shire Hall (SN Aug 31 2006 p6p).
MAY Tipton ‘Princess’ and ‘Rosebud’ competition; the former for a girl aged 9, the latter
for a girl aged 7. Selection is made at Jubilee Park (TB May 30 2002 p20).
1st MAY May Day Parade through streets of Stafford. Before earlier C20 Shire horses were bedecked with ribbons, and shining brasses etc, as were the Corporation horses. By 1936 all replaced by motorised vehicles (SA May 9 1936 p4 col 1).
1st-10th MAY Obsolete custom of ducking children in a well at Botteslow, near Hanley. -
c1861
13th MAY Children of Colwich village school honour the birthday of the school’s founder Charlotte
Sparrow of Bishton Hall (1784-1874); flowers are placed on her grave by children of the
school, who also sing her favourite hymn. Held on Friday before May 13, if May 13 falls at the weekend. It appears that the ceremony has been fixed for the Friday after May 13.
MAY (for opening Sunday meeting of Uttoxeter racecourse) Staffordshire Day, annually
2004- (ES May 10 2006 p22).
MAY (2 weeks) Stafford Music Festival 2001-
MAY DAY BANK HOLIDAY Newborough well dressing; three wells in the village are
dressed.
MAY DAY BANK HOLIDAY Werrington well dressing at Washerwall Lane; well is dated
1874. But dressing began in ?1990s (ES May 2 2006 p10p).
MAY DAY BANK HOLIDAY Burslem Festival -2004, revived 2006 (ES May 2 2006 p18).
MAY (1st Sunday) Wheaton Aston villagers go to Motty Meadows Field to pick Snake’s
head-fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris).
MAY (ASCENSION DAY) Beating the Bounds, Lichfield Cathedral
MAY (first week) Leek Arts Festival 1976-
MAY (? 2nd Sunday) Treetops 10k run in aid of the Donna Louise Trust, at Trentham
Awakes and covers 6.4 miles (ES March 26 2007 p12).
MAY (Saturday in mid month) Kinver Country Fayre (County Express May 4 1989)
MAY (usually 3rd Saturday) Staffordshire Archaeology Day 2003-
MAY (usually 3rd Sunday) Stafford Mayor’s Official Inauguration Parade Church Service,
St Mary’s, 11.15am
MAY (3rd weekend?) Wheaton Aston Music Festival, occuring 2007
MAY (11 days from mid month) Sandwell Artsfest, takes place in the Smethwick area and
was occurring in 2000 (TB May 11 2000 p10).
MAY (Saturday in late month) West Bromwich Street Festival, occurring in 2000 (TB May
11 2000 p10).
MAY (late Bank Holiday Monday) Taal (Asian) Festival, West Bromwich, occurring in
2000 (TB May 11 2000 p10).
MAY WHITSUNTIDE Court of Array, Lichfield and Greenhill Bower, Lichfield; on Whit
Monday it was the tradition to at least 1906 for children to receive Greenhill Bower
Cakes, the original menu for this feast was cold hanged beef, stewed prunes, cakes,
wine and ale (Victorian & Edwardian Staffordshire from Old Photographs. Pamela Murray
and Robert Frost. 1977 p134p).
MAY WHITSUNTIDE Cradley Heath & District Band of Hope Union Parade, local Sunday
schools compete for the Union banner, held at Trinity Hall, St Annes Rd, 1909- (TB Nov 1
2001 p5).
MAY WHIT MONDAY Hanley Fete and Horse Show, 1930s (ES Your Week May 27 2006
p7).
MAY WHIT MONDAY Milton Gala, 1930s (ES Your Week May 27 2006 p7).
MAY WHIT MONDAY Newcastle Carnival, ?1960s (ES Your Week May 27 2006 p7).
MAY WHIT MONDAY Longton Carnival, Longton Park, ?1960s (ES Your Week May 27
2006 p7).
MAY WHIT MONDAY Endon well-dressing, Tossing the Sheath
MAY WHIT MONDAY Dovedale Fete, at Ilam.
MAY WHIT MONDAY (and 3 days following) Dudley Castle Fete, in grounds of the castle.
c1914 (TB March 8 2001 p18).
MAY WHIT MONDAY Dudley Castle Fete goes back to at least 1857 (TB May 31 2001
p21).
MAY WHIT MONDAY Oldbury Carnival, from or by 1960 (TB July 26 2001 p25).
MAY WHIT MONDAY Bradley (Bilston) Marathon (only 3.5 m), 1925-? (TB Jan 24 2002
p21).

JUNE

Elford Duck Race. 12 June 2005
JUNE Trinity Sunday (first Sunday after Whitsun) Choir sang from tower roof of St Edward the Confessor church, Leek, to about the early 1920s
JUNE (1st week) Leek Sports Week
JUNE (mid month) Rugeley Festival Week 1980-95 initially run by Rugeley Chamber of
Commerce, then Rugeley Festival Committee, in later years was only the weekend
JUNE (1st Saturday in month) Rugeley Charter Fair, carnival parade and finale fireworks
organised by Rugeley Town Council 1996-
JUNE (perhaps 1st Saturday in month) Newcastle Jazz Festival 2006- (ES June 3 2006
p17).
JUNE (Sunday early in month) Curborough Sprint (motor sport) Course Open Day
JUNE (Saturday in mid month) Flash Tea Pot Parade; with Flower Festival extending into
the following week.
JUNE (2nd Saturday to about 3rd Sunday in July) Staffordshire Open art exhibition, Shire
Hall Gallery, Stafford
JUNE (2nd Sunday) Potters Arf marathon, covers 13 miles round Stoke-on-Trent (ES
March 26 2007 p12)
JUNE (2nd weekend of month) Tipton Community Show and Carnival, Jubilee Park,
1965- , parades only up to 2002 (TB June 1 2000 p15. May 10 2001 p19. March 13 2003
p18).
JUNE (8 days from a Sat in early month) Stone Festival by mid 1960s, carnival
procession is held on the 2nd Saturday.
JUNE Elford Duck Race. 12.30pm Elford Bridge.
JUNE (Sunday in mid-late month) Civic Sunday, the Stone Town mayor’s morning
parade. Stonefield Park-St Michael’s-Market Sq (Stone & Eccleshall Gazette July-Augst 2006 p35).
JUNE (third week, bi-annually) Eccleshall Festival 1979-
JUNE (third Saturday) Stafford Carnival
JUNE (late month, early July) Leek Arts Festival

JULY

Carsa Wakes at Caverswall. 10 July 2005.
2nd JULY Queen Mary’s Grammar School Founder’s Day tradition of laying a wreath on
Mary I’s tomb in Westminster Abbey. In modern times the event occurs on the Friday
nearest to 2 July. In 2007 it was 29 June. The delegation who normally attend are Year 7 (11/12 year olds).
JULY (whole month and early August) Biddulph Community Festival, includes the
Biddulph By The Sea event (Saturday in late July) (ES July 31 2006 p17). The first
Biddulph Carnival was in 1965, and originated to raise funds for the Biddulph Swimming
Bath Fund (BIOPP2 p110p).
JULY (Saturday in early month) Stone Lions Duck Race (Stone & Eccleshall Gazette
July-Augst 2006)
JULY (Saturday or Sunday in early month) Bilston 10K & 5k Road Races, organised by
Wolverhampton College, and starts from Westfield Rd, Bilston. 1992- (TB July 19 2001
p33).
4th JULY Ceremonial placing of flowers on plaque (erected 1948) commemorating American fighter pilot Capt JB Perrin at Guildhall, Stafford. Perrin selflessly crashed his Mustang on July 4 1944 rather than it hit populous north Stafford suburbs
JULY (8 days from a Saturday in mid month) Stone Beer Festival, The Swan, 1998-.
JULY (Saturday in mid month) Stafford Mayor’s Festival Parade, welcome of the new
mayor, noon.
JULY (3rd Saturday) Leek Club Day - a Sunday Schools procession.
JULY (Saturday in mid month) Well dressing, Grindon; Blessing service at 2pm.
JULY (Sunday in mid month) Hedgehog Rolling Festival, Grindon.
JULY (10 days in mid July) The Lichfield Festival, and Cathedral Dash, 1981-
JULY (weekend in mid July) Burton upon Trent Regatta, 1848- but sporadic
JULY (weekend in mid July) Cheadle Festival
JULY (Sunday in mid month) Cheadle 4k run, lasts 4 miles (ES March 26 2007 p12)
JULY (Saturday in mid month) Stafford Mayor’s Festival Parade
JULY (Saturday in mid month) Alrewas Agricultural Show
JULY (?mid Month) Carsa Wakes at Caverswall, 1800s, revived 1995-
JULY (2nd to last weekend) The Ashford Mile, swimming competition in Swan Pool, Sandwell Valley, 1969- (TB July 28 2005 p31).
JULY ((Saturday in late month) Leek and District Show, Birchall Playing Fields, revived
1960s (ES July 22 2006 p12, July 31 2006 p17).
JULY ((Sunday in late month) Tunstall Carnival (ES July 31 2006 p14).
JULY (4th Saturday) Leek Agricultural Show
JULY (last weekend) Steam Gala, Foxfield Steam Railway, Blythe Bridge.
JULY (last weekend) Summer Tough Guy contest, an 8-mile assault course event at Tettenhall Horse Sanctuary (formerly South Perton Farm) (E&S July 28 2003 p12).
JULY (about 2 weeks sometime in period late June to late July) Stafford Shakespeare
Festival, outdoor performance at Stafford Castle 1990-
JULY & AUGUST Stafford and Stone Co-operative Society’s annual baby show
Assembly Rooms, Stafford, 1951-69, thereafter at King Edward VI Grammar School (SN
Aug 3 2006 p6).

AUGUST

AUGUST (Saturday early in month) Warslow Gala. Tel (01538) 304295
AUGUST (Saturday early in month) Canwell Show
AUGUST (Saturday early in month) Chase Wakes, procession from Recreation Ground,
High St, Burntwood, occuring 1985
AUGUST (Saturday early in month) Betley Show 1856- (ES Aug 4 2006 p12).
AUGUST (2nd Saturday) Cheddleton Carnival, Ashcombe Park Cricket Club carpark.
Procession from St Edward's Hospital drive. 1945- (orginally Basford Bridge Carnival)
AUGUST (Saturday in mid month) Swythamley and Heaton Gala, occuring 1985
AUGUST (2nd Saturday/ Sunday) Manifold Valley Show, Castern Hall, Ilam (ES July 31
2006 p17). Tel (01298) 834423
9th AUGUST Ceremonial placing of laurel wreath on the bust of Izaak Walton during a memorial event at St Mary's, Stafford, to mark his birthday (1593)
10th AUGUST (St Lawrence's day) Tutbury minstrel court used to meet on this day at Byrley to decide on whose land a buck was to be killed for the custom on August 17th (see). Medieval. Revived 1947, but since discontinued
17th AUGUST (day after the feast of the Assumption) Ceremony of carrying a buck's head to the Prior of Tutbury. Lapsed c1547, revived 1947. Proceedings begin with singing and dancing in main street, Tutbury, followed by a procession of horsemen - representing foresters and huntsmen (of Needwood) - to the parish church where a special service an address is given (SA Aug 21 1948)
AUGUST (mid week & mid month) Dovedale Sheepdog Trials. Tel: 07989 150889
AUGUST (3rd weekend) Burntwood Folk Festival
AUGUST Potteries wakes, moved to June in 1956 (ES Your Week June 17 2006 p8).
AUGUST (3rd weekend) Tern Valley Show, Sugnall Lower Parks, Eccleshall 1979-
(Stone & Eccleshall Gazette July-Augst 2006 p18)
AUGUST (Saturday in late month or early Sept) Draycott-in-the-Clay Show. C19 to
c2000. Revived 2006. Showground by roundabout with Coton and Moreton Lanes (UAd
Aug 30 2006 p19).
AUGUST (Sunday in late month) Leek Half marathon, covers 13 miles (ES March 26
2007 p12)
AUGUST (3rd weekend in month) V Festival, Weston-under-Lizard, 1999-.
AUGUST (last Saturday) Ipstones Agricultural Show, 1950- (ES Aug 28 2006
p22ps).
AUGUST (biennial in odd-numbered years on the Bank Holiday?) Birmingham
International Festival (originally Handsworth Festival at Handsworth Park 1984-94, then
a street parade 1994-99 until having a home at Perry Barr Park) Carribean- style parade
through streets of Handsworth 1999-, 2001, 2003 etc

SEPTEMBER

Battle of Blore Heath Re-enactment, Blore. 2002
SEPTEMBER (week leading up to 1st Saturday) Bilston Carnival, perhaps lasted as long
as Carnival queens - 1927-97/8 (TB May 16 2002 p23. June 13 202 p17).
SEPTEMBER Burton Festival, culminating in barrel-rolling competition 1996-
SEPTEMBER Knightley, Adbaston Haberdashers Annual Show, vegetable/ produce
show, 1946-
SEPTEMBER (Monday after the first Sunday following 4th of month) Abbots Bromley
Horn Dance, C17-, perhaps earlier.
SEPTEMBER (Saturday in early month) Whittington Country & Craft Fair
SEPTEMBER (Saturday in early month) Eccleshall Show 1947-
SEPTEMBER (Saturday in early month) Proms in the Park, Beacon Park, Lichfield
SEPTEMBER (1st Sunday in month) Longnor Well dressing; Blessing service at 6pm.
Tel: (01298) 834495
SEPTEMBER (2nd Saturday) The Sheriff’s Ride, Lichfield
SEPTEMBER (2nd Saturday) Fireman’s ‘Road Race’ and Gala Day, Ipstones; a 5m road
race and 2m children’s race.
SEPTEMBER (First Saturday) Festival of Fireworks, Shugborough
SEPTEMBER (Second Sunday) Lichfield 10K Road Race & Fun Run
SEPTEMBER (Second Sunday) Whitmore and District Horticultural Society show, 1968-
(ES Aug 26 2006 p15).
SEPTEMBER (probably at a weekend) Blackheath Carnival organised annually by
Blackheath & Rowley Regis Hospital Committee to 1939 (TB June 7 2001 p3).
SEPTEMBER (about 3rd Sunday) Aldridge Manor House Run (10k, 5K, 1K) in or about
Aldridge Park (TB Sept 27 2001 p33).
SEPTEMBER (Thursday after the first Sunday) Longnor Sports or Wakes races, at
Waterhouse Farm, 1904-
SEPTEMBER (Sat in mid month to Sun in late Oct) Walsall Illuminations, Walsall
Arboretum
23rd SEPTEMBER (Weekend closest to 23rd) Battle of Blore Heath Re-enactment, Blore
Heath Farm, actual battle re-enactment 3pm, 1992-
SEPTEMBER (weekend in mid month) Midland Game & Country Sports Fair, Weston
Park
SEPTEMBER (weekend in mid month, bi-annually) Dudley Rock & Fossil Festival,
geology and earth sciences at Dudley Concert Hall and Dudley Museum & Art Gallery; held every two years to 2006, then 2007, 2009, 2011 etc
SEPTEMBER (weekend in mid month) Walsall 12k & 6K Road Run, organised by Walsall
Rotary Club in or around Walsall Arboretum (Sept 20 2001 p33).
SEPTEMBER (third week in month) Alrewas Arts Festival 2006
SEPTEMBER (Monday & Tuesday in 3rd week in month) Brierley Hill Wakes Races
c1820~40 to later in the C19 (but the Wakes continued to 1960s), took place in the area
of Cook’s Pool and Level Street (TB Nov 8 2001 p13).
SEPTEMBER (Tues to Sat in 3rd week of month) Lichfield Literary Festival, Lichfield
Garrick Theatre 2006-
18th SEPTEMBER (nearest Saturday to 18th) Dr Johnson Birthday Celebrations, Lichfield -
the supper c1910-; wreath-laying and recital of prayers on steps of his birthplace by
Lichfield cathedral choristers c1934-;
SEPTEMBER (Monday following the Lichfield Johnson Celebrations) Dr Johnson Birthday Celebrations, Uttoxeter
- laying a wreath on the Weighing Machine, Market Place
SEPTEMBER (a Saturday in late month or in earlier October) Staffordshire History Fair,
Shire Hall, Stafford, 2005-
SEPTEMBER (late month for seven months) Abbotsholme Arts Society season,
Abbotsholme School, Derbys/ Staffs border, classical music, 1957-
SEPTEMBER (last weekend) Steam Gala at Rudyard Lake Steam Railway; with visiting
steam engines.

OCTOBER

OCTOBER Judge’s procession from their lodgings to a service at St Mary’s, Stafford, and
thence onto the Crown Court; prior to 1971 was the processional ceremony to start the
Assizes, and culminated at the Shire Hall (SN Aug 31 2006 p6p).
OCTOBER Reginald Mitchell Memorial Lecture 1946-65 Victoria Hall, Hanley; later at
Jubilee Hall, Stoke, then the Potteries Museum; bi-annually from 1996 (ES Your Week
Aug 26 2006 p5).
OCTOBER Leek Vension Feast, 1787-; the 95th annual feast was held at Leek on Oct 9
1882 (SA Oct 14 1882 p7).
OCTOBER (Tues to Tues in early month) Stafford Film Festival, Stafford Gatehouse
Theatre 2002-
OCTOBER (Thurs-Sat in early month) Stone Food and Drink Festival 2005-
OCTOBER (Saturday early in month) Burton Plough Match, Bretby, Derbys, occuring 1985
OCTOBER (Fri-Sun in mid month) Stoke-on-Trent Ceramics Festival, various venues in
Hanley, Burslem, Longton 2005-
OCTOBER (Sat in mid month) Black Country History Day, University of Birmingham
(School of Public Policy, Selly Oak), 2006-
OCTOBER (last weekend in month) Drayton Manor Park Fireworks
OCTOBER (last Sunday in month) Royal Oak Inn Firework Extravaganza, Dilhorne, in
which the bonfire is a model of a well-known building. Biennial 1992?- in even-
numbered years, so 2004, 2006 (ES Oct 30 2006 p16), when perhaps the last bonfire, as
the organiser does not intent continuing the tradition.
OCTOBER (Sunday in mid month) Pelsall 10K & 5K Run (TB Oct 18 2001 p33).
25th OCTOBER Nicholson Institute Founder’s Day, Leek.
31st OCTOBER Spiritualist and pagan vigil at the grave of ‘witch’ Molly Leigh, St John’s
churchyard, Burslem. Evening-night. 1970s- (ES Oct 31 2006 p3).

NOVEMBER

Memorial on the end of cottages at Tyrley Wharf, Tyrley. 2006.
NOVEMBER Wolverhampton Archives’ Open Day.
November (nearest Sunday to the 11th, or 11th if a Sunday) Remembrance Day Parade,
Stafford
11th NOVEMBER Tyrley War Memorial mysteriously decorated with poppies. It was erected by
Francis Randle Twemlow of Peatswood in 1920 to those of the Manor of Tyrley lost in World War One.
Legend has it that a bunch of poppies would mysteriously appear on the memorial every November 11.
This ceased some time ago. Today (2006) the poppies appear again, but without the mystery.
NOVEMBER (a Wednesday in mid month, bi-annual) Earl Lecture national local history
at Keele University
NOVEMBER (about 3rd Sunday) Suicide Six, a multi-terrain 6m run in Baggeridge
Country Park, Sedgley (TB Nov 22 2001 p33).
NOVEMBER (last Saturday) Tipton of the Year awards ceremony, lately at Conservative
Club, Union St, Tipton, 1992-

DECEMBER

Barlaston Wassail. New Year's Eve, 2005.
DECEMBER (nearest Saturday to 13th). Custom of wreath laying on Dr Johnson’s tomb
in Poet’s Corner, Westminster Abbey at noon. Post WW2-
DECEMBER (a week day in mid month? for instance Tuesday Dec 13 2005) Traditional Black Country Carol Service with readings and lessons read in traditional local dialect. Held at a different Black Country church each year; organised by Tipton Civic Society (E&S Nov 25 2005 p5).
21st DECEMBER (St Thomas' Day). Beef dole was distributed at Blithfield on this day by Lord Bagot. In addition on this day Lord Bagot announced the winner of the tidiest and cleanest cottage on his estate award, occuring in 1896 (SA Dec 26 1896 p4 col 5).
21st DECEMBER Ceremonial handover of Staffordshire Regiment Colours to the Sergeants, in memory of the Capture of the Sikh Sergeant by Colour Sergeant Mathew Kirkland at the battle of Ferozeshah in the Punjab (1845) involving the 80th Regt of Foot. The Ferozeshah Parade takes place whereever the Regiment are based at about 9.00am. The Colours are then kept in the custody of the Sergeants Mess for a day. The handback to the Officers' Mess takes place at about 10.00pm during some evening function. There may also be a private Ferozeshah Commemoration Service, organised by a Branch (or branches) Regimental Association in their local church, but in public view as the congregation assembles - in 2006 Wolverhampton Branch Regimental Association held a church service at Willenhall, at 7.00pm.
24th DECEMBER Christmas Eve Guizing in & around Uttoxeter. Mumming play performed in public
houses in evening. C19 - defunct from c1999
25th DECEMBER Christmas Day Guizing in & around Uttoxeter. Mumming play performed in private
houses. C19 - defunct from c1999. The Williams, Crutchley and other families performed. If you would like to help Mr Todd Williams
revive the custom get in touch with him on (01889) 564107.
25th DECEMBER Traditional morning swim in Edgbaston Reservoir, occurring by 1902
(TB Aug 16 2001 p11p).
27th DECEMBER The Roman 10K, an annual running race at Wheaton Aston.
Wheaton Aston Festival.
28th DECEMBER (Holy Innocents' Day) Boy bishop appointed at Lichfield Cathedral in medieval times
NEW YEAR’S EVE Barlaston Wassail, procession over Barlaston Downs to village green
to celebrate famous local Anglo-Saxons. 2004-.

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