A PART of Bromsgrove’s ancient history was brought to life on Saturday when the Court Leet’s annual parade and Fair Day was held in the town centre.
The procession began at Housman Hall and journeyed to the AE Housman statue where the town’s Charter, dating back to 1199, was read out by the Court’s Bailiff.
Picture by Geoff Hawkesworth. s
The Charter, granted by King John, gave the Bromsgrove Court Leet permission to hold its Midsummer Fair and the town’s traders the go-ahead to sell their wares at the market.
The assizes of bread, leather, flesh (meat) and ale were tested to ensure they were fit to be consumed for the people of Bromsgrove.
Picture by Geoff Hawkesworth. s
The Court’s ‘brook looker’ also announced that the district’s waterways were flowing freely.
The assizes were announced by Bromsgrove Town Crier, Kevin Ward, and Rev Ray Khan, vicar at St John’s Church, led a prayer.
The tradition dates back centuries when the Court was a very powerful organisation – today it is a ceremonial group.
A variety of stalls from charities and community groups joined the usual Saturday traders on a very bright and bustling market day in the town.
The Sommers Cup for the best stall was presented to the Bromsgrove Lions.
Picture by Geoff Hawkesworth. s
Other charities with stalls included Blood Cancer UK, the Bromsgrove Blue Cross and the Friends of St John’s Church.
MP Sajid Javid who took part in the parade, along with district council chairman Sam Ammar, said: “It’s a fantastic summer’s day for a Midsummer Fair and great to see such a big turn-out of all ages.
“It’s wonderful to be able to celebrate an occasion that has been taking place for hundreds of years and it’s brilliant to be here in Bromsgrove for it.”
Butcher’s Block’s Boyden Pie
Picture by Tristan Harris. Copyright Bullivant Media.
As well as the usual tests, the Court got to try a new ‘Boyden Pie’ created by Bromsgrove’s Butcher’s Block.
The creation came out of a competition by BBC Hereford and Worcester Radio presenter Malcolm Boyden, who is also a Bromsgrove resident.
Listeners submitted ingredients for the pie and the inredients make up an acronym of the presenter’s surname – blackberries, oxtail, yellow peppers, diced carrots, Edamame beans and nutmeg.
