Published: 20/02/2009 00:00 -
Updated: 29/01/2010 12:33
IT WAS quite liberating setting up our mini Shrovetide exhibition in the Ashbourne News Telegraph office the other day.
It came up really from an idea myself and a colleague had to encourage a few more people to see us through our office door and what better point of interest at the moment than our great game!
Having the archived papers at Ashbourne is a great source of subtext for our game, but as they are not available to public view I wondered how our editor would feel about me using one as centre piece!
Andy Parker was really enthusiastic and encouraging and gave me his blessing to display one bound archive.
I decided not to hit too far in the past so chose 1979 as it was only 30 years ago and would be in memory of alot of Shrovetiders myself included!
I now fully understand WHY our prized archives are not for public viewing as I was horrified to discover the 'Shrovetide four page souvenir' was detached and lost forever.
I was able to have access via Geoff Merryweather our photographer the full set of black and white prints of the 1979 game and displayed them accordingly.
Thinking about the 1967 film of Sam Longson turning up the leather on the MACE archive I found (also mentioned in an earlier blog) I decided to use this bound copy instead and it is on view for all to see quite a telling read as well as it is the last occasion three balls were scored in one day!
No archive would be complete without some Shrovetide balls! I persuaded a few players I knew to part with their prized possessions and have acquired balls from 1924, 1934, 1953, 1972, 1981,1983, 1988, 1991, 1992 and 1993 as well as a rare miniature ball, one of 11 presented to key associates of the game by collector and maker Jack Smith in 1968 in the absence of the game due to foot and mouth restrictions.
We also have some items for sale, past videos, DVDs , books and past News Telegraph Souvenirs and some other oddities from the photographic world of Shrovetide.
It is only proper that I extend my thanks to Andy Parker (acting editor) David , Bob and Anthony Bates, Geoff Harrison, Tim Fearn, Sandra Spencer, Chris Fearn, Carol Frost, Gwen Bull and Mrs Jack Higgins.
Also worth a good mention is the window of Vivyan Manion's antique shop in Church Street, which has a good selection of Shrovetide ephemera mainly belonging to Gordon Dawson, including leathers from 1972, 1970, 1897, 1938 and 1963. the latter two are the balls that I personally own.
So coupled with public houses that always carry a selection of trophies from the past each Shrovetide there is plenty for Ashburnians to see as the game approaches.
Lastly I may add that the match leathers are also on display in the window of the News Telegraph office with a grand backdrop of faces and hands of the hug and the the goals done by children of Clifton CE School, and my thanks to them.
It came up really from an idea myself and a colleague had to encourage a few more people to see us through our office door and what better point of interest at the moment than our great game!
Having the archived papers at Ashbourne is a great source of subtext for our game, but as they are not available to public view I wondered how our editor would feel about me using one as centre piece!
Andy Parker was really enthusiastic and encouraging and gave me his blessing to display one bound archive.
I decided not to hit too far in the past so chose 1979 as it was only 30 years ago and would be in memory of alot of Shrovetiders myself included!
I now fully understand WHY our prized archives are not for public viewing as I was horrified to discover the 'Shrovetide four page souvenir' was detached and lost forever.
I was able to have access via Geoff Merryweather our photographer the full set of black and white prints of the 1979 game and displayed them accordingly.
Thinking about the 1967 film of Sam Longson turning up the leather on the MACE archive I found (also mentioned in an earlier blog) I decided to use this bound copy instead and it is on view for all to see quite a telling read as well as it is the last occasion three balls were scored in one day!
No archive would be complete without some Shrovetide balls! I persuaded a few players I knew to part with their prized possessions and have acquired balls from 1924, 1934, 1953, 1972, 1981,1983, 1988, 1991, 1992 and 1993 as well as a rare miniature ball, one of 11 presented to key associates of the game by collector and maker Jack Smith in 1968 in the absence of the game due to foot and mouth restrictions.
We also have some items for sale, past videos, DVDs , books and past News Telegraph Souvenirs and some other oddities from the photographic world of Shrovetide.
It is only proper that I extend my thanks to Andy Parker (acting editor) David , Bob and Anthony Bates, Geoff Harrison, Tim Fearn, Sandra Spencer, Chris Fearn, Carol Frost, Gwen Bull and Mrs Jack Higgins.
Also worth a good mention is the window of Vivyan Manion's antique shop in Church Street, which has a good selection of Shrovetide ephemera mainly belonging to Gordon Dawson, including leathers from 1972, 1970, 1897, 1938 and 1963. the latter two are the balls that I personally own.
So coupled with public houses that always carry a selection of trophies from the past each Shrovetide there is plenty for Ashburnians to see as the game approaches.
Lastly I may add that the match leathers are also on display in the window of the News Telegraph office with a grand backdrop of faces and hands of the hug and the the goals done by children of Clifton CE School, and my thanks to them.
