Jesters turn Hebden into fun capital
NO jesting, but a cornucopia of clowns put Hebden Bridge firmly on the fun map when they arrived in town for their annual moot.
There must have been something in the air when the National Guild of Jesters cartwheeled into St George's Square last Thursday morning to hold their moot and invest two Hebden Bridge jesters into their number.
After a week of gales and downpours, the morning was the best weather of the week allowing the selection of clowns, jesters, jongleurs and scaramouches to put a smile on the town's face in front of some appreciative audiences and a battery of press and television cameras.
The investiture of Hebden Bridge's official jester Andy Wood, alias Will Tease, and Bryan Green, alias Elfin Bryan, secured the moot for the town and by way of celebration Mayor of Hebden Royd Coun Nader Fekri hosted a reception for the jesters at the council offices.
Coun Fekri said the publicity was fantastic for Hebden Bridge and - ironically - there was also a serious point to be made behind their visit.
"Andy came to us at the end of last year talking about Hebden Bridge hosting the moot and we thought it was a great idea. With an official town jester we thought it would be nice to get his fellow jongleurs, jokers and scaramouches here and Hebden is being at the forefront of fun.
"On a more serious note, the jesters have a serious role to play. It's good that sometimes they are there to prick the pustule of pomposity and remind us what we are here for and to listen to what people want.
"It's important to laugh at yourself and not take yourself too seriously," he said.
After a fairies' fanfare from Hebden Bridge Junior Band members Clara Collett and Jess Woodhead, Andy welcomed his fellow jesters to the town ahead of his and Bryan's inauguration. "It's a delight to have you here. You've brought a smile to our fair town and I hope you have fun here," he said, presenting the Mayor with a plaque to mark the occasion.
Head of the guild, Jonathan Russell, alias Jonathan the Jester, cheekily nipped into the Mayor's seat in the council chamber and joked: "The guild's been going since 1999 and it's a bit like the olympics - it goes out to tender. But jester things work in reverse. Hebden Bridge was the resounding winner because it got no votes!"
They are also pressing for an extra bank holiday to be given in the name of fun and entertainment, so MPs including Calder Valley's own Chris McCafferty can expect a jester or two at Parliament's door in the near future!
The jesters paid visits to some of the schools in the town before the reception and enjoyed a game of bowls on Calder Holmes Park before investing Will Tease and Elfin Bryan into their number. They then went on to a three and a half hour jester's feast at the Nutclough Tavern.
This was followed by a busy itinerary including a sing-around at the Fox and Goose, an open mic session for the minstrels among them at the Stubbing Wharf and, finally, a rufflenecks ball at Hebden Bridge Trades Club for those jesters who lasted the full course!
l How do you inaugurate a jester? Turn to Page Three and find out...
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Weather for Halifax
Thursday 17 May 2012
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