Photos by
Dan Townsend
Jim McFadden
& Hilary Taylor
Many Thanks
Double click
the image to open
the gallery
Aelfgythe's first Wassail took place on January 28th. 2012
at the Weighbridge Inn, Alvechurch
Assisted by the excellent Alvechurch Morris, the evening was a very Special Occasion
marked by the planting of an apple tree in memory of Robin Walden : a very special
gentleman to so many locals of the village.
Our thanks go to John Webb for sorting out the tree for us, to Lee Ridgard
for his excellent spade work and to licensee John Humphreys for allowing us to
“ dig up his back garden “.
A good size crowd braved the cold and saw the evening begin, as advertised at 7pm
( very un - Morris like timekeeping !!!! ) with Jenny Jingles giving everyone a brief but
very informative summary of wassailing. Jenny’s poem “ Wæs Hæl “
was then beautifully delivered.
Donna then paid an emotional tribute to Robin before the newly planted “ Winter Gem “
was blessed and the evil spirits banished.
And to celebrate ???
Cider & toast was very much just what the “ Gem “ ordered.,
so thanks to everyone who blessed the tree.
A new dance “Ælf Wassail “ had been specially written for the occasion, and using
Martin’s variation on a traditional tune – he’s named it “ King of The Fairy – Ælfs “
( no prizes as to the name of the original tune !! ),
it formed a fitting climax to the evening.
Thanks to everyone who attended and / or contributed towards what was
a wonderful first Wassail.
Long may they continue
Wassail
Ælf – Ale !!!!
Ges /JG 9th. Feb 2012
at the Weighbridge Inn, Alvechurch
Assisted by the excellent Alvechurch Morris, the evening was a very Special Occasion
marked by the planting of an apple tree in memory of Robin Walden : a very special
gentleman to so many locals of the village.
Our thanks go to John Webb for sorting out the tree for us, to Lee Ridgard
for his excellent spade work and to licensee John Humphreys for allowing us to
“ dig up his back garden “.
A good size crowd braved the cold and saw the evening begin, as advertised at 7pm
( very un - Morris like timekeeping !!!! ) with Jenny Jingles giving everyone a brief but
very informative summary of wassailing. Jenny’s poem “ Wæs Hæl “
was then beautifully delivered.
Donna then paid an emotional tribute to Robin before the newly planted “ Winter Gem “
was blessed and the evil spirits banished.
And to celebrate ???
Cider & toast was very much just what the “ Gem “ ordered.,
so thanks to everyone who blessed the tree.
A new dance “Ælf Wassail “ had been specially written for the occasion, and using
Martin’s variation on a traditional tune – he’s named it “ King of The Fairy – Ælfs “
( no prizes as to the name of the original tune !! ),
it formed a fitting climax to the evening.
Thanks to everyone who attended and / or contributed towards what was
a wonderful first Wassail.
Long may they continue
Wassail
Ælf – Ale !!!!
Ges /JG 9th. Feb 2012
Wæs Hæl
Hie we all to the orchard wide,
The smallest tree to find
For we have come to wassail thee
That we hope you shall prove kind
Merry met, and merry be, and ‘wæs hæl’ to us all
Midwinter’s past, the old year is dead
The New Year’s welcomed in
‘Tis time to wake thee from slumber
And beg for thy favour in Spring
Merry met, and merry be, and ‘wæs hæl’ to us all
Maleferous imps in thy branches
Torment and cause thee blight
With clam’rous din we cast them all out
And banish them away to the night
Merry met, and merry be, and ‘wæs hæl’ to us all
Good spirits now we call unto thee
Fair robins with scarlet breast
To feast on the bread adorned on thee
With their grace thy shall be blessed
Merry met, and merry be, and ‘wæs hæl’ to us all
The fruit of last year’s labours you see
Sweet cider we pour at your trunk
Thy brethren’s gifts were well-received
But that cider’s now all been drunk!
Merry met, and merry be, and ‘wæs hæl’ to us all
So, O Tree, we have come to thee,
We have sung to thee and blessed
So wake your roots and bud your boughs
Bear us sweet apples of the best
Merry met, and merry be, and ‘wæs hæl’ to us all.
When asking of people who knew Robin to say three things about him, these were the ones
that kept cropping up:
He loved people and they loved him.
He was a colourful character who liked a drink
and a party.
He had twinkling blue eyes which reflected his inner kindness well and was instantly
recognisable by his striking white hair.
He was a really nice bloke who had many good friends for many years.
It is a pleasure to plant a new tree in Robin’s memory, on this, our first Wassail.
We hope to Wassail around it every year,
keeping tradition alive but also the memory of Robin “.
that kept cropping up:
He loved people and they loved him.
He was a colourful character who liked a drink
and a party.
He had twinkling blue eyes which reflected his inner kindness well and was instantly
recognisable by his striking white hair.
He was a really nice bloke who had many good friends for many years.
It is a pleasure to plant a new tree in Robin’s memory, on this, our first Wassail.
We hope to Wassail around it every year,
keeping tradition alive but also the memory of Robin “.
In Memory of
Alan Robin Walden
12 February 1935 - 10 December 2011
... it takes a long time to grow an old friend
