Monday, June 13, 2011

PUMP FICTION OR FLOWER POWER?

There’s a little confusion about whether the Dressing of the Pumps ceremony will take place in Brigg tonight. The event, which involved garlanding and dancing near the cast-iron relics, is included in a set of official listings (without a start time) and we hope it does go ahead as another community attraction in the town centre.
Tonight’s ceremony is certainly NOT being overseen by BASH (Brigg Amateur Social Historians). However, we aren’t sure whether a group of Morris Men will be staging their own get-together at the old town pump near the County Bridge and/or the one on Grammar School Road, adjoining the White Horse (pictured above).
These pumps once supplied water to households in the town centre before piped supplies were the norm. Residents went along with pails and buckets to collect their supply for the day.
For those thinking of going tonight, we'd suggest nipping down to the County Bridge about 7pm.



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2 comments:

Ken Harrison said...

Spoke to Josie from BASH late afternoon, Nige, re the Pump Dressing.
1. BASH withdrew as the principle organisers a couple of years ago - it was costing the group money and involved much organisation.

2. The Grimsby Morris Men assumed responsibility, but Josie indicated that the event liaison/organiser person had recently left the group...and she's a bit confused about what was happening.

3. Josie said that someone from the GMM contacted her last week, but it was too late to arrange anything with the clergy, flowers and local advertising....Josie likes to have several weeks' notice. There was some vague suggestion that the GMM may turn up 'just to test the water.'

4. According to folk-lore...the GMM have indicated that pump/well dressings have to take place during a specified period. In Brigg, it's been a Monday evening around this date.

5. As an aside...this pump-dressing topic came up yesterday...In the Loft, Peter T was asking folks whether the event was taking place...in-turn, I mentioned it to Chris Darlington from Rotary, who by chance was sitting with ladies from the Scunthorpe Morris Group.
Chris said it was possibly an event that Rotary could become involved with (re organisation & finance)...and there appeared some interest from the Scunny Morris ladies..

6. Josie have given me contact details for the GMM, which I hope to pass onto Chris Darlington asap.
Essentially, no-one really knows whether GMM are serious about the event...or with the departure of the GMM's event organiser whether it's just a temporary blip in their schedule - but it is possible that coordination with a local group - such as the Rotary,... or groups could see a properly organised event for next year.

NIGEL FISHER said...

I'd spoken to a couple of BASH officials myself, Ken, who did their level best to try and confirm the pump dressing ceremony. As you say, a confused situation, which is what we reported yesterday.