w/e 23 July 2023 (posted after the August one…;-))
Hot Penny Day. Well, the last time I attended this annual event in Honiton was on a wet day and when life was not so good…and I remember thinking, “what on earth am I doing here?” Since then, there have been many changes, and this year saw a return to living in Honiton which was like slipping back into a comfy armchair. I have been welcomed by old friends with the years falling away. To be honest, it is not as long as it seems due to the ‘lost’ years of the Pandemic when no one went anywhere. And I embraced the joyous melee that constitutes the Hot Penny ceremony when the crowd are thrown not-so-hot pennies and loudly repeat the phrases bellowed out by the Town Crier: Ye glove is up, let no man be arrested until the glove is taken down, let the fair begin…with each phrase repeated three times by the Town Crier and then by the crowd. I have to say those who were throwing the pennies looked as delighted and happy as those scrabbling to gain some. It was madness! The frenzy increased at each stopping point. The coins used to be thrown from a series of public houses, but this year some were thrown from a shop window. I was pleased to pick up a few and a bit disturbed when the side of a coin caught my forehead. It hurt. Nevertheless, swept on by the growing tide of people, I made it to the Volunteer Inn for the final throwing before the Big Glove, atop a beautiful flower-garlanded pole, was set in place before the pub to signify the commencement of fair week. Every year this pole is decorated by the Town Crier himself.
Seemingly hot on the heels of this event, came the annual Charter Day when Honiton celebrates the granting of its Marker Charter back in 1257. I walked down after an early lunch to be rewarded by some elegant Tudor dancing by dancers wearing beautiful costumes and robes. The latter reminded me of the late Queen’s dresses I had seen in Holyrood Palace, which were designed to move in a flowing manner, much more like robes than dresses. I took a walk around the many local and charity stalls before heading back up the hill in the now very warm sunshine to home and a cup of tea. I was also warm with the feeling of happiness of being back home in Honiton.
Sadly, as the town celebrates the granting of a market charter, the old cattle market is being turned into retirement flats. It was not that many years ago that it was still in use for livestock. Thankfully, local butchers survive selling meat from many local farms.
Karen Hedges 