1988 FESTIVAL CONTINUED

Basil Slaughter organize of the festival included other frolics, or historical reenactments, throughout the village, including a hiring fair outside the Cock and Blackbirds, a marching drill for children bv a soldier and the drumming out of a "dirty family" from the parish.

The hiring fair (see photo out side the Blackbirds) was carried out in the 18th Century to enable wealthy people to hire their servants. The modern version was overseen by Ashley Cooper, a village farmer, who became magistrate and Lord of the Manor in costume for the festival.

Also present were solicitor Richard Stewart as the historical attorney and the Rev. Trevor Howard as the rector. Completing the colourful scene were a rat catcher (Peter Rowe), gypsy, overseer, some wayfaring poor, a green man and many other Bulmer folk of the period.

The Colchester Morris Men heralded the frolics and the Sudbury Farm Machinery Preservation Society provided a side attraction.

A hand-crafted wooden doIl’s house, made by former builder Tom Davey, of Bulmer Street, was a raffle prize.

Retired schoolteacher Basi Slaughter spent two weeks painting a copy of Gainsborough’s 240-year-old picture of a view towards Sudbury from Bulmer. He copied the original from the Royal Academy. The painting, entitled "Mr and Mrs. Andrews", featured the village squire and his wife (Sandy & Allen Burbidge). A stand-in Gainsborough put the finishing brush strokes to Basil Slaughter's life-size copy at the festival, near the original scene.

A detailed historical record of Bulmer was on view in pictures, photographs, maps and artifacts.

The church was decorated with floral arrangements and children's craft work and collections.

Also on display to visitors with a £1 programme was the primary school, which had a painting exhibition and pupils’ work.

On Saturday evening a folk dance was held in a marquee to the music of Piggotts Bottom Occasional Barn Dance Band.

Several green-fingered home owners opened their gardens to the public on Sunday and a concert was given by the Colne Valley Youth Orchestra.

Adapted from an article published in the SUDBURY MERCURY JULY 15TH 1988