Search for the bawmers of 1973

ORGANISERS of the unique “Bawming the Thorn” festival at Appleton Thorn are searching for people who took part in the revival of the event 40 years ago.
They want the original “Bawmers” – children who dance around the thorn tree in the middle of the village – to come forward so they can be VIP guests at this year’s 40th anniversary.
Organising committee chairman Mark Searle said: “We want them as guests and perhaps as judges for this year’s special event.”
The origins of “bawming” at Appleton Thorn are lost in the mists of time.
Originally part of a “walking day” event, the bawming ceremony died out in the 1930s.
It was revived by Mr Bob Jones, then headmaster at Appleton Thorn Primary School, in 1973 and is now a hugely popular annual event.
This year, a Spitfire fly-past has been arranged and a “flight” themed fancy dress parade will take place – marking the area’s links with the former Stretton airfield, which closed after the end of World War 2.
But the thorn tree will be decorated as usual and school children will sing the “Bawming” song as they dance around the tree.
According to legend, the hawthorn at Appleton Thorn grew from a cutting of the Holy Thorn at Glastonbury, which was said to have sprung from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea.
The current tree was planted in the late 1960s by the local Women’s Institute after the previous one blew down in a storm.
Original “Bawmers” should contact Lisa Baker on 07870 695 177 or [email protected]
Pictured: Children dance around the Thorn Tree at last year’s event.