Lyme Regis goes a-wassailing

Uplyme Morris Men put in a rousing performance to wake up winter’s slumbering apple trees

LYME Regis turned back the clocks for Old Twelfth Night celebrations.

Some 250 people turned out to see Uplyme Morris Men put in a rousing performance to wake up winter’s slumbering orchards.

Adrian Pearson led the singing during the wassailing celebrations which were followed by the first performance of “Mummers The Word” - a revival of the mumming play tradition, last seen in the resort almost a century ago.

With a cast of ten and a horse called Finley, they performed the play in three different locations around Lyme, promenading between each with live music, flaming torches and a following of wenches and audience. The final scene was performed in St Michael’s Church with madrigals by Lyme Bay Chorale.

The play was written by Oxford graduate Harry Ford who also took two leading roles as

Will Somers (the pied tale-teller) and St Michael the Archangel.