The Somerset tradition of wassailing – when good health is wished on apple crops for the coming year – was performed at three ceremonies in the Burnham-On-Sea area on Saturday night (January 17th).
Burnham-On-Sea Rotary Club organised an event at Rich’s Cider near Highbridge, and other ceremonies were held at Rooksbridge and Brent Knoll.
Over 220 people attended the Rich’s Cider event, which included entertainment from The Mangled Wurzels.
The evening was held in aid of the Somerset Unit for Radiotherapy Equipment, and more than £2,000 is expected to have been raised for the charity.
Traditional Somerset music from The Mangled Wurzels entertained the crowds in the show tent during Saturday evening’s event at Rich’s Cider
Mike Day, Ashley Edwards, Jan Scott, Martin Rich, Francis Kidner, Richard Wall and nine-year-old Wassailing Queen Molly Scott
The Wassailing Queen was carried on a specially-made chair by members of Burnham Rotary Club to an apple tree where the ceremony was held
The Wassailing Queen was lifted into a tree during the main ceremony to nail a piece of toast to it while gunshots were fired in the background
Jim Gardner was among the colourfully dressed crowd members at Saturday night’s event
The Wassailing song was sung by the hundreds of spectators in the show tent, accompanied by music from The Mangled Wurzels
Members of the Burnham-On-Sea Rotary Club served pints of traditional warm cider throughout the evening
