by Alan Quick

FIRE, shouting, firing shotguns, music, cider, toast, a procession, dancing, pitchforks, bashing pots and pans - these were all a part of a traditional event held at Sanford.

People turned out in their hundreds to watch and take part in this year’s Sanford Wassail on Saturday, January 14.

It is in the cider-producing counties of the South West and South East of England that traditional wassailing ceremonies are held, and these also involved singing and drinking the health of cider apple trees in the hope that they might better thrive.

The parade left Sandford Parish Hall and made its way to the Village Square, where a large crowd gathered.

The parade included music, children with lanterns and rattles, Exeter Morris Men and hand-held flame torches.

There was morris dancing in the village square by Exeter Morris and also a stick dance performed by Sandford Beavers.

Apple cake was served to many of those gathered and the person with the clove in their slice of cake was chosen as the Wassail King.

This honour went to Mike Turner (66), from Buckfastleigh.

Mark Bailey of Exeter Morris was master of ceremonies for the evening and Mike was crowned by Barny Butterfield, from Sandford Orchards.

It was Barny who revived the wassail tradition in Sandford in 2011.

After the ceremonial part in Sandford Square, there was a practice of the wassail song.

The procession led by the Wassail King and Exeter Morris then made its way to the orchard in Sandford Millennium Green.

There was a ceremony to bless the trees and a noisy attempt to frighten away any evil spirits to ensure a good crop for the coming year.

A song was sung and cider was poured around an apple tree by the Wassail King.

Toast dipped in cider was placed in the branches using a pitchfork by the Wassail King.

Some of those attending also took their own toast or bread to place in the tree branches.

Shotguns were fired into the trees and people bashed pots and pans, rattles were shaken, whistles blown, instruments played and people shouted for the noisy part of the proceedings, the frightening away of the evil spirits.

There was also a performance by the Brown Paper Bag Mummers and a bonfire was lit.

Warming Sandford Orchards cider was also served.