Harting Old Club

The Harting Old Club is a British friendly society, originating in the village of South Harting, West Sussex, and dating back to at least 1800, but in probability at least another 75 years before that.[1] Every Whit Monday the members parade outside St Gabriel's church at 11 o'clock where the secretary calls the roll. The club members then march up and down the high street to the accompaniment of a brass band.[lower-alpha 1] In their hand they carry a hazel wand, and on their lapel they wear a red, blue and white rosette.[2] Following a short service the (all male) members retire to enjoy a feast.[lower-alpha 2]

Humphrey Sladden, the club secretary, calls the roll in 2007.

References

Footnotes

  1. In 1956 the British Council commissioned a study to show life in a typical English village: the resulting film shows that year's festivities.
  2. Richard Jeffries, writing to The Times in 1872, gazed in wonderment at the 5 course banquet.

Notes

  1. Donnelly 2000
  2. Moutray Read 1911, p. 299

Bibliography

  • Donnelly, Peter John (2000), Benefits and Beer: The Compelling Story of How an English Village Marched into History, Harting Old Club, ISBN 978-0-953-86100-2
  • Johnson, F.C. (1973), A Hundred Years of Harting Life 1850-1950: A Symposium, Harting Society
  • Gordon, Henry Doddridge; Murchison, Roderick Impey; Weaver, J. (1877), A History of Harting (1975 reprint ed.), Petersfield: Frank Westwood, ISBN 978-0-904-17204-1
  • Merrifield, R. (1953), "Whitsun Ceremonies of Harting—The Old Club", Sussex County Magazine, 27: 216
  • Moutray Read, D.H. (30 September 1911), "Hampshire Folklore", Folklore, 22 (3): 292–329, doi:10.1080/0015587X.1911.9719484, JSTOR 1255464
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