Help make City's Bower a Success
| Published: 20th April 2008 20:49 |
Organisers of this years Lichfield bower are calling on public spirited city residents to come forward and help make the event a success.
The number of volunteers helping the Lichfield Bower Committee has fallen in recent years due to old age and illness, and new helpers are needed more than ever.
But now, with the event just weeks away, organisers are calling on anyone with time on their hands on Bower Day, on May 26th to come forward and help keep the ancient tradition alive and well. Speaking to AboutMyArea this week, Bower Committee member Terry Turner said any help would be greatly appreciated, He said ‘there is a real shortage of volunteers for this years Lichfield Bower.'
‘We need people to come and help out on the day with a whole range of duties, these include guiding the floats and supervising the people on them, collecting both in the park and on the route and shaking buckets to help fund next years events. Although the army has agreed to help out on the day in the park, we still need more people to come forward and volunteer'.
This years Lichfield Bower is estimated to cost £34, 000 and the Bower Committee are continuing to fund raise as much as possible but are calling on local companies to come forward and join in the day's festivities or sponsor the event. Terry added ‘At the minute, we have around 20 floats lined up for the procession through the city, but local companies could come on board and set up their own float too. And if any companies would like to sponsor the event that would be wonderful.' Terry said that stalls are available within Beacon Park for charities, local groups, companies or individuals to hire.
The Lichfield Bower Committee is also hosting a pub quiz next week at The Kings Head in Lichfield City centre. The event will take place on Monday 28th form 8pm, with the quiz itself starting at 8:30pm. Entrance is £2 per person with no more than 6 people per team. All money raised will go toward the Bower costs.
The Lichfield Greenhill Bower and Court of Arraye date bake hundreds of years in the city. The origin of the Court of Arraye or View of Men at Arms is unknown, but the custom of holding the annual assembly to review local defence forces existed in the 12th Century and was confirmed by the Statue of Winchester in 1285 which commanded that ‘every man between 15 years of age and 60 shall be assessed and sworn to armour' according to their wealth and means.
An assembly of men in medieval armour is inspected by the Mayor, Sheriff and City Officials who then bear the reports of the Dozeners as to the state and preparedness of their defence of their area of the city. The Mayor, Sheriff and High Constables then join the Bower procession through the city.
The Lichfield Bower takes place on Spring Bank Holiday Monday, immediately after the Court of Arraye procession of marching bands and carnival floats makes its way through the city, where the Bower Queen is crowned outside the Guildhall at noon. There is also a funfair in the city centre, and a fair and jamboree in Beacon Park. The Bower dates back to the Middle Ages, when the townsfolk after fulfilling their duty of attendance at the Court of Arraye, were given the rest of the day as a holiday.
Anyone interested in sponsoring the event or becoming involved as a volunteer should contact terry Turner on 01543 418896 or 300072.
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