Print Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels
There is nothing I like more than watching my fellow country men and women (in the first picture it is a lady carrying a burning barrel) take part in dangerous historic pastimes. Over the years I have visited some of the best known events in the calendar such as the Cheese Rolling at Coopers Hill in Brockworth, Gloucester, Skin Kicking at the Cotswold Olimpicks in Chipping Campden and the World Nettle Eating Championships in Marshwood, Dorset.
The difference with the Tar Barrel rolling at Ottery St Mary is that spectating is nearly as dangerous as taking part. Thursday was the first time I have been, there are literally thousands of people packed into the streets of the town with teams of locals relaying burning barrels around the streets until there is nothing left to hold on to.
It was great fun and I seriously think Warwick should come up with its own crazy event. There must be some forgotten game or event from the Towns 1100 year history that could be resurrected.
