AYLESBURY ENJOYS A ROYAL VISIT FROM THE PAST

Stepping into the Market Square would have made you think you had stepped back in time last Sunday (12th Sept) as the Tudor Fayre, in celebration of Aylesbury’s historic Charter Day, came to town. Aylesbury enjoyed a host of Tudor entertainment and activity, organised and funded by Aylesbury Town Council, and was even blessed with a Royal visit from King Henry VIII.

Peterkin the Tudor Jester announced in spectacular fashion the opening delight of the day – a Tudor dance, to entertain the King, by St Mary’s schoolchildren, who had been practising hard and performed each dance beautifully. They were accompanied by period music group Lumina who led the procession into Market Square.

Following the children’s dance, period troupe The Arbeau Dancers took to the square and performed Tudor dancing in a group, inviting the audience to have a go. Their beautiful and authentic costumes shimmering in the sunlight really set the day alive.

By noon the Market Square was packed with people of all ages being entertained, taking part in activities, or just finding out about how the Tudors lived. Activities on offer included pottery, candle making, coin making and Tudor toys, demonstrated by Tudor experts in full costume. Also on site was the Apothecary with his potions and strange stones, the Barber Surgeon with his lotions and Tudor ‘First Aid’ demonstrations, and the Tudor Dyer with as many different colours of wool as you could imagine.

Peterkin continued to entertain the crowd throughout the day with his hilarious stilt-walking and fire eating routine, while the gruesome Ratcatcher thrilled his audience with his ‘rat tales’ and unusual instruments! Tudor music of a more haunting kind was performed by The Daughters of Elvin, a versatile group whose performances included a number of different instruments, dance and song. Their session was topped off with an exciting ‘Devil Dance’ for the delight of King Henry VIII, who spent the day meeting some of his subjects – namely the residents of and visitors to Aylesbury.

The Tudor Fayre, which was organised and funded by Aylesbury Town Council and has been an annual Town Centre event for a number of years, was held to commemorate the granting of a Market Charter to Aylesbury by Mary Tudor on her accession to the throne of England. It is better known as Aylesbury’s historic Charter Day.