HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1990-02-21, Page 3771
Good cheer, shreds of brood fili the. air.
BY ELIZABETH KETTLEWELL
When that jolly old rogue, King Henry
VIII, and his loyal subjects gather at the
baronial halls of St. Thomas' Anglican
Church, Seaforth to revel in the annual
Medieval Feast, it's certain that "merry
olde England" will never again be quite
the same (Note: the King is also known
as Bishop Robert Townshend).
Saturday, February 17 was the night
for this festive celebration which was
organized and catered by all the ladies
and men of St. Thomas', and their rec-
tor, Reverend Greg Gilson.
Carpenters and painting crews assembl-
ed realistic backdrops for His Majesty's
ancient, moated castle. A wooden struc-
ture known as "the stocks" was erected,
to be used as a place of punishment.
Culprits stand on a wooden base, with the
head and wrists uncomfortably confined
to holes in movable horizontal boards.
The incorrigible Court Jester (Flo Dyck)
was confined for many misdemeanors.
And a revolting peasant (Paul Dyck) was
chained to the cold stone floor after in-
citing a duel with one of the border lords.
(This feud has broken out sporadically
since before the Magna Carta!).
Seated at Henry VIII's table was his
favorite wife, and a select group of
knights and dukes and their elegant
ladies. The King was magnificent in his
robe of red brocade trimmee with er-
mine. A matching silk cap with its long
quill set off the costume. His lovely wife
was quite spectacular in her scarlet gown
and crown jewels.
At the top of the guest list was King
James V (Gordon Wright), father of
Mary Queen of Scots. He was strikingly
garbed in the family tartan. Unfortunate-
ly, he was caught kissing one of the
guests, and the irate Henry VIII punish-
ed him by having him kiss, all the pea-
sant women at one of the tables.
Other guest's included at the banquet
were indeed a motley crowd. Silent
monks peered out from beneath their
cowls. There were several priests of
various low orders, and of course, Robin
Hood and Maid Marion and a band of ar-
chers joined the merrymakers.
Mixing with the aristocrats were hum-
ble bare -foot peasants, a High Court
Judge with his powdered wig, the modest
Genevieve escorted by a Blackamoor,
and the lovable Friar Tuck, looking
plumper than ever,
And such a superb feast was served.
Great soup tureens were carried in, fill-
ed with steaming, thick, chicken soup.
Fat round loaves of freshly baked bread
helped to sop up the soup. Platters of
homebaked meat pies were served with
Steve Heuther, slinking back to his
table, looks pretty proud of himself after
sneaking a bun - firing ammunition - to
shackled buddy Tom Johnston:
crisp baked potatoes, salads, baked
beans, jugs of spicy cider, and hot
fruitypies, The great moment was the ar-
rival of the whole roasted pig, proudly
carried in by the kitchen peasants. It was
crisp, juicy and cooked to perfection.
During the feast, a wandering minstrel
arrived with his mandolin. Throughout
the evening he strolled through the
crowded room singing a great repertoire
of ancient and modern tunes.
Another musical treat was the singing
of 15th century songs by Madrigal
Singers, Helen Videan, l ,oslyn Campbell
and Lorne potterer, members of St.
George's Anglican Churchi Goderich. The
favorite song had been composed for
Reverend Greg Gilson, and it was filled
with humor. Because of the accoustics in
the hall, it was difficult for many guests
to catch the words of these lovely old
ballads.
The evening almost came to a spec-
tacular ending when Reverend Gilson
THE HURON EXPQSITOR, FEBRUARY 1990
was .confined fo the stacks, while Henry
VIII, holding a beheading sword, debated
the fate of his clergyman. Cries of "Off
with his head!" were heard. Mercifully
the King relented.
This Second Annual Henry VIII
Medieval Feast drew a "full house" on
Saturday evening. Already plans are
underway for an even more unforgettable
1991 celebration with royalty of Merry
Olde England.
.vat'sFeatt
A wandering minstrel provided the even-
ing's entertainment with ballads old and
new. He was the calmest one of the
bunch.
The punishment for neglecting to serve
commoners? You eat what you serve,
the King before the
Paul Spittal braces
himself for the spoonful of beans dished up
Jack McLachlan donned his finest on Saturday night for St. Thomas' Medieval
Feyste. His jingling headgear didn't seem to bother his neighbour, busily sucking
back a bowl of soup.
Rev. Greg Gilson did his best to keep law and order at St. Thomas' Medieval
Feyste, but the odd troublemaker snuck in a piece of cutllery, The guilty parties
here feign innocence.
Nancy Larone came to the aid of
shackled son-in-law Tom Johnston with
a cup of ale.
Photos by
Paula Elliott
by Bonnie Palin.
A loyal member of King Henry VIPs
court leaps across the centuries, captur-
ing the Medieval Feyste on
Kodachrome.
A member of the Inquisition stopped by St. Thomas' Medieval Feyste on Satur-
day night to quaff an ale. Wire -frame glasses were all the rage at that time in
history, it seems.
Wed.,
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. —
1:30 - 4:00 p.m. —
SDCC
4:30 - 5:30 p.m. —
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. —
practice
6:30 - 8:00 p.m. —
8:00 - 9:00 p.m. —
8:00 - 10:00 p.m.
at SDHS
8:00 - 10:30 p.m.
SDCC
8:00 - 11:00
Curling
Feb. 21
Parents and Tots Skating
Senior Shuffleboard at
Junior Ringette practice
Pee Wee "CC" hockey
Minor Broomball
Fitness is Fun at SDCC
— Recreational Volleyball
p.m
— Ladies Broomball at
. — Men's Competitive
Thurs. Feb. 22
4:30 - 5:30 p.m. — Figure Skating at SDCC
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. — Atom Hockey practice
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. — Junior Gymnastics at
SDHS
7:00 - 8:00 p.m. — Senior Gymnastics at
SDHS
6:30 - 8:00 p.m. — Minor Broomball at SDCC
7:30 - 9:00 p.m. — Ballroom Dancing at SDCC
7:30 - 9:30 p.m. — Wood Carving at SDHS
8:00 - 10:00 — Mixed Basketball at SDHS
7:00 - 11:00 p.m. — Mixed Curling
8:00 - 11:30 p.m. — Men's Broomball at SDCC
Fri., Feb. 23
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
4:15 - 5:15 p.m. —
5:15 - 6:15 p.m.
Hockey
6:15 - 7:15 p.m.
Hockey
7:15 - 8:15 p.m.
8:00 - 10:00 p.m.
— Open Curling
Petite and Tween Ringette
— Junior Houseleague
— Senior Houseleague
— Junior Ringette
— Mixed Curling
Sat., Feb. 24
8:30 - 9:30 a.m. — North Stars ve. Canadians
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. — Oilers vs. Kings
10:30 - 11:30 a.m. — Penguins ve. Leafs
11:30 - 12:30 p.m. — Whalers ve. Flames
12:30 - 7:30 p.m. — Knights of Columbus
Hockey Tourney
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. — Story Hour at Library
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. — Clinton vs. Novice Hockey
Sun., Feb, 25
12:00 - 6:00 p.m. — Knlghts of Columbus
Hockey Tourney
1:00 p.m. — Crossroad Equestrian Club
meeting at Peter & Brenda Biggelaar,
348-9198. .
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. — Exeter vs. Tween Ringette
7:00 - 8:00 p.m. — Belies Ringette
9:00 - 11:00 p.m. — Industrial Hockey League
Mon., Feb. 26
4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
7:00 - 11:00 p.m.
7:30 - 9:30 p.m. —
8:00 - 10:00 p.m.
SDHS
8:30 - 10:00 p.m
Beavers
10:00 - 11:00 p.m.
— Figure Skating at SDCC
— Men's Curling
Wood Refinishing at SDHS
— Competitive Volleyball at
Tues.
. — London vs. Seaforth
— Midget Hockey practice
, Feb. 27
10:00 - 12 noon —
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
8:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Parents and Tots Skating
— Minor Hockey
— Minor Hockey
— Minor Hockey
Wed., Feb. 28
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. — Parents and Tots Skating
1:30 - 4:00 p.m. — Senior Shuffleboard
4:30 - 5:30 p.m. — Junior Ringette
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. — Minor Hockey
6:30 - 0:00 p.m. — Minor Broomball
8:00 - 9:00 p.m. — Fitness Is Fun at SDCC
8:00 - 10:00 p.m. — Recreational Volleyball
at SDHS
8:00 - 10:30 p.m. — Ladles Broomball at
SDCC
8:00 - 11:00 p.m. — Men's Competitive
Curling.
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