Hungerford Arcade loves being part of local events and continuing age old traditions. One of our favourites is the annual Hocktide celebrations on the second Tuesday after Easter.
The town is decorated in colours of blue, white and yellow and everyone joins in the occasion.
We are very grateful to Jacquie Seaby, unit 109 and one of our managers and a florist in a past life, for the wonderful flower arrangements with which we decorated our front door.
Each year, the Town and Manor of Hungerford commemorate the granting of Commoners’ rights to grazing and fishing by John of Gaunt, over 600 years ago. We are the only town in the country that continues this ancient tradition. All the major players are in traditional costume and it’s quite a spectacle. The day starts with the Belllman (Town Crier) blowing a horn to summon the Commoners to Court where a Constable, Bailiff and Tutti Men are elected. The Tutti Men then proceed round the town with an Orangeman, where they hand out oranges in exchange for kisses! The oranges commemorate the meeting at the Bear Hotel in Hungerford on 8th December 1688 which led to the accession of William of Orange to the throne of England.
We were one of the last buildings that the Tutti Men visited on their rounds before the formal lunch so they were in fine fettle! They came into the Arcade and the customers and staff made a great fuss of them. Kisses were exchanged for oranges in payment of the nominal rents they were collecting and lots of customers took photos with them!
Orangeman, Nigel Perrin with Tutti Man 1, Steve Brunning.
Tutti Man 1, Steve Brunning, with Tutti Man 2, Jacob Downie.
I particularly love that Jacob is one of the Tutti Men as it means our tradition is in good hands for the future. Long may it continue.
It was great fun and we look forward to welcoming them all again next year!
