Bourne Comment

OH! TO BE IN ENGLAND NOW THAT
SUMMER’S HERE

The lazy days of summer bring with them thoughts of holidays that in recent years have become forever associated with going abroad, a highly over-rated venture that palls after a few excursions to foreign climes that teach us to appreciate what we have here at home where there is so much going on that cannot be ignored.

A drive through the English countryside at this time of the year gives us a glimpse of what is happening in the villages and hamlets of this green and pleasant land because every few miles we see a roadside sign or poster advertising the multifarious activities in pursuit of pleasure as the season unfolds over the next few weeks.

Makeshift signs announce fetes, feasts and festivals, gala days and fun evenings, because this is the season of village revels that have their origins in the mists of time.

People do remarkable things under the guise of merrymaking. They roll cheeses, kick bottles, run around in sacks, pelt Aunt Sallies and do the most inventive things with eggs and there is always the beer tent to ensure that they generally make fools of themselves. But there is a serious sociological background to these public gatherings.

Our ancestors had only the hedges around the fields as their horizons and in those fields they ploughed and hoed and harvested and with no artificial illumination in their homes other than expensive candles and rush lights, they went to bed at sunset and rose at dawn which coincided with their working day.

The pattern of village life has always been closely linked to the annual round of ploughing and sowing, new crops, first fruits and harvest, and these weeks of hard work were punctuated by periods of relaxation, during which the traditional festivals, fairs and holidays were held. High summer gave them longer days and therefore additional hours to enjoy themselves just before the back breaking work of the harvest and so the tradition of the village feast during these months grew up when for a few hours they could forget their endless toil and socialise with their neighbours.

Most of these ancient customs survive today as a means of fund-raising for various charities and good causes and they continue despite our notoriously inclement weather and the assurance that the event will go on "in barn if wet" has become an ominous reminder that storm clouds may gather on the day although enjoyment is never dampened by the rain.

Meanwhile, more recent customs invade our senses and as the cornfields begin to turn a golden yellow, we hear the smack of leather on willow from the Abbey Lawn where cricket is a regular weekend occurrence and the smell of barbecued food drifts down the street to remind us that the outdoor life is the preferred one when the sun shines while the ubiquitous fly-past by vintage aircraft from the Second World War now proclaims this season of events as they drone overhead every weekend heading for some village fete or gala to be cheered for a few thrilling moments by the crowd thronging the stalls and side shows.

This town has the added attraction of Bourne Wood, 400 acres of ancient forest dating back thousands of years and managed today by the Forestry Commission for leisure pursuit as well as timber production. Yet there must be many people living locally who have not yet been there, a wonderful place particularly in summer, full of flora and fauna and even fallow deer may be seen while nightingales can be heard on summer nights and rare bats and dragonflies fly over the ponds at twilight.

We also have one of the best lidos in Britain with the outdoor swimming pool, once a fish pond for the monks of Bourne Abbey and now equipped for modern bathing and catering particularly for children and family parties. What better way to spend a hot summer’s day than beside the pool with drinks and sandwiches for lunch.

Then we have the countryside itself, miles of roads that are perfect for cycling or walking and our own particular delight has always been a day long excursion into the fen with the skies and the stillness for company, finding a grassy spot at the cornfield’s edge for a picnic lunch with the occasional sound of a soaring lark for company.

There are many other attractions near at hand such as Grimsthorpe Castle, centrepiece of a 3,000 acre park of rolling pastures, landscaped lakes, historic woodland and a mediaeval deer park crossed by fine avenues of trees that are a haven for wild life while inside there are many state rooms furnished with objects of rare, artistic and historical interest, all open to public view. Burghley House, another fine stately home, is just down the road and we should also remember that Stamford and Peterborough are only a bus ride away, the perfect day trip to see the sights and do some shopping.

Yet despite these attractions so close to home many remain seduced by the travel brochure and head for Benidorm or Barbados at great expense during July and August when these are the very months that we can usually enjoy good weather here at home in our own back gardens without the hassle of crowded airports, packed beaches, often uncomfortable accommodation and poor food at overrated tourist destinations.

Admittedly, the current erratic weather pattern can play havoc with our summer events as unexpected spells of wind and rain keep spectators away and disrupt even the best organised public occasion but this hardly compares with the hassle of foreign travel and the personal indignities that are now imposed at our airports in the name of security.

Why go abroad anyway when most people have not bothered to explore their own country? Travel is the desire to be somewhere else and it is a seductive illusion that we have all pursued yet it is rather like a mirage in the desert because we arrive to find that the dream we were chasing has slipped away and what we have was not quite as expected. But as those of us who have abandoned such peregrinations years ago have discovered, the grass is seldom greener in those faraway places than it is here at home.

Go if you persist. Stay at home for peace of mind. But whatever you do, enjoy the summer. We are taking a break while it lasts but hope to be back in September.

Note: This article was published by the Bourne web site on 1st August 2015