THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE - Findon Cheese Rolling

THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — these Findon Chronicles were created by Valerie Martin and contain scenes from her home village of Findon,
West Sussex, U.K. Everyday stories about real people.

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Pre 1958 — Findon

FINDON CHEESE ROLLING

Copyright Valerie Martin 2004

Cheese rolling in Findon has always been rather a mystery to me, so I was interested to hear from the late John Pelling that on the day of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, he was watching the old custom of Cheese Rolling in the village.

At an earlier Coronation he said his Gran Marmie Ockendon had caught a cheese at this colourful spectacle.... but by the year 1953 she was somewhat older and watching the Coronation on television in the Findon Village Hall in the High Street.

I then wondered if John would explain more about that weird and crazy Findon event of cheese rolling in the past..... when no doubt the daredevil winner would arrive at the foot of the slope clutching their cheese (complete with their cuts, bruises and abrasions).

4th November 2004

Dear Valerie,

My Grandmother said Cheese rolling in Findon was an ancient village custom which only took place on Coronation Day.

Ladies took part and she once caught a cheese,

The location in her day was Church Hill near the Cricket pitch. Cheeses were rolled downhill and the women chased after them, if they caught one they could take it home.

I have only seen it once in 1953. I was working at Wintons and Dennis Winton said to me go down into the cellar and bring up 4 Red Dutch cheeses and gave them to Eric May who was the organiser,

The event along with other sports was held in the Glebe Meadow by the Village Hall, Women were divided into groups and held while the cheeses were rolled, they needed a good throw to get them going as the field was quite flat, I thought at the time it would have been more thrilling in the old days on Church Hill,

Mrs Brotherhood and Mrs Luther each won a cheese some people in the village may be able to add to this, I never had a camera.

Jack Kennett whose mother lived in Church Drive Lodge, was the local Radio and TV man. He fitted up the village Hall for villagers to watch the Coronation.

From John Pelling, Lower Salvington, Nr Worthing, West Sussex.

Lawrie May (now living in Antigua in the West Indies) thinks that it was his father, Ernie, who organised the eccentric pastime of cheese chasing for Findon in 1953. If anyone has any further ideas on the quirkies of Findon cheese rolling, do let me know.

If we have another Coronation, will Findon put on a cheese rolling event or would it be banned on on safety grounds?

Continue if you would like to read about A Near Miss For Findon.

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THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.

Do let me know of anything you hear about Findon - not too controversial. Please note that opinions expressed in the Findon Chronicles are not necessarily reflective of my own thoughts.... but sometimes they are!