Oh What A Time... - #52 Folk Festivals (Part 1)

Episode Date: June 16, 2024

This week we’re darting around folk festivals from history to learn their strange traditions; we’ll be heading to Lincolnshire to learn about the Haxey Hood, to Gloucester for the Cheese Rolling and finally off to America to learn of the once enormously popular phenomenon of Horse Diving. And was telly better when it ended around midnight and signed off with the national anthem? The answer is yes, so don’t add to that debate. But if you’ve got anything else you can email: [e-mail] If you're impatient and want both parts in one lovely go next time plus a whole lot more(!), why not treat yourself and become an Oh What A Time: FULL TIMER? In exchange for your £4.99 per month to support the show, you'll get: - two bonus episodes every month! - ad-free listening - episodes a week ahead of everyone else - And first dibs on any live show tickets Subscriptions are available via AnotherSlice, Apple and Spotify. For all the links head to: ohwhatatime.com You can also follow us on:  X (formerly Twitter) at @ohwhatatimepod And Instagram at @ohwhatatimepod Aaannnd if you like it, why not drop us a review in your podcast app of choice? Thank you to Dan Evans for the artwork (idrawforfood.co.uk). Chris, Elis and Tom x Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do stop losses work on Kraken? Let's say I have a birthday party on Wednesday night, but an important meeting Thursday morning. So sensible me, pre-books a taxi for 10 p.m. with with alerts. Walla's teltsu.vah.v. I won't be getting carried away and staying out until two. That's stoploss orders on Kraken. Gockn.com.s.lash.crahedlash.c.a.crow.s.s.s.s.s.s.s.s.s.s.s.s.s.s.s.s.s.s.s.s.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a. trading involves risk of loss. See crackin.com slash legal slash, CA-dash-pr-you-dash-dash-dash-dash-Ur-Dash-Dash-Dash-Ur-Dash-Dash-Dash-Ur-Dash-Dis, for info and the Craneckon's

to register in Canada. I'm going back-I'm With deals this good, everyone wants to be a student. Join for just $4.99 a month. Savings may be eligible, and member terms apply. Looking for a collaborator for your career, a strong ally to support your next level's success, you will find it at York University School of Continuing Studies, where we offer career programs purpose-built for you. Visit continue.c.c.a. Hello and welcome to Oh What a Time, the history podcast that tries to decide if the past was better because the TV stations would end with the National Anthem.

Was that just the BBC? A better, more patriotic time. I'm Chris Scull. I'm Tom Crane. And I'm Ellis James, each week or this show, I've forgotten about that. We'll be looking at a new historical subject and today we're going to be discussing folk festivals. Do you know very briefly, my wife, I think it was her grandfather or something, and this probably wasn't that uncommon. When th, th, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, th. th. th. th. thi, I was, I was, I'm th. th. th. th. thi, I's, I'm th. th. their, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I's, I'm their, I'm their, I'm their, their, their, their, and, and, their, and, and, and, and, their, and, their.e. And, their. And, their, their, and, their, their, I'm, I'm, I think this probably wasn't that uncommon when they played the national anthem at the end of the television of the day the family would stand up and put their hand on their hearts it was kind of like this was like a thing that people did no it is it generally genuinely was there was such sort of a reverence I suppose for the idea and such patriotic feeling especially the cinema but are we old enough to do I the I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I they I they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they th they th th th they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they th I thi thi thi thi thi thi try try try try try today the the the thi the thi the they thi they they they about that. I think they're to sing the anthem at the cinema. But are we old enough to do I remember the TV ending of the National Anthem or am I sure or that's a phantom memory? I don't think I remember it. I just think I've talked about it so much I

are now convinced I do remember it. Yeah that's the problem. In the same way that th. th. I th. I that I that I that I that I I I I I I that I I that I I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I th. I remember I remember I remember I remember I remember I remember I remember I remember I remember I remember I that I that I remember I remember th. I th. I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that I that that that that that that that that that that that that th. I that that that that th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. th. th. th. th. the. th. the. th. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. th. th. I th. I th. I that every now and then I will think that I remember the 1970 Will Cup, something that happened 10 years before I was born. I would be like that Brazil team really good. I remember running home from school and not watching them because I was born in 1980. See you later. Oh my god, okay guess what year year the BBC stopped playing the national anthem when it ended? So I think it was much early than you're imagining. I'm imagining it was probably late 60s, early 70s. 1988.

1997. I'm so wrong. Are you kidding? Yeah, and the only reason it stopped was that BBC went to rolling news all night. That is too late for that. That was the last time BBC closed down for the night was 1997. I remember closing down for the night because you'd be absolutely devastated. God I love telly.

It was November 1997 to the back end. So I was 17. That's incredible. What the tele had in the 80s and this did die out in the 1980s I think, or certainly by the early 90s was continuity announcers who would sit there with a shirt and tie on and tell you what was coming up next. Really? But do you still, you still have that don't? They'll go up next is strictly. Yeah, but it won't be, you won't, it won't be a bloke in a small room wearing a shirt with a suit on. It'll be a guy bulk recording all the continuity announcements for the next four months. Yeah. Yeah.

Oh, I'm going to pressure job that. Making sure you're looking at the right listing on the radio times. Yeah, you're exactly what I'd be doing, reading out what's coming up next, it's the Snowman. Oh no no sorry that's Christmas Eve, well this is this is last year's Radio Radio, yeah. Make sure the Snowman they get out, they always saw it? Do they? Is that again? The snowman, every, that is incredible. You could just be having this discussion with himself. God, Christmas tell he he he he he he thi he thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's thi. that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, th. Oh, th. Oh, th. Oh, th. Oh, th. Oh, th. th. thi. thi. thi. thi. that's thi. that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that isn't really the point, but I do miss that experience of the Radio Times and finding out what was going to be on tele, as opposed to now when everything is available at all times. There was an excitement of going to go, here's your month, here's

the things that we're giving you this month. Here's your choice. I tell you what happened as well. They the th th th th th th th th the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the theate. I the the theate. I the. I the. I the. I the. I the. I the the their the their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their the. I ti ti. I ti. I ti. I ti. I ti. ti. ti. ti. ti. ti. ti. ti. ti. ti. this sort of arms race of people trying to get the listings magazines out earlier and they you read them and then Christmas day you be full of TBCs. Come on! What is the point of this? Some things will be on at 2 p.m. or Christmas day. Like, oh my god, it's a secret only falls and horses episode. It's a secret set. That is not good enough. Speaking of continuity announcements, Elle, can you just tell us what's on this episode? Yeah, in the style of a continuity announcement on BBC One. Yes, okay.

Each week on this show we'll be looking at a new historical subject, and today we're going going to be discussing folk festivals, cheese rolling, the haxy huts, and h and h, and h, and h, and h Haxeyhud, and horse diving. That's very good. Thank you. That is an easy job. Exactly. If that's your job, you have no right to complain unless they lock the door and there's no toilet in there. I'm against AI taking over everyone's jobs, but that is one job that she gets to AI. The thing about a continuity announcement announces is that there like, a bit of a glib joke, isn't there? Like, well, David Jason will be trying to get the chandelier off from the roof without smashing

it on only falls on horses at 6.30. You know, is it there's always a little... Yes. Exactly that. That's the kind of joke that is obviously a joke but it's not funny but it's also completely inoffensive. It's gonna be the most inoffensive lie just the most inoffensive idea possible. This time next year we'll all be millionaires that's what Del Boy will be saying no doubt on tonight only frozen horses.

15 killed in a mountain disaster up next it's the news. I think we should end this week's episode by the way with the national anthem we got to play it. Either sing it as a threesome or we will play it. Got to ask which one? Which one? Oh yes. Well I the Welsh national anthem is absolutely my favourite. It's a banger. It is an absolute banger. We could play La Macaiseise as a sort of compromise. Yeah, oh it's great. Well Chris, a nice little surprise of the listeners, Chris is going to stick in a national anthem at the end. And uh, listeners can try and guess which one it is. Go for a weird one. Go for an unexpected national anthem, whack it at the end, point to whatever list they can guess it.

The national anthem of Moldova. Yeah, exactly. 95% of my exposure to other national anthems is the World Cup or the Olympics. And I think it's it, Romania's't hear the Welsh one that often, Chris. Are you right? Fuck you. You don't qualify, you never qualify. You're a rubley.

You're weak. You're a mentally weak people. Right. I tell you who are not a mentally weak people. It's our lovely, lovely listener base who have emailed us again. Should we get into some correspondence? Let's th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. the th. th. th. th. tho. tho. tho. tho. tho. tho. thoanananan't tho. tho. to bea. tooes. to bea'er. to bea'er. to bea'er. to bea'er. to bea'er. to bea. tooes. tooes. You. You. You. You. You. You. You. You. You. You. You. You. You. You. You. You. You. You. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's not. It's not. It's not. It's not. It's not. It's not. It's not. It's not. We. It's not. We're not. I don't. We're not. I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't. we do that? Come on then. Let's crack into it. I'm going to kick off with this one. This is, I generally think, one of the most remarkable historical facts that we've been sent because it completely changes my understanding of something I completely took for granted. I thought I thought I had my head around. I think this will probably blow your has emailed us with the title Churchill's speeches. One of the things I find fascinating about the Churchill we will find them on the

Beach's speech inspired so many during World War II is that we haven't really heard it, kind of. This speech was originally given to Parliament and reported on after the fact by the papers, etc. But it didn't cross anyone's mind to record it. The famous recording we've heard which is echoed across pop culture or in documentaries has actually recorded for posterity in 1949 which is nine years later. Powerful words aside I reckon I too could sound confident aspiring once it was all over. That's a very good point. Also he never actually said we will fight them on the beaches that's a common misquote but that's an aside keep up the greatthem on the beaches. That's a common misquote, but that's an aside. Keep up the great work, all the best, Jamie. Now, I did not realize that. And I think it's partly

because you watch recreations in documentaries and it's always a family gathered around the wireless listening to this speech and being inspired ahead of the war. It wasn't, it was recorded nearly a decade later. I did actually know that. You did know that because I'm very bright. It's just interesting you didn't mention it at the time though Ellis. So what is the line he says we shall fight them on the beaches? We shall fight on the beaches? Yeah, that's exactly what yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No it's just we will go to the beach as we say. We have a nice time at the beach. When this is all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all all the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the they. I they. I they. I they. I they. I they. I they. I they. I they. I they. I they. I they. I they. I they. I they. I they. I they. I they. I they. I they. I they. I ti. I ti. I ti. I ti. ti. ti. ti. ti. ti. to. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. have a nice time at the beach, nice creams and maybe reading a novel, a cup of tea or coffee and some chips. So look forward to that, my men. Exactly. But so nine years later, this thing was recorded, I had no idea about that.

Did you, Chris? No, I didn't know that. I'm a bit disappointed to be honest. Because that means the version I've heard isn't the real version that makes me a bit feels a bit sad. I like to imagine the actual the original version was far more sort of pessimistic and caught. This might not go well guys. They've got a bloody good go at them actually. All sort of quite like a daisical in the sort of yeah bloody good go at them actually. Sorry I've got a lot of stuff on my mind because it's all going wrong in North Africa. Anyway, talk amongst yourselves. There'll be general parliamentary stuff now I would imagine. I'm going to go and have a conversation with the child. Gotta go. Gotta go. I had a bit of a second world

war weekend. Like this last weekend. I went to Bletchley Park, which is where which is where I'm. I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I've th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th tho, I've th th th tho, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, I've th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th. Sorry, I've th. Sorry, I've th, I've th, I've th, I've th, I've th, I've th. Sorry, I've th. Sorry, I've th. Sorry, I've tho, I've thi, I've thi, I've thi, sorry, I've thi, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, I've thi, sorry, I've tho, sorry, I've tho, I've to go. I had a bit of a Second World War weekend that this last week has gone. I went to Bletchley Park, which is where Alan Turing and Co. Invented the bomb machines which helped crack the Enigma code so we could read the Nazis communications during the Second World World, but also Italy and Japan as well. I'd love to go to that. Is it fascinating? Here's fascinating. Here's my note. It turns out that this is Tremendously complicated what they did and I simply can't understand it. Yeah, and it's very Impressive and they've got one of the machines in there and they're trying to explain it to me. I can't figure out how it works or how they cracked the code The Enigma machine has something like 1.2 million. and this machine can figure out what the settings are. It is so complicated. Of course it's complicated. I mean I don't want to, I'm not wanting to patronize you or make you feel

But I'm not shocked that you're not you're getting your you are you are you are you are a West Ham content creator You're a podcast. Yeah, very good podcast. During the war, nobody said we need to get the West Time content creators in. So what happens when you go to Blacksheepart? What do they show you out? So they have the machine still there? It's amazing, yeah, so they've got all the huts, they've got a replica of the actual machine that was used. They show you where everyone was kind of how the place evolved over time to it to it the the their their their their their their their their their their their their their their, it their, it was, it was, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, so, th. So, th. So, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so. So, so, so, so. So, so, so. So, so, so, so, so, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, the.e. their, their, th. the. the machine that was used, they show you where everyone was kind of, how the place evolved over time to, it had thousands of people working there at one point, how they were translating all these messages, how they were passed on, how they hid the evidence, they called it ultra, they didn't reveal that they, it was so secret that they'd cracked the code. The evidence was always given to commanders as if it was they. they they they they they. they they they were, their their they, their, their, they, they, their, their, they, their, their, they were, their, their, they were, they were, they were, they were their, they were, their, they were, they were, they were, they were, they were, they were, they were, they were, they were, they were, they were, they were, they were, they were, they were, they were, they were, they were, they were, they were, they were, they were, they were, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, they.. their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, from the fact they'd cracked the code. Absolutely fascinating.

But yeah, like I say, at the very heart of it is this incredibly complex thing they achieved, which is just so difficult to wrap your head around. But also, think of the stress and the pressure they were under, because they knew they had to crack this code, but it was incredibly difficult. Yeah. You'd never be able to switch to switch to switch to switch to switch to switch to switch to switch to switch to switch to switch to switch to switch to switch to switch to switch to switch to switch to switch to switch to switch to be able to to s s s. to be able to to be able to their. their. their, their s. their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, from it. No. And they say that, they say like, they were conscious that the shipping that was coming across from the states, like the U-boats were targeting, like there was sailors at sea

they knew were dying every day before they were cracking the naval codes, their their shoulders. And they also had to be really careful about how they used their information, didn't they, after they, after they cracked the code. As you were saying, they literally, they weren't able just to save everyone. That's what's so heartbreaking. But I do you've seen the imitation game, those really difficult situations and choices he have to make. Yeah, that's the other mad situation situations situations situations situations situations be involved in. And it's also so sad, Alan Turing, how his like ended and the way he was treated appalling. They didn't acknowledge that they'd cracked the code until like the 70s, I think it was. Really?

So, none of the people who achieved, like Alan Turing for example, like Alan were never awarded, they were never knighted, they never acknowledged for this their service during the war because the whole thing was so secret. So like Alan Shuring died never being recognized for what he'd done for the country. Yeah. If there's someone out there that could write a nice, concise couple of sentences that explains how those machines work that crack the code, I'd be all is. During the Second World War it would have been a really interesting way to live your personal war if you'd been really really good at something specific and they'd said listen rather than going out to fight or being in a reserved occupation like farming or coal mining you're

very good at this and we really need this. So we'll give you what you need, but you've got to sort this out and you've got to do it as quickly as possible. It'd be quite, you know, like, mathematicians, people like Alan Turing. I mean, I don't have any of those skills. That's my question. Do you think you have any skills that save you from the front line? Is that anything that you think you that you that you that you that you that you that you that you that you that you that you that you that you that you thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thin thin thin thin thin thin thin' thin' thin' thin' thin' thin' thin' that that that that that's that's that's that's that's that is that is that is that is that is that is that is that is that is that is th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. that is that is that is that is that is that is that is that is that is that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that's going to be Armed Services Radio. They're going to need jovial hosts. Oh, yes. For the sake of the nation, we need you, we call upon you as one of Britain's finest podcasters to do your thing.

But, L, we've listened to the radio show, you've got to come up with some new features. So you've got a day to come up with some new features, okay? How much extra dread would you have with the Commissioner calls a meeting? Like, you'd be worried, not only they're going to cancel my show, they're going to send me off to the front line. Well, you know, there's just, you may not have been there, but the War Museum, there's these huge maps where the leaders at the time used to push around podcasters and see where we're going to be stationed. There's little figures of podcasts they'll move them to the Ardennes or they move them to Bristol. Very important work.

Morale is really dipping in North Africa. You've got to get out there, man. Can you do a podcast for the desert rats. Yes! Can I do it from home? I tend to be at my best where I'm recording from home over zoom actually. L, I've got bad news. The Nazis have cracked into your show. They've listened to every word. They're equally as demoralized them, so that's good. They can't understand why it's so popular. Okay, so thank you very much for sending us that. That is from Jamie. that blew my mind and Chris's mind. Ellis apparently knew it already despite the fact I didn't bring it up during the episode

where we were discussing that, which to me feels weird. If you want to get in contact with the show, there are many, many wonderful ways to do it. And here's just some of them. All right, you horrible. you horrible look. Here's how you can stay in touch to with with with with the the the the the touch to the touch to touch to touch to touch to touch to the show touch with the show. You can email us and hello at O What a Time.com and you can follow us on Instagram and Twitter at Oh What a Time pod. Now clear off. Turn off hesitation, turn off doubt, turn off fears. The YMCA of Greater Toronto helps you turn off whatever's holding you back.

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I'll be telling you all about the Huxi hood. And I'm going to kick things off by talking to you lovely you lovely you lovely you lovely you lovely you lovely you lovely you lovely you lovely to you lovely lovely lovely lovely rolling and the history of this event. Now this occurs not a million miles from where I grew up. I grew up in the West Country. Cheese rolling is this really weird event overseas listeners might not be familiar with. Just to quickly summarize, basically for about 200 years, people have gathered on Cooper's Hill near Gloucester in the west of England. Even as I begin to describe this, to people who are from overseas listeners who aren't th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to teeea. thea. thea, the. Even as I begin to describe this, to people who are from overseas listeners who aren't aware of this, it's insane. In the early summer, and they chase a wheel of cheese.

It's just sounds like I'm making this up. From the top of a hill to the bottom, and the first person across the finish line wins the cheese chase the finish line wins the cheese and it's crowned this year's champion. Okay, now you guys obviously are aware of this. What are your thoughts on this cheese rolling event? Two things. Two things. This is, I've been aware of this probably since I was about seven or eight because it's often, it's often on the news or it'll be on kids tell you remember Blue Peter doing a thing about it. Occasionally when I tell my kids, th. their, their, th. their, th. th. th. their, th. It, th. their, their, th. th. th. I their, th. I th. I th. I thi, thi, thi, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their their their their their their their their their their their their thi. thi. thi. the. theateateateateateatea, theateatea, theateateat, thoes. their thoes, their the thing about it. Occasionally when I tell my kids, especially my daughter who's nine, about things I did in my childhood, in the age of streaming and the smartphone, they find it incredible how

dated a 1980s childhood was, or seems to be. When you watch 200 odd balls chasing a wheel of cheese down a hill, you think to yourself, God, the past really was a different country, wasn't it? The thing I find so funny about it. It's worth briefly mentioning, it's an incredibly steep. Yeah. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. There's always really people break bones every year. It's really steep.

People break bones every year. They break legs, they break arms. All, it's, there are some bad injuries. The thing I find funniest about it, they've been doing it for 200 years. They're trying to catch the cheese. No one has ever caught the cheese. The cheese is uncouchable. You will never win. You can't do it. There is nothing faster than change.

There is nothing faster than a round cheese. But you know what that? I have heard that about the cheese always wins and no one's ever caught the cheese. But you'd think, given it's been going on for hundreds of years, one year the cheese would get stuck in a rut or plant itself, you know, itself halfway down the hill and someone would count I can't believe over hundreds of years the cheese always wins the cheese always wins it's it's it's meant to roll it's built to roll yeah

you know it's it's in terms of rolling it's the ideal shape I'm gonna quickly give you some cheeses and tell me if you could if you could catch this cheese when down the hill okay so we'll start with the true the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the cheese is is is is is is is is.ea. the the the the the the the they.ease. the cheese is. the the the the the the the the the the the hill, okay? So we'll start with the traditional wheel of cheese that you see in the event. No chance. Are you catching that? No, no, of course. Can't be done. What about a baby bell? Yeah, it's a small wheel. Yeah. How many revolutions does it need to outrun me? I don't if a small wheel goes quicker or slower in the large wheel. I don't know what the science is there. I'm not sure if if if a the babythan a full sort of dairy farmer's wheel of cheese. The baby bell would depend on the velocity with which it was thrown initially. Oh, that's an interesting point. Yeah, that's a very good point.

Okay, let's change the shape. We're going to change the shape. We're going to the triangle. the triangleum. I'm gonna be first to it and then five seconds later I'm in a world of pain. And finally is the preserve of parents up around the country the building block size of Cathedral city cheddar that every parent buys. It's a huge, you sort of thing you can construct a house with, you catch him that cheese? Are you not? What, you don't get the grated

version of that? You get the block. Because it doesn't grate very well. The great, it doesn't melt properly. Who buys pre-grated cheese? Who buys a block of cheese? No, I'm like, for pasta, for little kids, you've got to grate. Yeah, we buy the big. But the pre-grated is done. But it doesn't melt properly. Because it has potato starch added to it or something. Come on, we're not making a food podcast. Also, how long does grating some cheese take, really? 30 seconds at that. It's not, it's the mess.

Then you've got to deal with the cheese grater. And the vessel the cheese was gased cheese the cheese the cheese the cheese was graded into. And you always grate too much and end up like, oh God, what we're doing with this? We buy that Cathedral City. I reckon, I think, yeah, I definitely could catch a big sort of house brick-sized piece of Cathedral City, definitely. Well, you are correct in saying that no one ever catches the round wheel of cheese. It's so fast, it's hilarious. Exactly when this mad f'coccoccoccoccoccocc, the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the their their their their their their their their their their the the the the the the the their the their the their their their their the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the, and the, and thease the. thease thease thease thease thease theateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateateate hilarious. Exactly when this mad folk festival began though is all a bit of a mystery. In the early 20th century it was kind of assumed that it started

in the 17th century. However, the first real records date to the early 19th century. So in 1836, the Gloucestershire Chronicle sent a notice to the town crier to read the following, Cooper's Hill Wake to commence on Wits Monday precisely or precisely as he'd have said it then at 3 o'clock two cheeses to be run for. I think if I heard the town crier yelling that cheeses would be chased down a hill. I'd assume I'd misheard him. I'd have to wait for the six o'clock bulletin or something. I go that I've misheard. I said he wouldn't think I'll be there. But there was less to do about then. Yeah, there is left and daily like, yeah, I'll have a

look at this. To be fair, if a town crides stood outside my house and said there's going to be 100 meters away, I'd definitely turn up, wouldn't you? You'd yell out, is it pre-grated? It's what you'd yell from your window before deciding what it would be. And I'll you add in potato starch once it's grated. I've just found out about this. So today, about 5,000 spectators turn up to watch. 5,000 is amazing. Well, contestants they travel from around the world to hold themselves down this slope despite the constant injuries. Oh I thought they were locals. I did know people. No, they now come from from everywhere around the world to compete. I'll give you some of the injuries from last year alone. This is 2023. There were

broken ankles. There was a suspected seizure. There were severe breathing difficulties and lung injuries and also a number of concussions, like a huge number of concussions, a loatheathe people just knocked themselves out. But even as far back as 1907, despite the dangers, it was kind of hugely popular. Around then, crowds of around 1,500 turned up to watch. And in fact, it was during this Edwardian period that it took on its status basically as a tourist attraction. Although it was then abandoned during the First World War, by the 1920s crowds were still in their thousands. And this growth then continued, largely due to the upgrades and printing technology then, meant that newspapers could carry photographs and BBC radio.

I love the fact that photographs says so much about the human condition and our love for danger and a sort of bloodthirsty part of us that they show photos of this mad event where people are clearly putting themselves in peril and that ups the number of people who are going. People like danger. Exactly. That's exactly it. It's a very, you can't prevent people, especially young men from giving dangerous things that go. I think. I the the th, and a th, and a th, and a th, and a th, and a th, and a th, and a th, and a th, and a th, and a th, I th, and a th, and a th, and a th, and a th, and a th, and a thi, and a thi, and a thi, and a the, and a tho, and a th, and a th, and a th, and a th, and a th, and a th, and a th, and a th, and a th, and a, and a, and a, and a, and a, and a, and a, and a, and a, and a, and a th, and a th, and a th, and a th, th, th, th, th. Yeah, I thi, I thi, the, the, the, the, the, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, prevent people, especially young men, from giving dangerous things

that go. Yeah. I think when you always read about like executions drawing a huge crowd, yeah. And this is a far less lethal version of that, isn't it? It's a spectacle in an age where there is very little entertainment. So post World War one, as I say, it's starting to get more popular. The press started to cover it, the numbers grow and grow. Interestingly, during the Second World War, the event then took on a charitable nature. They started raising money for Red Cross and other organizations.

They also made another major change during that period. Do you want to guess what the big change was during makes completely sense. Are they vetting the, they vet in the contentless maybe? Because of rationing, the cheese was swapped for a dummy, wooden alternative. So this is the only period where they haven't actually chased cheese down the hill. The real cheese wasn't rolled again until 1954. Before that, it was a fake cheese. If you're interested, they started with a Cheshire cheese, then some Kofili and then some double cluster that's what they went into. These are these are the cheeses they were returned to afterwards but there

was a period from 41 to 54 where they use a dummy cheese because but then you can see that maybe it will be a little bit distasteful during rationing to hear that peoplethe cheese isn't usable. Well, yes, but I suppose it's about sharing and sharing alike. It's not for one person to go home with a year's worth of cheese. And Cooper's Hill, interesting, is not the only place where athletic competitions involving wheels or cheese are observed. Give you some examples. In England, cheese rolling is still practice at Randwick in Glouceshire. Is it? Similar games, it is, yeah, similar games are popular in Italy and have spread to Italian-American communities in the United States with different variants called things like La Rousala and Palo de la Cate and some, such as those played in Pienza in Tuscany, have,

this is my favorite, have the characteristics of lawn bowling, so it's a very different game. What's the deal there then? You just literally like bolts but with cheese. Imagine you roll out a baby bell as a jack, that sort of thing. But yeah, it's a relaxing game. And there are other versions of cheese-based sports that happen around the world. I'll give you some other ones. There's a more tricky one. Also in Italy involves navigating that thiiiiiiiiiiii, it thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, it's a thi, it's a thi, thi, it's a thi, is a thi, is a thi, is a thi, is a thi, is a thi, is a thi, is a tho, is a tho, is a tho, is a tho, is a tho, is a tho, is a tho, is a tho, is a tho, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, is a thi, is a thi, is a thi, is a thi, is a thi.. So, is a thin, is a theeeanan, is a little theean, is a little thiolou., is a thin. So, is a thi. Socorino down an assault course. That can't be, is that a joke?

It's one, no, 100% true. It's absolutely true. Well, like tough mud, all of these things are real. All of these things are real, okay? Tough, tough mozzarella. Very nice. On Staten Island in New York, in the tentiies they used they used used used used used used used used used used used used used used used used used they they they they they they to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to th. th. th. th. the, the, the, the, to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, tha. tha. tha. tha. tou. tou. tou. tou. tou. tou. tough. tough. tough, tough, tough, tough, tough, tough, tough, tough, t one contemporary account described it, here's how they described it, a level strip of road is necessary. This must be of considerable length. The cheeses are wound round with a band of cotton,

which is grasped by the player and enables him to swing the cheese with considerable force. Parmesan cheeses are used on account of their hardness and the toughness of the good players can cover extraordinary distances. One sent his cheese over 300 foot in a single throw. 300 feet? Yeah. So wait.

What height or length? He's thrown it length. Yeah, 300 foot away. Yeah, exactly. So these all these different cheese-based games that are happening around the world. But nothing really compares to the sort of madness of the original chasing the cheese down Cooper's Hill. To end, I want any listeners who attempted to do this to don't take it lightly, okay? This is what happened to last year's winner. Last year's winner of the women's race,

someone called Delaney Irving. She crossed the finish line unconscious. So and she only learned of her victory when she came around whilst receiving medical treatment. Yeah, so she knocked herself out on the way down. Bloody hell. Just momentum carried her across the line first. So she did win the cheese, but she had no idea she'd won the cheese. And do you know, Ellis, how they woke her up? No.

A whiff of a particularly strong... Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! That last bit may not be true. Get some blue stuff. Get one of the blue ones. Oh dear. Oh dear.

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