The Gate to Southwell Parade

Three photos here of officers who were supervising the annual Gate to Southwell parade.
We don't know who they are but they joined in with the spirit of the occasion and this is
the evidence. I think they were taken at The Ship at Lowdham. The other Police connection
is that the landlord at that time was ex Chief Inspector Rob Thompson.

These photos are from the archive of the Dolphin Morris Men of which Andy Padmore is the archivist. Andy is still looking for a photo of the Dolphin pub that was on North Church Street up to 1971 and which gave the team their name, just in case you come across one with a Police
angle to it. Below is a bit of info about the Gate


GATE TO SOUTHWELL
The Gate is a traditional Nottinghamshire event that dates back to the year 1109 when the Archbishop of York, wrote to the parishes in Nottinghamshire asking them to contribute to the building of a new mother church at Southwell. The offerings, the Southwell Pence, were brought to Southwell by an annual procession at Whitsuntide. This procession was accompanied in
the 16th century by Morris Dancers and performers and much ale was drunk by all accounts.

Dolphin Morris Men revived this tradition in 1981, and every year since then hundreds of dancers have processed the 23 miles from Nottingham city centre to Southwell, stopping for refreshments along the way. A collection is made on behalf of Nottingham Hospice.

Nowadays teams of dancers process in relays with buses to get them from pub to pub. When the sides get to Southwell they are met by the Dean of Southwell who receives the Southwell Pence. There follows a short service and dancing in the Minster, followed by a donated pint at The Bramley Apple pub, and still more dancing.