Burning the Fool

How interesting and a really interesting painting too

How extraordinary! Love how you have captured the scene!!

What a great story and you have painted it so well.

Sounds a fascinating event, I amazed you managed any sketching in that crowd. Your sketch has caught all the mayhem.

A moment in time Martin and so well captured. I’ve heard my sister talk about this, is it a S. Yorkshire tradition, or local to Haxey? My sister lived at Styrrup.

Thanks for your responses Heather David Fiona. It’s one of those great oddities of English life that’s lasted over 600 years

Thanks Lewis. It was a fun challenge. Had to scribble fast. I had a huge Weimaraner dog leaning on the back of my legs at one point. I think he thought I made a good post!

Thanks Fiona. It’s just a Haxey/Westwoodside event. Two neighbouring villages in North Lincolnshire. Only about 6 miles from S Yorkshire though and 14 from Styrrup which is in actually N Nottinghamshire.

An area where three of the shires meet, it must be rich in tradition and an abundance of differing landscapes. Maybe what made me think Styrrup was in S Yorks was the postcode, it began with DN for Doncaster. Thank you for the info.

Great sketch and what an interesting activity to observe.

True Fiona. These areas are not as achingly beautiful and spectacular as eg. the Dales but each has its own character and yes there is a fair amount of tradition too. The DN postcode area is huge and includes other towns like Scunthorpe which initially caused huge resentment there as you can imagine being local rivals etc

Thanks Denise. Interesting when something happens and quite boring when nothing appears to be going on which is the case when each group is evenly matched and the pushing and pulling appears to grind to a halt. That’s why most folk have a drink to hand. Ha

Now that's what I call a real action painting fresh from the mayhem it surely must have been Martin. Great info too.

Thanks Chris. You’re right about the mayhem

Full of atmosphere.

Thanks very much Ellen

Such an interesting painting and I love the information behind it. You’ve captured the scene so well!

Thanks very much Spencer