Harting Old Club

Photographs taken at the 2007 Gathering

The Harting Old Club is a Friendly Society, dating back to at least 1800, but in probability at least another 75 years before that (Donnelly, 2000). Every Whit Monday the members parade outside St Gabriel's church at 11 o'clock where the secretary calls the roll. The club members then march up and down the high street to the accompaniment of a brass band [ In 1956 the British Council commissioned a study to show life in a typical English village: the resulting film shows that year's festivities.] . In their hand they carry a peeled hazel stick, and on their lapel they wear a red, blue and white rosette.Following a short service the (all male) members retire to enjoy a feast [ Richard Jeffries, writing to The Times in 1872 gazed in wonderment at the 5 course banquet. ] .

"Notes"

"Bibliography" Donnelly,P Benefits and Beer 2000, Harting Old Club ISBN 0953861007

Johnson, F.C. A Hundred Years of Harting Life 1850-1950: a symposium (Harting Society, 1973)

Gordon, Rev. H.D, A History of Harting Reprinted by Frank Westwood, The Petersfield Bookshop, 1877, 1975, 090417204X.

Merrifield , R Whitsun Ceremonies of Harting- The Old Club Sussex County Magazine 1953 Vol XXVII p216

Moutray Read, D. H Hampshire Folklore Folklore, Vol. 22, No 3 (Sep. 30, 1911), pp. 292-329

"External Links"

[http://www.hartingfestivities.org.uk/Html/old-club.html Festivities Web-Site]

[http://www.strangebritain.co.uk/calendar/may.html Similar traditions]