Wellie boots, St Swithin's Day, family wedding ... 1/2

 

Well – the weather was typically British – perhaps a little (to put it mildly) windy, and potentially very wet …

Part of The Tye - the wind blew the clouds away

It was St Swithin's Day … 15^th July …

Oh St Swithin if thou'll be fair,

For forty days shall rain nae mair,

But if St Swithin's thou be wet,

for forty days it raineth yet.

What to wear … soggy feet or clothes, are not my idea of fun … in the end the rain stayed away – but by golly gosh the wind did not!

In case you're mesmerised by the rug
 - there be clouds on those boots!

I took my Seasalt wellies – my favourite shop in Penzance, when I came back from South Africa (in the early 1980s) to visit my mother – with me – in case … so (including another set of shoes, and a waterproof) I was a bit of a bag lady! - but that wind blew the showers or rainstorm away …

Seasalt's Calendar for this year

Oh by the way – the wellies aren't that old! - they did go to Canada with me … well travelled like their owner – and not often worn! Seasalt has now spread its wings with shops around the United Kingdom.

Coaster showing Church

The Service was held in the Cathedral of the Downs – as St Andrew's Church, Alfriston is known – it was built in the 1370s in the form of a Greek Cross.

There were three weddings in the village that day – the family's first choice would have been Berwick where the Bloomsbury Group paintings have recently been restored – but already booked by another local family … then a Chapel wedding also on The Tye – as the green in the centre of the village is known – where St Andrew's resides.

View of the Downs pre WW2 - painted
by Eric Ravilious (1903 - 1942)

My taxi driver parked up – and started directing the traffic – managing to get my brother, who gave the bride away, and the bride nearer to the Church's entrance … it was pandemonium I gather! The bride recognised my lady driver, then my brother apparently did the thumbs up … she's rather well known now.

River Cuckmere meandering to the sea

The area is near the English Channel – where the Romans plied their trade, then came the Saxons … both 'tribes' ranged inland too – hence our very early animal trails tracked by the early Stone Age peoples, the Pilgrim paths, which begat coach roads … yet earlier Neolithic peoples populated the area. The River Cuckmere was navigable about four miles inland …

Coach Road by Eric Ravilious (1903 - 1942)

All were safely gathered in for the Reception, the rest of the day after the youngsters became Mr and Mrs … that will be part two …

Alfriston village c/o Wiki

Berwick Church – conserving the Bloomsbury Group murals and saving them ... 

The Old Chapel Centre and its history

Seasalt Cornwall – its story

Hilary Melton-Butcher

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