Proudly wearing their WI aprons, a team from Brockenhurst branch braved a chilly Shrove Tuesday to compete in the village ‘Flip out’ pancake races. Entering the walking relay team, everyone involved enjoyed cheers from the crowds, even if they did not get awarded gold medals – the opposing team won with some running and not much flipping of their pancakes. 

 

Many villages across the UK will have celebrated this traditional feast day, but not many ran the risk of free roaming donkeys getting involved in the final race and cries of ‘Don’t let the donkeys eat the pancakes!’ 

Brockenhurst takes this annual event very seriously, closing off the village centre and running 9 different races. The WI always enters and were possibly the only team not to drop any pancakes. Entrants include local school and nursery children, businesses and village groups. 

It is believed pancake races date back to 1445 in Olney, Buckinghamshire, when a lady rushed to the church on hearing the “shriving” bell, forgetting she still had a frying pan in her hand. Shriving was a time to confess any sins and be absolved, with Shrove Tuesday being a day to use up any eggs and fat before the start of Lent. The earliest mention of a pancake recipe was in a cookery book from 1439. 

Brockenhurst WI always get involved in village events and as you can see from the photos, proved to be very enthusiastic participants. 

Suzanne Ashworth 

Thanks got to Suzanne for writing the article, Janette, Issy and Bronya for the photographs and all the WI members who cheered us on.