Amateur Cine World (March 1935)

Strange Hustory of the HERE is football, hockey, racing, dancing festivals, steeplechase meetings, pony shows, motor rallies and ancient customs this month, so that no camera man should be without subjects for his news-reel. Predominating amongst the glut of rites that have survived the years is the ‘‘ Tichborne Dole.” It takes place on March 25th at Tichborne, a small village off the main Winchester to Guildford road, in Hampshire, and it is an ideal subject for the news-reel. Each villager, man, woman and child, receives a portion of flour after a picturesque religious ceremony which takes place in the open air. The custom, a gift to the villagers, ‘‘to stave off a curse on the inheritance,”’ is usually witnessed by Lady Doughty-Tichborne and her son, Sir Anthony Doughty-Tichborne. The custom began in the time of Henry 1st and this is how it came about. Lady Mabella Tichborne, falling ill and fearing that she would die, pleaded with her husband to maintain the fund she had provided for her many poor dependants. But in accordance with his nature, so the legend runs, he promised to fulfil the good lady’s wish only if she would perform Marcu ““’Tichborne’”’ Dole AN INTERESTING EVENT FOR YOUR MARCH NEWS-REEL “By © Travellers’ an almost impossible feat. Taking a blazing faggot from the fire he told the pious woman that the land she could crawl round in her weak condition, before the flame expired, would be given the poor for ever. According to ancient papers, the lady miraculously managed to creep round more than twenty acres of the estate. She died after her great effort, and with her last breath placed a terrible curse on the house should ever the dole cease to be given away. In fact, only once was the custom dropped and then a terrible —_catastrophy befell the house. It was not surprising, therefore, that the late Sir Joseph DoughtyTichborne went so far as to obtain a special concession from the _ rationing authorities during the Great War to enable him to continue the custom, even if he was not superstitious. For a time the dole was given away in money—proceeds of flour grown on the land, known to this day, as ‘‘ The Crawls.”” Of recent years, however, the rent from the land, which is sub-let, has been used to buy the flour. There is always a large crowd.to watch this interesting ceremony, and it is advisable to use a chair or a pair of step-ladders in order to get above the heads of the spectators to film the proceedings. These can always be loaned from the villagers beforehand. Sir Anthony Doughty-Tichborne superintending the drawing of the *‘ Tichborne Dole” on Lady Day. Smaller photo: A priest blessing the flour before distribution. The history of the ‘ Dole’ is aninteresting one. Why not re-create it in your news-reel ? Targer picture: Marcu 1 St. David’s Day (Patron Saint of Wales). 2 Sixth round of Football Association Cup. 2a Rugby football: Royal Navy v. Army, London. 2 Ice hockey: Wembley Canadians v. Winnipeg, London. 5 Shrove Tuesday (‘‘Pancake Day’’). Tossing the Pancake at Westminster School, London and other ancient customs Ice hockey : Richmond Hawks v. Winni peg Monarchs. London. Ash Wednesday. Racing: Royal Artillery Steeplechase meeting, Sandown Park. Ice hockey : England v. Canada, London. 8 Ice hockey : England v. Canada, London. 8-9 Scottish Country Dancing Festival, Aberdeen. nH AD MN Marcu 9 Rugby football : Ireland v. Wales, Belfast. 9 Ice hockey : England v. Canada, London. 12-14 National Hunt Steeplechase meeting, Cheltenham Spa. 12 Ice hockey: England v. Canada,London. 16 Semi-Finals of Football Association Cup. 16 Rugby football: Scotland v. England Edinburgh. 16, 18 Steeplechase meeting, Baldoyle, near Dublin. 17 St. Patrick’s Day (Irish National Festival). 19-21 Hunter and ‘Thoroughbred Show, Royal Agricultural Hall, London. 19-30 South Wales Industries Exhibition, Cardiff. 20-21 Championship Dog Show, Manchester DB4.°> 22-23 National Pony Show, Royal Agricultural Hall, London. 22-23 Grand Military Steeplechase meeting, Sandown Park. 23 England v. Scotland (amateur), in England 23 Oxford v. Cambridge at White City, London. “ 25 Ancient custom: ‘Tichborne Dole,”’ Tichborne, Hampshire. 25-30 Drama Festival, Blackpool. 26-27 Golf : Oxford v. Cambridge, Burnhamon-Sea. 26-30 Royal Automobile Club’s International Rally, Eastbourne. 27 The Lincolnshire Handicap, Lincoln. 29 The Grand National, Aintree, near Liverpool,