A JOLLY time was had by all in the orchard at Solland Farm, Sampford Courtenay at the farm’s first ever wassail.

The Rev Paul Seaton-Burn, rector of the parish,held a blessing in the orchard during a tremendous hail shower on the evening of Tuesday, January 16.

Some 50 people came together for the ceremony which involved a torchlight procession to the orchard, music and much rattling of pans to ward off the evil spirits.

Mr Seaton-Burn poured cider onto the ground from his chalice, and pieces of toast soaked in cider were placed in the forks of the branches of the trees to bless the orchard. The ritual is meant to ensure a bounteous harvest in the coming year.

‘This is the first wassail we have held since we planted the orchard 20 years ago,’ said owner James McIlwraith.

‘It was Paul’s idea. He is very interested in old church traditions and wassailing originally went along with Plough Sunday and other agricultural things were part of the church traditions.

‘We were all prancing about in the orchard in the hail and then we fired shotguns into the trees to ward off the evil spirits. We also had a wassail queen.

‘I think everyone had a jolly time – we had about 50 people which was good considering the weather – so we are planning to do it all again next year.’

Pictures by James Bird.