Pancake race returns in sunshine

A YEAR after being cancelled due to rain, the annual Shrove Tuesday pancake race in Stoke Row went ahead on a sunny day.

About 40 pupils from the village primary school gathered in the green with pancakes and frying pans in tow.

They were joined by parents who watched as the children raced up the common tossing the pancakes as they went.

Organiser Judy Fox, 82, counted the pupils down from three and blew a whistle to start the race for each year group.

The children first had to flip the pancake in the pan before racing towards the finish line at the other end of the green, flipping the pancake once more at the halfway mark.

The children’s races were followed by a mother’s race, a father’s race and a “granny’s and grandad’s” race. At the finish line, first, second and third place were all awarded with rosettes.

Ilaria Polisano, 11, who won the year 6 girls’ race, said: “It was my last pancake race because I’m in my final year and I won, so I am happy. I love just having fun. We didn’t have time to make the pancakes, so we just got them from the shop but I think we’re going to make some tonight.” After the racing, the children tucked into pancakes made by the Friends of Stoke Row School with toppings including syrup, sugar, lemon and chocolate syrup before heading back to their classrooms.

Mrs Fox held the first race in 1983 and after a sabbatical overseas, revived the event in 2000 and has organised it each year since. She likes celebrating the tradition, which brings “a bit of religion” to the village.

Mrs Fox said: “On Shrove Tuesday they used to go and ask for forgiveness years ago — ‘shrove’ comes from shriven.

“It started in 1445. They used to go to confession when the bell rang at noon and a lady in Olney was the first lady to run with her pancake. Because she was late to confession, she ran out of the house still holding her pan and pancake.”

She said this year was the best event yet and was boosted by the participation of parents.

Mrs Fox said: “We don’t usually get so many mums and dads to race, so it went very well People were enthusiastic. The church provides teas and coffees and it’s a real community effort.”

Karen Dougherty, who chairs the Friends of Stoke Row, said: “We ask the parents to make a batch of pancakes, so they make one for their child to do the race but they normally make batches of 10 and we serve those to the kids with all of the toppings.”