Wednesday, February 3, 2016
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Swineshead pageant –
hop on board... ribbit!
Preparations begin in
ernest on Saturday for the
big Swineshead pageant
this summer.
800 years ago Swineshead
played a crucial role in one of
the country’s biggest treasure
and royal murder mysteries...
probably!
King John and his baggage
train were making their way to
Newark. The baggage train,
containing the king’s fabulous
treasure, took a route across the
hazardous Wash marshes, only
to be swallowed up by quicksand
and mud, to be lost forever. Bad luck number
one.
Bad luck number two – King John stopped
overnight at Swineshead Abbey, where he
became ill. He contionued on horseback to
Newark the next day where he died... legend
has it from poison taken from a toad’s back
by Simon the Monk at the abbey... probably.
On Saturday and Sunday, June 25 and
26, Swineshead village will be celebrating
all things Medieval to commemorate the last
journey of King John in 1216.
The Swineshead pageant will include
knights on horseback, Medieval pursuits
such as falconry and archery, Medieval
crafts and costumes, food, music, dancing
and drama, a King John’s Treasure Trail,
a spectacular carnival parade through
the village and much more Medieval-style
merriment.
To create costumes, sculptures, lanterns
and activities for the pageant, Transported,
the Boston and South Holland-based arts
organisation, has commissioned artists Julie
Willoughby, from Zoomorphia, and Ruth
Pigott, from Curiosity Creators, to run a
series of free family workshops in the run up
to the event. Julie and Ruth recently worked
on the Illuminate celebrations that took place
in Boston as part of the Christmas lights
switch-on event.
The first workshop is this Saturday at
Coffee Corner, High Street, Swineshead,
from noon until 4pm. It is called “Toads
Galore” and participants will be making cute
little toads out of felt and stuffing. There
are two styles of toad – a sitting toad for
people who have sewing experience, and a
flat “beanbag” style toad for those who are
less confident about their sewing skills. You
can decorate your toad to your choice. Will
yours be a poison toad, or one that turns into
a prince? All materials and equipment will
be provided along with expert advice and
some examples to inspire you. It is hoped to
have hundreds of toads made by the date
of the pageant to be displayed at the event.
Transported want all toad makers to take a
photo of their creations and upload them to
the Facebook page
www.facebook.com/swinesheadpageant 2016
The following workshop will be on
Saturday, March 5, to create Medieval
jewellery for people to wear in the parade
or at the pageant. Enormous sparkly
and colourful gems will be available for
the workshop, so come along to the free
workshop and create some bling to wear at
the Swineshead Pageant.
Brooches, clasps, collars and coronets will
be made.
On Saturday, April 2, it will be the turn of
crowns, Medieval style hats, headdresses
and knights’ helmets using card, fabric,
recycled materials and trim. Other workshops
will include carnival costumes, lit willow
lanterns, painted shields and festival flags.
Dates, venues and times will
be advertised as we approach
each workshop. You can also
find out details of what’s on
by checking the Swineshead
Pageant Facebook page, or the
Transported website
www.transportedart.com or by
emailing Julie on
[email protected]
The workshops are suitable
for all ages and are free with
materials and equipment
provided. Children under ten
should be accompanied by
an adult. All adult workshop
participants are entered into a draw to win
some treasure – crowns that have been
commissioned by jeweller Kathleen Smith.
There will be other chances to win this
treasure at the event and during the weeks
running up to it – there are ten crowns in total
to be won, earned or discovered.
To find out more about the Swineshead
Pageant and for updates, visit
www.facebook.com/swinesheadpageant2016
To find out more about the Transported
project and to sign up for updates, visit the
website at www.transportedart.com or call
the office on 01406 701006. They are also on
Facebook www.facebook.com/transportedart
and Twitter (@TransportedArt).
 See pages three to six for a guide to
making your own Swineshead toads.
Wed
Want to commission arts or heritage
activity for your event, community group,
workplace or school, or learn more about
what arts opportunities are available
locally?
Boston area organisers are invited along
to an event by Transported, the Boston and
South Holland arts organisation, to learn
more about what is already on offer.
Making Connections, a drop-in showcase
event, takes place at the South Holland
Centre on Wednesday, February 10, from
3pm to 8pm, for those involved in the arts
and heritage industries to meet, talk to and
show potential clients what they can offer.
It could be anything from practical arts
workshops and classes in stained glass or
visual art, to theatre performance, street art
or music. Locally-based arts and heritage
organisations, who could help with project
management or funding advice, are booked
to attend. If you’re a member of a voluntary
arts group, then pop along and see
Voluntary Arts, the national organisation for
the voluntary arts sector. They can advise
on all aspects of running or setting up a
voluntary arts group.
The Making Connections event will
also be the first opportunity to see the
South Lincs Arts Directory, an online and
searchable database of local artists, arts
and heritage groups, arts and heritage
organisations and venues. The website is
currently being constructed, and it is hoped
it will be a valuable and constantly added
to resource for years to come.
Please contact Transported for
an attendance form by emailing
[email protected] or by calling
the office on 01406 701006.
01205 363843
Boston’s wealthy and exciting past
is bringing new opportunities for its
future prosperity.
In July Boston joined the New
Hanseatic League, Die Hanse, which
was established in 1980, led by the city
of Lubeck. It now comprises 185 towns
across northern Europe.
It is anticipated that membership
of Die Hanse will bring commercial
and business opportunities as well as
boosting interest in Boston’s history
and culture which in turn will enhance
tourism and the visitor economy.
The Hanse Business Forum offers
members support to develop export
markets and has a database of
the Hanse Economic Area and the
businesses within it. It has a combined
population of 300 million – and Boston
is now part of it and the opportunities
it brings
In medieval times Boston port was
second only to London in importance,
being the country’s leading exporter
of wool and trading widely with the
Hanseatic states. It was the wealth
generated by this wool trade that
financed the building of Boston
Stump. We can use our past to boost
interest in our culture and history and
so develop tourism and bring more
visitors to the town.
Young people, schools and colleges
can get involved with the Youth Hanse
and the opportunities it offers to
develop cultural links and exchanges.
To find out more and to get involved
a public meeting is to be held on
Thursday, February 11, 5.30pm
refreshments for 6pm start, at Boston
Guildhall.
Make an arts connection
www.bostonleisurecentre.co.uk
Take advantage
of 300 million
opportunities
Thu
7C
110C
0
40C
80C
Moderate breeze
Moderate breeze
Sunrise 7.41am
Sunset 4.48pm
Sunrise 7.39am
Sunset 4.50pm
High tide
Low tide
High tide
Low tide
High tide
Low tide
High tide
Low tide
1.42am
7.58am
2.27pm
8.22pm
2.52am
9.01am
3.20pm
9.22pm
What’s On – pick of the day
Today – Boston Bridge Club at Boston Conservative Club, partner required, 7pm
Tomorrow – Creative workshop at Boston Library, 10am to noon, trace the steps you take,
return to the places you love and revisit your favourite locations, book sculptor and paper
artist Phiona Richards will be there to give tips and advice
The Swineshead Toad
TOP BODY
Cut one
SIDE BODY
Cut two
To make your frog:1. Sew two side body pieces together from a to a and b to b.
2. Sew side body to top body all round. Stuff body and sew up opening.
3. Sew two back leg pieces together leaving an opening. Stuff leg and sew
up the opening. Repeat with the other two back leg pieces. Stitch along the
line of dashes, making a crease so it looks like a folded leg.
4. Sew two front leg pieces together leaving opening. Stuff leg. Repeat.
5. Sew two front feet pieces together all round, repeat for other two front foot
pieces and to make both back feet.
6. Assemble toad as shown in picture…….sew on felt, bead or button eyes.
To decorate you can add sequins, beads, buttons, embroidery etc. If you wish to use
machine embroidery, decorate toad pieces while flat, before sewing together.
Swineshead Toad (easier version)
To make your toad:1. Sew two body pieces together all round, leaving a gap from a to b.
2. Stuff body and sew up opening. (You can use rice or lentils for a beanbag
type toad).
3. Stitch along the line of dashes, making a crease.
4. Sew on felt, bead or button eyes.
To decorate you can add sequins, beads, buttons, embroidery etc. If you wish to use
machine embroidery, decorate toad pieces while flat, before sewing together.