St. George's Day in Pinner

The Pinner Rotary Club helps to host Pinner's annual St. George's Day events, and it commenced in 1963. For 2022, it was held today, on Sunday April 24. One of the most famous events for the day is Ye Olde Wheelbarrow Race, which sees teams competing in racing wheelbarrows and drinking beer from the pubs along the route. There is also live music to look forward to, Punch & Judy shows and a petting zoo for little ones, scout parade, fun fair rides and booths, face-painting, kiosks selling food and drink, local pubs and restaurants selling food and drink along the street, morris dancers, and other entertainment.

My day started off at Eastcote House Gardens where I decided to walk to Pinner along the Celandine Route, a walk that I enjoy (read a post about the Eastcote House Gardens to Pinner walk here). When I arrived at Eastcote House Gardens, there were several classic cars making their way in for a classic car show. It was lovely weather for it, but I could not stay as I had plans to visit Pinner for their St. George's Day event. So, I snapped a few photographs of the cars, including a 1970s Dodge in the same or very simiar colour that my late grandmother owned (inherited) that is sitting in the barn unused for the past 30 years or more.

I also had a quick wander at the gardens at Eastcote House and visited the second-hand bookstore that was open. It's only open on event days, and books are a bargain. The tulips are almost over, but the wisteria is coming out as are the irises.

Along the river Pinn, I noticed a few bluebells are out now. I also snapped a photograph of the dog cemetary that is located at the entrance into Pinner Memorial Gardens (opposite the school). I'd read about it on the official Celandine Route map and information published by Hillingdon Council, but I had walked past it without noticing it on my initial visit.

 Before I continue with the St. George's Day events, I'll also post about the coffin! Next to St. John the Baptist's church on Pinner High Street (the beautiful church tower at the end of the beautiful-looking street) is a floating coffin suspended in a triangular piece of cement. William and Agnes Louden are the two people that it is dedicated to. There are a lot of old tales about this coffin. It was actually designed by the son of the couple that it is dedicated to as he was a landscape designer and wanted to convey the cemetary in a different method than past traditional methods.

Now, on to St. George's Day at Pinner. The day started off with bell-ringing at the Parish Church, and the crowds had yet to descend. The fun fair rides and games had started to get attention from the early arrivals. Choir singing was one of the first events of the day.

I had a check at the petting zoo, which contained a large array of animals. Goats, lambs, rabbits, and hens were some of the animals I saw. 

I grabbed a curry meal from the front of one of the restaurants on the High Street.

I discovered St. George wandering down the High Street and looking for the dragon to slay. He was, with his companion, handing out flyers for a play.

There weren't too many in fancy dress. I noticed a couple of women outside one of the stands and the morris dancers. I had a quick chat to one of the morris dancers outside the popular Queen's Head pub.

The scouts then started their parade from the bottom of the High Street to the war memorial to renew their Promise. St. George kicked off the parade with the Mayor of Harrow's car following behind...then all of the different scout groups.

I briefly met the Mayor of Harrow, Cllr Ghazanfar Ali, to get a photograph of him and his wife. They were giving speeches throughout the day and participating in some of the events. He also participated in the morris dancing. 

Next on the agenda was the morris dancing with the Merrydowners, dressed in their bright costumes.

There was some time to kill before the wheelbarrow race, so I just sat down and watched the people and also got a slushie to enjoy while I sat down and waited for the wheelbarrow race. I listened to the music playing from band Simply Gray, who were playing older songs like Elvis and general rock and roll. I also made sure to pick my spot to watch the race early, though I did find that I picked the wrong spot as it was obscured by people who showed up later. 

The wheelbarrow race and day has its traditions in the extensive variety of local pubs, which has sadly dwindled over the years. Pinner was a community that loved its pubs. Before the race, there was a procession of the wheelbarrow race participants. 

The wheelbarrows finally came racing around the corner. There was a clear leader at this point (number 3), and they were the first to finish the race. I enjoyed seeing the costumes. Super heroes, St. Georges, dragons, men dressed as babies, etc.

A large inflatible dragon was a centrepiece at the top of the High Street and welcomed many photographs.

A lot of children waited for the Punch & Judy show to start.

By the end of the wheelbarrow race, the High Street was the busiest that it had been all day.