RESIDENTS of a Dorset care home were presented with flowers and sung to by schoolchildren to mark an ancient Shrove Tuesday village tradition.
Durweston CE Primary Cchool, in Durweston near Blandford, invited residents of Colten Care’s Whitecliffe House in Blandford Forum to attend their ‘Shroving’ ceremony.
Colten companion Becky Wyeth said: ‘Shroving’ is a Shrove Tuesday custom which has continued from a bequest left by a former villager called Valentine Rickman, who wanted to provide flowers for the other villagers. Now, each year the local schoolchildren visit the village donating posies to the residents and singing their ‘Shroving Song.’
“Myself and residents Sylvia Drew, Sandra Ross and Ruth Horrocks travelled to the school and all the children came into the Hall carrying a bunch of flowers each. They sang their song a couple of times, whilst we all enjoyed tea and cake.
“Then, after the singing had finished, three children came over and handed our residents each a bunch of daffodils. They then all left to go into the village and place a bunch of flowers on every doorstep.
“We all thought this was a wonderful thing to do and the residents had a lovely time and really appreciated being given flowers.”
