HISTORY
STRAW BEAR ORIGINS
In Whittlesea, from when no one quite knows, it was the custom on the Tuesday following Plough Monday (the 1st Monday after Twelfth Night) to dress one of the confraternity of the plough in straw and call him a 'Straw Bear'. A newspaper of 1882 reports that "... he was then taken around the town to entertain by his frantic and clumsy gestures the good folk who had on the previous day subscribed to the rustics, a spread of beer, tobacco and beef".
The bear was described as having great lengths of tightly twisted straw bands prepared and wound up the arms, legs and body of the man or boy who was unfortunate enough to have been chosen. Two sticks fastened to his shoulders met a point over his head and the straw wound round upon them to form a cone above the "Bear's" head. The face was quite covered and he could hardly see. A tail was provided and a strong chain fastened around the armpits. He was made to dance in front of houses and gifts of money or of beer and food for later consumption was expected. It seems that he was considered important, as straw was carefully selected each year, from the best available, the harvesters saying, "That'll do for the Bear".
The tradition fell into decline at the end of the 19th century, the last sighting being in 1909 as it appears that an over-zealous police inspector had forbidden 'Straw Bears' as a form of cadging.
.JPG?etag=%222fb000-5faa5d75%22&sourceContentType=image%2Fjpeg&ignoreAspectRatio&resize=570%2B760&extract=56%2B31%2B421%2B472&quality=85 "Photographer Ian Lancaster. 2018 Brian Kell")
STRAW BEAR REVIVAL
The custom was revived in 1980 by the Whittlesea Society, and for the first time in seventy years a 'Straw Bear' was seen on the streets accompanied by his attendant keeper, musicians and dancers, about 30 in all. Various public houses were visited around the town as convenient places for the 'Bear' and dancers to perform in front of an audience - with much needed refreshment available!
The Bear is constructed in a more practical way now, the straw being fixed to a suitable garment, the head supported on a metal frame on the shoulders. This arrangement allows the costume to be removable which is essential as the length of the processional route and the time taken necessitates two persons 'driving the bear'. The person donning the costume is adding something like 5 stone to his own weight.
The procession now contains over 250 dancers, musicians and performers from various parts of the British Isles performing traditional 'Molly', 'Morris', 'Clog' and 'Sword. There is also American style 'Appalachian' dancing, street performances and Mummers plays. A decorated plough is pulled by 21st century plough boys and is now an established part of the procession.
In 1999 the Straw Bear made friends with a German Straw Bear from Walldürn near Frankfurt, a town that celebrates its own Straw Bear Festival on the Monday before Shrove Tuesday.
Although the festivities begin earlier in the week, the Saturday is the only day on which the 'Bear' makes an appearance before the 'Bear Burning' on the Sunday. This leaves the way open for a new bear to be created from the next season's harvest.
THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOURS LIST 2013 BRIAN KELL BEM
Brian Kell. Founder and organiser, the Straw Bear festival. For services to music and the community in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire. (Peterborough, Cambridgeshire)
The British Empire Medal, which is awarded for meritorious service worthy of recognition by the crown, was established in 1922. It lay in abeyance from 1992 until it was reinstated in 2012 to coincide with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. In the Queen's Birthday Honours list for 2013 it was awarded to some 300 people nationwide, of which Brian Kell was one.
As founder and principal organiser of the Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival, he was recognised for his service to music and the community of Whittlesey.
For over 30 years his enthusiasm in promoting the Straw Bear tradition has resulted in it growing from a small beginning as a folk event, to a Festival of national and international recognition. His plentiful supply of energy in introducing live theatre into schools and now teaching youngsters music, traditional folk song and Longsword dancing, has had a lasting effect on the Festival, resulting in schools now participating. The financial benefit he has brought to the Town is immeasurable. His Straw Bear legacy is plain for all to see, adorning school uniforms, sculptures, post cards and local tourist information offices. The fact is that Brian single handedly put back Whittlesey's own tradition and in doing so, established a Festival that the town can truly identify with, cannot be denied.
This award is so well deserved, many congratulations Brian.
Brian attended a special British Empire Medal Investiture, held in Peterborough Town Hall on Friday 20th September 2013.
STRAWBEARERS
It is a real team effort to bring the Straw Bear to the streets of Whittlesey. All who are involved with the Straw Bear festival organisation are volunteers and give up their own time to contribute to this community event. There are too many to list, but do a stirling jobs behind the scenes. However, for the archives, below are those Strawbearers who have had main public facing roles as Directors, Bears or Keepers.
Listed in order of appearance on the day. Generally Bear 'Drivers' swap over at lunchtime.
DIRECTORS
From 1979 until 1998 the festival was managed by the Whittlesea Society, the revival was instigated by Brian Kell, then a member of the society. Following the setting up of a separate friendly society in 1998 the directorship was as follows:-
1998 Brian Kell
1999 Brian Kell
2000 Brian Kell
2001 Brian Kell
2002 Brian Kell
2003 Brian Kell
2004 Brian Kell
2005 Brian Kell
2006 Coral Cornell
2007 Coral Cornell
2008 Coral Cornell
2009 Pete Williams
2010 Pete Williams
2011 Pete Williams
2012 Paul Cornell
2013 Paul Cornell
2014 Paul Cornell
2015 Ann Saxton
2016 Ann Saxton
2017 Ann Saxton
2018 Roger Boon
2019 Roger Boon
2020 Roger Boon
2021 Douglas Kell
2022 Douglas Kell
2023 Douglas Kell
2024 Gary Cook
2025 Gary Cook
LITTLE BEAR
1989 Douglas Kell
1990 Douglas Kell
1991 Douglas Kell, Jon Kell
1992 Douglas Kell, Jon Kell
1993 Douglas Kell, Jon Kell
1994 Jon Kell (+Eve) Tom Sennett, Douglas Kell
1995 Douglas Kell, Tom Sennett
1996 Douglas Kell, Tom Sennett
1997 Libby Walker, Joseph Cornell, Tom Sennett (Eve)
1998 Luke Crick
1999 Luke Crick, Christian Cornell
2000 Luke Crick, Christian Cornell
2001 Luke Crick, Christian Cornell
2002 Matthew Crick
2003 Matthew Crick, Robert-James Crick
2004 Matthew Crick, Robert-James Crick
2005 Matthew Crick, Robert-James Crick
2006 Matthew Crick, Robert-James Crick
2007 Robert-James Crick
2008 Robert-James Crick
2009 Oliver Cross
2010 Oliver Cross
2011 Oliver Cross
2012 Oliver Cross
2013 Ruby Cross, Grace Randall
2014 Ruby Cross, Grace Randall
2015 Ruby Cross, Grace Randall
2016 Ruby Cross, Grace Randall
2017 Noah Randall, Jasper Kell
2018 Noah Randall, Jasper Kell
2019 Noah Randall, Jasper Kell
2020 Eve Randall, Karalee Kell
2021 Noah Randall
2022 -
2023 Eve Randall, Karalee Kell
2024 Karalee Kell, Eve Randall
BIG BEAR DRIVERS
1980 Brian Kell
1981 Brian Kell
1982 Brian Kell
1983 Brian Kell
1984 Brian Kell
1985 Brian Kell, Phillip Oldfield
1986 Brian Kell, Phillip Oldfield
1987 Brian Kell, Phillip Oldfield
1988 Brian Kell, Phillip Oldfield
1989 Brian Kell, Phillip Oldfield
1990 Brian Kell, Phillip Oldfield
1991 Brian Kell, Phillip Oldfield
1992 Brian Kell, Phillip Oldfield
1993 Brian Kell, Phillip Oldfield
1994 Phillip Oldfield, Philip Walker
1995 Phillip Oldfield, Philip Walker
1996 Phillip Oldfield, Philip Walker
1997 Phillip Oldfield, Philip Walker
1998 Phillip Oldfield, Philip Walker
1999 Phillip Oldfield, Philip Walker
2000 Phillip Oldfield, Philip Walker
2001 Phillip Oldfield, Philip Walker
2002 Phillip Walker, Paul Cornell
2003 Phillip Walker, Paul Cornell
2004 Phillip Walker, Paul Cornell
2005 Phillip Walker, Paul Cornell
2006 Phillip Walker, Paul Cornell
2007 Phillip Walker, Paul Cornell
2008 Joseph Cornell (AM), Douglas Kell, (PM) Philip Walker (Eve)
2009 Douglas Kell (AM, Eve), Tom Sennett (PM)
2010 Christian Cornell (AM), Joseph Cornell, (PM, Eve)
2011 Luke Crick (AM), Tom Sennett (PM, Eve)
2012 Christian Cornell (AM), Joseph Cornell (PM, Eve)
2013 Megan Randall (AM), Douglas Kell (PM, Eve)
2014 Luke Crick (AM), Tom Sennett (PM, Eve)
2015 Christian Cornell (AM), Joseph Cornell, (PM, Eve)
2016 Ady Bull (AM), Douglas Kell (PM, Eve)
2017 Luke Crick (AM), Tom Sennett (PM, Eve)
2018 Christian Cornell (AM, Eve), Joseph Cornell, (PM)
2019 Ady Bull (AM), Douglas Kell (PM, Eve)
2020 Luke Crickwood (AM), Tom Sennett (PM)
2021 Paul Cornell
2022
2023
2024 Ady Bull (AM), Douglas Kell (PM)
BIG BEAR KEEPERS
1980 Gordon Kirkup
1981 Don Anderson
1982 Tom Brazier
1983 Tom Brazier
1984 Tom Brazier
1985 Tom Brazier
1986 Tom Brazier
1987 Tom Brazier
1988 Tom Brazier
1989 Bernard East
1990 Bernard East
1991 Bernard East
1992 Bernard East
1993 Bernard East
1994 Bernard East
1995 Bernard East
1996 Bernard East
1997 Bernard East, Martin Hughes
1998 Bernard East, Pete Sennett
1999 Rob Taylor
2000 Rob Taylor
2001 Rob Taylor
2002 Rob Taylor
2003 Rob Taylor
2004 Rob Taylor
2005 Rob Taylor
2006 Douglas Kell
2007 Rob Taylor
2008 Rob Taylor
2009 Rob Taylor
2010 Rob Taylor
2011 Rob Taylor
2012 Rob Taylor
2013 Rob Taylor
2014 Rob Taylor
2015 Rob Taylor
2016 Rob Taylor
2017 Rob Taylor
2018 Paul Cornell
2019 Paul Cornell
2020 Paul Cornell
2021 Coral Cornell
2022 Paul Cornell
2023 Paul Cornell
2024 Paul Cornell
LITTLE BEAR KEEPER
1989
1990
1991 Ruth Taylor
1992 Ruth Taylor
1993 Ruth Taylor
1994 Ruth Taylor
1995 Ruth Taylor
1996 Ruth Taylor
1997 Ruth Taylor
1998 Ruth Taylor
1999 Ruth Taylor
2000 Ruth Taylor
2001 Ruth Taylor
2002 Ruth Taylor
2003 Ruth Taylor
2004 Wendy Crick
2005 Wendy Crick
2006 Wendy Crick
2007 Wendy Crick
2008 Ruth Taylor
2009 Ruth Taylor
2010 Ruth Taylor
2011 Ruth Taylor
2012 Ruth Taylor
2013 Ruth Taylor
2014 Ruth Taylor
2015 Ruth Taylor
2016 Ruth Taylor
2017 Jasper Kell, Noah Randall
2018 Jasper Kell, Noah Randall
2019 Jasper Kell, Noah Randall
2020 Karalee Kell, Eve Randall
2021 -
2022 -
2023 Karalee Kell, Eve Randall
2024 Noah Randall, Karalee Kell
MIDDLE BEAR
2013 Oliver Cross
2014 Oliver Cross
2015 -
2016 -
2017 Grace Randall, Ruby Cross
2018 Grace Randall
2019 -
2020 Noah Randall, Jasper Kell
2021 -
2022 -
2023 -
2024 -
