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Muskets won't fire in Wimborne at lights switch-on (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Muskets won't fire in Wimborne at lights switch-on
9:46am Thursday 27th November 2008
MUSKETS will no longer be fired over the Christmas tree in Wimborne’s Square this year – because it scares the children.
Members of the town’s Militia, which re-enacts traditions dating back to the 17th century, have been told by the town council not to carry out the custom of “scouring” the tree at a ceremony to switch on the lights.
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Councillors say the noise of the muskets scares young children. But the Militia says the historic ritual of scaring spirits from trees adds colour to the ceremony.
Town crier Chris Brown, a member of the Militia, said detailed safety warnings were given out before the muskets were fired.
“We understand that the loud reports can make people and children jump but we would suggest that we all need to get used to strange things happening and mollycoddling children will not help them cope with the unexpected.
“Between us we have eight children who have all grown up understanding the safety aspects of firing muskets and very quickly got used to the loud report they make,” said Mr Brown.
But deputy mayor, Cllr John Burden, the chairman of Wimborne Town Council’s Militia Management Committee, said he had been stopped in the street more than 15 times by concerned parents.
“I have had quite a few people stop me in the street and ask me if muskets will be fired at the switching on of the lights this year.
“They have told me if muskets are going to be fired they won’t be bringing their children along. To me, the switching on of the Christmas lights is an event for children.
“Last year, there were children who were very upset and crying for some time afterwards. It will stop a good number of people from coming to the town,” said Cllr Burden.
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Your Say YourEcho
Notagain, Wimborne says...
10:30am Thu 27 Nov 08
Bring them back. History is more important and children should get used to different sounds. It is part of growing up.
ranger_bob, Springbourne says...
11:05am Thu 27 Nov 08
How molly coddled do we want are children to be as they grow up?
Bob49, Bournemouth says...
11:11am Thu 27 Nov 08
Does again highlight what a selfish, me, me, me society we have become. If your child gets upset then don't take your child. Don't expect everything to be changed for your benefit.
As to the councillors I have every sympathy. Dealing with complaints and letters from 'no win' solicitors is becoming a growing headache and cost.
Any wonder so many restrictions are imposed or they simply stop doing things.
spindleboy, Broadstone says...
11:15am Thu 27 Nov 08
West Howe Sean, Bournemouth says...
11:29am Thu 27 Nov 08
Next we wont allow local young people to play music in community facilities. The music might be too loud, someone might have a drink, people might actually enjoy themselves.
Lets close all the pubs, ban music, ban everything. We'll all be safe in our individually customised sanitised worlds.
signup, Northbourne says...
11:35am Thu 27 Nov 08
Why is fireworks night allowed when this isn't? Are children not allowed to be frightened any more?
signup, Northbourne says...
11:35am Thu 27 Nov 08
Laurie Marsh, brisbane says...
11:43am Thu 27 Nov 08
It frightens off evil spirits and evil spirited people!
Spindleboy, I think that means you!
Your cotton-wool calls!
amused, poole says...
12:29pm Thu 27 Nov 08
Nickolai, Bournemouth says...
12:53pm Thu 27 Nov 08
It's hardly a broadside of HMS Victory's guns is it ?
Jason Lawford, Ferndown says...
12:55pm Thu 27 Nov 08
spindleboy, Broadstone says...
1:17pm Thu 27 Nov 08
muskatoon, wimborne says...
1:27pm Thu 27 Nov 08
evertonpenguin, Bournemouth says...
1:32pm Thu 27 Nov 08
Michael.Randall, Colehill says...
1:33pm Thu 27 Nov 08
As for safety warnings, anyone who has lived/or lives in the area knows that this happens every year.
Maybe we shouldn't have the Save the Children parade in case on of the floats backfires or the children are frightend by the people dressed up? And what about the organs that play in the Square every Saturday in the lead up to Christmas? Should they be banned in case someone is frightend by the instruments seemingly playing themselves?
Bournehammer68, Bournemouth says...
2:20pm Thu 27 Nov 08
spindleboy wrote:what a muppet.
This so called custom has only been carried out for the last five or so years! I have been to a number of these 'fireings' and have not heard one word of warning! And as to the legallity of discharging firearms in a public place is concerned the Firearms Act states that it is illegle to discharge a firearm in a public place or 50 feet from the centre of a road. Loaded firearms includes Muskets and weapons able to fire blanks. As a responsible owner of firearms I feel that the Wimborne Militia should show more responsability towards the public and children especially when discharging their weapons. This is not a re-enactment but irresponsible use of gunpowder and dangerous weapons in a public place.
I take it you'll be taking the royal horse guards to court for celebrating Prince Charles Birthday.
as for your rediculous comment stating that fireworks and firearms are different, well done. no-one is saying they aren't. the point is that fireworks go bang without any warning too, this doesn't make people run up and say only silent fireworks or I'm not coming to your display though does it!
Fun bah humbug! why don't you go take it out on the bunnies with your big man firearms
amused, poole says...
2:42pm Thu 27 Nov 08
spindleboy wrote:Yes fireworks are much louder
Just an observation Fireworks are totally different to Firearms.
j.cafe@tiscali.co.uk, Wimborne says...
3:31pm Thu 27 Nov 08
Merleyman, Merley says...
3:44pm Thu 27 Nov 08
Still its a better excuse of being a spoil sport than "Elf n Safety"
Zzzz, Poole says...
4:45pm Thu 27 Nov 08
pd7, Dorset says...
5:19pm Thu 27 Nov 08
Now all we have to do is teach the kids to read
Adrian XX, Poole says...
6:32pm Thu 27 Nov 08
signup wrote:Indeed. Truly imbecilic. Publishing before you test your code cannot be forgiven.
By the way, the person who coded the voting option above hasn't got a clue. Try testing it first before you publish it!
pd7, Dorset says...
11:58pm Thu 27 Nov 08
As a runner I feel scared when when I hear the gun goes off.
I can hear next years battle day at Bovy now . 1000 of our best yelling bang in harmony
sollie, says...
8:41am Fri 28 Nov 08
I encourage Echo readers to do two things:
1) E-mail the Wimborne Town Council to express their view and
2) Next time you see Cllr John Burden make sure you stop him and give him an earful
Jason Lawford, Ferndown says...
11:10am Fri 28 Nov 08
I am sure our youngsters would love to see this tradition in its full glory (including Gun Powder).
Jason Lawford, Ferndown says...
11:10am Fri 28 Nov 08
I am sure our youngsters would love to see this tradition in its full glory (including Gun Powder).
hemlock, Wimborne, Dorset says...
11:38am Fri 28 Nov 08
sollie wrote:I bet the The Duke of Beaufort is turning in his grave.
What are the council up to. One minute they are complaining that no-one is coming to Wimborne because Canford Bridge is closed and then they are putting a dampener on one event that will bring shoppers to the town.
I encourage Echo readers to do two things:
1) E-mail the Wimborne Town Council to express their view and
2) Next time you see Cllr John Burden make sure you stop him and give him an earful
Going by the recent "Cafe culture for Square plan" story. Wimborne Town Council and EDDC, do not want shoppers at all.
MJD, HAMWORTHY says...
6:44pm Fri 28 Nov 08
mattf, Wimborne says...
7:14pm Fri 28 Nov 08
I call on Wimborne Town Council to BAN beardy blokes from the town forthwith.
We must ensure the children are safe by BANNING everything, ever. Including beards. And Mayors. Their chains could fall onto a child's head and cause a nasty scratch. BAN THEM!!
jamesy, says...
7:40pm Fri 28 Nov 08
mattf, Wimborne says...
7:56pm Fri 28 Nov 08
Shooting trees is a mindless act of violence and should have been stopped years ago.
Trees have the right to exist without the fear of beardy men in 17th Century garb blasting them with guns.
Many's the night I would stand wide awake in the wood, leaves trembling for fear of a beard popping up behind a shrub and shredding me with his glock.
As a sappling, I heard tales of the strangely dressed beardy men and their fire sticks of death. It used to scare me to my roots, I can tell you.
Hooray for Wimborne Town Council and their tree-based ban everything policy of common tree sense.
Signed: Tony Larch.
Villz, Wimborne says...
8:13pm Fri 28 Nov 08
Almost as irritating in fact as Mr Wimborne. It's a toss up each week as to who gets their picture more in the local papers.
muskatoon, wimborne says...
1:06am Sat 29 Nov 08
to VLLZ: The Wimborne Militia were Commissioned by Wimborne Minster Town Council, there is no mystery and it is all in the public domain. The Militia do have a considerable positive effect upon the town, attraction as a place to visit and are widely used in civic events. The town itself has a major historical connection with raising a Militia to defend Dorset from Pirates and Smugglers.
As for appearance in the news sheet print of the town, there is an active and formal league competition in appearances in local media between MR WIMBORNE & DJ DAPPER DAN ako beardy nightmare!
Wimbornite, wimborne says...
1:26am Sat 29 Nov 08
Villz wrote:Having been a Citizen of Wimborne for a number of years now, I am rather proud that Wimborne upholds so called silly traditions. Wether its pancake races round the minster,r the Folk Festival or even Scary men with beards (although I recall very few of them actually have beards) firing muskets. Its what brought me to the town as a visitor and finally made me up sticks and become a fully fledged, ale drinking (but not on the streets) Wimbornite.
Am I the only one who wonders where the self-appointed 'militia' came from? They seemed to appear about 5 years ago and to be frank I find them completely irritating!
Almost as irritating in fact as Mr Wimborne. It's a toss up each week as to who gets their picture more in the local papers.
As for the Militia being self appointed, had you bothered to speak to a member as I have, you would realise that they actually have a town charter from the council to form the Militia and in their words "Protect the worshipful mayor and citizens of Wimborne Minster" A charter that dates back to the 16th century. They have added much entertainment to many otherwise dull events.In fact even one of the council members enlisted them as an honor guard at their wedding where they fired a musket volley on the green. The civic service this year was also brightened up with tea and a slice of cake to the accompaniment of the sound of musket fire.
Its bad enough to loose the cricket pitch, do the council want to do away with everything that makes Wimborne unique? I await the day the minster is sold off to make way for a Mc Donnalds. St wite will be turning in their grave!
Palantir, Wimborne says...
2:23pm Sat 29 Nov 08
I used to fire muskets with these guys for years and I so very rarely heard anyone with a bad thing to say about the Militia nor any complaints about the noise!
So yes, a few kids were scared - loads more probably weren't, and the parents of the ones who were should be reassuring them that it's okay and they are safe!
Perhaps the Councillor responsible should arrange to rename the event to be 'winterval' and avoid offending other cultures, and ban christmas carols too just in case someone upsets the other religions in town?
yet another tradition taken away by politically correct do gooders.
MJD, HAMWORTHY says...
6:29pm Sat 29 Nov 08
muskatoon, wimborne says...
12:57am Sun 30 Nov 08
6:29pm Sat 29 Nov 08
Good job one of are boys killed in Afghanistan had his funeral at Christchurch priory, if it had been in Wimborne Minster the council would have stopped the gun salute.
This puts the whole thing into perspective. What the Militia do on the streets of Wimborne is to honour the turmnoil of time past and remind us of our traditions. Those who serve for us now are the ones who deserve our respect and support. We have also been told that we are not to fire at the Children's Parade on the 16th of December. The organisor told me this evening that our firing at the end of the parade "makes children cry". For the last ten years it has been OK and the Militia provide the Hounour Guard for the Mayor & Chairman of East Dorset D.C.
THIS HAS BECOME VERY SILLY! Wimborne deserves to sing in the forthcoming economic mire!
muskatoon, wimborne says...
1:03am Sun 30 Nov 08
Palantir, Wimborne says...
12:47pm Sun 30 Nov 08
Perhaps they should also ban some of the morris teams at the Folkie next year too, just in case the painted faces and the hobby horses, and the high whoops of the dancers traumatise young children too? Then again it IS a different story when it comes to the something that the council can profit from...
paul.p, says...
2:00pm Fri 5 Dec 08
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Muskets won't fire in Wimborne at lights switch-on
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ZombieJesus, says...
10:14am Thu 27 Nov 08
New idea: fire children out of cannons. Two problems solved at once.