THE village of Fownhope have kept a centuries long tradition going with its annual parade.

The village’s Heart of Oak Society celebrated its 150th anniversary with a parade that assembled at Wye Leisure before marching to the church and parading through the village to the recreation field where there was a community picnic and sports activities including for the first time a small sided team tug of war. The society was formed at a time when agricultural workers relied on friendly societies to provide a form of insurance to their members if they fell upon hard times.

This self-help arrangement was a lifeline for those facing hardship during times when support elsewhere did not exist.

Most Hearts of Oak societies would have a celebration day each year when participants would walk through the village at Whitsuntide, but the parade was later moved to Oak Apple Day on May 29.

The Fownhope Heart of Oak Society still manage to preserve some of these early traditions with the traditional club walk taking place at the weekend.

The society today has evolved by becoming more of a social group and fundraising for local worthy causes.

Originally only men and junior members of the society took part in the Club Walk parade.

But now with the entry open to all members who are encouraged to take part in the parade and carry sticks decorated with flowers and they would be led in the procession by members carrying a decorated oak bough and the club banner.

The art of decorating a floral stick for the annual walk, normally a softwood stick with a finial of a carved acorn on the top, was passed down through the generations.

Flowers and foliage with woody stems were added to the stick to give it strength.