Building on the success of last year’s 25th anniversary, Southwell will welcome another important Japanese visitor, Yuri Shotton, to this year’s Bramley Apple Festival.
Festival Chairman Roger Merryweather said: “Our link with Japan continues to grow and this year has seen the Bramley being incorporated into British Week at Tokyo’s top department store, the Mitsukoshi.
“We are delighted to welcome Yuri Shotton to Southwell as she has been very involved with the British Week in Tokyo.”
The celebrations in Japan included serving a delicious Bramley Apple Afternoon Tea, prepared by local chef Edward Halls from the Clockhouse Tearoom at Upton.
Taking place on Saturday 19th October, this year’s Bramley festival, which represents so many aspects of life in Southwell is being organised thanks to sponsorship from Richard Hochfeld Ltd, Newark and Sherwood District Council, Southwell Town Council and Nottinghamshire County Council.
Organisations taking part include the Women’s Institute, Southwell Minster, Nottingham Trent University, the National Trust, the Bramley Centre Library, Southwell Racecourse, Nottinghamshire County Council and Southwell Traders.
Festival Celebrations got off to an early start on 10th October with a special Bramley Race held at Southwell Racecourse.
On the day of the festival events will range from apple-themed activities at the National Trust’s Southwell Workhouse to the popular Festival of Food and Drink with cookery demonstrations and more than 30 stalls representing the best of local produce in the historic Southwell Minster.
A display of apples from John Hempsall’s Heritage Orchard can be seen in Southwell Minster while the Archbishop’s Palace and Education Centre will host apple-related children’s crafts and trails around the garden from 10.30am to 3pm.
The local library is hosting the Big Draw (10am to 12 noon) and stalls and refreshments from Beaumond House (9am to 3pm) as well as organising the annual Bramley Apple Painting and Poetry Competition and Exhibition.
The library will host prizegiving ceremonies for the Painting and Poetry Competitions when visitors can also admire the crowning of this year’s Bramley Apple King, Queen, Prince and Princess.
Visitors can have a go at creating the longest apple peel, and follow an apple themed trail at Southwell Workhouse. Back in the town visitors can stroll through the streets to admire the many apple-themed window displays.
There will also be performances of music and dance by groups of Morris Men and the Minster School Ceilidh Band will perform the Bramley song at the opening of the Festival in the Minster. And look our for King Charles I in a special Bramley Apple themed outfit! (www.kingcharlesireturn.co.uk)
Introduced last year Nottingham Trent University has arranged for visitors to see the original Bramley Apple Tree at 75 and 77 Church Street from 11am to 3pm.
For more information click here for a leaflet or pick up one up at the Tourist Information Centre, telephone 01636 819038. Leaflets are also widely available throughout the town.
Published October 2019