Snotengaham late 9th cent. ‘Homestead of the family or followers of a man called Snot [yes snot - sorry].’

Royal Oak Day 2010

The Fox Inn

Lord Mayor with Clover Taverns MD Andy Wilkinson and Fox Inn landlady 
Yvonne Disney. Kris Katchit the jester is on umbrella duty

Typical British Bank Holiday weekend wet weather didn’t dampen the fun at the Fox Inn on Valley Road, Basford, when the locals rallied on 29 May to celebrate the 350th Anniversary of “Royal Oak Day”.

Royal Oak Day relates to the return of Charles II to London in 1660 and the restoration of the monarchy.  In 1660 the Parliament of the day ordered the King’s birthday – 29 May – should be “forever kept as a day of thanksgiving and the King’s return to his Government.” 

Release from the tyranny of Oliver Cromwell and his followers was seen as a reason to sing, dance, feast and celebrate being English – something that was highly discouraged during the Puritanical Cromwell period.   

But it was high on the agenda at the Fox Inn with a packed programme of activities – despite the inclement weather - when licensee Yvonne Disney decided this year’s Royal Oak Day was a good opportunity to celebrate another major event for the pub - the official re-opening following a major refurbishment and £150,000 improvement programme by pub operators Clover Taverns.

Jester Kris Katchit kept the children entertained with juggling, balloon shaping and magic tricks.  Expert face painting by Dawn Booth from Fun Faces was hugely popular in return for donations to the pub’s chosen charity – Help For Heroes.

Army cadets from South Notts. Hussars and Rifles regiment showed their skills on a climbing wall and organised a selection of Help For Heroes fund raising activities including a balloon race.

Late afternoon the pub was ‘invaded’ by no less than three Morris Dancing teams and their musicians.  Local ladies team “Mortimer’s Morris” were joined by the “Adelaide Morris Men” and the “Lancashire Witches” who were visiting from Australia.  Not wanting to risk rain damage to the musicians’ instruments, the scheduled programme of dancing outside was cancelled as tables and chairs were hurriedly cleared from an area inside the pub so that the dancing could commence!  

Feasting was taken care of with free samples of the pub’s delicious range of own recipe home-made sausages.

Says Yvonne: “If the monarchy hadn’t been restored HM The Queen would not be on the throne and there probably wouldn’t be any pubs – such places were frowned upon apparently!  Imagine England without the Queen and no pubs.  Doesn’t bear thinking about does it?”

Royal Oak Day continued to be celebrated throughout the country up until 1859 when for reasons it was abolished.  “I don’t know why they stopped 29 May being a holiday,” says Yvonne, “but the 350th Anniversary of the occasion seemed like an opportune occasion to bring it back.”

Clover Taverns managing director Andy Wilkinson agrees with Yvonne and sent an official request to Nick Clegg inviting him to consider re-instating the 29 May as a public holiday.  Said Andy:  “When the holiday was abolished in 1859 the party in power was the very first Liberal government. Now the Liberals are once again in a place of power, Clover Taverns is backing a campaign to ask the Deputy Prime Minister Clegg to put right some wrong decisions made by his Liberal predecessors.

“When politicians say for forever they should mean it!  With David Cameron and Nick Clegg also claiming redemption from Labour tyranny, I think the 350th Anniversary of Royal Oak Day is a great time to think about giving the nation a boost with a day off to dance and party.  Perhaps if Mr Cameron had put this in his manifesto he may have got a clear majority!”

The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Nottingham agreed with Yvonne and Andy and were at the party as the pub’s VIP guests of honour.  The Lord Mayor pulled the official “first pint” and also assisted with planting a young oak tree at the pub.

Children from the local Heathfield Primary School were invited to participate by submitting paintings or drawings related to oak trees.  The Lady Mayoress
chose three winners – Jessica Brown, Josie McBennett and Kayden Curwood –who each received a presentation pack of a 350th Anniversary £5 commemorative coin issued by the Royal Mint to mark the occasion.

The Fox Inn on Valley Road, Basford, will be celebrating Royal Oak Day on 29 May 2010 to coincide with their re-opening after a major refurbishment programme.

The Lord Mayor of Nottingham will be in attendance, as will his Lady Mayoress. The Lord Mayor has been asked to help The Fox Inn commemorate the occasion by planting an oak tree in the grounds of the pub.

Pupils at the nearby Heathfield School have also been invited to mark Royal Oak Day by drawing or painting an oak tree related picture.

The submitted works of art will be judged by the Lady Mayoress who will also present prizes to three chosen winners.

Those attending the event will be treated to a variety of activities and entertainment, including performances by local morris dancers Mortiner’s Morris and visiting morris dancing team the Adelaide Morris Men from Australia.

The festivities commence at 1pm when the Lord Mayor arrives and will continue until approximately 4pm.

The Fox Inn,Valley Road, Basford, Nottingham. NG5 1HY

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‘On Royal Oak Day branches of that tree are carried in procession, and decorate many of the signs of public houses in Nottingham and elsewhere’

Jour. Of the Arch. Assoc., 1853, vol. viii. P.234

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‘On this day the Notts juveniles not only wear the usual piece of oak-twig, but each young loyalist is armed with a nettle, with which instrument of torture are coerced those unfortunates who are unprovided with “royal oak”, as it is called. Some who are unable to procure it endeavour to avoid the penalty by wearing “dog oak” (maple), but the punishment is always more severe on discovery of the imposition'.

N. & Q. 1st S. Vol. Viii. P. 490

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"The wise boy wore his oak leaves, armed himselves with a stinging nettle and carried a few dock leaves for first aid just in case."

Local History Council collection: Memories of Mansfield.

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