Cold Ash and Hermitage Mummers keep ancient tradition alive

COLD Ash and Hermitage Mummers have been out performing their traditional Christmas play in local pubs.

Theirs is a local tradition dating back almost 30 years, with just one annual performance missed due to Covid lockdown in 2020.

They have developed their own style over the years for this strange tale of mortal combat between King George and the Turkish Knight, with a few added characters such as the Princess Sheba and this year a fearsome dragon.

The mummers have performed this year in The Bunk Inn, Curridge, The White Horse in Hermitage, The Cottage Inn, Upper Bucklebury, The Castle in Cold Ash and The Spotted Dog in Cold Ash.

The team is supported by a small section of Cold Ash Brass, who play the Mummers’ Song at the start and entertain the audience afterwards with seasonal tunes.

Each year, they collect for Macmillan Cancer Support and have raised more than £25,000 over the years thanks to the generous support of audiences.

Pictured, getting ready to perform at The Bunk Inn, from left to right, are Christmas Boy (Pete Connolly), Princess Sheba (Adrian Hooper) and the Dragon (Andy Keil).