A BBC television team joined a lively crowd in Carhampton’s Community Orchard last Friday (January 17) for its 28th wassail.

Fronted by Arit Anderson of Gardeners’ World, two programmes entitled Heavenly Gardens will be screened over Easter.

Among the highlights of the evening were the newly formed, 15-strong Wassail Chorus leading the singing of its version of the well-known Drayton Somerset Wassail Song.

Brian Heaton’s melodion, Roland Husebo’s cider cup and Vicky Barber’s mulled apple juice also added to the occasion, in whichSophie and Luca Gasperini placed cider-dipped toast on the branches for the ‘good spirits’ – robins – and Martyn Babb and friends led ‘Oh Apple Tree, we wassail thee’.

Tony Palmer’s guns blasted to banish the ‘evil spirits’ with banging drums, clattering pans and threatening shouts.

The community orchard event ended in the Butcher’s Arms where in 1923 landlord William Tarr revived the tradition for the village.

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