Warning: for those of a sensitive disposition, this post includes images of clowns
Today, in the paper, reference was made to a new operation providing privileges for the posh, a sort of upmarket Gumtree where you can get your perfect nanny for little Tarquin and Baby Jezebel, or an extra for your grouse shoot or specially crafted yak-leather thongs or some such. This urge to outdo is alive and well in classless Britain and it makes my skin crawl frankly.
However, today I came across an antidote, with the best sort of British oneupmanshipery:
The Halesworth Scarecrow Festival
Each year, over the week nearest Hallowe’en, the Suffolk town of Halesworth runs a challenge for the shops and banks and other businesses: to create an imaginative scarecrow.
This provides entertainment for anyone visiting and, of course, pulls in more visitors.
Children are sent on hunts to find the most bizarre (and a code to lead them to a prize) and money is raised for local charities.
Perhaps these dummies aren’t the best crafted and some are distinctly so-so but then, they don’t pretend to the pretentious end of the spectrum.
They embody an important and often forgotten concept where marketing is involved: fun.
They do that thing which we need more of: smiles.
Happy faces.
Nonsense.
And they use old clothes, cheap materials and a ton of balled up paper.
I had a blazing time snapping away and chatting to other visitors about their favourites, though constant vigilance was required as they did seem to be something of a magnet for Dog and some badly timed leg-cockery.
And the clowns?
Which are you favourites?
For me it’s the climber up the yarn bombed signpost.
But seeing these I always remember mums ‘Charlie Dimmock’ and the well placed buttons.
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yes, charlie dimmock! I must have a picture somewhere!
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The couple on bamboo poles, and the ?yoga pose
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yes the yoga star was in my top three; v clever
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I think I loved the Mr Men ones His Geoffleship!
Last year we made one for the Gravesham in Bloom competition, it was the Queen and we won first prize!
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oh get you, the serial prize winner!! I bet it was typically ott Rituesque!!! When you do Easter bonnets for your children they must have fields of live bunnies on them…
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Lol! I wish I could take credit but it was one of the others who us a true gardening expert!!!!
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I love this idea, although I could give the clowns a miss! My favourites are the Wicked Witch with her stripey sock and Mr & Mrs Scarecrow! 🙂
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You know, Judy, I’ve read about ten comments and everyone likes a different set which says they’ve got it about right!!
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They certainly seem to have 🙂
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Love the one on the art gallery pole and the Mr & Mrs. Actually, I think they are all great.
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They are, Mary. Yes the escapee up the sign is excellent
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I loved them all, except the clowns! The Giant Paddington was clever, loved the undertaker, gorgeous Halloween couple.
Damn it Geoff I lived them all 😁💜🌹
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they are rather splendid aren’t they? It’s such a small town yet makes such an effort
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Wonderful I wish everywhere could do something like this 💜💜
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What is it about the whimsical charm of the most ‘real’ scarecrows – the couple on sticks with their somewhat scary smiles…… Is it because they most resemble the scarecrows I saw in books as a kid? I also quite liked the offering from the funeral home – he looks quite jolly 🙂 I really don’t like clowns though, thank heavens there isn’t a village clown day!
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Yes that would scare people rather than crows away!! I loved the couple – from Burton’s nightmare before Christmas I think.
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The pole climber…and is that pole covered in crocheted fabric ??? But, also partial to the witch’s legs under that trunk…very clever.
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Yes it’s a knitted sleve. Called yarn bombing i believe. I first saw it in Jasper in Canada. Good chouce of guy
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Loved the one on the art gallery pole and the Mr & Mrs.Scarecrow. We’re waiting for Bonfire night when I can snaffle all Husband’s old ‘They’ll do for the garden clothes’ for our Guy Fawkes! Cheers for these.
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Ah yes and there was the year mum sent dad’s library cards up in flames!! Good choices!
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All good in different ways, Geoff. A couple of the villages near us also have scarecrow festivals, and they’re always very inventive.
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They do these things v well
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Has to be SpongeBob Squarepants for me. He reminds me of my breakfast – Shredded Wheat! I think scarecrows can be more frightening than clowns. Well, for me, anyway.
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Funny how that feels true for me too though so many are really freaked by a painted smile
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