A thirty year Pancake Day tradition was well underway in East Harptree this week where parents, teachers and pupils from East Harptree C E V C Primary School and East Harptree Nursery Pre School joined together to run, trip and fly over the finish line.

Carrying pans as big as their faces, the children cheered and clapped as their peers raced through the streets of East Harptree with their pancakes carefully balanced, (or somewhat hanging off), their pans.

Described as a “chaotic, brilliant mess,” the Pancake Day Race

became a tradition nearly thirty years ago as the village clubbed together to raise money for the East Harptree Theatre.

Realising how successful the race was, Jenny Cruse, a member of East Harptree WI, decided to take on the task of organising and running the annual event, where all proceeds go back into various areas of the village. She told The Journal: “It initally began as a fundraiser, but I realised how much everyone in the village loved it and how it brought the community together, so I decided to carry it on.

“The children love it and to see their faces crossing the finish line is lovely. They all get involved, from nursery to aged 11 – and this year we have the whole school, all 96 pupils!

“Even the parents and teachers get involved - with some clearly having a more competitive streak than others.

“This year, we are putting the proceeds towards the upkeep of the children’s playground in the village so it is great to see so many people here to help out.”

Headteacher of East Harptree Primary School, Ian Harvey said: “The school has been involved in this brilliant tradition for many years, it is so great to see everyone out here enjoying themselves.

“The children have all brought pancakes and pans from home - I think I was looking forward to it as much as they were.

“It hasn’t happened for a few years so to get back to it and in the community is great, especially for the children who get to see their parents cheering them on at the finish line.”

The roar of chants and laughter echoed through East Harptree as the parents and spectators watched their children dart across the finish line, some even still had their pancakes intact!

The tradition finishes with the parents and teachers showing off their competive streaks whilst the children eagerly wait to see which of their family members would cross the line first, with injuries narrowly missed, or there abouts...