On Saturday, residents of Midsomer Noton crowned a new Wassail King and Queen, who proceeded to ‘wake up’ the local apple trees ahead of the harvest.

The centuries-old tradition, which to many outside of the West Country is not known to still be practised, involves the crowning of a Wassail King and Queen, who, led by a group of musicians, visit the apple trees and perform a ceremony to ensure that they bear large, healthy fruits to be eventually made into cider.

However, the specific actions in the ceremony differ from place to place, and take place almost exclusively in cider-producing regions.

The Mayor of Midsomer Norton, Cllr Paul Myers (Conservative, Redfield), crowned Oliver Bird and Monica Evans as this year’s Wassail King and Queen. Joined by the Cam Valley Morris Men, the group visited apple trees planted last year in memory of Town notables, David Strawbridge, David Fisher, Ted Hallam and Norman Voake.

When the Wassailers arrived at each location, the traditional ceremony was performed using the town’s Wassail Cups to ‘wake up’ the apple trees. The King and Queen placed toast in the trees, before shotguns were fired into the branches to ‘ward off evil spirits’. Tasting from the Wassail Cup was then offered round to spectators by the Wassail Queen.

The Wassailing ceremony concluded with the company returning to the Town Hall to enjoy scrumptious apple cake.

Paul Myers, the Mayor of Midsomer Norton, said: “It was fantastic to see the second Midsomer Norton Wassail so well supported, and also with the inclusion of the Morris Men in the proceedings.

“Thanks go to the Midsomer Norton Society for working so hard to revive this tradition in the town.”

Photos: Will Nicol.