25 Years of Straw Bear Burning

At the beginning of the Straw Bear revival in 1980, the organiser Brian Kell was very unhappy when disposing of the straw by taking it down to the local rubbish tip and as putting it in a skip. Although this would be the "green thing" to do. As there is no written history on what happened to the bear after the event, Brian thought by burning the straw with the Straw Bear music being played would give the Bear a dignified end.

Brian approached my wife Janet and me, knowing we have a large garden, and enquired if the bear could be burnt there. We were only too pleased to oblige. The first burning was attended by about a dozen or more invited friends, Janet made a nice supper with wine and beers for refreshments and we all had an excellent evening.

This went on for three or four years with each year more and more people wanting to attend the burning ceremony. A shortage of space and not being able to cater for everyone forced the Whittlesea Society to find another venue to which the general public could attend. Also, friends of the Straw Bear, who live away could say their good byes and farewells and a definitive end to the festival was put in place..

It was decided to hold the burning on a Sunday lunchtime. This would allow people to travel home in daylight and not get home too late. Ian Forster of the Gildenburg Diving School was approached and he kindly agreed to allow the bear to be burned there. The move to a Sunday lunch proved to be the right one, for not only were able to burn the bear but it started to attract dancing displays and a music session which went down very well with the watching public and so the ground rules were set for the future.

One occasion we built a large bonfire with a wooden frame to hold the bear, which when the bear had burned left a grotesque skeleton standing proudly there. (See picture). After several years the diving school having successfully grown limited space was available so an alternative venue was needed for Straw Bear.

Finding a location where you can have a bonfire, dancing and a music session is not easy, fortunately after much searching we were offered the opportunity to use the King’s Dyke Club, owned by Hansons Brick Co. The event proved to be so successful that it became clear that a ticket event would have to be substituted for the free event if only to limit those attending. Unfortunately, or as it turned out to be, fortunate for us, King’s Dyke Club closed down, but after every black cloud there is a silver lining. The new Straw Bear Committee (which was formed after the amicable split from the Whittlesea Society) were able to get kind permission from Sir Harry Smith Community College to use their facilities. With some trepidation the Strawbearers wondered how many would attend and could we fill such a large hall. We need not have worried, the first time it was held there, we were overwhelmed by the amount of the general public turning up to the event. We never seemed to stop dashing around providing more and more seats. A constant review of the layout of the seating has gone on over the past 2 years in order to afford the general public a best a view as possible.

Since moving to Sir Harry Smith Community College we have added the sandwich vendor to compliment the hot potato man. Both are most appreciated by many people attending especially those who have a long journey home ahead of them.

This year the Bear will be surrounded by a metal barrier for safety reasons. To give the Straw Bear a dignified exit from the weekend, it will hopefully burn standing up and not looking like an untidy heap of straw.

If anyone knows anything different about the history of disposing of the bear please let me know, either by telephoning (01733) 208011 or e-mailing Strawbear@btinternet.com.

Have a really enjoyable 25th Straw Bear Festival. See you there. Don Crick