Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling - Gloucestershire

[Lostandfound]

May 26 - 2014

The Coopers Hill Cheese Rolling event is alleged to date back to the 15th Century.

A series of races takes place on Whit Monday every year - running down in a hill in pursuit of a round Double Gloucester cheese. Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling is a peculiarly British thing to do and has a proud tradition stretching back as far as the 15th century.

Of course, six hundred years of tradition (far less the desire of thousands of local, national and international cheese chasers to compete in the annual event) is of nothing to the UK's health and safety mullahs. They are very keen to see the event banned, abolished or otherwise disappeared in a mountain of paperwork and compliance that would dwarf Cooper's Hill itself.

Whilst the event is the subject of much debate - usually vociferously in favour - attempts to stop the competition occasionally fall into self parody. In May 2013, a gallant member of Gloucestershire police warned the octogenarian cheese-maker, Diana Smart that she could be held liable for injuries for supplying cheese to the event. The sentiment was backed up by none less than the Chief Superintendent, Nigel Avron, who helpfully notes that "If you are an organiser in some way or some capacity you could potentially be held liable for something that took place at that event". So now you know.

The event is dangerous and participants risk injury in taking part. The Sydney Morning Herald (for the event is now world famous) described it as "twenty young men chasing a cheese off a cliff and tumbling 200 yards to the bottom, where they are scraped up by paramedics and packed off to hospital."

There are plenty of pubs nearby serving excellent local ales, not least of all The Cheese Rollers in Shurdington. Nearer pubs, perfect for post apocalyptic injury recuperation, are The Victoria and The Cross Hands in Brockworth. Get there early for a jar of Dutch couarge.

Check website and social media for the latest updates on the event

Basically the village used to turn out to chase a full, round Double Gloucester cheese down Cooper's Hill, Glos.

[david44]

Whey he he

good one ,been ther emyself but not during the role play

Gret view from theTyndall Monument across theSevern to Myndd Epynt and the Black Mts area of Powys on a clear day you can hear the hurray Henrys polishing their servants

[Lostandfound]

Whey he he

good one ,been ther emyself but not during the role play

Gret view from theTyndall Monument across theSevern to Myndd Epynt and the Black Mts area of Powys on a clear day you can hear the hurray Henrys polishing their servants

UK elfnsafety are desperate to close it down. I guess it's to "white" and "anglocentric" for their sensibilities