02 January 2008
Saffron Building Society backs 1000-year-old local event
A thousand-year-old Great Dunmow tradition has received the Saffron Building Society's 2007 branch donation of £500. The donation by the Society is designed to support worthy causes in the area, in a push to empower local groups to help their own communities.
The Dunmow Flitch Trials is a unique four-yearly event that encourages married couples to prove their faithfulness and happiness together in a fun day out for the whole family that brings the whole community together.
The custom of handing out a flitch of bacon to the married couple who can prove their respect for each other and happiness together, to a jury, is an age-old tradition stemming from Medieval Europe. Whereas most, if not all, flitch trials have now been lost to the mists of time, the Dunmow Flitch trials continue unabated and provides amusement, entertainment and strengthens community spirit every time.
The idea is that any couple who has been married 'a year and a day' can apply to the jury to be awarded the Dunmow Flitch, provided their relationship stands up to some light-hearted probing by the jury on the day. The winning couple gets carried through the town on the ancient Flitch Chair to the Market Place where they take an oath to honour the Flitch and stay happily married forever.
The Dunmow Flitch trials is run entirely by volunteers, and are held at the Talbards Leys, between Star Street, North Street and The Downs. The 2008 Flitch Trials have been scheduled for 12 July.
Flitch trial organiser, Jim McNeil said he was very grateful to the Saffron Building Society for its donation. "The Dunmow Flitch Trials are an integral part of the fabric of our community," he said. "It's a great day out for the whole community, local businesses and charities, who all get together to pull this age-old tradition together for the benefit of all the town's folk, young and old. The Saffron Building Society is also an integral part of our community, so this partnership is also a marriage made in heaven."
Great Dunmow branch manager, Michael Niklewicz said the Dunmow Flitch Trials was a big event in Dunmow and the branch was committed to local community events. "The Saffron Building Society is one hundred percent behind our local community, and being involved in the Dunmow Flitch Trials is exciting for us, as it reinforces our community values, and our respect for tradition."
