Teas and bluebells

The area around Swithland is well known for the bluebells which attract tourists from far and wide.

Mr Copson: Every house in this village in the summer used to have a board – teas and hot water - I mean, I’m not saying every house, but nearly every house. And they used to flock, they used to come from the station, they used to flock up this village at bank holidays. If it was a wet Sunday or a wet weekend it used to be catastrophic for them then. They used to sell jam, bread and jam teas for nine pence [4p] and fruit teas for one and six [8p]. It used to be alive with them on a decent bank holiday or weekend. I mean, they used to set the forms out in the gardens and have tea outside or they used to have a spare room and used to keep them in there.

Interviewer: Can you tell me anything about Bluebell Sunday?

Mr Copson: Never missed a Bluebell service. Actually came on the Gaumont News the first year as it was done. Mr Harry Jemson was a big churchman and it was through them compiling it and that, that’s how it got started. I’ve never missed one, I mean it used to be, that used to be one of the highlights of Swithland. We used to have relations come from Rothley in that, and they was there, and it used to be the high tea sort of thing.

©EMOHA