Silver Billy Day

As we wandered behind the happy throng beating the bounds around Priest Weston, I was momentarily puzzled by the Professor's choice of clothing for this festive occasion. I was wearing my ceremonial blazer embroidered with the colours of sunset over Dungeness Beach while the Professor sported bright green cricket pads and a matching top hat. 

When I tentatively questioned his appearance, his answer filled me with shame.

“You seem to have forgotten that today is William Beldham Day, my boy. I am wearing the appropriate costume, I think you'll find.”

Of course, he was entirely correct. My thoughts turned at once to the exemplary ‘Silver Billy’ Beldham and I resolved to recommence work on my unfinished musical “Gentlemen versus Players and a Twelfth Man” at the earliest opportunity. 

At the end of the ceremony we gathered at Mitchell's Fold Stone Circle for the customary reading of the epic poem “The Rather Confused Horseman of Black Marsh”, intoned majestically this year by the Slightly Reverend Denovia Jiffle wearing the time-honoured, flommucky costume. 

Later, we repaired to that fine inn “The Reproachful Milkman” and spent an agreeable evening exchanging entirely spurious stories of underarm bowling while throwing beer mats into the Professor's upturned top hat. 

Silver Billy would have wanted it that way, I feel sure.