Out & About Summer 2019

You’re nicked,

constable! Hungerford resident Nicholas Lumley talks to TRISH LEE about his starring role as Constable of the town, a post that carries on the traditions and ceremonies dating back to the 15th century. It sounds like perfect casting for the prolific actor P rofessional actor Nicholas Lumley has just landed a plum benefit the townspeople.” Other Town and Manor office holders include the Port-

role – as the new Constable of the Town and Manor of Hungerford and The Liberty of Sanden Fee. It may have the air of Gilbert & Sullivan about it, but it really is a thing – ancient too – and moustachioed Nick really looks the part in his chain of office and John of Gaunt’s horn. “The role of Constable goes back to at least 1458,”

Reeve, Bailiff, four Tutti-men, a number of water-bailiffs, several Overseers of the Common (Port Down), three Keepers of the Keys of the Common Coffer, Two Ale-Tasters (or Testers) and the Bellman and Assistant Bailiff. Some offices have fallen from usage, including the Searchers and Sealers of Leather and the Tasters of Flesh and Fish. Through the medieval period,

the duties of Constable included tax collecting and keeping the peace. It was unpaid and probably not a popular assignment. As a trustee and Constable-in-Waiting, Nick shadowed the previous office holder Ellie Dickens throughout her term, which gave him the heads-up on what was involved. He took office in a ceremony three days after the ale drinking and merry-making of the traditional medieval Hocktide and its Tutti Day revelries, held on the second Tuesday after Easter. “At the Court Leet, when it was announced that I would be the person taking over, Ellie put the chain on me and gave me the copy of John of Gaunt’s Horn – the badge of office – and her beautiful old Constable’s chair, which itself is ancient [reputedly of Elizabethan ebony – but possibly of Goanese origin]. Nick’s theatre background will undoubtedly be an advantage in fulfilling his duties, not least drawing on his experience of voice projection as, he says, “There is a bit of ceremony and a lot of addressing groups of people – sometimes quite large – so I hope I can be heard. “The chain and horn regalia may not be as grand as when I played the Duke of Kidlington in Mother Goose at Oxford Playhouse, but I don’t have a dresser for this part… and I won’t be wearing make-up.” Joking aside, Nick’s been acting for 42 years and has

he explains, “and there have been a few hundred predecessors who have held the title, including some very distinguished persons like members of [Henry VIII’s third wife] Jane Seymour’s family and several eminent local citizens. “The duties today are to run the charity known as The Town and Manor of Hungerford and The Liberty of Sanden Fee. This estate is made up of about 400 acres of land and the fishing rights that were given to the commoners by John of Gaunt in 1362. “The proceeds from the property are used to maintain the lands and work in an environmentally- friendly way, to provide charitable gifts to causes dear to Hungerford such as The Town Band, youth and sports organisations, the arts and the Christmas events. “The main benefit to the town is that we provide the fabulous areas of the common, the Croft and the marsh for everyone’s benefit, at no cost to the ratepayer, as well as the only privately-owned town hall in the country.” The Constable is served by a board of trustees who are elected by the townspeople who live in the parish and who can be anyone who wants to do the job – not just Commoners. Jed Ramsay was appointed as the first-ever chief executive to modernise the organisation and there’s a fishery expert. “The primary role is to represent the Commoners and to

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O&A SUMMER 2019