Valerie Martin - Findon Cheese Rolling

By Valerie Martin

Findon Village pre 1958

The craft of Cheese Rolling in the village of Findon was rather a mystery to me, so I was interested to hear from the late John Pelling that on the day of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, he was actually watching this ancient custom of Cheese Rolling in the village. At an earlier Coronation he said his Gran Marmie Ockendon had caught a cheese at this colourful spectacle... but by the year 1953 she was somewhat older and more sedate and watching the Coronation on television in the Findon Village Hall in the High Street. I then wondered if John would explain a little more about that weird and crazy Findon event of cheese rolling in the past... when no doubt the daredevil winner would arrive at the foot of the slope clutching their cheese (out of breath and complete with their cuts, bruises and abrasions)... 4th November 2004 - Dear Valerie, My Grandmother said Cheese rolling in Findon was an ancient village custom which only took place on Coronation Day. Ladies took part and she once caught a cheese. The location in her day was Church Hill near the Cricket pitch. Cheeses were rolled downhill and the women chased after them, if they caught one they could take it home. I have only seen it once in 1953. I was working at Wintons and Dennis Winton said to me go down into the cellar and bring up four Red Dutch cheeses and give them to Eric May who was the organiser. Jack Kennett whose mother lived in Church Drive Lodge, was the local Radio and TV man. He fitted up the village Hall for villagers to watch the Coronation. The event along with other sports was held in the Glebe Meadow by the Village Hall. Women were divided into groups and held while the cheeses were rolled, they needed a good throw to get them going as the field was quite flat, I thought at the time it would have been more thrilling in the old original days on Church Hill. Mrs Brotherhood and Mrs Luther each won a cheese... some people in the village may be able to add to this, I never had a camera. From John Pelling, Lower Salvington, Nr Worthing, West Sussex. Lawrie May emailed to tell me that he thinks that it was his father, Ernie, who organised the eccentric pastime of cheese chasing for Findon in 1953. I guess that many others have further reminiscences on the genteel art of Findon cheese rolling from the past. Here is an interesting question for local inhabitants. If we have another Coronation, will Findon put on a cheese chasing event for the world to see... or would it be banned on safety grounds?