Members of the various City of London Livery companies showed the City at its most competitive in what has now became a tradition of inter-livery pancake races on Shrove Tuesday, organised by the Worshipful Company of Poulters. London UK. 21/02/2012
The annual pancake race as started by the Poulters in 2004. The Gunmakers start each heat using a miniature cannon (which can make a very loud bang). the Clockmakers hold stopwatches to time the races , the Fruiterers provide lemons, the Cutlers plastic forks, the Glovers white gloves required to be worn by each runner, while the Poulters provide the eggs essential to make the pancakes. Where the flour, butter and milk and sugar to sprinkle on those that are eaten rather than raced comes from is something of a mystery, presumably from event catering company ‘The Cook and The Butler’ who share in the organisation of the event which raises funds for the annual Lord Mayor's charity. This year the primary beneficiary is the Barts and The London Charity, on behalf of the Trauma Unit at The Royal London Hospital.
Proper decorum is of course observed, though in a departure from previous years, ladies competing were allowed to wear long trousers - previously they had been required to have skirts reaching below the knee. But contestants are required to wear hats for the event, and there is a special Novelty Race, where contestants are afterwards judged on the novelty of their hats.
This year the Lord Mayor was abroad and his place at the event was taken by Alderman Sir Michael Savory, who ably demonstrated his pancake tossing skills. Also present was the Chief Commoner, who is responsible for the Guildhall yard where there races take place.
Although this particular race is of recent origin, pancake races on Shrove Tuesday are thought to date back at least five or six hundred years. Pancake Day is the day before Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, during which people fasted from eggs and butter and stocks of these were finished off by making pancakes.
