SOME 150 men from north Oxfordshire village Marsh Gibbon joined together to celebrate ‘brotherly love’ as part of a traditional club day for the area.
The Marsh Gibbon Friendly Society club day is staged each year to bring residents together and celebrate friendship.
This year the event fell on Saturday and saw everyone roll up their sleeves to get stuck into ‘spud bashing’ for the annual feast before taking part in the village parade between pubs.
Society member Brian Thompson said: “Saturday saw approximately 150 men from Marsh Gibbon and surrounding villages celebrate ‘brotherly love’ in the annual feast day.
“Early risers started the day peeling potatoes (spud bashing) at the village hall. Later in the morning all suited and booted members of the club and their families followed Marsh Gibbon Silver Band between the two village pubs to the sound of traditional music.”
Marsh Gibbon Friendly Society was formed 230 years ago in 1788 to provide death and sickness benefits to local men in the farming community.
It is now run primarily for tradition and is said to be one of the oldest organisations of its kind in the country.
Mr Thompson added: “A great day was had by all, helped by the lovely sunny weather.
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