by Paul Hurst
St George at Denbies
Copyright Paul Hurst et al 2012
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21.04.12
Chapter 1: The Background
About the venue
Denbies English Vineyard is situated in Dorking, Surrey. An all weather destination, the "Indoor Wine Experience" tours operate all year, the Outdoor Vineyard Train runs daily from March - November.
This beautiful estate set in 265 acres is the UK's largest single estate vineyard. Whether you are visiting Surrey or live locally Denbies offers a wide range of interests for all.
About the event
We English can be a bit reticent about celebrating our heritage, and in particular our National Saint’s Day. To rectify this, Denbies English Vineyard have been organising an annual St George’s Day Celebration Medieval Cellar Supper each year on Saturday 23rd April, with
minstrels, jesters and magicians to royally entertain guests during a sumptuous medieval feast held in the atmospheric Denbies cellars.
As the regular guests at Denbies tend to be a pretty bright lot, it has become the practice to hold a little creative competition. With no advance warning, and armed only with pencils and a bit of paper, they are invited to compete in a literary challenge, the prize of a bottle of Denbies’ finest sparkling in no way detracting from the kudos of being chosen and acknowledged by one’s peers. The winner is chosen by popular acclaim from a short list drawn up by the resident minstrels and jesters, but the final choice is made by the guests attending on the night
Chapter 2: 2012
A rather lively night(!), with many of the guests dressing up for the occasion. The competition this year was just for Limericks, so although some prose was submitted, only entries in the correct format got through to the final. Here is the overall winner, together with the finalists: PLEASE NOTE not for the delicate of temperament – as I said, it was rather a lively affair!
Bob
The maid drove along on her wagon
But was trapped and enslaved by a dragon
St. George slew the beast
And she said that the least
She could give was a jolly good sh….
(sorry I couldn’t think of a rhyme)
Julie
St. George was quite the dandy
Some say he was seriously randy
The dragon he slayed
Before he got laid
But woke up with a wench called Andy
Liz
The dragon was not very nice
He captured the maid in a trice
But St. George killed it dead
And the couple were fed
On crispy fried dragon and rice
(R.I.P. dragon)
Nick
St. George was a fine man indeed
Just a little partial to mead
Found drunk in a trench
With a fine looking wench
But was unable to sow his seed!
Alan
In Portugal, Brazil and Spain
Each year a day off they all gain
‘cos on their Saints’ Days
They sit in the sun and laze
But we Brits have to work in the rain.
Diane
There was a young chap and a dragon
A knife, a cup and a flagon
Things got a bit jolly
And George realised his folly
So he fled double quick on his wagon
Estelle Bibby
A knight whilst dining at Denbies
Considered his bevy of wenches
He tried his luck
But scored a duck
And got relegated to the back benches
Mistress Soupisle
St. George he was a saint
Took a dragon out on a date
The last kiss of the night
Gave him a terrible fright
Left his meat and two veg on a plate
DLL
A chap called George was a saint
Who always makes the ladies faint
He got them to pose
Without any clothes
Then got out his brushes to paint
