Olney's Dash to Fame

Along with the BBC, Japanese media and local radio stations, The DOOR stepped out to see the transformation of a village in Buckinghamshire on the 27 February – and all for a pancake race! However this race is special, it has been going since 1445. and is an international event, with a link to Liberal in Kansas USA set up in 1950. The parishioners of Liberal contacted Olney with a challenge after seeing press photographs. To date the US have won the last two races, although residents of Olney were quick to inform us it was because they had better weather and a straighter course!

No one is quite certain how the now world famous Pancake Race at Olney originated. One story tells us of a harassed housewife, hearing the shriving bell, dashing off to the church still clutching her frying pan containing a pancake. It is in memory of this that the rules of the competition are set: those who are qualified to take part in the race must be women of 18 years of age or over and either have lived in the town of Olney for at least three months immediately prior to the event or, if living away, have their permanent home in the town. They must wear for the race the traditional costume of the housewife, including a skirt apron and headcovering, though they need not be married women. They must, of course, carry a frying pan containing a pancake.

The race in Olney is run from the Market Place to a point midway down Church Lane – a distance of 415 yards. Warning bells are rung from the church steeple and the race is started by the churchwarden at 11.55am, using the large bronze ‘Pancake Bell’ normally on display in the museum. The winner this year, Juliet Winter, received £100, a silver server, and a copy of the famous Olney Hymns which include ‘Amazing Grace’ (see Hymn Notes page 18).

The races ended with the Shriving Service when the runners, officials, townsfolk and visitors poured into the Parish Church of SS Peter and Paul for a ecumenical service led by Malcolm Hanson, Moderator of East Midlands Synod of the United Reformed Church. Although the Church holds many hundreds of people, it is regularly filled to capacity on this occasion.

The Mayor of Olney, Dave Price said it was a joy to maintain the tradition of the race. However, one of the runners perhaps changed her mind by the end of the race. Dressed in a head scarf and curlers she was heard to exclaim, ‘I was at death’s door coming round that corner.’ Perhaps some training is in order before next year!