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International Pillow Fight Day, London

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  • BRITAIN
Apr 10 2014

Hundreds of people descended on Trafalgar Square last Saturday for a massive pillow fight. Taking place each year on April 5th in cities right across the world, it’s become an international event, a flash mob of sorts. While Trafalgar Square itself, coincidentally, happened to be closed off to the public for ‘maintenance’, the fluffy battle took place on the North terrace, in front of The National Gallery (which proved to be a good vantage point until all access was closed off there too). No matter, all the buskers and ‘human statues’ that line the terrace for the tourists attention packed […]

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Pearly Kings & Queens Harvest Festival

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  • BRITAIN
Oct 02 2012

Glittering London Pearly Kings & Queens came together from boroughs across the city, to take part in the annual Costermongers’ Harvest Festival at St Mary-le-Bow Church, in the city of London, on Sunday. The Harvest Festival is their flagship event with everyone decked out in their shiniest and most elaborate outfits. Starting at Guildhall Yard, the well attended event features traditional English entertainment including Maypole dancing, Morris dancers, a marching band, and of course, the singing of classics such as ‘Maybe It’s because I’m a Londoner’, before the short parade to St Mary-le-Bow Church, home of the renowned Bow Bells, […]

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Heroes Run

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  • BRITAIN
Apr 03 2012

Clapham Common had to be the safest place on the planet this Sunday, as 436 superheroes of every conceivable description descended on the park for the 1st ever London Heroes Run. Organised by charity ‘Pass It On Africa,’ who help build schools and support education in Africa, the run takes place in Brighton every Summer, but this was the first time they came to London. I have no idea which superhero was the fastest to complete the 10km course that zig-zagged round the common. Etiquette certainly prevented any flying as I didn’t see Superman or Buzz Lightyear cheat by taking […]

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Swan Upping

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  • BRITAIN
Jul 25 2011

  Traditionally, the monarch retains the right to ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water, but only exercises ownership on certain stretches of the River Thames and its tributaries. This dates back to the 12th century, when swans were a common food source for royalty. Swan upping is a means of establishing a swan census, and unlike the early days, also now plays an important role in their conservation. Both adults and cygnets are examined and treated for any injuries. Under a Royal Charter of the 15th century, the Vintners’ Company and the Dyers’ Company, two Livery Companies […]

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Backward Run

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  • BRITAIN
Jul 18 2011

  There was a mixed 3km & 1km backward race with cash prizes for the first 3 places, followed by a backwards fun run/walk for those looking to raise money for their favourite charities. The course, a 1km stretch round Crystal Palace Park included a stretch of up hill, downhill, a fair few winding corners, a drop to one side of the path, bollards, signposts and litter bins, not to mention members of the general public walking their dogs. In short, plenty to trip you up when you’re not looking where you’re going! Worth the risk it would seem when Garret […]

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International Chess Boxing

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  • BRITAIN
Mar 28 2011

The Dome, at The Boston Arms, London, 26 March. With an international line-up, this proved to be Chess Boxing’s first sell-out tournament with 4 bouts to be fought. Chessboxing is a hybrid sport where the participants alternate between playing chess and boxing, with the winner decided by checkmate or knock-out. 11 rounds in total, each bout begins with a round of chess, (4 mins) followed by the boxing (3 mins). On Saturday, Svein Clouston vs Alan Riley (best friends) was the bout many people had come to see, and it was certainly the most exciting, with the advantage swinging to […]

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The Chap Olympiad

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  • BRITAIN
Jul 19 2010

The Olympic pipe was lit once again on Saturday for the sixth annual Chap Olympiad, the sporting contest that sees dashing tweeds gather together in Bloomsbury’s Bedford Square Gardens. Pit against each other were the world’s puniest fops, rewarding them for panache, savoir faire and winsome smiles rather than sporting prowess. Events included the Martini Knockout Relay, Cucumber Sandwich Discus, Umbrella Jousting, Tug of Hair, and Hop, Skip and G&T amongst others, a comedian, dancing and live band, The Sax Pastilles. What a wonderful day out.  

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The Peter Pan Cup

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  • BRITAIN
Dec 25 2009

9am on Christmas Day, and while most of us are busy unwrapping presents and preparing for the big roast, members of the Serpentine Swimming Club in London’s Hyde Park, prepare to swim their traditional 100 yards Christmas day swim in very cold temperatures! The race is only open to club members (most of whom are over 50 but who have acclimatised to the temperature over several months) and is swum on a handicap system, so everyone starts at different times with the weakest swimmers going first, giving everyone an equal chance of winning. I heard rumours amongst the swimmers that […]

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Air Guitar World Championships UK Final

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  • BRITAIN
Aug 10 2009

The cream of the British Isles fought it out for air guitar supremacy on Friday night at the O2 Acadamy in front of a huge crowd and an esteemed judging panel of two-times UK winner Gabi Matzeu (aka The Hoxton Creeper), two-times World Champion and UK founder Zac Monro, and John Georgie who founded Air Guitar Scotland. Now in its fourth year, the electrifying contest, which is open to all and hotly contested, is a real test of skill and allows ordinary people a real taste of rock stardom. The winner, not only receives a beautiful brand new Gibson air […]

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The Great Spitalfields Pancake Race

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  • BRITAIN
Feb 25 2009

The annual Great Spitalfields Pancake Race took place on Shrove Tuesday with teams of pancake-flipping people chasing up and down Dray Walk in the Old Truman Brewery, all in the hope of winning the coveted prize of a stunning, engraved frying pan. For those who missed out on the main prize, there was still hope… as other prizes were presented for both the best-dressed and best behaved team, as well as scrumptious pancakes for all who entered!  

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About this blog

The vast majority of posts in this blog are about quirky & eccentric competitions & festivals. I started it in 2006 in France with a competition I’ll never forget. Where contestants battle it out to become the World Champion Pig Squeeler, or ‘Cri du Cochon’. I had little knowledge back then of quite how far my pursuit of these kind of events would lead me. I’ve travelled all over Britain (and occasionally further afield) to capture our curiosities and quirks. There’s nothing uniquely eccentric about the British, you’ll find people all over the world up to all sorts of weird and wonderful activities, but we do have a remarkable capacity to embrace the madness. ‘A Brit Different’ is the book that was born from it, my labour of love! So what next? There’s always something interesting going on, so watch this space, only time will tell!

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