Jack in the Green

Permit me a local in-joke every now and then. As older readers may remember, this strip is set in Hastings, a tatty but lively resort town on the south coast of England. Today is the May Bank Holiday - and on that day two things happen.

1) The Jack in the Green festival. This is an excuse for hippies, folkies, pagans, morris dancers and other rather wonderful misfits to get together on Castle Hill and celebrate the coming of the new Spring. They do this by covering themselves in green dye and symbolically slaying a garlanded figure called The Jack in Hastings Castle, in order to release the spirit of the new summer. Then they find a Christian to burn in a wicker man. Imagine a renaissance fair with more ritual violence.

2) The Hastings Bike Run. Simultaneously, Hastings is invaded by 20,000 motorcyclists riding down the A21 on all manner of bikes. The seafront becomes a three mile long cycle rack filled with all kinds of motorbike. You'll find fantastic customised bikes, spotless Harleys, classic Triumphs and Nortons, some scary looking (but very friendly) greasers on terrifying looking trikes and a very few obnoxious tosspots on Kawasakis and Ducattis roaring up and down the promenade.

So, on the top of the hill we have the faerie folk in their green dyed hemp clothing, and on the bottom of the hill we have the bikers in their black leathers. And you know what? They get along fine. An Old Town pub in the early evening is likely to be a sea of green wafty gauze and black leather, with everyone having a fine old time.

I couldn't imagine this sort of thing being tolerated in Tunbridge Wells. They have by-laws about it.