OUR well-dressers have had some ‘interesting’ experiences over the years.
Here, Stephanie Underwood-Webb recounts the story of the mysterious disappearance of Little Red Riding Hood from Barnards Green Trough.
“Team Trough consists of a group of neighbours from age four to, well, it would be impolite to ask!
“Each member has a skill set which contributes to the overall piece and we also have the joy of a very specifically-shaped site which is a great springboard for creative ideas.
“When we heard the 2013 well-dressing theme was ‘Once upon a Time’, the idea of using the trough for the wolf’s bed in a Red Riding Hood-themed piece seemed the obvious choice.
“Red’s striking outfit and basket of flowers were made by two of the team with another making the wooden frame to go inside and the strong wooden stakes that would attach her firmly to the ground.
“We loved this dressing, getting it ready early on the Friday morning for judging the next day.
“The judges arrived early on the Saturday, inspecting each and every detail of the straw wolf’s bed pinned with hydrangea heads, the flower arrangements surrounding the slumbering beast and, of course, Red herself, positioned a few metres away from the trough, innocently strolling towards her granny’s house.
“We were really pleased with how it had all turned out.
“So imagine our surprise when, on going to check the trough early on Sunday morning, we discovered that Red had gone!
“Completely disappeared.
“We wondered if this was an elaborate joke and looked around for a mock kidnappers’ ransom poster or daft clue to her whereabouts but none was to be found.
“We were absolutely baffled.
“We did tend to get a few merry revellers wandering past the site late on a Saturday night but surely no one would have uprooted Red and taken her home for an after-party?
“Later that day I received a bizarre call to say she had been spotted standing in the middle of the roundabout near Morrisons. We leapt into the car to rescue her but there was no sign — she’d already moved on.
“Our well dressing just didn’t look the same and the sense of mystery was turning to panic — where was Red?!
"Shout-outs went out on social media and the Malvern Gazette got in touch to run a piece on the strange vanishing act of our heroine but no one had seen a thing.
“The next day we received word that she had been spotted again, this time in Rosebank Gardens at the top of town, so once again we rushed to rescue our girl.
“After searching high and low, eventually we found her in the woodland just off Rosebank Gardens looking sad and soggy but at least in one piece.
“One thing, however, perplexed us more than anything — in the cavity of her wooden frame there was a horse’s skull. Very clean but very horsey skully. What on earth had our poor girl been through?!
“Her little face gave nothing away.
“We took her home, cleaned her up and popped her back in her rightful place where thankfully she remained until the end of the festival.
“We were all twitching our curtains frequently though to make sure she stayed put. After so many years we’re still no closer to finding out what happened to our Red.
“Maybe readers can enlighten us?!”
Our columnist Carly Tinkler is the president of the Malvern Spa Association.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel