The Bull Running festival was part of Stamford life and folklore for over 600 years. In this obituary published on 15 July 1808, The Mercury described it for those who knew nothing about it: “…an annual festival is kept here on the 13th November when, the shops being shut, all business deferred, and the streets and every outlet from the town stopped up, a mad bull is let loose to range all day, followed by thousands of intrepid “bullards”. The obituary recorded the death of “Mrs Ann Blades, …Empress of the Bullards in Stamford. On the day of the festival it has been her practice to be splendidly attired in blue.” Skip forward 179 years and the festival was revived by a local publican. Much fun was had by all!
“The word had evidently got around . . . there were no animal rights campaigners and even the police kept a low profile as crowds waited expectantly for the start of the bull-running.
It turned out that there was nothing to beef about – just a few pantomime-type bulls and a crowd of runners in red T-shirts.
Revival of the ancient custom – the brainchild of publican Dave Ladd – got its fair share of laughs from the good-humoured crowd, many of whom got a soaking from the over enthusiastic runners and bulls, armed with water pistols.
But Dave, landlord of the town’s Green Man, revealed after the ceremony that he nearly decided to bring in a live bull at the last minute.
‘The only thing that put me off was its size,’ he said.
Dave said the original plan was to used pantomime characters and to have a real bullock on show in a cattle truck.
But his plans, which received national publicity, blew up after organisers refused to reveal details and animal lovers caused a storm of protest.
Shop assistant Jayne Addison drove into Broad Street in a vintage car to start off the bull-running. She won a ‘Lady in Blue’ competition and became the traditional figure in charge of the ceremony.
Dressed in blue period costume, Jayne released the ‘beasts’* from the two cattle trucks before handing out posies to the crowd.”
The Stamford Mercury, 10th July, 1987.
*It is believed that the beasts were none other than Brian Studd and Aubrey Johnson.