MEMBERS of a long-running club for ex-Stourbridge grammar school and sixth form students came together to celebrate an ancient feast which continues to be observed by just a handful of UK institutions.

The traditional Boars Head Feast remains a popular celebration in Stourbridge Old Edwardian Club's calendar.

In ancient times a boar’s head served up on a platter was considered a celebration of good triumphing over evil as boars were considered ferocious forest beasts which terrorised locals so they were therefore hunted.

In more recent times - the tradition of a Boar’s Head Feast dates back to a 14th century legend attributed to Queen’s College, Oxford.

It was rumoured that while en-route to midnight mass a scholar was confronted by a wild boar intent on mauling him with its teeth, but the animal obviously had not bargained on the student carrying with him a metal-binded book by Aristotle which he rammed down the creature’s throat, choking it to death.

The following day the boar became part of the Christmas Day feast - with its head displayed on a platter complete with fruit in its mouth.

Subsequently a Boar’s Head Carol was written and sung at Queen’s College Oxford and is still celebrated annually more than half a millennium later.

St John’s College, Cambridge, has also held its own Boar’s Head Feast and Carol since 1607. Hurstpierpoint College has also observed the tradition since its foundation in 1849.

And it continues to be celebrated annually on December 23 by Stourbridge Old Edwardian Club which held its first Boar’s Head Feast in 1911 and which is one of just four establishments in the country committed to continuing the feast into the future.

Alan Roden, honourary secretary of the Old Ed’s Club, said: “The club members are delighted Stourbridge is one of the very few participating venues in the UK."

Around 100 members and guests attended the latest event at the club’s Drury Lane base where committee member Jem Norris's wife Rosanne prepared the head (a pig's head is used instead these days).

Mr Roden said: "She says she always asks the butcher for two pigs' heads – one for the procession, the better looking one, and the other from which to extract the brawn for the feast."

Committee members then prepared bread rolls containing brawn and beef which were served up after a ceremonial procession in which vice-president Roger Hadley observed tradition by carrying a mustard bowl and president Mike Aston carried in the pig’s head on a platter while committee members encouraged attendees to sing the Boar’s Head Carol.

For more information on the event and the club go to www.oldedclub.org.