THE special annual ale tasting of the Court Leet and Court Baron of the Manorial Borough of Newton Abbot has taken place.

The ‘First lady ale taster’ is Carol Bunday, of the manorial borough of Newton Abbot, the first since 1220.

Refreshments at the start of ale tasting were provided by Ann Jones at the Royal British Legion

The ale tasting is a ceremony which dates back several hundred years but lapsed over time and was revived back in 1991.

This year the court’s ale taster Carol, along with other officers and jurors of the courts, Newton Abbot Town Mayor, David Corney-Walker, and welcomed guest, carried out the onerous task of checking the quality of the ales and cider sold at the 16 public house within the borough.

The event was started at the Royal British Legion with the customary reading of the proclamation of the courts by the borough cryer, Eveline Davis and her escort Mike Davis; by ringing her bell.

Eveline has been unwell for several weeks so it was an honour for the courts that it was her first time out in public.

Our first ale tasting was at the RBL, Teignworthy Gun Dog, this was pronounced Good and wholesome whereupon a certificate and a sprig of evergreen was presented to the landlady as proof of our visit.

On to the next inn on our list, where we repeated the ceremony and so it was for the rest of the afternoon, visiting 16 inns in turn.

We finished at the Wolborough Inn where we again tasted the ale and pronounced it good and wholesome ale sold here!

Special thanks to the Wolborough Inn who opened up an hour earlier for us. Before we performed the ‘ale taster’s song’ special thanks to the Orsini Lounge for kindly lending us a hand bell and our ‘scavenger’ Colin Davison, who warned the inns of our pending visit.

The ale taster song was first read by Michael Martin, the final time by our bread weigher, Sue Joyce, another first for the courts, a woman reading the ale tasting song since 1220.

The courts stood down until the next summons to attend a court meeting or court event.

The winner of the Bellamy tankard for the best ale and winners of the hospitality certificates will be discussed and awarded at the court meeting on July 29..