Castle gears up for a very foolish day |
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Muncaster Castle in the Lake District celebrated April Fool's Day 2006 in a style befitting the home of the original Tom Fool. A fun packed day for all the family included performances by the Castle's jester, a Tom Fool's Treasure Hunt, Foolish Football and a chance to throw a wet sponge at a member of the family who own Muncaster! The Castle's present day Fool, Jem Famous, ran amok in the grounds, demonstrating the skills that won him the title Fool of Muncaster last year. Jem's act included a mix of comedy, juggling and acrobatics. On a day when the natural order of
things were turned upside down, a member of the family who own the
Castle was thrown into the stocks. Visitors got the chance to throw
a wet sponge at Peter Frost-Pennington for 50p, which was donated
to charity. However, he insisted that Muncaster's staff paid £1! The World Owl Trust organised a special Tom Fool's Treasure Hunt for children, where everyday objects turned up in some most unusual places. They included shoes in trees and a table set for tea in the middle of a duck pond. Tom Fool, aka Thomas Skelton, was Muncaster's Fool in the 16th century and was the inspiration for the Fool in Shakespeare's King Lear. |
