The Randwick Wap

Anotace: On 7 May 2022 a crowd formed around the war memorial in the village of Randwick, Gloucestershire. The crowd grew in numbers and in excitement, with photographers from local news outlets manoeuvring to capture the event. It was the second Saturday of May which, for the inhabitants of Randwick and the surrounding villages, meant that it was the day of the Wap. Through qualitative interviews with organisers, participants, and attendees, as well as field work observations of the Wap and its contemporary format, I will show the custom’s importance in the local cultural calendar and investigate how it has become entwined with the village’s identity. I will focus directly on the community, through first-hand accounts and use the words of the respondents to explain the ongoing importance of this custom and others like it.