Cotswold Olimpicks

Dover's Hill near Chipping Campden has been the home to the Games since 1612, although the games were banned from 1850 to 1951 because they were deemed "too raucous".

The Cotswold Olimpicks were established by landowner Robert Dover who was looking for a way to celebrate Whitsun.

The Games are traditionally opened by Campden's Catholic priest, Father John Brennan, dressed up as Captain Robert Dover.

Teams take part in obstacle races and a run through the grounds of Campden House and sports such as sledge hammer, standing jump, the shot, shin-kicking, tug-o-war, and spurning the barre (a form of tossing the caber).

At around 9.45pm the bonfire is lit and there is a firework display.

Procession

A torch lit procession of participants and spectators then makes its way down to the town centre.

The St Andrews Pipe Band from Cheltenham and the Coventry Corp of Drums traditionally lead the revellers.

On the following day the Scuttlebrook Wake is held to continue the festivities, with the procession of the new Scuttlebrook Queen for the year, may-pole and country dancing by St James and St Catherine's Primary schools, fancy dress parades and a procession of decorated floats moving from Littleworth through the High Street and lead by a brass or silver band, traditionally Breforton Silver Band.

The name Scuttlebrook is derived from the brook (Cattlebrook or Scuttlebrook) which used to flow through Leasbourne until it was covered over in 1831.

Spectacle

On each night, the Leasbourne end of the High Street is turned into a fun-fair with stalls and rides. 

The rides are carefully positioned close to the historic buildings of Campden and the juxtaposition is quite a spectacle.

An open-air service is held in the Town Square on the Sunday morning marking the end of the Wake for another year.

The fair magically disappears without trace very early on the Sunday morning and life returns to normal.

This article is an external contribution and expresses a personal opinion, not the views of the BBC.