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Seaside Skipping Day 'as popular as it was 30 years ago'

Fiona Callow,Yorkshireand
Freya Cox,in Scarborough
News imageFreya Cox/BBC A wide shot of people skipping with large skipping ropes down the street by the coast.Freya Cox/BBC
Hundreds of people attend the seaside event on Shrove Tuesday

Scarborough's annual Skipping Day remains as popular as it was decades ago, say residents who have been attending for years.

Hundreds of people took part in the event, which was first officially recorded in 1903 and is held every Shrove Tuesday, marking the start of Lent.

Foreshore Road is closed off for the celebrations, which include groups of people skipping as well as a pancake race.

Danielle Barker, who is attending with three generations of her family, says she has been taking part for as long as she can remember.

"I'd say it's exactly the same as it was 30 years ago, and it's even better with it being half term and the kids not being at school," she says.

"When you see it on a day like this and the tradition that's been going on all these years, it's amazing that everyone comes together."

News imageFreya Cox/BBC Malcolm Warnes stands with a skipping rope in the middle of a road. He wears a blue waterproof coat, a brown woolly hat and dark trousers. Behind him, an amusement arcade and groups of families and people can be seen. Freya Cox/BBC
Malcolm Warnes called the event "absolutely brilliant"

Malcolm Warnes, 64, has travelled from Brighton for a holiday in Scarborough with his mum.

He says he had no idea the quirky event was taking place, but describes it as "absolutely brilliant".

"These sort of local festivals are great," he says.

"It just brings a smile to everyone's face."

He has even bought a skipping rope to give it a go himself.

"I do a bit of skipping when I go down the gym, but it's much more fun here."

The celebrations begin with the ringing of the Pancake Bell at 12:00 GMT in the centre of the town, signalling the start of a pancake race.

Local businesses compete in teams of two, racing along the road and navigating a series of obstacles while flipping pancakes.

Judges then assess speed, costumes and the amount of pancake competitors manage to keep in their frying pans.

News imageFreya Cox/BBC A mixed group of people dressed in fancy dress pose holding frying pans with pancakes in them, on a busy street. From left to right, one man is dressed as green lizard, a woman is a sunflower, a younger woman is a fried egg and a fourth young woman is a tomato.Freya Cox/BBC
Competitors in the pancake race are assessed on speed, costumes and the amount of pancake they manage to keep in their frying pans

This year, the team from retailers Boyes triumph, and are awarded the golden frying pan for their efforts.

Manager Chris and security guard Jamie say they "thoroughly enjoyed it", calling the day "great fun".

"Everyone really looks forward to it, you can just judge by the crowds how popular it is in the town" Chris says.

News imageHulton Archive/Getty Images A black and white photograph of two men, dressed in sailors' uniforms, skipping over a large rope. A crowd of children can be seen gathered around. Hulton Archive/Getty Images
The tradition has continued for more than a century

Skipping Day is believed to have its origins in the days when servants and labourers would be given time off for Lent, and would come to socialise at the sea front.

Although the event falls on half term this year, local school pupils often get half a day off school to take part.

Eleven-year-old Alice says skipping is "her favourite part" of the day.

"It's really nice because we're by the beach," she says.

The history of Skipping Day in Scarborough

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