Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th May

The Celebration was a most enjoyable weekend.  Rather than take this web page down we are going to leave it up for a whild and add some links to the many World Wide news and TV articles that covered the event.

We will also add a photo gallery.

See this German TV clip:

http://www.zdf.de/ZDFmediathek/beitrag/video/1642530/250.-Geburtstag-des-Sandwiches#/beitrag/video/1642530/250.-Geburtstag-des-Sandwiches

See all these links - global coverage indeed!

British town of Sandwich celebrates 250 years of sandwiches
StarPhoenix
Historians are sceptical of the claim that the earl actually invented the sandwich, arguing it belongs to a long line of bread-based snacks stretching back much further than the 18th century, but this has not stopped the town from celebrating its local ...

UK town celebrates 250th anniversary of sandwiches
The story goes that fourth Earl of Sandwich asked for beef served between slices of bread so that he could eat while continuing to play cards and his friends ...
www.dailypioneer.com/.../65085-uk-town-celebrates-250th-an...

PM - The humble sandwich turns 250 14/05/2012
According to legend, it's 250 years since the John Montagu, Fourth Earl of Sandwich, called for a slice of beef between two toasted pieces of bread so that he ...
www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2012/s3502579.htm

Town celebrates sandwich history - The West Australian
Dressed in 18th-century costume, actors on Sunday recreated the night when John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich - a keen card player - "called for a slice ...
au.news.yahoo.com/.../town-celebrates-sandwich-history/

English town celebrates 250 years of the sandwich
Radio New Zealand
The English town of Sandwich is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the meal which bears its name. The first written record of the sandwich was in 1762 when John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich, asked for a dish of beef served between slices of ...

Sandwich celebrates 250th birthday
UPI.com
SANDWICH, England, May 12 (UPI) -- Residents of Sandwich, England, are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the invention of the sandwich, first ordered by the fourth earl of Sandwich. History says the earl, John Montagu, first ordered a sandwich in ...

Sandwich celebrates 250 years of its culinary namesake
The Independent
Residents of the Kent town of Sandwich will discover just who among them makes the best sandwich today as they celebrate the 250th anniversary of the culinary creation. The current Earl of Sandwich, and other judges, will sample the final entries in ...

BBC NEWS - Sandwich celebrates 250th anniversary of the sandwich
When John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich, ordered beef served between slices of bread about 250 years ago he probably did not think his request would ...
m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-18010424

Matthew Christian

Programme of Events

Saturday 12^th May

New for 2012 is a 2 day celebration of the sandwich. The festival commemorates the 250th anniversary of the 4th Earl of Sandwich ‘inventing’ the sandwich

Highlights:

• Two day food fayre
• Street lunch including Unsung Heoroes
• Street music
• Teddy Bears Picnic
• 18th century concert
• Sandwich Making competition
• Re-enactment of the 'invention' of the sandwich
• Family Fun area
• Click Here for full programme of events

And for a brief istory of the sandwich  click here

Sunday 13th May

Press Coverage

The world's press is taking a big interest in Sandwich and the the Celebration. Several articles have been published in Germany and Belgium as well as local coverage on Radio Kent and in the Independent, Guardian, Times and others.  Meridian TV covered the event as did radio kent extensively.

TV crews from at least three overseas countries filmed the event.

Photo shoot picture organised for East Kent Mercury: The event organisers.

Food Fayre

A two day food fayre on the Guildhall Forecourt and St Peter's church surrounds featuring foods and drinks that go with, or help make a sandwich enjoyable.  The fayre will include traditional English, continental and Asian and food to eat on the go as well as to take home. Over 20 stalls have booked to attend.

To book a pitch click here

Street Lunch

sponsored by 'The Earl of Sandwich' sandwiches

On Sunday 100 people will enjoy a hot sandwiches lunch in a marquee erected on Market Street.  Wine and beer will be included. The current Earl of Sandwich and his family have kindly agreed to host this event at no cost to the invited guests. Some of the guests will be 'Unsung Heoroes of Sandwich'.   The places will be awarded to people who have quietly gone about helping Sandwich Town and its community.  Other guests will include many of the

Sandwich people who organise and manage our clubs, societies and schools.

Street Music

Street music on Sunday will be provided by the Betteshanger Brass Band, the Sandwich Concert Band and the Manwoods Schooll Jazz band. On Saturday, a free concert by JumboGumbo will entertain whilst the Sandwich-Honfleur Twinning Association share lunch with their visitors from Honfleur.  Look out for the maruading Pirate Musicians Skullduggery in full costume!

Teddy Bears Picnic

A free sandwiches and lemonade lunch for 80 children sponsored by 'The Earl of Sandwich' sandwiches

To enter the draw for a free place, please click here. Children must be aged from three to eleven and must bring a teddy bear with them. Please tell us the name and age of the child and the name of the teddy.

Sandwich Making Competition

All Sandwich Clubs, societies and even individuals are invited to enter their own recipe, most tasty, best presented sandwich.  To get a copy of the rules and to express an interest, see below..click here

Evening Concert

A concert in St Mary's with musicians in full 18th century costume. 

Click here for concert details and ticket information.  The Fourth Earl was very fond of music of all styles including some rather bawdy and lively tunes. In his youth the Earl was a colouful charcter with a penchant for dressing in Turkish robes as in this picture.

Re-enactment

A re-enactment of the very moment when the Fouth Earl called for a sandwich.  The photo below shows the Earl at the age he may have been when he called for a slice of beef between two toasted pieces of bread so that he could carry on gaming un-interrupted.  The re-enactment will be in a period house in Bowling Street.

Actors will entertain 20 people at a time to view the special moment.  They will be 'protected' whilst waiting to enter by soldiers from the First Foot Brigade.  The photo below was taken in March to give a visiting journalist from the German publication an insight into what the full re-enactment will entail.

The public will be entertained to music by Manwoods students in the ante room before they are ushered into the gaming room.

Family Fun Area

A bouncy castle and slide will be open both days on the Quay Green.  Look out for Mr Punch and the Owl display - its a hoot!  Seriously, there will be wonderful live owls on display.

Dancing displays, face painting, an Indian Tipi, craft stall, storytelling

For the more active of you:

PACE Soccer Schools - kick/bowl a ball into the cage and see your speed displayed.

Poster Artwork by Jim Marshall

Click here if you would like an A4 sized poster mailed to you.

Sandwich Bites - Rules and guidance

The Sandwich Festival May 12-13th 2012

250 Year anniversary of the invention of the original Sandwich!

The ‘Sandwich Bites’ Sandwich Making Competition

The Competition Rules

• There are 3 categories for entry to the competition:
• Professional Food Caterers – pubs, cafes, restaurants etc.
• Organised Clubs and Societies , and
• Individuals

• In keeping with the original Sandwich, all sandwiches  in the 2012 ‘Sandwich Bites’ competition should consist of at least 2 layers of bread.

• The competition shall be in two parts, with all-comers sandwich entries, being judged of the afternoon of Saturday 12^th May 2012. At this first stage entries will be given a category and number only, so the judges will not know the name/origin of competitors.

• A second stage will follow on Sunday 13^th of May for those 3 sandwich entries in each of the three categories (see rule 1),being a maximum of 9 entries in total,  taking part in a live final on the afternoon of Sunday 13^th May 2012.

• Awards will be made on the basis of – ‘Commended’ in the first round of judging; finalist recognition and prize  for all those invited to take part in the final, and a permanent framed certificate to those who come first in each of the 3 categories.

Taking Part

• PART 1

Entries in all 3 categories are asked to bring their assembled sandwiches to the quayside marquee on Saturday 12^th May between 2 .30 – 3pm, where display tables will be in the 3 categories. Judging will commence at 3pm. Entries will be provided with plates (unless they have brought their own) on which to display their sandwich.

Each entrant will be given a numbered card, onto which they will be asked to write the key 5 ingredients of their sandwich, and then place the card by their sandwich.

• PART 2

Entrants that are invited to take part in the final should bring their ingredients/ pre-prepared sandwich components to the quayside marquee for no later than 2.30pm on Sunday May 13^th. There will be up to 30 minutes to assemble their sandwiches ‘live’. (Think a Sandwich style BBC ‘Masterchef’).  Prestitgeous judges will sample the entries between 3 – 3.30, before announcing the winners.

GOOD LUCK!

A BRIEF HISTORY OF SANDWICH AND THE ‘SANDWICH’.

Sandwich is one the five original Cinque (pronounced sink) ports formed in the reign of Edward the Confessor (1042-1066).   These ports were of great importance to England in the early days of their formation with clearly defined duties and privileges, chief among which was to supply ships and men for the use of the king. Sandwich at this time was the most important port in the country.

Sandwich continued to play an important role in the history of England; in 1164 Archbishop Thomas Becket embarked at Sandwich for Gravelines returning six months later, before proceeding on to Canterbury where he was murdered in the same year.   1194 saw Richard 1 landing at Sandwich on his return from the crusades and in 1457 Sandwich suffered a surprise attack from the French when four thousand men, mainly from Honfleur in Normandy, descended on the town, killing and pillaging and murdering the mayor, John Drury.   They were eventually defeated and returned to France beginning a long period of enmity between the two towns and it was not until 1957 that good relations were finally restored.   Today the mayor of Sandwich still wears black robes although Sandwich is now happily twinned with Honfleur.

THE ‘SANDWICH’ CONNECTION.

Why did Edward Montagu choose the title ‘Sandwich’ when offered  an Earldom by Charles 11?  The Montagu family owned no land or property in East Kent.   The fact is that he saw the choice of the title Earl of Sandwich as a compliment to the naval importance of this historic Cinque Port and as such it was fitting for a man who had personally escorted the king safely back to England aboard his flagship.   He went on to have a successful diplomatic and naval career, before dying at the Battle of Sole Bay.

The second and third Earls did not have particularly distinguished careers; it was John , fourth Earl of Sandwich (1718-1792) who was to be best remembered ….for ordering a piece of beef to be served between two slices of bread while reputedly at the gaming tables.   The first written record of the word ‘sandwich’ came in 1762  from the English author, scholar and diarist Edward Gibbon, who wrote in his journal for November 4^th of that year ‘ I dined at the Cocoa Tree…. That respectable body affords every evening a sight truly English.  Twenty or thirty of the first men in the kingdom… supping at little tables… upon a bit of cold meat, or a Sandwich.’

However, John Montagu, the fourth Earl, had other claims to fame… he was a man of his time, able and ambitious, he made friends and enemies in his long political career.  Sportsman, soldier, gambler, music lover and diplomat, he travelled widely.  Naval affairs became his main interest and he was three times appointed First Lord of the Admiralty.   He was a patron of Captain Cook who named the Islands (now Hawaii) in his honour and after Cook’s death there he edited his journals.   Involved in Naval reforms he was unfairly blamed for failure during the American War of Independence.

He had children by his then wife, Dorothy Fane and later by his mistress of seventeen years, Martha Ray, an opera singer, who was murdered outside Covent Garden by a rejected suitor.

The Sandwich Celebration aims to pay tribute to this great man and his enduring culinary legacy.

For further information please contact:

Mandy Wilkins

01304 612860

mandywilkins@f2s.com

All text and images copyright© Sandwich Community Events Association


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