Over one thousand school children were granted a half day in the town’s traditional ‘Founder’s Day’ celebrations. Children from primary schools across the town gathered at the Almshouses for the traditional service and distribution of the buns.
In the 1700s, the residents of the Almshouses would have been joined by the school children for a dinner hosted by the Nicholas Chamberlaine Charities to commemorate Founder’s Day but, after a population boom in the Victorian era, the dinner was replaced with a fruit bun. This continued until it was stopped entirely during World War Two due to rationing and was then revived in 2000. The buns are baked by a local bakery, Gayton’s, who worked hard to provide the 4,337 buns for this year’s celebrations. Local Atherstone firm MG Event & Sound delivered the management of the event for the first time.
Jane Corrigan, vice-chair of the Hospital and Sermon Charity that administers the Almshouses said: “Founder’s Day has affectionately become known as “Bun Day” and is a unique highlight for children, parents and grandparents who have fond memories of the occasion. Many of the current residents remember sitting in the quadrangle when they were young and have watched the event grow year on year. All primary schools across Bedworth, Exhall and Bulkington are now invited to attend. Three of the residents wear bye-gone costumes that are always an intriguing fascination.”
The service at the Almshouses was led by some of the school children and a team from All Saints Parish Church guided by Rev. Dave Poultney who follows in the footsteps of Nicholas Chamberlaine as Bedworth’s Rector,
“It is exciting to once again meet and worship with our foundation schools and guests in the heart of Bedworth. It is an honour to have Senior Minister Dave Jones with us this year to preach. Looking out as I bless the two thousand people attending it is a wonderful reminder of the privilege it is to serve Jesus as Bedworth’s Rector. I am reminded too that, as trustees of the Nicholas Chamberlaine Trust, we serve the legacy of our founder by keeping the tradition of “Bun Day” going in the same way as we do by providing additional funding to schools and to individuals leaving statutory education.”
The Nicholas Chamberlaine Schools Foundation will soon be re-opening their education and apprenticeship grants for 2025. The opportunity to apply for the foundation’s ‘Henry Bellairs Grants’ is open to all Bedworth residents leaving statutory education and heading into further education for either an apprenticeship or their first degree at university. Applications are open September - November for University Students, and all year round for new Apprentices
