To celebrate Jay's auspicious 80th Birthday the Medieval History Group prepared a surprise Medieval buffet for him at our last meeting.

On the menu was a 'surfeit of lampreys' (sardines on crackers as jellied eels proved too difficult to source and I wouldn't fancy a lamprey having seen a picture on the web), ancient Tamworth pigs in blankets (sausage rolls), an authentic medieval custard pudding with a side dish of dates, and to wash it down a dash of mead with the option of a sip of Bishop's Finger ale (an ancient beer with it's own provenance beautifully written up by one of our scribes) - Jay took this home as we were all conscious of having to drive.

But the piece de resistance was the most incredible cake with a gorgeous medieval scene painted on it complete with a banner bearing the inscription  'Jay 80th'.

What merriment AND we even learnt about the death of Thomas Becket - who was no better than he ought to be!!!

Anni

Jay's 80th birthday - click on images to enlarge