A TRADITIONAL ‘mummers’ play written down by a schoolboy more than a century ago raised more than £150 for charity when an updated version was toured around Forest venues.

The cash raised from performances on Saturday, August 19, will support the Forest School programme.

The play originates from Newnham-on-Severn schoolboy Jimmy Prosser who followed the mummers one Christmas around 1900 and memorised the script.

Back at school, the class was asked to write an essay about what they did during the school holidays and Jimmy wrote out the mumming play.

In the 1960s, the script was given to Dave Blick who revived the tradition and also formed the Forest of Dean Morris Men, who performed the latest version updated by Dave Foster to reflect the threat of fracking to the Forest.

A mummers play is a story is about the underdog taking on a challenging opponent in a struggle for justice.

Traditionally, the Forest of Dean Morris Men and friends present one at pubs at Christmas time, when the weather is unsuitable for dancing outside.

But they hit the road this summer with a few tweaks to the original tale, with Father Christmas replaced by the Green Man, St George by a freeminer and the Turkish knight by a venture capitalist.

The new version of the 10 to 15-minute play was performed at Taurus Crafts in Lydney, Dean Heritage Centre in Soudley, the Rising Sun pub in Moseley Green; and Hopewell Colliery in Coleford.

The cash raised will help the Forest of Dean Children’s Opportunity Centre send a member of staff on a course

for Forest School programme management training. 

Charity spokeswoman Caroline Jones said: “Forest School is an innovative way to learn in a woodland setting enabling people of all ages and abilities to develop through a connection with nature.

“The Level Three certificate in Forest School programme leadership is for those who and wish to coordinate, manage and lead Forest School sessions with children, young people or adults.

“We want to send a member of staff on this training so that we can run regular Forest School sessions for all our children, helping them to learn and develop together in our beautiful woodland surroundings.”