TRIBUTES have been paid to “King of the Hudnalls” Gerald Creswick at the annual St Briavels tradition in which he had a central role.

Mr Creswick, also known as Ged, died suddenly on April 11.

He and his sister Margaret Slaughter were key figures in distributing the village’s annual Whitsun Cheese and Bread Dole.

Traditionally, the food was thrown from the Pound Wall opposite St Briavels Castle, but recently it has taken place from the platform of a cherry picker.

On Sunday (May 24), Mrs Slaughter was joined by her son Wilf to cast the bread and cheese to an enthusiastic crowd.

She had diced 12 loaves of bread and about five kilos of cheese for the ceremony with the help of her daughter Rebecca.

Mrs Slaughter said Mr Creswick had been taking part in the ceremony since the death of his grandfather in 1968.

The family has been involved in the Whitsun Cheese and Bread Dole since at least the mid 20th century and during the war there was special dispensation from the government to keep the tradition going.

The dole is thought to date back to the medieval period.

Before the ceremony, another St Briavels tradition was enacted, when in accordance with the will of William Whittington from the early 17th century, a preacher from outside the parish was invited to give a sermon outside St Mary the Virgin Church.

If the sermon pleases the congregation, the Whittington Purse of £1 6s 8d in pre-decimal coins is handed over.

Priest-in-charge of St Briavels Church, Rev David Rees, said: “I don’t think Mr Whittington liked the vicar at the time.”

This year’s preacher was Rev Philip Averay, the Vicar of Chepstow, who gave a homily about Pentecost and the importance of community, and was presented with the purse by Rev Rees.