Making Mischief Oral History Project, 'Banbury Hobby Horse' full

Simon Pipe is the creator of the Banbury Hobby Horse. In 2000 councillors in the town of Banbury in Oxfordshire wanted to capitalise on the famous nursery rhyme 'Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross'. Simon, who was a Morris dancer and had attended one-day events like Jack in the Green in Hastings, suggested a hobby horse festival for Banbury. The councillors agreed to it and the event started to take place annually. People created their own hobby horses and brought them to Banbury to parade through the streets. Simon's hobby horse is a white creature with ping pong eyes, four legs and a blue horse rug covering the wearer.