Norwich Whifflers

Why not have a look at

• www.ukppg.org.uk/kempsmen.html

and see where the revival of the Whifflers started. Or

• See the following link for Charles Dickens "Sketches of Young Couples from "Sketches by Boz".
• The Jubilant Trust, where you can hire a Thames barge and Whiffler.
• The British Pub Guide mentions "The Whiffler" , 121 Boundary Rd. Hellesdon, Norwich, now owned by Wetherspoons. Go to; www.britishpubguide.com/pubs/1732.html. or follow the link to the Wetherspoon website and more information about this Norwich pub.
• An article "The Norwich Whiffler" contains a short account of whiffling activity prior to 1730.
• A short diatribe from Dean Swift, can be found here invoking the thinking powers of Whifflers:
• An account of the "Nine Daies Wonder" event in 2000 where some of Kemps Men of Norwich were involved for the whole event and the Whifflers escorted the weary dancers into Norwich.
• Photographs of Whifflers and Snap the 1951 Norwich carnival procession in pictures (pageantry 38) very near the bottom of the page.
• Chambers Book of Days, for 23rd April deplores the loss of old traditions and cites Norwich and Snap as an example of public pressure  that causes the retention of some vestige of the old ways.
• History of the City of Norwich, look at 1404!
• You can find pictures of Snap and his Norwich ilk such as Klang here.
• An annotated script (by James Merryweather) of  "The Waits" by F A Hadland that mentions several cities, including Norwich, as having Waits and  Whifflers (with a description of their costume).

and, not forgetting

• Norwich City Council, without whom we would not have a purpose.

Some other examples of Whifflers still serving a ceremonial purpose:

• The Worshipful Company of Joiners and Ceilers of the City of London: 
• Old Glory Molly Dancers have their own Whiffler
• Britannia Coconut Dancers also have their own Whiffler
• The Worshipful Company of Turners have employed a number of Whifflers for ceremonial occasions