Woodmansterne is to celebrate its own historical milestone with a revival of an ancient tradition.
This Friday, (September 7) to mark Woodmansterne’s 65th anniversary, the publishing group is pulling out the stops with a Wayzgoose extravaganza, which will see two teams from Woodmansterne and a team from greeting card printers Windles battle it out in a number of different events.
A Wayzgoose used to be staged by printers to mark the transition from printing by daylight to printing by candlelight. The master printer used to throw a ‘great feast’ for his staff, usually involving an excursion into the countryside, with much merrymaking.
Last year, Seth Woodmansterne, who heads up Woodmansterne’s Croxley Press company, revived the tradition with Windles with their own take of a Wayzgoose that was held at Windles’ premises in Oxfordshire to mark the opening of its new state of the art printing works.
This year, Woodmansterne is returning the favour, staging a full on event at Luton Hoo to mark the 65th anniversary of the company being founded by Graham Woodmansterne, father of the current managing director Paul Woodmansterne.
The three teams Woodies (Woodmansterne), Windies: (Windles) and Wickies (Woodmansterne’s Milton Keynes Mr.Pickwick distribution centre) will compete in clay pigeon shooting, segway racing, darts, football, table tennis, rounders and a chilli eating competition.
Making reference to how at last year’s Wayzgoose, Windles’ md Bruce Podmore ended up stripping off to be plunged into an ice cold pool to clinch victory on the day, Paul Woodmansterne quipped: “If I were the wearer of Bruce Podmore’s underwear this Friday, I’d be choosing my colours carefully!
Publishing and producing greeting cards is a serious business throughout the year EXCEPT on the day of the Wayzgoose printfest!”
Although the odds are against them, Windles is entering the competition full of vigour. Emma Louise Allen, key account manager of Windles who organised last year’s Wayzgoose says “Windles is mpst definitely looking to retain the victorious title. As this year Woodmansterne is running two teams, the victory will be even sweeter if we beat them again, TWICE over!”
