[Ely Announce] Eel Catcher

[Owen Spencer-Thomas]

Last traditional eel catcher delivers eels to Bishop 
 

Eel catcher and willow merchant, Peter Carter will be arriving in Ely tomorrow (Saturday 20 June) to take part in the St Etheldreda's Day Procession after punting 22 miles along the River Ouse from the village of Outwell.  


Mr Carter, now the last traditional eel catcher on the Fens, plans to commemorate the Diocese of Ely's 900 anniversary celebrations by presenting the Bishop of Ely with his gift of a bucket of eels and a willow eel trap.  


During his four day trip he is re-enacting a centuries old custom in which local churches across the fens gave the Bishop gifts of eels.   Most of his journey upstream in an 11 foot traditional Fenland punt has been beset by a strong headwind.  


He has had to negotiate his boat through the tall reeds close to the river bank because his punt pole is unable to reach the river depth midstream.  However, he is on schedule to arrive in Ely by 11.00 am in good time to meet the crowds who will greet him at Jubilee Gardens.  


Mr Carter will make his presentation to the Bishop, Dr Anthony Russell, in the Cathedral Lady Chapel at 12.30 pm.  


"It's a kind of pilgrimage for me," he said.  "My great, great, great grandparents were married in the Lady Chapel."   


Mr Carter, who is churchwarden for St Clement's church in Outwell, will be raising money for the Milton Children's Hospice and repairs on Outwell church.   


The Procession celebrates the events leading up to the formation of the Diocese of Ely in 1109 and the life of its foundress, St Etheldreda.   


Queen Etheldreda came to Ely in 673 AD and founded a monastery for men and women, of which she was Abbess. Such was the quality of her life and the miracles attributed to her that Ely became one of the three most important medieval pilgrimage centres in England. Had it not been for her there would have been no Ely Cathedral and no Diocese of Ely. 

 

For more details and information: 

Canon Owen Spencer-Thomas, MBE  

Bishop's Press Officer                                                          

52 Windsor Road

Cambridge

CB4 3JN

 

Phone:  01223 358448         

Mobile: 07801 492151

email: owenst at btinternet.com