Day Of Syn 2010

Well today was the Dymchurch Day of Syn, the culmination of a bi-annual local village festival based on the series of Dr Syn novels by Russell Thorndike who lived in the village and based his tales around local smuggling history and legends. His first book, simply called "Dr Syn" was published in 1915 and successful enough to warrant the writing of 6 other Dr Syn novels, all prequels as the character Dr Syn died at the end of the first book. The popularity of the Dr Syn story made for three films in which George Arliss portrayed the vicar-cum-smuggler in 1936, followed by a Hammer adaptation in the 1960s starring Peter Cushing, and a Walt Disney TV series starring Patrick McGoohan that was also edited into a film for theatrical release in the 1960s.

With rumours of Disney still guarding the film rights and contemplating another film adaptation and with the novels out of print and as rare as hens' teeth (apart from a 2010 reprinting of the original "Dr Syn" novel), it is heartening to see the people of Dymchurch put on effectively what is a village fete with acted out scenes from the story at various places throughout the village, such as on the beach, outside the local pubs and a parade through the main street, to keep their moment of fame alive in the 21st century.

The whole feel of the day is one of homely amateurism. The village hasn't succumbed to selling out and becoming over commercialised. The fete is still a free event and yet attracts thousands. The programmes have a feel of cheapness about them and that they could be so much better designed and printed in the modern age; and yet that is part of their appeal.

The only sad aspect is that when the villagers dress up as characters from the period, I did hear children's voices cheer at seeing someone dressed up as a rather out of place Captain Jack Sparrow (from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films) and one even piped up that he wanted to see more of Captain Jack, but "who on earth was the person dressed up as a Scarecrow supposed to be!"

Monday 30th August 2010