Dwile Flonking: The baffling traditional East Anglian pub game

2 min read Original article ↗

If you happen to come across a group of people in old farm clothes, seemingly dancing in a big circle while someone in the middle throws a beer-soaked rag at them in Suffolk this weekend, you might have stumbled across the bonkers game of dwile flonking.

Halesworth Ale Day will hold its first dwile flonking game since 1970 later.

If you are baffled but also intrigued to know what this is all about, then you are in luck because the BBC spoke to an expert to find out more.

Eric Wareham, 61, who is originally from Coventry, moved to Beccles in about 1996.

From getting involved in groups and activities around the area, he was introduced to dwile flonking by a man called Yanny Mac back in about 2010.

Wareham started as one of the players, before becoming a captain of the Suffolk team at the annual match v Norfolk.

This takes place at the Locks Inn Community Pub in Geldeston, near Beccles.

He then took over as a referee, also known as a jobanowl, when Mac stepped down.

"I'm an age that I don't care how embarrassing I sound or look," he said.

"I just continue onwards, hopefully entertaining the troops and the people in the garden and keeping the tradition going."