GENESIS - WEAPON TO TROPHY TO PIKEHANDS
By Nick.C and Bryan with additions by Bob
The Pike was a formidable medieval weapon. It was between 4 and 4.5 metres (14 feet) long made of iron and steel. Men who wielded such a heavy hand held device had to be big, fit and strong. It was pretty useless on its own but in a band of strong men it was unsurpassed in warfare.
Shortly after its introduction the pike's shafts were made from long stranded hard timber such as Ash. This made the weapon easier to handle so the size of the Pikemen was no longer critical.
Pikemen received specific training for working in a large, close ordered and coordinated team to prevent entanglement with other team members in the heat of battle. In attack mode Pikemen advanced in ranks perhaps ten deep. The front rank carried their pikes with the point at about chest height of the enemy. Following ranks rested their pikes on the shoulders of the rank in front. This was very heavy work for the front rank. At command intervals the ranks opened in wave action, avoiding weakening of the block, from one end to another so that the second rank became the first whilst the pevious rank took up the rear without turning around.
In defence all pikes were raised vertical so that all Pikemen could turn to face outwards in square formation. Pikes were lowered and each Pikeman anchored his end of the pike in the ground with his foot whilst the pointed end was controlled between other Pikemen at chest or horse height.
Skilled Pikemen were highly prized worthy valuable men. Saying to someone, "You're a Pikeman!" was a praise worthy endearment. BUT!! A new less worthy name, 'Pikehand,' was used for someone of considerably less endearment.
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In the beginning there was Cider, fresh air and the dog Spike.
Pikehand is believed to be a Bristolian expression for someone who does something stupid. A buffoon. In 1969 Bryan and Nick.C were at Bristol City watching them play football, when a City fan hurled the expression, ‘Pikehand,’ at one of the City players.
Bryan heard the word again shortly after, when walking in Queen Charlton, along the top of a dry stone wall that surrounded a private fishing lake next to a farm. The farmer let loose the same expression, ‘oi yoo Pikehand!’ as Bryan ran away.
So the word Pikehand entered the family vocabulary.
Raymond was moving house in 1971 and caught the top of his thumb in the sliding door of his hired van. Seriously damaging the hospitalised thumb. Ray followed shortly after. Origin
Bryan and Nick conspired to make a presentation to Ray at the XVI Cricket Club annual dinner where many of the family would be present (including Arthur). Graham contributed a hand from a Burtons mannequin with a bandage wound around the thumb.
The Hand was presented to Ray in a quiet corner of the Yorkshire Grey Ballroom (see XVI cricket club). Unknowingly to all the Pikehand had arrived to become our trophy today.
It was agreed that evening that the Hand would be presented each year to someone in the family who had done something really stupid but to the amusement of everyone else.
After the inauguration of the hand, as the concept of the Pikehands began to take shape, it was decided that all the male members of the family, blood relatives and those who married into the family, would be eligible to be a Pikehand. Policy
Some of the Pikes were concerned that the close extended family would disintegrate over time. Thinking to avert this Alan and Nick.C offered to run the first Pike weekend in Bury St Edmunds. This was encouragement to spend time together for fun and, ‘cultural pursuits,’ planning for the future integration and development in the family.
How Nick.C and Bryan decreed themselves as life long president and vice-president respectively, is still a mystery. explain guys or is that another Bury Minutes?