“It began as a joke” said David Kelland, one of the founders of Blackawton Wormcharming.

To be held for the umpteenth time on Sunday April 30, Councillor Kelland claims he, together with David Killer, a Dartmouth chemist and two ‘others’, came up with the idea.

Councillor Kelland said: “It must be something like 30years ago that we all met in a pub.

“David Killer lived in Blackawton and we were trying to come up with an idea to raise money for charity.

“I had seen the seagulls stamping their feet on Coronation Park to bring the worms to the surface and this seemed a good basis for a charity event, wormcharming.

“We had tried other silly ideas before. At Harbertonford, we had previously launched the Paperboat Regatta.

“David Killer lived in Blackawton and we thought we would launch it in the garden of the Normandy Arms, long since closed.

“I wrote the rules setting out things like the size of plot and the requirement for ceremony, We used toast the worms with neat malt whiskey and had the worming parade from the The George Inn to the Normandy.

“We called it the International Festival of Wormcharming.

“TTP Fabrication knocked up a trophy in the shape of a worm, like a big ‘W’.

“Our breakthrough came with the formation of BBC Radio Devon. They had just started and, in their forthcoming events section, carried the International Festival of Wormcharming.

“It was picked by BBC Spotlight and then the BBC Breakfast News. This brought a call from my father who had seen me on the news and wanted to know what nonsense had I got myself into now.

“The event fielded some 10 teams. The police came to control the crowds. It was judged by Jenny Britton and I did the commentary.

“We managed to get Hilary Bastone disqualified for some reason and, much to the amusement of the crowds, we persuaded the police to escort him from the field to good natured laughter.

“The news coverage reached Australia following a segment on Ester Ranson’s ‘That’s Life’ and Channel 7 sent an ex-Dartmouth resident, Bert Smith to the UK.

“He found the old country a trifle cold and wore fur boots and drank brandy to keep himself warm. Bert couldn’t believe that having gone all the way to Australia he was still seeing me around but on TV!

“Ester Ranson even wrote a song about wormcharming which was performed on That’s Life but when I last met the Wurzels, they had lost the lyrics and only remembered snatches of the song.”

“Blackawton Wormcharming has raised money for the Lifeboat, Cheshire Foundation and now will Raise money for Devon Air Ambulance. It proves how long a good joke will last”