All the wonderfully British things that won’t be happening this May

What are we going to do now? (Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)

Next month is usually a hotspot of the social calendar – if you’re into cheese rolling, lawn mower racing and dancing around the May Pole.

They were all due to take place in May, but sadly due to coronavirus have had to be cancelled or postponed.

It’s not just shops and schools which have had to close down. You can’t really roll a cheese on a Zoom chat (although if anyone wants to volunteer to try we will sign up to watch. It’s not like there’s anything else going on.)

We took a look at all the brilliant and bizarre events which the country will be missing out on due to coronavirus.

First up: The Worm Charming Championships.

You’ve heard of trying to charm a snake, but did you know that each year, people gather to coax earthworms out of the ground? It’s a thing. And now you will not be able to go and spectate in this riveting – yet rather slow moving – contest.

File photo dated 23/06/18 of competitors trying to coax the most worms out of the ground during the World Worm Charming Championships at Willaston County Primary School, in Willaston, Nantwich, Cheshire. The nationwide lockdown for coronavirus has led to the cancellation of many traditional and quirky events across the UK. PA Photo. Issue date: Thursday April 16, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire — The championships at Willaston County Primary School, Nantwich, Cheshire in 2018 (Picture: PA)

Next: The Tweed Run

This annual bike ride through central London sees people decked out in their finest tweed cycling in the capital. Why? Well, it’s better than the naked bike ride at least.

It’s due to go ahead on May 2, but will have to be cancelled if the lockdown continues.

File photo dated 04/05/19 of riders crossing Southwark Bridge during the annual cycle Tweed Run in London. The nationwide lockdown for coronavirus has led to the cancellation of many traditional and quirky events across the UK. PA Photo. Issue date: Thursday April 16, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire — Riders crossing Southwark Bridge (Picture: PA)

Lawn Mower Racing

What is May without spring flowers and a spot of lawn mower racing (not together, obviously)?

The Red Bull Cut It sees racers get up to speeds of 50mph, as they risk being bounced out of their seats.

Sadly, there’s no event this year so you’ll have to just mow the lawn instead, if you are lucky enough to have a garden.

File photo dated 08/06/19 of competitors battling it out during the Red Bull Cut It, lawn mower racing event at Chestnut House, in Lower Weare, Axbridge. The nationwide lockdown for coronavirus has led to the cancellation of many traditional and quirky events across the UK. PA Photo. Issue date: Thursday April 16, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Ben Birchall/PA Wire — 2019’s event at Chestnut House, in Lower Weare, Axbridge (Picture: PA)

Cheese rolling

Unfortunately, the cheese roll is too competitive to allow for proper social distancing as people hurtle down Cooper’s Hill in Brockworth, Gloucestershire.

It has gone ahead since the 1800s but has been postponed due to Covid-19.

File photo dated 27/05/10 of the winner of the first men's downhill race, Max McDougall, 22, from Brockworth, chases the cheese during the annual cheese rolling competition at Cooper's Hill in Brockworth, Gloucestershire. The nationwide lockdown for coronavirus has led to the cancellation of many traditional and quirky events across the UK. PA Photo. Issue date: Thursday April 16, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Ben Birchall/PA Wire — Max McDougall, 22, romps to victory in the event last year (Picture: PA)

File photo dated 28/05/18 of female competitors taking part in the annual cheese rolling competition at Cooper's Hill in Brockworth, Gloucestershire. The nationwide lockdown for coronavirus has led to the cancellation of many traditional and quirky events across the UK. PA Photo. Issue date: Thursday April 16, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire — Competition is tight (Picture: PA)

The Ely Hoop Trundle

Pupils compete to roll a hoop on the east lawn of Ely Cathedral, to mark the founding of the school by King Henry VIII in 1541.

As schools are closed, this will not be going ahead.

File photo dated 03/05/19 of pupils taking part in the annual King's Ely Hoop Trundle on the east lawn at Ely Cathedral, to mark the re-founding of the school by King Henry VIII, in 1541. The course is a 75 yard dash to a post and back whilst bowling the hoop with a wooden stick. The nationwide lockdown for coronavirus has led to the cancellation of many traditional and quirky events across the UK. PA Photo. Issue date: Thursday April 16, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire — The course is a 75 yard dash to a post and back whilst bowling the hoop with a wooden stick (Picture: PA)

The Maypole

Dancing around the Maypole has been a tradition in the UK for centuries, but with everyone putting their hands on the pole at the centre it is a potential risk for coronavirus.

This year people will be keeping their hands to themselves and dancing at home.

File photo dated 01/05/19 of hands touching the maypole during the Beltane celebrations at Glastonbury Chalice Well, where people gather to observe a modern interpretation of the ancient Celtic pagan fertility rite of Spring. The nationwide lockdown for coronavirus has led to the cancellation of many traditional and quirky events across the UK. PA Photo. Issue date: Thursday April 16, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Ben Birchall/PA Wire — Hands touching the maypole during the Beltane celebrations at Glastonbury Chalice Welll (Picture: PA)

The World Custard Pie Championship

You didn’t even know this happened every year? For shame. Get more acquainted with this historic event.

Essentially, people throw custard pies at one another with extra points if they hit rivals in the face.

Organisers said: ‘As some of you may already know it is with great sadness that, due to the ongoing situation with coronavirus, and in line with the government advice, we have made the very tough decision to cancel this year’s competition.

‘Fear not though, we will be back next year, bigger, better and MESSIER than before. We are as disappointed as you, but rest assured we have more time now to make next year even better!’

File photo dated 02/06/18 of custard pies are prepared before the the 51st annual World Custard Pie Championship in the village of Coxheath, near Maidstone in Kent. The nationwide lockdown for coronavirus has led to the cancellation of many traditional and quirky events across the UK. PA Photo. Issue date: Thursday April 16, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire — It happens in the village of Coxheath, near Maidstone in Kent (Picture: PA)

File photo dated 02/06/18 of contestants taking part in the 51st annual World Custard Pie Championship in the village of Coxheath, near Maidstone in Kent. The nationwide lockdown for coronavirus has led to the cancellation of many traditional and quirky events across the UK. PA Photo. Issue date: Thursday April 16, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire — Contestants taking part in the 51st annual World Custard Pie Championship (Picture: PA)

Dragon Boat Regatta

Every year in Gloucester around 30 teams battle it out and race across the historic docks in 40-foot dragon boats.

Often they dress up for the occasion, such as a team of Where’s Wallies in 2018.

File photo dated 13/05/18 of teams taking part in the Gloucester annual Dragon Boat Regatta, where around 30 teams battle it out and race across the historic docks in 40-foot dragon boats. The nationwide lockdown for coronavirus has led to the cancellation of many traditional and quirky events across the UK. PA Photo. Issue date: Thursday April 16, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Ben Birchall/PA Wire — Teams taking part in 2018 (Picture: PA)

May Day Dip

Plunging into the freezing North Sea at dawn on the first of May is said to promote good luck in exams at the University of St Andrews.

Unfortunately, students may now have to rely on revising – if exams go ahead at all.

File photo dated 01/05/18 of students from the University of St Andrews taking part in the traditional May Day Dip on the East Sands in St Andrews, Fife. Plunging into the freezing North Sea at dawn on the first of May is said to promote good luck in exams. The nationwide lockdown for coronavirus has led to the cancellation of many traditional and quirky events across the UK. PA Photo. Issue date: Thursday April 16, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Jane Barlow/PA Wire — Students taking a dip on the East Sands in St Andrews, Fife (Picture: PA)

Bottle kicking match

Every year, willagers from Medbourne in Leicestershire take on with neighbouring Hallaton in a bottle kicking match.

Here they are parading the ‘bottle’ beforehand.

File photo dated 17/04/17 of villagers from Medbourne in Leicestershire parading a 'bottle' through the village before their annual bottle kicking match with neighbouring Hallaton. The nationwide lockdown for coronavirus has led to the cancellation of many traditional and quirky events across the UK. PA Photo. Issue date: Thursday April 16, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire — Cancelled (Picture: PA)

File photo dated 06/04/15 of villagers taking part in the annual game of bottle kicking in Hallaton, Leicestershire. The game consists of two teams made up of the villagers of Hallaton and their neighbours from Medbourne attempting to get three kegs across two streams a mile apart, by any means possible. The nationwide lockdown for coronavirus has led to the cancellation of many traditional and quirky events across the UK. PA Photo. Issue date: Thursday April 16, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire — Things can get quite heated (Picture: PA)

World Egg Throwing Championships

There’s not a politician in sight for this lot, who throw eggs purely for the fun of it.

Organisers said: ‘We are extremely sorry to be making this devastating decision and have been monitoring the news and advice continually. As the situation has unfolded and intensified we realise we have no alternative but to cancel.’