Olney Pancake Race 2024

Previous image Next image

14 of 14

Previous image Next image

More Galleries

Land of Lights

als pals

momk

Olney Pancake Race 2024

Did you know Olney is the home of the world famous pancake race?

over 550 years ago, the story has it that a local townswoman ran down the Olney High Street holding a frying pan, fearing that she would be late for church. Little did she know, centuries later her late comings would result in an annual world-famous pancake race.

Nobody really knows how the race originated, however, the story of the woman running hurriedly to confess her sins at the sound of the shriving bell seems to overtake the rest.

Shrove Tuesday has always been of religious significance to the townsfolk of Olney. It is the day before Lent, which is the start of the traditional fast. Traditionally, people were to give up dairy products for Lent, meaning the products were put into a pancake mix. For the Olney women, it was also important to attend the Shriving service before the start of Lent, where they could confess their sins ahead of Ash Wednesday.

In 1445, the first pancake race is said to have taken place in Olney. The women of the town grabbed their apron and hat, running down the high street to the church door. Centuries later, today, the women of Olney are still picking up their frying pans to take part in the timed race.

Each year, people travel from far and wide to witness the world-famous event. The race was even featured in a book about 500 things to witness across the globe!

Local News

Tell us your story
MKFM always wants to hear your stories about your city.
Milton Keynes chess superstar shines at chess challenge
Sixty of the UK's brightest young chess players gathered at Blenheim Palace at the weekend for the Delancey UK Chess Challenge Terafinal.
Adoptive families needed for children and young people in Milton Keynes
This week is National Adoption Week, and Milton Keynes City Council (MKCC) is trying to find 'forever families' for 11 children from the new city.
Firefighters tackle blaze in Milton Keynes overnight
Firefighters were called to Bleak Hall overnight, following reports of a fire at a commercial scrap metal building.
Milton Keynes organisations among those benefiting from Thames Valley Police Community Fund
Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber awards more than £190,000 of money taken from criminals to 49 organisations to support the Police and Crime Plan.
Milton Keynes charity Bus Shelter MK announces relaunch as The Shelter MK
The Bus Shelter MK will relaunch as The Shelter MK this half term.
Residents invited to have their say on new development plans for Milton Keynes estate
Taylor Wimpey is holding a public consultation to allow residents to submit their feedback on plans for the next phase of development at Salden Park.
Woburn Safari Park celebrates the birth of critically endangered mammal
Woburn Safari Park has welcomed the birth of one of the world's most endangered large mammals, a female Eastern mountain bongo calf.
Thieves who stole suitcases from a family in Milton Keynes return urn of ashes
When Lynda Watt and her family returned home from a holiday in Greece in the early hours of Friday morning, the holiday vibe was quickly replaced by worry – when the family's four suitcases were stolen from their car.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is coming to Milton Keynes Theatre
The show comes to Milton Keynes Theatre from Tue 6 – Sat 10 Oct 2026, as part of a major UK tour.
Milton Keynes hosts the largest black history month event in the UK
Black History Month was marked with an exhibition of art, culture and business in the new city at the weekend – the largest of its type in the UK.
Cruel thieves target minibus belonging to Milton Keynes charity
Thieves have stolen the service-critical minibus from local charity Camphill Milton Keynes.