A plum-charmer has been called in to play clarinet to Pershore's plum trees in the hope it will increase this season’s harvest.
The Worcestershire town's four-century old tradition will be revived after local solicitor Paul Johnson discovered the original plum-charmer’s trappings while renovating his office.
Johnson said: "From the style of dress discovered - gown and winged collar - it would appear that this mediaeval musician was originally connected with the church or the law. Most striking is the plum-charmer's wig that I found, which over the last 20 years has turned progressively purple, perhaps in response to the rejuvenation of the Pershore Plum Festival.”
Johnson's role will be to serenade the plum orchards throughout July to encourage the region’s plums to ripen and grow.
Angela Tidmarsh, Pershore Plum Festival organiser, said: "We’ve already suffered with our asparagus this year thanks to the unpredictable weather, so we’re doing anything and everything we can to guarantee our plum harvest.
"Pershore’s Plum Festival is the town’s biggest tourist attraction of the year and critical to our success; Paul’s work could be crucial.”
Johnson, who has been given the blessing of his law firm to take on the role, has discovered different plum varieties respond to different types of music.
He added: “Pershore’s Purple Plum seems to prefer classical pieces such as Elgar whilst the Yellow Egg Plum favours jazz greats like Benny Goodman, and the Victoria Plum has a penchant for The Beatles.”
