The distinctive dialect of Swadlincote is to be celebrated once again as its popular Ay Up Me Duck event is to return bigger and better than ever.
Following on from last year’s success there will be a whole heap of activities taking place just in time for the school holidays, all centred around Swadlincote’s favourite saying of 'Ay up me duck'.
Among the highlights of this time's event on Tuesday, August 1, is expected to be an activity trail around Swadlincote town centre to celebrate all things South Derbyshire.
Visitors can stop by Sharpe’s Pottery Museum, in West Street, in the town, to record their ‘Memories of Salts’. The popular department store was opened in the High Street in the 1890s. Eventually it extended to three stores which included a haberdashery and menswear shops and, in the late 1920s, a hardware store. Salt Brothers finally closed all its shops in 1982, after almost a century of trading.
Another highlight will be a make your own TG Green-inspired cup and saucer, as a nod to the town’s famous TG Green Cornishware kitchen pottery.
Visitors will also be able to help create a community rag rug. Rag rugs, made from oddments of material, were a necessity before the days of fitted carpets and central heating, and the whole family took part in making it.
Swadlincote Library will also be getting on in the act as it becomes the venue for families to create a mini well dressing.
During the day, visitors will have to listen out around town for Eddie on his Duck-mobile and there will be the opportunity to buy a hot Derbyshire oatcake.
Swadlincote Tourist Information Centre will be on The Delph with hook a duck and other games.
New for 2017 will be the 'Wassup Me Duck' hunt. Participating shops and businesses will be hiding their own ‘Duck who's Quacking Swaddie Saying’. Families can get a spotter sheet from the tourist information centre at Sharpe’s, find the duck, write down the saying and when you’ve found them all return to Sharpe’s to be entered into a prize draw.
Ay Up Me Duck will be held in the town centre from 10am to 2pm on Tuesday, August 1, and anyone can take part in the Wassup Me Duck Hunt anytime between August 1 and August 11.
Further information is available by calling 01283 222848.
Swad sayings (with thanks to Swad.com)
| Swad saying | Proper English |
| Sit yer sen dairn | Please take a seat |
| Yo enna fegorrit, en ya | You have not forgotten it, have you |
| Wey'z gooin fer uz dinners | We are all going to have lunch |
| Am bostin furra fag | I really need a cigarette |
| Ay owny ed aif a birrer | He only had a half pint of bitter |
| Tinna izzn | It does not belong to him |
| It wunna wok | It will not work |
| En ya frit? | Are you frightened? |
| It's jus Yo an mey | It is just you and me |
| Ay canna com | He cannot come |
| En yuh on yuh own | Are you on your own |
| It's nowt te dow wi mey | It is not anything to do with me |
| It's gerrin black ower Bill's motha's | It looks like heavy rain |
| Am gooin wom | I am going home |
| An gorra bad yed | I have a pain in my head |
| Alom didna wok | The alarm did not work |
| I enna got none | I have not got any |
| Er wit yeller at on | The lady in the yellow hat |
| Is it izen | Does it belong to him |
| Wosup wi yo | What is the matter |
| It enna rait | That is not right |
| Gizz ayf on it | Could I have half of it |
| A wik a Toosdee | A week on Tuesday |
| It's tonnin tu reen | It is starting to rain |
| It wonna may mister | It was not me sir |
| I enna dun nowt | I have not done anything |
| Ay nayled on a neel | He kneeled on a nail |
| Owd yer osses | Stop what you are doing |
| It inna woth nowt | It is not worth anything |
| Int it ot | It is very warm today |
| Put yer coot on | Put your coat on |
| Trays and waiter | Trees and water |
| Aup me duck | Hello there |
