British Wellie Week

Wellie week (or Welly Week!) is an unofficial national celebration of the British Welly! There are two celebratory Wellington boot festivals - the first is usually held in the last week of April; and the second, in the middle of October. Wellington Boots were designed by the 1st Duke of Wellington, Field Marshall Arthur Wellsley (1769 - 1852) the vulcanised rubber was invented by English-American inventor Charles Goodyear (1800 - 1860), and the boot welting process invented by Goodyear's son - William Henry Goodyear (1846 - 1923). Here are two examples of a great British Shoe and Boot makers:

• Loake (History page) - using the Goodyear welting process since 1880 - one of the oldest boot makers in the UK, still in operation today.
• Grenson (History page)

See here for more info: Charles Goodyear, Duke of Wellington (History of the Welly).

Union Jack Flag

Wellie Week 2010

Set a calendar reminder (You can even get Google to SMS text you on the event for free) for 19^th - 25^th April 2010, as this is British Wellie Week. Everyone will wear Wellies - to work, to the beach, in the mud - an important date to remember in the London event calendar. Remember to wear your Wellington Boots everyday to work this week! Wear traditional green wellies to work. Better yet - get a pair of funky wellingtons.

Welly Weeks:

• 19^th to 25^th April 2010
• 20^th to 26^th April 2009
• 21^th to 27^th April 2008
• 18^th to 24^th April 2007
• 3^rd to 9^th April 2006

Other April Events

Other April events this year occurring at round about the same time:

• Earth Day
• St George's Day celebrations
• Arbor Day

Yearly Wellie Race

While you're at it setting all your calendars take a look at this related Wellington Boot race - takes place each year on boxing day (26^th December).

Originally started in 1976 the Powley (an area in the hills surrounding Castlecomer) men decided, while playing cards, on St Stephen's day (Boxing day for British readers) to run off the Christmas excess by having a race over a cross country circuit. Not being the type of men that would be caught dead in a pair of Nike’s or Adidas runners, let alone actually own a pair, the most obvious foot wear for this type of event was yes you guessed it - Wellingtons.

Read more >>>

Ideas for Welly Week

The RABI (Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution) has a fantastic list of events using Wellies including:

• Welly Wanging (see our page on welly wanging videos)
• Welly Raft Racing
• Welly Disco
• Welly Sunday lunch
• Welly Decorating
• Guess the Welly Competition
• Ploughing Match with Welly Wanging
• Week of Welly Fun
• Welly Comedy Night
• Welly Olympics
• Welly Barn Dance
• Welly to Work Day
• Ploughing Match with Welly Wanging Competition
• Welly Tractor Pull
• Welly Golf
• Beef Wellington Evening
• Welly wearing & BBQ
• Welly Speed Dating
• YFC 70 mile Welly Relay
• Rugby in Wellies
• Naked Welly Calendar
• Welly Walk

External Links

• Fun-filled Welly Week to raise funds for farming charity RABI
• A welly week held in October -, Welly Week is 10 - 17 October 2009
• Personalised England Doorplate
• Wellie Week - at Garden Organic
• What's happening in London
• Holidays in different countries
• Funky Wellingtons Wellie Week
• Welly Wanging Definition on Uncyclopedia

Related links

Wellingtons

• Page 114 - Fashion wellies
• Page 115 - Kids Fireman Rainboots
• Page 116 - Funky Wellington Boots
• Page 117 - Wellington Boots Song for Children
• Page 118 - Kids Wellington Boots
• Page 119 - More kids wellies
• Page 120 - Wellington Boots
• Page 121 - Wellie Boots

Wellington Boots by colour

• Page 122 - Yellow Wellington Boots
• Page 123 - Purple Wellington Boots
• Page 124 - Red Wellington Boots
• Page 125 - Green Wellington Boots
• Page 126 - Pink Wellington Boots (for grown-ups)
• Page 127 - Pink Wellington Boots (for children)
• Page 128 - Chocolate/Brown Wellington Boots

Fashion and Designer Wellington Boots Page 129 - JuJu Wellies Page 130 - Hunter Wellington Boots Page 131 - Jella Wellington Boots for kids Page 132 - Skull Wellington Boots Page 133 - Flower Pattern Wellingtons Page 134 - Paw print Wellington boots Page 135 - Pink Heart Funky Wellies Page 136 - Wedge wellies and boots with wedge heels Animal Patterns Page 137 - Leopard Rain Boots Page 138 - Zebra Wellies Page 139 - Giraffe Wellies

Pink Heart Wellington Boots. View > Exploding star wellies. View >

Wellington Boot Gifts and Accessories

• Page 140 - Boot jack
• Page 141 - Wellie Warmers
• Page 142 - Boot bag
• Page 143 - Wellington Boot gift ideas

Information and Articles

• Page 144 - Shoe size chart
• Page 145 - Looking after your Wellies
• Page 146 - Wellington Boot Week Festival
• Page 147 - Wellington Boot auctions
• Page 148 - How wellies are made
• Page 149 - Charles Goodyear (inventor of rubber for Wellington Boots)
• Page 150 - Duke of Wellington
• Page 151 - Welly shops online
• Page 152 - Wellington boot thoughts and ideas