The Bodes

This carved wooden oak leaf was one of the Kibbo Kift's ceremonial objects. It was used to summon Kinsfolk to the camp circle at the annual Althing meetings. It was carved by Louis Yeates (probably one of the Woodlanders tribe from Plumstead). The Bodes carries the date 27th August 1920, but this is the date of the first Althing, and the carving is likely to have been made later.

The use of the Bodes was described by Leslie Paul, a member in 1923-4: ‘We sat in cross-legged quiet while a brilliantly robed procession of the chiefs beat the bounds of the camp and paused at each tent door to present us with the Bodes – a carved oak leaf on an oak slab – to touch. When the full circle had been travelled, a herald in an embroidered robe quartered in scarlet and silver came to the totem pole and with a loud cry summoned us to the Council Circle.' (Leslie Paul ' The Living Hedge', Faber & Faber, London. 1946, p.154)