Dunmow Flitch Trials test wedded bliss in bacon-based love-in

The first winner on the trials’ recorded role of honour, external was Richard Wright, from Norwich, who took home the bacon in April 1445.

Some of the early winners were only mentioned by the husband’s name – so Mrs Wright is not named on this list.

Since then, winners have come from much further afield in the UK and even from the US and New Zealand in more recent years.

Desmond and Minette Carter are among the far-flung flitch winners, having travelled to Essex from Detroit in 2022.

Mr Carter had been a huge fan of The Prodigy’s singer and dancer, Keith Flint, who lived in Dunmow and died at his home there in 2019.

“Desmond and his fiancee Minette got married exactly a year and a day before the 2020 Flitch Trials, just so they could take part,” said Helen Haines, vice-chair of this year’s committee.

That event was cancelled because of the pandemic, but the couple travelled from the US for the rescheduled 2022 trials and were among the winners.