MORE than 140 people turned out for a record-setting reading in Manningtree to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death.

Manningtree is the only town in Essex the bard supposedly visited - and one of the only town's in the region mentioned in his plays.

The historic town crops up in Henry IV Part I when Falstaff is described as “that roasted Manningtree ox with the pudding in his belly”.

The town celebrated the day with a record-setting reading of Henry V’s famous St Crispin’s Day speech, which a total of 141 people took part in at the town centre on Saturday.

The Rotary Club Manningtree Stour Valley honoured the town’s connection with Shakespeare in 2000 by putting up a metal sculpture of an ox in the town centre.

Comedian and presenter Griff Rhys Jones had been invited to the town for the event. He was unable to attend on the day but instead wrote a rousing speech for those taking part.

The rotary club's David Shearmur, one of the organisers, said: "We wanted to do a big speech outside with some music and include the Manningtree Ox speech in this.

"The 'Manningtree Ox with a pudding in its belly' quoted from Shakespeare's Henry IV Part I was truly well celebrated.

"141 young and old gathered under the Ox statue in the town centre to recite King Henry V's famous speech and the Manningtree Ox speech.

"Entertainment was provided by the Bards of the Heath from Ipswich, led by John Goodluck.

"The cold wind curtailed the event, but it was a splendid turn out."

On Sunday, a concert was held at Manningtree Methodist Church also hosted a programme of music, verse and speech making as part of the commemoration on Sunday.

Gazette: shakespeare.jpg

Henry IV Part 1: Act 2, Scene 4

Prince Henry: "Why dost thou converse with that trunk of humours,

that bolting-hutch of beastliness,

that swollen parcel of dropsies,

that huge bombard of sack,

that stuffed cloak-bag of guts,

that roasted Manningtree ox with the pudding in his belly,

that reverend vice, that grey iniquity, that father ruffian,

that vanity in years?"