1.
LV Church at Ambly-sur-Meuse.
0.03

2.
SLV Church steeple.
0.06

3.
SV Children with old and new weather-cocks.
0.08

4.
CV PAN.. old and new weather-cocks.
0.13

5.
MV PAN.. clergyman blesses cocks pan to children holding.
0.17

6.
GV Dragees thrown to crowd.
0.21

7.
SV Ditto.
0.24

8.
GV Crowd.
0.27

9.
LV ZOOM.. man climbs steeple to fix new weather-cock.
0.43

10.
CU Onlooker.
0.45

11.
SLV Man continues ascent of steeple.
0.52

12.
CU Onlooker.
0.54

13.
SLV Bag containing live cock and new weather-cock hoisted to climber.
1.00

14.
LV Man atop steeple.
1.02

15.
SLV Attaches new weather-cock.
1.10

16.
CU Onlooker.
1.12

17.
SLV AND FOLLOW... cock released from top of steeple - flies and lands.
1.23

18.
MV Cock.
1.25

19.
SCU Onlookers.
1.27

20.
SV Cock thrown - lands on feet and walks.
1.38



Initials BA/S/JF/PB JF/PB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Ambly-sur-Meuse, France, Oct 23, and an ancient custom is revived - one which is to be seen occasionally only in villages in this part of the country.

A new weather-cock is being placed on a church steeple - to replace the old one, which was damaged by bullets in World War Two. The weather-cock is blessed, and then, sweets are distributed to the village children.

The steeple-jack climbs the steeple, carrying with him the weather-cock weighing about 20 lb.

At the top he places the golden ornament in position and then comes the exciting part of the ceremony - he drops a live cockerel to the ground. According to the legend, which dates back at least to the Middle Ages, wisdom and "fecundity" will be granted to the villager who catches the cock.