The Life of St. Egwin
St Egwin was of the royal blood of the Mercian kings, and was born at Worcester, in the reign of Ethelred and Kenred. He was elected Bishop in 692. By his zeal in rebuking the illicit connections formed by some of the great men in his diocese, and vehemence in reforming the corrupt morals of all, he stirred up a party against him, and with the connivance of the King, he was expelled his diocese. Egwin, meekly bending to his fate, determined to make a pilgrimage to Rome. According to tradition, he also resolved to expiate at the same time certain sins of his youth,by putting iron fetters on his feet, which were fastened with a lock, and he cast the key into the Avon. As he neared Italy, on a ship from Marseilles, a huge fish floundered upon deck, and was killed and cut open; when, to the surprise of the Saint, in its belly was found the key to his fetters. He accepted this as an expression of the will of heaven, and released his limbs.

After his return, with the assistance of Kenred, King of Mercia, St Egwin founded the famous abbey of Evesham, under the invocation of the Blessed Virgin. After this he undertook a second journey to Rome, in company with Kenred, and Offa, King of the East Saxons. St Egwin died on the 30th December, 717, and was buried in the monastery of Evesham. The translation of his relics took place on the 11th January when his festival is held.

  One of Egwin's duties is canoe companion and at the moment he is well up to one star open canoe standard having this last twelve months performed several canoe to canoe rescues and shown that he can re-enter the boat from the water!

His swimming standard is quite good.

His behaviour has been fairly good though he can be wilful.

In open country he likes exploring hedges and woods.

He has demonstrated that he can catch a rabbit but luckily he shows no interest in sheep or deer. Cattle and horses frighten him.

  One of his few faults is that he enjoys rolling in what I consider to be nasty smells. He seems to prefer fox droppings though any really well rotted substance such as pig manure will do.

He pays the penalty at the time and when he gets home.

He wirls this round his head at high speed and beats his back with it.

It is best not to stand to close when he is doing this as it can hurt if he catches you on the leg with it.

He enjoys searching for it and when he finds it, he gives it a vigorous shaking.