The two almsmen portrayed were real people who lived in The Hospital of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in Clun at the turn of the 20th century.

Joe the Bear is the shorter more rounded man, so titled because he successfully wrestled a bear in Clun; and Billie Cantie the taller figure in top hat, reknown as a colourful rogue.

The tradition was that these men were taken, against their better nature, all too regularly to church by horse and cart rather than follow their preferred pursuit of the hunt.