It's a pie which is very often in the sky. For the past forty years, a blackened meat pie has been taken all over the world thanks to bizarre family tradition.
Tony and Alicia Johnson have taken the pie to Barbados, Egypt, Morocco and the US.
Other members of the family have taken it on military service to Iraq and been to the Falklands, Kuwait and Cyprus.
Tony, 73, said: “The family are allowed to take it but only if they look after it - if they don't, there's no point in them coming back."
The tradition began in 1971 when the Johnsons son Carl, then eight years old, was given it by a friend.
It had been badly burned after it was accidentally left in the oven overnight at the Holland's factory in Baxenden.
It normally takes pride of place in the family's Bacup home but began its travels when Tony's wife wife Alicia hid it in their luggage whilst packing for a trip to Blackpool.
The pie has been the source of many practical jokes, with it often being hidden in luggage. Tony even built a special black box for it to travel in.
He said they haven't added anything to the pie to preserve it - it's simply been burnt solid.
Tony was once offered £7,000 for it, but says that it's not for sale.
He said: “Although at the time the offer was very attractive, my family would have killed me if I'd have sold it.
"It's been fantastic fun over the years, we've had some great laughs with it."
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I like stories like this. Thanks for the giggle MEN.
Yeah, we have them round our way, where the chippy leaves them in the warmer for too long.
A great keepsake from a great pie maker, Never bring it to Australia though, they WILL take it off you.
Makes me proud to be a Brit.
Eccentric with a capital "E" !
Is Tony the British embassador to the "Dick Van Dyke" club?
Pie in the sky story. Has the pie been to Holland !!!!!!
I bought a similar one @ Eastlands last Derby day.
Just shows how backwards some of us are?And we look down at uncivilised people using bits of wood as lucky charms etc??.This sort of thing should be consigned to the dark ages.It makes me giggle but at the same times a little sad that people actually make things like this into a shrine etc...
I pray I never meet these people on holiday ! I dont understand why they kept the pie in the 1st place , never mind take it on holiday . And they turned down £7k for it - are they mad . Oh ....
A family like us at last...... so much more fun to be mad as a hatter than arguing and serious. Look after that pie!!!
I love it! We have a stuffed cat that has traveled the world.
No wonder the country is in a state !
Can't believe people are moaning, what a change from someone being thumped senseless or a family torn apart by drugs or gang warfare.
I'd have a pound on the fact that none of this family claim benefits or have a criminal record.
What if the pie went missing, if they refused £7,000, I wonder what they would pay a pie pincher in ransom?
What concerns me is this pie's carbon footprint.
Speaking as someone who once committed the unspeakable crime of trying to return home from the UK with Danish bacon and Walls sausages, you guys are to be congratulated on getting it through security. The fact that it is 40yrs old, cremated and carbonised would mean nothing at all to Homeland Security at Detroit Airport. I wish you and your pie many more happy adventures.
my wife puts pies like that on the plate every time she cooks them
"Tony was once offered £7,000 for it, but says that it's not for sale"
That really is mad. If anyone wants to pay me £7,000 for one I'll get them a van load (lol)
bloody fruit cakes
im off to ontario for a week with my pet ommelette,