Diary events of

for 2017

New Year Ceilidh 2017
Kicking off the New Year in style again we held our annual ceilidh. Barry Evans took us through a selection of interesting dances whilst Mally and friends provided the excellent music once again.

The hall was filled with just the right number of dancers, including some from various local dance sides, together with other friends and family members. There were plenty of rests between dances leaving time to chat to people; as one remarked – a very friendly evening. Thanks to all those who came either to play or dance.

Oxford Folk Festival, April 2017
Our first dance out this season was at Oxford Folk Festival, quite a distance away from home. By all accounts we were luckier than those who went last year and encountered snow, as we had two lovely sunny days, albeit a little chilly in the shade.

Our first spot was outside the Ashmolean Museum and turned out to be the opening event with a group singing before the dancing began. Over the weekend we also danced in George Street, outside the Pitt Rivers Natural History Museum (a lovely Victorian glass roofed building) and at Gloucester Green, a large enclosed square near the bus station. Many of the sides were from the surrounding areas and we seemed to be the most northerly side in town.
A great start to the season, and many thanks to the organisers for inviting us once more after a gap of a few years.

Todmorden Folk Festival, April 2017
This week saw a return to this fairly local festival after a couple of years. We had met most of the sides before, although Bollin Morris from Lancashire were new to us. There was a good mix of styles – North West, Cotswold, Border, Clog, Rapper, Belly dance and the famous Britannia Coconut dancers.

We danced at three different spots around this little town, and completed the day with everyone performing a display dance at the picturesque Fielden Wharf. Thanks to Esther and her team for a good day out and a lovely little festival.

Holmfirth Festival of Folk, May 2017
Another return visit after some years to Holmfirth, the “Last of the Summer Wine” town. We danced alongside many old friends, many of them local (White Rose, Buttercross Belles and Briggate), but others from the likes of the Far Fens (Pig Dyke Molly) and other far flung places (Sergeant Musgaves and Poacher Morris and even Rivington from Lancashire!).

It was somewhat chillier than the last two weeks, but we danced all day long, ending with a procession and a display dance in the small park up the hillside.
Many thanks to Slubbing Billys for organising the dancing and inviting us.

The Lock In Remixed, Wakefield, May 2017

The Demon Barbers are on tour again with their exciting, exhausting, exhilarating show, this time at the Theatre Royal in Wakefield. Together with Wakefield Morris and White Rose Morris we took to the stage for the pre-show display. The stage was slightly sloping and not terribly big so dancing was fairly challenging, but the audience seemed to enjoy it!

Thanks to all those who managed to work out Wakefield’s interesting road layout and eventually find somewhere to park, to those who had to navigate West Yorkshire in the rush hour coming from work and to Danielle the drummer on her first performance!

Airedale Heifer afternoon, June 2017
We spent a lovely sunny afternoon at the Airedale Heifer pub in Riddlesden, between Bingley and Keighley, dancing alongside many friends.

The landlady, in conjunction with Flagcrackers of Craven invited us along with Buttercross Belles, Rainbow Morris, Clogarhythm, Fiddle ‘n’ Feet and Crook Morris to dance outside the pub, drink a bit of beer, and provided us with a very welcome light lunch. A good time was had by all

Kirtlington Lamb Ale, June 2017
This was a return after more than 20 years to this traditional weekend in rural Oxfordshire. Kirtlington Morris invited Hammersmith Morris and ourselves for the weekend, and we were joined by several other local sides on Sunday.
We camped behind the village hall, round the cricket field, with the church opposite us – a really beautiful English scene. On Friday we met together in a local pub.

On Saturday morning we danced at a few locations around the picture postcard village before setting off by coach to the same pub for a good barbeque lunch. The coach then took us to Blenheim Palace to entertain the paying public, followed by a short walk (or dance if you were from Hammersmith!) to Woodstock village.
Later in the evening came the lamb “feast” – roast lamb with various accompaniments, followed by a ceilidh in in the village hall.

Sunday saw us processing through the village with all the other visiting sides to the church for a service, complete with music and some dancing. Then it was off again processing to the school for more dancing around the village. A lovely relaxed weekend in delightful surroundings, and with lovely weather too.

The Greyhound, Tong Village, June 2017
As part of their series of summer dance outs we joined Buttercross Belles, along with Wharfedale Wayzgoose and Fiddle ‘n’ Feet at this picturesque village between Leeds and Bradford. The weather was kind, being cooler than some of the preceding very hot days. We danced for a good two hours (on a slightly sideways sloping surface!), and finished this enjoyable evening with a massed“Greenham”.

Thanks to Buttercross Belles.

Rivington’s 40th anniversary weekend, June 2017
A great weekend away with Rivington and some other cracking teams! Based in rural Lancashire we were able to get together in the sports and social club where we were camping.

On Saturday we went to Garstang in the morning, dancing outside two different pubs in fine weather. We moved on to a very windy Morecambe on Sunday where there was also a kite festival.

Rivington had to hold on to their hats several times, White Rose appeared to be held up by the wind on at least one occasion, but the kites and flags flapped merrily in the wind.
On Saturday evening after a good meal, we danced away to The Old School Band with Roger Downing in charge.
On Sunday, after a wet night and very damp morning, it eventually dried out and we danced in the local village – well at least we tried. The church bells, at close quarters to the pub drowned us out for well over half an hour. Previous experiences have included Concorde over Bradford and the Red Arrows over Whitby, but at least they didn’t hang about!
Congratulations to Rivington on 40 years of dancing and for putting together a great weekend.

Rose and Castle/Queen’s Oak annual weekend, July 2017
Back again to our early July weekend in Northamptonshire. There was a large gathering, including several from the North – Horwich Prize Medal. Saddleworth, Stockport and even Wrigley Head alongside ourselves.

Saturday’s mystery tour took us into previously unknown territory – Buckinghamshire. We danced in Buckingham outside the old gaol, somewhere alongside the Grand Union Canal, the beautiful village of Adderbury and finishing up at Bloxham; some Hook Norton pubs were involved.

In the evening we had our usual fantastic meal followed by a ceilidh (and interesting “turns”), to the accompaniment of Banter.

On Sunday it was off to Stoke Bruerne by the Canal Museum, with all the survivors, crossing back and forth over the canal to dance at the two spots.
All in all, another superbly run weekend, with great company all round and good weather prevailed after a poor week at home. Thanks everyone.

The Monkey Club, Armitage Bridge, Huddersfield, July 2017
A lovely evening in this little hidden village on the outskirts of Huddersfield, in the convivial company of our hosts, Slubbing Billys, and Thieving Magpies.

We have a history of rainy evenings with Billys, but this one was exceptionally warm and dry!

We danced until dusk was falling, watched by quite a few locals and club members.
Thanks for a good evening Billys!