Diary events of

for 2009

February ceilidh spot with Great Yorkshire Morris

Our friends Great Yorkshire Morris organised a ceilidh in Pool in Wharfedale, where each team performed a dance spot. For a first in season dance out Persephone showed her true colours and entertained the audience in great style.

March workshop with Rumworth Morris

A good number of us travelled to Bolton to learn Rumworth’s “Deane Memorial Dance” – a thoroughly enjoyable day in good company, learning a new dance that could be added to our repertoire at some point.

21stMarch
Ryburn 3 Step's Waring Green Ceilidh

With a background of the Peeping Tom band and caller Hugh Rippon, we were the mid evening entertainment using all of the large floor. We danced Piper's Ash and Val Marsden's Train Dance to the Four Ms Band (Mally, Moira, Mary and Miss Katy)

28th March
Joint Morris Organisations Day of Dance in Nottingham

An early start from home took us to Nottingham via the M1 and the excellent tram network directly to this city centre event. About 60 sides from hither and yon joined together to dance at various spots near the Old Market Place. At each venue we met different groups and although a very chilly wind blew all day long both the dancing and music were good. The final event of the day for the North West sides was a massed “Plymouth Reel” in the main square – a bit tricky as the wind was blowing the music away and those at the front had difficulty hearing anything! Our thanks go to Lady Bay Revellers for an excellent organising job with lots of clear information.

Raskelf Village, April 26th
An enjoyable mini dance out at Raskelf with Great Yorkshire Morris was the opener to the summer season. We visited the village hall, the venue for a weekend of dance in July, followed by lunch and dancing at the local pub.

Moor and Coast Festival, Whitby, May Day weekend
This was the final Moor and Coast Festival in its present format, and we enjoyed dancing with several other teams in the bright spring sunshine at the Bandstand and at the Scoresby Monument. The evenings presented a choice of concerts at the Community College or sessions in several of the town’s pubs. A good time was had by all!

Golcar Lily Day, 9th May
We were invited by the organisers from Dot's home village and danced in various places amongst other performers like brass bands, jazz bands and all the fun of a noisy craft fair.
Joined by Stockport Morris we had an easy and enjoyable day.

(pictures from Mally.com)

Mortimer’s 15th anniversary weekend, 29th – 31st May
This was a super weekend based at Hose village hall in Leicestershire which we have visited before. The weather was stunning (almost too hot!) and the company great. The dancing on Saturday all took place in Nottingham city centre where the adventurous walked through Mortimer’s Hole from the bottom of the castle rock to the top, -great views.
Saturday evening, following a hearty supper, brought some wonderful entertainment from the assembled crew, all trying to adhere to the “crystal” theme. Our rendition of “Rhinestone Cowgirl”, complete with line dancing and suitable costumes went down a storm (even if it wasn’t quite as we’d rehearsed!).
On Sunday after de-camping we travelled to a local hostelry for more dancing and a great lunch provide by the pub.
Thanks Mortimers!

Powderkegs trip to the seaside at Conwy, 5th – 7th June
A different weekend, based at a commercial campsite in Conwy. The weather was somewhat different too – being exceedingly cold, wet and windy. We also met some different sides.
Dancing began at the local civic hall on Saturday as it was so wet, but later we ventured out to the Quay where a gale was blowing off the sea, with the occasional shower. After lunch we moved into town where it was slightly less cold, before returning to the hall for tea and lovely home-made cakes. A ceilidh at the civic hall later in the evening warmed us up.
Sunday saw us in Llandudno, where a similarly stiff breeze was blowing and whipping up the waves, but at least it was a bit warmer

Vale of Evesham Morris festival, 19th – 21st July 2009
A trip to the delights of middle England made a pleasant change and the journey to Evesham was very straightforward, which always helps. We camped in a field very near the River Avon, and next to the Rowing Club, whose excellent facilities we used. About 17 teams came together for this event, many of whom we know.
Saturday saw us dancing in Evesham and Pershore, with an excellent lunchtime spot at the Fleece in Bretforton – a beautiful village with many half-timbered properties. The afternoon ended with a short boat trip along the Avon back at Evesham. An energetic ceilidh with Steam Chicken rounded off the day.
On Sunday we processed from the riverside to the town where the teams gathered together in the main square for more splendid displays of dancing.

Traditions Festival with Newburgh Morris, June 26th – 28th
This weekend saw us in Lancashire camping near Bamber Bridge. The festival has been established for many years and there is a large range of concerts to go to and some workshops.
On Saturday morning after heavy rain, we set off for Chorley town centre where we spent the day dancing alongside a good number of other teams, many already known to us. The rain had stopped although it was hot and sticky for dancing. Another burst of rain at tea time cooled us down a bit, and many of us went to the excellent ceilidh later on.

On Sunday we danced in good company again at the school where the festival was located.
Thanks to Newburgh for organising the dancing.

Queen’s Oak and Rose and Castle weekend, 3rd – 5th July
One of our favourite weekends ably organised by the host teams, and numbers this year got up to about 280 – but all went smoothly. As usual the sun shone brightly, and the dancing on Sunday was even given a fly past by the Red Arrows!!
We visited the usual collection of beautiful Northamptonshire villages (how come they keep finding different ones every year?), managing to sup a few drinks here and there, and a great ploughman’s lunch at Sherington (been there twice now!). It was good to meet some new teams, or some we hadn’t met for a long time.
The evening meal was splendid as usual, with extra seating in the “annexe” – a marquee just outside the hall. This came in useful for singing later whilst the ceilidh with Pigeon English went on in the main hall.

Sunday began with a cooked breakfast, before decamping and leaving for Stoke Bruerne to dance by the canal. The number of teams meant slightly less dancing than other times but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves immensely.

Our special thanks go to the musicians who came to our rescue when we had no band!

Weekend of Dance with Great Yorkshire Morris

Great Yorkshire Morris asked Persephone to part host a weekend of dance based at Raskelf Village Hall
Teams started arriving, in the rain, on Friday evening for supper and a session at the Old Black Bull.
Saturday morning, after GYM cooked breakfast it was on the buses to dance first in York then (after the bus was patched up) in Thornton-le-Clay for dancing and lunch and Bennington Hall for dancing, tea and cakes. Then back to Raskelf for the feast and following ceildh. Some hardy souls carried on singing (in the ladies showers) until late.
Sunday was again a GYM cooked breakfast, clearing the hall and driving to Knarsborough for dancing before lunch. Everyone then dispersed.
The teams seem to have enjoyed themselves, some writing to say so.

Pub dances at Ilkley and Addingham
Despite heavy rain all day, the weather cleared up nicely for us to dance in these pleasant West Yorkshire towns in the evening, invited by our friends Great Yorkshire Morris. The gnats had a bit of a feast on us by the riverside in Ilkley, whereas at Addingham it was us who enjoyed a bit of food after the dancing (albeit rather late in the evening!)

Yorkshire Day in Bradford
Thanks to one of our side, we were invited to a “Reet Yorkshire Lunch” at one of Bradford’s more prestigious hotels to entertain the guests. After dancing outside the hotel and being photographed with the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, we sat in splendour in the dining room, served with coffee, Pimms and Whitby fish and chips with mushy peas. Indeed, a reet good do!