Log Book for 2012What actually happened, before time takes its toll and surrounds everything with a rosie glowMorris Try-outs - 3rd and 10th October
Seven people came along to the Morris Try-outs and over two evenings learnt Adderbury Lads-a-Buncham and Bidford Abraham Brown. Steve led an introduction to the side emphasising that we are fun side, and Colin gave a history of the Morris and a look at a year in a the life of the side. At each session we demonstrated Lads a Buncham, Abraham Brown and the Manx sword dance. If only we had time to sort out a demonstration set before the event if would look a little more professional, but everyone said we were welcoming which is just as important. After the Try-outs we were happy to invite six of the seven to join us for the practise season.
Colin
Hampton Hill Christmas Parade with Thames Valley Morris Men - 25th November
This year's Hampton Hill Christmas Parade was balmy by comparison with last year's, as the tail of one of the warmest Novembers since 1914 hung on in South-East England. A good group of Spring Grove Morris Men and Thames Valley Morris Men met in The Star and with the street thronging with crowds we started dancing at 6:30pm until the procession came through at 7:30pm when there was time for another pint. Father Christmas by the dozen, dogs in fairy lights and numerous vehicles. After the procession passed the crowds were still partying in the street so we danced for another half hour until the road opened. We stayed on for a final pint outside The Star and headed off at 9pm. The high point was provided by a group of 10 teenage girls who wanted to have a go at Morris dancing, the moment was captured by one of them and a photo [here] published on facebook of them dancing to great applause Bampton - Constant Billy taught by John Walsh. The generous collection from the wealthy denizons of Hampton Hill went to the Revive Africa charity.
Colin
Rosemary Lodge Care Home - 3rd December
No record survives of this event - draw your own conclusions. Christmas Dinner at Merits - 15th December
A delightful dinner with the side and their guests. Merits lived up to its well deserved reputation as friendly, professional and delicious. After the dinner Steve presented three bottles of Beachy Head Christmas Jumper, brewed by Roger Green a past member, to Colin Messer this year's Morris Person of the Year, and by general acclaim all wished to hold Christmas dinner 2012 at Merits, so it must have been good. Then a smaller party adjourned to the Cabbage Patch for final drink or two before heading off home.
Colin
Christmas Ale at the Spring Grove - 19th December
The new landlord of the Spring Grove cleared a space at the back and we happily danced away. Special mentions for Steve who led a great evening, our guest musicians Mark Ward and Chris Benson and our new dancers, Alastair, Lesley, Phil and Sara all four of whom took to the floor. Finally my personal thanks to the landlord who provided hot mince pies. Yum!
Colin
Claygate Boxing Day with Thames Valley Morris Men - 26th December
The warm dry weather continued over Christmas and brought out a fair sized audience for the Claygate Boxing Day tour. Spring Grove were represented by Robert and Colin in kit and Alan who took on the blue plumage of Thames Valley often seen on Boxing Day during the cold winter months. The Swan opened early, and we danced to a good crowd who seemed unusually free to barrack Thames Valley’s fool. The main dancing took place in the village rather than at the first pub and The Hare and Hounds is always best attended for which we were rewarded with free beer. One lady remarked that she had been out on Boxing day for over forty years, she use to bring her children and now her grand children come along as well – a heart warming thought. At the Winning Horse Robert, Alan and Colin led a Bidford – Young Collins, and then on to the Griffin where as the dancing came to an end a marvellous repast was produced. This year Thames Valley had an unusually large number of musicians, as well as a cake bearer, hobby horse and fool, so I think they were quite grateful that Robert and I were there to lend a hand with the dancing. Always an enjoyable day, and as the last dance of 2011 it didn’t disappoint.
Colin
Seething Wells Parade - 26th February
What a wonderful turnout today. It was a lovely springlike day and there was an atmosphere of relaxed fun and enjoyment at Seething Wells. The various ‘guilds’ had made a huge effort with their costumes, larger than life characters and puppets. As they were preparing, we danced a short session of three dances- Young Collins, a nine person Highland Mary, which still requires some fine tuning and Vandals. It was good to have Robert back and he nobly called YC and Ben called Vandals brilliantly. We were allocated a position behind the talc miners in the procession, as we were also wearing white. Other guilds included the taxonomists, the water bearers, the pilchard fishermen and the curriers. A good number of spectators emerged from pubs and shops or waved from windows en route. Well done to Sara, Lesley and Phil for performing in their first public dance-out and thank you to musicians Gerry, Tony, Sue and Alan and to all the dancers, who included Alan, Ben, Robert, Dave, Laurie and Sue and to Jenny, who helped entertain the children. After the procession everyone gathered in Jewson’s yard for a welcome drink, more musical entertainment and the story of the goat boy Lefi Ganderson and the evil giant, Thamas Deeton. The collection was split between our charity, The British Heart Foundation, and International Youth Arts Festival.
Glenis |
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Log Book 2012 |