Wakefield Morris 2004

For information on bookings or to send us an invatation or request for an event contact our bookings secretary using the link provided on the current year's page.

March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

****** March ******

13th - The fabulous Fez Heads Fig and Date Fair is on the road again. But this year it's in deepest Gloucstershire. The venue is The Queen Vic in Stoud - are any of the Fez Heads Eastenders we wonder? Regretably we as a team will not be there but any one who is will be assured of a good - if occasionally puzzling time.

20th - Invite to Darlington Spring Thing. The hardy perennial that marks the start of our dancing year.
Hardy was the word for this one. First time ever that the parade got cancelled! Mind you watching the market stalls billowing in the gale added a certain something to the day. And it gave Robin a chance to make a debut appearance. So not a bad day and what a turn out from the team.

****** April ******

30th/3rd May - The long journey South was worth the effort and when the sun shone it was wonderful and when it didn't it was still pretty good. Great to see Oyster again and some good dancing. Dover, Deal, Broadstairs and Canterbury got our attention on the Saturday and Sunday.
The May Day procession on the Monday really did see the heavens dump on us in a big way. When Andrew wondered what the sea front would look like in heavy weather I don't think either of us expected to find out quite so quickly. The local web page carries the full story and some good pictures. Check it out on this link to Whitstable After Darlington I'm starting to wonder if there is a pattern emerging here. Maybe we should invest in waterproof kit?

****** May ******

15th - Invite to the Amounderness Morris day of dance. No we never got there. Maybe some other time?

28th/31st - Cleethorpes Folk Festival. Oh the joys of the fresh sea air. The memories of past glories - and the occasional disaster. For more information on the Festival follow this link to their page on the web.
So a fun weekend and the only serious rain came on Sunday when we were busy teaching "Carr Lodge" at a workshop. And a big thanks to the dancers who already knew the dance but still contributed to the workshop. Good to see that the Wakefield dances are being performed by other teams. Though we do like to keep some of the more recent dances as our own unique contribution to the tradition.
Highlights? Getting two full sets up for the first dance of the weekend. Getting young Niall up for his for ever public dance out at the pier gardens on Monday. Meeting up with Grimsby and Barley Break again. Oh and a cracking birthday celebration for June which even rated a mention at the Sunday night ceildh! We really must do this festival again - especially to see what happens with the Winter Gardens problem.

Down side - with a huge team out and spread over a wide area in terms of accomodation, the communications problem got a bit out of hand. Not helped by several changes to the dance programme, but hey we're professional and we can cope. The actual dancing a bit of a curates egg at times but sooner a big side growing in experience than a small side decaying in glory! So on ward and upward folks!

****** June ******

5th - Trip to Wigan Pier. This was to meet up with the Kettlebridge team who have set out from deepest Kent with the idea of dancing North West dances actually in the towns the dances came from. An opportunity to see new callers in action for us as the dance master is off on a jolly! Apparently a good time was had by all and yes Robin Wigan Pier is a reality not just a Lancastrian pipe dream.

7th - Practice night at the Greyhound at Saxton. It was hot and humid and we danced our little socks off. Once again a good crowd and a large team turned out - that's large as in numbers obviously. I'll try and get the clog repairs done for those who need them and a big hello to the Old Stamfordian, Tim, who actually spotted the old school badge on my waistcoat. Thanks once again to the wonderful team who run the pub clear the dance spot and produce the sandwiches for us. With folk like that around we'll be back next year.

14th - Practice night at the Brewers Pride, Healy Mills Road Ossett. The finest little pub for miles in any direction. No kit required but clothing recommended if you see what I mean.

19th - Horbury Street Fayre. Home territory and a chance to dance in the home of the Horberie Shrogys - who were those guys? This was the last time that Les Howells was to be the organiser (he's announced his retirement) and true to form the rain came down! A fine picture if the team in action in the Wakefield Express, with Andrew front and centre. Why was Helen looking so worried in the picture? I don't know as I wasn't there - maybe that's the reason. Ego? What's that then?

20th - The Anglers County Park for a dance out. Once again I have to work on second hand reports of a good dance out. Some comments on the slabs but generally a good time was had by all.

21st - Practice night at the Chequers at Ledsham. The rain held off until the last dance so we can count that as a success then.

25-27th - Scarborough Fayre Morris Dance Festival. Bus tours and dancing, ceildh and competitions. We will be supporting our local theatre at their garden party so sadly will not be at Scarborough.

27th - Friends of Wakefield Theatres Garden Fete. This is at Nostell Priory but the observant will notice that it overlaps with Scarborough. So which one are we doing if any? Answer below.
Well the afternoon at Nostell Priory went well. Though from a choreography view point I'm still not clear why we got banished to the Stable Block rather than in front of the house. This update business seems to be as much about the weather as anything else; must be global warming. On this occasion the rain held of - most of the time. And by careful positioning we managed to fit the team and the audience under a convenient chestnut tree for the time it did actually rain on our parade.

28th - Practice night at the Brewers Pride, Healy Mills Road Ossett. Rules as for any casual practice. Thanks to the up-coming beer festival we got the benefit of a mini marquee in the yard. Not that we needed it!

30th - Invited to the New Inn Walton for a gala week event. Yes that's a Wednesday evening folks. And nice to be back after an interval of several years. A small but appreciative crowd turned out. And what a nice couple now run the pub. With a welcome like that we really must go back again.
The calling and spieling might have been a little odd at at times but Golden Gob was a bit hyper. Well more so than usual as his first grand child was six hours old as we started to dance! Nice to see Pat and Ian again after some years - how come they don't look any older but their kids have got bigger? For a small but select team we turned out a good selection of dances and generally held to the rule of "The smaller the team the better the dancing".

****** July ******

2nd/4th Invite to the Cleckheaton Folk Festival. And hey got there for the Saturday. Whilst the editor was away saying hullo to grandson Harry, the team had a good day out. Remind me to thank Malcom for feeding Terry of Wytchmen fame with ammunition for Warwick.

5th - Practice night at the Kings Arms Heath Common. The view, the atmosphere, the dodgy surface. Well two plus points balances the bad one. A grand night out. The two very appreciative American visitors and their hosts just made the night. It's always nice to have a chat with the crowd. I think the fact that we actually do it whilst dancing just adds a certain je ne sais quoi. Nice to say hullo to the boss at the Kings and know that he looks forward to our visits. So that's a definite yes for Boxing Day then.

9th/11th - Invite to the Fylde Coast Cloggies weekend. Regrettably we seem to have a provisional booking for this weekend.

10th - Invite to dance at the Burleigh Nursing Home Summer Fayre near Ilkley. Sadly we cannot get a team out for this one.

11th - And this is the booking that knocked out Fylde. The Pennine Camphill Community Summer Fayre. One we like to do because they're nice people and of course some of us work at the community so its almost "famerlee" as they might say on "Eastenders". Shame about the weather being so dull and over cast. Still at least the rain held off until the last dance.

12th - Practice night at the Brewers Pride, Healy Mills Road Ossett. If you have been reading down this far you'll know what this means kit wise then? And as I write on the evening of the event guess what? It's raining!

17th - Saddleworth Folk Festival. The team will be meeting at the Civic Hall in Upper Mill at 10.00am. Then it's on with the opening ceremony at 10.30 before a day of dancing. Call me suspicious, but this is Lancashire; and given the track record of danceouts this season I'm taking my weather proofs.
Don't you just hate it when you're right! On cue with the opening ceremony in the Civic Hall the heavens opened. Full marks to the Saddleworth contingent, brass band and dance teams; who actually braved the downpour to process. We walked down to the Waggon and Horses to await drier weather. When it eventually came for a short spell we managed a couple of dances. Nice to hear Saddleworth in full flight and shod in irons. And Southport Sword can run but they can't hide - we spotted the startling resemblance between them and the Lamb and Flag side.
So that's another wet dance out then. Will the camping contingent make it through to Monday and the Anglers? Given the number of hills round Saddleworth how did Peter manage to pitch his tent in a puddle? We just have to assume the puddle grew after he pitched. Can Will find a way to stop his tent leaking? But hey look on the bright side Will, no more lying there in the sun worrying about a possible leak in the tent - now you know there is one - or two; you can sleep easy (if damp) at night.

19th Practice night at the Anglers Retreat Wintersett. For such a small place there's always a good crowd. Are they all dance fanatics out there - or is it the cracking atmosphere of the pub? Who's worried, just enjoy.

23rd/25th - Warwick Folk Festival. We're not booked as a team I just mention the date since many of us will be at probably the best Folk Festival in the world. For more details of the festival try this link to the festival web site.

Also an invite to a family fun day at Coors Brewers in Tadcaster. Any takers team? The answer is no but we have asked the organisers to keep us in mind for any future events!

26th - Practice night at the Brewers Pride, Healy Mills Road Ossett. Probably the last practice before we adjourn for the long hot summer break.

****** August ******

6th/13th - Invite to Broadstairs FolK Week. We must have done something right last year. Lets think about this one chaps and chapesses. As a jumping off point for a holiday in France Broadstairs is a fine start - not that I'm planning anything you understand. This looks to have dropped of the plan so I assume we have sent our apologies. If you really want to know what we are missing then the link here will tell you.

???? - Something about a Festival of dance in Cyprus. The boss (Corrine to her friends) is working on this with the Morris Federation. Now call me picky but if Broadstairs 2003 was hot what would Cyprus be like? But then again my tan could do with a top up so lets keep our options open. They wanted a video and a business plan - well the video for sure. So no development on this front. But we will get abroad again - one day.

****** September ******

17-19th Invite to Southport Sword weekend of dance. Could be fun. And sounds like good value for money - always a consideration for a Yorkshire based team!. But sadly not enough of us agreed, or could free up the weekend so we have had to send our regrets.

****** October ******

Possible dance out to raise funds for kit refurbishment. Date, time and place to be decided. See below.

16th - Place Skopos Mill complex. Time to be confirmed. Last time I was here I picked up a bolt of blue sash material for the amazing sum of £5.50 - wonder if they have any "Old Gold"?

****** November ******

15th - The AGM. Topics will be:
1. Reports
2. Election of officers
3. A day of dance in 2005?
4. AOB
5. Er .. that seems to be that until I get any other items.

****** December ******

11th - Huddersfield! Another fund raiser for kit. Exactly where and when coming from Robin.

26th Boxing Day at the Kings Arms, Heath Common. 12.30 pm. OK first my apologies to all for the foul up over GMT, that's Generalised Morris Time. My version of 12.30 was start rolling up around then and get stuck in 15/20 minutes later. Given the astounding weather and the advance publicity the crowd and most of the team were there ready to go at 12.30 prompt! There has to be a first time for every thing I suppose!
The weather was glorious, the crowd numerous, and the dancing splendiferous. Large numbers of dances performed and good to see Niall getting a chance to show what a good dancer he's become. Nice to see so many old friends in the crowd and to get a chance to chat to some of them. So a great finish to a good year and the prospect of a really great year to come. Peace and love to all!

NOTES:
* Evening dance out means about 8.00pm or thereabouts (ish). If the musicians want to have a session this is the time to get it together.

TBC=To be confirmed

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