WAKEFIELD MORRIS DANCERS DIARY 2008

Wakefield Morris 2008
| March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

****** JANUARY ******
5th Twelfth Night Ceilidh invite from Persephone (Fancy Dress) Those who went had a really good time and keep muttering about a gorilla and some drums. As I was unable to get to the party being at another party some 250 miles to the south I'm not sure if this was down to the drink or the fancy dress.

****** FEBRUARY ******
15th-17th Cheltenham Folk Festival For February the weather was truly wonderful. The venues terrific, the organisation for the dance tours excellent. The slight(?) down side was the restriction of the morris performers pass for the main concert on the Friday night. This was Oxford 2007 all over again. OK a seated venue has Health and Safety and Licence restrictions and with "Show of Hands" as the headline act there will be a crush, but it does make you feel that dancers are second class citizens. Although the Cheltenham organisers did make the restriction "Dancers and Performers" which brings the equality stakes back into line a little - even if it did mean that the MC for the "Show of Hands" concert had to fight his way in past a conscientious steward!
23rd Sat - A North-West workshop at the Community centre Horbury. Doug, John and Trefor teaching. We got 33 folk turning out on the day. Using the spare bods from Wakefield to plug gaps we got four sets up for each dance (some of our 33 were musicians). Hindley went well, I would say that wouldn't I. Gardeners Oates was dealt with in the blink of an eye. The challenge of teaching a collected dance which had not been performed by any team since it was collected showed the problems the revival dancers face. A good day and wonderful catering from Meg and Aileen.

****** MARCH ******
15th Sat - Darlington Spring Thing - Once more unto Darlington and the delights of the weather in March. Actually it wasn't snowing, raining or blowing a gale so that's a plus point to start with. The High Row is now revamped and looking very smart and with both our spots there it was ideal dancing other than the lack of audience of course. With no procession an extended lunch was in order. The Arts Centre now much re-vamped and still being worked on was a revelation.
However John got a request for us to do a spot in the Beer Festival which was as good a reason as any for being in there I suppose. So the dedicated beer tasters of Darlington got a thundering demonstration of "Blackrod" and "Original" - and I do mean THUNDERING! Then on to the dance concert where "Pipers Ash" and "Stocksmoor" got a run out. Funny but the dance teams seem to fade away with each passing year - or is it the fear of the cold?
29th Sat - The Fig and Date Fayre at Slaithwaite - Fez Heads on tour again. The venue - brilliant, the hospitality - wonderful, the company - numerous, the weather - rubbish. What more can I say? A brave attempt to actually run the day with wind and rain battering the windows and temperatures lower than a snake's belly. But each team attending had a crack and once that was done your humble scribe retired to continue an interior design project. So how the games and concert went I have no idea. But a special note of thanks must go to Slubbing Billys for hosting the event and to the folk at the Rose and Crown who went to a whole load of effort to provide an outside bar and food.

****** APRIL ******
12th-13th Oxford Folk Festival invite. The distance to travel, then pay for accomodation, then pay to get into any concerts means the appeal of the city as a dance venue is rather tarnished. Apparently we're the only team to have raised the issue of the "pay to play" aspect of this festival. Nice to know we're unique - again! NO-GO
20th Sun - St. George's Day Celebration in Morley. This could be another year that the main feature of dancing is apalling weather. Steady rain and plummeting temperatures were the hall mark of the day. But we fulfilled the "contractual obligation", we really must write a dance and use that title one day. So we performed outside the town hall, the cricket club and the rugby club then went home to thaw out! The spot at the rugby club included the probably now traditional "block a dignatory in the car park" element. Not to become traditional we hope was a demand from the women that they keep their fleeces on for the spot. Sometimes I think we're turning into soft southerners!
The truly amazing part of the day was to see Ken out in kit and getting up for a dance at each of the three spots. And Fiona and Stuart hosted a quick coffee break for the team at their place on the way from the town to the sports ground. Oh and Meg's plea for dancers to fill the gaps after we had four pull out did not go unheeded. So thanks to Ann for swapping a shift, to Malc for being there, to Robin for getting back on form, Peter (and Vicky) for coming along and anyone else who came along and I've missed out. Not forgetting of course all those who said they would come and did - in spite of the weather. Oh and Chris I will get you breeches and sashes for Whitby.
26th Sat - Invite to Amounderness Day of Dance. Lovely people but we'll take a break this year. NO-GO

****** MAY ******
2nd - 4th The Moor and Coast Festival Whitby Saturday morning found the team meeting at the band stand as per dance programme 1. Major problem 1 was also encountered when the realisation hit Doug that the long sticks were still back in Horbury. Major surprise was the arrival of Ken kitted up and ready to go dancing. The bandstand is always a pleasant spot and a chance to welcome Chris (Taylor) to the side, his breeches finally having been finshed! Also a chance to remind ourselves that Becky and Sarah are "new kids on the block" which takes a little thinking about as they both fit so easily into the sets and look as if they've always been there. Then off to the Dock End where dance programme amendment 1 was required. North Yorks Moors Railways were asking if dancers could be on the platform when the "Sir Nigel Gresley" steam locomotive arrived in Whitby. So as requested we did a spot at Dock End starting at 1:00pm then headed for the station and the 1:30pm arrival of the loco.
To say the platform was crowded would be an understatement. No way could any dancing be done either before or after the train pulled in. Except for a small area in front of the cameras recording the event into which "Slubbing Billys" had cunningly inserted themselves. So as the engine reversed into the station the cameras recorded a segement of dance before the tidal wave of humanity swept off the train and headed for the loco and a picture of the foot plate acrrying all before it.
Having made our excuses and left, somewhere in there we tried to get one or more of the three dances coming back or in for this season danced out. "Prescott" got done, if with a rough edge here and there, "Portland" needs more practice, isn't six months long enough, and "Failsworth" needs more dancers! Anyway we ground on and reached the end of the day without to much hassle although Sarah did come up with an injury late in the day sustained much much earlier in the day!.
Sunday dawned with a suggestion of rain in the air, which given that one newspaper was forecasting the "hottest day of the year" seemed less than promising. Still on with dance programme MkII, as handed to Cath at the end of Saturday. This amended version added to some earlier confusion when a failure to spot page 2 of the Sunday MkI programme meant that Doug had set folks expectations for a 3:00pm finish! No worries though we, just get on with the three spots. Thanks to some nifty needlwork by Julie Liz was now back to her usual neat turn out after the punk look of Saturday. Tribute to the team who at the second spot of the day, after hanging around at the bandstand waiting for the African band to finish went out and did two cracking dances one of which was a staggeringly good "Prescott".
And then there was a long pause before the last spot. During which it was discovered that the Goathland Plough Stotts had done the "Welcome" the Sir Nigel Gresley for the Sunday. So let's hope that the local side from a base that is actually a NYMR station make the video of the event, all be it with the back drop of a reversing engine tender. Saturday night discussions between the teams resident steam buffs concluded that the nearest place to turn an engine to run "head on" would be Middlesborough - I think. Later discussion seemd to indicate that the "reverse" running was a health and safety measure made necessary by a steep gradient near Goathland. For fuller details consult Chris (Stephens) or Ian.
Video was much in evidence for the last spot of the day and once again the African Band featured front and centre for a long set of drumming. When the drums finally fell silent we got a chance to see the Plough Stotts and Black Rigg Rapper do a dance each before Persephone and ourselves wound up the weekend with set of cracking dances. If the final "Horbury Polka" on Saturday was good the performance on Sunday was sublime.
5th Monday - Invite to dance at the George and Dragon Pollington as part of celebration of May Day. (It's near Goole!). REJECTED - No team and some confusion by some people about how long the Moor and Coast festival goes on for!
9th - 11th Invite to the Holmfirth Festival of Folk - That's the one in Holmfirth folks! We, that's Wakefield Morris, will be dancing on Saturday the 10th. Well a day of mixed parts. The first spot at the Churchyard, or "Sids Cafe" for "Last of the Summerwine" fans went well(ish). We had a lovely audience of Canadian tourists with whom we were just striking up a relationship when disaster struck. One of the Alford Morris took a tumble and was suffering. Opinion ranged from sprain to fracture, ankle to hip but with a common thread "Don't move her!" So with a slight pause the show carried on as best we could. The ambulance turned up after about an hour and by the end of the day we heard that the injury was a nasty ankle sprain.
The rest of the days spots had less drama - and less teams than the programme suggested in most cases. Sorry but it does rather get my dander up when a 45 minute display for four teams becomes a two team display. Leaving a spot empty loses the crowd and I suppose raises a question as to why a road closure was necessary in the mind of the passing motorist. The drumming ensemble provided an insistent background rhythm where ever they were performing even if you would prefer to hear your own music! Then they showed solidarity with their African counterparts at Whitby by starting late and over running at our last spot. But they had pulled a great crowd so it's excusable - just. I have to say I found myself longing for "The Peace Artists" of Bradford, same energy but way more tuneful.
Then the procession. No long haul up a hill to a massed stand but a long haul from the Memorial Gardens round past the Elephant and Castle and back to the gardens. Notable for a first appearance of young Pete Stevens as a procession caller! And very well he did as well.
11th Sun - Invite to Lotherton Garden Festival. REJECTED - No team
17th Sat - Invite to Rainbow Morris Day of Dance tour to Bradford Industrial Museum, Shipley Glen and Saltaire. REJECTED - No team
23rd - 26th Invited to Cleethorpes Folk Festival - Sadly the Festival has been cancelled, 29th April. Mary rang sounding very down beat explaining that the problem was a lack of advance ticket sales. It's really a sad day that the festival organisers must be feeling really hard. All the work to get a festival off the ropes after losing the Winter Gardens venue and they get no support. Will this be the end of the festival all together? Or will the organisers have another attempt next year? Let's hope they do because small it might have been but friendly it always was and will be again we hope!
For those wondering what to do with themselves over this weekend there's always the Sword spectacular in York!

****** JUNE ******
2nd Mon - The Greyhound at Saxton - Just a really nice pub and really nice people, which is why it's a regular. And they're still nice people at a nice pub. Arriving to dance the weather looked pretty dodgy. In fact kitting up the rain was coming down in a fair imitation of stair rods. But after a genteel invitation to the team to "get your kit off we're dancing" the rain retreated. The kit in this case I hasten to add being fleeces and jackets worn as head gear.
We then had a pleasant display of high quality dancing although at least two of the side had decided clogs were just not for them and opted to leave the clogs at home in favour of the old soft shoe. The small but appreciative audience actually got to see "Potland Hill" being performed. The good news is that this performance looked nothing like the debut of this dance on Boxing Day. And then having finished the display the rain re-started. Retreating to the pub snug Joe then got the update from the musicians on Sam Smiths block refusal to invest in a music licence. Given the size of the snug and the volume of the banjo one has to be thankful for small mercies.
8th Sun - Invite to the National Mining Museum Miners Gala - 40's theme. CANCELLED due to industrial action - at the museum not by us!
14th Sat - Boston Spa Gala. Procession and a display spot, on boards. The procession was bijou to say the least, just us and a fancy dress parade. Rather strangely the crowd walked alongside the procession so any chance of showing off display figures was limited. Until we got to the field and found the entrance blocked by that crowd who had been walking alongside! So we threw in a quick "Blackrod" and headed on in.
Boston Spa is so posh it seems to have only the one pub which, given the lack of a beer tent as such, was rapidly visited by several of the team. This intake of "dutch courage" might have been necessary for all of us when the covers came of the boards to reveal one of the more springy surfaces we have had the pleasure of dancing on. However all things considered it was a decent display and at least the weather kept dry.
16th Mon - Kings Arms at Heath for a Grand Night Out. The crowd seemed to be mostly friends and family of the team which was nice. Our Julie got to try out dancing in her kit for the first time and did really well. And young Dan turned up to disprove any rumours that Liz or Niall had walled him up in the basement a few years ago. The display could best be described as comprhensive, given the long nights there just seemed to be a lot of light and lots of dances to do. But that curious fact emerged that when dancing at a pub we leave early. It's only when going to a pub after dancing that we hang around till closing time!
21st Sat - Invite to Darrington gala. REJECTED - No team
21st - Horbury Street Fayre - the hardy perennial. The Rhubarb Tarts being away we needed all hands to the pumps. And we got them, well done team for getting a set of twelve out complete with musicians. Pity the weather was so rubbish which took the edge off the day. The light drizzle for the first spot was acceptable - just. The break for beer or tea and buns saw the rain getting heavier. The general opinion amongst the town folk was that "it's just typical Street Fayre weather". But I'm sure I can remember a Street Fayre when the sun shone, mind you I am getting on a bit so it could have been some years ago now. Mind you Catherine who had turned out with young Mary to watch us did agree that she could remember a sunny Street Fayre and Catherine's only young so maybe it wasn't that long ago.
The second spot of the day was at the now traditional "bottom of Queen Street" basically to give those who took the beer option less distance to travel. By now the rain was well set in and so the question was "What do we do if it's raining?". To which the obvious answer is "Get wet". But the unwritten covenant is that we only get wet once - we might be daft but we're not stupid. So given the weather looked unlikely to improve we set up for "Blackrod" and "Carr Lodge". It would have been more but the drenching was getting worse and the appearance of the car driving down Queen Street in the middle of Carr Lodge just about capped it. Having let the rather irritated driver through the set I still wonder what she did when she found the Barrel Organ blocking the end of the street. The team reckon they couldn't see as it was raining too hard.
Back at School Yard the team dried out and waited for news of the third dance spot. If there had been a third we would have got wet twice and that would have broken the unwritten covenant so we actually cried off that last spot. Sorry folks if any of the Street Fayre organisers are reading this. So another year another Street Fayre and still no luck with the weather. If this is global warming you can keep it! Oh and had we made it on the Sunday nature switched from rain to gales so whilst the chaps would have been OK I'm pretty sure the women would have had need of heavy duty weights for their dress hems.
In the week commencing the 23rd - A primary school in Leeds, Hunslet Moor, has asked if we could go in and demonstrate and teach some dance. Any takers? The date is the 24th and we would be going along to demonstrate during an assembly the work with groups of youngsters for the morning. Sounding attractive to anyone? REJECTED - No team.
24th Tue - Dance out with Persephone - At The Savile Arms Hunsworth Nr Cleckheaton. From 6:30pm onwards which seems awfully early but I'll check. Yes I've checked and the actual start time is 8:00pm onwards or 20:00 hours if you prefer. Nothing to stop you being there from 6:30 but you might be on your own and drinking on your own is really really bad!

****** JULY ******
4th-6th Invite to Cleckheaton Folk Festival. REJECTED - No team as we WERE going to be in York but see below! And to our shame we were in the programme as "appearing on Sunday only". Obviously we did not make it at all so apologies to anyone who was desperate to see us.
5th Sat - Invite to support the British Walking Federation at an event in York. Confirmed. But then CANCELLED by the organisers following a rethink of their programme of events. And it was just too much hassle to try and sort out Cleckheaton where the dance spots ar a bit iffy to say the least!
7th Mon - The Chequers at Ledsham for another night of fun and frolics. Which we duly had in spite of a threatening weather outlook. Just such a good welcoming spot so we had a terrific turnout and put up some equally terrific dances. So much so that to console Julie over the lack of "Portland Hill" (still just on the cusp!) we proved that she did REALLY know "Horbury Polka" just by osmotic tuition if nothing else!
12th Sat - Invite to the 10th Birdsedge Festival. Morning? No team showing an interest = NOGO.
12th Sat - Pennine Community Garden Party. This is now a traditional event for us. OK we didn't make it last year as it clashed with the Pontefract Rhubarb Festival but ever since Jean and Andrew came to the team we seem to have been supporting this event. THis year it's the same week end as the Rhubarb festival but it was on a Saturday so we could do both. A compact team and a compact crowd saw some rather dubious weather but it did keep dry. Still we managed to entertain and inform which is the important thing. And Julie really does know Horbury Polka now. Good to see Ken out and about but we made very very sure that he only did two dances which is what Fiona has told him he's limited to and Aileen makes sure he sticks to that. Strawberries and ice-cream much appreciated as a thank you for our efforts - thanks folks.
13th Sun - The Liquorice Festival in Pontefract. What a difference a day makes in the English summer. Really good weather, a good strong team and equally strong music, good surface to dance on and a large and appreciative crowd. So much so that we actually put sixteen dancers up for that big "Horbury Polka" moment not just once but twice. We even got to do "Failsworth"! Nice to see George and Jenny looking fit and well after their winter in Spain.
Given the numbers dancing and the other factors we covered all the current performance repertoir with, as Peter would insist on pointing out, the exception of "Hindley". Just as well we had the big team out as in spite of our best efforts over the months we could not find a team to share the day with. Which made the fuddle at the "Red Lion" a purely Wakefield event. Major points to Becky for producing a cake with a dance theme incorporating the dancers terrific lines and the heap which we call the band!
20th Sun - The church of St. Peter and St. Paul saw a small but perfectly formed team perform on an afternoon of what could best be described as changeable weather. The first two spots outdoors drew a small but appreciative crowd. The last spot was where we did something the "Red Arrows" can't; i.e. if wet the display will be in the church hall. Many thanks to the Knottingly Silver band who's rush into the hall signalled the break in the weather and who boosted the audience as they sorted out music stands and instruments whilst we danced.
The nice thing about a compact team is that there is no problem with repertoire choice. Either we all know the dance and do it or if we're one short then the dance gets dropped! But that still gave us enough dances to make a good display and that on the bottom line is what we needed.
25th-27th - How to describe Warwick 2008? Hot would be a good word. Two days of blazing sun shine and good crowds make a great festival. The bonus of the swimming pool at the end of the days dancing is the cherry on top of the cake. Saturday started out with a transport challenge in that the bus doing the morning run to town was running late and slow, or at least it was if you wanted to get into town for an 11:00am start. Fortunately Mr. Terence Dix of the Witch men was on the ball and together with Balck Annis was enthralling the crowds at the Rose and Crown as we arrived. Given that Chris was due at a wedding in Milton Keynes in the afternoon we then opted to do our "top of the bill" dances in this first spot. Just how nice can we be?
Moving on we trudged down to the Roebuck via Swan Street and opted for the life preserving tactic of taking on liquid and food by building in a lunch break which was strangely absent from the dance programme. Then back to Swan Street for the procession. Following Hammersmith, or at least trying to follow Hammersmith can be a frustrating experience as you might see if this link is working. Still with a mix of the old favourite "Gisburn" some "Carr Lodge" and a dash of "Horbury St. Peters" we got to the end still dancing. Then a quick display in the park and off for cocktails.
Formal dress was the order of the evening and though I say it myself we did scrub up well. Meg had asked for the contents of the darker corners of the drinks cabinet to be bought out and Peter provided a list of cocktail recipes. Regrettably we seemed to lack the ingredients of a "Screaming Orgasm" which many of the women showed a great interest in. Peter was busy providing the team with "Sheep Dip" which it seems may be a drink. Rounded out with a Bellowhead concert we slept happy.
Sunday remained hot but by now we were getting acclimatised. Pacing our selves we opted not to match Hammersmith, yes them again, in their two dances at a time round. But as they had twelve dancers and could opt for two six man dances this seemed fine to me. Beltane from Devon were great fun to dance with and so we mad our way back from the Roae and Crown to the camp site via The Zetland. It was at the camp site that we had a minor hiccough. My thanks to Will Hall and Beltane for covering my confusion when I said Wakefield were OK to go then turned round to find we were NOT! Seems the proximity of music stalls, shiny stuff, circus skills tents and food can drag the team away from the point of performance like the sands of the desert blown before the wind.
So there we are then another year another Warwick. Did we do the job as asked? Mostly given the weather and the need to stay alive. High spots? "West Bretton" continues to be a crowd pleaser of the highest order, and yes Eileen when we workshop it you'll be the first to know. Getting to do "Failsworth" on Church Steet at the Zetland made the months of banging away at it worth while, now for the other half of the figures. Seeing Julie enjoying(?) her first folk fdestival with the team. Oh and having young William back on board for the Sunday, even if he still has a flaw in that he claims "Hindley" is his favourite dance whenever asked. Here's to keeping up the standard and being asked back to Warwick in the future.

****** AUGUST ******
Sat 9th - Sat 16th Saturday: So there we were in France. Arriving on the Saturday we found that the camp site discouraged accorion playing after 10pm. No argument there from most of us. But then we found that conversation was also discouraged after 10pm, part of a local council ruling so it was claimed. So lights out in the dorm after ten became the rule at the camp. The Stevens family arrival was a little stressed what with the queue at the accident on the way down from Roscoff, the car developing problems and the gates of the camp site being locked at, you've guessed it, 10pm. But they made it eventually.
Sunday/Monday : Two days of sightseeing before the dancing gets under way. Taking in the sights, the sounds and the supermarkets of Brittany. Well apart from Chris and Vicky who did some of that but then found the car was in the words of the mechanic "Il est terminee". So much re-organising of accomodation for them whilst Jean and June, Anne and Malc dealt with the challenge of fitting four people into what was advertised as a 4 person tent. Fortunately none of them can be described as big!
Tuesday: To Pont Aven for the first of the dance spots. Corinne and family arrived to swell the team numbers. Katy is now qualified to be a barrister having passed her bar exams which is a little alarming for those in the team who remember her as a babe in arms. The dancing in the sun was fun and the procession through the market to the harbour side stimulating. The return trip also in procession was just as exiting given that by now the market was in full throng and the main road busier than on the run out. With great timing as we wended our way back to the car park the heavens opened and dumped what felt like large lumps of the Atlantic Ocean onto Brittany.
Wednesday: To Concarneau for a long sought after dance spot in this beautiful town. Many thanks to Sue Whittakers french contacts for that. The civic gift bought from Wakefield actually got presented, the French translation of the team handout was handed out when puzzled looks and lack of language skills met head on and generally a good time was had by all.
Thursday : To Le Faouet for a village celebration. Processing from the Salle de Fete to the tithe barn in the village centre proved interesting. The Bretons in traditional costume taking a liking to performing circle dance around the roundabouts in the square. So much standing and watching. Then as the procession started a second circuit of the square we did begin to wonder if there was a way out of the place. But eventually the whole throng of dancers made it into the barn for a dance display. Locals first then, Fylde and finally Wakefield. Much confusion over running orders and timings but eventually a pretty cracking version of "Horbury Polka" from Wakefield nearly bought the house down. Oh and sometime round here Ruth got the news that Joe and Josh who had given up the chance of the trip so that they could get their A-level results had scored straight A's and were of to university.
Friday: The focal point of the visit had always been the "Nos" in Bannalec. Having toured into town on the previous night it was obviously going to be a big event. So up early in the morning and down to town for the actual wedding part of the day. First at the Town Hall, where Ruth got the chance to present the mayor with the Wakefield civic gift, then in a stately procession to the church for a religious blessing. It was here we actually found a relaxed way of processing by re-cycling the "Gisburn" diagonals figure as a continuous processional move. Waiting for the church service to end gave June a chance to hitch a ride with a local chap and everyone else to grab a drink. Then a short procession followed by a display spot before lunch. The lunch having been cooking for some hours over wood fires in giant cauldrons was a proper sit down do for as many as will.
The afternoon saw the stage in the town centre hosting a dance concert. The Breton bagpipes featured long and loud in the Breton display. Then came the contribution from Fylde and Wakefield. The finale was a spectacular display from a Georgian troupe whose energy and vitality was amazing. Let's just think multiple costume changes, much leaping and kicking and then add some fancy knifework and leave it at that. See the gallery page for more details.
Saturday: Wake up to yet more rain and start the trip home. Some made mad dashes for the coast and caught ferries by the skin of their teeth, some limped home in hire cars, some flew in style and some meandered back in their own time. But we all made it back with memories and tales of a very different dance event.

****** SEPTEMBER ******
5th - 7th York Festival of Traditional Dance. It rained the whole day on the Friday before to the point where you wondered if it would ever stop. But as the procession arrived at the end of Parliament and the first display spots got under way the sun broke through and for the rest of the day the world was a better place to be. Nice to see Ebor still out in strength and even with the credit crunch and a flooded race course York still thronged with visitors. Lunch at the "Terrier" showed that this is still a little gem tucked away in York. Exactly where we'll keep to ourselves.
Conveniently all but one of our spots were on St. Sampsons Square, which reduced the prospect of team members getting lost to a near perfect zero. The grand finale even with just twelve sides did seem to take a long time but for this event I for one don't really mind. And on the drive home the first drops of rain hit the windscreen as we pulled clear of York - perfect timing.
6th - Invite to Ledsham Fayre - Clashed with York
6th - Invite to Lincoln BIG Festival - Clashed with York
12-13th Invite to Singleton Cloggies weekend Did not get a team in the end.
19-20th Otley Folk Festival. We did Otley. There were loads of us out in the lovely sunshine. We dun gud! Apparently when Persephone watched us dance West Bretton they said to Malc "We are not worthy to dance with you lot!" We seemed to go down well. Phil did some chatting to the audience/announcing dances stuff. The Ring o Belles did Gisburn with Anne calling it. We made a bit of an a**e of Prescot. Malcom doesn't think he managed to a single figure right and he wasn't alone in that! Shame. Usual stuff really! The girls did the charity shops and Doldrums stall proud.

****** OCTOBER ******
4th Morris Federation AGM in Skipton - As it's so close we'll go then!. It rained for 24 hours solid over Friday and early Saturday. But strangely held of for most of the dancing. OK the hour or so after lunch did get wet to the point where our guide signalled "Rain stopped play". But there was a massed stand finish and we got to dance with a splendid twelve. Nice to see Aislynn in kit after the long months of practice. And some of the team actually went to the AGM "proper" which was a first I suspect.
Nice to see a youth team from Leeds, Miscendi, giving it some stick. Trained/taught by Joe from Leeds Morris the youngsters are in the Federation as "Obviously they will never be invited to join the Ring", well not as a mixed side that's for sure and their average age being under 50 probably doesn't help! And credit to the BUM team that's "Biker Urban Morris" who turned up - camped - and fielded a youth side as well as an adult side. Chris W. will be pleased to note that BUM asked about amplification as they presumably use it and got the standard answer "It contravenes the act...."!
11th -Sat - Invite to "Oktoberfest" in Keighley.
22nd - Evening to introduce Wrenthorpe Scouts to the joys of traditional dance. Gisburn anyone? Thanks to Mo, Barb, Ann and Robin this was a success. Well depends how you feel about being knee deep in small people, all of whom are armed with sicks and bells and determined to generate NOISE. Any way we went, we danced, we survived. An e-mail thanking us expressed surprise at how willing people were to "join in". I'm not sure if this means the members of our team or the Beavers! Either way it beats a workshop we ran at Chippenham that had a grand attendance of two - and they only came to watch!
25th A bit of a do (AKA a ceilidh) to celebrate Sue and Marks wedding. The great and good of the multiple worlds in which the happy couple spend their time were on hand to provide music, song or dance - or just good company. Notable on the Wakefield morris side of the equation were Ken, Joe and Josh. Ken looking a bit frail, but who wouldn't after weeks in bed. The good news was that Ken's spirit is as strong as ever and he was so happy to see every one again. That cuts both ways Ken!
Joe and Josh seem to have survived freshers week at university and the two of them were even seen to get up and dance once! The team danced unusually without clogs, but with the usual elan and joie de vivre that makes for a fun night out.

****** NOVEMBER ******
22nd Team dance out in York - Cristmas shopping anyone? A really good turnout and in spite of the cold a good days dancing. The "Celebration" dance got it's debut performance with John and Sarah showing what it should look like. For once Kings Square seemed to be free of slippery fire eaters and argumentative stall holders which was a real plus. Some photos from new team member Sally will be added to the agllery any time now!
30th Ken Martin finally lost his fight with kidney cancer in the early hours of this morning. He survived the surgery and made it to Boxing Day on the Heath. He eventually got the best treatment available when the tumour came back and got to dance on St. Geoges Day in Morley and at Whitby for Moor and Coast. Even when they found the abcess that was bringing him dowm in September he still made it to celebrate Sue and Marks wedding at Pennine. The end came peacefully at Wakefield Hospice with Aileen by his side at about twenty to one in the morning.

****** DECEMBER ******
6th Invite to join Pecestan for an afternoon's dancing in York. Declined tne invite
9th Ken's funeral. A massed turn out of those who knew and loved Ken from all walks of life (the posties will appreciate that more than most). Standing room only in the chapel and many more braved the cold outside as the formalities of saying good bye progressed. Good to see Trefor, Melsa, Gerry, Derek, Hilda and Tony from the very early days. And Liz Higgs, Elaine and Martin and Tony Senior from the middle years. Then of course Tracy and Ian who danced back then when we "did" Germany. So many people came dancers, friends from the village, posties, radio control modellers and more all joining in he celebration of a life cut short but lived to the full.

26th Boxing Day at the Kings Arms, Heath Common. 12.30 pm. This was a day when we could dance and remember our mate Ken. This may or may not have been the reason why we got amazing blue skies. sunshine and a huge crowd. Whatever it was it started out that way and stayed that way for the whole dance out. Given the fact that the collection was going to the Wakefield Hospice the crowd were wonderfully generous and as soon as Liz has counted up the coins (and many notes!) we'll give you the total. Tnak you to all those who dug deep into their pockets and a special thank you to those who remembered "the little bloke with the red beard who always danced up front".
As to the dancing, much of it vastly improved by the absence of the former dance master who was off collecting from anyone with a pulse. For the tourists, if any, we provided a Cotswold jig performed by young Simon Matthews. For the crowd en-masse we provided our as ever sparkling displays of fun packed dance. And Aileen provided the Christmas cake as she has done for so many years and we all love her for that and for her quiet courage in turning out to support us. The crowd were terrific and the collection raised £187.50 for Wakefield Hospice. The collection included a bit from Anne on behalf of her Mum who died just before Christmas. So to everyone who contributed for "the little guy who danced up front" THANK YOU.

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