Highside Longsword Logbook 1995
FORTIETH PUBLIC PERFORMANCE 15th January 1995
PERFORMERS :-
Musician - Ray Waite (melodeon)
Captain - David Neild
1 Ted Dodsworth
2 Roy Waite
3 Robert Thew
4 Geoff Hyde
5 Jim Coulson
6 Paul Freeman
Our fortieth dance out, very appropriately at our favourite venue, the Plough Blessing service in St. Andrew's Church, Kirkby Malzeard. We agreed to meet in the Queen's Head car park, as usual, to run through the dance with Rob as his debut. During this practice the new landlord came out and remonstrated with Dave about us being there without permission. Dave pointed out to him that we came here every year and that we would be drinking in the pub afterwards.
We had had two practices with Rob and his friend Barry at Ray's house. Before that we were at a Rapper workshop in Brompton near Northallerton with Rob and without Keith, where we were asked to do the Kirkby dance so we had to push Rob round. This was his only experience of Longsword.
The service was taken by Rev. Peter Ormrod, a local Methodist Minister, who gave the sermon. All the usual farmers were there with the plough and the church itself was full. The dance is now part of the service and this year David remembered all the words. Rob danced as if he had been in the team for years. It was a very good performance. It is strange hearing applause in church.
After the service we posed for a picture in front of the alter with the plough, the farmers, Rev. Tony Keddie and the Sword lock around Rev. Peter Ormrod's neck. Picture by Bill Robson. We were lent a postcard of the Kirkby team taken in 1906 by Mrs Ruth Broadwith. We have taken it to Yorkshire Images to be copied. We also discovered that David's wife Olna has Kirkby roots. Her father Mr Kilvington lived in Kirkby and knew of the Longsword Dance.
We went back to the Queen's Head, but Paul went home so we couldn't dance again. We tried to make our peace with the landlord and he eventually let us play some tunes. We all then went back to Ray's house to eat and drink.
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FORTY FIRST PUBLIC PERFORMANCE 20th April 1995
PERFORMERS :-
Musician - Ray Waite
Captain - David Neild
1 Ted Dodsworth
2 Roy Waite
3 Robert Thew
4 Geoff Hyde
5 Jim Coulson
6 Paul Freeman
We had been invited to the British Sheep Veterinary Society's dinner at Ripon College. We danced on the Market Square first, just after the Hornblower, to a rather unappreciative audience. We were due ‘on' at 10.00pm so we congregated in the college bar from 9.30 and had quite a bit to drink before we performed at 10.45. We processed on through the tables and danced in quite a small area in front of the top table. We then gave them a talk on Longsword dancing and then persuaded out local vets to try their hand at the lock. They were not very successful! Then more drinks in the bar.
FORTY SECOND PUBLIC PERFORMANCE 30th September 1995
PERFORMERS :-
Musician - Ray Waite
Captain - David Neild
1 Ted Dodsworth
2 Roy Waite
3 Robert Thew
4 Geoff Hyde
5 Jim Coulson
6 Paul Freeman
We met at the Crown at Grewelthorpe as usual. Unfortunatly Roy didn't make it so we couldn't dance. We went on to Masham, to the Sheep Fair. Roy didn't arrive until 3 o'clock. We tried to practice in an alleyway off the Market Square but about 40 people followed us and it turned into a full performance. We then danced a couple more times in front of the Town Hall. The weather was pleasant and we had quite a good day. Sue Cunliffe-Lister gave us £20. More than last year.
FORTY THIRD PUBLIC PERFORMANCE 26th December 1995
PERFORMERS :-
Musician - Ray Waite
Captain - David Neild
1 Ted Dodsworth
2 Roy Waite
3 Keith Worden
4 Geoff Hyde
5 Jim Coulson
6 Paul Freeman
Our usual Boxing Day tour. This year it was particularly cold. We danced in front of the Grantley Arms and then made our way to Kirkby. After a drink in the Queen's Head we walked to the far end of the village and danced by the triangle, trying to keep out of the wind. Massive collection of £3.65. Then we went to the entrance to the Green so that Florrie Chapman and Joan Clarke could watch us. Then one more performance at the Buttercross. We did a lot of talking whilst dancing and Dave fooled about a bit but it was very cold.
Some of us returned to our house for food and drink. The cake was clock shaped set at 9 o'clock for our ninth Boxing Day tour.
