Highside Longsword Logbook 2004
SEVENTY SIXTH PUBLIC PERFORMANCE 11th January 2004
PERFORMERS :-
Musician - Ray Waite
Captain - Peter Meese
1 Ted Dodsworth
2 Roy Waite
3 Keith Worden
4 Geoff Hyde
5 Jim Coulson
6 Rob Thew
Kirkby Malzeard Plough Blessing Service at St. Michael's Church is always our favourite event but after a rather poor performance on Boxing Day we decided a practice would be in order. The evening before, Paul rang to say he was too ill to perform but had persuaded Rob to take his place and as he hadn't really danced at 6 before a practice was even more necessary. We met in the school yard a quarter of an hour early and had a fairly rubbish practice. We went back to the Church to find Peter hadn't arrived. We took our usual place in the choir stalls after processing with the plough. By the time it came to us dancing Peter was in the back of the Church which made for a dramatic entrance to sing the calling on song. Another row of pews had been removed to allow us more room to dance and we put on our best performance ever. It's great to hear applause in church.
After the service was over we had coffee at the back of the church and beheaded the new vicar, Robert Sellars. Then on to the Henry Jenkins for our annual dinner.
It is sad to report that the farmer who revived the Plough Blessing service, Tommy Atkinson, died in late 2003.
SEVENTY SEVENTH PUBLIC PERFORMANCE 25th January 2004
PERFORMERS :-
Musician - Ray Waite
Captain - Peter Meese
1 Ted Dodsworth
2 Roy Waite
3 Rob Thew
4 Geoff Hyde
5 Jim Coulson
6 Paul Freeman
Masham Plough Blessing Service at St. Mary's Church is rather an anti-climax after Kirkby's but we are always very well received. The dancing is after the service rather than during it and after the expanse of Kirkby church the front of the alter doesn't give us much room. We didn't seem to rise to the occasion so well either, the lock was particularly scrapy but the audience were impressed.
Mulled wine and sausages after and then on to the Kings Head for a pint or two.
SEVENTY EIGHTH PUBLIC PERFORMANCE 30th May 2004
PERFORMERS :-
Musician - Chas Marshall
Captain - Peter Meese
1 Keith Worden, Ted
Dodsworth
2 Roy Waite
3 Rob Thew
4 Geoff Hyde
5 Jim Coulson
6 Paul Freeman
The International Sword Spectacular in Whitby. Ray was unable to play for us and Chas kindly offered his services. I had a cold and bad back so didn't dance but after a practice at the Spa, Keith had no problems with dancing number 1. First spot by the docks was nearly thwarted by a Christian Rock Band but Lange Wapper led us far enough away for a good spot nearer town. Black Swan Rapper followed them and by the time we came on it started to drizzle.
The second spot was with Sharpe Sword and Blackadder at the Ship Inn. After lunch we danced outside the Plough with Baden from Germany and Bagnasco from Italy. This was our best performance of the day.
We finished at the bandstand with several other teams all trying to drown out the sound of the boatman trying to get people to take a trip out to sea!
SEVENTY NINTH PUBLIC PERFORMANCE 26th December 2004
PERFORMERS :-
Musician - Ray Waite
Captain - Peter Meese
1 Ted Dodsworth
2 Roy Waite
3 Hugh Waite
4 Rob Thew
5 Jim Coulson
6 Paul Freeman