Highside Longsword Logbook 2016
HUNDRED and SEVENTEENTH PUBLIC PERFORMANCE 10th January 2016
PERFORMERS :-
Musician - Ray Waite
Captain - Peter Meese
1 Ted Dodsworth
2 Roy Waite
3 Keith Worden
4 Rob Thew
5 Jim Coulson
6 Iain Thew
Kirkby Malzeard Plough Blessing, still the highlight of the year for us. All went well, Iain danced in number 6 as Paul had a bad back. We beheaded a dignitary!
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Afterwards we went to the Water Rat in Ripon for a meal where we were joined by Paul and Andy.
It was very enjoyable. This was followed by a visit to Ripon Cathedral where they were having their Plough Blesssing. Jim Vauvert, one of the hornblowers had been mentioning all year that we should dance there. We contacted Canon Elizabeth who was very keen.
When we arrived there seemed to be quite a big social event taking place with loads of food and drink and quite a big crowd. We posed for photos in front of a tractor and 5 furrow reversible plough in front of the Cathedral. It was very windy! We danced in the big open space behind the altar to a very appreciative crowd.
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Later in the evening we danced at Masham Plough Blesssing which went as usual followed by a drink in the White Bear.
HUNDRED and EIGHTEENTH PUBLIC PERFORMANCE 26th December 2016
PERFORMERS :-
Musician - Ray Waite
Captain - Peter Meese
1 Ted Dodsworth
2 Roy Waite
3 Keith Worden, Colin Fine
4 Rob Thew
5 Jim Coulson
6 Paul Freeman, Keith Worden
Unusually for us we had 2 people wishing to join the team and with Peter wanting to learn the dance properly we decided to hold some practices in December. We hired the St. Wilfrid Community Hall and set about teaching Colin & Barry. Colin has danced before in Great Yorkshire Morris and Barry claimed that we taught him the dance before but he never danced out. Practices went well but we soon found out that Barry wasn't around for the season! Peter was quite ill but Colin managed admirably.
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Boxing day was fine and clear but with a savage wind. We arrived to find the Queen's Head closed, but not for long and after a pint we braved the wind and danced to a small but appreciative audience. A van that was parked near the cross moved during the calling on song which allowed us to move into a better space. Paul and Keith danced in but unfortunately I (accidentally) kicked Paul's head and together with his bad back and knee he decided to call it a day. At the Ringbeck junction Keith moved to 6 which allowed Colin to dance out with us for the first time. It wasn't bad, poor Ray's fingers froze and he lost the tune a couple of times but soldiered on.
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We then went down to the Green and did the shortened version for the Clarks. Joan and Danita being particularly generous giving us 30 pounds. We then went back to the Queens' and did the shortened version again just so Colin could claim to have danced at his local (he lives next door)! Great to have a local in the team.
Then on to the Crown at Grewelthorpe. Brilliant reception, packed pub, lots of whom had come to see us. We got a round of drinks (coke!) from the landlord. Short version again which went very well. Cracking music session afterwards with Carol, Hazel & Anita.