Highside Longsword Logbook 2020
HUNDRED and THIRTY SECOND PUBLIC PERFORMANCE 12th January 2020
PERFORMERS :-
Musician - Ray Waite
Captain - Peter Meese
1 Ted Dodsworth
2 Roy Waite
3 Keith Worden
4 Iain Thew
5 Jim Coulson
6 Rob Thew
Kirkby Malzeard Plough Blessing service, always our favourite dance out. A swift lock practice beforehand went well. There is a new vicar, Ian Kitchen, who welcomed us with his opening comments and a copy of Cecil Sharps book of sword dances. He said he'd be watching carefully to see if we got it right! The service was very brisk with a humerus sermon involving the Farmers Weekly.
The dance went very well, Peter sang in fine form despite being ill for some time. Ray played well too, he said he hadn't played since last year! The Mayors of Ripon and Pateley Bridge and their consorts were in the front pew. We decided to 'behead' the vicar and he seemed quite keen.
Tea & biscuits afterwards. Nice to see Joan Clark's son in the congregation. Margaret and Mike Atkinson informed us that in two years time it will be the 75th anniversary of Kirkby's Plough Service and they are going to raise the profile and make it into a charity event.
We then went to the Water Rat in Ripon for a carvery lunch which was very pleasant.
HUNDRED and THIRTY THIRD PUBLIC PERFORMANCE 12th January 2020
PERFORMERS :-
Musician – Ray Waite
Captain - Peter Meese
1 Ted Dodsworth
2 Roy Waite
3 Keith Worden
4 Iain Thew
5 Jim Coulson
6 Rob Thew
After lunch at the Water rat we made our way to Ripon Cathedral for their Plough Blessing Service. We aimed to be there for 2.45 as the service was a bit later this year. After waiting a while we realised that Ray wasn't with us. We found him looking after his Grandson whilst Louise was shopping!
Panic over, we danced near where the food was being served. It went reasonably well despite wandering a bit in double sword down. We 'beheaded' our friend Daniel. While his mother was talking photographs he shouted out 'There's my Mummy'.
It's always nice to dance in the Cathedral but seems a bit flat after Kirkby.
HUNDRED and THIRTY FOURTH PUBLIC PERFORMANCE 19th January 2020
PERFORMERS :-
Musician – Ray Waite
Captain - Peter Meese
1 Ted Dodsworth
2 Roy Waite
3 Colin Fine
4 Iain Thew
5 Jim Coulson
6 Rob Thew
Masham Plough Service, now in the morning to take in the offertory which makes the service quite a bit longer. Very nice service this year, excellent sermon from David Cleeves and good singing from the 2 choirs. When we arrived the electricity had tripped off so we were slightly worried about the sausages! Fortunately they found the trip switch before the service started.
We danced at the end as usual in the very small space in front of the altar. Quite an average performance for us, swords stood on twice, once in single over and once in double sword down. Thankfully we got a lot of praise from the large congregation which was very nice.
The sausages and mulled wine were good too! Into the Kings Head for a (average) pint.