Monday 8 July 2013

A Cultural Feast


This wonderfully hot English summer's weekend saw a massed gathering of Morris and Molly dance sides up on the North Norfolk coast at the little town of Sheringham. An annual event called the Lobster Potties Festival is held and the town turns out to support it, tourists come in droves, and the dancers and musicians dance and play their hearts out. Some beer is consumed (it is, coincidentally, a beer festival, after all!And it did get very hot - 31 degrees on Sunday morning at the camp-site!)

Here you can see young James, Jan and Steve who live in Sheffield but come and play for Ouse Washes when they can, and me, myself. Slipping out of shot is a member of the Loose Women Mollies. It was a fantastic weekend, helped, I'm sure by the wonderful weather.


This is Porter, a lovely Cocker Spaniel belonging to Elin and Bryan; he was a little star all weekend.

This post is going to be photo-heavy, so bear with me while I crack on uploading. Enjoy the spectacle!


                                                      Bryan showing off his new bloomers.


                                                           Suze doing breakfast cuppas.


Alex sorting out the children. Between them, Alex and her sister Suze do most of the camp organising and hard work. It's that Girl Guiding Ethic.


My bed-space, in the "pod" attached to the side of Alex's VW Camper van. Yes, I want one too!


                 Putting on the blacking before heading off to town. James, Alex and Bryan.


                              A breakfast visit from one of the Gongs Scourers musicians.



Me, with Elin, one of our Mollys (and a great fiddler, too!) Kitted up for her role with her other side, Golden Cross Morris. She danced for them on Saturday, and with us on Sunday. Love those bells!


                                               Gongs Scourers Border Morris in action.


                                        Two amiable chaps who stopped for a quick snap!


                                                     A Border Morris side in action.


Alex and her van. Sides arriving at the car-park Sunday morning. It was already 31 degrees at the camp-site. It cooled down a little because of the sea breeze, but town was HOT!


This is a Cotswold Morris side. The terms 'Border' and 'Cotswold' and 'Rapper' refer to the style of dancing, not the place of origin of the sides.


Ouse Washes take a coffee break between dance sets. It was quite relentless, we continued throughout the day, stopping off at pre-determined spots throughout the town to dance our sets with other sides in in group. Here we see Jan, Peter, and Ellen, and Suze just visible in the background. She dances with Loose Women  Mollys. Oh, and a close up of Andrew, our "Molly" side view. Andrew is training up Bryan as Deputy Molly. Equivalent to the Morris side's Fool.


                                                       Gongs Scourers Musicians.


            The Evil Line-Up : Georgia, me, Bryan (he gets everywhere, doesn't he?) And Alex.


                         Ouse Washes prepare for their next set down by the two Lifeboats.


                                                                         Loose Women.


                                                                    And plenty of it!
 

Some interesting, somewhat sinister chaps. The costumes of lots of these sides is quite amazing, and for anyone interested in textiles, it is a real visual feast. I had so many compliments about my hat!


                                Another Cotswold Morris side. Love the appendage!


The amazingly costumed Pig Dyke Molly side. They dance out not far from Ouse Washes, in the Fens.



                                                                The Pig Dyke Musicians.


          A young boy performs a Morris Jig solo. Quite a lump in the throat moment, actually.



                                                           Well done, young man!


A lovely group called Youth Miscellany, from ages about 5 to 15. Wonderful to see these youngsters.


They danced to very English tunes such as Princess Royal and Soldiers Joy,  tunes reminiscent of Nelson's day. Another lump in the throat moment for me. I just wish our media would do more to promote true English culture - we are allowed to be proud of it without it being a racist statement!


            Great action shot of Jason and Bryan doing the Broom Dance. Steve on melodeon.


Jason getting his leg over. They finish this dance with a spectacular double somersault. Happy landings - Jason has made many of them! Bryan is learning the ropes and made a great somersault today.





Sheringham beach - almost deserted because every one was in town at the festival! Ouse Washes did go in for a dip at the finish though.

It was a truly brilliant week end. I had problems with my back after the Saturday - there is so much standing around. However Alex to the rescue with the Ibuprofen and sunday was a breeze. I had so much fun, being in such good company. We had a session at the tents on Friday evening and Nick (melodeon tutor) came to join us - he is an ex-member of Ouse Washes. Saturday night we had a session in the School where our campsite was situated.

This was such an incredible sight to see all the wonderful costume and dancing. I fervently wish we would stop being embarrassed by our traditional dancing heritage, and I wish the media would do more to promote it. Had this been the Brixton Carnival the World's Press would have been there in droves. As it is, this wonderful spectacle will rate a few lines and a few photos in the local paper. However, dear blog readers, I am hoping that you will read, look, be amazed, and talk about what you've seen, where-ever you are around the world, and know that traditional culture is alive and well in England!

34 comments:

  1. Brilliant photos Lynne, I am royally p**d off that I was rostered in to work. I have not been to Sheringham for nearly a year and it is a long long time since I saw the dancers. Are there any more gatherings coming up?

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    1. Hi Pam, yes, Ely Folk Festival on the 13th July, but that's it locally for a while.

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  2. How wonderful, our friends were here too, he's one of the dancers! Fab weather for you all too, it looks like you all had a great time being just a little bit Bonkers!!! :) x

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    1. Oh Ada, which side does he dance with? Yes it was a great w/end and thankfully brilliant weather too. Lx

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  3. Fantastic photographs, love the monochrome costumes of the Pig Dyke Dancers. After being at the air show on the Saturday, we needed a good sit down so the match won. Must try and attend another year.

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    1. What a shame you missed us, Dc. I'll try and keep you updated about local events we're dancing at.

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  4. Fabulous photo's, right up my street, I LOVE this kind of dancing and I totally agree with you on the issue of being proud of our heritage and traditions. These kind of festivities should be more publicised and supported by the media as people who have never heard of it don't know what they are missing. Generally speaking its a fabulous atmosphere and full of lovely people having a good time and a few pints :-) I have made a note of it on the calendar to look out for next years.

    Hope your back is feeling easier xx

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    1. Hi again, Karen. Too right, we don't blow our own trumpets loud enough. (Contrary to the opinion of other people!) It was a GREAT atmosphere and great good humour all round.

      Yes, Potties is an annual event, and I THINK Ouse Washes are invited each year, but this was my first time. Shall definitely be going again! Lx

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  5. I have looked, and been amazed and delighted. The Mr indulged in a spot of Morris dancing when we lived in Lincolnshire, but had barelt begun when we moved away. Sadly North Wales doesn't seem to have the same dance tradition, it's all singing round here!

    Great post Lynne and lovely pics. I hope the backs all better :)

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    1. Hi Annie, what a shame your Mr had to give up the bells and hankies, it is certainly a very English past-time. My back is great after a long sleep last night and a more relaxing day! Lx

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  6. It all looks so wonderful, your photos are great. I wish I'd known, Little Miss & I would have come to watch and enjoy lovely Sheringham too. Is it a regular event? I think I remember seeing all the costumed dancers a couple of years ago- also on a sunny day.

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  7. Sorry Lynne, I've just realised you said annual - we were definitely watching a couple of years ago, maybe we saw you?!

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    1. It is indeed annual, Jay, what a shame you missed us! Hopefully we will be back next year. We are appearing at the ELy Folk Festival next Saturday if you are near on the day! I should start posting our itinerary, I think, there are so many Norfolk dwellers reading the blog now! I wasn't there the other year, this was my very first Potties. Lx

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    2. An itinerary would be great Lynne, Little Miss & I are often looking for a place to go on Saturdays while to boys are on a pitch somewhere in the county!

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  8. Thanks Lynne, for your lovely tour around the festival !!!
    I hope your back stays well !! (that little cot in the tent
    didn't help too much for that probably :-( ...)

    (why are the faces painted black ? is there some back
    ground information ? )

    Ha, when I said your garden looked familiar, I meant that
    there are many similar plants in my garden .... !

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    1. Hi Els, right a short potted history of Molly Dancing.

      In the villages in and around the Fen area of East Anglia, they celebrate Plough Monday, which was always a holiday. the plough was processed through the town/village to the church to be blessed (it is a very agricultural area.) The PLOUGH BOYS were up to some tricks, they knocked on doors to ask for small amounts of money. Because most people in those days knew everyone else, they dressed in weird clothing and covered their faces with soot so they wouldn't be recognised, because if people reused them money they repaid them by running the plough over their gardens or other mean tricks. This goes back a couple of hundred years. There are some photographs on the blog of the Mollys attending Plough Monday and the Straw Bear Festival. )You might have to search back to February last year, in my archive.) Lx

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  9. Lovely post Lynne and so glad you had fun on this hottest of hot weekends. The photos say it all and love all the history and tradition.
    Patricia x

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    1. Thanks Patricia, the weather was a mixed blessing to be sure, but no-one was complaining! It was a wonderful celebration of English tradition, with no political overtones to spoil it, no over-commercialisation, just good honest music and dance. Lx

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  10. What a super collection of photos. I did spot you on the Sunday but you were playing and so I couldn't introduce myself. We were there with Pretty Grim and had a great time. We are also going to be at Ely this coming weekend but this time with Green Dragon and Milkmaid Molly, as my other half dances with 3 sides. Hope maybe to catch up with you then ...lets hope the weather stays hot..Viv

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    1. Hi Viv, I'm afraid I can't find out anything about your blog/website/whatever as it just comes up with 'circles' which I have NO IDEA what so-ever about! Never mind, lovely that you pop across and visit. I do wish you had been able to come and chat...but it was all a bit of a marathon, wasn't it?? Brilliant though.

      I have a friend dancing with Boggarts who I will unfortunately miss as we are dancing at different times in different places. PLEASE if you catch sight of me come and say hello! I am crossing my fingers for decent weather. Lx

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  11. Hi there Lynne, Oh, I love visiting your blog! There is always fun and frolicking going on, we could use some of that over here. When my daughter was a little girl, we would dress up as clowns and fill our pockets with candy and head to the park to play. It was so much fun. These days and times, I would probably be arrested and spend the night in jail as they ran a background check. Compared to you folks, we are, "stick in the muds". What a shame! Well, I can always visit your site for a bit of fun :) Thanks, I truly enjoyed all of your photos. Have fun at the Ely Folk Festival.
    Your blogging sister, Connie :)

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    1. Bless you Connie for your lovely comments! However, I think you look as though you and your family know how to enjoy yourselves pretty well!

      Yes, times have changed, haven't they, a lot of the innocence has gone, making the simplest things that much more complicated. But we carry on. Lxxx

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  12. I've just come back for a second snoop as I didn't have time to comment last visit. I thoroughly enjoyed your pictures and the whole atmosphere you painted of the day. It all looks such colourful fun (to have and to give) and you all looked so happy. The costumes (and that wonderful hat of your's) are spectacular and I love the quirky look of the Pig Dyke Mollys. Keep the traditions going!
    Love jo x

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    1. Hi Jo! Thank you for that, I do think it's important to keep the traditions going, and if the youngsters that were there this weekend are anything to go by, we won't be struggling to find fresh dancers/musicians. I do really really wish, though that the main stream media would give us a break.

      To be honest, it was the costumes which initially grabbed me, years ago at the Reedham Ferry Folk Festival when I first saw the Mollys dance. (Been down hill all the way since then!!) Lxx

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  13. I have had my eyes opened by your post! I am partial to the odd Morris Man, but had no idea of the diversity of other groups and costumes. It looked like a wonderful event, and very good as you say for textile types.I love folk traditions, we are partial to a bit of dancing in the street in Cornwall too!

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    1. Hi Felicity, yes, you certainly keep the folk traditions going down there, more power to your elbows! But for me this weekend was my first glimpse of so many dance sides in one place. It was wonderful to see. (and hear!) Lx

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  14. I love to watch Morris dancing - always makes me stop whatever I am doing and hang about.

    Your photos are so interesting! What a fabulous way to spend a weekend - but heck that HEAT!

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    1. Erm, yes, you have a point there, Wendz! it was HOT! But there was a sllght breeze when we danced down by the prom. But no matter how hot, I'd still prefer it to cold and rainy, ugh, not nice, and REALLY not good for the instruments! Lx

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  15. Love all the photos - thank you. I live very near to Broadstairs - Folk Week is a big happening on the calendar in this area.
    Love the felt stitchery. Can I ask - if you use a wool blanket as the backing fabric - probably daft question - cushions need to be dry cleaned?

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  16. Hi, thanks for leaving a comment. I think because of all the felt pieces - not because of the blanket - I would dry-clean this cushion. Once the felt goes into hot water it may felt further if you get my drift, or become wispy, so I wouldn't want to get it wet. You could steam iron it from the back though, which is what I will do before making it up into a cushion cover. (Sounds silly, but of course, you would only clean the cover!) The blanket itself can be washed but not on too high a heat because then IT would felt. Which is what you sometimes aim for. Oh dear this is sounding complicated and it really isn't! Hope it makes sense.

    You have a great folk scene going on in Broadstairs, lucky you!!

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  17. You've captured the weekend wonderfully in all it's glorious colourful joyous traditional Englishness. Where do you get your energy from - and in that heat. I'd have been wilting by the end of all that! xCathy

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    1. Hi Cathy, I think if I had been dancing it might have been another story! As it was, I drank PINTS and PINTS of water and kept in the shade when possible. I conserve my energy as much as possible the rest of the time, allowing for small outbursts of energy!!!!! ;) Lx

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  18. Oh, spectacular! and so much work on the costume and headdress. Hoping to visit a folk week on the N. E. coast after harvest. You have made some great foot tapping music and dance memories for all the folk who attended. Well done!

    Pats.

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  19. Hi Pats, (still having difficulty getting beyond the titles on your website...but I am a bit of a technophobe!)
    Yes it was a great weekend, and we are hoping for more tomorrow at the Ely Folk Festival - who'd a thunk it, me at the Ely FF! Lots of factor very-high as it's going to be 30 degrees, so I'm told! Lx

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