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We started off with a bit of morris
Just behind us it says "Live Music"
although I doubt they had this in mind!
Vera, Joe, Anna, Colin plus other helpers
get under way with Dilwyn
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OBJ dancing Dilwyn.
It goes tap---tap----tap-tap-tap, whack---whack---whack-whack-whack
Phil (on the left), Lynda and Ian (on the right)
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We
think this must have been Dilwyn too - Chris (who took the picture) was
dancing in Bay Horse, and Kelly was drumming in Worcester Monkey
The rag jackets doing what they are supposed to do
Clare in the foreground, with Ali, Kelly and Ann facing awayl
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OBJ dancing Bay Horse, accompanied by OBJ
musicians and Soundblast Sinfonia - playing Marmalade Polka
On the left are Ann, Clare and Eddie
On the right are Kelly, Philip and Chris
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Phoenix getting ready to dance
I'm not quite sure how Mike got his head stuck inside that basket!
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Garston Gallopers dancing
A few familiar faces from Kintbury plus some new friends
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More Garston galloping
We were too busy to record which dances were being performed, but I'm
sure they know!
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Mayflower Morris doing their bit
Despite the long shadows it was quite warm in the sunshine
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Wickham Morris dancing
Accompanied by just about every musician present, including the
Soundblast Sinfonia
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Ridgeway Step Clog
They bring their own mobile jig-saw puzzle which works extremely well
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After we'd all had a couple of dances, we
put together a massed East Acton.
This included dancers and musicians from all the sides plus Soundblast
Sinfonia and the braver members of the audience!
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Soundblast
Sinfonia accompanied some of OBJs dances, helped fill-in between
dances, played during the wassail ceremony and in the pub afterwards
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Then to
the serious (!) business of the Mummers Play, ably performed by Wickham
Mummers
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These morality plays demonstrate that good
will always succeed over evil.
In comes I, Old Father Christmas!
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Saint George and the Turkish Knight prepare
for battle
That looks suspiciously like a dustbin lid!
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The battle never ends very well for the
Turkish Knight.
Here he is slain on the ground (which is dry for a change!)
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The Doctor appears.
I can cure the Itch, the Scritch, The Palsy and the Gout...
The fallen warrior is duly restored to health after receiving a pill
and an injection that would knock over a bull elephant!
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Then it's time for the Wassail Ceremony
The wassail cake (baked by Pam) is distributed, and whoever gets the
bit with the bean in it is appointed King Of The Bean and presides over
the ceremony.
This years monarch is King James, duly crowned
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It's normal for The King to appoint a Queen
Of The Bean
In a new constitutional arrangement, King James appointed Prince Robert
to accompany him
The apple tree from Joe & Ali's garden waits to be wassailed while
we sing the Kings Toast
Joy, Health, Love and Peace be all here in this place.....
accompanied by the band
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We sing the Gloucester Wassail song,
accompanied once again by the band.
The tree is annointed with toast in its branches, and a good dose of
cider
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It was traditional to hunt a wren (The King
of the Birds) and bury it in the roots of the tree
Here, King James buries the wren-substitute for us
(no wrens were harmed during this wassail)
Loud noises are made, guns fired (pretend ones!) and the band joins in
to drive away evil spirits so the orchard can thrive.
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After
this we adjourned to be pub for refreshment, and some more song, music
and dance (does anyone have any pictures?)
First we had to arrange to be locked out, so we could sing to be let in
Diane and her team performed a small miracle by serving food and drink
to all
We went home around tea-time, having had an
excellent day
Thanks once again to everyone who came along and/or contributed to a
lovely day
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| Here are
some of the friends old and new who joined us for the day |
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