evesham morris weekend

We attended this wonderful event for the third consecutive year and really enjoyed ourselves. Most of us had arrived at the campsite by Friday 5pm and the Team Sweyn Gazebo & flag was swiftly erected and all manner of munchies and devastating alcoholic drinks were laid out on the table. Some opted to buy food at the Fish & chips van by the Evesham Rowing Club Clubhouse, whilst some (Paul) managed to cook and deposit their Tagliatelle on the floor when trying to drain it! 

We danced to the music of the excellent band Banter during the Friday evening Ceilidh and some went on to play in the inevitable music session afterwards in the bar, so all in all it was a good evening although our camping neighbours who had turned in at 10pm didn't quite appreciate our late merry making!
 
We joined Kits Coty Morris, Styx of Stroud Border Morris and Madder Mill Molly on the Saturday dancing tour of Alcester, and Bromsgrove and a non dancing lunch spot at The Cross Inn in Finstall.

The Alcester dance spot started by a church which sported a treacherously wet, slatey surface that would have been a challenge to Torvill & Dean, so we had to dance in a restricted area by the Church main door. We started with two sets up for Postman's Knock and it looked really good! Sadly, nearly all the pubs were closed in the village so most were disappointed by that although one (Paul) was rather appreciative of this fact, having indulged in some Harvey Wall Banger cocktails the night before and suffering a bit as a result! The Royal Oak was open for us at 11:45 and we performed a very good looking Vandalls there! Someone (Erin) tried hiding Alistair's personal stick, thus creating a tradition of this jolly wheeze which another (Geoff) started last year. 
Our lunch spot at The Cross Inn was good with a wide range of food to appeal to all, although the Gluten free amongst the Side were treated to a dish of food that was the envy of everyone.

So what of the other sides dancing on our tour? Styx of Stroud gave a very good, boisterous, Border whooping account of themselves, whilst Kits Coty, for whom Nigel once danced back in the days of his youth, were a side performing Cotswold dances. They had a young lad dancing with them who  must have been no older than 12 and who was really good, especially so at Bromsgrove where he danced a solo jig. Madder Mill Molly were few in number but they had choreographed several dances that were unique and looked really interesting, utilising brooms, and tankards and giving a very polished performance! 

We went on to dance at Bromsgrove which was having a street festival of dance and music. We performed Step and Fetch Her, Grenadiers and Curly Boar by a statue of a cherub who was actually trying to spear a real live curly boar! Perish the thought! Some lads showed their expert prowess at bike and scooter handling skills in busy shopping thoroughfares!

​ We returned  to Evesham but took the decision not to dance at the Abbey Gardens Dance display and instead got ourselves ready for the evening's entertainment at The Fleece. Some of us ate at the Red Horse and enjoyed, after a long wait, food that did not burn a hole in the wallet!  

We further danced during the Sunday Procession doing Speed The Plough before a ‘busking’ session near Abbey Gardens with other sides before doing our Curly Boar Stick dance as a display dance in front of hundreds of appreciative people.

It was all good fun and we hope we get invited to future Evesham Weekends which are so brilliantly arranged by Belle D'Vain Northwest Morris and Pebworth Morris. Thanks Guys!

Weekend Participants: Alison B, Alison H, Alex, Alistair, Ben, Claire, Di, Erin, Geoff, Jonathan, Kevin, Morwen, Nigel, Paul, Roger & Sian

Pictures were taken by Claire, Di, Morwen, Sian, and Paul.