West Gower Tour

Following a week of plentiful rain, you could be forgiven for thinking our summer is over and that we would not get out for our usual Thursday Evening Tour! Banishing all negative thoughts, and despite the light mizzle we were able to visit the King’s Head at Llangennith and the Britannia at Llanmadoc which are two pubs, very popular with tourists and locals alike, on the furthest extremity of the Gower peninsula.

We had a very strong side out (only 2 dancers and 1 musician absent) and were able to dance Y Caseg Eira Nantgarw and Vandals Lichfield which was pleasing as they are both dances for eight, and more complex than other dances from our usual repertoire from Adderbury, Bampton and Fieldtown.

At the Kings Head we found a dancer from Brackley Morris and his wife who have been holidaying on Gower for some time and manage to watch us most times they visit the area which is pleasing to know.

We left for the Britannia at Llanmadoc, driving the country lanes and passing the impressive Bulwark Hillfort on our way, although we were not to see it on this occasion due to an increase in the mizzle which had driven any audience indoors.

Our fiddle player Sian had fortunately brought her tin whistle along as she wisely anticipated that the humidity would make fiddle playing untenable, and supported by Roger on his all weather accordion, we were able to do a selection of dances with Vandals and Banks of the Lea Badby being highlights in the gathering gloom of the evening.

A bit of history, Llanmadoc is our ancestral home as the side started life there in 1966 when we went by the name of Mighty Men of Madoc. One of the past landlords of the Britannia danced with the side. The Britannia also was home to the Halfpenny Folk Club before it relocated to the Greyhound at Oldwalls!

Audience participation involved two sets up for Brighton Camp Adderbury which was enjoyed. We were chatting after ending our performance but had to do a two dance encore for a lady and her party from Bridgend who were celebrating her significant birthday party. We could hardly refuse!

Nightfall came early and so we finished after another enjoyable dance out.

Next Thursday we hope to be dancing with friends Carreg Las Morris at Porthrhyd near Carmarthen, weather permitting.

Words and photos by Paul Tarrant.