Who Spilt My Beer?

Ah, Days of Dance! Ranking alongside folk festivals as the real red letter days in the Morris calendar. We had been lucky enough to be invited to the Buxton Day of Dance by Chapel-en-le-Frith Morris Men, and 930am saw us, along with others, in the Buckingham Hotel for tea and coffee. I did see a couple of these Cotswold old-timers supping ale, and hats off to them! I have to admit I struggle before about 11ish.

Suitably refreshed, we made our way to the first dance spot, and at around 1030, kicked off proceedings. The dance spots were really well organised, with a great mix of sides, and we found ourselves with sword dancers, cloggies, and Chapel themselves. What a splendid start to the day; great dancing, good weather, and a fair crowd outside the Pavilion. We did a John Barleycorn, a Titterstone Clee and an Upton Hanky before moving on. 

It was a short walk to the next spot, outside Buxton Opera House. Good to see some old friends, the Powderkegs waiting for us!  Even better, the Old Clubhouse over the road was serving an excellent pint of Thwaites Wainwright golden ale.  Your drummer filled his tankard and hurried back to join in with a Bermuda Triangle. I found myself musing over a plaque on the opera house provided by the Frank Matcham Society, celebrating the illustrious architect. I was wondering how many members this worthy group must have. I’ve since found out that there are hundreds, including Timothy West and Prunella Scales, so that’s me told. You can get a good education from Morris Dancing!

We finished our spot at the Opera House with a Brimfield, two sets, one of us and one of Powderkegs. Chiefly to “break-in” our newest dancer, who has been champing at the bit for a while now. She stepped up to the mark with gusto and took a bow at the end. Well done Ange, on your first dance-out!

Anyway, the spot over, it was time for lunch, and a long haul up the hill to the market place. I must say, I was a bit disappointed with Buxton Market, a lot of it now turned over to car parking, and not too many stalls. I think I’d expected it to be a bustling place, full of cheerful costermongers and barrow boys. A man walked by with a dog. A pigeon landed, hopefully near the pub tables. I was wondering where our audience was going to come from. The King’s Head though, was quite full, and did a passable pint of Jennings Cumberland Ale, and a decent ham sandwich. 

Lunch however, was ruined by an unfortunate incident involving my wife and a pint of beer. I’d just come out of the pub, full tankard in hand, when she came over and hugged me. I can’t have had a very good grip on said tankard, because next thing I knew, it was all over the floor. (see photographic evidence)

I was inconsolable. “THIS IS THE WORST THING THAT’S HAPPENED TO ME THIS YEAR!” I ranted. “Yes, but I didn’t……” began wife. “I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT” I said. Needless to say, I have talked about it since. Endlessly.  I’m still going on about it now.

After lunch, we were dancing with the excellent Boggart’s Breakfast, Harthill, and St Katherine’s. Some impressive dancing was enjoyed by a small audience which grew throughout the hour. We did a Jane’s Dance and a Twiglet, after which the Boggart’s Squire was gracious enough to announce, “well, how do we follow that?” Follow it they did. Boggarts have a quite different style, slowish, very precise complicated dances backed up by lovely almost French sounding tunes and some quite sublime drumming! Well, I would say that. I tend to get quite excited about good drumming. Hells Bells is particularly good. Have a look some time soon.

Peter Halfpenny, the illustrious squire of the Morris Ring, and member of Harthill Morris was impressed with our side. The Morris Ring is a very traditional organisation of men’s morris sides. They tend towards men’s border sides because of the extra aggression and gusto put into the sticking and the shouting. “Having seen your side,” he admitted, “I am forced to change my opinion”. Well done to all of our dancers, for putting on such a great display!

Last spot of the day then, down at the pavilion again. We did a Jane’s Dance by the bandstand; this went down really well, and was greeted by applause and cheers from public and other dancers alike. We then went back up to the pavilion to watch Rumworth dancing whilst a wedding car came through.  Graham, our host from Chapel, asked if we’d care to do another dance at the bandstand, and we ended the day with a Manning Tree, one of my favourites. 

The day done, we said a few goodbyes, and headed home. I said at the start of this blog that Days of Dance are about the most enjoyable events in the calendar. Buxton Day of Dance surpassed all of that. A wonderful setting, some fantastic sides, good crowds and fine weather. Thanks to Chapel for the organisation and allowing us to be part of it.

Even the beer incident had a happy ending. I simply bought another pint.