St Michael's Folk Evening
4 July 2007

Dave Dunham blogs in with a diary entry for our trip to St Michael's Folk Evening.

Well, on Wednesday afternoon, whilst waiting for the working day to end, I sat watching the rain fall from the heavans in a manner that suggested the trip to St Michael's may be a wash out dance wise. But a multi-tasking morris man, such as myself, is always prepared for such events, being able to slip into a warm, beer serving pub for a session at the shortest of notice - so bring on the rain!

After arriving home from work, I loaded up the camera and Castagnari, and phone Geoff to offer a lift. Geoff gallantly insists on driving himself and says he'll pick me up at 7.15. Thus, he and Mary come round spot on 7.30 (and I would like to point out here that I am the one that gets the stick for always being late!). On the way, we pick up Pete Flannagan and eventually get to the village at almost exactly on time.

Fears for the weather were unfounded, and it all turned out very nicely indeed. The only unpleasant business in that respect being a few tiny drops of rain during our first set of the evening. Just enough to speckle me spectacles, but not enough to muddle up the Morris.

I took the camera along knowing that Tim would be available to undertake photographic duties, having counted himself out of dancing because of a lightly scuffed shoe the previous week. He had a lot to live up to, as his partner Jean had taken a fantastic picture of a bush a few weeks earlier during the traditional village tour! Tim did a sterling job with the camera though. I go Mary to take a few as well, but she only took a load of Geoff!

There are so many people from the local folk scene at the event that you are bound to bump into a few old friends, particularly with so many teams around with whom we have danced quite regularly. First of all were habitual Folk Evening attendees from Chiltern Hundreds; Roger, Paul and Celia, along with a friend from Benskins. Roger's usual method of meeting up with as many people as possible is to pick the right spot on the street (a different point every year) past which everyone has to filter as they move along the road. Roger's un-erring nack of finding that spot is legendary.

Anyway, passing from friends in civvies to friends in funny outfits, we found Lank consorting with Whitethorn, and persuaded him to join us for a few numbers. When we first arrived, I bumped into Mary, Lank's lady wife, in the Blue Anchor, and we had a chat about a forthcoming day to raise attention to the Lupus UK Charity (but more of that later). Mary has been with Whitethorn for years, and it was good to see her at the event in kit, along with Lank, who has been a long time musician with Harrow based Northwest side.

Wicket Brood were the first of the other sides at the festival that we saw dance. My former colleague, Sylvia, was there in kit and camoflage ready to swing a stick, and the team were in good form with a big band and some good tunes.

I must admit that I was a little dissapointed not to be invited to join in with Whitethorn's Garland dance, though Janet did promise me that a place was still reserved for me for special occasions - when no one is looking I presume! Whitethorn's Trish was there, though she seems to dance with so many side's that it's a little bit strange associating her with any one team - it's just a wonder that she turns up with the right kit on!

We bumped into Tim from Grand Union who had popped over for the evening to pass the time in a pleasant and delightful folky manner. He asked us about a dance out in Sarratt that he that he was certain Woodside were going to, and was surprised when we didn't have a bloomin' clue about it. Oh well - I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of it.

And, speaking of Chiltern Hundred's, though not for a paragraph or two, we came across Nick Jones, who dances with the Northwest team, though he was at the folk evening with English Miscellany, dancing Cotswold and Long Sword. We tried to put him off, but he wouldn't have a bit of it. However, when we had given up, and were just watching on pleasure bent, he decided to throw a stick at his partner across the set, during balance the straw.

Our tour of the village this year saw us following Whitethorn and Brood down towards the Blue Anchor, where, for our last dance, we performed Captain Lano's. There is always a little tension when we do that dance at this spot, maiinly because we buggered it up about very badly about fifteen years ago in front of a load of teams we were hoping to impress, and the memory still haunts us! It all went well this time though!

After the dancing, we had to let Geoff and Mary stroll off on their own so that we could get talking about a wedding present. I'll have to leave it at that though, as they have full access to this page and we don't want to give the game away. As we strolled along, chatting about what to get, we came across Stevenage Sword paying tribute to the undying enthusiasm of the traditional dancer, by continuing to dance into the twilight and well beyond the call of duty.

After admiring the sword side's fortitude, we started making our way down to the Rose and Crown in earnest, where Rosie (from Geoff and Mary's other side, Rockhopper) and her partner Chris were playing in the session. But, as is so often the nature of these earnest endeavors, we were scuppered by socialising. First we bumped into Dave Goode of Caddington Blues, St Albans, Northampton (add your team here) and very occasionally Woodside Morris Men. Dave was just coming out of the pub, where he had been playing a few tunes on his guitar. We had a chat about next week, when we would be dancing with Caddington Blues on their home turf, then about Geoff's Birthday / Wedding bash at Kirtlington. We also bumped into Dennis as he headed back to his car. Dennis mentioned that he had been in the pub but that it was so packed he couldn't get into the session because there wasn't enough room for him and his accordian.

Eventually we got to the pub, and I met a folky pal from round St Albans way who was standing on the edge of the packed session, having a watch, a beer and a listen. He told me about some bloke with an accordian on his back who had been walking around looking for a spot whilst knocking everyone for six with his unwieldly organ strapped to his back! I denied all knowledge.

Next, it was on to the session itself, but time was tight, and and after not having a clue what to do during a couple of very pleasantly performed Irish tunes, there was only enough time for a quick Sir Roger de Coverley before heading off into the post sunset evening. The sessions were still in full swing as we departed though, and looked like they'd carry on for some time.

It was another excellent evening, with the weather providing a very pleasant and cool setting for the dancing. I'm looking forward to next year already.

St Michael's Picture Page
St Michaels Folk Evening Website