SCROLL DOWN TO READ ABOUT ALL OUT MEETS IN 2019
SHATTERFORD
1st -3rd MARCH 2019 Photographs
Our first meet of the year was at Shatterford. Mark and TC were our stewards and were busy making pancakes when we arrived. It was lovely to catch up with friends and hear their news and also to meet some new ones. We welcomed Tony and Liz from Birmingham, Janine from Bridgnorth and Geraldine, Belinda their Mum and hubbies from Kingswinford.
Friday evening was a relaxed affair - a mixture of song, dance and tales. A wet Saturday didn't deter folk from trips on the Severn Valley Railway, visits to Bridgnorth and Kidderminster whilst our new friends went geocaching and tried some new hostelries! TC ran a decopatching session where I produced a lovely cat. After our yummy shared supper washed down with red and white wine courtesy of Mark and TC (who were celebrating their silver wedding anniversary) more fun was had singing and dancing. Rob was MC and Pete introduced some challenging new dances!
Thanks to everyone for making it a fantastic start to the season.
Noreen Small
1st -3rd MARCH 2019 Photographs
Our first meet of the year was at Shatterford. Mark and TC were our stewards and were busy making pancakes when we arrived. It was lovely to catch up with friends and hear their news and also to meet some new ones. We welcomed Tony and Liz from Birmingham, Janine from Bridgnorth and Geraldine, Belinda their Mum and hubbies from Kingswinford.
Friday evening was a relaxed affair - a mixture of song, dance and tales. A wet Saturday didn't deter folk from trips on the Severn Valley Railway, visits to Bridgnorth and Kidderminster whilst our new friends went geocaching and tried some new hostelries! TC ran a decopatching session where I produced a lovely cat. After our yummy shared supper washed down with red and white wine courtesy of Mark and TC (who were celebrating their silver wedding anniversary) more fun was had singing and dancing. Rob was MC and Pete introduced some challenging new dances!
Thanks to everyone for making it a fantastic start to the season.
Noreen Small
ASTLEY
22nd - 24th MARCH 2019 Sorry - no Photographs at present.
The weather for our AGM weekend at Astley was very kind to us. A beautiful weekend brought us some new visitors and hopefully converts to our Folk Group. We had a total of 21 units with visitors from District Associations and from Wessex Folk.
On Friday evening soup and rolls plus cake courtesy of Gay and Margaret was followed by our usual session of dances and spot turns with Mark as our MC. Saturday was taken up with a variety of crafts and pop bottle "Rocket" decorating. Multiple pop bottle rockets were launched in the field on Saturday afternoon with Beth wining the prize for best decorated rocket - well done Beth. The result of the winner for distance is still being scrutinised - the winner on the day was Mark, but he was also in charge of the launches!!!
Late afternoon was the time allocated to our AGM; thanks to everyone who turned up for that. Our Shared Supper soon took over and business matters forgotten when Chris took the mic as MC.
The highlight of the evening was a Morris Dancer's Stick Dance demonstration. Audience participation followed and, I think more by luck than judgement, no one actually got hit by a stick. A great weekend was had by all. Thanks to everyone who helped and took part.
Mervyn Jackson
SYTCHAMPTON
17th - 19th MAY 2019 Photographs
Our Sytchampton meet was stewarded by Bob and Noreen with help from Mark and TC.
Friday evening started with soup and rolls and cake. This was followed by lots of musical entertainment and enthusiastic dancing with dances called by Mark and family. A very active and enjoyable evening.
Saturday evening’s entertainment commenced with a scrummy shared supper. We managed to squeeze in lots more music and dance, Bob was MC and our one and only caller for the evening was Mr John Jackson. John’s calling was first class and kept us all on our toes with a variety of folk dances. Very enthusiastic audience participation made the weekend very enjoyable.
It was good to see visitors join us, always nice to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. Thank you to everyone who took part and made this meet memorable.
Bob Small
17th - 19th MAY 2019 Photographs
Our Sytchampton meet was stewarded by Bob and Noreen with help from Mark and TC.
Friday evening started with soup and rolls and cake. This was followed by lots of musical entertainment and enthusiastic dancing with dances called by Mark and family. A very active and enjoyable evening.
Saturday evening’s entertainment commenced with a scrummy shared supper. We managed to squeeze in lots more music and dance, Bob was MC and our one and only caller for the evening was Mr John Jackson. John’s calling was first class and kept us all on our toes with a variety of folk dances. Very enthusiastic audience participation made the weekend very enjoyable.
It was good to see visitors join us, always nice to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. Thank you to everyone who took part and made this meet memorable.
Bob Small
ASTON CANTLOW
21st - 23rd JUNE 2019 Photographs
We had a super weekend at Aston Cantlow in Warwickshire. We had a social gathering on Friday with soup, rolls and cake. On Saturday after coffee some of us went geocaching and some visited the local NT property of Coughton Court. After a communal lunch our stewards, Jenny and Chris set up a course of “Field games for the less athletic” consisting of archery, snooker, fishing, skittles and football which was great fun. Later we had a hunt for Bob’s keys ( which were in his car) before adjourning to the village hall for an evening of dance and song. Some of us went to Flo’s studio on Sunday. She painted the mural that adorns the back wall of Rick Stein’s Restaurant in Padstow. We welcomed two new families and hope to see them again. It was an exceptionally enjoyable meet.
Gaynor Butler
21st - 23rd JUNE 2019 Photographs
We had a super weekend at Aston Cantlow in Warwickshire. We had a social gathering on Friday with soup, rolls and cake. On Saturday after coffee some of us went geocaching and some visited the local NT property of Coughton Court. After a communal lunch our stewards, Jenny and Chris set up a course of “Field games for the less athletic” consisting of archery, snooker, fishing, skittles and football which was great fun. Later we had a hunt for Bob’s keys ( which were in his car) before adjourning to the village hall for an evening of dance and song. Some of us went to Flo’s studio on Sunday. She painted the mural that adorns the back wall of Rick Stein’s Restaurant in Padstow. We welcomed two new families and hope to see them again. It was an exceptionally enjoyable meet.
Gaynor Butler
BODENHAM ARBORETUM
19th - 21st JULY 2019
Bodenham Arboretum was a new venue for us and what a fantastic one it was! The walks around the Arboretum featuring the Giants Trial with red bloomers (not belonging to Liz and Brian!!!), a Viking display, farm animals and pools where you could spot several dragonflies. A beautiful setting and the weather enhanced our weekend. Several people were tempted to cake and coffee in the café/restaurant. Liz and Brian were stewarding and we had our coffee morning around their motorhome, meeting our friends and welcoming Geoff and Iris from North Central, Caroline and Paul from Shropshire DA and Clive from Birmingham DA. We also met Sue and Keith from Netherton who had just bought a caravan and were very excited with the idea of joining our meets. Jo celebrated her birthday on Friday and treated everyone to wine and cupcakes which everyone enjoyed. Gay was MC and we had lots of various spots and dances. Don was MC on Saturday evening with lots of memorable new dances. Lots of laughter!
Noreen Small
19th - 21st JULY 2019
Bodenham Arboretum was a new venue for us and what a fantastic one it was! The walks around the Arboretum featuring the Giants Trial with red bloomers (not belonging to Liz and Brian!!!), a Viking display, farm animals and pools where you could spot several dragonflies. A beautiful setting and the weather enhanced our weekend. Several people were tempted to cake and coffee in the café/restaurant. Liz and Brian were stewarding and we had our coffee morning around their motorhome, meeting our friends and welcoming Geoff and Iris from North Central, Caroline and Paul from Shropshire DA and Clive from Birmingham DA. We also met Sue and Keith from Netherton who had just bought a caravan and were very excited with the idea of joining our meets. Jo celebrated her birthday on Friday and treated everyone to wine and cupcakes which everyone enjoyed. Gay was MC and we had lots of various spots and dances. Don was MC on Saturday evening with lots of memorable new dances. Lots of laughter!
Noreen Small
SINTON GREEN
6th - 8th SEPTEMBER 2019 Photographs
Sinton Green, our last meet of the Summer, proved to be a great success. The damsons this year were not very plentiful but the blackberries in the surrounding hedgerows were well plundered. The well attended weekend started with soup, rolls and cake on Friday evening following by a very varied programme of music and song.
Saturday morning was a relaxed affair with lots of chatting and exchanges of ideas. In the afternoon we were joined by Stan and Judy Witton who were attending their final Midlands before heading off to Ilkley and the Ridings group. At 2:00 pm the annual Boules competition started. There was a tea break before the fiercely contested final. The finalists were Stan and Shen against Noreen and Janine. Stan suggested the final should be a handicap with extra points being awarded for the difference in ages. This was quickly rejected and the final began, with the target of being the first team to score 13 points. The game was very tight and as the last end began the scores were Stan & Shen 11 and Noreen & Janine 12. The winning position kept switching but the final winners were Stan and Shen.
Saturday evening started with a huge shared supper with lots of diets being ignored when faced with such temptations. The MC for the evening was undertaken by John Owen, his first experience of being MC. John presided over another great programme of music and song interspersed with dances called by John Jackson, Rosemary and Gaynor. During the evening a presentation was made to Stan and Judy in recognition of their forty years membership of the group, and to wish them well for their impending move to Yorkshire. The evening concluded with two lively dances from Gaynor, leaving everyone ready for bed.
Sunday was a beautiful summer day and meant that departures were very leisurely. Newcomers to a Midland meet were saying how much they had enjoyed the weekend and were looking forward to attending others.
John Curry
6th - 8th SEPTEMBER 2019 Photographs
Sinton Green, our last meet of the Summer, proved to be a great success. The damsons this year were not very plentiful but the blackberries in the surrounding hedgerows were well plundered. The well attended weekend started with soup, rolls and cake on Friday evening following by a very varied programme of music and song.
Saturday morning was a relaxed affair with lots of chatting and exchanges of ideas. In the afternoon we were joined by Stan and Judy Witton who were attending their final Midlands before heading off to Ilkley and the Ridings group. At 2:00 pm the annual Boules competition started. There was a tea break before the fiercely contested final. The finalists were Stan and Shen against Noreen and Janine. Stan suggested the final should be a handicap with extra points being awarded for the difference in ages. This was quickly rejected and the final began, with the target of being the first team to score 13 points. The game was very tight and as the last end began the scores were Stan & Shen 11 and Noreen & Janine 12. The winning position kept switching but the final winners were Stan and Shen.
Saturday evening started with a huge shared supper with lots of diets being ignored when faced with such temptations. The MC for the evening was undertaken by John Owen, his first experience of being MC. John presided over another great programme of music and song interspersed with dances called by John Jackson, Rosemary and Gaynor. During the evening a presentation was made to Stan and Judy in recognition of their forty years membership of the group, and to wish them well for their impending move to Yorkshire. The evening concluded with two lively dances from Gaynor, leaving everyone ready for bed.
Sunday was a beautiful summer day and meant that departures were very leisurely. Newcomers to a Midland meet were saying how much they had enjoyed the weekend and were looking forward to attending others.
John Curry
LOWSONFORD
11th - 13th OCTOBER 2019 Sorry - no Photographs at present.
Our Lowsonford meet was hosted by Roy and Lesley, their first time as stewards, and our first time in this delightful little village. The quaint hall is currently being refurbished and is situated in a quiet spot alongside the canal. Contrary to rumours, there were no problems with access, one twin axle van reached the hall and parked with no difficulty whatsoever.
We arrived in torrential rain! Friday afternoon was spent greeting fellow campers and taking part in an informal jamming session. Instead of the usual soup and rolls, our stewards provided us with delicious jacket potatoes, followed by home-made cake. After supper, we spent the evening with an informal sing/dance around led by Roy. The less athletic started a complicated jigsaw in an adjoining room.
Saturday dawned bright and sunny; one group went for a walk along the canal while others relaxed with music and jigsaw. The local village
pub, the "Fleur de Lys", make their own pies, and ten of us went to sample their wares – well worth the visit. The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing with music, that jigsaw (!) and some arts and crafts. After a Shared Supper, with some unusual home-made desserts, Bob
acted as MC for the evening - a balanced mix of singing, dancing and music, including an excellent banjo duo and a visiting couple who played the recorder and key board. All in all, in spite of the inclement weather on Friday and Sunday it was a thoroughly enjoyable weekend. Roy and Lesley did a splendid job and it was great to see so many both new and familiar faces.
Chris & Jenny Bridgewater
11th - 13th OCTOBER 2019 Sorry - no Photographs at present.
Our Lowsonford meet was hosted by Roy and Lesley, their first time as stewards, and our first time in this delightful little village. The quaint hall is currently being refurbished and is situated in a quiet spot alongside the canal. Contrary to rumours, there were no problems with access, one twin axle van reached the hall and parked with no difficulty whatsoever.
We arrived in torrential rain! Friday afternoon was spent greeting fellow campers and taking part in an informal jamming session. Instead of the usual soup and rolls, our stewards provided us with delicious jacket potatoes, followed by home-made cake. After supper, we spent the evening with an informal sing/dance around led by Roy. The less athletic started a complicated jigsaw in an adjoining room.
Saturday dawned bright and sunny; one group went for a walk along the canal while others relaxed with music and jigsaw. The local village
pub, the "Fleur de Lys", make their own pies, and ten of us went to sample their wares – well worth the visit. The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing with music, that jigsaw (!) and some arts and crafts. After a Shared Supper, with some unusual home-made desserts, Bob
acted as MC for the evening - a balanced mix of singing, dancing and music, including an excellent banjo duo and a visiting couple who played the recorder and key board. All in all, in spite of the inclement weather on Friday and Sunday it was a thoroughly enjoyable weekend. Roy and Lesley did a splendid job and it was great to see so many both new and familiar faces.
Chris & Jenny Bridgewater
EVESHAM
25th - 27th OCTOBER 2019 Sorry - no Photographs at present.
late October provided a wet and windy weekend for a pre-Easter Meet but it was nevertheless very worthwhile as it did what it said on the tin. Our thanks to Jo and John who were our Stewards and they are also our volunteer Catering Officers for Easter. We had soup, rolls and cake on Friday and enough left over to warm everyone up on Saturday lunchtime and a shared supper later that day.
Members of Wessex, who are our Outdoor Stewards for Easter made the long journey up and we had a few day visitors who are also Easter volunteers. We tried Anne's Circle dancing in the evening among the other dances and spots. It was good to see Wendy and John Collins too who have been unable to come to any of our meets for a while. So not many units out but enjoyable all the same.
Gaynor Butler
25th - 27th OCTOBER 2019 Sorry - no Photographs at present.
late October provided a wet and windy weekend for a pre-Easter Meet but it was nevertheless very worthwhile as it did what it said on the tin. Our thanks to Jo and John who were our Stewards and they are also our volunteer Catering Officers for Easter. We had soup, rolls and cake on Friday and enough left over to warm everyone up on Saturday lunchtime and a shared supper later that day.
Members of Wessex, who are our Outdoor Stewards for Easter made the long journey up and we had a few day visitors who are also Easter volunteers. We tried Anne's Circle dancing in the evening among the other dances and spots. It was good to see Wendy and John Collins too who have been unable to come to any of our meets for a while. So not many units out but enjoyable all the same.
Gaynor Butler
ASTLEY
15th - 17th NOVEMBER 2019 Photographs
Astley was our last meet of the year, nationwide floods, and a none too promising weather forecast for the week end - however, we still had some sixteen units, a good number of people for the lovely Astley Village Hall. Friday evening started with our now traditional soup and rolls, followed by cake, and folk were quite happy to sit chatting for longer than usual. The highlight of the usual varied programme of music and dance was one of our more exuberant members splitting his trousers, providing much hilarity for the rest of the gathering!
Most of Saturday morning was spent discussing the organisation of the Easter 2020 Meet, then the afternoon saw us indulging in a mix of handicrafts, music and a large jigsaw puzzle, which was finally completed during the evening. There were no split trousers at our varied evening entertainment, but we all had a good laugh as a music stand telescoped down during the performance of our little ukulele band, resulting in one of our strummers playing on his knees.
An early Sunday morning committee meeting was followed by tea/coffee before we left for home. Personally we just had time to clear the van before the heavens opened once more, but it had stayed dry for the week end. Many thanks to our stewards, John and Christine, for looking after us so well, and for hosting such an enjoyable end of year meet. See you all at Shatterford in March 2020.
Chris and Jenny Bridgewater
15th - 17th NOVEMBER 2019 Photographs
Astley was our last meet of the year, nationwide floods, and a none too promising weather forecast for the week end - however, we still had some sixteen units, a good number of people for the lovely Astley Village Hall. Friday evening started with our now traditional soup and rolls, followed by cake, and folk were quite happy to sit chatting for longer than usual. The highlight of the usual varied programme of music and dance was one of our more exuberant members splitting his trousers, providing much hilarity for the rest of the gathering!
Most of Saturday morning was spent discussing the organisation of the Easter 2020 Meet, then the afternoon saw us indulging in a mix of handicrafts, music and a large jigsaw puzzle, which was finally completed during the evening. There were no split trousers at our varied evening entertainment, but we all had a good laugh as a music stand telescoped down during the performance of our little ukulele band, resulting in one of our strummers playing on his knees.
An early Sunday morning committee meeting was followed by tea/coffee before we left for home. Personally we just had time to clear the van before the heavens opened once more, but it had stayed dry for the week end. Many thanks to our stewards, John and Christine, for looking after us so well, and for hosting such an enjoyable end of year meet. See you all at Shatterford in March 2020.
Chris and Jenny Bridgewater
