40th Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival January 2019

Information from Brian Kell

This internationally acclaimed event begins on Thursday 17 January 2019 with presentations  in all schools within our Town. Public events are as follows:-

Friday 18 January
Concert in the Ivy Leaf Club featuring Jack Rutter, Ursula Holden Gill and Keith Donnelly. Tickets are 10-00.

Saturday 19 January
Procession around town featuring lots of dance teams and of course the Straw Bear himself. In order to help us celebrate our 40th year, the 4 local primary schools, namely Alderman Jacobs, Coates, Park lane and New Road will be joining us in the morning procession from the Manor Leisure Centre to the Library. Each school will choose 5 pupils (selection process will be devised by the teachers) then, following our historic decorated plough, each pupil will carry 2 small hand made straw bears  made by Peter Williams with year plates representing the 40 years 1980 to 2019. (Parents and teachers, cameras at the ready) Following the festival, the schools will be taking their little bears back with them to put on display for the other school children. The local photographer Chris Brudenell has kindly agreed to donate his services to produce a framed photographic record of all the children together. Following production, these will be presented to each school later in the year.  Our thanks go to Chris for this kind offer. We all look forward to seeing this unique procession and we encourage all spectators to give the children a big cheer as they pass. The festival will also feature free presentations in Methodist/ United Reformed Church, Queen Street, Story Telling with Carl Merry and in the Town Hall,  Market Street, Poets United and acoustic songs by Gregg Russell.
The now traditional Barn Dance at Sir Harry Smith Community College will feature Simon Care’s band Banter. (Tickets £12-00).

Sunday 20 January
The Grand Finale is again at Sir Harry Smith Community College, 12 till 2-30. Another free event.

For further information visit www.strawbear.org.uk box office 07857 357 970 (answer phone).

 

 

New Border Morris side in Suffolk

We are excited to share news of our new Border Morris group in Hadleigh, Suffolk,
‘BoudiccaBorder Morris’. We formed in January this year and currently have a team of 18.

We dance traditional dances alongside some we have written ourselves. Our most recent ‘Gallow’s Gateway’ written to honour those who may have died on the local Gallow’s Hill.
We dress in a steampunk style with our colours based on those of a peacock. We hope to bring some new and exciting dances to the Morris world in 2019 and look forward to dancing with other sides. We dance at pubs and various festivals including the Green Dragon Day of Dance in Bury and  we are looking forward to Halesworth Day of Dance and Gone to Earth Festival at Stonham Barns in 2019. We practise on Thursday evenings at Layham Village Hall just outside Hadleigh. We are always on the lookout for new musicians, dancers and supporters.

If you are interested in joining us please contact Emily Myers on 07749 495865, check out our Facebook page or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Highly successful 2nd Aylsham Festival of Dance Music and Song!

The second Aylsham festival of Dance, Music and Song was held over the weekend of September 7th and 8th and was agreed by all to be a great event.

It began on Friday night with a Folk Club in the town hall hosted by stalwart of the Norfolk Folk scene, Geoff Roberts with his legendary Flying Folk. At one point there were over a hundred people in attendance either there to listen to the superb array of talent that was present or to take part as a performer. With a licenced bar operating a great night was had by all.

Read more: Highly successful 2nd Aylsham Festival of Dance Music and Song!

New on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire - The Folk Show

Just received this message from Sue Marchant who hosts the current folk show on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

Sue Marchant - Ms Folk - BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

New for BBC Radio Cambridgeshire starting on Monday  September 17th from 1900 – 2200 a new show celebrating all things folky in Cambridgeshire called The Folk Show  hosted by Sue Marchant and Nicky Stockman.  We encourage Folk artists, Morris, storytellers, instrument makers etc  to be in contact with their wares for future broadcasts.

 

 

Roger Dixon's important role in the discovery of traditional Norfolk singer, Walter Pardon

The late Rev. Roger Dixon - first to recognise the importance of the songs and tunes of Norfolk's Walter Pardon

North Norfolk folk organiser and archivist Brian Gaudet recalls the remarkable discovery in 1974 of traditional Norfolk singer Walter Pardon at the age of 59 – and the role played by the late Roger Dixon.

A memorial service has been held for the retired East Anglian teacher and clergyman who played a vital role in the discovery of Norfolk source singer Walter Pardon.

The Rev Roger Dixon, who died after a long illness, aged 84, earlier this year, was the lucky link between Walter – his second cousin – and revival singer/musician Peter Bellamy who had once been one of Roger’s school pupils.

Read more: Roger Dixon's important role in the discovery of traditional Norfolk singer, Walter Pardon