Suncream and Storms!
Friday
All together in good times with the enclave setup quickly. Banner up. Our first time on the excellent quiet campsite. We all went our separate ways in the evening – ‘Spoons’, fish and chips, concerts, ceilidhs, pubs and contented scotch and cheese in the ‘vans.
Saturday
Bacon butties wolfed and beverages consumed (our heartfelt thanks to provider Tim and family Young for looking after us all weekend) and hats adorned, an early start at the excellent Rose and Crown at top of the town. Lots of dance spots down the main road dancing with Knots of May, Rockhopper, Black Adder Morris and Mary Rose & Royal George . Off for a quick pint and long walk to the excellent Three Crowns only to find it shut. Sat sadly outside bantering with Chippenham (outwardly crusty, but all soft vol-au-vent Inside). Pasty lunch (as was every lunch). Very (hyper)active Horse and Ross happily collecting and hawking our badges. Big crowds, festive spirt, great FF volunteers and the weather held off (mostly).
Evening, all went different ways. One group followed a rapper pub crawl (Great British Sword and Nethergate Rapper) – bloody good dancing. Most straggling back to the ‘vans for some sleepy scotch before the storms lashed the campsite.
Sunday
BB’s again and a more leisurely start. Despite a dire forecast, the weather held except for a few sudden and very heavy downpours. Main Street again with Devizes with an accomplished young contingent, Tatters & Tails, Enigma, old friends Sweet Coppin, new friends Knots of May x2 (our Horse carried their President off, running back shortly thereafter!) and Theale Tattoo (with Clare). One highlight – at the Rose and Crown the energetic antics of the Brute encouraged three (yes 3!) Beasts to suddenly emerge from other sides! Happy Horse! We lurked in the Flying Monk (10/10) during a downpour and a few of us responded to Knots of May and Theale Tattoo dancing in the rain by coming out and doing some lively jigging.
Monday
Hats, showers, breakfast, tents down, kit on…busy, busy. Dancing with Chippenham (more bantering…), Eninma, Aurora, Taylor’s Morris (with an epic 13 minute Trunkles in Longborough style), Steampunk Morris (superb kit, especially the ladies).
Procession, strange for us to be without stalls, through the centre, lots of cheering onlookers. Rampant Horse. Much encouragement from Knots of May (Lewes) in the audience this day – an excellent NW side who we shared many spots with – a really friendly bunch with whom we hope to meet up again very soon.
Team Thai for most in the evening and an early evening of scotch and port at home.
We were ridiculously pleased to be the winners of the collection competition.
Pick of the dances – Eynsham stickie…and many more. Ian did brilliantly as our only musician. Very high standard of dance all weekend, plenty of crowd pleasers and some polished performances topped off with active Fuuling from Tom, a bouncy beast and amiable crowd engagement selling badges.
Pick of the beers – North Cotswold beers.
With thanks to Dorsetbays for most of the photos – very good!
Performers
Andy Pobjoy, Tom Brady, David Wright (day boy), Paul Lethbridge, Baz Crossman, Gunther Clasen, Tim Lloyd, Ian Sutherland, Ian Young, Ross Healey, The Brute
YATELEY MORRIS MEN 