Fairy stories, Dancing and Yorks

Monday was another sunny day, so put shorts on for the 4th day running, a bit of a record. Went to a talk entitled There was in England a Princess by Martin Graebe which was about Sabine Baring-Gould's work for children. Late start as no-one could get the projector and laptop to see each other. They needed a good AV technician! Once it got started it was very interesting. He had a father who believed that imagination was bad for children, but then went on to published some of the classic works of fairy tales. His first book in 1894 had stories such as Tom Thumb, Sleeping Beauty and the Three Bears (which were at that point all male) and was the first time they had been widely published to British children. Then he brought out the first collection of English fairy tales, some gathered from medieval manuscripts, and some from ballads. And then he published a book of English Folk songs for schools, which apparently caused some controversy with those who thought Folk songs weren't suitable for children to sing. baring Gould was obviously a character - he had 15 children, and did extensive research into childrens stories, nursery rhymes and songs. But at a children's party at his house one day  he met a child on the stairs and asked "who's little girl are you?" and she answered, "your's Daddy..."

The sun was still shining so we caught lots more dancing at the Scoresby Monument. Boojum, a womens rapper side:

 Handsworth, again

 Manchester Morris Men

 

and Seven Champs again:

This time I managed to get a video of 7 Champs and their distinctive form of molly dancing



John Kirkpatrick was next presenting his Farmers Year show, where he sang some of the songs he'd done on the Victorian Farm BBC show.

Suitably dressed in farming attire, including string round his legs which we had an interesting debate with the audience about what they were called, (Yorks being the most popular suggestion).

Dance Adversity Challenge was next, loosely based on University Challenge and MCd by Stanley Accrington. Earlsden Morris took on Sallyport Sword. Slightly silly, but very entertaining. The picture rounds also consist of pictures of bits of morris teams and you have to guess who they are.

Back to the cottage then for a wonderful mutton curry which had spent all day in the slow cooker.

Back out again to the Rifle Club where we managed to get into a very full concert and saw Sam Sweeney and Hannah James.




Hannah being one of the best clog dances I've seen, her performance of the Sam Sherry jig bore no resemblance to steps I can just about muddle through at half speed. The concert finished with The Wilsons. No microphones needed, and over 10 pints of beer lined up on the stage (2 each, and the one they were drinking when called up to sing).




As usual they were fantastic, and the banter between them as good as ever.




We made it to the spa for the end of the Late Night Extra and ended up dancing for the next hour almost non stop to Peeping Tom and Will Hall, a great caller.

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