FASH Chat
WARWICK FOLK FESTIVAL
What do we like about Warwick Folk Festival? Just about everything really, especially the fact that dogs are not permitted on the site. Not everyone is a dog lover and we prefer cats.
It is usually the last weekend of July, and a fantastic way to start the school holiday period. We have only gone as visitors and not as performers, although we have been to other festivals dancing with Wickham Morris. Warwick is a beautiful and inspiring venue with the castle, racecourse, impressive church and interesting shops available for exploration if you have family with you who do not want to be constantly folking it. Festival goers camp on the Secondary School sports ground, with caravans in one area and tents another. The ground is flat and very well maintained (being the sports field is why dogs are not allowed) and school showers are within easy reach. A swimming pool is also available. The town centre is a short walk or free shuttle bus ride from the main venue, so if you prefer hotels or B&B, then this works too.
When the ground is waterlogged, alternative arrangements have to be organised, and hard standings at this and other schools have been commandeered in the past to take caravans.
If you want to, you can spend the whole weekend never leaving the school grounds. If you are not able to walk very far but want to get to other venues, there is a regular free bus service which will take you round the town. You are definitely in a win / win situation here. Within the grounds there is a large area devoted to stalls, excellent food outlets, and children's activities. In the middle of these is a performing area where dance sides show off their skills throughout the day. It is not a raised stage, and people sit and stand around as they wish. The main concerts are held within a large marquee on the sports field, which is great when the weather is good, but not so enjoyable when it's raining and windy. Another small downside is that groups sometimes gather with their drinks and chatter at the rear and this can be distracting. Other concerts happen within the school buildings, and venues around the town, so there is plenty of choice. One wonderful concert hall on site is reminiscent of the Turner Sims in Southampton, though somewhat smaller.
There are workshops within the school hall, as well as in the town, and ceilidhs in the hall each evening. We have twice attended Shape Note workshops, and then demonstrated our skills at a church service on the Sunday. Shape Notes are a music notation designed for congregational singing and have been used for over two centuries. There is often some folk dancing at the Festival Service too, and our current Dean of Portsmouth Cathedral was himself Vicar of this magnificent church before he came here, and was squire of a Warwick Morris side. While at Warwick we have enjoyed being able to have a rest from performing, and being able to focus on learning new skills, such as Rapper dancing, and attending music workshops without one eye on our dance schedules.
Dancing happens around the town and there is a fine procession on the final day, finishing in a beautiful park which has a refreshing paddling pool. The organisation is good, the performers are varied and top quality, the workshops cater for all levels and it's difficult to find a reason as to why you should not give it a try. Bernard Brombley
Pat Shaw 1917-1977
Monica Wilson writes to tell us of a new book, just launched about Pat Shaw. It is written by Brenda Godrich and should be an interesting read about this authority on and composer of English Country Dances. Monica says that she worked with Marjory Fennessy, who is handling the orders, 50 years ago and introduced her to Cecil Sharp House and country dancing in the days of Pat Shaw. For more information call 020 7607 8975.
Wickham Morris - May Day
Wickham Morris will once again be celebrating the arrival of May Day on Saturday 1st May 2010 by Greeting the Dawn at 5.15am. Then, starting at 6.30pm, the Square will be bustling with as many Morris sides as we can muster. Although May Day falls on the Bank Holiday weekend this year, we still hope to kick off as usual with children from Wickham, Swanmore, Botley and Scantabout Primary Schools doing their Maypole, Morris and Country Dance Displays.
From about 7pm there will be Morris dancing in various styles of Cotswold, Border and North West as well as Clogging. Please come and join us. It is all free, but we would welcome donations to our designated charities this year which are Alzheimer's and Dementia, and Pulmonary Hypertension Association
Folk Festivals
With thanks to Bernard Brombley, who wrote our front page article on Warwick this month, we now have articles on 4 festivals – Upton, Chippenham and Towersey being the others. See them on these links:
Festivals vary enormously. Some are mostly Morris dancing, others cover dance workshops, displays, dances and concerts and yet others consist of a single stage in a huge tent for concerts. Some have camping on site, others are in town near hotels. If you have a favourite, please write and tell us about it to help us know which one might fit our preferences so we should try going to them.
Northumbrian smallpipes, fiddle & voice
An evening of traditional music from Northumberland and beyond. The Cross Barn, Odiham. Saturday 15th May 8pm. Tickets £10 For ticket information call 01256 861001 or email chateaudoex2007@btinternet.com.
Southampton's Titanic story in song. 8pm April 10th in St Michael's Church, Bugle Street. With Jeff Henry, Brian Hooper, Barry Wake, Ali Campion, Mary Lee, Vicky Couling & Pete Harris. Call 02380 510309.
Postal Surcharges
Unfortunately we have had some more cases where Solent Waves readers have been surcharged on the postage. I offer deep apologies for the inconvenience and costs involved.
We actually take the envelopes to the Post Office and ask them to weigh and stamp them. We try and keep the costs of Solent Waves to a minimum, because a newsletter like this can not survive otherwise, but we deliberately don't try and skimp on the postage.
In the last instance, I have complained to Royal Mail, who said it was the fault of the Post office. Then I wrote to the Post Office and they were similarly unhelpful.
So, if you get surcharged, please tell me. If you can get the envelope to me, I will follow up and complain again. Chris Turner in Set and Turn Single says that they have had the same problem. So while it might be our mistake, it seems more likely that something has gone wrong in the post, so let me know and I will fight the battles.
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Submitted by (to whom technical queries and requests for additional links only) and Edited by Dennis Wheeler, Penshurst, Vicarage Lane, Swanmore, Hants SO32 2PW 01489 892911 editor@fash.org.uk).