FASH Chat
Well, here we are again in the long count down to Christmas and the New Year.
This tends to be a quiet time for FASH organised events, but we do have some exciting things to look forward to from January to March next year, starting with a Regency and Victorian Workshop with Ellis Rogers (not too much fancy footwork!) on 11th January, Scottish Dancing with Wendy Mumford on 8th February, a West Gallery Song Workshop with Mike Bailey and Madding Crowd on 22nd February, Modern Playford with Carol Hewson on 8th March and New England Contras with Barrie Bullimore on 29th March, with Pete & Sue Hall playing for the last two. If you haven't tried a FASH workshop at Soberton before why not make a New Years Resolution that 2009 will be the year you try it? We look forward to seeing you.
We are currently finalising our programme for 2009/2010 and would really like to hear from you on the subject of our annual dance. We have just held this year's dance at Bedhampton and it was a delightful evening with John Turner and Masquerade and a mix of dances from Playford to Contras, but it wasn't as well attended as we would have liked – why not? Do you know? Do you want an annual dance? Do you want something different? Was the venue wrong? Pease let us know – it's you we're seeking to please and we need to know what you think.
In previous FASH Chats for Solent Waves which have coincided with festivals such as Christmas and Easter, I have looked at some of the traditional or 'folky' events that occur and I really wouldn't want to disappoint anyone,
An odd Christmas time custom that I came across is the Hunting of the Wren. This took place on St Stephens's day, 26th December and did actually involve the hunting and killing of a wren. The bird was processed from door to door and offerings collected, often in exchange for some of the bird's feathers, which would be worn for good luck in the coming year, and then the wren was either buried or eaten. There are all sorts of myths about this, including the size of the wren which in some stories is enormous. Apparently a version of the Hunting of the Wren is still performed in Ireland and the Isle of Man, though it was very popular in parts of England and Wales too.
Being British we also have some silly customs, such as the Peter Pan Cup race – a swimming race in the Serpentine in Hyde Park at 9am on Christmas Day! There are, why I don't know, a host of other places that you can swim in the icy sea or pool over the Festive Season, but you won't be seeing me there!
I've mentioned Mummers in earlier years, and ones to look out for locally are the Otterbourne Mummers and King Johns Morris Men Mummers – the Otterbourne Mummers generally only perform once a year at Otterbourne on the last Sunday before Christmas and King Johns programme is included in this Solent Waves.
Winchester Morris Men usually dance in various spots in Winchester on Boxing Day, Wickham Morris will be at the White Lion, Soberton at noon on New Year's Day and other sides undoubtedly have performances booked that I haven't been able to get details of!
Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year
Wassail Lin Rayner
SIDNEY WILKINSON
Sidney was born in Newcastle but moved around a lot with his job. Before the Second World War he worked for Rey Rolle Heburn & Company, Durham; they made switch gear which Sidney said was the 'Rolls Royce' of switch gear.
Sidney had many hobbies; skiing, rowing, cycling, walking, photography, handbell ringing, chess and even ice skating on the same rink as Torville and Dean. Sidney's own skis are now part of a special exhibition in the Hampshire County Council museum in Winchester.
He worked hard for many voluntary organisations. He kept records and planned the route for the Vectis walk. As a keen cyclist Sidney belonged to the Cycling Tourist Club and travelled many miles on his bicycle. He played chess well and was a member of the Cosham chess club.
You may know him best as a dancer, and for teaching the Sword Dance (with swords he had made) he was very proud of those!
I have known Sidney for over 20 years, he spent many Christmas' with our family, even cycling to East Meon in the earlier years. What a lot he fitted into his long life!
Sidney was cremated at Portchester on 29th October and his ashes have been scattered in the Memorial Garden. A big thank you to the many friends and colleagues who attended to pay their respects.
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or Tel 01962 873603
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