Monthly Archives: June 2019

A very Morrisy evening in North Leigh

We’ve been busy.

On Saturday we contributed to the entertainment at the Culham Fete, doing 2 half hour displays on a hot afternoon. And somehow the only picture we have of the entire evening is this one.

Junior traction engine at Culham Fete.

And then, out on a Monday evening, unusually, we find ourselves as guests of Masons Apron at the appropriately named Masons Arms in North Leigh. Also present, fellow guests Eynsham Morris.

Masons Apron at the Masons Arms.

We did our usual thing, with a fast moving Shave the Donkey.

Shave the Donkey in motion!

And some more sedate dances.

Hankies aloft.

Eynsham treated us to their usual energetic dancing.

Eynsham have selected their victim…

…and pounce!

The evening turned steadily into the spectacular, and to cap that Masons produced supplies of their famed cake!

Sunset.

After that, we moved inside for a jolly session with all parties. And Emma treated us to some clog.

Inside clogging.

Lovely.

A country evening in Charney Basset

Another of our regular summer destinations, the Chequers at Charney Basset sits opposite a classic village green. Which is difficult to photograph in the evening sun.

The village green at Charney Basset.

We’d hoped to have some guests this evening, but it was not to be.

Country Gardens… tum tum ti tum ti tumty tumpty tum…

Still, some nice weather turned up.

Not quite an all-woman Highland Mary.

Rounds!

Some of the locals were even misguided enough to watch, and our charity bucket saw some action.

Every evening as true as the clock…

Kirtlington Lamb Ale

One of the ancient Whitsun Ales, the Kirtlington Lamb Ale can be traced back to the early 1600’s, and took the form of a village festival and feast. Since Kirtlington Morris was revived in 1979, the Lamb Ale has been an annual event held on the weekend of Trinity Sunday.
The Sunday sees morris happening all over the village, starting with a procession to church and a Lamb Ale service for those so inclined. This year we were lucky enough
to be invited to join the festivities.

We were, to be honest, a bit short handed, and so pictures are of everyone except us.

We joined the procession to the church, and, following the service, the procession through the village to the school.

Kirtlington get underway at the school.

The Kirtlington Maids do their dance.

After a dance from all the attending sides, we split up and moved to different locations around the village. We started at the Dashwood Arms.

Adderbury outside the Dashwood.

We then moved on to the Oxford Arms, where our hosts joined us.

Outside the Oxford Arms.

Kirtlington concentrate on their sticking.

As anyone who has been following the cricket World Cup will know, the weather has been a bit, well, soggy of late. Our next stop was to be outside the Village Hall,
but a downpour moved us into the hall. After that, it was back to the school for one last dance each.

Kirtlington lift off!

The Lamb Ale is quite a do. For the last dance at the school, we were the 19th side to dance! A good day; we’ll be hoping to be invite back.