Author Archives: Jim Hague

Vale Ale 2014

Local 17th Century dance side The Vale Islanders held their annual Ale on March 1st. Despite a perfect storm of clashing diary entries, we got together enough Havocs to appear, and a fine time ensued.

We danced our old standbys Banbury Bill and Constant Billy, and then four intrepid Havocs joined Owslwick Morris for a Vandals of Hammerwich. As can happen when you mix two sides, it turned out that both knew basically the same dance, but had some rather different ideas in the final figure, at which point much confusion ensued. Much to the credit of all concerned, everyone had somehow recovered to the correct position by the end of the figure. I’m really not quite sure how.

And then the food. This is a highlight of the Vale Ale, being authentic 17th Century food prepared by the Islanders themselves. Our annual chance to gorge on pease pudding and other delicacies. All washed down with West Berks Good Old Boy.

Unfortunately we managed forget to bring a decent camera, so the pictures are from Jim’s phone. Which does not do a good job in low light.

Dancing Banbury Bill at the Vale Islanders Ale 2014

and Constant Billy

Dancing Constant Billy at the Vale Islanders Ale 2014 with ATMD looking on

Random pictures from Cry Havoc’s 20th anniversary year

: Dancing for St George at the Eight Bells

: Recording our latest CD

: Recording our latest CD

: Vale Islanders Ale

: Vale Islanders Ale

: Dancing on the steps of the Ashmolean

: At Chippenham Folk Festival

: At Chippenham Folk Festival

: A summer dance out

Some more pictures from the West Berks trip and the Ducklington Ale

: Vale Islanders dance at the Ducklington Ale

: Royal Oak Wantage dance at the Ducklington Ale

: Ridgeway Clog dance at the Ducklington Ale

: Owlswick Morris dance at the Ducklington Ale

: Dinner at the Ducklington Ale

Upton Fete

Cry Havoc performed two half hour dance spots at the Upton Fete on Saturday.

Upton Fete is a rather jolly little village fete. All the usual suspects were happening; plant stall, raffle, tombola, book stall, local preserves stall, and a dog show. There were also some classic and not so classic vehicles – including an autogyro – on display and some birds of prey.

Dancing (mercifully) on hard standing by the village hall, we had a captive audience of customers of the tea and cakes sellers inside the hall. Nevertheless we managed to attract a few willing victims for Shepherd’s Hey!

Constant Billy at Upton Fete