A first ale and dance out of the season – Wolvercote village hall – Ox city and Uni Morris with Wolvercote/Charlbury combined.  Interesting look on Squire’s face as the first 4 dances were all one we had thought to do!!  We were probably the biggest side there and certainly the best!!  Oliver and his friend Jonathan played a splendid interval set and our hosts put on a fine spread despite having no cooker! 

It wasn’t quite on Twelfth Night, but the closest Saturday at least. And once more we’re back at Hogacre Common Eco Park to assist in Wassailing their nascent orchard.

Wassailing happens mostly in the dark, so my phone camera struggled bit.

About to dance Constant Billy in the gloaming at the Hogacre Wassail.

After some public dancing and a mass participation Shepherd’s Hey, it’s off to the tree. The Hogacre orchard isn’t many years old, so the trees are still rather stick-like.

The Wassail Tree (to the left of the lamp – they’re still young.

Luckily there was a reporter from the Oxford Mail, and he not only got a much better picture of us but also wrote a rather better description of the afternoon’s events.

A perfect day to end the dancing year – glorious sunshine and great company

Should hats be compulsory?

Oliver realises he should have bought a big expensive gift for his dad yesterday!!

Back on November 14th, we paid a return visit to our charity for 2016, KEEN Oxford.

We went with two aims. The first was to provide a major part of the evening’s activity for the young people of KEEN, by getting them dancing. After warming them up with a performance on Banbury Bill, we took them through a Shepherd’s Hey and then had a go at teaching them Constant Billy.

Cry Havoc and KEEN try a stickless Constant Billy together.

We were successful enough at that to have a go at a massed Constant Billy, a joint KEEN and Cry Havoc production.

The second purpose of our visit was another cheerful occasion. We presented them KEEN with the results of our 2016 fundraising, £750. And a very worthwhile destination it is too.

Cry Havoc and KEEN

It was a pity that KEEN volunteer and Havoc dancer and musician Nerys couldn’t be there, but she’s away at university in Germany.

Sidesteps – always a crowd pleaser!     

Drawing a big crowd to dance Shepherd’s Hey!

This year the Havocs finally debuted at the Swanage Folk Festival! The day started with a practice at our Swanage Squire’s waterfront residence. As it started to rain, we headed to our first dancing spot where we were greeted with a slight downpour. This didn’t stop the Havocs however, as we entered into a sing-a-long in the public toilets! As the rain faded away, we stepped out for our first dance.

After a much needed break and a waltz around the excellent stalls of the festival, we hit the Heritage Centre for our second dance slot. After wowing the crowds with Sidesteps, Banbury Bill and Highland Mary, we joined the lovely Wight Belles for a mass dance.

^ Audrey makes a new friend…

^ Let those hankies fly!

^ “- Where’s my hanky gone…?”

Back at the waterfront, we danced a final flourish of numbers from our core repertoire – including Bluebells of Scotland and Constant Billy. All in all, a great day out was had by all – top music, top dancing, top squiring and top weather! Many thanks to our acting Squire Steve, and to our brilliant accordionist Audrey without whom we would have been sunk! Credit also goes to our official photographer for the day, Susie!

^ Steve and Audrey getting their groove on!

^ The official Cry Havoc fan club!

^ A somewhat unorthodox dance move from Ms Fisher…

The squire travelled from Cardiff on a motor bike – dedication!

And we danced the processional to a rather fast Floral Dance – played by Blewbury Brass Band! Not captured on film – but in our hearts!  Nerys struts her stuff for the last time before going off to Germany to drink lots of beer!  We will miss her as will 19 other Morris sides!! or is it two??

A nearly last dance out of the year – a dryish start – at the Dolphin – maybe we should all take a leaf from Steve’s book and look as if we are having fun!!

Managed the Main stage and market square before rain stopped play!