Category Archives: Dance Outs

Public appearances.

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…

Evening in Marston

To round off May, we paid our annual visit to Marston. First stop, Marston Court Care Home, and our musicians Steve and Audrey had bought along a little help.

Young Edward joins Steve and Audrey.

We have to be on form for this danceout; our audience again includes a lady who probably qualifies as Morris royalty, as William Kimber was her granddad.
See this report from our previous visit if that’s not a name you recognise.

William Kimber’s grand-daughter.

So, sticks out for Bluebells.

Bluebells of Scotland.

We finished with our participation dance.

Shepherd’s Hey

Once again, we were rewarded with scones, jam and cream!

After that, up the road to Old Marston and the terrace of the Victoria Arms. It wasn’t quite a perfect summer evening, so only a few hardy souls were outside.

On the terrace at the Victoria Arms.

There’s not a huge amount of free space on the terrace, so we squeezed into a corner.

A bit tight for space on the terrace.

A view of the terrace.

Once done dancing, we retreated inside for some tunes and socialising.

Aaand, relax…

Chippenham Folk Festival

It’s the last Saturday in May, and that means once more we’re off to the Chippenham Folk Festival for the day, dancing at various locations around the town with assorted other sides.

Let’s get started.

Getting underway in Borough Parade.

A different view of Borough Parade.

Cardiff City Morris might be Welsh, perhaps?

Then off to what was a new venue this year – a car park on the edge of Monkton Park. The timetable said we would be dancing with Oxford’s very own Summertown Morris.

A new venue this year. Ed sports an especially low-slung bumbag.

Hang on. They look kind of like Summertown, but different. In fact they’re Willington Morris, a sister side to Summertown from Derbyshire.

This is not Summertown.

After that, it was time for the parade. Our annual chance to dance down Chippenham High Street while not being able to hear a note our musicians play. This year our Buzzard made an appearance for the parade.

The Buzzard is out and about.

It was rather warm waiting for the parade to begin. The Buzzard was unmasked…

One Hot Buzzard.

Elsewhere, your correspondent particularly enjoyed watching the colourful Gog Magog Molly.

Gog Magog Molly are colourful.

Off to the Seven Stars at Marsh Baldon, with Old Speckled Hen

It’s Thursday, so we’re out and about again. This week, we were at the lovely Seven Stars at Marsh Baldon, a delightful community owned pub, with guests our old chums Old Speckled Hen.

Old Speckled Hen lead off.

Once more us Havocs had Jenny from Bellswagger joining us. It turns out Jenny likes to dance Step n’ Fetch Her. Will we get off the ground?

Getting off the ground.

OSH generate some volume.

The OSM musicians in action.

The evening merged into a spectacular sunset.

Old Speckled Hen dance as the sun sets.

And afterwards a little music inside.

The Fox in Denchworth, guests of Icknield

Off to the lovely old Fox at Denchworth, where once more we are guests of the men of Icknield Way.

Once more, it’s not the warmest of evenings.

Havoc musicians (and Jenny) looking like they could be warmer.

Luckily this week the patio is a bit bigger than last week, so there’s no problem with room.

Havoc hankies are a-flying.

Icknield get things waving.

Our hosts were in fine form.

Icknield getting into Banks of the Dee.

Icknield show us how to dress.

And once again, once dancing was brought to a halt by the appearance of substantial platters for sandwiches and chips (Thank You, the Fox!), it was inside for songs and tunes. All in all, a great way to spend a May evening.

With Towersey at the Plough, Long Wittenham

Out annual meetup with our old friends from Towersey Morris. The corresponding fixture last years was held on a lovely summer’s evening, where we dance happily on the lawn. THis year, however, was a bit on the overcast and soggy side, so we decided that the patio might be a better bet.

Towersey got underway in fine style.

Towersey demonstrate their synchronised hankie prowess.

In return we tried an eight-handed dance and, well, it was a bit of a tight fit.

Havoc finding it bit of a squash.

Sticks featured too.

Towersey get the long sticks out.

Havoc show that we can do things with long sticks too.

Luckily the rain held off; no interrupted dancing. Afterwards we headed indoors for some tunes and songs.

The swing frames a deflated bouncy castle and Emma’s Austin Allegro.

May Morning

Oxford takes its May Morning tradition seriously. And Havoc is no exception. For the last few years, the Friends of the Botanic Garden have kindly invited us to their early May Morning gathering. A lovely location, even if it means we start dancing at 05:15.

Starting Constant Billy

At that time in the morning, some brisk exercise is necessary to keep out the cold.

Warming up

It’s all very well if you’re dancing. Our poor musicians have to wrap up warm.

Musicians feeling the temperature

Now let’s get the long handles out.

And some precision long stick work

When it’s fully light, we can appreciate the Botanic Gardens. Just over the road from Magdalen Tower, it’s a prime position to watch the choir sing at 6am.

It’s light!

After listening to the Magdalen choir, we wandered down to the Said Business School and provided a little diversion for the early commuters. From there, it was on to our home pub, the Seacourt Bridge, to round off the morning.

At the Seacourt Bridge

And thanks to Tracy and the team – breakfast at last.

Breakfast!

Season opener for St George’s Day

In recent years, the first Havoc dance out of the summer season has been at Oxford Folk Weekend. The organisers of that were having a break this year, so our first appearance of the summer was a low-key celebration of St George’s Day at the Eight Bells at Eaton.