Stoke Albany

Posting a few days late. On Monday we danced at the annual Feast in Stoke Albany, and were watched by quite a number of feasters. We then moved down the road a little to dance outside the White Horse, where we were watched by no one but ourselves. The Deputy Squire/Website Editor was too busy dancing to take any pictures, so now you will never know what we looked like...

Market Harborough

Today we danced in The Square in Harborough, to draw attention, as we have in previous years, to the collectors for Macmillan, who were in the town today. Pictures soon!

Billesdon

Here we are at the Queen's Head, Billesdon, with Bakanalia Border Morris (in black and blue) and with New St. George (in red and white). It is always good to dance out with other sides, and see how they do dances that we do, or see what they do to tunes that we know. Some of us joined some of Bakanalia for "Brimfield" - the same dance, but we don't do it the same way. And because all three of us are different, there was plenty to watch that we do not do at all.

Yelvertoft

A splendid evening in Yelvertoft last night, where it remained dry. Except in the bar, where there were two local ales, one from Guilsborough and one from Silverstone. We were joined by some members of the former Yelvertoft and Paragon Pit sides, which was very good.

Photos are of the Upton on Severn Stick Dance, and two of the jig "Smash the Windows", danced by two people one at a time, if you see what I mean.

Not two, but three, opportunities to see us this week!

Tomorrow, the 15th June, we shall be at Yelvertoft, outside the Knightley Arms. And on Wednesday 17th we shall be joining Bakanalia and New St George (two other sides) at the Queen's Head in Billesdon, close to where the B6047 Harborough - Melton road meets the A47. Perhaps we shall see you there, to help us mark midsummer. And on Saturday 20th we will be in Market Harborough, helping the gallant collectors for Macmillan - see us in the Square from around 1030. Later in the week: some photos, hopefully!

Welford

On June 8 we danced at the Wharf at Welford, coinciding (as we usually do) with a visit from a local branch of the Norton owners' club. Unfortunately it was not an evening with very high light levels, so the web editor took no photos... The Wharf seems to be in Leicestershire, if the signs on the roadside are anything to go by, but the village of Welford is in Northamptonshire.

Geddington

On June 1 we danced at Geddington, near Kettering. Here, belatedly, are a couple of photos. Geddington has one of the few remaining Eleanor Crosses (perhaps the most complete one), and is a lovely setting for dancing - thank you if you came to watch us, and thank you to The Star for publicising our visit and putting up with us dancing outside.

What is this site?

Braybrooke Morris Dancers will soon need a new website to replace the existing site. This is the Deputy Squire's attempt at a replacement that we can easily maintain ourselves. We shall see how we get on! Braybrooke Morris Dancers are a mixed Morris side, based in the Northamptonshire village of Braybrooke, close to Market Harborough, Leicestershire. We were formed in 1989 and dance Cotswold and Border dances, with some dances from Lichfield and from the Isle of Man. We meet on Monday nights, practising from late September to April, and then dancing in public from Mayday to early September. New members are always welcome and no experience is needed.

Gate to Southwell

Yesterday we joined other dance sides for the 29th Gate to Southwell, ably organised by Chris Gigg of Dolphin Morris Men. We assembled in the rain in the Old Market Square, Nottingham, and then processed with umbrellas to Sneinton, where we were welcomed and given safe passage through the parish, to buses, which took us to various venues (for which read "pubs") on the way to Southwell, where we had a service in the gorgeous Norman Minster. The Gate to Southwell was revived in 1981 by Dolphin, following on from an ancient Whitsuntide procession to Southwell, in which members of parishes took their annual contributions to the Minster. Apparently it is recorded in a letter to the Minster, in 1109, as an ancient happening, so this year may well be the 900th Gate. The Gate is an excellent chance to meet and see other sides, and to see other sides dance things that we dance, but not quite in the same way. There are also plenty of places where people gather to watch, so it is also an excellent chance to dance in public. Our thanks to Steve and Liz from New St George, who played for us at the Gate.