BB - News + Events

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Remember you can read about our earlier year's activities in our previous year's diaries here: 2023 2022 2020-1 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001

2024 News:

Another rewarding year in the offing, including a welcome return to the USA in May for the Marlboro Ale, plus some great festival appearances, days of dance, and evenings out with some great teams. We're also hopeful of having some new dancers, while the older ones - well, have even more experience now.

Meanwhile though, a small (in numbers) but select team had its first event on Saturday 28th February, attending the annual Kennet Morris Ale, always a good evening. As well as a couple of BB dances, team members had the chance to join in some massed dances, and Roy in particular belied his years (and his knees) with his star jumps...





The first outdoor event came on Thursday April 23rd, St. George's Day, as guests of Hook Eagle for their annual St. George's Day evening around Odiham was several local guest teams. However the weather was more wintry than springy, and after a small number of dances at The Bell and the Red Lion, we retreated to firesides and barsides. However, it was good to see the other teams there, some of whom we'll hope to see again in better weather later in the season.




Next, the Mayday weekend, with 2 different events over it. Firstly on Sat 4th May we were at the Pilgrim Summerpole for the first time in a number of years. This is a traditional event hosted by Pilgrim Morris, and this year we were invited alongside Customs and Exiles and Fleur de Lys. The event started with a procession uphill along the High Street to the Holy Trinity Church for dancing there, before processing further to Castle Green for the erection of the Summerpole. After lunch, there was more dancing at the castle keep before eventually the pole was taken down. A very pleasant day, hopefully heralding the true arrival of, if not summer, at least spring.
This was followed just a couple of days later by another appearance at the Wokingham May Fayre, a huge annual fair which takes over one of the town's main shopping streets and much of the Elms Field area. This always draws huge crowds despite this year's rain and drizzle for much of the day, driving us later on into the covered pedestrianised area known as Erftadt Court. A particular attraction there outside the Energie Fitness gym was a ski fitness machine, which several of the team felt obliged to prove their macho-ness on (only to regret it later).

Later on that week, on Thursday 9th May, another pleasant evening for Jameson's birthday tour of Wokingham, starting at the Hope and Anchor on Station Road for a change, followed by the Queens Head, along with guests Yateley Morris.

Next on Saturday 18th May, Winchester Mayfest, an event at which we've been fairly regular attendees. This started with a spot in the High Street with Old Speckled Hen, followed by another visit to the Great Hall, always a great setting. Further spots at the Cathedral and at one of the Cathedral entry paths followed, at the last of which we were briefly joined by former melodeon-iste Sue who happened to be passing nearby.




Then came the weekend of 25th and 26th May when a small but perfectly formed team of BBs headed over to the US along with a team from Windsor Morris for the Marlboro Ale weekend. This was the second time BB had been - our first visit in 2013, while successful, was notable for its poor weather but this time the weather was much improved. The reduced numbers meant that some joint dances with Windsor had been planned in advance, and these went down very well. In addition, in the absence of all the regular BB musicians, Charles's wife Anna, a highly capable fiddle player, stepped into the breach and did a great job for the team over the weekend. Overall the event was a highly enjoyable experience for all those who went.

After this in June and July there followed a series of excellent evening dance outs - on our own in Binfield, at the Plough, Little London with Basingclog, the George on the Green at Holyport with Taeppas Tump, the Bell at Aldworth with Old Speckled Hen, and the Waggon and Horses at Hartley Wintney with Alton and Fleet. Interspersed with these on 6th July was a day in Abingdon as guests of Mr. Hemmings for their day of dance along with a number of other good teams. The day was notable for quite a lot of rain (never on us of course) resulting in a few compromises of location, but an enjoyable day nevertheless.

Then on 27th and 28th July came one of the season's highlights, another appearance at the Warwick Folk Festival, our first since 2018. With 13 BB dancers and a full range of musicians on each day, and great weather throughout, this was a highly enjoyable event. Thanks to some careful planning by Jameson we got through some 30 dances over the weekend in a range of locations including Warwick Castle without any repetitions, and were often able to put up 2 sets which always looks a bit more spectacular. Our Saturday workshop, teaching Binfield Jump no less, was also reasonably well attended.



Just one week later many of the team were at Sidmouth for the annual Folk Festival, though it wasn't possible to get enough together on the Sunday morning to dance on the Esplanade as usual. However there were enough around on the Tuesday evening (6th August) to join forces with Windsor for a brief tour of the town, taking in the Watersports Centre, the Esplanade, the Museum, and most bizarrely of all the Conservative Club, where we performed on their excellent sprung dance floor during a break in their line dancing evening.



Next on 31st August was the Wallingford Bunkfest, now in its 22nd year, with us having attended all but the very first one. Always a good day, and culminating as usual these days with a riverside afternoon tea.

After this, there were no more events until the Bunfight in November, but before that this year's taster course brought the welcome sight of some very promising new recruits. Three of them were able to come to the Bunfight on 23rd November and during the first interval took part in a 12 person Jolly Jockey Sticks. They did extremely well, and the dance improved as it went on, especially once Tom removed the paper bag from his head.  Overall it was another great evening, the Diatonics were on great form, and our spot of 'Me Ol' Bamboo' from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, also featuring 3 of our newcomers,  seemed to go down extremely well.
The Bunfight is usually followed the next day by the Wokingham Winter Carnival, but unfortunately it had to be cancelled due to Storm Bert bringing much rain and especially high winds. But it gave us all a chance to get rid of the Ol' Bamboo earworm which had plagued many of us since we'd started practising the spot...

Meanwhile reports from earlier years are also available - 2023 2022 2020-1 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001