Bunfights
Excuse me, Miss, what’s a Bunfight ….?
Bunfights, best described as ceilidhs-with-spots, are an important part of Berkshire Bedlam tradition. If you’re interested in how the Bunfights first came about, click here to read Stuart Barry’s account of the first few such events…….
Nowadays the Bunfight is an annual event which is always great fun for everyone attending, young or old – and great to see such a wide range of ages in recent years. It is usually held on a Saturday in late November, traditionally at the California Ratepayers Hall, Finchampstead, (click here for map) with its main feature a ceilidh, always with an excellent band. Each year there is a different overall theme which people are welcome to dress in line with, but this is entirely optional. As well as various other entertainments, BB usually perform a couple of spots during the evening, the second of which is a showpiece non-Morris spot that has nothing to do with the evening’s theme and everything to do with the most bizarre idea they have come up with since the last bizarre idea. The challenge is always to get down to the standard of previous years and amazingly they often succeed.
Lowlights over the years have included Flashdance, Schwarzkopf, YMCA, the famous Cockneys, Berkshire Bumfolosi, The Swans, The Men In Various Things including Black, Black and White, Tights, Coloured Ties, and Bags; The Can-Can, Flamencos, A Chorus Line, Bolshoi Bedlam, Keystone Cops, the All Star Cheerleaders, the Smurfs, Charleston Champions and Star Wars style, Austin Powers, A Hard Day’s Bunfight, the Wellerman, Me Ol’ Bamboo, and literally the lowest of all the spots : the legendary ‘Stumpton’, a spot still talked of in revered tones today, mainly due to the leapfrogs, or more accurately stumpfrogs. Covid led to the cancellation of the 2020 Bunfight and a much restricted evening in 2021, but in recent years the Bunfight is back to its weird and wonderful best, most recently in 2025 with the Diatonics again providing some specially curated music for the Ugly Bug Ball, along with ‘Mr. Marveloso’ Nick Walden as caller. All the usual Bunfight entertainments were in place including Bedlam Bingo and a Kraftwerk inspired show spot including ‘Das Hokey Cokey’, ‘Kopf, Schulter, Knie und Fuss’ and ‘Ich bin eine kliene Teekanne’. You had to be there, really – and why not be in 2026 when we’ll be doing it all over again on Sat 28th Nov 2026!
What will 2026’s Bunfight bring? – don’t miss out! Sat 28th November 2026, with the theme tbc – once more at the California Ratepayers Hall, with tickets on sale from summer 2026 from www.ticketsource.co.uk/berkshire-bedlam.
Meanwhile to whet your appetite here’s a list of past Bunfight themes, spots, and souvenir photos ….
2025: Band – Diatonics, Theme – The Ugly Bug Ball, Main spot – Das Hokey Cokey
Show photos
2024: Band – Diatonics, Theme – Magic, Main spot – Me Ol’ Bamboo
Show photos
2023: Band – Diatonics, Theme – Science Fiction, Main spot – Star Wars Charleston
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2022: Band – Diatonics, Theme – Bunfight – Here We Go Again!, Main spot – The Wellerman
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2021: Bunfight party, no band. Theme – Monty Python’s Flying Bunfight!
Show photos
2020: No Bunfight! (but only a global pandemic could stop it…)
2019: Band – Diatonics, Theme – Bunfight on Broadway!, Main spot – A Chorus Line
Show photos
2018: Band – Diatonics. Theme – On the Piste – an Alpine Adventure! Main spot – Los Flamencos de Berkshire
Show photos
2017: Band – Diatonics. Theme – A Hard Day’s Bunfight! Main spot – Putting on the Ritz
Show photos
2016: Bunfight. Band – Panjandrum. Theme – Living La Vida Bunfight. Main spot – Men in Bags
Show photos
2015: Band – Steamchicken. Theme – Bunfight on the High Seas. Main spot – Austin Powers
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2014: Band – Steamchicken. Theme – Comics. Main spot – Men in Coloured Ties
Show photos
2013: Band – Tickled Pink. Theme – Scotland. Main spot – Black and White Dance
Show photos
2012: Band – Tickled Pink. Theme – Down on the Farm. Main spot – Men in Black – Gangnam Style
Show photos
2011: Band – Tickled Pink. Theme – France. Main spot – Charleston Champions
Show photos
2010: Band – Committee Band. Theme – Space. Main spot – Belgian Blue Boys a.k.a. The Smurfs
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2009: Band – Committee Band. Theme – Circus. Main spot – BB All Stars Cheerleaders
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2008: Band – Random. Theme – Myths and Legends. Main spot – Men in Tights
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2007: Band – Random. Theme – Heroes and Villains. Main spot – Keystone Kops.
Show photos
2006: Band – Phungus. Theme – Carry On At The Bunfight. Main spot – Bolshoi Bedlam.
Show photos
2005: Band – Phungus. Theme – Bunfight at the OK Corral. Main spot – The Can-Can
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2004: Band – Phungus. Theme – Schooldays. Main spot – Men in Black
Show photos
2003: Band – Phungus. Theme – A Day at the Races. Main spot – ‘Flame’ sword dance
Sadly no pictures survive of this epic evening, but rest assured it was good!
2002: Band – Phungus. Theme – The Underground. Main spot – 633 Squadron
Show photos
2001: Band – Phungus. Theme – Mysteries of the East. Main spot – Flashdance
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2000: Band – Phungus. Theme – Australia. Main spot – Jake the Peg
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1999: Theme – Fin de Siecle. Main spot – Berkshire Bumfolosi
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1998: Theme – Latin. Main spot – Los Bastidos Morosos
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1997: Theme – A Day at the Seaside. Main spot – The Swans a.k.a. Duck Pond
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1996: Theme – Hammer House of Horror. Main spot – Gilbert and Sullivan
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1995: Theme – Pantomime. Main spot – Y.M.C.A.
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1994: Theme – Old London Town. Main spot – The Cockney Dance
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1993: Theme – Children’s storybook characters. Main spot – The Boxes
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1992: Theme – Europe. Main spot – Schwarzkopf
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1991: Theme – Rolf Harris. Main spot – Stilts / Paint Pots
Sadly there are no pictures of this evening.
1990: Theme – Battle of Britain. Main spot – Stumpton
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1989: Theme – Revolution. Main spot – Aristocrats v Peasants
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1988: Theme – Bad Taste. Main spot – Blindfold Dance
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1987: Theme – Opposite Gender. Main spot – Albemarle’s Hop
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1986: Main spot – Punch and Judy
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