Then after another excellent evening with Customs and Exiles at the Stag and Hounds (14 BB dancers at one point! 14!!) it was time for a season highlight – another week long appearance at the Sidmouth Folk Week after a 3 year absence. We were pleased to be able to take a strong team, even though Jameson was only able to be with us part time due to having previously committed to be there with 7 Champs. And once again it turned out to be a great week, even though we had a fuller programme than in previous years due to the addition of scheduled spots every day for the booked teams on the seafront at the Bedford Steps and York Steps. There were many highlights during a week of high profile performances, but a particular highlight came on the first day there, Saturday 30th July, with an LNE spot at midnight. Before this though we had a number of other commitments during the day including an appearance at the Hub, a procession along the seafront, 2 dances in the first of the Blackmore Marquee dance shows, and another spot on our own on the seafront. The LNE spot started with the Jameson walk on for Wheel of Fortune, which got a great audience reaction in itself, followed by our Sword Dance, Coconuts, and Going Away, all of which were very well received.
The next day featured only a couple of dance spots on the seafront, as the main feature for Cotswold teams on Sidmouth Sunday is always the John Gasson jig competition. This proved a great success for BB members with no less than 5 receiving awards, albeit not in BB kit – Alun and Mark with Tom playing won the double jig competion, Jameson won best over 40 and 3rd place overall in the solo jig (accompanied by Saul Rose), while Jerry was musician for Charlotte and Maria of Windsor who came 3rd in the double jig. A big honourable mention also for Will accompanied by Sue in the solo jig who were in BB kit – not placed but it must have been a very marginal decision as it was a fantastic performance from both.
On the Monday, rain from late morning onwards caused most of the outdoor dancing to be cancelled, though not before we had some impromptu performances under the overhang at the front of the Ham Marquee. Later on despite the rain we carried on with a scheduled 30 minute performance in the outdoor covered stage area in Blackmore Gardens as part of the Childrens Festival, during which Jerry gamely led a participatory Shepherds Hey. The weather cleared for Tuesday, which was our day off, then on Wednesday we had the first of our 2 early morning workshops. Mark ably led this, teaching Schrodingers Hat and Dance of Chance, before further spots in the afternoon around town, in the Connaught Gardens show, and later on in the Market Square.
Thursday was our busiest day, starting with another morning workshop, this time led by David, and teaching our stick dances Base over Apex and then Jolly Jockey. Then after a lunchtime performnce on the York steps came another procession along the seafront, a spot in the Blackmore Marquee afternoon show, another York steps spot, and finally our second Market Square appearance. And then all too soon it was the final Friday, which first featured more spots around town and on the seafront. During our final seafront spot at the Bedford steps, Will and Sue reprised their solo jig from Sunday’s competition, and while Will was going for a particularly high kick there was an ominous ripping noise. Still, it was a hot day, and no doubt the extra ventilation helped the cooling process. Later came a splendid final Connaught Gardens show for all the booked teams, culminating in a ‘blind-leads-the-blind’ procession all around Connaught Gardens. The day (and festival) finished with the torchlight procession along the seafront and onto the beach, followed by the extinguishing of torches in the sea (tricky as it was shortly after high tide) and a terrific firework display. Overall another wonderful week, throughout which the whole team acquitted itself very well despite the more taxing schedule this time.
