Sidmouth though was by no means the end of the season. Just a couple of weekends later a small but perfectly formed BB team (well done to all who made the journey, especially Roy and Alun) was off to the moors of Lancashire for the Saddleworth Rushcart Festival. This particular rushcart is a two wheeled wooden cart laden with rushes stacked 15ft high and weighing around 2 tonnes (no steering wheel, no brakes) and pulled by Morris men (never women!) from all over the country, and preceded by a large band, over the course of the weekend festival. The origins of this lie in a traditional ceremony performed in many villages around the area, culminating in using the cut rushes to line the floors of churches during the cold winters. This particular ceremony was revived in 1975 by the Saddleworth Morris Men who during August collect rushes, build up the rushcart, and dress it on top with heather, rowan branches and a unique banner that hangs proudly on the front (this year celebrating Florence Nightingale). The cart is ridden by a ‘jockey’ from the ranks of Saddleworth Morris Men (the most experienced dancer who has not previously had the honour), who rides on top of it for the duration of the weekend, with only his copper kettle of beer, frequently replenished, for company. On Saturday 21st August, starting from Uppermill, the cart was pulled around some of the beautiful villages of Saddleworth, stopping along the way for refreshments, and for dance and music performances for the large crowds that gather and follow. The BB dancers wisely spotted that it would be easier to take hold of the ‘stangs’ (lines of wooden poles attached by ropes to the cart) behind the cart rather than in front where it would actually be necessary to pull (especially after finding out the cart had a rather dodgy wheel which barely made it through the weekend). Meanwhile Bob and Sue had gamely joined the band at the front of the procession, which apart from them was almost (but not quite) exclusively male – however it must be said they were made to feel properly welcome. After a sociable evening at The Waggon in Uppermill on the Saturday evening, everyone reassembled on the Sunday for the very long drag up the hill from Uppermill to St Chads Church, for further dancing and entertainment including wrestling and competitions open to all such as worst singer and gurning. We had nominated Simon for the wrestling until finding that the same extremely beefy Saddleworth dancer had won the competition for the last 10 years by the simple expedient of picking up his opposition, regardless of size, and lying on them for the requisite 2 pinfalls. Sadly we had to leave before the gurning got properly under way as we had some obvious candidates for that too, but meanwhile had enjoyed some good dancing in the area outside the church where a large crowd watched displays from all the guest sides. Another really enjoyable experience for us, and great credit to Saddleworth Morris for making the weekend happen with such a great mix of ceremony and tradition, but also great fun – and without exception they made us all most welcome throughout.
