Halsway Manor

Guildford Folk Week 19-26 August 2006


Music:   "Miss Bayne's Reel"  5 by 16 bars
For the dance "RAM Meadow"  by Ron Coxall

A week of fun and dancing to Barbara and Bill Kinsman with musicians 3D (the Dewhurst family) was helped along by mainly fine weather. Having arrived for dinner on Saturday there was the usual Saturday night dance.  The week was notable for Christ Dewhurst’s birthday on Sunday and Marion Cunningham’s on Tuesday, both celebrated with excellent birthday cakes made by Ron Charles.

Ron had arranged walks for each day; Sunday’s walk was notable for Rob McKenzie taking an unscheduled nosedive coming down a rocky slope which needed him to visit A & E Taunton Hospital for a check up with X rays the following day.  Thankfully there were no broken bones but his dancing was restricted for most of the week.  To add to the drama Sheila Spiers became unwell on Tuesday and was taken by ambulance to the hospital with Kath and Ian accompanying her.  She spent the rest of the week undergoing tests in Taunton Hospital and was taken home by her daughter at the end of the week.

Some intrepid madcap ladies swam in the sea after returning from walks.  No names, no packdrill!!!  Wednesday’s walk started and finished with a trip to Minehead on the West Somerset Railway.

The dance workshops were held each morning (except Wednesday - free day) by Barbara and/or Bill covering reels, modern Playford, old Playford, squares and contras and finally Pat Shaw dances.

Tuesday lunch was at the Carew Arms, Crowcombe, where there was a “sudden death” skittles competition, eventually won by Len Williams, with a meritorious award to Mollie Bradford for giving Len a close run.  This was followed by boules on the lawns at the Manor. This was the only day where “rain stopped play”, so after only four rounds Coral Charles and Fred Putland were declared the winners.

The theme for Thursday night’s dance was “Upstairs/Downstairs” with many dressing up as the gentry or servants.

Friday night ceilidh brought forth the usual hidden talent with ‘turns’ from all and sundry.

by: Peter & Lyng Hopwood.
(many thanks)

Guildford Folk Week August 2004

Guildford Folk Week August 2003

Return: Halsway Manor