12 July: Westminster Choir School Fete

It was a blisteringly hot Saturday, and the thousands of tourists milling around Westminster were mostly quite unaware of a school fair taking place a few yards away.

Dean's Yard, next to Westminster Abbey,  is the headquarters of the Church of England, and also holds Westminster School and Westminster Abbey Choir School., whose summer fete this was.

We enjoyed strawberries, and beer from the Ringers Arms - a regular beer tent run by the Westminster Abbey Company of Ringers. No pix of us dancing as we didn't have any spare hands....

This really was your typical school fete, with Tombolas, barbecue and bric-a-brac, and a bouncy-castle-like thing. It felt strange to have that, right in the heart of town.

We alternated shows with the excellent Haringey Young Musicians' Big Band - one of whom tried extending his range of instruments... 

10 July: Chelsea

As in previous years, we danced at the Anglesea Arms and the Scarsdale Tavern.

5 July: Fete, Charterhouse Square

We graced a Medieval (or possibly Elizabethan) fair in Charterhouse Square, Smithfield. 

 Jeremy's sprightly Lumps of Plum Pudding

We met a couple of the Brothers - the gentlemen pensioners who live in Charterhouse. 

We also met Pearly Kings and Queens, and we enjoyed a pint in the Fox and Anchor afterwards. Sometime when we are feeling stronger, we might try theif "City Boy" breakfast - which includes Eggs, Liver and Bacon, Sausage and Black and White pudding... 

1 July: Tufnell Park

A couple of new pubs (to us) in Tufnell Park. The Pineapple is friendly and probably a good place for a longer drink and food. The Tufnell Park Tavern, was also very welcoming and we had friends in the audience there.

25 June: Maida Vale

We visited our usual normal haunts in Maida Vale. The Prince Alfred and the Warwick Castle.

23 June: Hammersmith With Spring Grove

A damp evening meant we had little on the way of audience, but we still enjoyed dancing with Spring Grove at a couple of riverside pubs in Hammersmith.  

We started at the Rutland and Blue Anchor, in drizzle

And went on to the Old Ship where it was dryer.  

We had plenty of dances in common and our musicians seemed to work well together. We will meet again! 

17 June - Camden Brings The Best Audience Participation

Something about the environs of Cecil Sharp House brings out a fine quality in the audience. We started at The Albert in Princess Road, where an 8-year old told us we were "really cool" and proceeded to join in on the pavement. She's done Morris at school, and we've met her here before. 

 The audience also included London Pride's official Braid Weaver, and the Squire of Chingford. They watched us before going on to Sharp's Folk Club - apparently they actually missed some of John Kirkpatrick, in order to see us. I hope it was worth it...

At the Spread Eagle we met "Dazza", of Welsh Border side Carreg Las.In London for business, his colleague "outed" him and he was up and jigging,  

Also at the Spread Eagle we met friends from the Cecil Sharp House Tuesday Morris class, with their teacher John Russell. Oh, and Rachel and Michelle from the Belles of London City.

A great night out all round.

Holy Trinity School Fete 18 May

Dancing at Holy Trinity School Fair, East Finchley, with Michelle Griffiths

Sunshine, dancing, excellent food from the parents.. and then off to the Windsor Castle for a pint and a little more dancing in the sun.

Fitzrovia Tour 14 May

Some pictures from our traditional Fitzrovia tour, at the Duke of York and the Fitzroy.,,,

Joint Morris Organisations' Day of Dance, Cambridge

A side went to Cambridge to enjoy the massed Morris activities of The Ring, the Federation and the more.... (some images from Dr Turbeville's)

Great Ormond Street Hospital Scouts

A full side for this year's visit to Great Ormond Street Hospital to dance for the Scouts there. As well as a show in the Scout room, LP danced on the wards, and afterwards at the Rugby Tavern, where the Scout leaders joined in... 

Mayday

We danced on Primrose Hill to welcome the dawn on Mayday. (5.30am)

There are some better photos at:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cloudwalker_3/sets/72157644044998799
taken by photographer Michael Preston who was there for the occasion

As you can see from the other photos Allan also joined us.
and Rachel Erickson of Sharps Morris,

Afterwards we went down to Cecil Sharp house for breakfast, they'd specially arranged to open early for us.

and the die-hards amongst us went off to join Fowlers Troop going around Greenwich

Birthday Party, Store Street

Our first proper dance out this year, at an architect's birthday party in Store Street. We were on an eclectic bill with a jazz group, an accordion player, a piper and a flamenco group. 

We enjoyed the hospitality, and danced., mostly to Hurdy Gurdy... 

along with a sax-powered Nutting Girl 

All pictures by Josh - who made his dance debut with us, and did a mighty fine job of it too! 

After our show, we went in for an extra dance to the cloakroom attendant. She is a teacher of Elizabethan dance. We hoped she wouldn't mind - though the guests leaving their coats were a little bemused. 

programme 2014

Finally I'm putting this year's programme online. Every year I mean to do it earlier and it gets to about now before I do...

Anyway here it is:

Programme 2014

Wed 23 Apr St. George's Day TBC

Thur 1 May May Morning at sunrise (5.30) – Primrose Hill

Tue 6 May Great Ormond St Hospital - private show
8.30 p.m. The Rugby Tavern, Gt. James St. WC1N 3ES

Sat 10 May Joint Morris Organisations Day of Dance, Cambridge

Wed 14 May Fitzrovia
7.30 p.m. The Duke of York, Rathbone Street, W1T 1NQ
8.30 p.m. The Fitzroy Tavern, Charlotte Street, W1T 2NA

Sun 18 May School Fête, Finchley
Holy Trinity School, Eagans Close N2 8GA

Thur 5 Jun Kensington
7.30 p.m. The Elephant and Castle, Holland Street, W8 4LT
8.30 p.m. The Uxbridge Arms, Uxbridge Street, W8 7TQ

Wed 11 Jun Tufnell Park
7.30 p.m. & 8.30 p.m. at pubs TBC

Tue 17 Jun Camden
7.30 p.m. The Albert, Princess Road, NW1 8JR
8.30 p.m. The Spread Eagle, Parkway, NW1 7DB

Wed 25 June Maida Vale
7.30 p.m. The Prince Alfred, Formosa Street, W9 1EE
8.30 p.m. The Warwick Castle, Warwick Place, W9 2PX

Tues 1 July Chalk Farm
7.30 p.m. & 8.30 p.m. at pubs TBC

Sat 5 July Fête, Charterhouse Square
EC1M 6AN

Thur 10 July Chelsea
7.30 p.m. The Anglesea Arms, Selwood Terrace SW7 3GQ
8.30 p.m. The Scarsdale Tavern, Edwardes Square, W8 6HE

Thurs 17 July Kings Cross
7.30 p.m. The Norfolk Arms, Leigh Street, WC1H 9EP
8.30 p.m. The Rugby Tavern, Gt. James St. WC1N 3ES

Sat 19 July LPMM Day of Dance

Tues 19 August Croydon Night of Dance

Sat 6 Sept: St Giles, Westminster WC2H 8LG
Phoenix Gardens Agricultural Show (see www.thephoenixgarden.org)

Sun 7 Sept Angel Canal Festival
Vincent Terrace N1 8DG
(see www.angelcanalfestival.org)

Sun 28th Sept Pearly Kings & Queens Harvest Festival
Guilhall, Gresham St, London EC2V 7HH
(see www.pearlysociety.co.uk/events.html)

Sat 11 Oct Apple Day, Walthamstow