Celebration of sunrise on May Day 2009

Sunrise: 05.25 1st May, 2009 on Beverley Westwood by the Old Black Mill

By 05.15 most of the company was assembled and the first dance was called.  Most folk were wondering how they had yet again been coerced from their slumbers at such an early hour - or were they still dreaming?  The weather was fine; the clouds were high and in ribbons so that the first rays of the rising sun had caught their edges, turning these pink, whilst the body of the clouds were purple.  It was a lovely, still morning and there were no cows!

The company was then invited to join the dancers in dancing The Bridge of Athlone.  There were enough dancers for two sets.

Oli and Tony then sang The Padstow May Day Song.

The side then danced a long stick dance called Skirmish from Bledington.

The audience was invited to join in with Bonny Green Garters and one large set was made up.

The squire, Ian Morrison, called the meeting to a close at six o'clock and reminded the audience that the side dances at pubs
throughout May, June and July on Tuesday evenings.  Click here to see the Programme for 2009