The Milford
May Celebrations have been held for over twenty years. Clerical Error have been invited
for the last few years.
The Milford
May Celebrations have been held for over twenty years. Clerical Error have been invited
for the last few years.
We were to accompany a number of well dressings. Well Dressing is the art of decorating springs and wells with pictures made from growing things. The dressings are set in clay-filled wooden trays, mounted on a wooden frame. Once known as "well flowering" the art is thought to have originated in pagan times and is all but unique to Derbyshire.
The dressings can be seen in the left of this picture.
We came on with Not forJoe, then performed the exciting Twiglet, followed by Craven Stomp and our Mummer's play "St.Winifred's Well"
The weather was sultry, and the pace was relaxed, as we strolled from well to well, or more truthfully from pub to pub. The promised Milford Brass Band was not what we expected, and turned out to be a lot of aged hippies playing trombones as a Samba band. It fitted the event perfectly.
At Milford, Women's Morris has featured regularly : the Bakewell Tarts, Old Jem Smith and Chip OFF The Old have been succeeded by a native side "Maids of the Mill", who show that you don't have to own a beard and a beer gut to dance Cotswold.
Cotswold, performed around handbags
The programme was as follows :
11:00
Meet in Milfor Mill Yard with Milford Brass Band, Maids of the Mill, Clerical Error and Maypole.
Noon
Departure of the May procession
12:20
Holly Bush Inn, Makeney. Placing of well dressing, Dancing and Refreshments.
13:00
Procession departs for Holy Trinity Church, placing of well dressing then on to West Terrace and Shaw Lane.
13:30
New Inn, Hopping Hill, Dancing and Refreshments
14:15
Procession departs for Sunny Hill and on to Well Lane for placing of a well dressing then to the Baptist Chapel to place their well dressing.
15:00
Procession concludes at Milford School to place the final well dressing. May Fair commences with Maypole Dancing, Milford Brass Band, Maids of the Mill and Clerical Error. Fancy Dress on the theme of Water is welcomed.
Ali and Scuds.
Kas and Kate
Julia
Glyn shows off his wound. He later had the personal services of two ladies fron the St. John's Ambulance Service.
Bob reads up the music for the next dance
Shelley displays her characteristic shyness in front of the camera
.
Porrig, still on the drugs
Sensible Paul
The Band
Wrekin Havoc