Chronicles | Kemp's Men

The New Inn - Horning

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:58:41 +0100

Place holder for the New Inn

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The Fisherman's Return - Winterton

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:58:41 +0100

Place holder for the Fisherman's Return

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The Dog Inn - Ludham Bridge

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:58:41 +0100

Our visit to the Dog had it all - thunder, lightning and the first really torrential downpour of the summer. Not to be deterred, members of Kemp's dripped in over the course of an hour and joined the heaving mass of holiday-makers in the bar. The temperature and humidity rose to such a point that it was all but raining indoors and many chose the relative comfort of an umbrella outside.

As is so often the case, these sort of evenings are what you make of them; the crowd wanted to see some dancing, a brighter interlude approached from the West and we had a good number of dancers - so we set to dancing - to loud applause. A single extended set rather than our more customary two short bursts sufficed.

Heading indoors as the rain made a determined reappearance, we made ready for a few tunes.... Only one thing could be more annoying than incessant rain and that is a drunk with a guitar; this one had been "entertaining" continuously from before we arrived so presented a bit of a challenge. We thought a quick blast of Princess Royal might encourage him to take it in turns but no, he just played louder.

Coldham Hall - Surlingham

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:58:41 +0100

Place holder for Coldham Hall

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The Crown - Banningham

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:58:41 +0100

Another brilliant evening at the Banningham Crown; no wonder we make a point of visiting twice each year! Always a warm welcome, always an enthusiastic audience, always fantastic sandwiches and a contribution to the pot. This particular visit also bolstered by the barrel of "Worth the Wait" shipped in from our sponsor, Beeston Brewery, for the occasion!

Weather was looking pretty foul for most of the day but brightened up into a lovely mellow evening. Dancing got going at a fair ol' lick with enough of us there to give the great unfit a breather between dances.

What I like about this stand is the conversations you get into (first met Win here four years ago and look where that ended up); lots of people wanting to talk about the dance, the dancers and the music; lots of people with very long memories... "isn't that a different melodeon to the one you had last year?" - strange but true!

Dancing concluded with the obligatory "Bonny Green Garters" - extended to take in a circumnavigation of the rose garden - then on to an impromptu instructional for the benefit of two lads that fancied a go at being Morris Men! Chips and sandwiches, more beer, a few tunes and home. Back on Boxing Day.

The Maltsters - Ranworth

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:58:41 +0100

A pretty dismal evening really rescued by the presence of a very keen young dancer (who'd seen us at Sprowston Fete and badgered his Mum into bringing him out to see us again) and the welcome appearance of a new musician who was willing and able to add some brass. Well done Joel - Welcome to Norfolk!

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The White Horse - Neatishead

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:58:41 +0100

This is one of those pubs that we really like and a dance stand that we look forward to each year. A "proper village pub" that also happens to do food!

The White Horse is placed on a blind double bend and is right on the street so dancing (and indeed, spectating) here is always a matter of one ear open for approaching traffic and hoping for the best.

We had great weather for the evening and what must be one of the most appreciative and "up for it" audiences of the year so far; villagers, holiday makers, Norfolk locals out for the evening, pub staff and the swifts screaming overhead all added to the mix.

Dancing in these circumstances is always great fun and a real treat - made all the better when the youngsters are out for a laugh as well. Special thanks go to the lovely Lilly for being an exceptionally enthusiastic "rose" and to our visitor from Germany who took her introduction to strange English customs in good humour - not quite sure how she'll explain them to her parents mind you.

Lobster Potties Festival - Sheringham

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 16:58:41 +0100

Place holder for the Lobster Potties

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The Bird in Hand - Wreningham

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:58:41 +0100

A seriously good evening had at the Bird in Hand. Probably our largest and most enthusiastic audience so far this year; this most likely due to Pat's arm twisting in his home village - an invite with menaces I think.

Driving into the car park... we witnessed an example of what I suppose must be called Normal for Norfolk parking... some chap squeezing his car into an impossibly small gap between two others in a car park full of spaces. However, I digress... driving into the car park we were greeted by a large sign declaring "Worth the Wait" - a promising start when the publican orders in a barrel of our sponsor's beer from Beeston Brewery. Hopefully the audience would think of Kemp's this way as well.

Dancing got off to a brisk start with Salty at the helm for a stack of well known tunes and dances. Tim, having recovered from a funny turn, took over part way through and called for a load of less familiar tunes and dances and a fair bit of head scratching.

The return of Luke to the side for a flying visit was a welcome distraction and cause for some amusement (read why here and imagine the scene). Perhaps throwing him into Starry Night for a Ramble was a little unkind (but very funny).

The Ferry House - Surlingham

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:58:41 +0100

Kemp's haven't danced at the Ferry House for a lot of years so, for those of us that are new in the Faith, this was an opportunity for a first visit to a lovely spot on the Yare, to dance a bit and soak up the evening sunshine. Unfortunately, the only soaking up available was a little more literal as we, once again, dodged the showers and tried to keep the instruments dry.

However, our small but appreciative audience where kept entertained for as long as possible and when we did move inside we managed to rattle through a good few tunes in quick succession and were treated to more of Stewy's "Hot Tea" and Richard's "Roving". Only two customers beat a hasty retreat at this point claiming they were "going anyway" so this must be counted something of a success. Applause from the customers is always nice when you've spent hours slaving over a hot (insert instrument of choice) so it was gratifying to get some here.

The rain eased and we had a final bash at the dancing but eventually had to succumb to the delights of Sonia's sandwiches and bowls of chips (very much appreciated as always) and head back indoors.

Sprowston Fete - Norwich

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 16:58:41 +0100

The "British Standard Summer" featured prominently in the dance programme for our visit to the fete: fine one moment and a deluge the next. Bert's pictures below give quite a good representation.

The driest spot was undoubtedly the beer tent in more ways than one. There was trouble with the power to the till and no beer was being served. This is, of course, second only to the end of the world for a Morris Man. However, all was not lost - a few tunes and wiggle of the wires later and the till sprung into life. Beer was available just in time for the next downpour.

The dancing did eventually get underway minus a few through injury, Tim through a funny turn and Karl who, having a memory like a sieve and not reading his email, had forgotten the event and gone to watch his bird somewhere.

Readers will not be surprised to learn that we spent the greater portion of the afternoon dancing at the aforementioned beer tent ready for a quick dash inside when the rain started its next lashing.

The White Horse - Chedgrave

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:58:41 +0100

Imagine a perfect English summer’s evening. The sun sinks in the west. The air is warm. On a barbecue sausages sizzle. The air is full of mouth watering aromas. Blackbirds are singing and there is well kept cask conditioned ale. Families and friends sit round tables in the garden of a well appointed country inn…………..

What could spoil it and yet be in keeping with the scene? Wasps? Mosquitoes? Hells Angels? No! Morris men!

Come on give us our due! We do forewarn those who are morris-phobic where we are going to dance and when! That’s why we publish our programme! On Wednesday 15^th June we were at the White Horse, Chedgrave! And to give the landlord and people of Chedgrave their due, we were warmly and hospitably welcomed - free beer and a complimentary burger will always meet with our approval!

OK we started late! That’s part of the tradition! And anyhow many of the men had cycled out from the city! The dancing was memorable for a rendition of the Norwich-upon-Wensumdance Trunch Bypass, which on this occasion seemed to have a contra-flow system in place and an elderly erratic dancer going the wrong way down a one way street! During the consequent attempt to disentangle a multi-dancer pile up, the Rev’d Canon Phillip Mc Fadyen was heard to mutter “We all like sheep have gone astray!” Quite so!

The Crescent - Norwich

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 16:58:41 +0100

Place holder for the Loose Canon's Garden Party

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The Gamekeeper - Old Buckenham

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:58:41 +0100

Lest anyone should consider Morris Dancing a past-time for namby-pamby, hanky-waving softies, I have to point out that our stand at the Gamekeeper maintained our tradition of exacting a terrible price on our dancers. "Elf and Safety Mike" followed on from the knee-capping of Steve and Gary's "I don't remember a thing" incident with a mid-dance tearing of muscle and ligaments - good job we currently still have an NHS to patch them all up!

Injuries aside - this was a really enjoyable evening. The audience wasn't huge but Tim managed to secure the services of rent-a-mob and, together with some local residents, they formed an appreciative crowd. Not quite sure what the horse made of it all as it was dragged, for some inexplicable reason, through the middle of the set with a sharp thwack of a riding crop but then, this is almost into Suffolk so I suppose you should expect strange things to happen.

We also experienced another first for Kemp's - an inability to finish the plate-loads of sandwiches and bowls of chips provided by our very generous hosts! It was a bit like the feeding of the five thousand - everywhere you looked there was another plate of sandwiches - absolutely brilliant. We moved indoors as it started to spit with rain for a few tunes, a few songs and... a few more sandwiches.

The Wig & Pen - Norwich

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:58:41 +0100

Always a good sign when the landlord greets you at the door and hands out beer vouchers! Well done Craig - you obviously know how to get Morris Men dancing more vigourously.

The Wig & Pen is our "home pub" and is always a good dancing spot with outside seats for the audience and a good surface for the dancers. On this occasion I'm pleased to say there were plenty of both although some of the dancers were a bit lacking in the health and fitness department. Steve appeared on crutches still nursing the injury sustained at the King's Arms, Gary arrived in a somewhat bruised and confused state having had (yet) another bike-related altercation with a motor vehicle (a feat that is becoming so familiar that some have said he is an attention seeking adolescent) and the Loose Canon turned up minus the dog-collar and managed a splendid 30 seconds of dancing before running out of puff. You will be pleased to note that all three managed to drink beer!

This evening's event was part of the "Norwich - City of Ale" festivities and Craig's contribution was to stock more than 20 dark / mild / stout style beers from local brewers - our sponsor, Mark Riches from Beeston Brewery, was well represented with the excellent "Norfolk Black".

Red Lion - Bishop's Bridge

Wed, 25 May 2011 16:58:41 +0100

Dancing at the Red Lion was always going to be a bit of a gamble - tucked away in a lovely corner of Norwich but well away from the tourist routes.

If I was trying to keep my involvement in the Morris a secret then that was blown out of the water as two blokes from work jogged by - I suggested they stopped for a beer but I suppose it would have interfered with the fitness regimen: "Ho-Hum " says I as I swallow another gulp of beer.

The evening was pretty much characterised by the looks of bemusement on the faces of the passers by - ranging from individuals making a rapid walk towards home to a pack of cubs. We managed to block the bridge at times - amazing how some people can pass something as overtly ridiculous as Morris without a sideways glance or raising a smile...

... the same can not to be said of our two lovely visitors from Eastern Europe: I'll call you "the Svetlanas" because I can't remember your names. You were great sports and joined in the fun - if you happen to read this, please remind us of your names!

By the end of the evening the biting insects were rising from the river and we concluded with a Kemp's first - a two-man Bonny Green Garters that eventually became three, then five, then six - very strange.

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King's Arms - Reepham

Wed, 18 May 2011 16:58:41 +0100

Packing the wet weather gear seems to be standard practice as far as the British summer is concerned so seeing the drizzle on the windscreen was no great surprise but very irritating none the less. Strangely, and against all expectations, the sky brightened as we approached Reepham and the sun came out with the downing of the first pint.

Kemp's bright yellow posters were displayed on windows and in the bar so this was a good omen and, sure enough, the welcome was enthusiastic from a landlord who made a point of being part of the audience throughout the evening.

Somewhat alarming was the distinct lack of Kemp's dancers. Golden Star were in abundance and organising their dances on their little wooden board and being very efficient. Kemp's consisted of Steve and me (how many solo jigs can I play for?)!... then Bert and family, Tim and, eventually, pretty much everyone else turned up - fashionably late but reliable as always.

Dancing was turn and turn about with Vandals and Bonny Green done en masse. The audience made it from the pub to just outside the pub without too much difficulty. One gent apologised for the fact that the whole of Reepham had not turned out to watch and join in (expletives deleted) - "You can't get more English than Morris Dancing can you?".

King's Head - Brooke

Wed, 11 May 2011 16:58:41 +0100

Greeted by just two rather surprised looking bods in the pub smoking shelter - this looked to have all the makings of a fairly dull evening. The pub turned out to be more of an eatery and I'm not totally convinced that loud Morris stuff was what they really wanted to have annoying the diners! Certainly not the place to "play a few tunes" in the bar!

However, the rain held off and a growing number of the usual Kemp's followers and an assortment of other visitors seemed to enjoy the dancing well enough. Those that danced were just about crippled by the end having roughed it on the bone-dry and very uneven back lawn.

Bearing in mind that the purpose of the visit was to celebrate Tony's 90th once again and to acknowledge all those occasions when he drives miles to support the side when we dance in Norwich and points North and East, the evening was a success with most of the side there to make the point. Dancing "Strictly Gomme Dancing" was a fitting tribute and, much to everyone's surprise, both musicians and dancers managed to get everything in the right order and finish at the same time!

BUGA Festival - Koblenz

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:58:41 +0100

When they suggested going on a jolly, to jolly Germany, for a jolly weekend, what was a chap to do? ...add to which we would be staying with old friends who happen to be wine makers of extra-ordinary generosity and Norwich City Council would be providing the transport. Without a moment's reflection I said, ”Yes”!

I’d gathered Kemp’s Men would be dancing at a sort of garden fete thing in connection with the Koblenz twinning committee. Later I thought I might have been tricked into doing something odd when it was revealed it was the Bugger Festival ! - Sleepness nights ensued; what high jinks did they get up to at bugger festivals?

I need not have worried; it was the Bundesgartenschau – Germany’s answer to the Chelsea Flower Show - and I was to be a lonely little petunia in an onion patch amidst the disciplined ranks of Bundes Blooms.

Getting there was a bore. The coach was fine (well done Spratts of Wreningham ) and the driver (answers to the name of Andy) was brilliant too! The only thing worth mentioning on the outward trip was the music session under the channel...

Spixworth Fete

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:58:41 +0100

A brilliant sunny day, an excellent beer tent and a traditional village church fete; what better way to start off our summer season? The Bag had issued a three line whip to ensure that everyone was present and ready to dance by mid-day and all looked to be going well until...

...Our dance spot was only a little delayed whilst the Foreman went off in search of the sticks that had been left in his charge (and subsequently left in his house). Still, nobody seemed to mind too much and we visited the beer tent again.

Billed as a "St George's Day Extravaganza", George was there in all his finery and looking a little warm. Likewise the particularly un-fierce dragon; he must have been roasting inside the fleecy suit.

The fine weather had brought out many damsels, most of whom seemed to be accompanied by small children or tough looking blokes with tattoos thus leaving little opportunity for general up-chatting or acts of chivalry. We kept a good look out for signs of distress but had to wait until the end of Bonny Green Garters before the lovely Sue managed to split the seat of her trousers, so energetically was she joining in the dance. St George characteristically, and quite unfairly, beat Tony to the rear of the problem and offered to cover the embarrassment with his cloak. Sue did look quite warm herself but this probably had little to do with the weather.