FOLK COMPANIONS

Over the course of thirty years a large collection of photographs has built up of the group "in action". Unfortunately, many of these have been permanently fixed in albums, or are otherwise not directly publishable on the web. We are still looking into a practical way of making some of the better photographs available. In the meantime, here is a gallery of some of the "moments" which we have managed to collect – if you are a former member with some photographs or memorabilia that you would be willing to share [or indeed if you just have some pictures of us], please get in touch.

A recent "team photo" during our visit to the folk festival attached to Landesgartenschau near Stuttgart in the Summer of 2002 , ... (this was taken at an evening dance hosted by our friends of the RSK Esslingen group - unfortunately not all of the Folk Companions who went were there at the time). More photographs from this visit and the festival can be seen here
Thornbury 2003 At the beginning of February 2003 we ran a “Burns Night” evening for the Thornbury Round Table .... largely of English Folk Dancing <grin>. The “round tablers” who attended seem to really enjoy themselves, as can be seen from these three photographs. The Folk Companions are often asked to “run dances” for other organisations, providing a band, callers and dancers to help lead the dances and provide some entertainment during breaks between the general dancing. If you are interested, please contact Peter Sumner – see the Links page for further details.

Latteridge - 2002
This photograph was taken whilst dancing out at a garden fete in Latteridge to raise funds for Frenchay Hospital.....	The end of this garland dance, and in the background – is that really Mr Mouse ??
The North Lancs. Heal and Toe clog dance.	Our band on that occasion – taking shelter from the bright sunshine (and the looming rain clouds – well it was an English summer !) - from left to right, Judy Cockwell, Phil Craig and Yvonne Andow.
Visiting the Spielchar Hesse (Frankfurt a M) in the Autumn of 2000.
	A "team photo" during our visit to the birthday celebrations for the folk dance group "Spielchar Hesse" in the Autumn of 2000 ... (apologies to Keith whose right half disappeared out of the camera view finder !).
	.... and this is a few of our group at the same festival dancing a German dance called "Jägerneuner" ("The Hunters Nine").
The two pictures which follow were taken during the same visit to Frankfurt and are © Spielchar Hesse 2000. More photographs can be seen on their website (see our Links page).
Dancing a Garland dance at the evening dance spectacular.	The “usual suspects” on a bridge over the river Main during a walking tour of Frankfurt.
Taking part in a charity fund raising event at Badminton House - it was a very warm, but windy day .... an outing for one of our Garland Dances	and the same dance in Thornbury - note the other set of Garlands !
Here is another photograph from the archives .... the boys of the group performing a Cotswold Morris dance outside of a park in Copenhagen. Former members could perhaps try to remember a few names ... does anyone know who was under the horse ? The latest guess is Mike Dodds.	Somewhere abroad, this picture captures a spectacular rapper somersault. Andy (extreme left) looks a little worried by the shoes heading towards him and (I think) Adrian looks like he's really enjoying himself !
We don't always dance in our "regular" costumes; over the years we have taken part in a number of events as the "dance item". As part of the Millennium Celebrations in Thornbury during the summer of 2000, we took part in the Thornbury Community Play (or rather our band did) and in the Millennium Ball. This comprised dances from the various periods of Thornbury's history over the previous 1000 years - our group was responsible for the first 900 years ! We were allowed to raid the costume department of one of the local school's drama faculty to produce something fairly elaborate .... with the results that you can see. Of course, what can look spectacular, wasn't always that comfortable to wear - and in some cases required additional safety-pins !!	The Folk Companions' band at the same event. In the band that night were (L-R) Chris Smith, Phil Craig, Ros Hewitt, Adam Rudrum (front row), Judy Cockwell, Ginny Rudrum, Yvonne Andow (back row) and Peter Sumner (caller) at the rear.
Judy managed to get the best costume for the ball ....	Taking part in the Festzug at Dossenheim ...
And here's the one they asked us not to display ...sorry... two of our group after a hard day out at Halsay Manor !	The Tamburitza Hornstien (Austria) dancing at Longleat during their visit to us.

Here is a much older group photo ... in fact none of us can remember exactly when or where this would have been taken - perhaps you can help us ?

And lastly, here is a photograph taken in the Abbey Courtyard in Bath showing a "Longways for as many as will ..." or possibly a "triple minor". Possibly someone with a good memory can identify what they were dancing here ?

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