ATMD Diary of 2021
There were no events or regular practices in January to May 2021, due to the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic. However, we sent two videos for the online version of Folk Weekend Oxford (16th-18th April), one of us dancing in Oxford in the first Oxford Folk Festival in 2004 and the other being another stop-motion masterpiece by the Abingdon Traditional Lego Morris Dancers.
During late May and early June there were some outdoor practices in the car park of the Royal British Legion, and a welcome return to drinking together and even playing a few tunes afterwards.
Tuesday 15th June: The Mayor of Ock Street (Harry Knight) and the Fool (Roger Cox) gave an outdoor lesson on morris dancing to Year 1 pupils at Aureus Primary School, Didcot.
Saturday 19th June: Mayor’s Day was a slimmed-down event with no election possible due to Coronavirus restrictions. Harry Knight continued as Mayor. There was dancing in the afternoon at the Brewery Tap, with a procession to and from the former Cross Keys, where we also did a couple of dances. The event had not been advertised in detail, but our online hints to look out for us in Ock Street that afternoon resulted in a small audience of enthusiasts and photographers.
Thursday 22nd July: a pleasant evening dancing at the North Star, Steventon.
Wednesday 28th July: danced at Stowford House Summer Fair.
Saturday 31st July: danced on the Market Square in the morning to advertise the re-opening of the Abbey Buildings, then did some dancing at the Abbey Buildings themselves.
Sunday 22nd August: pub tour round town. Punch Bowl 2.30, Nag’s Head 3.30, King’s Head & Bell 4.15, finishing with some music in the back room of the Punch Bowl. The landlady very kindly provided some sandwiches for us.
Saturday 4th September: we were hired for a wedding at the Perch, Binsey. Danced on the towpath as the wedding party arrived in two Salters steamers, then outside the marquee before the wedding breakfast.
Sunday 5th September: WADSstock (Wootton and Dry Sandford Community Festival). Gave two half hour shows at 1.30 and 3.30. Armaleggan and Cry Havoc also performed, as did a couple of bands, the Rock Choir and several others. A very hot afternoon – our reward was a can of beer each.
Saturday 11th September: danced at Abingdon Air & Country Show
Sunday 19th September: Heritage Weekend Event in Abingdon. We danced on the Market Place at 1.45, then at the Abbey Buildings.
Friday 24th September: 80th birthday of ex-mayor and town crier Peter Green. The Mayor of Ock Street and two of his predecessors (Roger Cox and Duncan Bhaskaran Brown) joined him for a beer and sang Happy Birthday to him.
Sunday 10th October: the mummers gave a private performance for the Friends of Abingdon tea party at the Abbey Buildings. “We wish you a Merry Christmas” song was changed to “We wish you a Merry Michaelmas and a Happy Party”.
Saturday 16th October: the mummers gave a private performance at the 60th anniversary party of Rod and Rosalie James, Northcourt.
Saturday 23rd October: dancing on the Market Place for Abingdon Town Mayor’s charity event. Music in the Punch Bowl back room afterwards.
Sunday 14th November: for the first time ever the Mayor of Ock Street was invited to join the Remembrance Sunday Parade in Abingdon, along with a couple of dancers.
Monday 13th December: Ewart Hemmings, President of ATMD, died after a long illness. His father Charles was a dancer in the 1930s team and his grandfather Henry Hemmings was Mayor of Ock Street 1937-45. His uncle Percy Hemmings was bagman / secretary of the morris team 1936-49, and the main organiser of the revival of the morris dancers.
The Mummers Play Tours (Town Tour of Abingdon pubs Tuesday 21 December & Out of Town Tour of Milton, Drayton and Steventon Thursday 23 December) were cancelled at a few days notice, due to rapidly rising cases of coronavirus.