A History of Shambling
Shinfield Shambles Border Morris was formed in January 1994 by Hilary Tindall as a change from the Keep-Fit classes she had been running for 7 years, as she had several friends and a daughter who were interested in Morris dancing. It certainly keeps us fit (apart from the musicians, whose only exercise consists of lifting heavy drinks).
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Woodley Christmas Carnival, somewhere in the mists of time. Back row, left to right; Dave W, Anne T, Margaret, Teresa, Lyn and Kathy, Front row, left to right; Dot, Kerry M, the other Kerry M, Hilary, Shirley, Dave M. |
The famous Roy Dommett agreed to start us off by teaching us our first dances. Roy has been involved in Morris dancing since 1952, and has personally been instrumental in starting about ten different sides (including Cotswold, Border and Clog) during that time. We advertised in the local press for dancers and musicians and set an opening date, and on our first night twelve ladies turned up and Roy arrived with four musicians. He showed us several dances and left us to get on with it, popping in now and then to see how we were getting on.
| Striking a pose at the Six Bells at Burghfield, 1997. This famously embarassing photo was put upon t-shirts and sported for years at practices and workshops. Back row, left to right; Shirley, Barbara, Anne T, Kerry, Anne M, Margaret, Elaine, Kathy, Hilary, Lyn, Dot and Teresa, Front row, left to right; Dave W, Mike, Dave T, Len and Derek. |
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The original idea was to take a year learning and practising before we unleashed ourselves on the unsuspecting populace, but within four months we were being asked to dance in public, so we had to scramble to find a suitable name and decide on a kit. Now finding names is no easy task, so when Elaine jokingly suggested Shinfield Shambles (after a particularly interesting practice session) it seemed only right to adopt it and we have been shambling round the country ever since. A few of the dances have also acquired strange names - one of them is called "Knickers", although this has nothing to do with the fact that we stop half way through a show to take our skirts off!.
From humble beginnings as a fledgling side dancing at out local Caversham Charity Folk Festival, we have been to the four ends of the earth (well, all right, North Carolina, but it was a long way) and back again, and we have been a regular feature at festivals such as Wimborne, Rochester, Wallingford, Wokingham Winter Carnival, Sidmouth and Caversham. Pubs, fetes, nursing homes, town centres, the Millenium Dome, nowhere has been safe from the prospect of a shambling. Our American trip in October 1998 was a hilight and will be fondly remembered for years to come. We attended the Brasstown Fall Festival and were warmly received by our friends in the American side Rural Felicity. ('Which love and innocence ever enjoy', as the song goes, but the we quite enjoyed them too)
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Swanage festival, 2002. Soft focus photography lends a nostalgic, idyllic air to a cheesy group pose on a pedallo. |
Over the years we have expanded our repertoire from the original stock of traditional border dances to include Cotswold and Molly, and a variety of home grown and adapted dances. We remain in essence a border side, but you never know what we're going to do next! (especially if you are in the band)
| Shinfield Shambles in more or less the current form, in Wallingford, September 2002. Back row, left to right; Dave K, Mike, Ian O, Barbara, Ian F, Kathy, Margaret, Lyn, Kerry and Anne, Front row, left to right; Sandra (in civvies), Julia, Hilary, Jenny |
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Now in our 10th year, we have certainly been about a bit. Members have come and gone but the side remains constant and we still persist in the opinion that morris dancing is fun! There have been injuries and accidents over the years, (prize for the most spectacular goes to Margaret's Wimborne thumb) and many a stick will never see another sunrise, (thanks in no small part to 'Lethal Weapon III') but, bloodied but unbowed, we shamble off into the sunset. Or possibly into the pub.
10th Anniversary Day of Dance
In honour of our anniversary we held a celebratory Day of Dance on 26th June, 2004. We toured some favourite old haunts in and around the Shinfield area, The Black Boy, The Six Bells, The Swan, The Farriers Arms and The Bell & Bottle, and finished the day with an ale in Shinfield Parish Hall. Many thanks are due to our friends in Basingclog, HuMP and OBJ for making the day memorable.
Pictorial evidence is just beginning to surface, please let me know if you have any photos that ought to appear here.
Click on the pictures to enlarge them.
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Our first spot at the Black Boy. We seem variously unimpressed by the weather, the general state of the universe, and the fact that we are being photographed. Left to right are; Sandra, Julia, Kathy, Margaret, Shirley and Hilary. |
| Basingclog putting up a fine performance at the Black Boy, in rather adverse atmospherical conditions. |
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Basingclog, dancing at the Six Bells. It rained there too. |
| Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It's SUPERDAVE!!!!!!!! |
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OBJ and miscellaneous others standing about looking decorative at the Six Bells. |
10th Anniversary Dinner
On February 21st we held a special 10th Anniversary Dinner at Sonning Golf Club. Shambles past, present and future gathered to celebrate the emorphous and spectacular entity that is Shinfield Shambles Border Morris. Dances were done, drink was drunk and a thoroughly good time was had by all.
Here's the obligatory tipsy-looking group photo. Clockwise from top left are; Barbara, Dot, Kathy, Margaret, Hilary, Chris, Anne, Morag, Lyn, Frances, Teresa, Hazel, Jenny, Julia and Shirley.
Diary Gallery The Dancers Border Morris Links
