Summary: Vol. 32 Issue 1
Editor: Simon Vaughan
Published: Spring 2025

Table of contents

• Notices
• Editorial
• Midwinter Dancing
• Towards a History of Lingdale Sword Dancers
  Part One: Foundation & Early Days
• The Sword Ban Cometh?
  UK government considers new rules on knives and swords
• Boston Tea Party
  Tower Ravens Conquer the USA
• Letter from America
• Thirty Years and Counting
  Thrales Celebrate a Big Birthday
• Book Review
  Rapper Sword Dance in America
• Jeff Lawson’s Notebook

Editorial

Welcome to issue one in the 32nd series of Rattle 
Up, My Boys. This is the l3lst edition of the journal no less, and the first with me, Simon Vaughan, at the editor’s desk.

I am extremely proud to be taking the reins. I’m standing on the shoulders of giants, almost literally in the case of Jeff Lawson. I’d like to thank him for his stewardship of RUMB from 2011-24. I have nothing like the breadth of contacts that he has built up, although I will do my best to work on that.

I’ve been sword dancing for about sixteen years. I’m a member of North British and Thrales Rapper (and other occasional sides). I was born and brought up in the wilds of Wharfedale in deepest, darkest Yorkshire, before heading to London as an economic migrant. As Jeff said in the last edition, I love performing NB’s version of the Papa Stour dance. For me, it’s the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
Have we heard the last from Jeff? Not at all. Jeff has been retained, at great expense, as a regular columnist (see p.l8) and he’ll continue to operate as our chief political reporter too. Freed from pesky editorial demands, I hope Jeff will be able to take a view asked of sword dance as he sees it.

I’m pleased to say that Andrew Kennedy, another former editor (2003-11), continues to be an active contributor to the journal. He has some interesting articles lined up for the future and he kicks off in this issue with not one but two articles.

In terms of change, nothing too drastic is planned: a fresh look with a vintage feel, which I hope you all enjoy, and a slight change of style perhaps. Recently, there seems to be a growing interest in calendar customs and folklore, even among those who would not class themselves as ‘folkies.’ And why not? There are a lot of interesting people writing a lot of interesting things, and we’ll be exploring that too where appropriate. The most obvious change is the return of the comma. The ‘new’ logo was last seen on the cover of the very first “Rattle Up, My Boys” booklet in 1980, produced by Trevor Stone, this journal’s founding editor (l987-2002).

What has not changed is that the most important thing about RUMB is you, dear reader. Without you and your sword team, and your stories, there would be nothing to write about. I am relying on you to keep me supplied with articles and information or research from as many sources as possible. The more you put in, the better RUMB will be, and the more RUMB will benefit our sword community.

As editor, I will always want to receive, and RUMB will always need:
a) Reports of sword dancing, even if it’s just a line or two to say your team was at a certain place at a certain time.
b) News of forthcoming events, days of dance, festivals or foreign trips, recipe suggestions.
c) Research and reports of any findings, doings, letters, articles, reviews, comments, questions, suggestions, even complaints…

So, what does the future hold for RUMB? First and foremost, I intend to maintain and build upon the work of Jeff, Andrew, and of course Trevor, just with a fresh pair of eyes. RUMB should provide a balanced diet of articles on the past and the present, as well as news, views and opinion. I will also continue the trend of looking at both longsword and rapper, especially now ‘The NUT’ seems to have ceased trading.

This is a bumper Spring edition, 20 pages packed with goodies. We pick up where we left off, with midwinter dancing, and we have reports from most of the teams – but by no means all. Katie Howson provides a fresh examination of the Lingdale sword team(s), Tower Ravens take us on a trip to DART, and there’s an overview of UK law on carrying swords in public. Starting in this issue we begin a new series with the highly original title of “Letter from America”. I have absolutely no idea what the late, great Alistair Cooke may or may not have thought of sword dance. In his stead however, we have a great line up of people for show and tell. I am looking forward to seeing where they take us, and this may prove increasingly illuminating over the coming years.

There are plenty of good things planned for the future. I look forward to having you along with me. Drop me a line and let me know what you think of the new look RUMB, especially if you have an idea for an article of even a series of articles. Don’t forget, subs are due Why not tell your friends to get a copy too?