Summary: Vol. 30 Issue 3

Published: August 2023

Table of contents

• Stone Monkey go to Bagnasco
• Handsworth go to the seaside
• Editorial
• Summer Days
• First in the Frommern – North Brits’ Balingen Banter
• Askham Richard Sword Dancers in trouble

Editorial

 I’m always in a quandary with this issue. Should I get it done early before I go off to Whitby Folk Week, or late when I come back? I like to get each issue out in the month it is dated but it also seems the dancing at Whitby is the end of the summer rather than the start of autumn. Whitby Folk Week has regularly had longsword dancers, Sidmouth rarely has them, so it was great that Handsworth were there all week and I’ve heard very good reports of their performances.

In this issue, there are not one but two accounts of teams making overseas visits.  Stone Monkey were guests of Bal do Sabre Bagnasco this year. It was on a previous overseas trip the Monkey’s airline carrier lost their swords and the host team had sets of longswords and rappers made to the dimensions of the ‘back of a fag packet’ plans Stone Monkey provided; hence the unusually short longswords they still dance with. North British have just had a similar experience, although luckily for them their swords turned up, just as well as ‘gas pipe’ rappers weren’t that much fun to dance with.

It’s not just modern teams that suffer problems as Kevin Holland’s account of Askham Richard’s troubles shows.

I have heard rumours that Frank Lee is giving up sword making. I spoken to Frank who said “- I’m beginning to feel like Dave Swarbrick! This’ll be the second time I’ve been about to retire but you’re right, I’m not, and never was!” Finally, lots of congratulations to Frank on being awarded a very well-deserved EFDSS Gold Badge.