Summary: Vol. 31 Issue 4
Editor: Jeff Lawson
Published: November 2024

Table of contents

• Sword Dance Union Longsword Tournament: Northallerton 2nd November 2024
• SDU Longsword Tournament Results
• When is… Where is… What is… The SDU AGM
• Editorial
• A tale of Hedgehogs and Hildebrandts. In Hasselt
• Midwinter Dancing

Editorial

Having done the Toer de Gueze in May, North British have had another trip to Belgium, this time the Hasselt Jeneeverfest. Gueze is a sour beer and a Belgian speciality, Jenever is a Belgian and Dutch spirit that when introduced to the UK was renamed as Gin; as you might have noticed a theme is appearing here. My experience was that it was a little like performing at a townwide Beer Festival. You bought tickets to get your Jenever, which was available at a myriad of stalls scattered around the town. As at a beer festival there were various entertainments and music being played to loudly. Unlike most beer festivals I’ve danced at the audience were interested in what was happening. I’m grateful to Bob Davies for his entertaining account of the trip.

The Longsword Tournament was a great success. There were a couple of moans on Facebook but the vast majority of comments have been very positive. I’m sure that this is down to both the organisation of the event and the quality of the dancing on show.

I know many readers look forward to finding out what the SDU has been up to. I really would like to be able to tell them but it appears that the SDU, rather like MI5, would rather keep their good deeds secret; perhaps the next Stella Riminigton novel will cast some light.

As usual at this time of year there is a list of Midwinter dancing. If you have the opportunity do get along to one of the performances.

Hopefully this is my last edition, Simon Vaughan has agreed to take over and whilst we still need to sort out the details he should be producing the next edition. I have always encouraged, and been very grateful to receive, articles and I know Simon is keen to get contributions. Simon dances with Thrales Rapper and North British, who’s version of Papa Stour he considers one of the finest sword dances.

Thanks to all readers for supporting my efforts at Rattle Up over the last fourteen years.