latest news
Sword Spectacular 2008
The 5th International Sword Spectacular was held at York this time around, we enjoyed fine weather, but very windy. Our friends Podsable Komna made the trip again. Their hospitality knows no bounds, as they made one member of our team very welcome till the early hours of Saturday morning (3am to be exact) YES it was I!!! We had 3 new members with us this time and they danced on both days, WELL DONE to Dave S, Richard and Dave W. The weekend ended with a gala at The Theatre Royal. A big thanks to Sue for the photos which saved the day as someone forgot to charge the batteries on our camera oops! Our secretary Keith Thompson made the team and danced all day on Saturday and we did several dance locations. Although his knees are crocked he showed dedication finishing his day at The Theatre Royal with his "walking on" song and a cracking speech thanking Renee & Trevor Stone.
Moor & Coast Festival 2008
The Moor and Coast Festival was another success with fine weather and greatly enjoyed by all the dancers. Our friends Spen Valley Long Swords were also there dancing with their own swords this year!! An added attraction was dancing on the station platform when The Sir Nigel Gresley (Engine No. 60007) visited Whitby.
Day Of Dance 2008
The Day of Dance went as smooth as a Plough Stot function usually does. We had a good turn out of dancers, musicians and spectators. The day started with the usual parade from the Reading room to the shops where the dancing started, we managed to get around the entire village with out getting wet (on the out side), ending the day at the Birch Hall at Beckhole.
The evening lunch was a great success at the Inn On The Moor, but also a little sad as one of our older members Mr Ian McCaig is leaving Goathland with his family for a new life in France, he was presented with the prestigious award that is very rarely given out of “The Wooden Plough Share or Plough Sock” as our president
Mick Atkinson MBE explained to the assembled diners. Also we awarded two more this year one to the Carthy/Waterson (Martin, Norma & Eliza) family for their contribution to the Goathland Plough Stots and one to Mr Les Atkinson (Chairman) for the long and loyal service to the Plough Stots.
One of the other prestigious awards that Keith delights in giving is the Pigs Ear Award (that I got last year), was awarded to Chris Hutchins (for a SLIGHT mistake he made), we would like to thank Aubs for the speech (Bull Shit Deflectors, Soap Box and all), our resident speaker Mr Chris Newton with the Shifty Sid Award.
Mr Keith Thompson was issued a permit to street collect around Goathland and Goathland Parish for the aid of the Goathland Plough Stots on the 12th January 2008, there was no expenditures or payments to be deducted out of the donations that totalled £478.84, A big thank you to all who donated and we hope you enjoyed the show; also I would like to thank Mr Bob West for his gift of the photos that he took on the day.
Whitby Folk Festival
Unfortunately I could not make the Whitby Folk Festival this year so I am asking (Or Pleading) for any one who could donate pictures taken from the event showing the Goathland Plough Stots in all their glory to update the Dance Gallery. The Goathland Plough Stots were seen marauding on the beach with the Garland heading towards the bandstand. I have been told they resembled the Vikings hitting our shores with swords slung over their right shoulders, or as someone else said "More like Captain Beaky (i.e Mr Keith Thompson) & his band. I am lead to believe it was an enjoyable day for everyone and nice to have Eliza take a day out of her hectic work schedule to come and play along side Stevie Pierson for the Goatland Plough Stots. Well Done everyone.
Blessing of the Plough
The Blessing of the plough service will be held at St Mary's church, Goathland on the 6th January 2008, the service starts at 10.30am. All welcome
Day Of Dance
The Day of Dance is the annual thrash around the village will be on the 12th January 2008 starting with the parade from the Reading Room to the 1st dance location outside the local Shops. Everyone is welcome to come and join in the festivities.
Visit To The Royal Albert Hall London
On the 12 / 5 / 07 the team visited the Royal Albert Hall as guests of
Martin, Norma, Mike & Eliza to take part in their concert " A Mighty River
of Song" a celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Waterson Families
appearance at the venue. Setting of from Goathland at 6.30am Saturday &
getting back at 6.00am Sunday it was to be one long day, but what a day , a
day that will live long in the teams history & for those who went a memory
to cherish forever.
Arriving at the Hall at 1.30pm it soon became apparent that this was
special, very special & after lunch, sound checks & a run through we were
left to our own devices until the evening performance, left to explore a
simply magnificent building that was to host an unforgettable concert that
evening.
The evening performance by the Waterson Family was breathtaking, memorable
& moving especially the song Salty written by the much loved & missed Lal
all of which only underlined that which most people acknowledge they are
simply the best folk singing family for many years & its very doubtful if
they will be surpassed for years to come. For the team it is simply to
difficult to describe our feelings think of any word of joy & that will do,
all apply equally & in good measure but singularly cannot hope to capture
the over whelming pride we had that at long last what we would argue is the
finest traditional Long Sword Team in Britain took its dances to the
capital as part of the greatest concert in living years.
To use a Max Boyce catch phrase "I was their" & so where :-
Characters :- Keith Thompson. Malcolm Worley, Les Atkinson
Dancers :- Jack Atkinson, David Atkinson, Daniel Atkinson, Allan Davies,
Ian Davies & John Atkinson.
Musicians :- Eliza Carthy, Steve Pierson, Andrew Smith., Sally Atkinson.
Plough Boys :- Elliot Mayes, Alexander & Mikey Simmonds, Kyle Skelton
Not forgetting our seamstress Leslie Mayes without whose efforts the ever
expanding frames of the team might not have looked so well turned out, also to
anybody else who helped our heartfelt thanks.
Follow that if you can.
Moor & Coast Weekend 2007
Just ironing out the cobwebs on the Sunday before the trip to The Royal Albert Hall, London as guests of the Waterson Family at The Mighty River Of Song, we danced at the two whitby based venus which were The Dockend and The Bandstand, all went well and a great time was had by all, the weather held out well for the team and the groupies, a real added bonus seen as most of us were in tents. One of the other Longsword teams " Spen Valley Longsword" who were dancing at this venue made the trip from the West Yorkshire area without the Swords causing much merryment but as this is a friendly sport some swords were leant to them so they could join in the fun.