16 January 2005
OBJ's Wassail at The Bull, Stanford Dingley
All the usual stuff - Morris, Mummers Play, Wassail Ceremony and
music and dancing in the pub afterwards
King Rob and Queen Nikki were King and Queen of the Bean. We were
joined by Hook Eagles, Kintbury Morris, Rockhopper Morris,
Ridgeway Stepclog, HuMPs mummers and many friends
OBJ dancing: Brimfield (and Hook dancing Wrekin Havoc)
Dancers: Abi, Colin, DaveK, Jill, Kelly, MikeG, Nikki, Susie
(plus Chris, Diane, Jenny)
Musicians: Doug, Pam, Gill, Anne, Ian, Vera, MikeS
Our guests: Hook Eagles, Kintbury Morris and Rockhopper Morris performing at the start of the Wassail.
Although the road surface was a little damp, the weather was very pleasing.
OBJ performing a brand new dance - The Hitchhikers Guide to Bracknell. Only one mistake throughout the dance - and that was by me!
The near side of the set contained MikeG, Susie?, Jill and Dave. The far side contained Abi, Jenny, Chris and Colin
Below left: Preparing for a Worcestershire Monkey. Nearest are Jenny and Diane.
Below right: Gill, Anne, Ian, Doug, MikeS, Nikki, Kelly and Vera
The wassail "ceremony" commenced with a brief introduction from Colin, followed by a bit of singing
Below left: part of the assembled multitude
Below right: Colin exhorting the audience to conduct themselves with due reverence.
The wassail cake had been baked by Pam, and was distributed to those present, accompanied by a suitable ditty.
With no hint of a fix, it was Rob who had the bean it his bit, and he was duly proclaimed to be "King of the Bean". He selected Queen Nikki to support him in his royal role.
Right: the cake - well, some of it, and Chris's hands
Below left: King Rob the First displays the bean while I check the order of service.
Below right: Queen Nikki grants her subjects a regal smile while King Rob looks nobly on.
Jenny had procured this years "wren" - which turned out to be a twin of last years wren.
Right: Chris displays the flock of wrens, which await their fate
Below left: Queen Nikki buries the wren in the roots of the apple tree. Prince Rob (the landlord) is just visible behind the tree.
Below right: toast was placed in the branches and beer poured over the tree.
Evil spirits are driven away from the tree by loud noises.
The chap who was going to provide a real shotgun was otherwise engaged, so a degree of improvisation was called for.
Below left: King Rob takes aim while the rest of us prepare to shout "Bang!"
Below right: Jenny, Abi and Doug join in singing one of the traditional wassail songs
Following the wassail ceremony, we were treated to a mummers play by Hummers Mummers.
Below left: Mary (HuMP) vanquishes the Turkish Knight played by Jerry - complete with welsh accent.
Below right: Members of the cast leading the singing at the end of the play.
Once the wassail ceremony and the mummers play were completed, we adjourned to the pub for a music session and a bit of indoor dancing, helped along by Ridgeway Step-Clog.
Here are a few assorted pictures from the day.
The Bull is probably the only fruit-tree-less pub in Berkshire.
p>Diane kindly loaned one of her patio apple trees in order that it might benefit from being wassailed.
Colin and Dave install the tree prior to the wassail.
The tree is reported to be "as well as can be expected".
The OBJ musicians bring their fingers to the peak of performance by carefully prepared warm-up exercises.
Nikki supervises.
Blacking-up is a highly individual procedure.
Some start with the schnozz and spread outwards. Others start at the top or the side of the face.
Here, Vera demonstrates the "target method" on MikeG's face.
>The usual social dances were performed inside the pub.
Squirrels were hunted, Rosa was waltzed, and Nottingham was swung.
It's thirsty work, this wassailing.
The unlimited supply of cake proved to be too much of a temptation for DaveK.
He did succeed in getting another bit in.
A postscript.
Proving that the wassail had it's desired effect, here is Dianes apple tree a few weeks later.
A post-postscript.
Proof postive that wassailling works.
Diane's apple tree 6 months later