OBJ Morris - 2024 Scrapbook

Swanage Folk Festival
7-8 Sep 2024

It never rains at Swanage Folk Festival - but it did this year!!  Must be the effects of Global Warming.

We had a great time despite a bit of rain.  Christine couldn't make it this year as she was recovering from knee replacement surgery, but I had the company of grandson Thomas, which was wonderful.  He is studying drumming and couldn't wait to have a go.  He and the drum were pretty well inseparable all weekend.

This was the first Swanage for some of our newbie members Carl, Marlena, Mickie and Emil, who was just learning the melodeon.

OBJ comprised: Andy, Ann, Carl, Christopher, Clare, Claudia, Colin, Eddie, Emil, Giles, Helen, Joe, Marlena, MaryAnn, Mickie, Mike, Philip, Richard, Rose, Sarah, Tony, plus guests Andy2 and Thomas

Click the pictures to enlarge them


7-8 Sep 2024
Swanage Folk Festival

Dance: Much Gridlock

Dancers: Ann, Carl, Christopher, Claudia, Eddie, Helen, Mike, Marlena, Mickie, Philip, Rose, Sarah

Musicians: Colin, Joe (Melodeons), Clare, Giles (Concertina), Andy, Andy2, Richard, Thomas, Emil, Vera (Percussion), MaryAnn (Violin)

Camera: Jill


7-8 Sep 2024
Swanage Folk Festival

Dance: Tide (Just as the tide was a'flowin)

Dancers: Ann, Carl, Christopher, Claudia, Marlena, Mickie, Philip, Rose

Musicians: Colin, Joe (Melodeons), Clare (Concertina), Andy, Andy2, Richard, Thomas (Percussion) and many more

Camera: Jill


7-8 Sep 2024
Swanage Folk Festival

Dance: Massed Worcestershire Monkey

Dancers: Ann, Carl, Christopher, Eddie, Mike, Philip, Rose, Tony

Musicians: Colin, Joe, Emil (Melodeons), Clare (Concertina), Andy, Richard, Thomas (Percussion) and many more

Camera: Jill

The Clocktower and Amusements Spots

We spent a lot of time at the Clocktower spot, on both days of the weekend, and if we weren't here, we were within an easy stroll along the sae-front.

Triple Set of Tide (Just as the tide was a'flowin)

We danced this mid-way along the sea-front with Enigma Morris and another border side whose name I can't recall


Massed Worcestershire Monkey

The rain cleared up on Sunday, making it possible to organise a massed Worcestershire Monkey.  You can see from the photos that quite a number of sides joined us for this, and it occupied just about all of the area in front of the beach huts.

I can remember seeing Enigma, Fox's, Hook Eagle, Madder Hill Molly, Moonlight, OBJ, Phoenix, Whitethorn, Wicket Brood, Wreckers, and several other teams - somewhere around 100 dancers

Did I mention that it rained?

The rain was a bit of a challenge and certainly affected our Saturday outing on the Swanage Railway to dance at Corfe Castle.  Most of the pubs were rammed full, but a few brave souls managed to find shelter in The Fox - I wish I'd joined them.

In addition to my grandson Thomas, Carl was able to surprise his family and grandchildren in a big reveal that he'd taken up morris dancing.