June 1924 The Travelling Morris danced this on June 19^th to Mr. John Hitchman on the green at Bledington as it is published. He said there was a round missing which was danced to the words

Why dont yer make yer bow sir

Because 'e don't know 'ow sir

three times over. Each in turn "makes his bow" at the top (as in Monk's March). He said the Bledington men face round the ring not the centre in "hop frog"

Aug 1925 Danced at Bledington Aug to the complete satisfaction of Mr Hitchman & Mr Benfield.

Mr Benfield played Saturday Night sitting at his garden gate to the Travelling Morris on June 19^th .

Tune noted by F. A. Richards from fiddling of Mr Charles Benfield 20^th June 1924

& written out thus à

Tune re-noted by R.K.S. June 24^th 1924 present Peter Fox

SATURDAY NIGHT

Tune noted by F. A. Richards from Mr Charles Benfield on Friday morning June 20^th 1924 and revised on Tuesday June 29^th by R. K. Schofield & P. D. Fox. The tune is noted in the key in which it was played.

Mr Joynes had not noted a version of "Saturday Night" from Mr Harry Taylor (jn) nor could Mr Harry Taylor remember the tune as it was used at Longborough. He was however quite satisfied with this version. Mr Charles Benfield had on at least one occasion played for the Longborough men.

The Dance

Tune played 12 times + extra A music.

This version was described independently by Mr Charles Benfield and Mr John Hitchman on Tuesday June 24^th 1924.

The dance is in two parts. The first is progrssive, and the second a whole hey or "'eye off".

The "footing" throughout the first part is as follows

A Music

c.tw * * * out sw up

{÷ r l r hr ÷ l r l hl ÷ rb lb rb lb ÷ ft Ju ÷

sh ----------------

that again; then

c tw r * * * c twl * * *

{÷ r l r l ÷ r l r hr ÷ l r l hl ÷ l r l hl

ss lb ------ ss rb –

sw up sw up wave * * *

{÷ r W l r ÷ l W r l ÷ R L ÷ R L ÷ ÷

In the "once to yourself" the dancers face up in the following order

top 1 3 5 6 4 2

In the first round No.1 dances facing up and makes a half turn cl. to face No.2 on the four capers.

In the second round Nos 1&2 dance facing one another and pass by the right on the four capers.

In the third round No 3 dances alone facing up turns to face No 5 on the four capers, while Nos 1 & 5 dance facing one another & change places : and so on.

In the seventh round No 1 is at the bottom facing down and turns up on the capers to face No. 3.

The dance continues till the twelfth round. The dances are placed thus

top 2à ß 1 4à ß 3 6à ß 5 bottom

This time the dancers galley left into column making a ¾ turn to face front

2    4    6

1    3    5

Then follows a whole - hey and caper out, as in other Bledington Dances

Longborough Version From Mr Harry Taylor June 21^st 1924

Tune played 6 times + extra A music

In this version each change only occupies either a complete A or B music.

The steps are

tw * * * out sw up wide

{÷ r l r hr ÷ l r l hl ÷ r hr hr ÷ fr Ju }

gal ---

tw * * * wave * * *

{÷ r W l r ÷ l W r l ÷ R L ÷ R L ÷ ÷

The changes are done as in the Bledington version. At the end of the twelfth round they galley into column and do a Longborough hey and caper out

This may have been shortened deliberately to save the dancers. It can also be danced "two & two" i.e. in column.

It is possible that all dancers danced right from the beginning of the dance, i.e. before their turn had come to progress.

Young Collins (Bledington) 1^st version as noted

by F.A.Richards from the singing of Mr Richard Bond June 20^th 1924

Young Collins (Bledington) 2nd version as noted

By F.A.Richards from the fiddling of Mr Charles Benfield June 20^th 1924

and rewritten thus ->

Young Collins

(Bledington)

1^st version Noted by R.K. Schofield (& others) from Mr Richard Bond

June 20^th 1924 Verified on June 24^th

Known also to Mr John Hitchman & Mr Charles Taylor

2nd version Noted by F.A.Richards from Charles Benfield on June 20^th

and revised R.K.S. June 24^th

Not known to either Mr Richard Bond, Mr John Hitchman or Mr Charles Taylor

This 2^nd version may have been the one used at Milton-under-Wychwood

Bledington Version Tune 4 times

1. As stick dance

{Mr Charles Benfield
(Mr John Hitchman
{Mr Richard Bond
{Mr Charles Taylor

Formula movements to A music : foot up, half gyp, whole gyp, half rounds (as in other Bledington dances). Opposites strike sticks on jump

B music

bar 1. Top buts on ground first three beats

bar 2. Opposite strike tips r to l " " "

bar 3. As bar 1 " " "

bar 4. Opposite strike buts r to l " " "

bars 5-8 Bledington half-hey " " "

This is repeated to places.

2. As Hand-clapping Dance Mr Richard Bond

B Music

Bar 1 All clap hands on first three beats

Bar 2. Opposites strike right hands " "

Bar 3. As bar 1

Bar 4. Opposies srike left hands " " "

Bars 5-8 Half hey

This is repeated to places

There may have been foot movements during handclapping

The dance was usuall performed as a stick-dance.

Tune noted by F.A.Richards from the fiddling of Mr Charles Benfield June 20^th 1924

And written out

Tune renoted by R.K.S. June 24^th 1924

THE BONNETS O' BLUE

(Bledington)

AB₁,AB₁,AB₂,AB₂ from Mr Charles Benfield

June 1924 with assistance

of Alan Richards & Peter Fox

Sometimes G# & sometimes G natural (Aug & Oct 1925)

CUCKOO'S NEST

(Bledington)

AB₁,AB₁,AB₂,AB₂

From Charles Benfield

Sept 1924 corrected Aug 1925