23 August 2015 - Brockham

The weather forecast for our stand with Mayflower Morris — a women's North West side from Ash on the Surrey/Hampshire border — was not good and, for once, it turned out to be correct. We drove to the venue, the Royal Oak in Brockham, in torrential rain and it showed no sign of relenting as we sheltered in the pub.

Looking back in the archives, it seems that we last met up with Mayflower in 2007 at the Duke's Head in Brockham. This pub is just along the green from the Royal Oak but has been now been renamed as the Grumpy Mole. I suppose that the non-traditional new name is acceptable as Brockham is in the Mole Valley. Apart from an excellent day's dancing, the 2007 event was notable for clashing with the Kent leg of the Tour de France and brilliant sunshine! It was so pleasant that we picnicked on the green afterwards.

As well as Mayflower and us, WIP The Ploughboy had been invited along. They are a mixed side from Reigate who dance mostly Cotswold including Raglan and other traditions but they also adapt and invent their own dances. The "WIP" apparently stands for Work In Progress.
Little-known fact : the "Kettle" in our name actually stands for Knock-kneed Exotic Terpsichoreans That Lack Elegance.

The rain did look set for the day but, undaunted, WIPTP braved the weather and performed outside under the protection of a tree. Suitably emboldened, Mayflower took a turn and there was then no excuse for Kettle Bridge to stay in the pub. Thankfully the rain had eased a little by the time we performed so it was not quite so unpleasant — or dangerous!

First up was Annie's followed by Aughton (known informally as the windscreen wiper dance), by which time ironically the rain had stopped. Still taking turn-and-turn-about we continued with Marston, Saint Helens Gala and Prescot and by the time we did our final dance (Milnrow), there was actually bright sunshine.

By popular demand, Val organised a final Churchtown for everyone to join in with. Click here to see a video of the dance.

With the dancing finally complete, it was time to relax, have a drink and eat too many chips that were very kindly supplied by the pub. Thankfully the journey home was much drier!