NEW YEAR NEWSLETTER 12thth January 2018
IMPORTANT NOTE: annual subscriptions (£10.00) for 2018 are due in January. Please come prepared to our January 19th meeting, when programme cards for 2018-19 will be available.
ALSO: our AGM and supper is on March 16th, and tickets (£12.50) for the supper will be available at our February meeting or from Isobel Gill (01926 640426).
Forthcoming talk Friday 19th January
Our next talk, by Stephen Wass, is entitled: “Hanwell Castle and the Jacobean Water Gardens”. Those of us who have heard Stephen speak (and perform!) will eagerly anticipate his no doubt enthusiastic and informative presentation of the results of his several years of investigations into the landscape in the valley behind Hanwell Castle. I hope to see you all at 7.30 at the Village Hall to enjoy Stephen’s presentation.
Report: Christmas meeting talk on “Folklore and Folksong ” by Richard Churchley
Richard Churchley informed and entertained us effortlessly through his presentation of Warwickshire and Worcestershire folklore and song. He brought along, and played, a varied collection of musical instruments – accordion, cittern and guitar – but he also plays the harmonica, the banjo and keyboards, and belongs to a number of groups performing a wide variety of folk styles. His relaxed familiarity with the region’s traditional music persuaded even our members to join in the choruses of some songs. He pointed out that some of the songs from “The National Song Book” -familiar to those of a certain age – were collected in the region by Cecil Sharp and his colleagues. One of the earliest ever voice recordings is that of an Ilmington labourer in 1899 on a wax cylinder. Richard sang a Wootton Wawen folk song “The Bitter Withy Carol” which explained why the willow tree was considered unlucky. It recounted how Mary had beaten the child Jesus with a willow stick after some naughtiness
The origin of some surviving folklore and songs can be traced to the mumming and mystery plays of the medieval towns and their guilds. In Coventry of course we have the Coventry Mystery Plays, source of the Coventry Carol. Richard explained that originally carols were not necessarily connected with Christmas. During questions Richard explained that the origin of the name “Morris” dancing was probably a corruption of “Moorish”, ie exotic, in keeping with the alien elements in many of the mumming plays – the Turk etc. We learned that there are clear regional differences in the costumes and performances of Morris groups., and how Jesus then, allegedly, cursed the willow.
Members raised the issue facing some modern Morris groups – how to accommodate the tradition of “blacking up” in some regions, which might give offence? Those of us who went to Ludlow last June saw a Morris group there who wore black masks, as well as the brightly coloured ribbons of their regional costume.
Ilona led our vote of thanks for an enjoyable and educational evening, before serving her traditional mulled wine, and the mince pies provided by the Committee.
Other Local History Society events.
Marton Local History Group. 29th January, “Marton Vicars Part 2”, Group Members, Village Hall, 7.30
Warmington Heritage Group, 15th February, “The Pont du Gard” by Andrew Baxter, Village hall, 7.30
Council for British Archaeology West Midlands: Saturday 17th February, “News from the Past” presentations by local archaeologists about recent work in the region, including the excavations at Warmington. 10.00am – 4.00pm Carrs Lane Church Centre, Carrs Lane, Birmingham B4 7SX website http://cbawm.archaeologyuk.org
Leamington History Group. 26th February “Jane Austen and Stoneleigh Abbey” by Sheila Woolf at the Dormer Centre, Leamington Spa, 7.30.
Committee Matters.
The next Committee meeting is Monday 12th February 2018.
With our AGM due in March it’s timely to remind members that the committee is keen to recruit new representatives to its ranks. If you would like become more involved in running of the group or know someone who could be helpful in that role, please talk to a committee member, and consider putting your name forward at the AGM.
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