On Sunday 6 September, some fourteen Meddlars rose early and set off for the Isle of Wight to attend the Wight Bells' Tenth Anniversary Day of Dance. Sylvia was already on the island, so that made fifteen of us who turned up at Havenstreet Station at around 10am. In fact, there were sixteen Meddlars there, because Laura had made her own way to the IOW with Boghoppers and Bushbeaters to help them by playing accordian. A large number of vintage Morris Minors had already assembled for a rally next to the station, so we encamped alongside them on a reasonably flat piece of grass to start our first dance session.
Dave Broom took over as master of ceremonies on the radio mike and, with Sarum Morris only just arriving, we started the proceedings with an energetic East Acton. By the end of this, the rest of Sarum had turned up, so were able to alternate dances until it was time to catch the steam train. Our hosts had generously booked a return trip to Wootton as a celebration treat for all the sides attending, so we presented our tickets for clipping and climbed aboard.
Off we went in our delightful old carriage, enjoying the sounds and smells of a different age and the relaxing pace of a branch line train, until we reached Wootton. Sarum Morris performed a quick William and Nancy on the platform there while the engine turned round and then back we clattered down to Havenstreet. Great fun.
On our return, we spent some time watching Wight Bells and Treacle Eaters performing in the station yard. We had an hour long break here, which was useful, bearing in mind the slow moving queues at the refreshment bars. The coach taking those without cars to the Steamer Inn at Shanklin, our next venue, was set to leave at 12:30, so the car drivers decided to leave ten minutes earlier, allowing time to park. In the event, this proved to be optimistic, since one or two of us managed to take the wrong turning on the way! So it was a little while after 1pm that we assembled on the promenade at Shanklin for an hour or so of dancing.
We were joined by two other sides, Magog and Island Cloggies, - initially three, until Boghoppers were redirected across the road to join Hobos by the Inn. The weather had deteriorated a little, a stiff breeze having arrived and some grey clouds were threatening, but the dancing got under way. Shortly, the sun came out again and this venue turned out to be the best of the day, with a good crowd of enthusiastic spectators and a fun atmosphere.
At just after 2pm we adjourned for a welcome lunch and some liquid refreshment in the Steamer Inn. As usual, the bowls of chips proved popular, despite most of us having ordered baguettes in advance. Morris dancers are so predictable. How anyone can eat chips covered with both mayonnaise and tomato ketchup is beyond me. I suppose the beer helps.
Soon, it was time to head off to Arreton Barns. This is actually a craft village, created around a large courtyard. Nearby, but just outside the site, is the White Lion pub, another dance venue for the afternoon, accessed from the Barns by a footpath alongside the church. The journey from Shanklin was easy, so we made it in good time and set up in the corner of the courtyard, next to the village pub. The idea was to dance first in the courtyard and then move to the White Lion and dance there. Finally, all the sides were to join in a Mass Acton to end the day. We managed the first two of these but, owing to the time of our ferry bookings, we could not take part in the final dance, planned for around 5:15pm. We did have time for tea and buns in the Barns pub/cafe, though, before setting off to the ferry ports in the late afternoon sunshine. A really successful day, which I hope we can repeat in the future.
