Anker Ring meeting 2015

A Mayhem of Morrismen

Anker Morris Men’s 40th birthday celebrations seemed the perfect opportunity for some of the younger members of the side to experience a meeting of the Morris ring. I believe that Lassington Oak hasn’t attended a ring meeting for around ten years making this a special weekend for us as well.

The weekend kicked off on Friday with food at the venue and a great session at the White Lion thanks to Jess and Richard Arrowsmith for hosting it.

Saturday was full of dancing at various locations around Nuneaton with plenty of singing and tunes on the bus. The quality of the dancing from everyone was high and we were pleased that our dancing was well received.

The weekend finished with more display and massed dances from the various sides involved on the Sunday unfortunately we needed to leave a little early and didn’t see the weekend through to the complete end.

Thank you Anker for a superbly organised and thoroughly enjoyable weekend we’re looking forward to seeing all of you again at your ale.

Lassington Oak Ale 2014

Apple Pie

Saturday 14 November saw the first Lassington Oak Ale for a couple of years. Whilst the venue remained the same – and the traditional apple pies, one supplied by each of the side – the date has moved form the springtime to the Autumn.

This year saw 40 men attending, made up of men from Victory, Icknield Way, White Hart, Packington and Anker. The Ale was also graced by the squire of the ring, which was really a welcome home to Adam Garland as he danced with us from 1992 – 95; he even has a dance named after him ‘Adam’ aka Young Collins (he may tell you the story if you ask him!)

The ale was provided for this year for the first time by the local lads at Gloucester Brewery. With an excellent guest ale, Over the Top from Oakleaf Brewery provided by Victory Morris. This was a particularly fine ruby ale brewed to commemorate the fallen of the First World war, particularly apt as this was ‘poppy’ weekend – thanks lads.

As the sides arrived they were welcomed at the door with ale, and those who were staying over directed the separate hall, which served as the sleeping quarters, to set up there beds.

The dancing kicked off with our traditional Balance the Straw, Fieldtown; followed swiftly on through Bampton, Bledington and others including a demo dance from Victory and a solo jig from Adam the Squire.

After the squire’s jig, we set the hall for the feast, consisting of lamb stew and bread; baked, cooked and served by our own squire. After at least two servings of stew (the second one being bulked out by the remaining vegetarian offering) the apple pies and cream flew out of the kitchen. To give time for the food to settle a party piece was provided by a member of each of the attending sides, whether it was a song, tune or monologue. Again Adam showed his worth as squire by regaling us with a song.

The Squire of the Ring sings

After we had all made merry the tables and chairs were cleared to make way for more dancing. Mid-night came round (and Victory had scribbled out all of the dances on the board!) we finished up with Saturday Night, making a total of 28 dances for the evenings. People drifted of to their homes and beds as we tidied the hall and the hardcore set in for a few more tunes and songs whilst they finished of the remnants of the ale.

For those who chose to stay the night, morning brought a breakfast cooked by the side, with ample food for all, washed down with an almost endless supply of tea and coffee. As a side we did our final tidy up and made a visit to the remnants of THE Lassington Oak, before parting to make our own way home.

Thanks to all those who attended and made the hard work of the side worthwhile. Also thanks to our own squire and bagman for organising it and Steve for proving the feast. A good time was had by all and we hope to do it again next year.

Dancing at the Ale

 

The NOT Ale report 2014

Well, ladies and gentlespoons the ale went off without a hitch. There follows a write up nothing to do with the Ale (I haven’t got a round tuit. If anyone has a spare tuit, especially a round one please pass it on to me!)

The Oak in the early 20th century

The Lassington Giant

LASSINGTON; It is one of Gloucester’s little neighbour by the Leadon, its farmyard church still keeping stones in its walls.
The base of the tower is Saxon, the rest of it Norman, and although the nave and chancel were made new in the 19th century both have still some of their ancient masonry. The arches of the porch and the chancel are Norman, decorated by the Normans with zigzag and by our English masons with ballflower of the 14th century. There is a fine oak pulpit of 1636, carved with roses and leaves, and an ancient coffin under a churchyard elm.
By the churchyard gate is a giant elm over 20 feet round, and near it a pathway runs across the fields up the hillside to a little wood where reigns another giant, the famous Lassington Oak. This venerable monarch, thought to be over 600 tears old, has a girth of 30 feet, but its arms have grown weary over the years and are supported by twenty props.
As we leave the hilltop wood a marvellous vista is revealed, with Gloucester in front of us and the spires of Cheltenham fading into the blue Cotswolds beyond.
Taken from The King’s England; Gloucestershire (April 1950)

Unfortunately the Oak is no longer standing. This year after the ale we took a mini pilgrimage out to Highnam woods to view what is left of the once mighty oak.

Lassington Lads at the Lassington Oak

Anker Ale 2014

We set out rather later than planned Dimitris at the wheel, but made good time on the trip up to Nuneaton and sally  sat nav got us there without too many diversions. A very poor selection of folk music from Dimitris we still have some work to do on that boy, “Ace of spades” and “Smoke on the water” aren’t really suitable for Morris.

The Ale was in full swing when we arrived with dancing in progress, we lost no time at all and headed straight for the beer. But then we got stuck in with the dancing, Paul and Ed are now fans of Ascot and Ducklington traditions maybe Bill will come around to the idea? The attendance was good with men from various sides and the squire of the Ring was there. The food was good and there was plenty of it so dancing afterwards was a bit difficult but we managed.

The journey home was interesting I rather expect I had a little too much sloe gin and started gossiping like an old fish wife but it made the trip go quicker.

Cheers Anker for a great evening and we’ll see you next year, let’s hope that the Lassington Oak ale goes as well this weekend.