The tradition of Maypole Dancing in the village on May Day is being revived this year. Diana Wright, who lives in Westfield Road, shares her memories of her time with the Girls Friendly Society (GFS) and Maypole Dancing …
My husband John and I moved in to 14 Westfield Road on 31st August 1975. Jennifer, our ten year old daughter, joined the GFS which Mrs Marjorie Edwards had restarted about 1968/70. The following spring would my first encounter with the May Day celebrations.
The girls collected the dresses and bonnets from Mrs Edwards at Challis Farm, made posies and decorated the garland, with greenery, and always the Lodden lillies, which we were allowed to pick from down by the river. The May Queen was chosen by vote by the girls. At 6pm the crowning ceremony would take place on the village cross. We had a large crowd of spectators in those days, one hundred or more. The posies were handed out to the older ladies present.
Dancing followed on the High Street just below the cross. Kathy Stratton did a lot at the time. Eventually I went along to help Mrs Edwards and eventually took over organising the dancing.
We had twenty plus girls at one time. Over the years we had changes of costumes for the girls. The May Queen’s dress had originally been (I think) Mrs Edwards’ wedding dress. The Maypole also suffered and a new one was made from some scaffolding, cut to size to fit into the village hall for practise.
As the traffic grew, we moved the dancing into the garden of The Plough. I played piano accordion. Folk dance friends would come to join me, and so we had plenty of live music. After the Maypole dancing, parents were encouraged to join in and we always finished with the Circassian Circle Dance.
Mrs Edwards retired from the GFS after thirty-two years aged 77. Joy Whitehead then took over the running and I would still go along to help. As time went by the GFS folded and the interest in the Maypole tradition dwindled. Sharon Murphy organised the girls for a number of years and then school asked for it to be part of the school fete. It was never the same.
It is lovely to hear that a group of parents are trying to bring the tradition back and I wish them well.
Diana Wright
Mrs Marjorie Edwards on her retirement from the GFS in 1991
May Day procession to The Cross 1993. Diana and John Wright on the right
Well done Diane, how times have changed and not always for the better. I know my two girls remember their roles. Gillian as Qeen’s escort and Vanessa as Queen with great happiness. Where have we gone wrong? Todays youth are missing so much. How much is down to today’s electronics? Bill Symonds