Hi Vic. Did the St Helens Band become The Poachers (which was active till recently)? They taught me a lot about calling for church groups etc.

I remember dancing round the kitchen to a radio Barn Dance in the late 60s / early 70s. That was Dick Witt's band, and the caller always said "thank you band" to start them.

Then in the or early 80's (when I'd persuaded Jim that he would enjoy it) we went to Manley dance club (nr Frodsham, Cheshire). A dance from there was broadcast on the radio Merseyside folk programme (Folkweave?)

In Oct 1993,there was a series on Radio 2, and they offered a free booklet with instructions for all dances the programmes. Just when I was thinking about calling for the general public I'd been calling at club for 4 years but beginners is quite different, very useful.
There were 2 Series each with the same bands, but new dances
Pete Coe & Hookes Law
Dave Townsend & the Mellstock Band
Sarah Vanstone 7 Dartmoor PixieBand
Hugh Rippon &High Level Ranters
Eddie Upton & Peeping Tom

Norma still calls The Rock and the Wee Pickle Toe at Manley, from prog 1 of that booklet, and Pete Coe's the Heartbreaker seems to be well established in the Cheshire repertoire.

Then in the late 90s there was an excellent series televised. Maybe for schools. It showed the same dance being danced by adults and children - cut from one to another, very lively. Made it seem like a fun, living tradition not just a PE lesson.