Padstow Darkie Days

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: GUEST,milk monitor
Date: 26 Feb 05 - 02:42 PM

cats, did you mean the UK national Channel Four TV Company? I have a very good friend who has worked within their news team.

He is currently abroad on an assignment, but due to return to the UK within a few weeks, I will ask him about their involvement in the filming and get back to you.

You state the costumes and songs have changed. Could you advise me when this change took place and why it took place? Thankyou.

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: breezy
Date: 26 Feb 05 - 05:05 PM

My head hurts.

El Greko tomorrow at the legion

and we welcome you all to join , if you want.




Now listen up you Mudcatters outside the U K

Wales, played 3 won 3,we've killed off the french the italians and the english now only the Irish and Scots to beat up and Wales will rule again.

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Peace
Date: 26 Feb 05 - 05:22 PM

Them's fightin' words, breezy.

(Is that about soccer, cricket, golf--WHAT?)

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Compton
Date: 26 Feb 05 - 08:42 PM

Brittania Coconut Dancers (Bacup) Easter Saturday...watch out, boys for (Folk) Police Cameras!!

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Feb 05 - 08:50 PM

Although I see both sides of this, I think we're looking through different glasses. There is no way an American, particularly a black American whose attitude we all totally understand, can bring his value judgements to bear on Britain. We have different cultures. I travel to countries with different cultures and I try hard not to judge them by my country's history. Only a few sea miles from britain is France, A Republic that, for many Brits, is like another planet,for others, like Paradise. America and race relations go hand in hand, for those of us over here, it's all more subtle.
One of my great regrets is that almost no black people are ever seen at folk events, nowhere near the number that would represent their small percentage of the population even.Culturally there is very little mix and I regret this. Amongst musicians colour has never been an issue, but i'd love to see more black faces in the audiences and at festivals.

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Feb 05 - 08:59 PM

breezy runs a folk club? The sheer rudeness in his last post may help you understand why black people aren't seen. Hey breezy you did el greko a great dis service with that post.

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Feb 05 - 09:39 PM

cornish racism figures.

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Cats
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 02:36 AM

Milk Monitor - One of the merrymakers has told me, no it's not me, that Channel 4 TV had a news crew there filming as they had been given a tip off that there was going to be a huge news story. Had there been then I'm sure that they would have run the story. The style of make up and words to songs which may have been deemed offensive were changed quite a few years ago because the people of Padstow didn't want to cause offence to anyone. Ziggy, the West Indian postman who lived in Padstow, used to go out with them and he saw nothing to cause offence. After the complaints by Bernie Grant the enquiry that ensued also found it not to be racist. The press are having a field day perpetuating the myth of how it used to be.

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Rasener
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 02:50 AM

Guest - why haven't you put your name on your post?

i think you have misread the situation regarding Breezy and El Greko.

They happen to be the best of mates.

This is exactly how things get taken out of hand. It would seem like you are calling Breezy a rascist. dear dear another example of somebody getting the wrong end of the stick.

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Peace
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 02:55 AM

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: breezy - PM
Date: 26 Feb 05 - 05:05 PM

"My head hurts.

El Greko tomorrow at the legion

and we welcome you all to join , if you want.




Now listen up you Mudcatters outside the U K

Wales, played 3 won 3,we've killed off the french the italians and the english now only the Irish and Scots to beat up and Wales will rule again."

That is breezy's last post. I fail to see how that can be considered rude? Hell, that must be the same guest fronm another thread.

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 03:38 AM

Just to clear the air re Breezy:

He's a short hairy Welsh git (well, he went and had a haircut, so not so hairy now), full of energy despite his xx years (or was it xxx?), busks most days in hail and snow (even in the summer) collecting for the Leukaemia Busters charity (averages a couple of thousand pounds every year for them), a cracking performer especially when he gets passionate (the Welsh bit), and honourary Cornishman (lived there for many years, and still goes back every chance). Known variously as "the Padstow Harbour Busker", "the St Albans Busker", "the Mudcat Thread Hijacker", or "that annoying little p***" depending on your point of view. I Have no view on the last of those - literally.

He DID put in for Welsh Ambassador, but with the diplomacy gland removed at an early age, he stood no chance, so he runs the St Albans Windward and Spotlight folk clubs instead, in true democratic style similar to Attila the Hun. He is a tireless seeker for new talent, musically too, and promotes them shamelessly.

His reference to "played 3, won 3" refers to the Six Nations Rugby Challenge, where the Welsh have thrashed their opponents to date. "Kill" here is meant figuratively, I think.

And yes, he's a mate.
In the platonic sense, I hasten to add.
I may be Greek, but not THAT Greek...

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 03:40 AM

Did I say he's a mate?
(that'll be fifty quid, John)

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Rasener
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 04:29 AM

I hope Breezy is still talking to you after all wat u sed George :-)

It's been a long time since he has been able to gloat about the Welsh Rugby team, so I suppose us English need to give him his hour of glory.

The hills are alive to the sound of Breezy :-)

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Cllr
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 05:01 AM

Breezy is performing at ampthill acoustic club on the 8th of March Thats AMPTHILL ACOUSTIC CLUB.
El grecko is performing there on the 17 May
and I am lucky enough to call both friend. Thay may call me something entirely different. Both have different nationalities- One is greek the other wales/cornish/planet breezy and as far as the rugby goes I support two teams England and anyone playing France. Cllr

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: My guru always said
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 06:01 AM

Well, I'm sure glad we cleared that up about Breezy - well said George, The Villan & Cllr!

Doesn't it just show how easy it is to misread stuff in black & white when you're:

a) emotional
b) tired
c) not sober
d) of different cultures
e) trying to put across your own opinion
f) not open-minded enough
g) a stranger to the person whose post you've just read
h) etc

Honestly, this thread has shocked me & also opened my eyes to the cultural differences between us. We all have our own baggage and this colours our judgements. Different culture & experiences equals different reactions.

These are hot topics touching our hearts, the horror of racism and the pride in traditions going back hundreds of year, some as far as pre-Christian Pagan times. There has been excellent input to this thread from both sides of the pond. Lets not lose track of our love for our fellow man!

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Cats
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 07:42 AM

Well said Guru.

Now onto serious matters... welsh rugby... YES!!!!!

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: GUEST,milk monitor
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 08:14 AM

cats, channel four could also have been there doing a harmless doc on Brit traditions. I'll see what I can find out for you.

If, as you say the songs and costumes have changed because some found them offensive, then you probably have more of an issue with your own local paper describing the event in the words I quoted above.As I said that quote is ten months old.

And also the recently published book, I put a link to, that reported on the event in the same vein. If that is the information being put out, and you disagree with it, challenge it with those putting it out, because it goes towards what you will be judged upon. Fairly or otherwise.

As to the rest of the posts, since our own, I think what had been a very interesting discussion was abruptly ended by those who had no interest in discussing. Why?

And I also agree that it was very rude and did no favours for those trying to uphold a tradition they clearly hold dear.

This is a worldwide forum, and as such not everybody knows or is interested in who breezy is, all they will take from his post is that his self importance made him think he had the right to jump in and call a halt to proceedings. Further supported by a few others who also had no interest/ability in discussion.

There was no need for it and all it showed was their own narrow mindedness. It is that very attitude that undermines your cause.

To those affected by racsim it is a serious issue. Those who ridicule the issue are part of the problem, not the solution.

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Rasener
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 08:45 AM

Nobody is ridiculing the Issue MM. As far as us folkies are concerned, morris dancing etc is related to tradition, not rascism.

You seem to be hell bent on trying to make it a rascist issue. I have yet to meet somebody in the folk world in the UK who is rascist. Can you tell me who they are?

Is the folk scene in America Rascist?

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: breezy
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 08:57 AM

Hello El greko

I take it ,thats a No then?

Cheap at the price.

Thanks to all my friends here who yet again have come out on top.

werent all the slaves that went to the states from cornwall white prisoners who were 'transported 'for their crimes?

One story has emerged in song ,called 'Transportee' written by a Padstonian. To my knowledge Moses knows it well enough to perform.

Then if I maybe so bold as to point out that slaves were from many ethnic origins ans not exclusivly one race.

When was the last time the States played an international match against another country! It happens all the time here -and I'm talking sport -? perhaps they ought to get away more!! Come and visit us and experience our folk clubs and hear some really good writers of songs.

which reminds me that we have Britains leading greek singer songwriter appearing tonight at ....well you know all that anyway.

Now, who saw the tsunami comic show last night and what did you think about the closing act?

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: breezy
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 09:06 AM

Les, wait your turn next time. Its not a race.

'Milk Monitor' , that name alone in some circles will be interpreted by some through word association as 'White Overseer' or some such.

Isnt that a daft thought?

While all the time you were a milk monitor when at school.

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Rasener
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 09:11 AM

:-)

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 09:14 AM

Villan, I don't know whether the Padstow Darkie Day business is based on morris dancing, or morris dancing gone wrong, or somethingelse entirely. But according to Cats, it was once overlaid with racist bells and whistles and now is not. Where and what is the traditional bit in all this?

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: breezy
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 09:19 AM

*****
   /   \
G <> <> Q
   \ o /
    [o]
    *#*

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Rasener
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 09:29 AM

Peter I put my comments earlier about what the event should be about. 26th feb 7:25am.
I wasn't there so I can't really comment on what the press has reported.

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 10:47 AM

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2003/09/277884.html

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 11:35 AM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/3665066.stm

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 11:46 AM

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,439681,00.html

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: GUEST,WYSIWYG
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 11:54 AM

What I see here are a lot of good people trying to have a meaningful discussion in good faith, but it does not seem to be actually working.

A couple of observations:

1. All human beings are affected by racism, in direct and indirect ways. ("Affected by" and "targeted by" are not the same thing.)

2. Racism means many things to many people, and not everyone means the same thing by the word. It can mean discriminatory behavior, violence, discomfort, rekindled memories.... all sorts of things. Until one learns what it means to the one using the word, discussion (underneath the outer layer) is about... apples and machine oil! :~)

3. Respect for someone else's culture gets to be a tricky thing in a multi-cultural setting. We all have hot-buttons of one sort or another that make it hard to "hear" one another. Yet we yearn to understand one another, and to be understood, so we often rush ahead of the resources to actually DO it.

4. "Culture" is not a pure, pristine thing devoid of patterns of wrongness toward people of other cultures. It's a mix, and sometimes, a mess. We acquire it from people we love and respect. Taking out the things we decide, later, were wrong, is very hard to do, and it can't be forced on people except as regards behavior.

5. "Respect our UK traditions and culture" has as much value as "respect our US traditions and culture." Around Mudcat it has too frequently become the fashion to judge first, then attempt to sort out the cultural issues. The balance tips back and forth across the pond, usually with little or no undersanding being gained.

6. I have spotted as many as six separate and distinct on-topic conversations going on in this thread, with people responding to what one person has said as tho it were directed to one of the specific conversations in progress-- but usually it had been aimed at a different conversaton! The usual reaction seems to be, "I didn't mean that" or "I didn't say that" or "You don't understand." This defensivenss should not be a surprise in such loaded-with-distress topics.

7. In diffucult areas like this topic, it all often boils down to, "No-- YOU should have understood ME, MY hurts, MY fears, MY values." But once it gets difficult, usually no one is thinking differently! No one is listening to YOU, tending instead to listen to themselves.

8. It turns out that topics like this can be handled more effectively in PMs or email. Some of y'all might want to try it there, one on one. Another good place to handle them is in Chat, where whatever is misunderstood can be cleared up before the reaction gets too far away from one.


Just some things to think about. Not a judgment or a criticism. Just the stuff I see after years of working with groups that are trying to discuss hot topics.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 12:12 PM

what I see is a thread started by a post to a discussion forum. anyone who chooses to go off topic has the facility of pm's and email. anyone who wishes to reamin on topic has the thread. anybody uninterested can ignore the thread.

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: GUEST,WYSIWYG
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 12:30 PM

Yes, and that would be lovely, really. But that isn't how people actually TICK. They (we) react, and then misunderstanding abounds. I bet a lot of people here think they ARE on topic but actually, they are on a subtopic that's running amok.

I think it's a fear thing. In a discussion in person, I would ask each person to quietly name what it is they are afraid of in this topic, and I would ask the others to just listen, take it in, not repond, and share what THEY are afraid of. From there it would all be an entirely different discussion, but it still would be on the topic.

In an environment like a thread, tho, people tend not to get to that basic level first and work from there, but to start from the most outward layer. Then one wonders why it's not going well, as the inward stuff keeps cropping up in disguise.

Just something to consider. If anyone posting everyone in this thread picked ONE other person from it, to discuss some aspect via PM, I bet they both would come back with some very valuable insights about the topic.

I'm NOT saying "you should do this" or "this thread ought to be closed." I'm just saying, if the topic really interests anyone, there is an effective way to get at the issues and obtain some mutual understanding, and having done this myself on a number of occasions, I can recommend doing that.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 12:42 PM

i think the posts sent to derail this thread by not even assuming to have any relation to it speak volumes. they ended sensible debate and lost their casue in one foul swoop. give 'em enough rope and they can't fail to swing. i also doubt if anyone originally interested in the debate wishes to continue. their point of view has already been put across. and the responses recieved give them their answers.

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 01:00 PM

Pay attention, people:
The United States of America is NOT the world. Other people have different customs.
Get used to it.

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 01:33 PM

wysiwyg perhaps linking this thread to any decrying the demise of folk clubs in UK would be more suitable. :^))

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 05 - 02:57 PM

Who was that masked man?

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Cats
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 02:44 AM

Peter - show me where I have said it was 'overlaid by racist bells and whistles'. Never. Please do not attribute to me something I have never said. What I did say was that some years ago it changed because they did not want to offend anyone.

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 04:19 AM

Cat's opening post 'Two or three years ago Bernie Grant MP tried to get it stopped as he considered 'blacking up' was racist.'

Bernie Grant died FIVE years ago.

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Cllr
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 04:45 AM

yes and Grant got involved in it by calling for a ban in 1998 as I refereered to earlier don't believe me check on google its well documented. Trying to say that cats was wrong because her timing wasn't specific enough for you is is just pedentry.
I used to work for the the Crown Prosecution service on special cases which included among other things "incitment to racial hatred" all cases in Engalnd are dealt with in one office to assure a equality of treatment throughout the country (the same is true of "indecent publication")
I have been to padstow for the the may day celebration and while I ealise that does not make me an expert and I avoided getting involved in the debate specific because a lot of the points I would make have already been made.
Blacking up for guising mumers is not I repeat not Racist while dressing up as black men singing "polly wally doodle or whatever" is at best distatseful and worst Racist.
The issue in england is basically in Padstow mummery OR minstrals.

One thing I can catagorically say without a shadow of a doubt and no hesitation is that cats is not in any way shape or form, by act deed or thought, racist. Cllr

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 05:08 AM

On Darkie Days the local people in Padstow, as in so many other places across the UK and beyond, black up and go Guising.

This issue is ONLY about Padstow. Cornwall has enough race issues without adding to them.

The style of make up and words to songs which may have been deemed offensive were changed quite a few years ago because the people of Padstow didn't want to cause offence to anyone.

Guising isn't what has caused the offence and media interest. Padstow's ignorance on what guising is meant to represent has done the damage. Independent reports from those with no vested interest in the tradion or axe to grind against it, do not support Cat's opinion that their make up and songs changed 'a few years ago'. (or does she mean Bernie Grant years?)

The police consulted with the organisers this year, before any filming took place. So the good people of Padstow had plenty of notice to ditch the afro wigs and ni**er songs. Why don't they accept their errors in good grace.

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 05:49 AM

Cats, "bells and whistles" was my paraphrasing and was too strong, for which I'm sorry. Perhaps you could explain in what way the custom changed, and in what ways it might previously have been causing offence.

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: GUEST,Cats
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 05:57 AM

Thanks, Cllr. Those who know me know that I could never and would never support anything I considered to be racist in any way shape or form. I would be the first to stand up and try to get it stopped and have done in the past. If you look at everything I have said I have reported what is going on as I have concerns that, if it is events such as Rochester Sweeps could also be considered racist. It is something that we need to watch. I have never come down on one side or the other. I have tried to right some perpetuated myths. E.g. It is conveniently forgotten that the story, and it is a story as there is no truth in history to support it, of the people of Padstow seeing the slaves and blacked up was to help them escape by everyone blacking their faces and hiding the slaves amongst them! Now, if by saying that you think I am a racist then that is your problem and not mine.

Yes, I know that Cornwall is the third most racist county in the country behind Northumbria and Devon and I am trying to change it - and I am putting my name to it. At the launch of the policy document 2 weeks ago it was spelt out, in no uncertain terms, that the way to combat racism is to educate our children. That's what I am trying to do. Now, if you think that having Darkie Days is the whole reason behind the problem in Cornwall, which some 'guest' seems to imply by putting in the links to it, then you are way off the mark. Hardly anyone down here even knew about DD before it hit the press.

Now, I'll get on with doing my bit to combat racism, and I'll also get on with making sure all the rich traditions from all over the UK are not forgotten by the next generation - and that they understand their origins.

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 06:43 AM

So, to repeat Peter's question, what were the changes made to song and costume and why?

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 07:27 AM

Like Spot earlier I appear in a Pace Egg Play every Easter - Same one in fact! We have had the discussion on that topic before. I am quite happy to defend that tradition but I am very unsure about Afro wigs and minstrel songs. I think I said in the thread on Mumming (AKA Pace Egg) that there was a world of difference between the UK style of Mumming and the potentialy offensive mimicry of the Black and White minstrel. The Padstow 'tradition' has got me wondering if that is always true.

I would not dream in a million years of wearing an Afro wig or singing 'de Camptown races' while I was in black face. I have no idea whether the people doing such things are racist or not. I must however agree with Azizi on this one. I seriously question the sensitivity, and possibly inteligence, of anyone who does don full minstrel 'guise' thinking that they will cause no offense. What is more the afro wig and minstrel song has nothing whatsoever to do with the tradition that pre-dates these affectations. Why on earth have th egood people of Padstow allowed this sort of nonsense to infiltrate there otherwise excelent piece of local colour? (Pun almost intended but withdrawn on grounds of taste:-) )

If this tradition has become a tastless piece of mimicry then yes, by all means put a stop to that side of it. But please don't tar all traditions with the same brush. (Sorry - bad taste pun again...)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 07:40 AM

I would be more than interested to know whether the Padstow tradition started like the other Morris and Mumming traditions and then became 'hijacked' by the people wanting to act like Al Jolson? If so it is something we will have to watch for. Wonder if this happened in the US as well - Which is why the Mummers parade there has become the minstrel mimicry whereas the Mumming play here has not yet been infected?

Perhaps we have a Black and White minstrel virus travelling across the Atlantic? Wonder if Symatec know about it...

:D

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Doktor Doktor
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 08:55 AM

Anyone got a spare teacup?

Mines broken ...

....... appears to have suffered a localised hurricane ............

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Compton
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 09:00 AM

I think the crux of the matter is the (perhaps) unfortune title "darkie days!"..Putting on a black face, ergo; Border Morris, Coconut dance, Mummers Plays have no relevance to racism. It is and always was purely to disguise / "to be unrecognisable". all Padtoww have to do to escape the Racism Police is to (slightly) rethink the name of the day...then (almost) EVERYONE will be happy!

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Snuffy
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 09:41 AM

Almost all the traditional Mummers plays collected in and around Warwickshire seem to end with a minstrel song: Camptown Races, Old Bob Riddley and Not For Joe are the favourites. This is because they were collected in the late 19th or early 20th century, long after the minstrel craze had swept Britain. The old songs previously sung were simply swept away by the new craze.

We would love to sing the songs that pre-1840 mummers used to sing rather than sing the minstrel songs, but there is no evidence for us to go on. We have been looking for some possible mummers songs for a while now with no success.

In the meantime, for lack of anything more traditional, we are forced to stick to the songs given by the collectors. Can anyone help with old material?

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: Doktor Doktor
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 11:00 AM

Got nothing old - but our calling-on song is an adaption of the pace-egging song (if that helps)- see
http://www.beerfordbury.co.uk/BBTWTA/stgeorgetxt.htm
& http://www.folkplay.info/ for useful info & links. That nice Mr Shuttleworth might have some ideas ....

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: mg
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 09:42 PM

Here are my suggestions for the situation. I am in the US, so please feel free to make suggestions about any traditions we have here likewise, many of which we have had to revise etc. I think it is just one of those things where the origins are lost in history, no offense is meant, but yet....I would suggest some sort of committee be formed that communicates with various parties, and regardless of other suggestion, rename the event to something like "Padstow Olden Days" or something....anything..eliminate entirely any use of the word "n...", and change the blackface to other colors, purple, whatever, and inform the community of the reason for the changes. mg

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: The Shambles
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 03:29 AM

The Cornish wouldn't treat them any differently from any other outsiders. *Smiles*

Subject: RE: Padstow Darkie Days
From: breezy
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 04:28 AM

I know the Padstow people.

If you dont like it do let them know and they will tell you.

It is not good manners to talk behind peoples backs.

'Who do you think you are?' is the attitude it tends to engender.

And Sod off

There is absolutely nothing racist in the activities in Padstow and to imply such is to to cast a slur on a communty which is how divisions occur and maybe this thread was begun as a 'flamer'

The tunes that these good people play on their accordions and drums as they pass from pub to pub demanding money -with menaces i.e. give us money or we'll stay and play some more!! are well known, popular and now fairly recogniseable!!!

Its a close knit communty, rarely found these days and very protective and proud of their trads so outside interference is not always welcome, as they say.

Anyone moving to the area finds it very difficult to be accepted.

Do they need educating? or is it the way we all act.Is Padstow a microcosm. If you go into someones home you may not agree with what goes on so do keep yourself to yourself.

All decent Padstonians will heed and listen and no doubt will adapt.

At least they celebrate, share a communty spirit and have something to offer.

No slot machines in penny arcades there -yet, just overpriced retaurants.

May day this year will be celebrated not on the 1st , because it falls on a Sunday, therefore celebrations will take place on Monday 2nd May.

That fact says much for the respect of the town.

The day is for Padstonians many of whom return for the day, but visitors are always welcome.

Little Lise??? or Little Eyes. Why isnt it another Cornish Anthem!!!

Well it is now.

We all absorb influences from different cultures, I play a guitar.

Storm over? teas gone cold.

'Going to build a mountain'