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29 May 08 - 02:44 AM (#2351673) Subject: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear Dear Everyone, On Sunday 8th. June at 3.00 p.m. the Lewes Arms international dwyle-flunking team, fresh from their victory over the Cliffe Bonfire Society (http://rozsouth.zenfolio.com/p932887481/, more pictures to come) will be playing at home. A challenge has been issued by the East Grinstead Hash Harriers under their fearless captain John 'Yogi' Allen, melodeon player of Brighton Morris, who describes his team as 'a drinking club with a running problem'. As usual, musicians are welcome and will be bribed with free beer by both teams, who can increase their scores by doing so. A fine collection of pictures from the last home match can be seen at http://rozsouth.zenfolio.com/p185248663/. The match will be held at the Lewes Arms, Mount Place, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1YH UK. Kit inspection begins at 3.00 p.m. and a game usually lasts a couple of hours. Here is a brief summary of the rules and history of the game as played at the Lewes Arms: For those of you who have not witnessed this ancient and almost mystical sport, there are two teams of twelve. They dress themselves in bucolic gear and their kit is inspected by the umpire before play begins. Points are deducted for poor turn-out, such as the absence of twirlers (string tied round trouser legs to keep rats out) and excessively flarksy weskits. The first member of the batting side takes a position next to a bucket of carefully-matured beer in which is a swadger (broom handle) with a dwyle (bar towel) wrapped round the end. At a blast on the umpire's duck whistle, music strikes up and out desperately and the members of the fielding team join hands and dance round the 'Batsman' (or woman) in a girter (circle). When the umpire blows again the dancing team must immediately stop, but must not break the girter. The Batsman must then flunk the dwyle at any member of the opposing team. Scoring is one point for a hit on the arms or legs, two for a hit on the body and three for a hit on the head. If they miss, they have to drink a pint straight down in less time than it takes the fielders to pass the swadger from hand to hand round the circle or lose a point. Musicians are protected by heavy fines from being splashed with stale beer and eligible for bribes in the form of free drinks. The Batsman may be fined for hesitation; the fielders may be fined for breaking the circle or moving after the whistle. Anyone may be fined for intimidation. A Batsman who splashes the band or onlookers is fined. A side whose score is weak can improve it by bribing the umpire, scorer or the band with drink, gifts or sexual favours. One year every member of a team gave the umpire a scented candle, so this is not necessarily as attractive as it might sound. Bribes are declared to the scorer and registered in the score book. At the end of the match the losing side may empty the bucket over the umpire. This is obviously a pagan survival which has evaded religious persecution by adopting a faintly Christian disguise. Students of folklore will recognize elements from the Grail legends: the Holy Spear, the vinegar-soaked rag and the vessel of bitter drink. The dancers in their circle echo the twelve apostles, but also the members of a coven. The Batsman is a sacrificial victim who spreads blessing in the form of a stylised asperging before being dispatched for the good of the community. The umpire's fate would have originally been ritual drowning, but appears to have been converted to stylised baptism in accordance with the practices of the more modern religion. Tootle pip, Valmai |
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29 May 08 - 03:11 AM (#2351681) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Les in Chorlton Is it true that Sharp came across a similar practice in the Appalachians on his first visit and collected the details from Ceek Hoon and Mill Egan or perhaps that was a Celtic Connection? |
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29 May 08 - 03:16 AM (#2351683) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Liz the Squeak To play this game properly, it should be cider, not beer and the "batsman" as Valmai so quaintly puts it, is blindfolded. LTS |
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29 May 08 - 03:21 AM (#2351686) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Les in Chorlton Little known fact: Cider was first invented as paint stripper but as paint was yet to be invented people decided to drink it instead- the rest is history ( See Wickedpedia 2008) |
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29 May 08 - 03:26 AM (#2351692) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Liz the Squeak Why do you think it was used for flonking?! LTS |
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29 May 08 - 03:32 AM (#2351697) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Les in Chorlton Its cheaper than beer. Cider is the opposite of homeopathy.Their is nothing in homeopathic preparations so when you are ill they do no harm. Cider is full of poisonous chemicals so when you are healthy it makes you sick. Les |
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29 May 08 - 03:38 AM (#2351700) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: RamblinStu Dwyle flunking was still played in Norfolk when I lived there about thirty years ago, so I wonder if there will be a contingent from that county…… . I never could understand the rules, possibly because there was a fair bit of drinking involved and "Nadging the Nerk" was common in those days (Downing a pint in one) I wish you success with the flunking Stuart Pendrill |
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29 May 08 - 03:40 AM (#2351701) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: RamblinStu And that was a pint of bitter, not cider |
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29 May 08 - 04:03 AM (#2351705) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear Many thanks to everyone for their erudite comments. There are many local variants of dwyle flunking: the one requiring a blindfold is more like Blind Man's Buff. In the Lewes variant it might be kinder to blindfold the spectators; see August 2008 photos I should mention that match fees and a collection will be taken in for the Rhys Jones Memorial Fund. The Rhys Jones Memorial Fund has been launched by members of the local community, in memory of the 11 year old who was killed in Croxteth on 22nd August 2007, to raise money for a community centre to be built on the estate where he lived. "It will", said his parents, Melanie and Stephen, "be the best tribute to our son we could possibly think of and we urge people everywhere to support the project." The centre will be designed to provide a safe place for children and young people to meet and play and will include sports facilities such as all-weather soccer pitches. The centre will proudly bear the name of Rhys Jones and will be a fitting tribute to a boy who would surely have used and enjoyed the facilities himself. Whilst a charity to manage the community centre development is being set up Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services is acting as fund holder for the Rhys Jones Memorial Fund. Send a cheque, payable to Liverpool Unites, to Andy Cook, Marketing Department, Liverpool Echo, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool L69 3EB. Donations to the Rhys Jones Memorial Fund can also be given over the internet through www.lcvs.org.uk or by phone by calling 0151-243 1076. |
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29 May 08 - 04:03 AM (#2351706) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Liz the Squeak Fermented apple pressings, water.. occasionally a bunch of sloes in the final pressing... nothing chemical there. You've been drinking the wrong stuff! LTS |
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29 May 08 - 04:46 AM (#2351724) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Raggytash Don't forget a Rat, if you're making Cider a Rat in the Vat is essential. |
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29 May 08 - 04:50 AM (#2351729) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear I for one won't deviate from my normal policy of drinking Harveys best bitter for this sport (and any other). We've used the rules quoted above for at least the last thirty years at the Lewes Arms. Our most memorable match was in the early 1980s, when we had a three-cornered contest between teams from the Lewes Arms front bar, Glyndebourne (chorus and LPO members) and the Newhaven lifeboat crew. Valmai |
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29 May 08 - 05:01 AM (#2351735) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Dave Earl Hey I'm not working that day (8/6/08) Looks like I will be able to attend this this year. Dave |
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29 May 08 - 05:24 AM (#2351745) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear Great! Would you like to bring a drum or something and join the band? Don't forget we've got Cloudstreet doing an all-day vocal harmony workshop and evening performance at the Lewes Arms folk club the day before. They hope to be able to stay for the dwyle flunking; it might even inspire them to take the sport home to Australia, in which case we could look forward to intercontinental matches in the future. Tootle pip, Valmai |
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29 May 08 - 05:28 AM (#2351747) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Les in Chorlton I trust people will be abiding by the amendments to the rules suggested by Pee Sellers and the Ben Team (1957) |
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29 May 08 - 05:31 AM (#2351752) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Dave Earl Could dust off my banging thing and bring it along. I have to work on the Cloudstreet evening though. Dave |
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29 May 08 - 05:49 AM (#2351757) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Dave Earl Hooray I got it wrong! I finish work at 14:00 on the 7th so I can make the Cloudstreet evening. Dave |
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29 May 08 - 06:32 AM (#2351779) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: My guru always said Excellent explanation (the rest of the world will just love this) and good to see this event publicised, well done Valmai! We'll be in Devon I'm afraid and have to miss both the Dwyle Flunking and the Harmony Day with Cloudstreet (you lucky lot) but know you'll have a Fab time! Enjoy! |
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29 May 08 - 06:52 AM (#2351792) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear Les: no, we won't be following those rules, but the diversity adds to life's rich tapestry. Dave, your banging thing would be an excellent addition to the band. See you for Cloudstreet on the Saturday evening, and make sure you're ready for a floor spot. I could hear you through a couple of walls at Chippenham, so I know you're in good form. Tootle pip, Valmai |
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29 May 08 - 07:27 AM (#2351830) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Les in Chorlton Valmai, go on, go on! |
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29 May 08 - 07:28 AM (#2351831) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Dave Earl Er is there a formal mode of dress for da band? Or will usual silly headgear suffice? Dave |
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29 May 08 - 07:29 AM (#2351834) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Dave Earl |
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29 May 08 - 07:52 AM (#2351858) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: TheSnail Here are some examples of standards you should aspire to, Dave - Picture 1 Picture 2 Picture 3 |
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29 May 08 - 08:17 AM (#2351881) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear Picture 3 shows the hen rinse very common among women of a certain age. This one was quite possibly taken after some cider had been spilled: >Fumes Tootle pip, Valmai |
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29 May 08 - 09:15 AM (#2351925) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Les in Chorlton I have never seen that effect before. Is it intestinal? |
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29 May 08 - 10:07 AM (#2351970) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear No, Church of England. Valmai |
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29 May 08 - 10:49 AM (#2352002) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Les in Chorlton Bless you sister |
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03 Jun 08 - 02:42 AM (#2355893) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Dave Earl Refresh This event needs to be kept in peoples minds. |
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03 Jun 08 - 03:32 AM (#2355910) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear So it does, thanks, Dave. I should mention that it isn't an Indoors If Wet sort of sport. Your usual cap will be fine for the purpose. Tootle pip, Valmai |
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03 Jun 08 - 04:27 AM (#2355926) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Folkiedave I should mention that the batting team aiming at the same person all the time in order to get them disgustingly drunk (preferably the one least used to drink) is known around here in Yorkshire as a "Sir Geoffrey". Years ago Folk Union One and The Bridge Hotel in Newcastle used to meet in North Yorks and (laughingly) help Bill Cowley get his harvest in. This was one of the highlights of the weekend. In fact after this there wasn't much of a weekend left. |
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03 Jun 08 - 09:27 AM (#2356137) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Dave Earl "Your usual cap will be fine for the purpose." I am working on an improvement which involves a cuddly toy parrot. See you Saturday evening. Dave |
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03 Jun 08 - 11:36 AM (#2356229) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Rusty Dobro I'm sure that all of us big-hearted people in Suffolk and Norfolk, where dwile (never dwyle) flunking originated, will graciously allow folks from the Shires (that's everyone not from Suffolk or Norfolk) to enjoy our national game. Royalties payable once we gain our independence from England, though........ |
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03 Jun 08 - 12:13 PM (#2356260) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear Which goes to show that the quality of Mercia is not strained. Thank you very much, o peoples of Suffolk and Norfolk. Ideally our aim should be to get dwyle flunking recognised as an Olympic sport, tegether with stoolball and toad-in-the-hole. Valmai (Lewes) |
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03 Jun 08 - 01:21 PM (#2356331) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: M.Ted Somehow, this thread seems incomplete without evidence of the act itself.Alnwick in 2000 |
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03 Jun 08 - 05:26 PM (#2356609) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Steve Gardham M.Ted, Great stuff. Pretty much how it's been played in Yorkshire since at least the 60s. Just a couple of quibbles: The flonker was lurching rather far from the bucket in flonking the dwyle. Twould be a foul in Yorkshire, and that glass looked to be less than a pint! Just as the fielding team must maintain uniform progress around the circle the flonker must maintain uniform progress in the opposite direction and a sudden lurch towards a victim would constitute a break in that progress, tantamount to hesitation! |
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04 Jun 08 - 03:36 AM (#2356930) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear Many thanks for the link: that's fascinating. The regalia is superb. I particularly like the umpire's Town Crier outfit. This version differs quite a lot from the game as played in Lewes. Our fielding side holds hands and dances round to music. If the batsman misses, he has to drink a pint straight down while the fielding side pass the swadger, not the dwyle, round the ring, and they stand as close together as possible. Another significant difference is that the YouTube clip, being from much nearer the Arctic Circle than Lewes, shows beer with a thick coating of snow on the top. Harveys Best Bitter does not have this impediment to fast swallowing. You may notice in some of the pictures of the last Lewes Arms match that there is a chalk outline of a fallen figure. This has been traditional since one of the players decided to foul the batsman by kicking him while dancing round. The fouler fell with a loud popping sound indicating a badly-damaged ankle and had to be stretchered in an ambulance. It required huge self-control among the free reed players present not to imitate a siren. A quick-thinking but somewhat callous observer borrowed the chalk from the darts board and drew round the fallen athlete. Even after the fame had finished the pathetic outline remained to strike fear into passers-by, with wisps of straw blowing across it and a strong smell of stale beer. Tootle pip, Valmai (Lewes) |
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04 Jun 08 - 01:49 PM (#2357363) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear Apologies for the typos in my previous post. Here is a picture showing the chalk outline being drawn. The picture also gives a good view of the obligatory twirlers and the straw stuffed up the trousers. In all probability this is the explanation for the mysterious figure on the nearby Downs,the Long Man of Wilmington Valmai (Lewes) |
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04 Jun 08 - 03:00 PM (#2357429) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear Aha! Diligent research - not mine - has revealed a MySpace video clip of the match between the Lewes Arms and the Cliffe Bonfire Society at the Cliffe Independence Day 2007, in hideous weather conditions. It conveys the atmosphere very well. Valmai (Lewes) |
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05 Jun 08 - 04:29 AM (#2357969) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear And yet more research has revealed this home match from 2005. It is at our home ground, the Lewes Arms itself. You can hear quite a bit of music. Many thanks to Michael and Trevor Curry for making this available. Valmai (Lewes) |
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05 Jun 08 - 05:48 AM (#2358029) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Dave Earl "explanation for the mysterious figure on the nearby Downs" He's holding a matched pair of swadgers - and very a very nice pair and an unmatched swadger are displayed by the cerne abbas giant (look it up for yourselves if you need to) Dave |
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05 Jun 08 - 06:44 AM (#2358065) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear Dave, you're absolutely right. As his creator is not known, he's carrying what is probably the earliest known example of a folk club: see Cerne Abbas giant . Tootle pip, Valmai |
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05 Jun 08 - 11:33 AM (#2358306) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Liz the Squeak That's the thing he has in his hand, not the other 'club'... The Cerne Giant and I are very well acquainted, I used to work in the village and have spent many a happy hour rambling over the Frying Pan and round the Giant Head. LTS |
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05 Jun 08 - 08:24 PM (#2358906) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: M.Ted I liked the other clips, but I loved the 2005 clip--the music is truly wonderful, and of course," The Snail", and his signature hat, stand out, making it, for our purposes, excellent. |
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06 Jun 08 - 08:07 AM (#2359217) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear Perhaps I should point out that in that clip the one with the horns is me. I hasten to add that they are not the ones I wear on Bonfire Night, which are real. Valmai (Lewes) |
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06 Jun 08 - 11:22 AM (#2359409) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Bee I learn something new every time I read Mudcat. I'm now trying to imagine if there will ever be a circumstance here where I can work Dwyle Flonking into a conversation... or swadger. But it looks like fun. |
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06 Jun 08 - 01:13 PM (#2359483) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: M.Ted Well played, Valmai. |
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08 Jun 08 - 04:19 AM (#2360534) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear Thank you very much, M.Ted, I'm touched. (No surprises there.) The weather is excellent for the match this afternoon. The pitch will be in perfect condition, unlike most of the athletes, and it's probable that the stakes placed by Far Eastern gambling syndicates are reaching record levels. Come along and play some tunes, or come and watch a lot of people making twirps of themselves. The address is the Lewes Arms, Mount Place, Lewes, BN7 2DL, A map can be found here. As explained earlier, a collection is being taken for The Rhys Jones Memorial Fund, in memory of the 11 year old who was shot in Croxteth on 22nd August 2007, to raise money for a community centre to be built on the estate where he lived. Valmai (Lewes) |
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08 Jun 08 - 06:14 AM (#2360556) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear Sorry - the Lewes Arms's postcode is BN7 1YH. The other is my home address - an easy mistake to make. Valmai |
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08 Jun 08 - 06:41 AM (#2360571) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: TheSnail If Far Eastern gambling syndicates are taking an interest, this means that massive bribes will probably be made to players and musicians to try and influence the outcome. Excellent news. |
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09 Jun 08 - 03:24 AM (#2361175) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear The match was a resounding success; over £200 was raised for the Rhys Jones Memorial Fund. Pictures have already appeared here (best viewed as a slideshow). There is a good one of the band, who finished the match exceptionally well-bribed, here . You can see Breton Cap in unfamiliar headgear. The picture was taken before the arrival of the piper Dirk Campbell with a magnificent central European bagpipe called the dudu (I think) which appears to be a hollowed-out goat with cow-horns for drones. It plays in G. People realise this instinctively as their first utterance on seeing the instrument is usually something like 'Gee!' The next match will be on Sunday 17th. August against the Lewes Operatic Society. Appropriate tunes are already under discussion. Tootle pip, Valmai (Lewes) |
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09 Jun 08 - 08:23 AM (#2361314) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear And there is a video of edited highlights from yesterday's match availablehere. It appears that the cameraman was from something called Hot Under The Collar Television, although one of the competitors assured me he was from Reuters. Valmai (Lewes) |
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09 Jun 08 - 08:37 AM (#2361319) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: TheSnail It makes you proud to be British. |
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09 Jun 08 - 06:45 PM (#2361865) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: M.Ted The edited highlights have a much more polished look than the YouTube videos, but the cameraman seems to have gotten caught up in the pageantry, giving short shrift to the flunking, to the point missing the dwyle altogether in critical places. Again, the music is exemplary, and the play leaves outsiders thinking, "Why can't we do more of that sort of thing round here?" A great man once said, "It is the fate of mankind to embark on pointless endeavors"--and this is a pointless endeavor of the most sublime order. Further words fail me-- |
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09 Jun 08 - 08:01 PM (#2361918) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: TheSnail M.Ted to the point missing the dwyle altogether in critical places. He was lucky the dwyle missed him. He was worth ten points. |
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10 Jun 08 - 07:00 AM (#2362157) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear Alas, the Snail was less fortunate; his beautiful concertina got a direct hit from a visiting Australian athlete, who is being sent back to the penal colony she came from and may not be allowed to return. Thank you for your comments on the music, M. Ted. Where is 'round here'? If it's not too far distant and you can raise a team, we might be able to bring this exciting sport to you. We would also settle for being paid to keep away. Actually, it might be a good event for folk festivals provided people have access to laundry facilities afterwards. Dirk Campbell adds this about his filletted replumbed goat: 'The bagpipe is called a doodey, not a dudu (that is a Swahili word meaning 'insect'). The doodey is a species that was quite common all over Europe until the late 15th century but now only survives in the Carpathian mountain area of central Europe. I am trying to reintroduce it to Sussex in the hope that it will breed successfully. Fingers crossed! Dirk' We can only hope it doesn't interbreed with the Sussex puma . The next match at the Lewes Arms will be on Sunday 17th. August, against our traditional opponents the Lewes Operatic Society. Further and better particulars will appear here, I'm afraid. Tootle pip, Valmai (Lewes) |
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10 Jun 08 - 09:45 AM (#2362250) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: TheSnail The doodey might do better here, |
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10 Jun 08 - 09:55 AM (#2362256) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear There's a thought. In fact llamas and alpacas are becoming increasingly common in East Sussex; sooner or later someone will write 'Searching for Llamas'. There is already that telling phrase in 'The Farmer's Toast': 'And the lark is aye mourning a llama,' Valmai (Lewes) |
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10 Jun 08 - 11:03 AM (#2362307) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: M.Ted Unfortunately, I am a long ways away--near Washington DC, in fact. I am not able to put together a team, owing to the fact that, for reasons dating back to the Jansenist,s I am not really on speaking terms with enough people to put together a decent team. Also, I live in the nether reaches of urban sprawl, and and am not proximate to any quaint, cobbled villages where the event could take place, let alone any friendly inns, taverns, or pubs who would sponsor it. We have an "Appleby's" about 4 miles from here, but they have a strict policy against throwing anything, beer-soaked, or otherwise. Finally, people lean toward playing bluegrass hearabouts, which sets a pace seems antithetical to the sport. As a superultimate, though we live in a community that is richly diverse in cultures and ethnicities, all of the groups who have settled here seem to have deeply ingrained biases against having beer soaked rags tossed at them. More's the pity. So there is no helping me, and I must settle for the odd video clip--thank you for sharing! |
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11 Jun 08 - 03:17 AM (#2362952) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear My heart goes out to you. M.Ted. The game might be modified to make it acceptable to your local community, for example by soaking the dwyle in something less controversial, although I can see that bluegrass music could present problems. An international dwyle-flunking league remains an alluring idea. We understand that the East Grinstead Hash House Harriers have invited the Lewes Arms team to a return match in Horsham next year, so that will at least get us into West Sussex. Valmai (Lewes, East Sussex) |
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11 Jun 08 - 02:40 PM (#2363464) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Dave Earl "so that will at least get us into West Sussex." Well ,as it involves crossing a county border (even if only a notional administrative line on a map), it could be said (after a night in the front bar of The Lewes Arms) to be "International" - Harvey's Best Bitter adding strength to all such arguments ( and rule amendments) Dave |
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12 Jun 08 - 07:45 AM (#2364103) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: M.Ted Part of the problem is that there are no real communities here--we are spread out in developments, and most people cannot leave home without using their cars. One could fling the dwyle at cars, but that really is different game. |
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12 Jun 08 - 07:58 AM (#2364110) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: TheSnail M.Ted One could fling the dwyle at cars, but that really is different game. Death Race 2000 could be seen as a development of the same idea with a slightly different points ditribution system. On Sunday someone got extra points for hitting a member of the Lewes Operatic Society while last year someone was severly penalised for hitting the umpire's mother. |
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12 Jun 08 - 01:43 PM (#2364354) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: M.Ted In a slightly serious vein, I have heard that the actors in a famous musical which featured animal puppets play a strikingly similar game on stage--a dwyle-like object is tossed on stage, points being scored for getting it in the mouth of the animals, the game is lost if if the dwyle-like object falls to the stage in sight of the audience-- |
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13 Jun 08 - 07:52 AM (#2364909) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: GUEST Golly, do they? I lead a very sheltered life and would appreciate enlightenment. Is this the Muppetts, the Magic Flute or a stage version of the Chronicles of Narnia? Flinging the dwyle at cars: an interesting suggestion. In this country one sometimes encounters young hopefuls offering to wash the windscreens of cars stuck in traffic jams for money; I don't know where the practice originated. In dwyle-flunking at the Lewes Arms, a car-driver will occasionally insist on bringing a car across the pitch. I have been arguing for some years that when this happens we should offer to wash his windscreen with the contents of the bucket unless he puts some money in the charity collection. Valmai (Lewes) |
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14 Jun 08 - 02:33 AM (#2365652) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Les in Chorlton I was in a team that entered the All Cheshire Finals, Chester Folk Festival around 1974, of a game that seems pretty well the same as that described above but was known as Dwile Flonking. Are these two games related or am I confused? Cheers Les |
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14 Jun 08 - 07:35 AM (#2365738) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear Les, I imagine it must be the same game; it's too much to hope for that separate games have evolved with almost identical names, although it's delightful to see how regional variants are evolving in a living example of the folk process. They are changing by being passed sideways rather than down the generations, which is an interesting phenomenon in itself. I would imagine it's always happened to songs and jokes as well. About thirty years ago I met a bloke who claimed to have represented Cambridge University at dwyle flunking and had a tie to prove it. The tie was embellished with a pair of potties as the Cambridge variant had a penalty of drinking not one pint from a glass, but six pints from a potty. I should think the variant died out pretty quickly, and probably the players as well. Valmai (Lewes) |
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14 Jun 08 - 07:49 AM (#2365749) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear A message has just arrived in my Inbox headed 'Lewes Arms Beijing Pub Olympic Games, 8th - 24th. August 2008'. The intention is to get some sort of sponsorship from the Beijing Chinese Restaurant in Lewes High Street so that the name can be used without fear of misleading the public: 'Proceeds to Sasha Roberts Fund and a foreign charity. Please come to a organising session upstairs at the Arms, 8pm Wednesday 19th June. If you can't get there, have an idea or can help with something, let me know. Among the less lunatic suggestions so far are: Individual Events Indoor Archery (arrows with suckers) Hammerbag (shot put with handbags) Balloon Javelin (long balloons) Feather Duster Fencing Gutterbutts Welly Throwing Shove Ha'Penny Pea Throwing Men's Open Washing-Up Speed Smoking Arm Wrestling Backgammon 3-D Noughts & Crosses Other board games One-Legged Race 5 Minute Chess Pickled Egg Race ? Chinese Egg Race Gurning Carpet Bowls Dust Pan & Brush-the-Street Indominant Hand Tiddlywinks Yard of Ale Reverse 100 Yards Team events Beer Race Flunking - Dave says four teams have expressed an interest Barrel Rolling Four-Legged Race Toads Wheelbarrow Race Scooter Race (like team cycling)' Valmai (Lewes) |
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11 Jul 08 - 04:24 PM (#2386880) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Dave Earl I think that is a weekend in August when I not at a festival. My banging thing and I may attend. Dave |
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12 Jul 08 - 03:41 AM (#2387185) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear Dave, that would be great. A banging thing does help to keep the band together. We'll have a couple of dwyle flunking virgin musicians in the shape of Chris Addison (fiddle, big horseshoe) and Jean Addison (melodeon). My link to a video clip of our last match in the previous post didn't work; I hope this one will. To repeat myself: Click on the tab ANFSCD and then on the picture marked Dwyle Flunking. There are several helpful links in the thread above to photos showing examples of how to dress for the occasion. Valmai (Lewes) |
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05 Aug 08 - 06:56 AM (#2405592) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear Dear Everyone, A reminder that there will be another dwyle flunking match, this time between members of the Lewes Arms front bar and the Lewes Operatic Society, at the The Lewes Arms on Sunday, 17th. August from 3.00 p.m. onwards. As always, musicians will be very welcome, will be eligible for free beer in the form of bribes from the contestants, and will have diplomatic immunity from being splashed with stale beer. Venue: The Lewes Arms, Mount Place, Lewes, East Sussex UK BN7 1YH. For the rules and history, see the first post on this thread. For a video of our last match, click on the tab ANFSCD and then on the picture marked Dwyle Flunking. There are several helpful links in the thread above to photos showing examples of how to dress for the occasion. There will be a collection in aid of a local hospice, St. Peter and St. James. All the (Harveys)best, Valmai (Lewes) |
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09 Aug 08 - 07:44 AM (#2409176) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear refresh |
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14 Aug 08 - 01:19 PM (#2413751) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear Channel Five had a timely item on this, although the Suffolk rules are different from ours: see dwyle flunking on C5 Many thanks to Michael and Trevor Curry for the link. Tootle pip, Valmai |
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15 Aug 08 - 01:51 PM (#2414795) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Dave Earl I'm hoping to be there (avec banging thing) See you there Dave |
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17 Aug 08 - 04:09 AM (#2415895) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear The weather forecast today is for sunshine and showers. The going is expected to be good, favouring the Lewes Arms Front Bar's style of play more than that of the Operatic Society. Despite the distraction of the Olympics, Far Eastern syndicates are rumoured to be watching the match closely. The Ouse Raft race is being held today: it begins at 12.50 from the Rowing Club in South Street, so there is time to watch the rafts move off before blundering up to the Arms for more serious athletic endeavour. Tootle pip, Valmai |
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17 Aug 08 - 06:04 AM (#2415919) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear Dear Everyone, Today's match has been cancelled. Last night Paul Wheeler, a Lewes Arms stalwart, singer and the Archbishop of Commercial Square Bonfire Society, was killed on the road coming back from John Ham's sixtieth birthday party. No-one feels able to continue with the match in the circumstances. Paul was a true Sussex man and will be much missed. Valmai |
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17 Aug 08 - 06:17 AM (#2415922) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Dave Earl Completely understand, given the circumstances. Please pass on condolences and positive thoughts to Paul's family and friends. Dave |
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17 Aug 08 - 06:02 PM (#2416321) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: SussexCarole So sorry to hear this news Valmai. |
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03 Mar 09 - 12:27 PM (#2580366) Subject: RE: Dwyle flunking, Lewes: musicians invited From: Valmai Goodyear Dear Everyone, The now traditional dwyle flunking match will be held as part of Cliffe Independence Day celebrations between a team from Cliffe Bonfire Society and another from the Lewes Arms in Harveys Brewery Yard, Cliffe High Street, Lewes, on the afternoon of Sunday 24th. May. Musicians are needed and free beer is available to make the event even pleasanter. There isn't a loo in the brewery yard, but the facilities of the John Harvey Tavern are nearby and can be used. The match starts at 3.00 p.m. and will take a maximum of two hours. If you'd like to play music for it, let me know. It's like playing session tunes for musical chairs, but messier for the athletes although the rules strictly forbid the splashing of musicians. Tootle pip, Valmai |