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23 Dec 08 - 04:23 AM (#2522765) Subject: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Mr Red I am planning to be there, work permitting Anyone else? Apart from the ceilidh (Steamchicken & Pete Rees) any sessions and where? |
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23 Dec 08 - 04:49 AM (#2522776) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: My guru always said We'll be there! Just love this festival despite the normal cold weather!! Sessions aplenty, well the town is full of musicians of Morris, Molly & Sword sides. Main problem is getting into them as the places heaves. The Brickmakers is usually well attended & occasionally a song is sung there too. The only Sing that I know of is in the Boat on the Saturday night, anyone know of any others? |
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23 Dec 08 - 05:02 AM (#2522787) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: bubblyrat Been there a few times.....it's usually VERY cold,but a nice atmosphere, good dance-sides and displays,a great location (school hall) for the Saturday ceilidh & Sunday "session"......but the pub sessions can get very crowded indeed, unless you bag a seat early and stay there ! ( ie in the "Bricklayers Arms")---there are other pub sessions scattered about the town, but they too can get VERY busy (it's the weather what does it !). Worth going just to see Pig Dyke Molly (Yaxley Morris as was ),although the weather,if it's wet or icy,can play havoc ; I have seen quite a few dancers (especially Appalachian and cloggers) come to grief and take a tumble. |
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23 Dec 08 - 06:56 AM (#2522846) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Mr Red Unless I am still sleeping I will be within a few strides of the Brickies inner sanctum. Booked a caravan slot and there should be no problem finding room for Rouge Towers. |
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23 Dec 08 - 11:20 AM (#2523006) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: the lemonade lady Er... so when is it? Sal |
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23 Dec 08 - 11:20 AM (#2523007) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: the lemonade lady and do we have to have this bloody advert at the top? |
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23 Dec 08 - 01:03 PM (#2523105) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: treewind Whittlesea Straw Bear 10th January mostly, with things happening on 9th and 11th too. Anahata (who will be playing for Pig Dyke Molly) |
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24 Dec 08 - 03:37 AM (#2523576) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Tradsinger I'll be there. Tradsinger |
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24 Dec 08 - 04:13 AM (#2523604) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Backwoodsman Ummmmm, this might be a daft question but can anyone tell me why it's called Whittlesea Straw Bear? Doesn't it take place at Whittlesey? It's bin puzzling me, sorry if I'm a bit fick! |
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24 Dec 08 - 10:24 AM (#2523834) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: GUEST,English Jon The town is marked on local area maps with one spelling and rail maps with another. It's just one of those odd bits of local inconsistency. Happy Christmas all... Jon |
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24 Dec 08 - 10:30 AM (#2523840) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Backwoodsman Aaa-a-a-a-a-a-h-h-hh! Now I see! Thanks for clearing that up (sorta, kinda)!! Happy Christmas. |
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24 Dec 08 - 11:38 AM (#2523900) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: treewind Whittlesea is, if anything, the older name or spelling. Both are definitely in equal currency. Anahata |
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24 Dec 08 - 01:00 PM (#2523948) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Backwoodsman It's an effin' long way from the sea! :-) :-) |
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24 Dec 08 - 03:13 PM (#2524038) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Noreen 'Twas the sea that moved, not the town! |
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24 Dec 08 - 05:19 PM (#2524108) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: treewind There are lots of place names in the fens that end in -ey or -ea and the suffix means "island". Before the fens were drained the bits of land that were a few feet higher than the other bits were the only inhabitable places. E.g. See Quanea, Nornea, Thorney, Eastrea, Coveney, Stonea, Ramsey, Yaxley, Gedney, Westry (almost certainly same derivation) Welney, Quy (Cow - ey = cow island I'm told), Tilney, Fulney. [that's enough fenland villages - Ed] Anahata |
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25 Dec 08 - 07:03 AM (#2524343) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: GUEST,Once Frozen 'Place names end in -ey'-Anahata. Or sometimes they don't even bother with a prefix viz Eye,just up the road. Incidentally,is there anywhere to put up (I really hesitate to say camp) overnight in Whittlewhatever? It's a great event at just the right time of year-but as others observe,blinkin'nippy. OF |
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25 Dec 08 - 11:49 AM (#2524431) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: treewind First time I ever went, stayed in a B&B, over 10 years ago. SB has got so popular now I'd guess the B&B's are long booked up. Once I made friends with White Rose Morris and camped on the youth club floor with them. Our own guest facilities are already booked.... Anahata |
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25 Dec 08 - 01:09 PM (#2524463) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Fidjit Won't be there this year either. (Errr, Next year 2009) The New Crown usually has a nice lunch time squeeze box session on Saturday. Watch out for the young (he's getting older)fiddler. He plays in F and Bb. Also some nice food outside too. Meat pies to die for! Not to forget the Straw Bear Beer. Special brew. Get some while you can it sells out fast ! Enjoy Chas |
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25 Dec 08 - 07:03 PM (#2524665) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: LesB If a number of you want to eat, it's a good idea to book at the Indian or Chinese in advance, because there is virtually nowhere to get a decent meal in the evening. Cheers Les |
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26 Dec 08 - 01:31 AM (#2524791) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Manitas_at_home You could always find somewhere to stay in Peterborough - it's not far. You just need to check your last train or bus. |
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26 Dec 08 - 04:23 AM (#2524818) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Backwoodsman "it's a good idea to book at the Indian or Chinese" Or the Chineas, or the Chineys or.....!! Just leg-pullin'! Thanks for the info, everyone. It's bin a puzzlement to me for years (and I never even thought about the sea moving, Noreen!). |
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26 Dec 08 - 04:56 AM (#2524827) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: treewind Hi Chas - sorry we won't be seeing you this time. The young fiddler is Tom Moore - he says he's been playing fiddle for 10 years - when I first saw him holding his own pretty well in a session he was only 8! Anahata |
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26 Dec 08 - 08:06 AM (#2524879) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Fidjit Yes I saw him when he was about 8 too! PHEW!! Just befriended him on myspace. Good man. Chas |
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02 Jan 09 - 07:25 AM (#2529511) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: My guru always said Now that the New Year celebrations are over I'm really looking forward to Straw Bear & hoping that it'll get a bit warmer! Don't forget that Derek & Mary will be hosting their traditional Sing in the Boat on the Saturday evening, not sure what time it starts but seats are usually at a premium! |
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02 Jan 09 - 08:30 AM (#2529536) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: GUEST,Gadaffi Re- spelling. Best ask Strawman. He originally spelt it Whittlesey. More recently, the organisers changed it to Whittlesea - I would suppose to give it a greater air of antiquity. Yes, and it's true that British Rail spell the town -sea not -sey. There are worse examples in the south-east! Re- sessions. I've often mused the same. The Boat had the promise of an Irish-ish session last year when I passed through. In the past, there's been music in The New Crown, Old Crown (RIP), Morton's Fork (RIP), George Hotel, Falcon, Bee - but nothing sustained enough to be programmed. I shall be out with the Mepal lads, but the prospect of falling asleep on the train is usually enough to prevent me from bringing my concertina with me. |
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02 Jan 09 - 03:43 PM (#2529896) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: GUEST,Shimrod Did you know that 'Ramsey' means 'Island of the Wild Garlic' (after 'Ramsons' = Allium ursinum)? Similarly 'Ramsbottom' (in Lancashire) means 'Valley of the Wild Garlic'. Oh yes, I can confirm that Whittlesey/sea is spelled both ways. And 'Peterborough' means 'a place ruined by progress'. |
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04 Jan 09 - 05:34 AM (#2531024) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Merek'n'Dary Just to let you singers know that we will be running our usual sing around in the Boat on Saturday from 8.00 pm. Hope to see you there! Merek'n'Dary |
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06 Jan 09 - 01:51 PM (#2533135) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Carol Yesterday I've got the all clear from the quack so intending to get down on Friday, few years since we've been, the B was where things were happening then |
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07 Jan 09 - 07:58 AM (#2533937) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: GUEST,Whether 4 cast weather is set to be -4 to 2 on Fri (assume cold Fri morning) and 2 to 4 Saturday so cool but not freezing. So no skating on the River Nene (is it still pronounced Nenn that far east?) |
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07 Jan 09 - 08:41 AM (#2533975) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: IanC pron. Nenn in Northants, Neen in Cambs as a rough guide. :-) |
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12 Jan 09 - 05:49 AM (#2537927) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Mr Red Fantastic week-end. Frost inside the caravan, fog, chill winds and the water tap frozen. But Oh the atmosphere! More than made up for it. Didn't want to come back to work............. |
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12 Jan 09 - 11:54 AM (#2537983) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: treewind Fantastic weekend for us. The coldest straw bear ever, according to several people I know who have been for a good few years. And I didn't go to work this morning - such a bad sore throat I had to take the day off! Anahata |
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12 Jan 09 - 03:21 PM (#2538199) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: My guru always said Definitely the coldest I remember & I've been to a few *grin* |
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12 Jan 09 - 03:28 PM (#2538205) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: GUEST,33 1/3 Cold,it was cold enough to buy a pair of long johns!but the company was warm and very friendly,see you again next year? |
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13 Jan 09 - 11:55 AM (#2538816) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: IanC Nothing like the coldest, I'm afraid ... but it was pretty cold. ;-) |
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14 Jan 09 - 04:07 AM (#2539396) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: GUEST,Gadaffi ... and, in case no-one else says it, thanks Brian for your vision back in 1980 in organising WSB and every year since then. See you in 2010, if not before. |
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15 Jan 09 - 10:37 AM (#2540346) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: GUEST,Mr Red Long? How long? |
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15 Jan 09 - 06:36 PM (#2540833) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Mrs.Duck Have we missed it then? |
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17 Jan 09 - 07:18 AM (#2541166) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: GUEST,Mr Red Fraid so. |
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17 Jan 09 - 10:33 AM (#2541304) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: 33 1/3 Long john was a bit longer than he thought he was!!! |
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17 Jan 09 - 04:35 PM (#2541646) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: GUEST,brian Forget the Pseudonym I've come out of the wardrobe. Thank you to you all for making Straw Bear 2009 the best yet, but it was bloody cold. Mind you, we take the Bear to Bad Canstatt (Stuttgart) on Thursday for their European Mask Festival. Look us up on www.narrenfest2009.de www.narrenfest2009.de I recon it will be colder out there than in Whittlesey this year. Whittlesey (the contemporary spelling), means island ( all the eys and eas were islands in the fens) belonging to Mr Whittle. It was, before it was drained, next to the largest lake in southern England ( called Whittlesea Mere) and had access to the sea, some 70 miles away. The nobs could, with a little local help, sail from London to Peterborough. We use both names just to continue the confusion and fuel the debate. Thanks again and gan canny.Ps I don't think I got the blue clickey right. |
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18 Jan 09 - 01:46 PM (#2542364) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Noreen Try this link instead, brian |
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18 Jan 09 - 01:52 PM (#2542369) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: treewind What are the dates for Straw Bear 2010 ? I assume Jan 8/9/10 but I need to know definitely and reliably... Brian - are you still reading? Anahata |
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18 Jan 09 - 04:54 PM (#2542534) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: GUEST,Edthefolkie Blimey, if it's that cold over there in the fens I hope those naked morris dancers on the other thread didn't turn up! |
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19 Jan 09 - 04:39 AM (#2542847) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Fidjit Not Brian any more it's Robert Taylor. Chas |
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19 Jan 09 - 06:10 AM (#2542902) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Wyrd Sister "The Straw Bear in 2010 is going to be a week later than usual. It will be the 15th, 16th and 17th January 2010." From this year's programme. website |
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19 Jan 09 - 06:27 AM (#2542916) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Rasener Well I clicked that link, but couldn't see where it said anything about 2010 |
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19 Jan 09 - 06:57 AM (#2542932) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: treewind Ah - confused me too. I think WS means the printed programme. The info is not on the web site, first place I looked. Anahata |
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19 Jan 09 - 06:59 AM (#2542935) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Rasener Anahata 9th might be OK Les |
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19 Jan 09 - 09:10 AM (#2543004) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Wyrd Sister The dates are indeed from the official printed programme. The link is to the Straw Bear website, which I presume will be updated nearer the time. Give 'em a break! |
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19 Jan 09 - 01:43 PM (#2543248) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: Merek'n'Dary Thanks to all you singers that joined us for our annual singaround in the Boat on Saturday night. After a slow start it turned out to be a very pleasant evening. However, each year it is getting harder to claim our room as more and more people seem to be coming to Strawbear as an excuse for a drinking binge, rather than coming for the wonderful music, dance and of course the Bear! Next year we are considering having our official sing on Friday night and then only doing something on Saturday night if the room becomes free later. What do people think? We also echo the thanks to Brian and all the Strawbearers for this wonderful event ..... Long may we follow the Bear! |
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21 Jan 09 - 03:27 PM (#2545355) Subject: RE: Whittlesea Strawbear (UK) Festival From: GUEST,Brian Straw Bear 2010 is 15, 16 and 17 January. One week later than usual. Saturday the 16th is the only day a bear appears in public. Glad you all had a good time I will drink a wheat beer to you all in Stuttgart tomorrow evening when we will be out and about hunting the cork so we can black our faces, I wonder where we'll find them? Some good Straw Bear stuff on U tube at the moment. See you about, Dert, Shepley, Rothbury and Bromyard so far. Gan canny Brian |