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Saxon or Dane?


The Barwicker No 17 March 1990


This is an account of a Barwick May Carnival, not in a maypole year, taken from 'Ye Attic Abode Log Book' with the original title. It was written by J.T.Friedenson, one of the band of emancipated artists who used the thatched cottage in Main Street as a weekend and holiday retreat around the turn of the century. The other players in this high farce are Billy Lamb, the Barwick herbalist, Ernest Forbes, Billy Francis and William Alban Jones, (see 'The Barwicker' No.9), whose sons Kenneth and Denis Mason Jones have given us permission for the inclusion of this article.

'It was a happy inspiration that we joined in with the villagers on Whit Tuesday, in the May Carnival. There was not wanting brilliant, weird and most extraordinary schemes for costumes and period, this giving everybody a delightful opportunity to be darned funny. It was suggested that Billy Lamb went as 'He of the Knotted Knee' in the Pre-historic rig-out of a sheep-skin and gay decorations of woad on his curves brandishing a huge club, Francis as a Celt in the Stone Age in the altogether, a fine chance to display to great advantage his colossal muscles developed on the Golf Links, Billy Jones as Hereward the Won't Wake clad in Saxon night-shirt, Ernest and myself as the two Arab Sheikhs in spotless white turbans and robes - named Mustapha Gotten and Bygum Arabic.'

'In a very short space of time we tore through the history of the world and had marked many interesting periods to work out. There was the lusty old Stone-ager, who chased playfully his ladylove along the banks of the Cock Beck with a big club, to drag her to his abode, "What Ho!" A fiery whiskered Viking who had landed at Scar borough and had come "beserking" over the Wolds to have a good time round Elmete. There were Britains, Romans, Saxons, Danes, Normans, English, etc. doing the most hair-raising deeds in the vicinity of peaceful old Barwick. The sylvan glades and copper beeches of Parlington were re-peopled with blood -thirsty (not to mention beer-thirsty> savages up to all sorts of larks. Encamped round the Hall Tower were Roman sports hailing in the classic names of Caius, Augustus, Julius, Marcus, Brutus and Virginius and saying the epics of Homer and Virgil; not mark you, the homely St1vvy Kelly, Jack Fowler or Bill Shackleton swigging ale and yelling the "Bramham Moor Fox Hounds". We had a good time suggesting our different schemes.'

'Alban, as it was getting very late (no doubt he was thinking of bed), said we might be serious for five minutes and decide on something within our capacity of making and paying for, so we decided on Saxon costumes. We called on Homburgs Theatrical Costumiers and bought what we thought necessary. While waiting for our purchases, we tried on pantomime masks, bald-heads, queer noses, helmets and enjoyed the tranformations at each others expense. Then we called at Smiths and bought some yards of Roman satin and other things and Ernest and I brought the lot out to Barwick by train.'

'How the costumes were made in the Bank Holiday and how the fair maidens from Scholes came down and cut and stitched, whilst we kept trying them on and fighting like girls for the looking- glass and how we had tea in the parlour and William played the dainty Bach dance is soon told; Ernest enlarged on the details and I give his version, a cutting from the Evening News.'

'The next morning every head in the village popped out to see what sort of day it promised, (very doubtful), though that did not damp the young blitheful spirits of the May Queen, her attendants and the village children, both large and small. Jack Fowler came in early to the Black Swan fully clad according to his conception of the noble Red Indian; he had come to borrow an Indian club to complete his "tout ensemble". That was the first time I had seen a Red-man using gymnastic clubs. They certainly did not when I read of them in Fenimore Cooper or saw them in Buffalo Bill's Show. Possibly the Savage Club in Leeds is responsible.'

'Of course, as we had intended to be up with the lark, we came to breakfast at 11 o'clock. Having to decorate a waggon at Reeds, we took round all the bunting, ribbons, tacks etc. and began. Luckily we were under the shelter as a slight shower set in, which somewhat slackened our enthusiasm. There was an interesting diversion as a huge Shire stallion pranced in on "Affaires L'Amour" evidently bent. Then again the noble Barwick Red Indian appeared - he wanted a "hoss". Reed gave him the loan of a bony old plough horse that might have been a descendent of "Rosinante".

'Happy Sam was engaged to drive the waggon. Alban threw his money about in the most reckless fashion, offering 3d. a bunch for Hawthorn Blossom or Green Boughs. Well, we donned the cart up somehow, though there was little to brag about when we saw later the waggon of the May Queen. We hastily swallowed some food, all eager to don the Saxon costumes despite the threatening heavens. Billy Francis turned up at the last minute, making five of us.'

'There was swearing and cursing as someone couldn't find his wig or battle-axe, another couldn't make his moustache stick on and a general melee for the one looking-glass as was rehearsed the previous afternoon. When at last we ventured forth in the street, we were received with cheers and jeers, though there were some broad grins as well as jests from the envious youths in the village. We with the eyes of 'an ork' saw many a fair maiden eye us up not at all unfavourably (What Ho! at dusk dancing on the green!) and that made our manly chests expand and gave courage and boldly we mustered for procession. To look kind of unconcerned as if we did it every day, we smoked pipes and Woodbines, which was slightly departing from the Saxon Costume.'

'We were hugely cheered by the ladies who kindly made our costumes, and mine hostess of the Black Swan and other ladies waved their handkerchiefs as they glanced at the sheep-skins on our massive shoulders, and possibly thought of the pet lamb it belonged to and the use its innocent coat had been put to. The Sun shone as we passed the cottage and the crowds cheered and the procession, so I'm told, was a great success. We all marched into the Hall Tower Field and then disbanded and sat on the hill to watch the May Revels, the crowning of the May Queen, with little Marion Helm, and "gordelpusall!" the Pink Pom Pierrots, who had given their services free. No wonder the weather behaved most generously and what threatened to be a rainy day turned out a glorious afternoon.'


J . T .Friedenson


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