Shatterford Meet Report - January 2026
One Day Meet at Shatterford Village Hall January 2026
Mark and TC were our stewards for the first of our one day meets of 2026. We started these one-day meets last year as the gap from November to March seemed a very long time not to have a meet and see all our friends. We start at 2.00p.m. and finish at 10.00p.m. This one was held at Shatterford Village Hall, one of our favourite venues. However, by 2.15p.m. there were only about 8 of us and we were starting to look at one another and wonder whether anyone else was going to turn up! Mark mentioned that he had invited some of the members of Foxes Morris to join us but wasn’t sure if they might only come for the evening.
Oh, we of little faith! Suddenly people started to arrive, and the trickle became a deluge. There were about 35 in all at the meet, although some just popped in for some of the time as they had other commitments later.
We had a cuppa and biscuits and then got busy with our usual entertainments. Just then the door opened again and some more visitors arrived. This was Conrad who is Secretary of Central Counties Region as well as being Chairman of West Midlands DA, with whom we had correspondence last year regarding the possibility of his coming to a folk group meet to find out what goes on. He had brought his son with him who is Secretary of West Midlands DA, and they spent some time with us during the afternoon. Jeff then received the following email from Conrad.
“I dropped into Shatterford this afternoon with my son and had a great warm welcome from Mark and Bob (The Elder). I am sure Bob (The Younger) is great too.
What a fantastic atmosphere in the hall, great LIVE music, crafts, jigsaw puzzle in progress and general chit chat. I learnt so much about the Folk Song and Dance Group in general.
I hope to camp with you later this year.
Please pass on my thanks for the warm welcome received.
Best regards
Conrad.”
Needless to say, we were all delighted by the visit and look forward to seeing them at a future meet.
The shared supper in the evening was a great success, with many thanks to those whose job it was to get out (and put back afterwards), the extra tables from beneath the stage so that we could all sit down to eat.
For the evening’s entertainment we had a live band, ably led by Vanessa, the usual dancing and spots as well as a superb display of Border Morris Dancing by Foxes Morris and the opportunity to join in for those brave enough to try. This type of Morris involves bashing large sticks together, so it’s not for the faint hearted.
Hopefully we will see our new friends again at future meets.
Beth Hughes (vice@midlandfolkgroup.org.uk)