We had a wonderful day of ‘laughter, dance and song’ at The Preston on Stour May Day and then at The Low Furlong Care Home in Shipston on Stour for a hundredth birthday party. We were joined in the May Queen procession by The Flowers of Ilmington Morris and many villagers, as we made our way to the picturesque village green. Following the crowning of the Queen of the May and The Preston on Stour May Song, (to the tune of The Landlord) we performed a selection of our unique dances. The village Maypole provided a centre point for a Shepherds Hey jig and Princess Royal. 

There was lots of fun during the invitation Shepherds Hey, involving Flowers of Ilmington and the village people (YMCA Morris ?….no not those Village People !). It was a lovely afternoon performing on the village green in front of St Mary’s Church and the historic houses of Preston on Stour. To complete our dancing set we ‘left behind’ the villagers with a rousing chorus of Brighton Camp then made our way to Low Furlong Care Home Shipston on Stour. 

We were delighted to be part of resident Joan Suckling’s 100th birthday and accordingly performed a short set that included a customised poetic introduction to ‘Old Woman Tossed up in a Blanket’. It would have been rude not too! Again, our invitation Shepherds Hey was a big hit with residents and guests alike. Low Furlong had never seen such an event and they loved it. As I said, a wonderful day of laughter, dance and song.

Donald McCombie