Dancing and Singing - 24th May 1996

Origins

There was dancing and singing in the streets in Bellingham on Friday 24th May (1996). Even though two policemen did arrive, there were no arrests.

Children from Bellingham First School had walked to the Heritage Centre to demonstrate old-fashioned games and dances to fit in with the display “Yesteryears’ Schooling” which is being staged at present in the Heritage Centre. Six- to nine-year-olds revived memories for the onlookers as they sang and skipped ‘Here we come gathering Knots of May’, ‘Round and Round the village’, ‘The Blind Taylor’, ‘A hunting we will go’ and others. Modern jump ropes and plastic hoops replaced the old types. ‘Big A, little a’ and ‘I sent a letter’ were also played.

A spokesman for the Heritage Centre said: “This is only one of the many links which we have with the young folk in the area and we are especially pleased that Mrs. Smith and the pupils of the village school could contribute in such a lively way.”

This article first appeared in the newsletter from June 1996.