M.A.D. folk.
Mersey And Deeside folk-dance clubs
a federation of the folk-dance clubs in Liverpool and Wirral area
Folk Dance CLUBS
in this area.
Folk Dance information
in nearby areas.
Folk-dance BANDS
in this area.
Folk-dance CALLERS
in this area.
Our Costume Ball
for LIVERPOOL 2008
Our Aintree Ceilidh
for LIVERPOOL 2008

( its own web-page)
CONTACT US
Chair; Mary Smith.0151 652 4479
Secretary; Chris Warrington
Treasurer: John Smith.0151 652 4479
Newsletter Editor. Sheila Davies.

webmaster for this page Gerry Jones.

NB; this page is not always up to date. Sorry!
But if you need some up to date information which is not shown here,
please do not just leave it at that,.
but email our secretary or Gerry Jones.
Try these "quick-links" within this page:
update news on this page for the AINTREE CEILIDH.
DIARY dates of local folk dance events.
2008 Pride & Prejudice Ball.
the M.A.D.folk WORKSHOP BAND.
Local NEWS items..   
AGM notice of meeting.
ADVERTS from Newsletter.
LINKS of FolkDance interest..
Archives; articles from previous editions.

Here are the local ENGLISH folk dance groups,
on Mersey And Deeside, affiliated to E.F.D.S.S. and to M.A.D.folk

BEBINGTON. Folk-dance club. Mary Smith 0151 652 4479. or email our Secretary.
1st, 3rd & 5th Tuesdays at Victoria Hall (behind the "Acorn" pub,) Bebington. 8.10 - 10.15 p.m. from first Tuesday in September, until mid-July.

HESWALL & WEST KIRBY Alexander Hall, Rocky Lane, Heswall.
8.00p.m. alternate Fridays. Tel Edna Kershaw 0151 677 3271.

Liverpool CONTRA Folk-dance club. Tuesdays at 7.45 p.m.
Gorsedale Road Scout Hut, Allerton, between Dovedale Road and Briardale Road. via Queens Drive or Rose Lane. Secretary; Maria Warrington 0151 427 1907. email our Secretary.

NESTON. Dorothy Jones 0151 336 4755.
Wednesdays 8.00-10.00, alternating Playford nights and Club nights. from 4th Oct.
Also alternating venue between Parochial Hall Neston, and Parkgate-and-Neston United Reformed Church Hall.
Also, occasional dance sessions at Thornton Hough W.I.
Email contact may be available via Brian Jenkins of Cracknels band.

ST. HELENS. Folkdance Club.
Wednesdays 8.00p.m. at UNISON ("Nalgo") social club, Bishop Rd.St Helens.
Email Ian Arthur, acting secretary.

STOCKTON HEATH. Folkdance Club. click here to email our Secretary, Keith Williams, or phone him on 01928 713 180.
Mondays 8.00p.m. at St Thomas's School, Parkgate Rd, Stockton Heath.


or Warrington website / entertainment / groups then follow "Community resource" and search the Community Directory for folk dance

UPTON (WIRRAL) folk dance club.
click here to email our Secretary, Linda Sutton, Tel; , 0151 678 3890.
Tuesdays at St Joseph's R.C. School, Upton.
We meet in term time only from September to May. The cost is £1.50 including tea and biscuits. New members are always made welcome, and a partner is not necessary.

OTHER FOLK DANCE CLUBS IN OUR AREA (not affiliated to M.A.D.folk)

SOUTHPORT Folk-dance Club. Thursdays 8 - 10 pm at St Peter's Church Hall, St Peter's Road, Birkdale, Southport. PR8 4RH.
Click here to email Eleanor Mehew or phone her on 01704 569 107

AUGHTON Traditional Folk-dance Club. Alternate Tuesdays, at Mount Carmel School (1, Aughton Park Drive, L39 5BU.) from 8.00 - 10.00. Email Denise Bearon or phone her on 01695 422971

ORMSKIRK Folk Dance Club meet weekly in term time at Emmanuel Church Hall, Derby Street (nr. Railway station)
on Mondays at 8.15pm. Contact Margaret McFarlane 01695 423882.
For tickets to dances phone or email Denise Bearon 01695 422971.
Denise is also the contact for "Seven Stars" Sword and Step Dancers www.7stars.org.uk


ADLINGTON folk dance club
Phone:- Reg (Publicity) 01625-875309 www.adlingtonfolk.co.uk

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AUGHTON TRADITIONAL FOLK DANCE CLUB

At a time when some of our established dance clubs are having difficulty attracting new, younger members it is great to see that the recently established club at Aughton near Ormskirk is doing so well.
The club meets on alternate Tuesday evenings at Mount Carmel school hall in Aughton, 8-10pm starting again in September.
The club welcomes new members and visitors.
Just turn up or contact 01695 422971 for further information

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NOTICE of the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of M.A.D. folk.
The formal notice of A.G.M. is that which appears in the printed Newsletter circulated to members by post or through a local club. Notice will usually be repeated here, but only as a secondary help or reminder to members.
REPORT OF A.G.M. will not normally be posted here, as it is properly for viewing by members only.

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Band Workshop.

Do you play an instrument, and would you like the chance to play folk-dance music with other people rather than sitting by yourself in the front room?
If so, you would be very welcome at the Band Workshop, held on the second Sunday morning of each month, from October to June, in Rainford Village Hall. (NB; RainFORD, not RainHill)

This workshop has been running successfully for many years now, and its aim is enjoyment, and having a good time playing together. The first part of each session is led by a different person each month, when, usually some new tunes are introduced and discussed.

After a break for light refreshments, the second part of the morning, is devoted so "Session Tunes" A selection of not-too-difficult tunes, distributed at the beginning of the year, which we practise up, with the aim of playing for a public dance at the end of the year.

You do not need to be an expert musician, although it is an advantage to be able to read music. Absolute beginners might find it a bit hard to cope. Any music needed is given out well in advance. No pressure, no stress, no criticism of mistakes - we all make them -just come and enjoy yourself. You'll get a friendly welcome.

For details, ring Christine Rowland 01257 482 928
or Roy Hordley 01744 88 28 95



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THE AINTREE CEILIDH '08
THE EXHIBITION CENTRE,
AINTREE RACECOURSE,
LIVERPOOL
SATURDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER 2008
www.aintreeceilidh2008.co.uk

URGENT NOTICE ;
TICKETS ARE SELLING QUICKLY ;
REGISTER NOW.


By 20th March, applications for about TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY tickets had been registered. This means that we know 250 people who will be getting their Aintree Ceilidh tickets as soon as they become available early in April.These people will NOT be told, "Sorry; the tickets are all gone".
So with our target figure of 330 ticket sales, we appear to well on our way towards a Sell-0ut, before the tickets are even printed.

This first rush may tail off, but it certainly indicates that the Aintree Ceilidh is a popular event. So we must advise everyone to get their ORDER for tickets in quite soon. In this way, the organisers will get a closer idea of how many tickets remain available.

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HERE IS THE ARTICLE ABOUT THE CEILIDH, AS IT WAS BEFORE THIS NEWS.

Continuing their contribution to Liverpool's celebrations as European Capital of Culture 2008, Mersey and Deeside Folk are organising a Ceilidh in September to complement the Period Costume Ball at St. George's Hall in March. The evening will be less formal, more energetic and most of all GREAT FUN. Ceilidhs and Barn Dances are great opportunities for all ages and abilities to dance together and enjoy themselves.
So we have booked one of the best ceilidh callers in the country, Martyn Harvey, and one of the best ceilidh bands, Hekety.
Martyn has a reputation for making even the most complicated dances seem easy whilst exuding energy and enthusiasm.
The music, by the superb Hekety, will thrill both beginners and the more experienced dancers alike. Hekety are a young band from Sheffield who play high energy music that blends subtle influences from modern musical styles with traditional British dance tunes.
And as an added attraction, the event is being held in the Exhibition Suite at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, the home of the most famous steeplechase in the world - the Grand National.

The Aintree Ceilidh 2008 will be held on September 20th, from 8pm - 11.30pm, and guests are welcome to arrive from 7.30pm onwards, to enjoy a drink at the bar, and perhaps take a short evening stroll before getting down to the energetic part of the evening. There is ample car parking available, motorways are nearby, Aintree station is across the road, and buses go past the gate. Seating will be informal, but will be around tables for 10. Nibbles will be available on the tables, and a hot bacon butty, or alternative, will be served at the interval; more nibbles will be on sale at the bar.

So bring your family and friends, have a wonderful evening, and let's make 2008 a year to remember!

For further information visit www.aintreeceilidh2008.co.uk £15 Tickets will be sold at £13 until June 30th.. Available from Spring 2008, they may be ordered now by registering with John and Mary Smith, 62, Grosvenor Rd., Prenton, CH43 1TL. Tel. 0151 652 4479, email JohnP@johnpsmith.wanadoo.co.uk

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PRIDE & PREJUDICE BALL

ST. GEORGE’S HALL, LIVERPOOL –
SATURDAY 8 MARCH 2008

UPDATE NOVEMBER 2007 ;


In a word, "sell-out. " All tickets have been sold, and there is a small but not very hopeful waiting list.
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It is with a great deal of ‘pride’ and perhaps a little ‘prejudice’ that we can report very favourably on the progress of this event. Please visit the website ; www.merseyanddeesidefolk.co.uk, -
which includes pictures of the venue, inside and out, details of how to purchase tickets (with links to the EFDSS website), details of the afternoon workshop and links with a special site showing how it is possible to make costumes for the event without spending a fortune! It is also hoped to link it to the Liverpool City of Culture website.

In order to create the largest floor space for dancing, we have restricted the numbers to 336 – to allow for 28 tables with 12 people per table. A list of possible dances is now on the website, for groups who wish to practice before the event and to give a little more confidence to less experienced or newer members of the groups.

The Ball promises to be a truly memorable occasion.

Wendy Evans

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How do I get there?
Sorry! there used to be a "MADmaps" page linked here, but the maps that used to be on that page have had to be removed for legal reasons, and replacement maps are being drawn. For the time being please phone Club secretaries.

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DIARY DATES
NB: All diary dates are now on the EFDSS website, www.efdss.org/

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Feb 2nd Adlington Cheshire. Half Day of Dance, at Woodford Community Centre.

Feb 10th(Sun) Folk North West. Samlesbury Memorial Hall, 2.30pm. John Lowe with John and Sue Stapledon. Tel. 01772 716772.

Feb 10th Band Workshop. Rainford Village Hall, 10.30am.

Feb 16th Heswall and West Kirby Valentine’s Dance. Westbourne Road Community Centre, West Kirby. 7.30pm. Roy McCullough with The West Kirby Band. Tel. Edna Kershaw on 0151 677 3271

Feb 23rd St. Helen’s FDC Spring Dance. Rainford Village Hall, 7.30pm. Judith Veevers with Dave Yeomans and Caroline Bunting. Tel. Ron Kells 01744 754810.

March 8th Mersey and Deeside “Pride and Prejudice Costume Ball” at St. Georges Hall, Liverpool. Reg Battle with The Pemberley Players. Details from Mary on 0151 652 4479.

Mar 9th Folk North West 2nd Sunday Club. Samlesbury Memorial Hall, 2.30pm. Pat Wilkinson with Gloria Newton. Tel. 01772 716772.

Mar 9th Band Workshop. Rainford Village Hall, 10.30am.
Mar 15th Ormskirk FDC Country Dance at Ormskirk School, Wigan Rd. 7.30pm. Roy McCullough with The West Kirby Band. Tel: Denise Bearon 01695 422971.
Mar 29th Southport FDC Dance at Christ the King High School. 7.30pm. Pat Wilkinson with Dave Yeomans and Caroline Bunting. Contact 01704 569107.
Apr 5th Neston Spring Dance. Neston Civic Hall. 7.30pm. John Lowe with The Cracknels. Tel: Dorothy Jones 0151 336 4755.

Apr 12th Adlington (Cheshire) Ball at Poynton Civic Hall.

Apr 13th Folk North West. Samlesbury Memorial Hall, 2.30pm. Roy McCullough and Roy Smith (including a short AGM). Tel: 01772 716772.

Apr 13th Band Workshop at Rainford Village Hall, 10.30am.

April 26th Bebington FDC. St. George’s Day Dance at Victoria Hall, Bebington. 7.30pm. Judith Veevers with The Hoghton Band. Tel: Mary Smith 0151 652 4479.

April 19th Workshop at Halton Community Centre, Low Road, Halton. Pat Wilkinson and Gloria Newton. Details 01524 412754.

May 11th Folk North West. Samlesbury Memorial Hall, 2.30pm. Ian Jones with John and Sue Stapledon. Tel: 01772 716772.

May 11th Band Workshop at Rainford Village Hall, 10.30am.

June 8th Band Workshop at Rainford Village Hall, 10.30am.

FUTURE DATES

Sept 20th Mersey and Deeside Folk - Aintree Ceilidh. At Aintree Race Course. Martin Harvey with Hekety. Details Mary on 0151 652 4479.

Oct 4th Adlington (Cheshire)
Oct 11th Ormskirk Dance
Nov 8th Ormskirk Dance
Nov 15th St Helens FDC
Nov 29th Adlington (Cheshire) Dance
Dec 6th Heswall and West Kirby
Dec 13th Ormskirk FDC

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ORMSKIRK FOLK DANCE CLUB DATES 2006-2007

Make a note in your diary

Unless otherwise stated, evening dances commence at 7.30pm
Venue – Ormskirk School, New Building, Cross Hall
Ticket sec. Denise Bearon Tel 01695 422971

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ADLINGTON Folk Dance Club. CHESHIRE

DANCE DATES 2006/7

Phone:- Reg (Publicity) 01625-875309 www.adlingtonfolk.co.uk Future dates 6/10/2007, 24/11/2007
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Local ENGLISH country-dance bands.
To see the web-page of any band that has one, just click on their underlinedname. To email any bands underlined, just click on the name which is underlined,.
CRACKNELS    Brian Jenkins 0151 336 4818  (email may be available for Brian.)
EXTRA STOUT;      Ian McKeane.      0151 652 9376
FOXES BARK      Mike Thomas      01829 51573
JASPER'S LEAP      Sue Jones      01244 342 693
JOHN BULL          Richard Stapledon      0151 342 5947
LIVERPOOL Country Dance Band     Gerry Jones    0151 259 3442
POACHERS      Roy Hordley      01744 882895
The PROSPECT Ceilidh Band     Rachel Birtles      01244 314 688
THREE POINT TURN Ceilidh Band       Mick Draper      01244 381 826
TWO LEFT FEET     Richard Wilde      0151 648 7764
WEST KIRBY BAND      John Stapledon      0151 342 6668
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CALLERS;
To email any Callers underlined, just click on their name.
ALAN BARBER 0151 342 3615 band
KEVIN BARGEN 017048 31198 band/recorded.
MALCOLM DAVIES 0151 339 8854 recorded/band
GERRY JONES 0151 259 3442 CDs/band
JOHN SMITH 0151 652 4479 recorded/band
MAUREEN WADDINGTON
01829 751 667 recorded/band

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These are just lists of bands and callers that we know of, and their inclusion on this list does not constitute a "recommendation", nor does it indicate availability for your event.

Sorry; I don't seem able to get these adverts clear and legible. May I suggest you Copy each one then Paste it into an image program.

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HESWALL & WEST KIRBY
FOLK DANCE GROUP
2006/2007 DANCES

December 2nd Christmas DanceTrevor Monson with Saraband

February 17th Valentines Dance Roy Smith with the Cracknels

Both dances start at 7.30pm
Venue: Westbourne Hall, Westbourne Road, West Kirby

Tickets from Edna Kershaw 0151 677 3271

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ADLINGTONFolk Dance Club. CHESHIRE
DANCE DATES 2006/7

Sat 2nd February 2008 ½ Day of Dance Woodford Memorial Hall.
Rhodri Davies with Skylark 2.00 & 7.30 “Pot-Luck”
Sat 12th April 2008 Spring Ball Poynton Civic Hall
Charles Bolton with Knotted Chord 7.30 admission by ticket only.
Sat 4th October 2008 Woodford Memorial Hall
Geoff Cubitt & Cats Whiskers 8.00pm “Pot-Luck”
Sat 29th November 2008, Woodford Memorial Hall
David & Kathryn Folkus Pocus 8.00pm “Pot-Luck”
7th February, 28th March, 3rd October, 28th November 2009
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Phone:- Reg (Publicity) 01625-875309 www.adlingtonfolk.co.uk
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ORMSKIRK
FOLK DANCE CLUB
2006/2007 DANCES

DANCE DATES 2008
Jan. 19th 2008
Andrew Shaw with Folkus Pocus
Afternoon workshop and Evening Dance
Look out for booking forms.
Ormskirk School
Mar. 15th Roy McCullough & West Kirby Band
Ormskirk School
Unless otherwise stated, evening dance 7:30-11pm
Ticket sec. Denise Bearon Tel. 01695 422971
Or e-mail denise@bearon.org.uk


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NESTON Folk Dance Club. CHESHIRE


NESTON SPRING DANCE
At Neston Civic Hall
On April 5th 2008
7.30pm to 11.00 pm
John Lowe with The Cracknels
Contact Dorothy Jones on 0151 336 4755
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News from around the District, Autumn 2006

Upton Folk Dance Group 1976-2006

On Tuesday May 9th 2006 we celebrated 30 years of Folk Dancing in St. Joseph’s School Hall, Upton. This was a reunion of dancers past and present coming together for an evening of dancing and chatting with old friends. Many friends had already put in requests for their favourite dances to be included in the programme, so everything went with a swing. It actually took two more group nights to work through the list of requests!

The evening was further enhanced by a buffet, which took the form of a ‘shared table’ – everyone contributing something to the meal.

This group began as a ‘one-off’ evening of Folk Dancing for the parents of children at the school back in 1976. So successful and popular was the evening that it quickly developed into a weekly meeting on Tuesday evenings during term time and run by the Head Teacher of the school for parents and parishioners. Over the years more and more people joined us from the local area and from various parts of the Wirral.

We soon became members of the EFDSS and confident enough in our dancing to join other groups in the area.

We have fond memories of the late Ted Harnden who for many years patiently called for us and ran the group. On our reunion night we were able to dance some of Ted’s own dances.

This is a very friendly and supportive group of dancers and I would like to thank all those who turn up week after week, year after year and help to make this such a great club. We look forward to many more happy years of dancing.

Gwyneth Wilkie
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Folk Dance and Song on the Internet.
Seven Stars Sword and Step Dancers www.7stars.org.uk.
some links offered by Malcolm Davies;
www.efdss.org/ holds everything you may already know about the EFDSS, but has some useful links.
www.folkdancing.org relating to a multiple choice of folk dance types.
www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html a must for concertina players.
www.contemplator.com/folk.html a wealth of folk songs, words and music.



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ClubsAndGroups.com

We thought you may like to know about ClubsAndGroups.com ClubsAndGroups.com is a free resource for listing information on clubs, groups, teams, and associations - anything that brings people together with a shared interest. If you have an involvement with a club, why not add it to the website so people can easily find out about it?
To add a listing, visit ClubsAndGroups.com, navigate through the directory until you find the right category and then click 'Add Group'.
ClubsAndGroups.com is a website from Uretopia, - www.uretopia.com
(Spring 2005)

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Here are some pages linked to this page:
Liverpool CONTRA Folk-dance clubthe main club in Liverpool city.
my daytime Country Dancing groups
Two day=time clubs run by Gerry Jones
some popular English country dances. instructions for Callers.
Liverpool Country Dance Band run by Gerry Jones.
IRISH Dancing information.tuition in Irish display dancing in Merseyside.
Lyrics of some Liverpool Songs. folk-songs from the 1960s and earlier.
Liverpool branch of the RSCDS for tuition in Scottish country dancing.
"Lancashire Folk":folk activities in Lancs.
"FolkGroup NorthWest" the North West Folk Group Section of the Camping & Caravanning Club
"Down the Lane" forum; folk-dance section. All about dancing,bands,clubs, etc.
Gerry Jones, the handy musician
Back to the Home page of Gerry Jones,
of Liverpool Contra FDC, who edits this page

The English Folk Dance & Song Society.
The WIRRAL SOUND, the marching band of Moreton (Wirral) Boys & Girls Brigades.

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