Frustrated organisers take up maypole challenge (From This Is Local London)

Frustrated organisers take up maypole challenge

3:44pm Monday 23rd February 2009

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THE frustrated organisers of the Cookham Festival are so dismayed at the lack of maypole dancing volunteers that they have pledged to take up the challenge themselves.

A plea was made by festival committee members for dancers to uphold the festive seasonal tradition as one of the many activities at this year's event.

Festival chairman Mike Copland said: "It's tragic that a tradition like this is dying seemingly due to a lack of available time in the local primary schools.

“We understand the pressures on our teachers and we decided that we should 'stand up and be counted' rather than watch another tradition fall away".

Mr Copland said: “It's the start of May and we want to be able to have a maypole.

"The committee decided we would all have a go ourselves so we need to find someone who will give us a lesson.”

The activity is an old European folk dance, thought by some to be a pagan fertility ritual.

A tall pole, decorated with ribbons, garlands and flowers, is placed at the centre of the dancers who move around it.

Morris dancing is also planned for the closing day of the bi-annual festival, on May 4 bank holiday, along with an open air rock concert on Cookham Moor featuring singer Nick Heyward, and bands Soul’d Out, Temposhark, The Plants and Burdock.

Mr Copland said the committee had had more success with morris dancers – with a group already lined up.

He hopes the plea for a maypole instructor will unearth a master of the old tradition and the organisers' efforts will inspire parents and children to get involved.

Mr Copland added: “Hopefully, anyone who would like to have a go will get a chance.”

Cookham Festival runs from April 24 to May 4.

Any maypole volunteers can call Mike Copland on 01628 630375 or go to www.cookhamfestival.com for more information.

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