The Stroud Wassail Mummers led the procession. (Photo: Vintage Mary)
Stroud Wassail 2019 was a wonderful day, with the streets of our town filled with music, dance, laughter and colour. So many smiling faces all round town. Here are a few memories of the day. Thanks to the photographers who let us use their work.
And the swot of the year award goes to Dartmoor Border Morris, who were up early practising in the Premier Inn car park. (Photo: Mark Tregaskis)
Paulus from the Stroud Wassail committee was keeping an eye on the proceedings throughout the day. (Photo: DC Photo)
Here’s Alex in her Boss Morris guise. As well as being a fantastic dancer, Alex is also on the Wassail Committee and has designed and made many of the strange beasts to be seen around town on Wassail day. (Photo: DC Photo)
The Silurian Border Morris Men getting ready to go at the Queen Vic. (Photo: Mark Tregaskis)
Styx of Stroud Border Morris. (Photo: Mark Tregaskis)
The shy and retiring Borderline! (Photo: Malmesbury Morris)
Unfortunately the Gloucestershire Morris Men couldn’t join us this year. Actually, several of them did, travelling incognito with Happenstance, Miserden and Stroud Morris. Such is the crazy mixed-up world of the morris.
Winterbourn Down with a young recruit. (Photo: Laurence Brown)
The Tattered Court. (Photo: Mark Tregaskis)
Old Speckled Hen. (Photo: Malmesbury Morris)
Tatters and Tails were a last-minute addition to the day, but we’re really glad you came. (Photo: Rupert Russell)
Foxs Morris always put on a good show at the Wassail. We love them. (Photo: Mike Finn)
Nancy Butterfly. (Photo: Laurence Brown)
Blackadder can always be relied on for a bit of colour and cheer on a winter day. (Photo: Laurence Brown)
Devizes Jubilee Morris, second-time visitors, are just brilliant. Hope they come back next year. (Photo: Mark Tregaskis)
The Merrie Morgana ladies always look wonderful and put on a brilliant show. (Photo: DC Photo)
The Bristol Morris Men, second-time visitors to the Wassail, deliver good quality old-school Cotswold. (Photo: DC Photo)
The Chippenham Men have been with at Stroud Wassail since the beginning. We love having you with us, lads! (Photo: Laura Eve Fairman)
Happenstance at the top of the High Street. (Photo: Mark Tregaskis)
It takes more than a bit of drizzle to dissuade Bedcote Morris from dancing. (Photo: Laurence Brown)
Stroudie folk got dressed up in their finery. (Photo: Rupert Russell)
Here’s someone carrying a giraffe. And why not? (Photo:DC Photo)
A Viking (who turned out to be a very fine musician). (Photo: Mark Tregaskis)
The Silurian Border Morris Men are the original Border revival side, fifty years old this year. We were delighted to welcome them to our Wassail for the first time. (Photo: DC Photo)
Boss Morris – proper Stroudies! (Photo: DC Photo)
Balloon modelling in the Farmers’ Market. (Photo: DC Photo)
A stunning photo capturing the colour and vibrance of the day, in this instance with Clocs Canton from Cardiff. (Photo: DC Photo)
It’s at events such as the Wassail that the morris community come together to have fun and celebrate their traditions. Here’s Andy of Foxs swingin’ with Rich from Styx! (Photo: Mike Finn)
The Stroud Wassail Mummers led the procession. (Photo: Vintage Mary)
Mason’s Apron in the procession. (Their Squire’s royalty, don’t you know. Well, she was crowned Queen at the Revels in the evening, anyway.) (Photo: Laurence Brown)
Borderline in the procession. (Photo: Mark Tregaskis)
St Laurence parish church is a new partner for the Wassail and was a fantastic performance spot. Here’s Nancy Butterfly. (Photo: Laura Eve Fairman)
The Andover Loft Museum Singers, under the direction of Paul Sartin (ex-Bellowhead) gave a beautiful performance in the parish church. (Photo: St Laurence church)
The Forest of Dean Mummers performed a tale involving Brexit and a bear. Here they are at the parish church. (Photo: St Laurence church)
Clocs Canton showed off their trademark daffodil garlands in the parish church. (Photo: St Laurence church)
Shepherds Crook folk choir at the church. (Photo: St Laurence church)
The Tattered Court musicians at the church. (Photo: St Laurence church)
Appleyard was one of many sides to dance at the parish church. (Photo: St Laurence church)
Old Speckled Hen getting ready to dance at the church. (Photo: St Laurence church)
England’s Glory at the parish church. (Photo: St Laurence church)
Amber Ennis, flautist and Baroque recorder specialist, rounded off the day beautifully at St Laurence church with a beautiful soothing recorder recital.
Stroud Wassail is known for its fantastic street food. (Photo: Mark Tregaskis)
Star Anise Arts Cafe courtyard is a regular Wassail performance spot. Here’s Miserden Morris dancing, Nancy Butterfly taking selfies and Tattered Court tuning up. (Photo: Miserden Morris)
The Queen Vic in Gloucester Street is a popular dance spot. (Photo: Malmesbury Morris)
Styx of Stroud at the Queen Vic. (Photo: Mark Tregaskis)
The Wassail continued in the Museum in the Park in the afternoon. Here the Master and Mistress of the house welcome the Wassailers. (Photo: Laurence Brown)
The Stroud Wassail Mummers at the Museum Wassail. (Photo: Mark Tregaskis)
Another first-time performance spot for 2019, Merrywalks shopping arcade. Here are the Chippenham musos being stalked by the Miserden boar. (Photo: Laura Eve Fairman)
Miserden Morris in Merrywalks. We love a bit of alliteration. (Photo: Miserden Morris)
The Bakanalia musos always look cool as well as playing superbly…. (Photo: Laurence Brown)
… as do the Blackadder musos. (Photo: Laurence Brown)
Devizes Jubilee musicians. (Photo: DC Photo)
Happenstance Border Morris has a distinct sound, thanks to Ian’s superb shawm playing. (Photo: DC Photo)
Some fine music from the Chippenham Morris Men. (Photo: DC Photo)
The Stroud Morris musos were stalked by a giant sheep throughout the day. (Photo: Mark Tregaskis)
There was many a strange creature wandering the streets of Stroud. (Photo: Laurence Brown)
It wouldn’t be the Wassail without the Wassail Broad. (Photo: Mark Tregaskis)
The Miserden Boar in Merrywalks. (Photo: Laura Eve Fairman)
Ewegenie, the Cotswold Lion Sheep, always joins in the Wassail. Here she is with Foxs Morris in the procession. (Photo: Mark Tregaskis)
Dartmoors horse Chatterly behaved impeccably… (Photo: Mark Tregaskis)
…If only could be the same of Rosie, the Stroud Wassail Mummers cider-swilling horse. (Photo: Laurence Brown)
Boss Morris have their own Boss Giant. (Photo: DC Photo)
The many strange beasts held no terror for this brave lady! (Photo: DC Photo)
