A collection of Doc Rowe's video collection about Padstow's May Day.
This is part of a Heritage Lottery funded project, Echoes of Padstow.
Copyright Doc Rowe
00.0 Low down shots of Blue Ribbon Oss (BRO) party dancing feet and then musicians playing and marching
00.52 BRO dancing and teasing
01.20 Back shots of closely packed BRO party progressing back down into centre of town (towards May Pole square which is out of shot)
1.52 Manoeuvring the BRO out of the crowds and out of shot.
2.02 Old Oss (OO) dancing around May Pole. Ring of OO party keeping the people back.
2.29 Back up high shootings OO and teaser dancing around May Pole. Includes crowd shots of OO party.
3.57 Shot upwards of flags on the tip of the May Pole.
4.04 Shot at dusk. BRO party. Back view of Master of Ceremonies (MC) dancing on the spot with his big rosette pole near the Institute. Then BRO musicians advancing playing towards institute.
4.29 BRO dancing. Plus shots of musicians
5.21 More of the same dark dancing, teasing, MC and music outside institute.
7.35 Can hear the BRO party start singing Unite and unite song while BRO vigorously dancing in the dark.
8.42 Dark. Crowd sing “O where is St George” song (some slightly out of time). Drumming, BRO dancing, shots of crowd
11.16 Music slows and crowd start singing “Now fare you well, and we bid you all good cheer”, followed by cheering and clapping.
12.00 Unaccompanied emotional singing of Farewell Song “Farewell, farewell my own true love”. Camera scanning crowd, which although dark, some lit up by lighted windows.
15.14 Call of Oss Oss. Wee Oss. 3 cheers. Cheering and clapping as BRO led into Institute. Clapping. Scanning crowd.
15.46 People hanging out of upstairs window of Golden lion watching.
17.45 19.12 OO twirling around, in the distance by Dukeswood shop,
19.12 OO dancing nearer to Doc, with teaser. Initially a couple of heads in the way a bit, but generally nice footage of vigorous teasing dancing. See swapping over who’s in the Oss.
20.23 OO dancing and teasing continues, but latterly can hear women talking near to camera’s mic. One says “Mum they dragged me under it” and her Mum replies “You’ll be pregnant within the year love”.
24.33 Music slows and start singing “Now we fare you well …” Shouts of Oss Oss, clapping and cheering. They sing “Farewell farewell my own true love.” The man in the Oss without his mask is led off.