Merrdowners outside the village hall in Baron

We received an invite early in the year asking if we were available to perform during August at a local event in Baron, a small village which is situated in the Southern Burgundy region of France. A group of local British ex pats were keen to organise, for the second year running a charity event to share with their French friends and families in the region the experience of a typical 'English - Tea Party. The Merrydowners would provide a very 'traditional English feel' to the proceedings and as you can tell from the pictures and extracts below everyone involved had a great time.

(ed note : The Merrydowners would like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to organisors of this event including their French neighbours and friends. We were made to feel very welcome in the community and in their homes, and were continually well looked after from the time that we arrived through to the time we departed)

Ray, Jon & Brian 'cappering' in Maid of the Mill	John performing the 'Fools Jig'

John getting a helping hand from a member of the audience	The Mayor of Baron & another member of the audience join in 'Bean Setting'

 

Some of team responsible for organising the English Tea Party	The Merrydowners taking time out to sample the tea and cakes  (note - non alcoholic beverages !)

 

The Mayor of Baron Mr Noel Paillot making his speech      (see extract below)	Tony M, Alan & Tony A providing the musical interlude between performances

Below, extract from article published in Le Journal -19th August 2006 (English translation)

A FANTASTIC ATMOSPHERE/AMBIANCE AT THE ENGLISH TEA PARTY

For the second consecutive year, the Brits and other Anglo-Saxons from the Charolais –Brionnais, decided to hold a real English Tea Party, with the proceeds going towards the restoration of the churches at Baron and Viry*.

350 visitors were “watered”, fed and well-served by 26 volunteers at Baron village hall which was complete with table cloths, teapots, cups, saucers (all brought along by them). They had also made the cakes – veritably English!

Last year passed in a similar vein but with classical concerts given by some of their friends. This year they made it even more impressive – by organising a double presentation.

For those taking tea in the hall there was Thierry Beaudot of Charolles singing along to his guitar; whilst outside, the folk group “The Merrydowners” were giving their all without counting the cost!

The spectacle was invigorating - 3 musicians – accordion, tambourine, drum with beaters played the music for the 6 men who were absolutely brimming over with energetic dancing – they had resounding voices and all was accompanied by their beating sticks.

Their performance included several jokes (blagues) – including throwing a lifelike but imitation chicken into the audience for plucking! Their getup was no less striking – bands of bells on their bright red socks; black golfing plus-fours; billowing white shirts with crossed red and black braces and straw hats with huge artificial flowers!

They displayed energy enough to take your breath away, continuing their performance almost non-stop for the visitors who came and went throughout the 3 hours of the tea party.

In between 2 dances, the Mayor of Baron Noel Paillot, made a small speech

“English people are here living amongst us restoring our houses and so are creating interest in and a return to the rural regions.

This sort of event/meeting is a way for us to get to know, to respect as well as understand one another.

It is people like these, rather than politics, who make Europe great…..”

Evidence of this can be seen in Charolles, Bourg le Comte, St Christophe…………..