“Posing for a Left Hand star” at a Keymer dance with Don Lewry on guitar and calling. Do tell us if you recognise anyone.
Since March 1950, the Keymer Folk Dance Club has been part of the leisure activities of Hassocks and the surrounding area. It first met in the Guide Hut in Parklands Road, then in the Adastra Hall (both old and new), and most recently at the United Reformed Church Hall, Keymer Road. Although the club Is currently suspended due to Covid restrictions, it is hoped that it will restart very soon. Here, Sean Goddard – a regular caller at the club – describes some of the club’s early activities, written as part of the celebrations for the club’s 70th anniversary.
By Sean Goddard
The Keymer Folk Dance Club was started by Hal and Joyce Wallis with support from other local folk dancers and members of the Keymer Young Peoples’ Fellowship. The Young Peoples’ Fellowship had been started by the Rev William Davis-Winstone in 1948 and based at the Parish Church. Hal had learnt folk dancing in London in the 1930s, from a Mr Pritchard who had learnt from Cecil Sharp, the early twentieth century folk dance pioneer.
The Young Peoples’ Fellowship had developed into a group which took an interest in many activities including lamp-shade and basket making, games-evenings and cake-baking. In 1948 as John Howes explains, at the end of one evening Sidney Halmer Wallis (known to everyone as Hal) came to the hall and asked if the group would like to learn Folk Dancing. Hal, who was the warden at Stafford House and recently arrived from London explained that he had a group of folk dancers staying at Stafford House and they could come to the next meeting. It was all agreed, and at the next meeting dancing took place: one of the first dances learnt was Cumberland Square. If you have been to a Barn Dance, this is the one with baskets.
By 1950, folk dancing in Sussex had really taken off with clubs being formed in Shoreham, Henfield, Cuckfield and Bolney. Hal, and his wife Joyce had become established callers in Mid Sussex and were determined to start a club at Keymer. Using the readymade base of the Young Peoples’ Fellowship and with the support of dancers from other local clubs, the Keymer Club came into existence in 1950.
To continue reading Sean Goddard’s historical look at Keymer’s Folk Dance club, grab a copy of July’s Hassocks Life, and take a look at the magical photographs of time gone by.
(Although the club’s activities are currently suspended, and the 70th anniversary dance cancelled, the club hopes to start again very soon. If you want to come and enjoy an evening of dancing (if you can tap your foot in time to a tune) then the club could be for you. Keep an eye out for the start date in Hassocks Life and on the website: www.keymerfolkdanceclub.com).