Cleckheaton Folk Festival

The Geoff Pickles Memorial Festival 1st, 2nd & 3rd July 2022

Roll Back the Carpet

... and get dancing!

Roll Back the Carpet are a Saltaire-
based dance group, who practice in the
Victoria Hall. Their style is rather
different from our other local dance
group, Rainbow Morris, as Roll Back
the Carpet dance in the Appalachian
'Green Grass' style, which has links to American square dancing. It is called
clogging, but in fact they don't wear the leather clogs we are used to seeing.
Their shoes have heels and metal taps underneath to make a clicking sound so
they need a hard, flat surface like the bandstand to dance on. It's energetic and
they obviously have a lot of fun doing it.

Spen Valley Longswords

Spen Valley Longswords are our very own local
residents, formed in 1974 when a group of
enthusiasts met for the first time at the Ring O’ Bells
pub. The side has won the Wickham Dance Trophy
on two occasions in the past. As well as dancing at
festivals, Galas and Charity events it has become a
local tradition for Spen Valley Longsword to tour our
local hostelries each Boxing Day, raising money for
local charities with their dancing and carol singing.

Thieving Magpies

Thieving Magpies are a mixed border
Morris side who like dancing, waving
big sticks about and yelling. They sing
as well. Formed in 2006, their ages
range from 6 to 71.

No hankies or flowers. Leave nowt but
wood, blood and feathers. They have
also been known to dance with Zulus.

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The Geoff Pickles Memorial Festival 1st, 2nd & 3rd July 2022

T’Owd Man Morris
Based in Wirksworth, Derbyshire we have members
from in and around the Derbyshire Dales. Fantastic fun
side. Don’t miss them!

Wakefield Morris
Team Photo 2020 - 40th BIRTHDAY AND STILL SUCKERS FOR A PHOTO-OP
At the back - Liz Harwood, Sue Mawby, Sarah Haig, Doug Bradshaw, June

O'Brien, Anne Hudson, Pat Johnson,
Malcom Hudson and, recumbent at the
very front, team founder and one time
Morris Federation President, Trefor
Owen. Go to:
http://www.wakefieldmorris.com/
wmdhist.html for more information.

STREET
ENTERTAINMENT

The annual street entertainment organised by the Festival and funded by Local
Authority Project Grants and Growing Great Places Crowdfunding has become a
major family feature, drawing crowds from far and wide. We are, as always,
hoping to have a period of dry, warm and pleasant weather for the weekend’s
activities. The festival parade will, as usual, start the proceedings at 11am on
Saturday morning from the Fire Station showcasing the performers,
entertainers and Morris sides who are all involved in the town’s premier event.
There will be a number of Morris sides displaying their talents in the parade and
throughout the day at various venues before gathering for the prestigious
Wickham Trophy competition at 3.45pm in The Wickham car park.
Savoy Square will play host to many of the Street Theatre elements as well as
the Morris displays and Family Fun entertainment which includes:

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The Geoff Pickles Memorial Festival 1st, 2nd & 3rd July 2022

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The Geoff Pickles Memorial Festival 1st, 2nd & 3rd July 2022

Mark Mark Productions: an award winning international performance company
who have been touring the world for almost 20 years. They will be appearing
once again in the guise of:

EDMUND & HILARY

Dressed in tropical kit and pith helmets,
these two ‘Gentlemen Explorers’ are here
to amuse and bemuse the indigenous
population. Upper lips have never been
stiffer! These silly scientists are here to
make you smile.

Commissioned by Microsoft Explorer, and
first performed at the Sao Jorge Castle in
Lisbon, this show is a celebration of faded
grandeur and lost, half-imagined memories mixed with sounds of the jungle and
forgotten rave beats.

THE MEDIEVIL MANIAX “DISASTER BY LAUGHTER”

(Sunday Fun Day, Savoy Square)
Giggle and guffaw as the fatal fools amuse and
bemuse you.

These award-winning street-performers perform all
over the world and are ready to make you laugh with
their historical hysterics.

A spectacular show full of music, jokes and illusions,
the Maniax are great crowd pleasers and
repeatedly star at The Robin Hood Festival in
Sherwood Forest, the Medieval Pageant at
Nottingham Castle and many other historic events.

ZULU TRADITION
(Sunday Family Fun Day, Savoy Square)
From KwaZulu Natal to the world's stage; rekindling the spark of Zulu culture
and heritage through traditional song and dance. ZULU TRADITION is a company
of young Zulu singers and dancers from KwaZulu Natal, in South Africa. They
deliver a heady mix of African harmonies and energetic, athletic dance - all

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The Geoff Pickles Memorial Festival 1st, 2nd & 3rd July 2022

traditionally costumed and supported by drum-
rhythms. Zulu Tradition reaches back into the
past to preserve ancient skills while stretching
forward towards contemporary Africa. Their
songs are both traditional and recently made in
traditional styles.
"Powerful traditional splendour of dance
sequences accompanied by pulsating Zulu
drums and glorious vocal harmonies.
Guaranteed to hold any audience spellbound."

MAZANI MAGICIAN
(Sunday Family Fun Day, Savoy
Square)
Kevin Ward has been performing as
Mazani for over 40 years. His
Grandfather was a magician who used
the magic name Mazani, which he got
from reading a Hans Christian Anderson
book which featured a wizard called
Mazani.
Kevin was a police officer for 30 years
and performed magic in his spare time.

CRAFTY DEVILZ can you balance a plate on a stick, or juggle 3 balls in the air or
maybe you can walk on stilts? Come and have a go and join the Circus for an
afternoon. Great fun for old and young!

ARTIFACES Artifaces have been involved in this art form for over 17 years.
Whether it is kids or grown-ups it is always good fun to see people’s faces when
they have been transformed! This year, as well as face painting and glitter
tattoos, they will also be entertaining the children with several puppets.

In addition, there will be a bouncy castle and all this can be enjoyed from the
comfort of your deckchair specially provided to make this a weekend to
remember. As is always the case, the Farmers’ Market will be in attendance on
Saturday (only).

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The Geoff Pickles Memorial Festival 1st, 2nd & 3rd July 2022

Our funding Partners include:

Growing Great
Places with Kirklees

Council and
Crowdfunding

In addition we are most grateful to all our
programme advertisers and sponsors your
contributions make a massive difference

so a huge

Thank You.

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The Geoff Pickles Memorial Festival 1st, 2nd & 3rd July 2022

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The Geoff Pickles Memorial Festival 1st, 2nd & 3rd July 2022

Gone but never forgotten!!!

Geoff Pickles

24/04/1941 - 04/04/2022

Founder of the festival with over 30
years’ involvement. An icon of the folk

world and a great champion of the
Cleckheaton Folk Festival. He is greatly

missed by us all.

Keith Brown

25/08/1947 - 19/02/2020

Keith was a regular at Cleckheaton often
leading musicians sessions. He was also
the founder and regular host of Morley
Folk Club. Keith has left a big hole in the

local folk scene.

Dave Howden

13/01/1948 - 07/01/2022

Dave played Cleckheaton with Kevin
Hall as Son of a Gun and was one of
the regular MC’s at the festival. He

was known widely by the folk
“family” and will be sadly missed.

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The Geoff Pickles Memorial Festival 1st, 2nd & 3rd July 2022

Song for Geoff (Tune – Jack Ashton) Cleckheaton Folk Festival 21st Birthday 2008

It was back in ’88, now a most auspicious date,
when some people came up with a grand idea
There are folk clubs by the score, and folk festivals galore,
Well if they can do it, why not have one here?
So they made their careful plans about which artists and which bands
Would attract the Folkies here to old Cleckheaton.
We’re not Whitby or Holmfirth, of attractions we’ve a dearth,
But if enthusiasm counts we’ll not be beaten

So they booked a load of guests with a budget rather large
In the hopes that with the takings all the bills they could discharge
And they really did believe that the plans they had conceived
Would all come right upon the night with Geoff in charge
It all started very small, with no finances at all
It would never last, so no one would support us
But with determination high, Geoff just wouldn’t let it die
We need something to hand on to sons and daughters.
As we’ve gradually grown now the Festival’s well known
We can hold our head up high with all the rest
Since those very early days we’ve had fun along the way
And we’re proud to say of time we’ve stood the test
As the years have gone on our complexity has grown
With more outdoor entertainment spreading all around the town
And we’re very glad to say we’ve helped others on the way
While those who doubted we’d a future couldn’t keep Geoff down
It was never in his plan that Geoff would be the man
Who would be our inspiration down the years
It’s not been an easy ride, but with Jan there at his side
At the very least they both deserve three cheers
He’s not done it all alone, as he’d be the first to own
He’s continued with t’ Committee round about him
And ‘though some have come and gone, still the Festival goes on,
‘Though at times we might have given up without him
Well he’s not going very far, he’s not moving out of town
And in the years to come we’ll all be glad he’s still around
But he’s given of his best, now he deserves a well earned rest
So let’s raise a glass, with grateful thanks, as Geoff stands down

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The Geoff Pickles Memorial Festival 1st, 2nd & 3rd July 2022

All images courtesy of Alan Gill
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The Geoff Pickles Memorial Festival 1st, 2nd & 3rd July 2022

It is so easy to forget that an event like a folk festival doesn’t just happen because a
small group decide it should. There are so many people involved in so many
different ways that we must remember to say to each and every one:

THANK YOU

Thank you to all those individuals and organisations without whose help the 33rd
Cleckheaton Folk Festival would not have been possible.

First and foremost is the man who shepherded us through the first 32 festivals.
Geoff Pickles sadly may no longer be with us but he deserves all our thanks for
getting us to where we are today.

Then there is the Festival Board and the Festival Committee. A slowly diminishing
core of individuals with a joint passion for all aspects of the folk scene. Led by Dave
Minich, the Festival Director, the current Board (Kathy Aveyard, Deanna Norman
and Jim Saville) together with the committee (Alan and Eileen Gill, Dennis and
Glenis Stanley, Malcolm and Janet Hodgson, Janice Minich, Jon Kershaw, Gerald
Beer, Phil Aveyard, Steve Cowan) have persevered through three years of doubt
and uncertainty with the aim of ensuring that the festival would continue. We
thank them.

As in previous years our local council and councillors have given the festival a lot of
support and even in these extraordinary times Kirklees Council and its members
have continued to assist with advice, grant funding and guidance for all of which we
are extremely grateful.

Creative Scene, North Kirklees’ Creative People and Places Project have also been
actively involved in the shaping and delivery of various aspects of the festival. We
are grateful to them

Likewise the Association of Festival Organisers and its members have been there in
the background with help and advice when needed.

Local specialists such as Radio Leeds and Radio BCB have given us airtime. The
Spenborough Guardian and the Telegraph & Argus and other periodicals have given
us useful press coverage. We would like to thank the reporters, broadcasters and
other staff of these media outlets.

Cleckheaton Town Centre has a varied selection of shops and eating (and drinking)
places many of which support us in a variety of ways so please make it a point to
call in on some of them, particularly those named elsewhere in this souvenir
brochure and express your own appreciation by way of your custom. During this
year's Festival the town's traditional indoor market is supplemented by the stalls of
the farmers' market and we thank them too.

Never let it be forgotten that the smooth running of the Festival this weekend,

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The Geoff Pickles Memorial Festival 1st, 2nd & 3rd July 2022

owes a huge vote of thanks to all our volunteer Venue Managers and Stewards; the
Town Hall staff; the proprietors and staff of other venues; the first aider volunteers
and the Police and Fire Services. Without them we could not cope. If you see them
around why not pass on your own thanks
The core of any Festival is, of course, the booked artists in our concerts, workshops,
meets and fringe events, together with the street entertainers, bands and dance
sides. They are (usually) obvious. However also playing their part once again are
the sound engineers, the lighting engineers and other background workers. We
thank them.
The named and unnamed MCs; the hosts at sing-a-rounds and music sessions; the
Methodist Church workers and the organisers of the Sunday service Geoff and
Mary Twentyman; the campsite organisers, security personnel, minibus drivers and
the Walk guide Nigel Burton. Most of these are giving their services for the fun of it
and not for financial reward they all deserve our thanks. Suppliers such as Angus
Heron, Stephen Edkins and perhaps others who have earned the privilege of
remaining anonymous!
Last but not least, our thanks go to all of you - our readers and our audiences -
whether you are regulars or newcomers. We hope that you will all enjoy our 33rd
Festival and will be eager to return for the 34th festival which will be on the
30th June, 1st & 2nd July 2023 d.v.
Please help us to "spread the word" and attract more people so that it will be an
even better and more successful event. You might want to get involved by
stewarding or assisting in some other way - if so, please let us know at the Town
Hall desk, or through the contacts below. We always need willing volunteers.

For any comments, enquiries or for details of next year's Festival:

Write to us at the festival office: 84, Pyenot Hall Lane, Cleckheaton, BD19 5BA
Telephone us on 01274 879761
E-mail us at: [email protected]
Visit our website: www.cleckheatonfolkfestival.org
Facebook: Friends of Cleckheaton Folk Festival
or
Twitter: @CleckheatonFF on twitter

CLECKHEATON FOLK FESTIVAL ORGANISATION
Company No.5156439. Registered in England. Limited by Guarantee.

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Geoff Pickles 1941—2022

Geoff Pickles will be remembered as an icon of the Spen Valley and a giant
in the folk world. He has been involved with the festival since the start and
was a pleasure to work with. His family, the festival committee and all his

festival family and friends will miss this great man ...