May Day was originally a festival to celebrate the arrival of Spring but is probably best known now for the medieval tradition of “dancing the maypole dance”.
For the first time in three years over 100 children from Bourton Meadow Academy gathered on the green outside St Peter & St Paul Church in Buckingham to take part in traditional country dancing and to dance the maypole.
Greeted by the Town Crier and Buckingham’s Mayor Cllr Margaret Gateley, Year 2 students performed a traditional country dance “I want to be near you”. Traditional maypole dances, The Barbers Pole, Gypsy Tent and Crysanthumum were performed by students from Year 4.
Bourton Meadow Academy teacher Debbie Dearlove, who has taught maypole and country dancing for several years at the school, said “how proud she was in the way the children danced and the passion that they showed. All credit must go to the children for learning the dances and performing them in front of the public. This is a tradition that we must not loose”.
Cllr Robin Stuchbury, Chairman of the Town Centre & Events Committee said “It was a privilege to be there with Buckingham Town Mayor, Councillors and members of the public against the backdrop of St Peter & St Paul Church to watch the children taking part in this tradition”.
For enquiries, please contact Paul Hodson at Buckingham Town Council on 01280 816426, communications@buckingham-tc.gov.uk.
