Ten Years of Boekka

2020 has many special dates and anniversaries, however the Covid Virus prevented celebrations and events going ahead as planned. August 8th marks our Cornish Guise team Boekka’s 10th birthday. The last 10 years have been such an adventure.

The following photographs of Boekka are from the days when our ‘Oss Penkevyll briefly performed as Penglaz the Penzance ‘Oss.

Mazey Eve 2009

Devon and Cornwall Pagan Conference 2010

Cassandra and I were in the developmental stages of creating a Guise team known as Penglaz Guise, to travel to other parts of Cornwall and the U.K., However at this time. we did not realize that Penglaz was not permitted to perform outside of Penzance. In recent time this seems to have changed.

2011

When Penglaz Guise and our ‘Oss were dismissed from Penzance this set us free to re-name our ‘Oss and perform anywhere we desired. It took a while to change our image. The following photograph was at Penkevyll’s naming ceremony on 6th March 2011.

Boekka then made it’s debut with Penkevyll at Spring Equinox 2011 in Crean St Buryan. The Teazers were working on choreographed dances with a band that consisted of a hurdy-gurdy and drummers.

Creating and organizing a Guise team is hard work arranging practices, and events. A few more members joined after the Equinox and this inspired my son who had Morris danced since a small boy, to teach a team alongside Boekka’s Guise team. Some of the community did not agree with the Morris inclusion as they considered it an English tradition rather than Cornish.

In 2011 we attended various events shown in the following photographs.

Cornwall Pride 2011

It also seemed to be a year for media work! We appeared with Sue Perkins on the television program All Roads Lead Home and also Paul Merton’s Caravanning Adventures.

Rochester Sweeps Festival was our first weekend away and Kent is a 340 mile journey. Penkevyll caused quite a stir as it seemed that no one in Kent was familiar with a skull ‘Oss.

2012

In 2012 the Morris side connected to Boekka had 12 members. More dances and events were introduced and as we were then without a musician, the teams performed with percussion only while I taught myself to play a melodeon. We also hired a minibus and travelled to Scotland in March to perform at the Scottish Pagan Conference.

Boekka performed at the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic’s Charm Day event in Boscastle.

We also performed at Godolphin Fair

In Marazion on a hot summer day.

I learnt the tunes for Boekka that were composed by my son as well as other popular folk tunes.

My son also played percussion on occasions for Teazer dances choreographed by me.

Teignmouth Folk Festival

Pasty Day Redruth

2013

By 2013 some members left for various reasons and new ones joined. Due to a lack of regular commitment in 2012, we were unable to reach the high standard of performance we desired with a limited number of good dancers. My son then taught new members the Morris dances. A local man who was a Cotswold Morris dancer joined us and rode Penkevyll on occasions.

Bodmin Riding Heritage Day

North Inn Pendeen

Lands End

May morning on Chapel Carn Brea

2014

In 2014 it was difficult to get new recruits as many performers were more interested in Cornish pursuits. My son tried to maintain a high standard of performance that most members found difficult to cope with. We continued howevere with the few dancers we had along with the Cornish Teazer and ‘Oss side of Boekka that remained strong throughout.

Teignmouth Folk Festival

Wreckers Day of Dance

Lands End

Bodmin Riding Heritage Day

Marazion

Lands End

Chapel Carn Brea

St Pirans Day

St Pirans Day – we usually team up with the Whippletree band in the processions

Chepstow Wassail

The first All Hallows Dark Gathering 2014

We continue this journey in Part 2!

2015

At the beginning of 2015 my son moved away from Cornwall to pursue his career. I took over the role of choreographer for the Morris side and Guise team.

. As we were also low in numbers I was also needed in the dances which meant I could not play music. The majority of out dances were performed with percussion only.

Chepstow Wassail 2015

Boekka acquired another ‘Oss rider who was much shorter than our past riders. Penkevyll did not tower above the other ‘Osses as she had in previous years which changed her presence and energy. I could also reach her head without her having to bend as far. The rider was also a founder member of a local Morris side that I danced with on a few occasions.

St Pirans Day Redruth 2015

Trewellard Beer Festival

Wreckers Day of Dance

After observing our Morris team at Wreckers Day of Dance, it was evident that our side was not progressing well despite our efforts. I decided that it was time to close it down due to difficulty in recruiting local dancers. It was impossible to maintain the high standard of performance that I was used to within my first Morris side back in the 1990s. I then had more time to concentrate on our Cornish Teazer and ‘Oss performances as well as dancing with the other Morris based in mid-Cornwall.

All Hallows Dark Gathering 2015

At the Dark Gathering 2015 I performed with the local Morris side as Cassandra was still main Teazer for Penkevyll.

2016

2016 was a busier year performing with Boekka and attending events with the Morris side.

Chepstow Wassail 2016

Fowey 2016

Handfasting Event

Boekka was invited to perform at a Handfasting party in Lamorna. Our other local rider volunteered for this event. Penkevyll was well and truly soaked by torrential rain when she arrived for her performance that evening!

St Pirans 2016

Lostfest 2016

The Dark Gathering 2016

It was a busy summer and although I worked hard performing with the local Morris side, it did not totally fulfill me. On our arrival in Boscastle Friday evening for the Dark Gathering, toxic attitudes also confirmed it was time to leave this Morris side. After a heated discussion between Cassandra and the founder member, he announced that not only was he dismissing her from the team, but in retaliation, he would not ride Penkevyll at this event. Fortunately, a tall, fit Morris dancer attended the event and was not performing. He saved the day by kindly agreeing to stand in.

2017

In 2017 Cassandra handed the role of Head Teazer to me. I was then able to concentrate solely on this performance without dividing my energies. Life with Boekka settled into a positive routine and the energies improved immensely.

Chepstow Wassail 2017

Cassandra focused on her drumming and met excellent percussionists who assisted in her development.

St Pirans Day Redruth 2017

While I teased Penkevyll at this event, Cassandra played percussion with a local folk band Whippletree.

On Beltane 2017 we gave Penkevyll and Boekka a total change of image, discarding unwanted residue from the past for a new beginning. I created a new mane, dress and tatters with Cornish colours of black, white and gold.

Although Cassandra had handed over the Teazer role to me, she could not resist posing for our new image with her ‘trusty’ snapper! She also experimented with black face paint on a couple of occasions before it became controversial.

After completing Penkevyll’s new image, my creative juices were flowing, so I purchased a foal ‘Obby ‘Oss naming her Morvargh the Dark Sea ‘Oss. By owning a smaller ‘Oss we could still take her out if Penkevyll is unable to appear at an event. The foal is a welcome addition to our team and popular with Boekka fans.

Tintagel Carnival 2017

Boscastle 2017

The Dark Gathering 2017

Morvargh made her debut at the Dark Gathering 2017 during the afternoon. I rode her with Wreckers Morris during their Song of the Sea dance.

2018

2018 brought a surprising change to Boekka. A younger man contacted us with a desire to join a ‘dark and edgy’ team. We tried him out as rider for Penkevyll and he had good potential. He connected with the spiritual aspect of ‘Oss riding and treats Penkevyll with utmost care and respect. This is extremely important as ‘Osses are not merely puppets for one’s convenience and/or ego. This attitude sadly occurs more frequently now that owning an ‘Oss has become a fashionable ‘trend’. I had acquired apprentice Teazers that connect with Penkevyll in their own way. One of them also rides Morvargh on occasions.

Chepstow Wassail 2018

Although Penkevyll’s riders were unavailable for Chepstow, I managed to find a young, tall, muscular Welshman to ride Penkevyll during the afternoon. In the evening, we had the freedom to enjoy the ceremony on the bridge without an ‘Oss to distract us.

We spent the summertime training our new ‘Oss rider and Teazers who made their official debut at the next event.

The Dark Gathering 2018

Cassandra joined the drummers of Beltane Border Morris as she enjoys their wild rhythmic music.

It was also wonderful to re-connect with my former Morris team from 20 years ago at this event. It provided the opportunity to come ‘full circle’; by performing my final Morris dance with them at the Dark Gathering. This event is truly a place ‘between the worlds’ where magical things occur!

2019

2019 had a wonderful start with Beorma Morris joining us at the Chepstow Wassai. It was fabulous to catch up with friends we had not seen in a while after the break up of Wytchwood Morris.

This year the Maris had a Beauty Pageant where Boekka were interviewed. There were 33 Maris and ‘Osses. We were waiting backstage for quite a while before our turn arrived.

My apprentice Teazer and I performed a Morris dance from my former Morris side. We danced on the bridge around Cassandra and Penkevyll.

St Pirans Day Redruth 2019

I had work commitments on St Pirans Day and left Penkevyll in the hands of my two Apprentice Teazers. They did a magnificent job!

Tintagel Carnival 2019

Boekka were joined by Mari Arianrhod visiting from Wales for the Tintagel Carnival procession.

The Dark Gathering 2019

Morvargh took more of an active role this year, rode by one of our Teazers. I stepped in as co-organiser of the event after the sudden departure of the managers from the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic.

2020

The Chepstow Wassail was unfortunately cancelled this year, so we attended the Brecon Wassail instead. It is a smaller event; however we were keen to meet up with our Welsh friends and their Maris. Our Teazers performed with the Welsh dancers, although the dancing in my opinion was better when we rehearsed the previous evening during our drinking session!

Cassandra had a wonderful 70th Birthday Party in March 2020 with our special guests – Beltane Border Morris. Then the pandemic occurred and it became one of the strangest years when events were cancelled. The world changed beyond recognition! Let us hope we return to normality soon!

So there you have it….10 years of Boekka and what an incredible, eventful journey! I wonder what the next 10 years will bring…… we shall see you soon!!