2001 Jag Day
Collected for British Heart Foundation £200
Mini Bus hired from Ready Rent a Van, Normanby Road Scunthorpe £37.60 & fuel
Start at Steve Hindley’s
Gainsborough
Xtra Breakfast & Ploughjag
Gainsborough Market Place 10.30. Ploughjag
White Horse 11.00. Ploughjag & songs/tunes
Lords 12.00. Ploughjag & songs and tunes
Messingham The Horn Inn 13.30. Ploughjag, & a few songs
Scunthorpe
Scunthorpe Precinct (outside Burton’s) 15.00. Ploughjag
Broughton Red Lion 1545. Ploughjag, songs and tunes
Ashby Malt Shovel 17.00. Ploughjag songs & tea
Winterton The Lion’s Head 19.00. Ploughjag, songs and tunes
Hibaldstow Wheatsheaf 20.30. Ploughjag, songs & tunes
Scotton The Three Horseshoes 22.00 Ploughjag, songs and tunes
Characters
Rag Fool Eamon Greene s
Recruiting Sergeant Geoff Convery s
The Lady Gordon Griffin s
The Horse Dave Hoy
Joe Straw Steve Hindley m
Flash Hatman Keith Brown
Beelzebub Dave Barlow s
The Doctor Geoff Miller s
Dame Jane Geoff Turner
Besom Betty Geoff Turner s
Musician/Marine Sergeant Major Kate Bilmore Gainsborough and evening
Musician/ St George Peter Barnard Gainsborough and evening
Musician Jerry Oakes Gainsborough only
Musician Bob Cleveland Evening only from Hibaldstow
After the performance, last year, at the First Gainsborough Folk Festival, a decision was reached to change the format of the day to deal with the current licensing laws at Gainsborough i.e. sale of alcohol only after 11.00 a.m. This resulted in a ‘start’ at the pub Xtra where we partook of their all morning breakfast. An illegal performance in Xtra gave thanks – they have no performing licence. We were met there by Nick Pal and friend from Gringley / Retford, who were players in the Clayworth Plough Play a script of which had recently made its way back from America. Nick and his friend came to see what other plays in the area were like, as they had no record of any singing or music in their play. Also they had thought theirs to be unique. Both were suitably impressed by the enthusiasm shown by the Coleby lot, after the performance in the market place.
We were pleasantly surprised to see that the ‘Lords’ pub had reopened and that the White Horse was, again, surprised to be invaded. (Perhaps, the management has changed again.)
The Horn Inn at Messingham received us well, again. And it was with some reluctance that we left to visit the dreaded Scunthorpe Precinct outside Burton’s.
Most of the Jaggers do not like the Scunthorpe Precinct venue. Much discussion has taken place over the years on the pros and cons of doing the precinct. In early years of the Jag, there had been large crowds gathered to see the jag. A very mixed and unpredictable reception has been met over the past 10 years, to the point that we avoid the precinct if Scunthorpe United are playing at home, and virtually have to post sentries over the kit during the performance when we do visit, to avoid having it stolen by kids. Apathy from adults and ridicule from kids seem to be the rule rather than the exception. Taking the play away from a tight area also dilutes the effect and people who choose to ignore the jag therefore walk in front, behind,, and through the players. (Gainsborough Market Place does not seem to have negative effect.)
The Red Lion at Broughton was the next venue, a new one to the Jag. The regulars seemed to appreciate the Jag, despite having their television football interrupted. One older gentleman was very interested and described Plough Jags he had seen in the past. If anyone remembers him he should be interviewed again. The Management very kindly provided a large bowl of chips and bread for the cast, which was well received considering how long since breakfast, but unfortunately timed as tea was next at the Malt Shovel.
The Malt Shovel, in Ashby, is proving to be a very Jag friendly pub with people having assembled there to see the Jag. Eric Stones an ex Jagger was there again this year.
After tea, the Lion’s Head at Winterton welcomed us with open arms egged on by Terry (The original bearded lady) and Christine Hood, and also Mark Freeman (ex Hoss). The reception to the Jag, the songs and tunes, was such that we were invited to finish the tour next year at this venue.
Kate Bilmore and Peter Barnard returned to the tour in the evening at either the Lion’s Head or the Wheatsheaf.
A quick Jag at the Wheatsheaf at Hibaldstow elicited a new interest from the current Management, and some locals. Alison Gennery brought Bob Cleveland to join at the Wheatsheaf, and Rob Whitfield also showed up here.
The 2001 tour finished at the Three Horseshoes at Scotton, where John and Denise treated us to sandwiches. Chris Marshall took a video of the jag performance, and joined in the tunes and singing.