It was Mrs. Pretty of Tranmer House who had a dream that led to the discovery of the sleeping warrior and his many treasures at Sutton Hoo. This spring a group of East Anglian storytellers had a dream that they bring alive the ancient art of storytelling in the home of Beowulf and for one action packed weekend at Woodbridge School storytellers from all over the British Isles and a visitor from Japan dug and delved for the Word Hoard and were once again inspired with the magic of Tales.
The exploration was led by Dr. Sam Newton, that giant of a gentleman and scholar, who towered over us with his blazing enthusiasm. It was he, who brought to life the strange guttural power of the Anglo-Saxon tongue and sent us on our way to Sutton Hoo with a new understanding. On the burial mound itself we found Sam Newton again laying in the position in which the mighty King Of the Angles was excavated and again marvelled at Sam's rich flow of language.
It was a Gathering that really gave the flavour of the region with the marvellous collection of stories in the entertainment that opened the event with 'Magic and Mystery from the Land of the Land of the East Angles'. Hugh Lupton, the supreme Master storyteller, opened the magic eye with fairy ointment to such strange doings as - the battles of King Edmund, King John and his treasure and Cunning Murrill and the witchcraft of Essex. How we laughed at the veteran raconteur, Sid Kipper from Trunch in Norfolk, with his own special insight into the world of fairy! On Saturday in the delightful company of the Bumpsted Boys we returned to the real world of farming Suffolk with some traditional tales, music and dance of rural life.
The workshops were led by experienced practitioners of the storyteller's art, who all had a deep commitment and passion to imparting their special knowledge. It was possible to gain an insight into storytelling in schools, as therapy, to share reminiscence storytelling, and the representation of disability in storytelling and to twist the material of History and saga into manageable thread. The grounds echoed to the sounds of drums and unlikely people suddenly found themselves dancing and in the darkened depths of the hall Robin Herne sent shivers down the spine with his tales of the graveled.
Eventually the urge to tell a tale overcame people and they fought their way for a position in the yurt where Duncan Williamson kept alive the true tradition of the Ceilidh where everybody could tell a tale, sing a song or 'show their bottom'. Taffy Thomas was around too to show that magnificent coat of stories that he wore to meet the queen.
The chief delight of all was the making of new friends. Isn't it wonderful how many times you can get kissed at a storytelling Gathering?
This treasure trove of delights did not come about in isolation. It was a year of very hard work by a dedicated committee who included: -
Stuart Broad - provider of light and sound.
Hugh Lupton - master of revels.
Paul Jackson and Mary Jane Edgar - for conjuring up haunting visual images.
John Row - who provided the meeting palace for our animated committee meetings.
Peter Hilkin and Andy Jennings and their faithful horde of stewards who attended so gracefully to the need of the elders.
Gill Lampen - faithful keeper of the rolls of workshop members so that all might be enlightened!
Peter Fowler - the dragon who guarded the gold.
Jan Williams - the Welsh witch who made sure all had a roof over their head and who inspired the idea of the 'Word Hoard' and all its ramifications including the Yurt.
Maureen James - the smiling one, whose unfailing tact and good nature kept up the spirits of this merry band and who never stopped working for the entire weekend and throughout the planning sessions.
Heartfelt thanks to you all and to John Curtin and the staff of Woodbridge school for a beautiful location and countless acts of kindness. Loved that beautiful magnolia tree.
We have won the victory for hearts and minds. Next year we provide more material comforts which will of course mean the palms will have to be crossed with more silver. This year was an extraordinary bargain!