Talk and Tea: May Celebrations

May is a special time of the year. A time of festivals and fairs, of revels, riots, dancing and protest. It also lies at the heart of a whole season of celebrations. This illustrated talk, by Tim Hill, looks at the social history of these celebrations and the importance of Mayday, Whitsun and summer games. Richly accompanied with illustrations, paintings and photographs, recorded and live music, the talk traces how these festivities have changed and adapted through the ages and how the idea of ‘May’ is expressed in literature and folk song. A special focus will be traditions and stories of celebrations in Somerset.

Tim Hill has been making celebrations for over 20 years. He has played with samba bands around Stonehenge and on the back of trucks at Notting Hill carnival, led giants through the streets of London, created Olympic Torch events, cooked celebratory feasts, written wassail songs, and taken funeral services. Tim has for many years been researching traditions of celebration, outdoor music, ritual noise, parades and processions and the ways we love to gather and feast, dance and sometimes fall over. Tim works as musical director on outdoor shows across the UK, and with the Mellstock Band he recreates the English rural music of the 18th and 19th centuries, appearing in many film and TV productions like the classic BBC ‘Pride and Prejudice.’

Host or Publisher South West Heritage Trust