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Friday 19th September
Have fun in historic Peterborough 19th to 21st Sep 2025 at the International Pipe and Tabor Festival with French guest artist Benjamin Melia. Our main events will be based near the station and the Cathedral. Accommodation options include the Park Inn (various of us are staying there), the 17th century Bull Hotel, or the Premier Inn City Centre. Email Andy Richards at e-mail if you wish to present a paper or might arrive on 18th for informal meeting up (coordinated via WhatsApp).
On 19th afternoon, assemble from 1pm at <Westgate New Church 68b Westgate Peterborough PE1 1RG>.
2 – 5:30 pm Symposium – in <Westgate New Church>.
“Origins and Explorations”, it’s the 20th Anniversary of the Taborers Society this November, and we can revel in various pipe and tabor origin stories.
5:40 – 7pm AGM of The Taborers Society in <Westgate New Church>.
7:00 – 8:30pm Break for meal (Ollie to suggest options).
8.30 – 10.00 pm Social and informal Session (round the room, “play” or “pass”) at <Westgate New Church>.
Saturday 20th September
Assemble from 9:30am at <Westgate New Church>:
10:00am -11:00 Northumbrian tunes talk & workshop – David B.
We will use G pipes for this unless there’s a consensus to use D pipes (some G pipes may be available to borrow, please let us know if you would like one).
We aim for Taborers to perform Sir John Fenwick’s Flower Amang Them All in the concert.
The Northumbrian tunes music is here for D pipe and G pipe.
11:15am -12:00 Playing for All Taborers Repertoire including Sumer is Icumen in, Petit Riens, Morvan Bourree Set – Up in the Meadow and Morvan , Hunt the Squirrel – Gez, Bill, Bob, Mary-Jo, Gillian, Andy
12:00 – 12:30 pm Taborers are welcome to look at and discuss instruments, Consort rehearse, or break for lunch early perhaps with a look at the Cathedral with its fine history including the funeral of Catherine of Aragon. Note: Playing for Ollie’s dance choices will be confident morris taborers discussing with Ollie, Matt, and Peterborough Morris.
12:30 -2:15 pm Lunch at nearby providers, taking 1:54 train to Stamford unless agreed otherwise (Ollie to suggest options).
12:30 – 1:30 pm Beginners Workshop – Gillian will concentrate on teaching people the basics of technique and then send them away with a selection of tunes suitable for learners so they can work on them afterwards. Approximately an hour. <Westgate New Church>.
As long as the weather is good enough to perform in Stamford, and the 1:54 train to Stamford is running, all exit with everything from Westgate New Church at 1:30pm.
1:30 – 2:05 pm Take the 1:54 train Peterborough to Stamford (next train is 2:54).
2:15 pm – 4::30 pm Performances in costume around the historic centre of Stamford with dancing including Peterborough Morris and Taborers. If weather OK then 2:20 <The George Hotel (Ollie is making contact, might be a yes or no)>, 3:10 Stamford High Street, 4:00 Sheep Market (The Golden Fleece).
4:40 – 5:15 pm Take the 4:54 train Stamford to Peterborough (next train is 5:54).
5:15 – 7:00pm Break for meal (Ollie to suggest options).
7:00 pm Assemble at concert venue, St John the Baptist Church.
7.30 – 10 pm Evening Concert “Celebrating Pipe and Tabor” in St John the Baptist Church.
Sunday 21st September
Rendez-vous from 10:00am at the Park Inn, Wentworth Street, Peterborough, GB PE1 1BA, Royce and Clare Room.
.10:30 – 11:30am Dances for a 15th century Tournament: these may include Danse de Cleves and La Franchoise Nouvelle (Brussels), Petit Riens (Guglielmo) and Prenes a Garde (Gresley) (Bill & Barbara).
11:50 – 12:50am Benjamin Melia will teach taborers about music of the Fête-Dieu of Aix-en-Provence.
1:00 pm lunch (Ollie to suggest a venue) followed by fond farewells.
Festival Tickets:
These are available in person from Rob Guest
Weekend taborer £50, weekend partner/supporter £20
Day taborer £20 (just for “one day taborers” e.g. Saturday only)
Performers of dance etc. are free.