GREAT HOCKHAM

GREAT HOCKHAM

HOME OF THE HOCKHAM CLODHOPPERS

MOLLY DANCERS WITH A DIFFERENCE

The Hockham Clodhoppers were born out of an idea from a Vicarage Road (Hockham) social gathering, involving a bottle of pear schnapps and some very creative thinking, with a view to have something different at the Hockham Horn Fair. After a visit to see the Ouse Valley Washes Molly team perform their Plough Monday dancing at Northwold, the team were inspired and the dance group were born. The name Clodhoppers came from a village football team from the early 1900's and seemed very appropriate.

Under the instruction of our local dance mistress, affectionately known as Mrs Thompson, the Hockham Horn Dance and Stick Dance were rehearsed till the day of the 2006 Horn Fair. Following the success of the day and the resurrection of Doshing using the Hockham Horns, the Clodhoppers have decided to keep to certain traditions, namely that the blackening of faces will only happen in Hockham (all colours when on tour), that the Hockham Horn Dance will only be danced at the Horn Fair (May 19th 2007 next) and that the original Hockham Horns will appear along with the Horn Dance.

New dances were added (Fuel & Furze, Hockham Plough Boys and Dizzy Doris) so that our own Plough Monday celebrations could take place and a highly successful evening was had around the village, with a collection for charity as we danced.

Along the way we added new members to our group to a final number of 16 dancers.

In preparation for the forthcoming Horn Fair and some additional bookings, even more dances are in preparation (Hills and Holes and The Crab and Winkle), so the dancers can have some variety at the events they appear at.

Here's a small collection of our events so far and then a list of our forthcoming events, we hope we get as much support as possible;