Tonbridge Country Dancing Festival

This is a repeat post from last year, but with the Tonbridge Arts Festival taking place this June it has renewed my interest in the Country Dancing Festival, which was held every summer on Tonbridge Castle lawn during the 1960's.  All the junior schools in Tonbridge were invited to take part in the event, and dancing teams from the fourth year (that's now year 6) provided an entertaining, albeit chaotic, afternoon of traditional folk dancing for an audience of parents, teachers and residents.

Tonbridge Castle Lawn c1963

There was lots of skipping around in circles , and skipping around in inner and outer circles, and more skipping around in circles - not to forget the heel/toes, promenading and clapping  to the tune of the loud speaker music which was linked to a gramophone, or perhaps it was a tape recorder, but apparantly it was always crackley.

Does someone know any more about the festival, have their own memories, or are there any more photographs out there of the event? Please contact Tonbridge Daily on tonbridgedaily@gmail.com or use the comment box below.