Hoodening 1966-2016
⇐ Earlier Hoodening History, 1945-1965
1966
Dobbin is reawakened at a fete of rural bygones, in the school. First performance in a while given outside Bolingbroke Farm (now Baxters) in Sarre. Accompanied by handbell ringers throughout. All the money collected (about £40) was donated to Oxfam. Walt Trice, one of the original Hoodeners, commented that "They're upper-class people, and inhibited"!
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Wagoner: Joe), George Michelmore (Molly), Colin Bean (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: Baxters, Sun/Bell forecourt, Summer Road/Down Barton Road intersection, Alpha (Coles), Nether Hale (Smiths)
1967
Birchington protest that they got there first…
Money collected for Oxfam
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Martin Beale (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: Bell, Crown, Sun, Sarre Court; rest unknown??
1968
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Martin Beale (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: unknown?? (except the Bell)
August 1969 (?)
Special performance at a ceilidh in Edenbridge Civic Centre (West Kent), together with various folk and Morris groups etc.
Members: (assumed) Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Martin Beale (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
1969
Due to a last minute emergency, for the one and only time [until 1999; and ignoring the Birchington imposters!] a woman was permitted to take part… but "Fred" was disguised so well that nobody knew.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Allan Garratt (Sam), Martin Beale (Boy), Adam Jones / Fred (Musicians). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: unknown?? (except the Bell)
1970
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Allan Garratt, Martin Beale (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: unknown??
1971
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Allan Garratt, Martin Beale (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: unknown??
1972
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Allan Garratt, Martin Beale (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: unknown?? (except Bell)
1973
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Allan Garratt, Martin Beale (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: unknown??
1974
Hoath Hooden Horse rediscovered.
Members: Geoff West (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Allan Garratt, Keir Dutton (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: unknown??
1975
Money collected for the church.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Allan Garratt, Keir Dutton (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: unknown??
Late 1970s
A short-lived revival of hoodening in Deal using a driftwood horse named ‘Hengist’ made by Julia Small.
1976
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Allan Garratt, Keir Dutton (Coll), Martin Beale (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: unknown?? (except Bonds)
6 August 1977
Hoodeners make an appearance in the St Nicholas Carnival.
Members: Budgie Paul (?) (Dobbin), Ben Jones (Wagoner; age 11), David Gray (Molly)
1977
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Allan Garratt, Keir Dutton (Boy), Maurice Walsh (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham (basically re-used the 1969 script).
Venues: Wade House (Rodney Tapp), Bonds, Prouts (Marshside), Pocknalls, Wansum Court, Street Acre, Ambry Court (Dick Tapp), Bell, Treveils, Vicarage, Sarre??, Village Hall, Bell (again)
1978
Members: Chris Cole / Goronwy Jones (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Allan Garratt, Keir Dutton (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham (1973 script re-used).
Venues: Street Acre, Boyden Gate Inn (Marshside), Bonds (Sarre), Treveils (Sandalwood Drive), Bell, Plum Tree Cottage (Inghams), Shuart (Martin Tapp), Bell (again)
1979
Money collected for the church.
Members: Ross Bentley (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Joe), David Gray (Molly), Clive Bolton (Wagoner), Keir Dutton (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician & Second Wagoner). Script by Adam Jones.
Venues: Wansum Court, Solomons (Sandalwood Drive), White Stag, Gate, Bonds, King's Head, Pocknalls (Bedford Way), Street Acre, Treveils, Bell, Farriers Cottage (Nicholls), Ambry Court, Bell (again)
14 January 1980
Special performance at the County Hotel (Canterbury) for the annual dinner of the Hoodeners Antiques Market. Apparently not a success…
Members: Simon Debenham (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Clive Bolton, Keir Dutton (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Adam Jones (same as three weeks before).
26 May 1980
Special performance at the St Nicholas Revels Restored, in aid of the church restoration fund.
Members: Ross Bentley (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Joe), David Gray (Molly), Simon Debenham (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician & Wagoner). Script by Adam Jones.
1980
£159.72 raised for a sports pavilion in St Nicholas.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Giles Debenham (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Martin Beale.
Venues: Coles (Monkton), White Stag, Wade House, Collins (Seaton/Ickham), Bell, Sarre House, Street Acre, Gate, Bonds, Treveils, Bell (again)
Whitstable Hoodeners start, inspired by Edward Coomber(?)'s previous revival.
31 May 1981
Special performance at Molly's wedding.
Members: Brian Marsh (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Wagoner: Joe), [Roy Fairbrass (Sam)], Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Adam Jones, Martin Beale and Roy Fairbrass.
1981
Tonbridge Mummers & Hoodeners founded by Geoff Doel & Nick Miller of Hartley Morris, with a new horse and a play based on Symondsbury and Antrobus soulcaking traditions.
£237.85 raised for the Village Hall, and £22.80 for the Canterbury Urban Studies Centre.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Giles Debenham (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician & Black Beauty). Script by Adam Jones.
Venues: Shuart, Dominican Guest House (Canterbury), Bell, Street Acre, Solomons, Collins, Sun, Coles (Monkton), Bonds, Gate, Sarre House, Treveils, Village Hall, Bell (again)
1982
£254 and 71.5 pence (!) raised for handbells.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Giles Debenham (Boy), Adam / Ben Jones (Musician & Young Dobbin). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
Venues: Street Acre, Coles (Monkton), Bell, Sarre House, Bonds, Collins, Sun, Wansum Court, Ambry Court, Village Hall, Gate, Anchorage (Coles: Ramsgate), Pocknalls, Bell (again)
1983
£238.77 raised for a children's slide for St Nicholas sports ground.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Giles Debenham (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Chris Cole.
Venues: Bell, King's Head, Bonds, Bell (again), Ambry Court, Village Hall, Coles (Monkton), Hopkins (Wideleas: Summer Road), Vicarage, Street Acre, Gate, Anchorage
1984
£333.26 raised for cassocks for the church, in memory of Brian Debenham.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Giles Debenham (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Martin Beale.
Venues: Coles (Monkton), Shuart, Bell, Anchorage, Street Acre, Village Hall, King's Head, Collins, Sarre House, Bonds, Gate, Manor End (Tylers), Vicarage, Bell (again)
1985
£625.03 raised for breast scanners at Margate & Canterbury hospitals.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Giles Debenham (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Giles Debenham.
Venues: Sun, Vicarage, Down Barton (Robertsons), Gate, Anchorage, Coles (Monkton), Ambry Court, Bell, Bonds, Treveils, Collins, Street Acre, Village Hall
1986
£656.82 raised for the Pilgrims Hospice.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Giles Debenham (Boy), Richard Hopkins (Musician & Young Dobbin). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
Venues: Street Acre, Down Barton, Gate, Anchorage, Wade House, Coles (Monkton), Bell, Bonds, Village Hall, Collins, Diaconos (Nether Hale), Vicarage, Bell (again), Pocknalls (in January)
1987
£651.12 raised for Sarre Mill to cope with the aftermath of the hurricane. This was the last time Giles Debenham performed — he then absconded to become a criminal defence solicitor in King's Lynn.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Giles Debenham (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Chris Cole.
Venues: Village Hall, Bell, Anchorage, Street Acre, Shuart, Wantsum Sports Pavilion, Lambs (Minster), Bonds, Crown, Collins, Solomons, Vicarage, Down Barton, Gate, Coles (Monkton), Sun, Bell (again)
1988
£621.95 raised for a cancer laser for Margate Hospital.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray / Jamie May (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Matthew Williams (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Martin Beale.
Venues: Vicarage, Bell, Gate, Collins, Lambs, Crown, Street Acre, Village Hall, Ambry Court, King's Head, Anchorage, Bonds, Bell (again)
1989
£603.02 raised for leukaemia, in memory of Graham Bond.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Matthew Williams (Boy), Adam Jones / Marcus Da Costa (Musician), Jamie May (Young Moll / Scarlet). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
Venues: Village Hall, Wade House, Bell, Lambs, Gate, Collins, Down Barton, Vicarage, King's Head, Coles (Monkton), Bonds, Bell (again), Anchorage
1990
£515.41 raised for St Nicholas school picnic tables and playgroup tunnel, in memory of Tristan Jones.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Wagoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Clive Bolton (Boy), Matthew Williams (Boss' Son), Adam / Ben Jones (Musician). Script by Chris Cole.
Venues: Vicarage, Crown, King's Head, Village Hall, Gate, Collins, Anchorage, Shuart, Sun, Coles (Monkton), Bonds, Bell
1991
£533.30 raised for Vision 2000, a centre for the blind in Maidstone.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Clive Bolton (Boy), Matthew Williams (Boss' Son & Daughter), Ben Jones (George & Musician & Satan). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
Venues: Village Hall, Six Bells, Gate, Vicarage, Crown, King's Head, Collins, Sun, Street Acre, Coles (Monkton), Bell
July 1992
Special performance at the St Nicholas Goose Fair.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Clive Bolton (Boy), Ben Jones (George & Musician). Script by Chris Cole.
1992
£364.93 raised for handbells.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin & Dobain), Clive Bolton (Wagoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Robert Dalgliesh (Boy), Adam / Ben Jones (George & Musician). Script by Ben Jones.
Venues: Six Bells, Sun, Sarre House, Crown, King's Head, Down Barton, Monkton (Coles), Gate, Street Acre, Village Hall, Bell
1993
£851.89 raised for the TEAR (Thanet Emergency Accident & Recovery centre) appeal.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Wagoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Jamie May (Boy), Adam / Ben Jones (George & Musician). Script by Chris Cole.
Venues: Ramsgate Hospital, Chequers Inn (Ash), Half Moon and Seven Stars (Preston), Bell, Vicarage, Crown, Gate, Street Acre, Village Hall, Ambry Court, Sun, Pepper Alley (Coles), Coles (Monkton), Bell (again)
1994
£522.12 raised for the TEAR Fund and various other charities.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Wagoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Jamie May (Boy & Third Horse), Ben Jones (George & Musician & Second Horse). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
Venues: Street Acre, Savoy Hotel (Ramsgate), Crown, Half Moon and Seven Stars, Vicarage, Village Hall, Thatched Cottage (Da Costas), Gate, Sarre House, Monkton Sports Centre, Sun, Bell
April 1995
Special performance at Sam's wedding.
Members: Zoe Bolton (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Wagoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), [Roy Fairbrass (Sam)], Jamie May (Boy & Third Horse), Martin Beale (Joe). Script by Martin Beale.
1995
£473.65 raised for various charities.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Wagoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Jamie May (Boy), Ben Jones (George & Musician). Script a collective effort.
Venues: Margate Hospital ITU (to visit Chris Swift, suffering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome), Six Bells, Gate, Village Hall, Thatched Cottage, Unicorn (Bekesbourne), Sarre House, Crown, King's Head, Half Moon and Seven Stars, Street Acre, Vicarage, Bell, Sun
June 1996
Special performance at Victorian Garden Fete (Walmer Castle).
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Wagoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Jamie May (Boy). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
1996
£587.85 raised and shared between St Nicholas playgroup, St Nicholas School (for drums), Royal National Lifeboat Institute, People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, and the air ambulances. "Hoodeners' Hooch" IPA brewed (and consumed!) to commemorate 30th anniversary.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Wagoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Jamie May (Boy), Ben Jones (George & Musician). Script a collective effort.
Venues: Six Bells, Unicorn, Half Moon and Seven Stars, Street Acre, Village Hall, Thatched Cottage, King's Head, Crown, Richardsons (Minster), Pepper Alley, Sun, Ambry Court, Gate, Bell
1997
£523.00 raised for an RSPCA animal sanctuary.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Wagoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Jamie May (Boy), Ben Jones (George & Musician). Script a collective effort.
Venues: Thatched Cottage, Crown, Boyden Gate, Street Acre, Unicorn, Sun, Wade House, Half Moon and Seven Stars, Village Hall, Pepper Alley, Bell
(Click for larger image) Star Inn in Broadstairs changes its name to "The Poor 'Ole Hooden Horse". (The "Hooden Horse" in Wickhambreaux no longer exists, but there are a chain of Hooden Horse pubs with similar names around Ashford.)
Second Deal revival starts, led by Gill and Chris Nixon, with a new 'green' horse based on the original description from that town.
1998
£662.28 raised for St Nicholas church and ChildLine, bringing the total raised since 1980 to over £8000. A note of thanks appears in the Parish Magazine.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Wagoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Jamie May (Boy), Matthew Williams (Boss' Daughter, a.k.a. Monika Lewinsky), Simon Gray (very young Dobbin), Ben Jones (George & Musician). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
Venues: Walpole Hotel (Rotary Club), Village Hall (Ross Gray's 80th birthday), Lynn Fermour (teachers), Denise Cole (Monkton), Richardsons, King's Head [twice], Down Barton, Thatched Cottage, Boyden Gate, Crown, Half Moon and Seven Stars, Street Acre, Village Hall, Sun, NOT the Bell (first time!)
1999
The six Hooden Horse Inns in Kent were sold to the Inn Business Group two years ago for £1.4 million, with plans for 24 more under that brand. Now they've been sold to Punch Taverns, and are spreading nationwide. Nowt to do with us, though — we've never even been invited inside.
£485 raised for St Nicholas church.
A wench was officially allowed to take part for the first time (cf 1969).
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Wagoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Jamie May (Boy), Annette Beake / Matthew Williams (Clover), Ben Jones (George & Musician). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
Venues: Shuart, Pepper Alley, Crown, King's Head [twice], Boyden Gate, Village Hall, Denise Cole (Monkton), Half Moon and Seven Stars, Street Acre, Sun
2000
Hoodeners performed an abbreviated version of the 1999 play at the Quex 2000 fair in Birchington (click for larger image).
Other vaguely related events took place in the summer at Goudhurst (maybe with Phil Martin?) and Banbury (the 'Hobby Horse Festival' — which can be traced across numerous defunct websites across the years, e.g. 2001, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2011...)
Deal Hoodeners released a CD of their sea songs & shanties, called 'Donkey Riding'.
LLantrisant Mari Lwyd exhibited as centrepiece of Allan Kane and Jeremy Deller's contribution to 'Intelligence: New British Art 2000' at Tate Britain (July-September).
In November there was a meeting of over a dozen Kentish horses (almost all modern) in Marshside. For pix see the Hooden Horses page.
£600 raised for Kent Air Ambulance; and £96 for Mencap.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Wagoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Jamie May (Boy), Ben Jones (George & Musician). Script by Jamie May.
Venues: Cherry Tree (Turnbulls: for Mencap), Monkton Women's Institute, White Stag (Monkton), King's Head, Wade House, Half Moon and Seven Stars, Village Hall, Crown, Boyden Gate, Street Acre, Denise Cole, Sun
2001
14 September 2001
Tom West, last of the original St Nicholas Hoodeners, dies. He was born on 7 September 1907.
6 October 2001
Hoodeners attended the Tenterden Folk Festival, performing in three pubs to mixed reactions. George Frampton also gave a 'Hooden Horse workshop', gathering / sharing information related to his forthcoming book on the subject.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Jamie May (Boy), Ben Jones (George & Musician). 'arry was at the England-Greece football game! Script (short) by Roy Fairbrass.
Venues:Eight Bells, Vine Inn, White Lion
17 November 2001
Assorted 'hoodeners' from various parts of East Kent assembled at Simple Simon's in Canterbury.
£999+ raised for the Red Cross, in memory of Tom West (and in accordance with his last wishes).
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Wagoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Jamie May (Boy), Ben Jones (George & Musician), Simon Gray (Parry Hotter), Budgie Paul (Harriet Potts). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
Venues: Cherry Tree, Bryant's, Monkton WI, White Stag, Boyden Gate, Down Barton, Crown, King's Head, Denise Cole, Bell, Street Acre, Pepper Alley, Sun
2002
18 March 2002
Birchington Evening Townswomen's Guild kindly donated us the horse they had made for some performances in the 1950s.
18 May 2002
Special performance at Street Acre for the 50th birthday party of Mala Murton (née Jones).
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Wagoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Simon Gray (Boy), Ben Jones (George), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Ben Jones (adapted from 1980 Revels Restored).
29-30 June 2002
Banbury event appears to be going strong. This year a 7th original hooden horse was allegedly discovered (in Lincolnshire of all places), with a sack marked Birchington… It came to the Tenterden Folk Festival) on October 6, but opinions on whether it was 'the original Birchington / Acol horse' were divided — the previous owner's daughter thought she remembered her father, a folk enthusiast who had no obvious link with Thanet, making it himself about 15 years ago. See Hooden Horses for picture.
16 November 2002
Assorted 'hoodeners' from various parts of East Kent assembled at Simple Simon's in Canterbury and inaugurated a 'Hooden Horse Society'.
£995 raised for Thanet Pilgrim's Hospice from just 12 venues (setting four records), in memory of Maureen Knight. First outdoor winter performance in over 30 years: brass monkeys. First appearance of Deal Hoodeners at a St Nicholas & Sarre Hoodening event: well sung! Also the first Hooden performance in Birchington in nearly 50 years, to an unexpectedly vast, largely 'townie' audience: dozens of builders & teachers who had apparently been drinking all afternoon, and two kind souls who actually watched us — even though they couldn't hear a word we shouted. This performance was also noted for Dobbin's first encounter with the Birchington Posse (young yobs), all of whom were coincidentally arrested shortly afterwards…
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Wagoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Ben Jones (George & Musician), Budgie Paul (Big Bill), Simon Gray (Little Willy). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
Venues: Singleton Close, White Stag, Crown, King's Head, Powell Arms, Boyden Gate, Village Hall, Denise Cole, Bell, Street Acre, Wade House, Sun
2003
10 July 2003
The problematic Licensing Bill became law as the Licensing Act 2003. See the Traditional Drama Research Group's website for more details.
19 August 2003
An interview with myself (Ben Jones) broadcast on Resonance FM. CD available from Acorn Records.
15 November 2003
Assorted 'hoodeners' from various parts of East Kent assembled at Simple Simon's in Canterbury.
£1000 raised for Kingfisher Children's Centre, Broadstairs: into 4 figures for the first time! And that despite the first script by a wench… Actually a little more was raised, but this year Hoodeners were dragged kicking & screaming into the 21st century and 'persuaded' to buy public liability insurance for the first time (due to horrendous tales of litigious audiences at Morris events — obviously a different class of people…)
<- more photos available at Pete Thomas's Rich Tradition site
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Wagoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Ben Jones (George & Musician), Budgie Paul (Big Bill), Simon Gray (Little Willy). Script by Annette Paul.
Venues: Turnbulls (Tilmanstone), Crown, Barn, King's Head, Bryants, Shuart, Pepper Alley, Sun, Village Hall, White Stag, Boyden Gate, Street Acre, Denise Cole, Bell
2004
<- photo courtesy of Pete Thomas's Rich Tradition site (click to see more)
£800 raised for Demelza House (children's hoRsEpice), Minster Museum and Canterbury Horse Rescue. First Hoodening in Broadstairs since it was allegedly banned there in 1828.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Wagoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Ben Jones (George & Musician), Budgie Paul (Karma Long Wei), Simon Gray (Boy). Script by Annette Paul.
Venues: C+B Brown (Broadstairs), Crown, King's Head, Ambry Court, White Stag, Bell, Village Hall, Denise Blackwell, Boyden Gate, Street Acre, Bell (again), Sun
19 November 2005
Assorted 'hoodeners' from various parts of East Kent assembled again at Simple Simon's in Canterbury.
2005
£850 raised for a bladder scanner at St Augustine's Ward, QEQM hospital.
[no pics yet]
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin: last year), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Ben Jones (George & Musician), Budgie Paul (Wagoner: Bill), Simon Gray (Boy). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
Venues: Village Hall, Boyden Gate, Street Acre, Pepper Alley, Bell, Sun, Wade House/Crown/King's Head??
June 2006
Special performance at Street Acre at party to commemorate founding of Ben Jones's Thanet-based translation company BJ Translations.
[no pics yet]
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin: back out of retirement!), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Budgie Paul (Wagoner: Bill), Simon Gray (Boy).
2006
17 November 2006
Assorted 'hoodeners' from various parts of East Kent assembled again at Simple Simon's in Canterbury.
20 November 2006
The first detailed full-length work on Hoodening in nearly a century (barring this website, natch!) was published by the Faversham Society: George Frampton's 'Discordant Comicals: The Christmas Hoodeners of East Kent, Tradition and Revival'. A revised, expanded, colour hardback version was published by Ozaru Books in 2018.
16 December 2006
Gail Duff & the Pie Factory kids 'revive' (ha!) 'the Thanet Hoodening Play' (Ha!) with dancing (HAHAHA!) and a rather cuddly horse including Playboy logo (designed by committee — no really!) at Westwood Cross shopping centre in Broadstairs and two old peoples' homes in Ramsgate.
2006 season
£945 raised for East Kent Breast Screening.
[no pics yet]
Members: David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Ben Jones (George & Musician), Budgie Paul (Wagoner: Bill), Simon Gray (Boy), Dave Underwood (Neddy). Script by Annette Paul.
Venues: Village Hall, Shuart, Bell, Thatched Cottage, Crown, King's Head, Sun, Boyden Gate, Street Acre, Bell (again)
16 November 2007
Assorted 'hoodeners' from various parts of East Kent assembled again at Simple Simon's in Canterbury.
2007
£1300 raised for Paula Carr Trust.
Members: David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Ben Jones (George & Musician), Budgie Paul (Wagoner: Bill), Simon Gray (Boy), Simon Lane ('orse), Megan Lane (Replica). Script by Annette Paul.
Venues: Bridge Historical Society, Herne Past Rotarians, Village Hall, Crown, Bell, Ransoms (Monkton), White Stag, Boyden Gate, Ambry Court, King's Head, Sun, Crown (again), Street Acre, Pepper Alley, Bell (again)
29 March 2008
Appeared at the Kent Gathering of Traditional Music in Frittenden, using the 1969 Edenbridge script.
Members: David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Ben Jones (Musician), Budgie Paul (Wagoner), Simon Gray (Boy), Simon Lane ('orse).
18 September 2008
Appeared at a supper for the Friends of Quex, again using the 1969 script.
Members: David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Ben Jones ('orse & Musician), Budgie Paul (Wagoner), Simon Lane (Boy).
2008 season
£1000 raised for church clerestory parapets & merlons. Included a joint performance with the Deal Hoodeners for the first time in centuries (probably ever), on 4 December at Whitstable Folk Club.
Members: David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Ben Jones (George & Musician), Budgie Paul (Wagoner: Bill), Simon Gray (Boy), Simon Lane ('orse & Boy), Annette Paul ('orse). Script by Annette Paul.
Venues: Whitstable Folk Club, The Rodney (Garlinge), Quex Barn, Ransoms, Crown & Sceptre (Acol), Wade House, Bell, Boyden Gate, Crown, White Stag, Sun (private: McIntyres), Village Hall, Street Acre, Bell (again)
2009
27 April 2009
Percy Maylam's seminal 1909 book is reissued to mark its centenary, with a few additional photographs from his great-nephew Richard Maylam and textual contributions from Mick Lynn and Geoff Doel, of Mumming, Howling & Hoodening fame. The 'new' book is available at Amazon UK, US, DE, FR, JP.
20 August 2009
Hoodening mentioned in a national broadsheet for possibly the first time
14 December 2009
Hoodening (albeit the Tonbridge group) features in a BBC Southeast local news broadcast.
2009 season
£750 raised for a braille embosser for Minster Matters. First private performance in Birchington.
Members: David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Ben Jones (George & Musician), Budgie Paul (Wagoner: Bill), Simon Gray (Boy), Simon Lane (Dobbin). Script by Ben Jones.
Venues: Quex Barn, Shuart, Crown & Sceptre, Sun, Village Hall, Saddler (Minster), Stella Maris, Crown, White Stag, Boyden Gate, Street Acre, Pepper Alley, Bell
2010
£670 raised for Margate station of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (on its 150th anniversary). Heavy snow caused one performance at St Nicholas Pavilion to be called off.
Members: David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Ben Jones (George & Musician), Budgie Paul (Wagoner: Bill), Simon Gray (Boy), Simon Lane (Dobbin). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
Venues: Sun, Monkton Village Hall, The Lifeboat (Margate), 11BRSW, Boyden Gate, Village Hall, Pepper Alley (Wales… as in Mr & Mrs Wale), Crown, Quex Barn, Street Acre, Bell
2011
The Hoodeners appeared in the July issue of Vogue.
We also appear in Mummers, Maypoles and Milkmaids: A Journey Through the English Ritual Year (although it wrongly says the photo is from Sandwich: it was actually taken in The Crown at Sarre)
December performances raised £1250 for Porchlight. Details, photos, venues, script etc. in due course.
Members: David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Ben Jones (George & Musician), Budgie Paul (Wagoner: Bill), Simon Gray (Boy), Simon Lane (Dobbin). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
2012
December performances raised £1413 for Pilgrims Hospices in memory of Yvonne Martin. Details, photos, venues, script etc. to be uploaded in due course. Theme focused on plans for an anaerobic digester in St Nicholas.
Members: David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Ben Jones (George & Musician), Budgie Paul (Wagoner: Bill), Simon Gray (Boy), Simon Lane (Dobbin). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
2013
December performances raised £1680 for Monkton Nature Reserve and Macmillan Nurses — details, photos, venues, script etc. in due course. Theme focused on fracking.
Members: David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Ben Jones (George & Musician), Budgie Paul (Wagoner: Bill), Simon Gray (Boy), Simon Lane (Dobbin). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
2014
From June of this year, two Broadstairs horses start to appear regularly as "Klappergäule" ('snapping nags') in Hildesheim (Germany) — references have been found for 2014 (YouTube), 2015 (PDF), 2017 (Facebook: Bergfest Moritzberg), 2021 (Kultur in Bewegung), and 2023 (Hildesheimer Wallanlagen).
In early December, Phil Martin dies: he wrote a radio play about Hoodening and a great Hooden Horse song.
December performances raised £1553.48 — roughly split £900 for Thanet Food Link (their largest donation yet) and £600 for the village playgroup — details, photos, venues, script etc. in due course. Theme focused on Manston and immigration. Some photos were taken by Homer Sykes, including of the audience — an interesting social record.
Members: David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Ben Jones (George & Musician), Budgie Paul (Wagoner: Bill), Simon Gray (Boy), Simon Lane (Dobbin). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
2015
Deal Hoodeners release their second CD, "A Hoodening Year".
Greene King's Hungry Horse chain opens The Hooden Horse diner at Westwood Cross. We named it, but they forgot to invite us to the opening… (they did apologize later).
New book Arcadia Britannica features horses Dobbin & Satan, Bill, ǝƃɹoǝפ…
December performances raised £1850 for GOSH (the NHS Gynae-Oncological Support & Help group based in Maidstone).
2016
In early January the Hoodeners made a rare appearance inside St Nicholas church, to mark "Plough Sunday", which featured the blessing of a plough.
On 31 July the Hoodeners made another rare 'out of season' appearance, performing as part of the "Celebration of Village Life at St Nicholas-at-Wade & Sarre".
Members: David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Ben Jones (George & Musician), Budgie Paul (Wagoner: Bill), Tom Paul (Boy), Simon Lane (Dobbin). Script as in 1969.
December performances raised £2091.08 for Children in Need (in memory of Terry Wogan: this year's song too was a parody of 'Floral Dance') and Asthma UK.
On Boxing Day, George and Dobbin, aided by Master James Fuller, retraced the steps of the Great Walk — it ended up as around 18 miles and took around 8 hours, from dawn (8 a.m.) to dusk (4 p.m.).
Later Hoodening History, 2017 onwards ⇒
