I posted a picture on flickr of Black-a-Tor copse from earlier this year on Dartmoor. It took a couple of hours to do, as there was a lot of sentiment to swim through. But it was not a popular addition (are mine, ever?) so I made it private after a couple of days. The text for the picture follows:
"Next week, weather allowing, I should manage to visit Piles Copse, the last of the three recorded remnant ancient woodlands on the moor.
There will be other places, as the concatenations continue ... where I'm headed is the SW of the moor where most of War Horse was filmed and last night I saw the stage production of the same. That came about because of my visit to East Grinstead last month to see John Tams (he provided the songs for the stage production) who reminded the audience that War Horse was about to go on tour ... and, of course, it had just started in Canterbury!
The War Horse connection with Devon (so, Dartmoor) is from the book, by Michael Morpurgo, who lives there ... so here is Johns Tams singing the Devonshire Carol from War Horse ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE9r6VA-Qmo&list=PLkY2fXMgw60C_nkt0u8Wmp3XeBvCCFSyOAnd the John Tams connection leads back to a birthday treat for Barbara at East Grinstead back in 2010.
I think someone in her heaven is spinning a web of connections for me!
I'll leave this here for a little while.
P.S.
The lyrics of the Carol (as sung by John Tams) can be difficult to follow, but I found them on the mudcat.org site -
THE DEVONSHIRE CAROL
(as sung by John Tams)
The lambkin in the manger the light upon the lea
The moorland yields to glory the shepherds bend the knee
And all are wrapped in grace and all are gifted mirth
Peace walks upon this blessed land
Peace walks upon this blessed land
Peace walks upon this blessed land
Goodwill upon all Earth
The ploughboy and his traces, the line upon the land
All's gift by Nature's graces her bounty to command
And all are wrapped in grace and all are gifted mirth
Peace walks upon this blessed land
Peace walks upon this blessed land
Peace walks upon this blessed land
Goodwill upon all Earth
Tommy in the meadow, Tommy in the byre
Tommy on the firestep, Tommy on the wire
And those who walked in war and those who walked in peace
And those who walked this blessed land
And those who walked this blessed land
And those who walked this blessed land
Their souls shall never cease.
Stand to, me bonny lads, stand to and make you ready
Stand to, me bonny lads, hold the line right steady.
Let pride burn through the flame, this day shall bear your name
Stand to, me bonny lads, hold the line right steady
And those who walked in war and those who cherished peace
And those who walked this blessed land
And those who walked this blessed land
And those who walked this blessed land
Their souls shall never cease."
