Next generation skips round the maypole

THE spring tradition of skipping round a maypole is being revived on Sunday by the third generation of the same family.

Patricia Johns (47) will watch her daughter Michaela Grady (20) take up the coloured ribbons, 32 years after Patricia’s mother Rose Johns took part in the first dance.

Rose was one of nine pals who donned white costumes and twirled round the maypole outside the Manor Inn pub, Abbeyhills Road, in 1978. A generation later and the next dance was performed in 1991, with the daughters of some of the original group taking part.

Now their children, aged between 12 and 24, will be picking up the coloured ribbons on Sunday and weaving their way around the pole at 4pm.

Grandmother-of-four Patricia, whose sister Alison Johns now runs the pub, said: “The very first dance was organised and performed by my mum and all her friends to mark May Day.

“The second time, I’d just given birth so did not take part but four of my sisters did.

“Now, it’s the granddaughters that will be dancing on Sunday.

“We’ve even found the original maypole in the pub cellar and I’m hoping that my brother Darren Johns will hold it.

“Maybe in another 10 years time, the great-granddaughters will carry on the tradition.”