Berkshire Bedlam - Bunfights

BB - Bunfights

Excuse me, Miss, what's a Bunfight ....?

Bunfights, best described as ceilidhs-with-spots, are an important part of Berkshire Beldam Folklore. If you're interested in how the Bunfights first came about, click here to read Stuart Barry's account of the first few such events.......

Nowadays the Bunfight is an annual event which is always great fun for everyone attending, young or old. It is held on the last Saturday in November, traditionally at the California Ratepayers Hall, Finchampstead, (click here for map) and the main feature is a ceilidh, always with an excellent band. There is a different overall theme each year, which people are welcome to dress in line with, but this is entirely optional. As well as guest acts, BB usually perform a couple of spots during the evening, the second of which is a showpiece spot that usually has nothing to do with the evening's theme and everything to do with the most bizarre idea they have come up with since the last bizarre idea. The challenge is always to get down to the standard of previous years and amazingly they often succeed.

Lowlights over the years have included Flashdance, Schwarzkopf, YMCA, the famous Cockneys, Berkshire Bumfolosi, The Swans, The Men In Black, The Can-Can, Bolshoi Bedlam, and the legendary 'Stumpton', a spot still talked of in revered tones today, mainly due to the leapfrogs, or more accurately stumpfrogs. The latest Bunfight and spot was in November 2007, once again at the California Ratepayers Hall, with Random and caller Hugh Crabtree, and with the open-to-abuse theme of 'Heroes and Villains'. Another great night, with some richly imaginative outfits on offer, and with Berkshire Bedlam's 'Keystone Kops' spot enabling them to competently demonstrate their incompetence for once. But the only way to really appreciate Berkshire Bedlam Bunfights is to come to one - date for next one is Saturday 29th November 2008 - make sure you're there!

A list of all the recent bunfight themes and spots follows (click on thumbprints for larger versions of the pictures)

2007 - Theme - Heroes and Villains Main spot - Keystone Kops