BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Informant

Miss Rowland, June 1980, Newquay

Mrs Hydon July 1980, Newquay

Mr Nigel Tangye March 1985, Porth Nr Newquay. The Helston Furry was introduced into Newquay after the Second World War, and by the late 1950s was danced through the towns on Wednesday evenings in the summer as a tourist attraction. By 1961, however, Newquay residents decided to create their own Furry dance, named 'Heva', with the tune being composed by Mr H Whipps of St Mawgan. Nigel Tangye of Glendorgal, Porth, wrote the words and Miss Rowlands class of nine year olds at Crantock Street School composed the dance itself. In fact Miss Rowland provided her children with a series of traditional dance figures from which they improvised the Heva. DANCE NOTATIONS Formation

Processional Dance for two couples (ie Duple Minor) in a line, ladies on right of partner. Step

'One two three hop' Furry dance step, a skipping step or small running steps for the swing. Hold

Gentleman reaches behind lady to hold her right hand in his right, at shoulder height. At the same time holding her left hand in his at waist height. Bars (A)

1 4

All moving in the same direction take four steps forward. 5 8

All turn and continuing to travel in the same direction as bars 1 4 above take four steps backwards. (B)

9 10

All take one step into the centre and clap, then one step back. 11 12

Repeat 9 10 13 16

Swing partners (Original instructions suggest that children might be more comfortable using a skipping step in swing). Repeat as often as wished TUNE/SONG The tune originally created for this dance was the Newquay Heva, with the words, as created by Nigel Tangye, were as follows (glossary provided underneath): Heva Heva now the catch is in

Let the dancing singing and the Troil begin

Pilchard, Herring filling up the mauns

Tell the Huers thay can put away their horns In the sky see the seagulls soar

From the beach hear the breakers roar

Clear the streets tonight for everyone

And we`ll make merry till the day is done Nows the time to dance away your woes

So flip off your shoes and ready on your toes

Mum and dad and gran and uncle Clem

Come and show the youngsters your as spry as them

Shout hooray and hooray again

What's it matter even if we have some rain

Girls from Minor, boys from the Whim

When together don't mind if the sink or swim

Welcome to our visitors from afar

May we hope they think how nice we Cornish are

If they don't well never never mind

Furrinners leave more than rubbish behind

Fistral Bay, Tolcarne, the Gannel too

Lusty Glaze and Whipsiderry all for you

Golden sands and rocks and little pools

If we're not content then we're a bunch of fools

Active, Hope and Rose and Unity

Each name a pride of any company

Good Intent and Tithy, Fly and Spy

Pack your seine nets up you know the reason why. Glossary: Heva

The cry used to call up the fishermen when Pilchards 'HEVVA' were sighted. Troil

Variously described as a feast or a quay fair with dancing and singing etc clearly used in much the same way as elsewhere in Cornwall. Mauns

Large barrels that the fish were stored in. Huers

Men who used to stand watch on the cliffs for shoals of pilchard and direct boats to these shoals by way of signals and shouting down tin horns that acted as megaphones. Minor

I.e. St Columb Minor Whim

An area above the old harbour village that had a whim to hoist up railway trucks through a tunnel from the harbour in order that they could be placed on the trams that led to the GWR station. Active, Hope, Rose, Unity, Good Intent, Tithy, Fly and Spy

Names of fish cellars positioned around the cliffs from the harbour.