6 ~ 1978, Pomfret visit Victoria
(The Inner Harbour with,
to the left,
a red double-decker tour bus;
Corners capering
in, I think, Trunkles)
(Market Square's daylight
makes
it seem that
they are dancing on glass or ice)
They had a horse, two-legged, with a superstructure for
its
head so that it towered over everyone. Once in a while a dancer would
take a turn.
Pomfret danced stylishly and with vigour. They seemed to use their snatch-down action with the handkerchiefs to propel themselves up and forward.
Geoff was their Fool, dressed distinctively, carrying a Union Jack on a stick over his shoulder, announcing the dances - he was a singer, and his voice carried clearly - and mingling with the crowd and collecting money. ("Not for beer, as is traditional, but to pay our air fares home. Thank you!")
We arranged billets for them, and they stayed a week, getting better collections here than in other parts of western Canada they had visited. They entertained us with their singing, particularly Geoff, and Tony the Squire.
Geoff subsequently returned as an immigrant, and married and settled down. I last saw him as a guide and commentator on a TV travel program from the Maritimes.
