Pretty Grim Past and Present
Pretty Grim is one of two sides which rose, phoenix like, from the ashes of a previous side - Black Shuck - probably in 2000 although even founder members of the side are a bit hazy about when it started. Apparently the name stems from the fact that, amongst the founder members, "the boys were pretty and the girls were grim."
For many years Jem was the Squire and the side was very successful. Like all things though the side has waxed and waned over the years. For a time we had no regular musician and only a handful of dancers. Practise nights relied on a CD player and dance-outs were restricted to festivals where we could borrow musicians from other sides.
Jem handed over the reigns to Kenny and we recruited a new musician and a couple of extra dancers. Things were starting to look a little better until Kenny emigrated to Germany and Squire Sean was press-ganged into service.
Then in 2011 two more musicians joined meaning that for the first time in almost ten years we had a band! In the spring of 2013 an influx of six new dancers saw the side burst into new life. We are now up to 4 musicians and 21 dancers, although we could still do with a couple more male dancers and, if we can find one, a good melodeon player who doesn't play for any other side.
For many years Jem was the Squire and the side was very successful. Like all things though the side has waxed and waned over the years. For a time we had no regular musician and only a handful of dancers. Practise nights relied on a CD player and dance-outs were restricted to festivals where we could borrow musicians from other sides.
Jem handed over the reigns to Kenny and we recruited a new musician and a couple of extra dancers. Things were starting to look a little better until Kenny emigrated to Germany and Squire Sean was press-ganged into service.
Then in 2011 two more musicians joined meaning that for the first time in almost ten years we had a band! In the spring of 2013 an influx of six new dancers saw the side burst into new life. We are now up to 4 musicians and 21 dancers, although we could still do with a couple more male dancers and, if we can find one, a good melodeon player who doesn't play for any other side.