Rough-Music by Jennifer Reid

Please note: Scrumpy Wine and Waiting for the Day contain strong language.

I had never been to the Hamble Peninsula, but I expected sea. Staying at Netley Sailing Club in the van is nothing short of idyllic and Royal Victoria Country Park is wonderful as far as parks go. I got on the bike straight away and while cycling to the Uni to collect some songs from their stores, I got a flat tyre and had to rethink my plans. As I was walking down the street, I saw a sign that said BITTERNE LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY BOOK SALE HERE and went inside. I asked the lady behind the desk if she knew anything about songs from the local area and she promptly escorted me eight minutes down the road to a fella in the back room of a dedicated museum.

From our exchange I gleaned that people neglected to store poetry and songs as they feel “harder to collect” but surely they’re more exciting than endless school yearbooks? Maybe it’s just me. I got some names from him and set about researching til I could meet up with them in Royal Victoria Country Park. Between the University and these people, a few being Cath and Jo from Folk Active, I’ve managed to get my hands on 20+ songs and even a couple of dances from and about the local area from across the county, and recorded some of them in situ, either on the water or on the land. I’m so grateful for the experience.

Song list

• Down Hampshire Way
• Gosport
• Johnny Sands
• Three Drunken Maidens
• The Woolston Ferry
• The Oarsman’s Song
• Scrumpy Wine
• Waiting for the Day
• As I sit on the steps of me waggon