New Folk Concerts in Wolverhampton
FOLK fans are in for a treat as a new
series of concerts hits Wolverhampton.
The monthly concerts at the city's New-
hampton Arts Centre feature top names
from the folk world, with regular sup-
port from local singer/songwriter, John
Richards and his band.
The concerts are held in the Arts Centre
theatre, with intimate, cabaret style seating
and bar. Local organiser, Dave Brookes, has
many years experience of the folk scene, as a
performer, concert and club organiser and
MC. And, with his latest venture, he cer-
tainly has a great line-up in store.
Best in the business
On Saturday 7th March, there's an evening
with folk's first couple, Martin Carthy and
Norma Waterson, performing with the very
talented Chris Parkinson. Martin Carthy is
widely held to be one of the finest singers,
guitarists and interpreters of traditional Brit-
ish music. Since the 1960s, he's worked with
the best in the business, as well as pursuing
his solo career. In 1998, Martin was awarded
the MBE for services to English music.
Another decade on, and he's still at the fore-
front of innovative music.
Magic Touch
Norma Waterson formed the legendary
Watersons back in the 60s, together with sis-
ter Lal, brother Mike and their cousin John.
They soon became the most influential vocal
group on the scene. With their mix of tradi-
tional material and their own songs they
became folk icons. Norma was a well
deserved Mercury Prize nominee in 1996.
She is one of the finest and most sensitive
singers on the folk scene.
If the February concert which featured Vin
Garbutt, is anything to go by, you'd better
grab your Waterson/Carthy tickets soon.
One of the folk world's best loved singers,
Vin is currently celebrating 40 years on the
road. I hadn't seen Vin perform for many
years, so it was great to see he still has that
magic touch. One minute his patter has the
audience in stitches. The next, he'll move
you to tears with a poignant song.
On Saturday April 4th there's a concert by
Ruth Notman, one of the folk world's new
generation of young musicians. Ruth is a
fine singer and musician with a large fol-
lowing, so expect another brilliant night.
Concerts start at 8.15pm and tickets cost
�12.50.
You can buy tickets at the box office,
Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley Street,
Wolverhampton, WV1 4AN, or over the
phone on: 01902 572090
You can also book online at:
http://newhampton.express.ts.com/
Female Focus By Gail
Middleton
Eating Through the Ages
(A History of Tableware
and Table Manners)
THESE days, meals are all
too often hurried affairs, with
many of us opting for take-
aways in front of the TV. Fre-
quent reports tell a sorry story
of families failing to sit down
together at the table. As for
our table manners, it's often
claimed these are also in seri-
ous decline.
But, is it all really doom and
gloom on the dining front? And,
are we really so much worse than
our forebears when it comes to
manners? Let's take a look at
what our ancestors got up to at
the table.
The history of table settings and
table manners is quite extensive.
The Oxford Junior Encyclopae-
dia claims: `'Man does not instinc-
tively behave well at meals. In the
absence of rules to the contrary
he is concerned principally with
satisfying his animal instincts of
hunger and thirst''. Not exactly
rocket science, is it? So, it's
hardly surprising that the more
advanced humans have become,
the more we've established codes
of social behaviour to civilize our
mealtimes.
Rules & Fashions
These rules are based on a mix-
ture of consideration for others,
practical convenience and artifi-
cial rules and fashions of different
eras. For example, in the 16th
century, the `Boke of Nature'
gave diners the following advice:
`'Don't blow your nose on the
napkin; if you must spit, tread it
into the ground; don't blow on
your soup or drink, for your
breath may be foul .'' And, what-
ever you do, the writer stresses,
`'don't throw your bones under
the table''. Other rules included
standing up until the lord or mas-
ter of the household allowed you
to sit at the table. And, as late as
the 19th century, no child dared
sit in their parents' presence with-
out first asking permission.
Eating habits have changed con-
siderably throughout history. Our
Prehistoric ancestors used their
fingers, a messy but efficient
method. They also used sharp
stones to cut their food, and
coastal dwellers used shells. A
stick fastened to a sharp shell
gave diners a longer reach and
also gave protection from hot
food. Early humans also used hol-
lowed animal horns for holding
liquids. But, generally speaking,
cutlery and plates were still a long
way off. And, we still carried on
using our fingers until well into
the seventeenth century.
Fingers
In fact, we were so used to eat-
ing with our fingers we came up
with a set of rules for this activity.
There was definitely a right and
wrong way of using your fingers
at mealtimes. During the 1500s,
those considering themselves
refined ate only with the first
three fingers. This was yet
another way the upper classes dis-
tinguished themselves from the
rest of us, who ate with all five
fingrs.
In 1526, the Dutch humanist,
Erasmus, produced what may be
the first modern book of man-
ners. Very concerned about table
manners, Erasmus insisted that
people should not lick their fin-
gers or wipe them on their
clothes. If they must indulge, he
felt it was better to wipe sticky
fingers on the tablecloth.
Rudimentary Cutlery
Yet, despite our longstanding
affection for eating with our fin-
gers, our early ancestors did use
some rudimentary cutlery and
utensils. Following on from Pre-
historic man's shell-on-a-stick
spoons, early people also made
basic spoons from wood. In fact,
the word spoon derives from the
Anglo Saxon `'spon'', meaning a
splinter or chip of wood.
Hundreds of years before the
Saxons supped from their
`'spons'', the Romans had come
up with two different types of
spoon. The first, called a `'ligula'',
was used for soups and soft
foods. It had a pointed oval bowl
and a decorated handle. The sec-
ond type was known as a
`'cochleare'', as its shape resem-
bled the spiral shell of a snail, or
`'cochlea''.
This small spoon had a round
bowl with a slender, pointed han-
dle. It was used for eating shell-
fish and eggs. When the Romans
occupied Britain they brought
their food and table customs with
them. The native Britons soon
took to using spoons, as did the
Anglo Saxons and other later
invaders.
By the Middle Ages, spoons
made of horn or wood were
sometimes supplied by dinner
hosts. During the 14th century,
spoons were being made of
tinned iron, brass, pewter and
other metals. The use of pewter,
in particular, made spoons more
affordable for ordinary people.
Wealthier folk owned silver
spoons and Royalty often had
spoons made of gold. Over time,
the shape of spoons evolved, with
our modern spoon shape dating
from the 18th century.
Knives
The earliest knives would have
been sharp flints, used for tearing
and slicing meat. For thousands
of years, our ancestors carried
their knives on their person. It
wasn't until the 17th century that
diners could turn up for dinner
without bringing their own knives
and daggers. Before then, Euro-
pean hosts seldom provided cut-
lery for their guests. Most people
carried narrow knives, with
sharply pointed ends, in sheaths
attached to their belts. At the
table, it was a case of spearing the
food, then raising it to your
mouth.
Unfortunately, knives were not
always confined to eating. They
were also used as toothpicks after
the meal. Worse, still, they were
often used on fellow diners.
Fights often broke out and knives
were still regarded, primarily, as
weapons. In an attempt to curb
mealtime violence, table knives
were introduced around 1600.
But the bad habits died hard, and
more had to be done.
In the 1630s, Cardinal Richelieu,
chief minister to King Louis X111
of France got so fed up with the
shenanigans he ordered his
kitchen staff to file off the sharp
ends of all his table knives. Soon,
round-tipped table knives, as we
know them, were here to stay.
Of course, there's one item of
cutlery still missing, an implement
that, surprisingly, would cause
controversy when introduced.
Find out more next week.
Thursday, February 26, 2009 THE BUGLE - 7
112-119 Reddal Hill Rd,
Cradley Heath, West Midlands
B64 5JN Tel: 01384 566497
www.chapmanselectrical.co.uk
"Moon" Washing
Machine
� 130 Litres (4.6 cu.ft) Capacity
� 2 Wire Shelves
� 1 Salad Bin
� Dimensions: H 840mm x
W 545mm x D 600mm
� 175/85 Litres (6.2/3.0 cu.ft) Capacity
� Hygiene Control
� 3 Glass Shelves
� 2 Salad Bins
� Dimensions: H 175mm x
W 600mm x D 655mm
�249.99
�159.99
we deliver � we install � we care
� 1400rpm SPin Speed
� 6Kg Load Capacity
� 8 Programmes
� In Door Detergent Dispenser
� Dimensions: H 850mm
x W 595mm x D 535mm
Under Counter Fridge
Total Frost
Free Fridge Freezer
�149.99
�299.99
AENERGY
AWASH
AENERGY
AENERGY
AENERGY
+
Model: SIX145
Model: TLA1
Model: BAN12NF
Under Counter
Freezer
Model: TZA1
� 102 Litres (3.6 cu.ft)
Capacity
� 3 Baskets
� Fast Freeze Option
� Dimensions: H 840mm x
W 545mm x D 600mm
STOVESSTOVES
01952727272www.rivershore.co.uk
Rivershore Limited,
Bourton Road, Much Wenlock,
near Bridgnorth
(next door to Gaskell Arms Hotel)
NO FANCY SHOWROOM
NO FANCY PRICES
� 50 Stoves on display
� Factory seconds often in stock
� Flues and Installation

Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5Page 6Page 7Page 8Page 9Page 10Page 11Page 12Page 13Page 14Page 15Page 16Page 17Page 18Page 19Page 20Page 21Page 22Page 23Page 24Page 25Page 26Page 27Page 28Page 29Page 30Page 31Page 32 Produced by PageSuite