By day, mild-mannered Gavin McNulty is an office administrator with drainage specialist, the Lanes Group. But by night (and at weekends) he is a ‘Coco-nutter’ — one of the world-famous troupe of clog dancers from the Rossendale Valley in Lancashire.
The custom is thought to originate from Moorish pirates who settled in Cornwall, became miners there and then moved to work in the quarries of Lancashire in the 18th and 19th centuries. The name comes from the wooden ‘nuts’ (actually bobbin tops) which are worn at their knees, waists and wrists, and tapped together as percussion to the dancing.
Wearing white turbans, dark jerseys and trews, a white sash, red and white kilts, white hose and clogs, the dancers have blackened faces, which is either to reflect their Moorish origins or as a disguise to ward off evil spirits.
Although they perform all year round — at home and abroad — the biggest date in the Coco-nutting calendar is Easter Saturday, when the troupe dances the 11 kilometres from the Bacup boundary to the boundary of Waterfoot.
Coco-nutters clearly have stamina. “It can be physically challenging,” says Gavin. “During the Easter boundary dance, for example, we start at 9am and don’t finish till around 7 in the evening. But we practise every week, and perform regularly so being a ‘Nutter’ is an exercise regime itself!”
Gavin joined the troupe a couple of years ago. “I’m a relative newbie, but it’s a long-term vocation,” comments Gavin, whose father has been a Nutter for 26 years.
“The leader, Dick Shufflebottom, has clocked up 59 years! In the old days, as well as having to be from the Rossendale Valley, you also had to be married, and you had to pay to join. I think that was to show commitment and stability.”
Now you just have to be a Rossendalian, but Nutters still have to make their own outfits: “When I started, I asked my Dad where I should get my white turban from, and he sent me off to find a non-existent shop called ‘Hats for All Occasions’!!”
Gavin admits to getting ‘some stick’ from colleagues at Lanes’ North West division: “They think it’s strange. But I think they’re just jealous because they live in Manchester, so they wouldn’t be allowed in the Coco-nutters!!” he laughs.
For more information about The Britannia Coco-nutters visit www.coconutters.co.uk or see the Easter Boundary Dance (2012) at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl58rIDNdWA
