www.morrisfed.org.uk
fedThe quarterly newsletterextr of The Morris Federationa Winter/Spring 2020
Inside this issue... John Bacon remembered Achievements and memories in words and pictures Book reviews Two books delving into the history of morris in the UK Morris on TV TV features on BBC, ITV and Channel 4 www.morrisfed.org.uk www.morrisfed.org.uk fed www.morrisfed.org.uk fed `Winter/Springextra 2020 `Winter/Springextra 2020 fedextra inside Winter/Spring 2020 this issue Winter/Spring 2020
John Bacon remembered Windsor 14 Morris on TV 06
Swanage Morris Dancing Hook Eagle Barrel Wyld Border 08 Morris 09 Folk Festival12 on Ice 18 on TV 22 Welcome to the latest Publications: all publications Notation Library: Jerry West Cover Stars issue & how to contact by The Morris Federation are gives an overview of what's 04your committee 10 now free to download 20on offer to members 24 27 Windsor Morris on the seafront at Sidmouth Folk Festival 2019 President's prologue: our Morris Dance Database: Hook Eagle Morris: TV Photograph: Alan Courtney new president introduces needs your assistance to appearance on the BBC's Do you have a great action 05herself 11add to the data it holds 22Christmas Carol Odyssey picture of your team that could feature on the cover Windsor Morris: TV Swanage Folk Festival: an CIOFF: an overview of the of FedExtra? appearances on both opportunity to dance by the long-running international Send a high quality image suitable BBC 4 and Channel 4 sea at this popular festival folk festival 06 12 24 to print in A4 portrait format, some background info about Barrel Border Morris John Bacon — 1939-2019 Book Reviews : an : : Mike Everett your team, details of where and introduction to this new Barry Goodman and Fee summarises two recent when the image was taken, and 08team based in Bude 14Lock pay tribute 26 books about morris the photographer's name to: Boughton [email protected] Wyld Morris: 10 years of Morris dancing on ice: a News Round-up: a letter CIOFF dancing in West Dorset critique of the performance and Dave Brown is fondly Monchelsea 09and beyond 18on ITV's celebrity show 27remembered by his team Morris www.morrisfed.org.uk 2 3 fed www.morrisfed.org.uk `Winter/Springextra 2020 Sam Ross, Newsletter Editor • [email protected] • 64 The Batch, Farmborough, Somerset, BA2 0AJ • 07849 055 339
from the contactcommittee your editor President's In comes I - Melanie – your President of old welcome to the winter/spring issue of Morris FedExtra Pauline Woods-Wilson, President In comes I - Pauline – new President so bold We are here - to drink our gin t's been a weird few months. In features over 60 dance teams and • [email protected] prologue You are here - let the dance begin what should have been the final is encouraging more to attend the stages of practice season and next event in 2021, while visitors the members’ records takes far negotiating the licensing law won’t be the same without My name the start of the dance season, to the Conseil Internationale Wassail! less time. exemption, for which he was them when we next go out to is Pauline, and as of 1 January everything has ground to a halt. des Organisations des Festivales made an honorary member. dance. 2020 I am your new President This year saw the insurance Folklorique (CIOFF) are delighted Fee Lock, Secretary He worked with The Morris Ring of The Morris Federation. Surely, certificates going online, rather I’ll leave my personal morris But before all that set in, it by our traditional dance alongside • [email protected] and Open Morris to form the I all the best jobs should be than being posted out. The history for the next issue of seems there was a flurry of media those from around the globe. • 28 Fairstone Close, Hastings, Joint Morris Organisations. We started with a hangover? next step will be to rewrite the FedExtra. Until next time; activity for morris dancing last East Sussex, TN35 5EZ owe him a great deal. Member’s Manual and have it whatever that might bring. year, with appearances on BBC4 As we get to grips with spending • 01424 436 052 I hope you all enjoyed your online (it’s posted out to new Since writing the above, and Channel 4 for Windsor and more time online with our folky festive season and been out to member teams) so that teams we’ve all been affected by Hook Eagle, as well as the genre friends and worrying about Jenny Everett, Treasurer perform with, or support, your can access the latest guidance the coronavirus pandemic for Pauline being used as inspiration on ITV's whether we'll fit back into our local mummers, wassailers, • [email protected] whenever they wish. many weeks. The extended 'Dancing on Ice'. Regardless of kit when we're finally let out carol singers or other traditional • Willow Cottage, 20 High Street, Sutton- morris community has been the exposure, it seems that our again, we are also remembering on-Trent, Newark, Notts, NG23 6QA performances. Do please send Importantly, during Melanie’s fantastically resourceful with indigenous folk dance is still not the loss of friends and dancing • 01636 821 672 us your photos and a write up tenure the Sponsorship, creating videos, holding online guidelines for taken as seriously as those from companions during the pandemic. for the FedExtra so we can read Grants and Bursaries scheme practices, hosting online submission of other countries, but at least all Some have passed from the all about it! was launched, to which Mike Everett, Archive Officer competitions, creating quizzes, this airtime means that it may Coronavirus, while others have you can apply for 'financial articles Firstly, massive thanks to and generally supporting each still be considered a part of our slipped away as a result of • [email protected] support towards events and • Willow Cottage, 20 High Street, Sutton- Melanie Barber who completed other to keep our spirits up and 'national identity'. ongoing health issues. Either way, activities that support the Please send all text and on-Trent, Newark, Notts, NG23 6QA six years as your President. giving us reasons to put our kit images via WeTransfer.com to our inability to celebrate their Aims and Objectives of The • 01636 821 672 Under her watch, the newsletter on and smile for the camera. [email protected] And while the media and the lives in dance this year is a great Morris Federation, and that has been transformed into uninitiated may scorn our joy at sadness for all. is of benefit to The Morris During this isolating time Articles should be sent as doc, Jerry West, Notation Officer the colourful glossy FedExtra morris dancing, there are still Federation members and/ we have increased our docx, txt or odt formats. that we enjoy today, and the those who get it, both at home So let's raise a glass to them now • [email protected] or future members'. Get your communications with member Any copy over 750 words will web site has also undergone be trimmed. and abroad. Swanage Folk Festival and keep on dancing. • 23 Avondale Road, Fleet, thinking caps on and visit: teams through our broadcast a transition into a slick and Accompany all articles with at Hampshire, GU51 3BH morrisfed.org.uk/ emails, which we hope you have Sam • 01252 628 190 or 07754 435 170 informative site. Behind the least three high quality images. sponsorship-grants-and-bursaries enjoyed reading, and recently scenes, there has been a whole Images must not be embedded made all our publications heap of work by several people Talking of ex-Presidents, the in text and should be sent as ad rates disclaimer available as free downloads to to migrate the membership committee was saddened separate attachments. Contact the editor: The views and opinions expressed Co-opted committee members so that you have some Photographs and illustrations in this publication are those of records database to a new to hear that John Bacon of [email protected] morris reading material. should be jpg, eps, tiff or pdf, or download from the FedExtra the named authors and do not Mike Adamson - IT Administrator system which has resulted in Ditchling Morris passed away though other file types may be pages of our website: necessarily reflect those of • [email protected] an excellent online Teamfinder in December. John was our We have also been very sad to www.morrisfed.org.uk/portfolio The Morris Federation. accepted. for use by the entire world, plus President from 2000 to 2003, lose people we know and love Make sure you have appropriate the internal work of managing and was instrumental in in the morris world, and it really permission to publish all words is your team info up-to-date? Advisors and pictures. Update your team's info and contact details at any time by logging Sally Wearing - Health & Safety Advisor Credit will be given to @morrisfed @MorrisFed.org.uk @MFnotation photographers, and captions on to the membership database at: www.morrisfed.org.uk/members • [email protected] • 0118 946 3125 keep it social printed where provided.
04 05 www.morrisfed.org.uk Windsor Morris feature in the BBC 4 Arena programme on morris dancing fed`Winter/Springextra 2020
Windsor Morris appearing on 'Sunday Brunch'
The programme But later in the summer another invitation was broadcast came - we were asked to appear on in March 2019, Channel 4’s ‘Sunday Brunch’. Five dancers, and the breakfast with Jerry as musician, were transported at television show a very early hour to the studio in London Windsor Morris on tV ‘Good Morning to demonstrate a dance and teach the It was good to see morris represented in a positive light on television last year. A programme for BBC4’s ‘Arena’ Britain’ was presenters. It was a fun experience. series by Richard Macer, an independent film-maker, was based around the perceived decline of morris dancing inspired to include as the Morris Ring proposed to remove the word male from their constitution, thus opening up to female a feature on May The presenters learned very quickly – dancers. morning with one of them is Simon Rimmer, who has Windsor dancing participated in ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. Windsor Morris were approached to Federation AGM day of dance in 2018, was a little footage of and debating the They interviewed our foreman, Emma, contribute, and that exposure led to an which unfortunately was a miserably wet events at which mixed Shirley question, ‘Should courteously, and she was able to tell the Windsor Morris feature in the BBC 4 Arena programme on morris dancing invitation to perform on a breakfast show day. That did not provide good footage, so teams were performing, Dixon women be morris world (well, the early-morning viewers) on Channel 4. In both programmes, for a we then hosted the film-making team at a but the programme dancing?’ We were what a great life we have. We particularly pleasant change, morris was treated as an practice, at which we went through some didn’t really show the an interview. Sel’s defence of the morris up for it, despite very short notice, but they enjoyed her reaction to the assumption interesting and valid hobby rather than as dances (in kit) and talked about some of range of teams currently on the scene. The world (‘far fewer issues with racism than couldn’t find anybody to speak against us, that the TV appearance might be a an outlandish activity undertaken by weird the cuttings from our early scrapbooks. comment that it seems to be ‘expected that the general population’) featured in the so it never happened. It has to be a good highlight of our morris careers — people. We found some classic examples of sexist men should allow women into their space published review. thing that such attitudes are dying out! "Well, it’s the highlight of this week!" comments in cuttings from the 1970s, but not the other way around’ implied Richard Macer ‘infiltrated the endangered such as ‘Let us have feminine women and that because any team is now ‘allowed’ to world of bells, beer and beards’ (as the masculine men’ and ‘Ladies – please keep be mixed, all teams should be, but Macer BBC publicity put it), joining his local to ladies’ dances’. noted how good it is for men to be able team, the Manchester Morris Men. He to get together not for a competitive or Traditional British Clogs interviewed members of other Ring teams, The resulting film was a refreshingly aggressive reason but ‘simply in the pursuit predominantly Moulton, a team which has a positive view of the morris world, although of joy and beauty, dancing together’. Phil Howard - Clogs & Leatherwork number of young dancers, and Thaxted and very focussed on elderly male teams. There Saddleworth, the hosts We were pleased that Full-time professional Clog Maker of two important events women were given an in the calendars of male opportunity to speak All clogs are made entirely on the premises using only my own soles morris teams. from a position of authority – and also (not machine made) and full-grain leather uppers He felt he should film that the film revealed Also: re-wooding and resoling; standard and extra-hard rubber soles (shods) and heels supplied; and interview a women’s that the morris is not original unused clog irons available, including clog nails team, to give balance an all-white preserve. to his programme, and The Daily Telegraph Leatherwork including: badges, keyrings, ear-rings, bell pads, belts etc. many people suggested picked up on the fact My own work so other designs can be made. he should approach that our treasurer has For up-to-date prices and details of events, visit: www.nw-clogs.co.uk Windsor Morris. He an Ethiopian name, filmed us at The Morris and contacted her for c 0161 494 0224 m [email protected] w www.facebook.com/philhowardclogs Windsor Morris performing Gallant Hussar on 'Sunday Brunch'
06 07 WYLD WEST DORSET Photographs by Dorsetbays Wyld Morris was born from a casual question at Monkton Wyld Court, a community who live in rural west Dorset, "Could you teach us to Morris dance?" Now, in our 10th anniversary year, Wyld Morris has become well known, and often in demand to entertain around West Dorset.
Our beginnings were not very promising, as the lady who Over time dancers and musicians have come and gone, and posed the original question lost interest, and only Vince sometimes it feels devastating to the side, when people leave. O'Farrell answered my advert in the local press to However, each phase of our existence has form a mixed Cotswold side. But, he and I brought something new. were keen. Fortunately, at Monkton Wyld It can be just someone turning Briony Court, we already had Catherine Siddle, up, injecting new life into Blair Phil an accomplished accordion player, the side, bringing their 'Willum' interested in playing for us. She is still enthusiasm, expertise, Williams the backbone of the band today. or even real talent, and away we go again! My background in teaching helped me pass on the dances I knew, It feels a bit like that at the moment. from my time with Shalesbrook A cause for concern as we lose a valuable Morris in East Sussex. One of our member who really knows their 'stuff' and Barrel Border Morris — original dancers, Ruth Jenkins, is also has brought up the standard of dancing and a wonderful singer and musician and music during the past four or five years. But
Photograph by Jody Woodcock has developed and directed the music there are also three or four new dancers this Sign by Harry McConville of the band. Her extraordinary energy and season, so who knows how the side will evolve from Bude enthusiasm means the Wyld Band performs from here. Formed in April 2019 by long time Cotswold and Border person Phil 'Willum' Williams independently. from Plymouth and founder of Old Harry Morris (now no more). Bridport becomes more and more our home, as lots of our Our first 'dance out' was on May Day 2011, in our local town, members live there. It has a massive musical, theatrical, art The Barrel Border formed out of an excellent micropub in Bude Bridport, showing the only dance we felt confident enough and cultural presence. We support the Bridport Folk Festival, called The Barrel. I put an to perform, 'Beaux of London City' (Adderbury). Today our Community Orchard events and the Wyld Band's Christmas enquiry out and had 16 repertoire comprises some 20 Cotswold dances from the music and song entertains the crowds at an annual vibrant, takers none of whom had Fieldtown, Adderbury, Bampton, Bledington, and Badby shopping extravaganza in December. danced before. traditions and we are now adding Border to the mix. At present, dancers and musicians number about 20. I feel Wyld Morris has become a great team that demonstrates We dance to an electric harp the joy of dance, and though no one can tell what the future and it sounds great - mind A dance of which we are proud, 'The Rope Dance', celebrates holds, I'm so proud that I sowed the original seed of this morris you Sarah is a graduate of Bridport's rich rope making heritage. The idea was conceived adventure. We hope to continue to enjoy this quirky art for the Royal Academy of Music! by a wonderful man, Ray Edwards, who joined us in his late years! 80s, a former morris dancer and musician. Ray sadly died last Harpist Sarah Deere-Jones year, but we feel his legacy is in this dance, and we continue to Ed: Article has been edited to remove reference to the 10th and I founded the Swanage develop and perfect it for our 'birthday' celebration. anniversary day of dance and ceilidh planned to be held in Folk Festival 26 years ago. Bridport in May, but which has been cancelled due to Coronavirus. Barrel Border Morris First outing
08 09 fed www.morrisfed.org.uk fed www.morrisfed.org.uk `Winter/Springextra 2020 `Winter/Springextra 2020 Publications — free downloads for members morris dance database
The morris dance database website has now been up and running for over two years. Over the last couple of months there has been a surge in interest and participation in the database, but it still needs your assistance to add to the data it holds on morris dances and associated traditional dance styles. including your own dances; edit your The aim of the database is to provide an unique dances which they prefer not to side’s details and repertoire; and add easily searchable website of all morris publish, but we do link to team web sites notes on your variations, sources, etc. sides (including related dance styles such where they may choose to include that to any dance. as Sword and Molly), as well as all known information. dances, particularly those that have Please also provide a link from your been developed since Lionel Bacon’s Your help in providing details of your website to morrisdancedatabase.org.uk Handbook ('The Black Book') and other side’s repertoire would be much and the database will link back to your earlier publications of traditional dances. appreciated. You can either: website or Facebook page. All publications by The Morris Federation are now free to download by the named member contact. They are PDF scans of original printed documents, and at the Many sides have developed dances • fill out a form available on the web Thank you for site fill it in and email it as directed moment are not searchable. We hope that you will enjoy reading them! based on existing traditions and many your assistance on the form, or Colin committee have also developed their own ‘tradition’. in creating a General Andrews news • add details yourself - click Contact comprehensive • The Few Facts About The Morris, edited of Terms, 1984. An invaluable The database does not include dance to request editorial access. You can database of by Jane Marsh, 1997. reference book including definitions notation, as some teams have their own then: add dances to your repertoire – morris today. of steps and figures found in two or Warming Up and Cooling Down for • more traditions; a cross-reference Morris Dancers, by Andrew Knight to all Cotswold traditions and types; North West DO, 2nd edition 2018. See also the terms used by different authors associated Warming Up and Cooling • North West Morris Dancing — a for the same movements; Morris About the Down video on YouTube Selection from Trefor Owen’s Collection, musicianship and much more. 1988. This book contains notations, The Morris Federation — Ten Years • Adderbury Tradition — Cotswold Morris illustrated with figures and diagrams database On, 1975-1985, by Sally Wearing, • Dancing, Tim Radford, 1989. The for ten of the best North West Morris President. Celebrating the first 10 history of the tradition, copies of dances. The development of the database is on-going. years of The Morris Federation, original notation from the Blunt Currently over 1000 sides and over 3000 growing from 13 sides at the first • Abram Circle Dance, Chas Marshall manuscript and modern notation meeting of the Women’s Morris et al, 1985. Background, complete dances are listed. New features for 2020 with easy-to-follow diagrams for 13 Federation to over 110 sides and a notation, pictures and music for the stick and 13 hanky dances. Includes include: renaming to The Morris Federation. Abram Circle dance, which originates photographs and music. from the North West but has a • Facility to enter links to videos of a dance The Morris Federation — Twenty One • Hinton — Traditional and Created different structure from most North Years, 1975-1996, by Beth Neill, • on social media. Cotswold Morris Dances, researched West dances. Secretary. Looking back at the by Sue Swift, 2001. Tune search: tunes for dances or dances to founder members of The Morris • Women and the North West Morris • Federation over 21 years. • Raglan, by Bantamcocks Morrismen, Dance: A Brief Sketch, by Chas a given tune. 1999. Characteristics of the Marshall, 1988. tradition, notation and some music. • Facility to enter notes (source, etc.) for any dance. Cotswold • Cotswold Morris Dancing — Wheatley Tradition, 1984. Wheatley is a very Border and Molly • (Cotswold) Morris Basics Workshop & • Sides can post up to three photographs. pleasing tradition to dance and yet Beginnners, by Roy Dommett, 1992. Border Morris: A Brief Outline, by Andy one of the most straightforward. • Roy Dommet’s ideas on the basics Anderson. • Dedicated page for links to archive This book was produced from a of Cotswold. Essential reading for material. complete review of source material Molly Dancing into the Twenty First leaders and foremen. • and includes current practice and Century, researched by Tony Forster, • Increased site security. • Cotswold Morris Dancing — a Glossary innovation. 2002. A screenshot of the MDDB
10 11 www.morrisfed.org.uk Mayflower Morris dance on the Banjo Quay fed `Winter/Springextra 2020 All photographs by Alan Courtney (Dorset Morri'arty)
Basingclog having a splashing time
Angela Morris By The Sea Exmoor Border Morris dance after the church service Magog stepping high in the dance procession For many years, morris sides from all over the country have come to dance their way Bell along the seafront in September at Swanage Folk Festival.
In 2019 over 60 dance sides came to a more sides than us and we want to teams already signed up to attend will bumper festival. They danced on land and keep it that way! Their contribution is reschedule for next year and that there sometimes in the sea, as well as enjoying invaluable. We know that people really will be even more than in 2019. the numerous folk performances and enjoy watching them in the streets and dance and music workshops which the dance workshops, which some of Swanage Bay is a lovely backdrop for this Sponsorship, Grants take place all over Swanage during the the sides provide, have introduced many multi-faceted festival. To find out more weekend. ‘non-believers’ to morris dancing over about the festival or if your side would the years.” like a weekend of dance by the sea, visit and Bursaries The morris sides are a wonderful sight as www.swanagefolkfestival.com they dance along the promenade both in Unfortunately, the main parade and at different points Swanage Folk throughout the festival; the collections Festival has had Got an idea for a morris related project or they make along the way are a vital part to postpone of keeping the festival alive. Last year, this year's Phoenix Morris collected a record amount event due to workshop and looking for funding? in only two days. Coronavirus, but is looking Don't forget The Morris Federation has funding available At the beginning of 2020, over 58 dance forward to sides had signed up to attend the festival welcoming through its Sponsorship, Grant and Bursary Policy. in September, with additional teams to everyone be confirmed. back over the weekend Each application is considered on its own merits. Details and application Margaret Tyrer, Swanage Folk Festival of 10-12 form: www.morrisfed.org.uk/resources/sponsorship-grants-and-bursaries Chairman, herself an accomplished September dancer, said, “We are always looking for 2021. It's more sides to join us over the weekend. hoped If you want to discuss your idea before applying then please get in touch There are very few festivals which boast that all the Fun and dance at the workshop with Sarum Morris with any member of the committee (see contact details on p4).
12 13 fed www.morrisfed.org.uk `Winter/Springextra 2020 John Bacon - 1939-2019 BARRY GOODMAN
John with Ditchling Morris
John received the EFDSS Gold Badge at The Morris Federation AGM held at Cecil Sharp House, London, in September 2018
John Bacon, who died in December Morris Ring and Open Morris to secure 2019, aged 80, was co-founder of the exemption of morris dancing from Ditchling Morris in 1985 (of which he the proposed Licensing Act of 2003. This was Squire, Foreman and Bagman over close collaboration of the three morris the years), the first male President of organisations led to the formation of the The Morris Federation, a National Council Joint Morris Organisations, which meets Member of the EFDSS, a musician and regularly to discuss matters of mutual dancer, and a holder of the EFDSS Gold interest, maintain insurance cover over Badge. the three organisations and present His passion for involving young people a national day of dance each year to in folk dance and the Morris was evident showcase morris dancing in different through his mentoring of young dancers parts of the country. at Ditchling and his instigation of the While on the board of SEFAN (South- East Sussex Schools Dance Festival, East Folk Arts Network), John was one encouraging hundreds of children from of a group that decided to investigate schools across the county to get involved setting up a new English ceilidh series in in folk dance and customs. Sussex in 2001 – this became Meltdown John was responsible for the EFDSS Ceilidhs, which still continues to run a contribution to two European projects, number of dances each year in the winter WebDance and OpenDance, using months in Haywards Heath. technology to teach and exchange A fine musician and a skilful dancer, John information on traditional dance. He was was a popular figure, always with a ready also heavily involved with the provision smile and a word of encouragement. His of disabled access to Cecil Sharp House, influence on all the areas of folk in which planning the work (using his skills as a he was involved is remarkable, and he chartered engineer), raising funds and will be truly missed. finally managing the whole project. John leaves his wife, Ann, children Paul As President of The Morris Federation, and Vanessa and grandchildren, Jesse, John celebrating the exemption of morris dancing John worked with his counterparts in The Jacob, Benjamin, Daisy and Rose. from the proposed Licensing Act of 2003, London John long-skipping with the Squire of The Morris Ring in 2001
14 15 www.morrisfed.org.uk John celebrates the exemption of morris dancing from the proposed Licensing Act of 2003 in the company of morris dancers, alongside the Chair of Open Morris, the Squire of The Morris Ring, and The Lord Redesdale (Rupert Mitford) fed`Winter/Springextra 2020
John Bacon Remembered 9 August 1939 - 7 December 2019 John Bacon, former President of The Morris Federation (2000 - 2003) died suddenly on 7 December 2019, after a routine knee operation. I attended his funeral on 10 January 2020 at St Margaret's Church in John playing for Ditchling Morris John (back-right) as President of The Morris Federation with the rest of the committee in April 2003 Ditchling - standing room only - the village where he had lived with Ann, his wife.
They had started Ditchling Morris, a Goodman’s citation on the EFDSS’ he never patronised me, family side, on their return from working website, on the occasion of his receiving never said, “Calm down, Fee overseas. Ann had asked me to speak his Gold Badge in 2018. dear,” but simply responded Lock on his love of music and dance, and his to my regular outbursts funeral was to be a celebration of his "John was the first male president of The of righteous indignation life. This it certainly was, with both well Morris Federation, elected in 1999, the with, “Let’s just think this one through…” represented by members of the side. An year I was elected secretary. This was This is a phrase which I now use with order of service will be lodged with the an important milestone for the former similar cunning effect. His calmness and archives. Women’s Morris Federation. There had willingness to listen patiently, whilst been two other candidates, another man carefully summing up a situation with After the service we all went over the and one woman, and John had been devastating accuracy, stood us all in good road to the White Horse and danced elected by a significant margin. stead in the early days of shaking down and played all afternoon, until the ale in the different relationships with other the evening at the village hall with the "We both had very clear views about morris organisations. Unreel Ceilidh Band, featuring members breaking down artificial barriers, and of of the side, plus associated callers and working together. I frequently mention "His ability to walk with kings and contributors. I'd like to think that John our sitting in John Frearson’s garden, the avoid traps for fools was the perfect John (centre) standing alongside former presidents of The Morris Federation at the AGM held in Bath in September 2015 would have had a whale of a time. Below then bagman of The Morris Ring, along combination for dealing with the then is what I read out in the church. I have to with Chris Hall, the then Chair of Open Culture Secretary, Dr Kim Howells, Mitford), using persistence, courtesy, running morris workshops; playing for produced on all hand-held media. say that I was a lot more nervous than I Morris, talking about our similarities when we were attempting to secure an persistence, legal knowledge, and … members of Ditchling Morris in the John expected to be! rather than our differences, and how we exemption for morris dancing from the persistence to wring a concession from Gasson Memorial Jig Competition at "In 2001 John, Penny & AJ Allen, and I could make morris better for everyone. Licensing Act 2003. To understand the the government and bring about the Sidmouth Folk Festival; helping produce started the Meltdown Ceilidhs in Clair Hall "If anyone has ever had to speak for This was the beginning of the Joint Morris importance of this, every morris team exemption. the ‘Morris Futures’ project to promote at Haywards Heath, picking up the old two or three minutes on someone’s Organisations, which is now a routine would have had to have had a Temporary film material to young dancers whilst Newick Ceilidhs crowd. Our bywords have life, you will know that you could meeting of morris minds. Event Notice (TEN) for every dance-out – "His determination to bring morris and on the National Council of the EFDSS; always been, ‘best bands + best callers = speak for two hours or two days, and so, three pubs in a night? That’ll be three traditional dance to a wider audience working in two European Communities best dances’. still not cover even the basics of a life "I have always been a hot-head, and TENs for you, at £21 a pop, squire. As has seen him become involved in dozens dance projects, one of which was to lived. For a structured history of John’s John most definitely not. However, the Bill went to the Upper House, John of projects across several organisations, produce 3D images of a moving dancer, "I was proud to call John my friend, and I achievements, I commend to you Barry during our many committee meetings approached The Lord Redesdale (Rupert both in the UK and overseas, including the kind of thing that is now so easily shall miss him."
16 17 fed www.morrisfed.org.uk fed www.morrisfed.org.uk `Winter/Springextra 2020 `Winter/Springextra 2020
make morris dancing interesting." The and dance, with the exception of English more significant issue was the social indigenous performance dance — which media publicity blitz suggesting that is automatically, routinely, and cruelly the producers were trying to get that mocked as a matter of policy. contestant voted off the show by forcing him to do the 'bizarre morris So, whilst I am always happy to see dance style'. Although this is just Cotswold Morris in the mainstream to court controversy, and generate media, and particularly on a show as publicity, it was still typical of the prestigious as 'Dancing on Ice', it would mainstream media who show respect have been even better if they'd given it to all forms of indigenous culture just a little more respect.
The staging was a little kitsch — starting off with a mass maypole dance, but, in the context of an entertainment show, wholly appropriate. I was a little disappointed that they didn't use some more appropriate music, although all ice dance tends to use modern music rather than music classically associated with the dance styles that the ice dance is derived from as was the case in the 70s and 80s, so again, they can be excused, if begrudgingly.
My biggest problem was the casual Morris Dancing on Ice mocking of the Morris - as well as one of It's always nice to see Cotswold Morris appear in the mainstream media, especially on a prime time the judges saying, "You've managed to evening show like ITV's Dancing On Ice — an ice-dancing competition that sees celebrities from a variety of backgrounds learn to ice dance and compete against each other, one getting voted off each week until the victor remains. Clogs
I greeted a teaser that the following performance, and, how much of it in those segments. Mike Clogs for step dancing, morris dancing and general wear. week's episode would feature 'Morris was actually morris? What should be And, it should be Roberts Repairs, rubbers, re-wooding and re-rubbering offered. Dancing', with some excitement as not remembered is that when an ice dance borne in mind that Uppers and soles handmade at the workshop. only have I been a Cotswold Morris uses a style of dance, they're usually when including dancer for 40 years (with sides in The just going to put in some elements of more cutting-edge contemporary morris Morris Ring, The Morris Federation, and that dance style into the performance. dancing, such as Meon Valley Morris or Open Morris), but, I am also a National I certainly wasn't expecting six men up The Bo Diddlers, then you do get presage Ice Skating Association Gold standard for Dearest Dickie. They may use certain lifts, inverted straddle lifts, back lifts, figure skater — if you've ever watched holds, certain movements, timing, or a and 'headbangers' in the morris. After the winter Olympics, that means that particular musical tempo, for instance. all, what Fieldtown really needs is more I can do Salchows etc. This also makes And, they did manage to do that - there handstands... me reasonably well qualified - possibly was some stepping Leatherwork uniquely - to comment on the morris with some jumps, dancing segment that emerged. there were some Specialising in unusual, bespoke and tooled leather items Bampton knee for folk musicians, dancers and those who play early music. The segment was introduced with drops, there were some background detail - showing the bells and hankies, Simon Brock contestants watching and participating I thought that in a Cotswold dance, and the coach they managed to Clog Maker & Leatherworker saying that she had been watching a lot put in as much of YouTube videos of morris dancing to as they could, get a feel for the dance style to aid her and certainly a choreography. To see Cotswold being lot more than I Tel: 0114 233 6146 / 07958 15 45 05 given equal billing with other technical expected. There Plus gift ideas, festival essentials and everyday items dance styles was quite encouraging. was a lot more such as belts, bags, purses and pouches. Cotswold in e: [email protected] There has been much murmuring from their segment the Cotswold community about the than there was Visit the website for prices and products, subsequent 'Morris Dancing on Ice' Charleston or Jive simonbrockclogs and see social media for recent developments. @simon_brock_clogs 18 www.simonbrock.co.uk fed www.morrisfed.org.uk fed www.morrisfed.org.uk `Winter/Springextra 2020 `Winter/Springextra 2020
more (in)famously as 'The Black Book' after its cover. Roy Dommett had contributed extensively to the Handbook, Bacon relying on 'RD' as the source for many of the lesser-known traditions. The notes are all available in the collection, along with tunes not published in the Black Book and lists of dances known of but not notated (and so fair game for development 'within' a tradition).
The size of the North- West Morris category An introduction to the perhaps reflects a more readily available
Berkshire Bedlams, Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2019 recorded history of Photograph from http://www.shropshirebedlams.co.uk female participation, Notation Library with a flourishing tradition of workshops Almost since its formation, The Morris Federation has maintained a collection especially those run of written dance notation, videos, and articles concerning the form, nature and by Dave Robinson in performance of the morris. committee the late 1970s. It is no news coincidence that these This collection is now being impression of the size of each encouraged member teams workshops were open to put online as a resource category, they do not mean to lodge copies of their all comers (i.e. women) for members. It consists of that there are exactly that notation with us for archival where the Cotswold nine sections covering the number of dance notations purposes and sometimes came from Roy Dommett, Morris was forbidden to work by Dave Jones, John preferably with the permission you are seeking new ideas, or main dance forms generally available. The Step Clog these teams have also who gifted us almost all of his them. In addition to the Kirkpatrick and others - and a of the original creators. want to find out what a dance considered to be 'morris' and Sword dance categories allowed their material to written morris material. This workshop notes, Roy and robust process of innovation was like when first written, plus a small number of dance are essentially accidental - be made public. Other included notes made whilst others also noted dances from and plagiarism! Again, dance Over recent years, the number this will be the place to look. tunes, and about 30 articles neither has been a focus for material has been prepared watching dances performed public performances. These notations (and history) are of requests for information about morris (rather than the past officers as there were/ as handouts for workshops live, or captured on film. His notations were not necessarily available in the collection. from the notation library Currently available at dances themselves) based are excellent collections and and instructionals and for films, taken mostly in the intended to be published, has diminished. This may be www.morrisfed.org.uk/ mostly on the works of Roy sources elsewhere (e.g. Instep occasional Morris Federation 1960s, 70s and 80s, are now being source material for Not everything in our because fewer teams are resources/notation-library/ Dommett (1933-2015). Research Group; Reading publications (PDF scans available for personal study instructionals in which collection is publically starting from scratch, or may the collection is being Cloggies; Rapper online, etc). are available to download in the Vaughan Williams emphasis would be placed available. Bacon chose not simply be a reflection of the integrated into the main The dance categories are (in from www.morrisfed.org.uk/ Memorial Library at Cecil on adapting the original to publish dances from two fact that when new teams Morris Federation website, alphabetical order): Border The collection has always members). Sharp House, Regents Park, rather than blindly copying extant teams (Abingdon are seeking notation, they though no go-live date has Morris (70); Cotswold Morris relied on serendipity for London. material perhaps devised by, and Chipping Camden) that no longer learn from written yet been set. In the meantime, (124); Garland dances (36); its contents. The Morris The biggest single or certainly adapted by, a claimed copyright over their notes, but turn to video if you want access to a Miscellaneous dance (50); Federation has always contribution to the collection In the early days of The particular team. dances (as they were entitled recordings published online. particular document, or Molly Dances (19); North- Women's Morris Federation, to do). Teams today can still Nonetheless, the many dance want to know what West Morris (133); Stave as it was then, there was In a similar vein, Border be understandably protective notations, music manuscripts information we hold on Dances (17); Step Clog (4); little or no dance notation Morris hardly existed until of their 'intellectual property' and articles represent a particular traditions or and Sword dances (9).The available. Teams at the Shropshire Bedlams (1975) - reflecting the time and effort significant resource available dances, please drop me a line numbers in parentheses are time relied extensively on and Silurian (1979) took what put into devising dances, to member teams. Whether at [email protected] the approximate number the oral tradition - existing had been a largely winter- and perhaps the emotional of documents under each morris dancers (mostly all tradition danced in local sanctity attached to, say, heading. There are a few men) giving of their time and contexts and popularised it dances devised in memory duplicates, and some overlap, expertise. They tended to through the emerging festival of some dancer, musician or Jerry West, Notation Officer and some documents teach the morris 'canon' of scene. Bacon gives some partner. But those items that contain more than one the time - Cotswold dances of the original (very sparse) are available are at the heart dance notation (whilst such as those from Lionel notation for the Border of the modern folk process some contain none). The Bacon's 1974 'Handbook dances, but much of what which relies on the concept of numbers can only give an of Morris Dances' - known now exists is the result of the (polite, respectful) 'borrowing', 'The Black Book' - a reference book for Cotswold morris dancers
20 21 fed www.morrisfed.org.uk fed www.morrisfed.org.uk `Winter/Springextra 2020 `Winter/Springextra 2020
Hook Eagle’s Wall of Sound lead the Wassail in the Vaughn Millennium Orchard, Hartley Wintney
Once we’d finished, and signed the blood-curdling BBC Non-Disclosure forms, we heard little more from the production team, other than that they’d enjoyed their Hook Eagle Morris Men — night out in the Hampshire darkness. Finally, just as the legendary Christmas issues of Radio Times went to press, we were told when the transmission date would be.
Lucy Worsley holds the Wassail cup outside the Waggon & Horses, We were all very pleasantly surprised at how well the Hartley Wintney, during filming as seen on TV programme treated us. We featured heavily in the first five hobad qtr vt 2019_Layout 1 20/06/2019 15:47 Page 1 minutes, with lots of detail being explained, and both parts The eagle-eyed among you may have spotted Hook Eagle Morris Men on the television in the run-up to the of the ceremony included before it moved on towards the festive season. We were invited to take part in 'Lucy Worsley’s Christmas Carol Odyssey' which was shown on now-traditional carols. We had a lot of positive comments BBC4 on 9 December 2019. from those who saw it on transmission or catch-up. since 1976
The very eagle-eyed will have noticed that during the BRITAIN’S FOLK & ACOUSTIC SPECIALISTS The programme looks at how some of our best-loved carols back to do it again from a different camera Jonathan came to be, through a combination of bringing together angle. Then we did the whole 'blessing of filming the side was not, as we normally are, blacked up. differing tunes and words and then a gradual evolution to the orchard' bit, this time in the company of Buisson There were two reasons for this. A very practical one the form we know now. The ancient mid-winter Wassail presenter Lucy Worsley (sensibly wearing that filming blacked-up people in a blacked-out orchard ceremonies — blessing the crops (in our case an apple orchard) a very thick winter coat). Again there were at night wasn’t going to make for great television, and a — were taken as the starting point. They represent an outdoor several takes from different points of view as more theological one that this programme was focusing gathering to sing and dance (and drink) that later moved well as close-up shots of the cider being poured over the roots on the Wassail and not morris dancing, per se, and the indoors before taking on the overtly spiritual meanings we now and toast being put on the tree, plus our Wassail songs. blacking could have been a distraction. For us, not being associate with carols. in full kit was a bit unusual, but it didn’t seem to affect the Next it was back to the Waggon & Horses on the high street to programme, so that’s the main thing. As a side we continue Filming for this took place last January, but we were sworn go through the second part. It is a Wassail 'tradition' that when to dance in our full kit, including being blacked up, at all our to silence until transmission we get to the pub, the door is normal events, and we’re not intending to change. was confirmed, which didn’t supposed to be slammed in our happen until the very beginning face before one of the dancers Over the Christmas and New Year period Hook Eagle Morris of December. Filming was an sneaks in round the back to Men appeared at Tylney Hall’s Christmas Fair, danced inside An Aladdin’s cave of treasures! interesting experience. As open it and let us all in. There’s the Coach & Horses in Rotherwick on Boxing Day (as it was anyone who’s ever been involved then a Wassail toast in our lashing it down outside), and raised an excellent £111 from Come and try the instruments for yourself. in any film or TV production two-handled Wassail cup before audiences on our Hair of the Dog tour of Hook’s pubs on visit our shops and festival stalls! will know, there’s a very high some dancing, and then a retreat New Year’s Day. ratio of standing around in the inside to sit by the fire, warm up We’ve also done two Wassails, a small one at Farnborough cold and, “Can you just do that and drink some more. Abbey Allotments (which ended up being featured in again, please?”, to footage that’s the Mail Online for reasons too complicated to go into transmitted. The trickiest part of filming this was actually stopping the pub’s here), and our big one in Hartley Wintney on 17 January. The TV crew weren’t able to normal customers opening the Ed: As with all morris teams, Hook Eagle Morris Men returned attend our actual 2019 Wassail door at the wrong moment. to their practice hall to brush up on dances old and new before in Hartley Wintney, so a We ended up with one of the the 2020 season, but have unfortunately had to cancel all couple of weeks later the side production assistants inside events and practices due to Coronavirus. BIRMINGHAM | BRIGHTON | BRISTOL assembled again to run through giving a signal through the CANTERBURY | EDINBURGH (SCAYLES)| LEEDS |LONDON it all under the direction of the window and me banging on the When practice sessions resume, they would like to invite new MANCHESTER | SOUTHAM producers. We spent a lot of time door with a stick as Lucy’s cue. PTON | RED WING MN, USA members to join their 'internationally-famous/notorious side' Order online or call +44(0)333 800 9500 doing our torch-lit procession and learn a few of the basic dances, near Fleet, Hampshire. Squire-for-the-night Jonathan Buisson (“Ninja”) Repeat several times! www.hobgoblin.com into the orchard, endlessly going with TV host Lucy Worsley during filming Visit www.hookeagle.org.uk for info.
22 23 Conseil Internationale des Organisations des Festivales Roger Folklorique (CIOFF) Kennington Many dance teams will know that the Conseil Internationale des Organisations des Festivales Folklorique (CIOFF) is the organisation that gives members the opportunity to dance at festivals abroad. They will have heard enthusiastic tales from friends who have had the opportunity to see, learn from and make friendships with teams from every continent. Hexham Morris (from Northumberland) have been on many of these tours. CIOFF is 50 years old in 2020 (see www.cioff.org). It was internal travel, accommodation (usually in schools or colleges) created in Confelons (France) with eight groups including and three meals per day provided. The programme outline is Billingham Festival whose organisers, the sadly missed Joe provided in advance. Festivals usually invite between 8 and Maloney and Olga Maloney, have been stalwarts for many 12 teams with the International Folkloriada (with all countries years. CIOFF adopted two main aims. invited) being held every four years. • strengthen ties between European Festivals and The programme includes relatively formal performances for up encourage folklore groups from far away to 40 minutes on stage (including in one case live on Japanese Hexham Morris countries to go on tour. TV). There is ample opportunity for informal performances, which is what suits most UK morris teams best. This might • encourage cultural exchanges and to promote The informal cultural heritage usually include a visit local a school or senior citizens’ home. Parades a growing spirit of friendship and peace. includes a day off with a visit to local places and street dancing are also much in evidence. The highlights of interest. Of course food and drink are This expanded rapidly and now has 103 countries represented, are often trips to perform in a nearby town, then being hosted an essential part of any culture. In the including 30,000 folklore and dance groups running 320 in for a meal. festivals a year worldwide. The overarching aim is to promote Azores all teams took turns to host a late the 'Intangible Cultural Heritage' in cooperation with UNESCO For Hexham these have included a village fete in Poland which night party. The structure was remarkably through dance, music, songs, games, traditional crafts, was rained off so we danced on stage in a packed hall with similar for each country with tunes, social costumes and food. There is emphasis on nurturing cultural several encores, followed by a meal in the hall and (disastrously dance, a few turns, games and of course heritage through education for children and youth, and serving for some) bottles of cheap vodka being bought over the bar; their national drink. Vodka and Tequila were the cause of peace and non-violence through international and a traditional museum in Bulgaria with people in national slugged down. There was a Finnish drink cultural cooperation. dress sharing customs, songs, which included reindeer horn (apparently social dances and tunes, sticks an aphrodisiac). We provided malt whisky International friendship in the memory. of course and had to persuade people to sip is important to foster and savour not slug. Such organised social The Bastille Day celebrations (particularly these days) events are relatively unusual but there is in an Auvergne village but what of the festivals usually ample opportunity for informal were a recent highlight. We themselves? Hexham heard engagement through music sessions and arrived and there was no tales from the early days social dancing. about some of the challenges obvious place to dance. After of unreasonable programme negotiations between the Whilst it is the international festivals changes, questionable Mayor and our Squire they just that mainly interest teams, as with all accommodation etc. In the blocked off a couple of side organisations there are opportunities to 1990s there was a concerted roads and brought out a load be involved at different levels. There is and successful effort to of chairs from the Town Hall. an extensive array of literature (including standardise (and markedly One of our best shows ever! the diary of events worldwide) and improve) conditions. (No interminable bureaucracy the opportunity to attend CIOFF UK Group subscriptions to CIOFF UK are very reasonable. To or exorbitant charges for road meetings. CIOFF is engaged with UNESCO, non governmental join, email [email protected] If you want to know Teams make their own way to closures there). organisations, tourism boards and governmental committees, what to expect at festivals [email protected] the host country then have Hexham Morris in Bulgaria on an advisory basis. (Hexham Morris International Bagman).
24 25 fed www.morrisfed.org.uk fed www.morrisfed.org.uk `Winter/Springextra 2020 `Winter/Springextra 2020
Mike Everett, Archive Officer Letter to Boughton the Editor Monchelsea of Maidstone, Book Reviews Firstly, a big thank you Morris Kent for the Newsletter, it's New books about morris dancing are almost as rare as hen’s teeth so it’s a delight to have a great piece of work It is with very great sadness that we copies of two new ones in the archive and to know that research into our hobby continues. The Boughton and we enjoy every announce the sad passing of one of Monchelsea issue. our family — our good friend David Morris Family The Dance Goes On – North West Processional Morris Brown. David has been one of our Around Pendle Secondly, not a dancers for 28 years; a time cut far complaint, just an too short aged just 52 years. A gentle Malkin Morris has produced an amazing North West Processional Clog Morris, in observation. In and humble soul, David influenced many during his life the Summer 2019 resource which will be of immense Blackburn, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle through his active involvement in the Church, Scouts, edition we read the interest to social historians as well as and Ribble Valley, with notations, Gang Shows and of course, morris, quietly making good 'Feminism in Morris' friends wherever he went. morris dancers. Most of the 132 pages of pictures and some comparisons of Morris article - fair enough, this book are taken up with the evidence Dancing traditions.” some good and He started dancing with his local side Eyhorne Morris, of morris dancing in 23 places around serious points made. but when they disbanded in 1991, both he and his Pendle in East Lancashire. Pendle’s The reason it is described as an brother joined us at Boughton Monchelsea Morris. With so much more than the Hill and the introductory study is that it was funded Then, on page 20 them came their parents, our very loyal groupies who Witches! by the Heritage Lottery Fund and had in 'What the Folk', came along to support us every single time we danced to be completed by September 2019. Christina Collins out. writes, "The old Depending on the available evidence, However, the study will continue, fellas in England From when he first joined BMM, David became an you get a history of the dance in each although maybe at a more leisurely pace. would have been integral part of the side, gently guiding and helping new place, photographs of the dancing and The lottery funding means that copies of trembling in their bells if they'd seen it. members until they too were proficient; with his quiet dance sides (both historical and recent), the book are available either as a hard It was exactly what they like to talk about as they lean their rotund way, he has left a vast, David-shaped void that we will dance notations and tunes, and the copy or electronically. bellies over my chair in pubs to tell me all about what I’ve been never be able to fill. Until his illness prevented it, he sources that provided the information. doing for four years. Or is it? was one of our most reliable members, rarely missing No excuse for you not to go and read Huge thanks must go to Virginia Crewe practice or a stand over the years, being in his element more for yourself. and Malkin Morris for their dedication in "These sides have women; tall, strong, beautiful Australian women whenever and wherever we danced out. who add a uniformity to the set by their height and strength and producing what must be one of the most they kick and leap about on light feet better than any man I’ve In fact, it does exactly what it says on important texts on North West Morris It was through David’s influence, that we, as a side, seen in England." developed and went on to teach many of the younger the cover, “a resource and introductory in recent years. To get your hands on a generation at schools, churches and the Scouts, study of the history and development of copy, email [email protected] Swap the genders in those lines. Would that then be incorporating all three of David’s great loves. We feel acceptable? I think not. that David’s memory will be commemorated Dancing in their Uncouth Fashion Why the insulting language and gender stereotypes? Isn't it possible to praise one side without kicking another? by the impact he had on others, including In this book we move across to the Holderness, Leicestershire and the molly OK, it's 'a bit of fun' and we mustn't get ourselves, and this east of the country to an area largely dancing to the south, searching for links, too serious, but Laura Bailey uses those can be appreciated unrecognised as having any indigenous similarities and differences. very words in her feminism article as to Tom Bell- by the messages we morris dancing – Nottinghamshire and how things are perpetuated. Richards have received from our Lincolnshire. These counties have a It seems that morris dancing survived friends and local sides. Anyway, thanks again for the newsletter plethora of plough plays – but morris here into the 20th century, yet whatever and all the best for 2020! At BMM, we will dances? little survives in the records today there forever remember the has been enough unearthed for Rattlejag fortitude and courage In 1993 Paul Davenport’s research Morris to use and develop or recreate David showed, always into dancing in East Yorkshire became their own dances from these sources. coming along to publicly available with the publication The book has the notation and music for practices; even after of 'The Forgotten Morris'. This research four of their dances. his cancer diagnosis led to the formation of The Infamous he came whenever he possibly could, not to Audreys and The Flag and Bone Gang in Again, there is undoubtedly more dance but to be with the mid-1990s, followed by Rattlejag research to be done but this book fills a us, even when he was Morris in 2002. Chris Rose, the first gap in the geographical record of morris feeling very unwell. We squire of Rattlejag Morris, has extended dancing on these islands. appreciated that and Paul’s research to the counties south of we are very proud to the Humber. The book is A5 in size with 97 pages, have had David as our including many photographs and friend and central to Although looking mostly at the historical illustrations, and is available for £6.50 our morris family. evidence of dancing in Nottinghamshire (including post and packing) from We’ll never forget you and Lincolnshire, Chris also looks at the the author, Chris Rose. David. evidence in the neighbouring areas of Email [email protected] for details.
26 27 VIRTUAL AGM SATURDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2020 from 4pm www.morrisfed.org.uk/agm
C u s t o m s & E x i l e s
will be hosting the next Day of Dance on Saturday 25 September 2021
invite you to join them on Saturday 26th September in Reading, Berkshire for a Day of Dance followed by the Morris Federation AGM then a ceilidh with Diatonics & Emma Wooders For details on how to attend, how to buy tickets for the ceilidh and more information visit
customsandexiles.co.uk/fedagm