www.morrisfed.org.uk

fedThe quarterly newsletterextra of The Morris Federation Winter/Spring 2018

Inside this issue... Bucknell and Tabor The events that led to their discovery and reuniting DERT 2018 Three of the best women's teams take first, second and third prizes Our AGM and Festival of Dance New Esperance invite you to London Passing it on... Creating, adapting and sharing dances www.morrisfed.org.uk www.morrisfed.org.uk fed www.morrisfed.org.uk fed extraWinter/Spring 2018 extraWinter/Spring 2018 fedextra inside Winter/Spring 2018 this Festival of issue MorrisWinter/Spring 2018 20th-22nd September 2018

Our AGM and Festival of Dance – London New Esperance Morris are proud New Esperance Morris invite you20 to the Bucknell Pipe to host 2018’s Morris Federation and Tabor AGM in our hometown, the Morris Federation AGM and a wonderful 08 vibrant city of London. We would weekend of dance hosted in the heart like to invite all Federation sides to celebrate a Festival of Morris weekend of our vibrant capital city with us - a celebration of the living Our programme is overleaf, and Saturday evening’s entertainment tradition of Morris which we are proud more details about the schedule, includes a ceilidh, performances, to champion. local area, workshops, ceilidhs, Library lecture, a folk costume DERT and performances are available on exhibition, sessions and songs. New EsperanceBecoming Morris draw their oura websiteclog - where you willWomen's also On the Sunday there will Boughton Sharing women ethos from Mary Neal, a pioneer of find a booking form and payment be dance and music workshops led Morris dances morris in her time,maker who originally – part information. 2 dayby ofguests dance from across the Federation, win big founded the Esperance Guild from followed by a relaxed local dance out 07 14 17whom we take inspiration and20th our Saturday’s - 22nd dancing22 Septemberwill be a exploring 2018 some of the best30 watering Welcome to the winter/ Rooster News: Dorking’s Phil and Pat Honeysett:name. So in turn it is Folkour Costume aim to Archive: tour of the LondonHalesworth SouthbankDay of Dance: holesCover in Camden Stars Town. spring issue: editorial and Rampant Rooster Morris is celebrating their diamond Chloe Middleton-Meltcalfefeaturing popular spotscancelling along was thenot an river option, committee contacts celebrating 25 years wedding anniversary showcase not only the givessights a project and update even with nationwide snow Henry Proctor (Anonymous Morris) 04 12 18 sounds of our beautiful26 city, but to between 33Trafalgar Square and We lookbeing 'shot'forward in their to original welcoming dance you President's prologue: and &39 Paul White's Diaryshowcase: pioneering MorrisSomerset of Morris: all the Londonthriving Bridge. SightsWinterbourn will Down: include revisiting for the'Duel weekend! of Honour', Wimborne, If you 2017have any reflections on changing Dance Competitions: two instalments from the north-east Somerset women's Catalonia and re-kindling Photograph: Dorset Morri'arty traditions to the broad audiences of several popular London attractions queries, and to book, please contact 05attitudes towards women 13an introduction 19 itinerant morris columnist 27side is seeking musicians 34friendships after 15 years Do you have a great action the capital. When you arrive, TfL will so be sure to bring your camera, us viapicture our website of your team below. that Boughton Morris: Send Sharing Dances: Judith Our AGM & festival of dance: Hammersmith Morris:your sharpest dancingFurness Clog and Dancers: your ‘charity could feature on the cover them your memories of the Proctor tells how her team New Esperance Morrisproudly tell you “Londonkeeping is Open” friendships - and triple whammy’ raises money of FedExtra? team in pictures and videos created and adapted dances welcome you to London traditions alive in Vienna for local and national causes 07 14 20 and we look forward28 to welcoming best smiles!36 We can guarantee HowSend a high much quality image will suitable the to print in A4 portrait format, Bucknell : Carn Brae, Looking Back Becoming a Clog Makeryou! Dancing for Maud: you’ll never danceCrook to such Morris aWassail, diverse  : A women's some background info about - Looking Forward: Grimspound Border the events that led to their their the second part of Simon day of dance in celebrationcrowd of as London’s enthusiasticand the your team,weekend details of where andcost? Folk Play Website Relaunch 08discovery and reuniting 16weekend of dance 22Brock's journey The weekend 30will be Maud hosted Karpeles at tourists and37 keen-eyed locals... when the image was taken, and Full theWeekend photographer's Ticket name - £20 to: / £17* Mockbeggar Morris: 25 years DERT 2018: three of the best Jackstraws' 40th: rounding City Clickers Workshop: Whittlesey Straw Bear in Cecil Sharp House, London’s centre [email protected] of dancing North-West in the women's teams take first, up members to join infor their Folk Dance and Song, theclose annual to clog the workshop pictures and dates for your 10North-West 17second and third prizes 24celebrations this year 32held in Bristol 38diary Saturdaywww.morrisfed.org.uk Evening only - £15 / £12* 2 amenities, shops, and restaurants of Find out3 more: Saturday Tour only - Free Camden Town. Indoor Camping will Indoor Camping - +£5 per night be available for Friday and Saturday Visit our website at: (150 spaces available) nights, and there is a cafe on site for http://bit.do/FedAGM2018 your use as well as local restaurants. *concession for students and low-income fed www.morrisfed.org.uk fed www.morrisfed.org.uk extraWinter/Spring 2018 extraWinter/Spring 2018 Sam Ross, Newsletter Editor • [email protected] • 64 The Batch, Farmborough, Somerset, BA2 0AJ • 07849 055 339 guidelines for articles submission

Please send articles as doc, docx, txt or odt formats. Articles over 750 words will be trimmed, and all articles will be subject to copy editing for both readability and space restrictions. President's Please accompany all from the articles with at least three contact your high quality images, sent prologue separately, not embedded editor committee within the text document. Hello! Many of you Festival, whereupon three Ring tutors. I'm a great believer that welcome to the Winter/Spring issue of Morris FedExtra Melanie Barber, President If images are very large, will already have heard about sides refused to dance with us, we shouldn't forget, or lose, our use WeTransfer.com to ost women However, the recent decision • [email protected] the General Data Protection despite members from each side traditional dances, they are what send photographs and text dancers have by the Morris Ring to remove all • 72 Freedom Road, Walkley, Regulations (GDPR) that came approaching us individually to define our traditions, but morris, Sheffield, S6 2XD documents together, rather heard the reference to gender from their into force as part of the Data compliment us on our dancing and in its widest sense, is very much • 07812 656 036 than sending multiple historical constitution, not only opens the Protection Act 2018 on 25 May. apologise for their team's attitude. a living tradition, constantly emails. stories, as well door to women joining teams Fee Lock, Secretary We are currently updating The At first I was really upset, then I growing and evolving – even Sam as experienced within the Ring, but also paves Morris Federation membership got to thinking that Bromyard had and Pat adapted their dances over Photographs and snide comments in recent years, the way for greater acceptance • [email protected] database to ensure compliance, been a 'Ring festival' for so many the years. There is definitely room illustrations should be jpg, M • 28 Fairstone Close, Hastings, from teams and individuals of non-binary and transgender and we have also had several years that it might have felt like for both old and new. eps, tiff or pdf, although East Sussex, TN35 5EZ unsupportive of our dancing. But dancers, who may have faced enquiries from teams as to what we were wanting to take over other file types may be • 01424 436 052 many ladies' sides, still in fine hostility from the binary action they might need to take, so rather than share the enjoyment of My final reflection goes back accepted. dancing order today, were also dance-team tradition. Jerry West has drafted some notes dancing there. Wind the clock on to the weekend in 2001 when Jenny Everett, Treasurer Make sure you have given advice, support and help on GDPR, which are available on nine years to 2013 and I returned Ravensbourne hosted Rivington appropriate permission to from influential male dancers We should all celebrate the • [email protected] our website. to Bromyard with another women's Morris, in memory of Christine's publish all words of their time, regardless of the small milestones on the journey • Willow Cottage, 20 High Street, Sutton- North-West team, Silkstone Greens, father Ian. We had a great on-Trent, Newark, Notts, NG23 6QA and pictures. verbal abuse those men may to diversity, but although one In light of The Morris Ring's motion but this time we were welcomed weekend, and at the end you • 01636 821 672 have faced by their local teams. small battle for equality may to change their constitution I by those same three teams and invited us to join you in Bonny Credit will be given to have been won, we must not be Mike Everett, Archive Officer thought I would share with you thoroughly enjoyed dancing Green Garters. Afterwards we photographers, and It is testament to the complacent and should strive to an excerpt from my speech at the together. I strongly believe that overheard one of your daughters captions printed, where perseverance of both those call out discrimination wherever • [email protected] Ravensbourne Morris Ale in 2015: there is room for all sides, and yes, say, 'great, next time I can join in' provided. • Willow Cottage, 20 High Street, Sutton- male dancers and the pioneering we encounter it and attempt “My personal experience has our organisations are different, to which her father responded, on-Trent, Newark, Notts, NG23 6QA female teams that emerged, that to affect change to remove • 01636 821 672 been more about The Morris Ring, but we share a common goal in 'no, that was a first and a last'. we have attained a vibrant and unpleasant and unnecessary and its evolution from a woman's preserving and promoting our certainly hope it wasn't a last, publication diverse morris and traditional actions that will ultimately lead Jerry West, Notation Officer perspective, especially having been traditional dances through high and am very glad that you've schedule dance scene for both women as to the benefit of us all. born to a Ring man and having standards and performances. taken another first in inviting • [email protected] well as men today. Ring godparents! I remember my women to your ale.” 2018/19 • 23 Avondale Road, Fleet, Sam sister's godfather, who danced That's not to say there isn't room Hampshire, GU51 3BH Summer • 01252 628 190 or 07754 435 170 with Beaux of London City, being for evolution, you only have to This time last year I was reflecting deadline for next issue: 1 July very aggrieved that I'd taken up watch my namesakes, The Demon on the fact that Peter Halfpenny Deadline: 1 Jul 2018 Published: 6 Aug 2018 next issue published: 6 Aug 2018 morris dancing until he heard it Barbers, to see that what they are was the Squire of the Ring that Co-opted committee was North-West, and then let out doing is effectively a modern day oversaw women members being Autumn Kevin Taylor - Web Editor a slow breath and commented music hall, the likes of which made allowed as musicians; I would like Deadline: 15 Sep 2018 advertising rates 'well that's OK then'. So, you The Five Sherry Brothers famous now to congratulate to Ed Worrall • [email protected] Published: 1 Nov 2018 For the current rates and advert You can also download a copy can imagine my disappointment in the 1920s. I've been extremely on being the Squire that oversaw sizes, please contact the editor: from the FedExtra pages on our when in 2004 Rivington Morris fortunate in my career to women members being allowed Winter [email protected] website: www.morrisfed.org.uk Advisors were asked, as the first officially count the late greats – Sam Sherry, as dancers! Happy dancing. Deadline: 15 Dec 2018 booked women's morris team, Pat Tracey, Bill Gibbons, and Bert Sally Wearing - Health & Safety Advisor Published: 1 Feb 2019 Bowden – as friends as well as useful info • [email protected] • 0118 946 3125 to perform at Bromyard Folk Melanie Spring Contact all Morris Fed members: Update your team's contact details: John Bacon - Licencing Bill Advisor Deadline: 15 Mar 2019 [email protected] [email protected] • [email protected] keep it social @morrisfed @MorrisFed.org.uk Published: 1 May 2019

04 05 fed www.morrisfed.org.uk extraWinter/Spring 2018 EFDSS AGM 2017 Cecil Sharp House I attended the English Folk Dance There was discussion under and Song Society (EFDSS) AGM at 'Any Other Business' as to Cecil Sharp House in Camden in whether the AGM should Fee London on Saturday 11 November be a) made more appealing Lock 2017. Despite only living 70 miles by holding some event on away, I still managed to suffer from same day or b) abolished. the weekend engineering works and skulked in during Chief Executive Katy Spicer’s annual report. After a quick chat with Katy about our forthcoming day of dance and annual general meeting on Saturday Apart from the formal business 22 September 2018, courtesy of hosts of accepting the minutes and the New Esperance Morris, Sherry Neyhus annual report, the main business was and I decided to be ‘ladies who lunch’ concerned with the Board changes. Jon in Camden, before both making our Brenner, Lucy Neal, Sherry Neyhus and respective journeys home. Peter Slavid retired from the Board as they had all completed the maximum Please don’t forget that if you are six years. Yvette Staelens also decided intending to attend The Morris to stand down. Lorna Aizlewood, Fi Federation AGM in September and Fraser and Andy Wooles stood for the your side uses black face paint, you will Board and were all elected (there was have to remove it before entering the Memories of no actual election as there were more grounds of Cecil Sharp House as it is not vacancies than candidates). In addition, permitted within the grounds or the Mick Gallagher (already appointed to house. You may also wish to consider the Board) became an elected member. the possibilities of confrontations on Boughton Morris public transport and at stands whilst There were two ordinary resolutions blacked up. passed, both unanimous on a show of hands. The first was to confirm the appointment of Alan Davey as a member of the Board. The second was the appointment of HW Fisher & Co as auditors.

Following this year’s AGM as part of the ideas to celebrate Trevor Boughton Morris' 40th (1979 to 2019) we are going to Home produce a booklet with people’s recollections and memories.

Do you recall Boughton in the 1980s – a border side in clogs, black faces, long grass on hats and knees during the ritual dance competition at Sidmouth or other festivals? Or perhaps the 1990s when we switched to steel tapped boots, clean faces and lost the grass, hosting the Boughton Olympics with various beer related activities? Or over the last 20 years when as a mixed side we have hosted the Boughton Picnic, a laid back day of dance and imbibing on a typical village green.

If so please write to us with anything that sticks in your mind, details of what we did – festivals, TV, odd or unusual events or performances or people, and send any old photos, videos etc. We look forward to hearing from you: [email protected]

06 07 fed www.morrisfed.org.uk fed www.morrisfed.org.uk extraWinter/Spring 2018 extraWinter/Spring 2018 recordings – I must have contacted the Morris Ring to make the arrangements, and in due course a historic recording took place at my house, Bert travelling down from his home in and Geoff Jerram travelling up from Southampton as recording engineer.

At half time we retired to the pub for refreshments, and as Bert describes on the recording, it took three pints of Hook Norton Ale before he could manage to coax a recognisable tune (the Bucknell dance Willow Tree) out of the pipe! It was an unforgettable day.

I did ask Joseph Powell’s two great-grandchildren Bob and Geraldine whether they might consider donating the instruments to the County Museum at Woodstock, so that they would be preserved for posterity and they did not dismiss the idea out of hand.

In April 2017 I was contacted by Duncan Broomhead of the Morris Ring Archive Group, who asked about the recording, and the present whereabouts of the pipe and tabor. Duncan eventually tracked down Bob and Geraldine, they had the instruments and wanted them to be reunited, he in turn made contact with Mike Heaney who liaised with the Pitt Rivers Museum, and they were donated to them in February 2018.

BucknellBucknell Morris Dancers, circa 1875. Joseph Powell (centre) playing Pipepipe and tabor and Tabor I am proud and privileged to have played a part in the recovery It is both an honour and a pleasure to have been asked to describe the events leading to my and preservation of Joseph Powell’s pipe and tabor. That it discovery of the long-lost and historic Bucknell Pipe and Tabor over a quarter of a century ago Lindsay would take 25 years to achieve, and would be the Pitt Rivers and to have learned that the descendants of Joseph Powell have, at last, graciously agreed for Seagrim- Museum rather than the one in Woodstock who were to them to be preserved at the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford. Trinder become the custodians was something I didn’t envisage!

The discovery – Lindsay Seagrim-Trinder with the Bucknell Pipe and Tabor My story begins during the summer of 1982 when I had lived There was a large framed photograph hanging on Photo courtesy of Oxford Mail At the time of writing they are not yet on display. in Launton, near Bicester, for about a year and I saw a notice a wall in Bucknell Village Hall, dating from about outside a local pub that Bucknell Morris would be performing 1875, showing the old dancers and I found myself drawn to it; A chance remark led me to the discovery of the whereabouts there in a few days’ time. I could hardly wait, having been a 'fan' I can never explain how, or why. I asked Bucknell Squire Helen of Joseph Powell’s pipe and tabor, but unfortunately I can’t of morris since my mother had taken me to see St Albans Morris Cordingley to tell me about the strange-looking instruments remember the source, only that it was suggested that there Men perform outside the cathedral when I was about four that Joseph Powell was playing and she explained the playing might be a Powell family member in the Coventry area. I years old. Fortunately I was also of that generation of 1950s technique of the pipe and tabor, telling me that since the remembered that there was a newspaper called the Coventry children who enjoyed the weekly country dancing sessions in death of Joseph’s last remaining relative in Bucknell at the end Evening Telegraph; I found their address from the library and the school playground! of the 70s (an unmarried granddaughter called Patty Powell, wrote a letter to the editor which they must have published, for buried alongside him at St Peter’s Bucknell) the instruments some time later I received a phone call from Bob Crump telling I was to discover with some surprise that Bucknell Morris was had disappeared out of the village. Suddenly and inexplicably, I me that he had custody of the pipe while his cousin Geraldine a women’s side; I’d never heard of women dancing morris heard a little voice in my ear, saying, “You’re going to find them, Drummond in Hertfordshire had custody of the tabor. Legend before but was soon to learn how female morris dancers were aren’t you?” has it that the two are never separated, so the fact that these very much frowned upon in certain quarters. I am happy that were, I remember, bothered me considerably! over the years such attitudes have mellowed. I became an I didn’t do anything about it for several years until by chance Joseph Powell's pipe at Pitt Rivers Museum enthusiastic follower of Bucknell Ladies, someone gave me a transcript of George I could not believe my good fortune to be granted custody of Photograph: Mike Heaney and about 18 months later I was asked Butterworth’s “Diary of the instruments for a while; Bob kindly came to my house in whether I would be interested in learning Hunting” which was historically significant Launton to deliver the pipe and I drove to Geraldine’s house the dances to become a member of the and re-kindled my curiosity. I had the near Potter’s Bar to fetch the tabor. To hold these treasures in side. I certainly 'jumped' at the chance! idea that it might be rather fun to write my own hands as George Butterworth had done in 1912 was a book based on George Butterworth’s a thrill beyond compare. While I had them in my possession I New dancers were taken on after the memoir and set about it. I very much wanted as many people as possible to see them; an article was conclusion of the season and I duly regret that I missed, by only a few months, published in several local newspapers, and I remember one presented myself at Bucknell Village Hall interviewing Reginald Lennard of Lower night driving to the home in South Leigh of morris historian on the first Tuesday practice-session. Heyford who was a close friend of George Keith Chandler where Mike Heaney from the Bodleian was I danced with them for almost ten years Butterworth – although I did meet people also to be present. I knew him from Eynsham Morris. What a and then became their musician. I was who knew him. (When I suddenly had to memorable evening that was! also doubling as Twyford Morris musician, move to I realised that the project whose own musician had died suddenly, would not come to fruition and donated I also felt that it was an opportunity not to be missed to try so was kept rather busy. (Twyford have all my research, various papers and to arrange a recording-session of the pipe and tabor. I already since merged with Owlswick Morris.) Bert Cleaver during the recording correspondence to the Morris Ring.) had in mind to ask Bert Cleaver to play as I had some of his Joseph Powell's tabor and stick, at Pitt Rivers Museum Photograph: Lindsay Seagrim-Trinder Photograph: Mike Heaney

08 09 fed www.morrisfed.org.uk fed www.morrisfed.org.uk extraWinter/Spring 2018 extraWinter/Spring 2018

Mockbeggar Morris 25 Years of Dancing Gina Mockbeggar Morris was founded in November 1991 by some of the wives and friends of Mersey Morris Men. Siddons We were so lucky to be able to dance in our starting point in Heswall where we An all ladies side, we danced in public for the first time in the summer of 1992. The original intention was to the bandstand with a lovely view over called in at Gelatos for ice creams, cake, dance North-West morris but we have added other traditions as we have learnt dances at festivals in the park and its colourful displays of tea and coffee. As the owners wanted and around the world. spring flowers. to see some dances we were persuaded, after our refreshments, to dance on the It seemed that no sooner had we finished had previously located a large, flat As previously, the audience was transient Next we set off towards Chester to the main street outside where we attracted our 21st anniversary celebrations than area overlooking the River Bollin so we as walkers stopped to watch a few dances village of Pipers Ash and the pub called maybe the largest crowd of the day. the 25th was upon us. For the 21st we were able to start the day with a gentle before continuing on their way. Feeling The Piper. This was Vanessa’s cue to play travelled by coach to Cheshire towns and rendering of Bollin for the few dog walkers slightly weary by then we were eager to her bagpipes on the steps of the pub for Will we reach our 30th anniversary? villages with the names of our dances and joggers who were passing. Encouraged buy drinks and ice creams in the café. all the world to hear. We then danced Who knows, but we do still have a few and performed Hindley Circle in Hindley, by an audience we broke into a few other Pipers Ash and a few other dances for more towns to visit! Runcorn near Runcorn, Abram Circle in dances including our brand new one Pat’s We gave our thanks and drove to Denton, those still Abram and so on. So it was fitting to Posy, which uses North-West figures and a town famed two hundred years ago for energetic continue this theme by having another was written by two of our members. its hat making. As we walked through the and keen to coach tour to celebrate our 25th. streets to Victoria Park we mislaid our ‘real perform. We continued our journey to our lunchtime ale contingent’ who had developed such With every seat taken we set off on a stop at the Old Plough in Ashton on a thirst watching us dancing that they Finally our warm Saturday in May. Having counted Mersey. We do not know whether the missed the performance of Denton. brilliant coach everybody on to the bus I was delighted dance Ashton actually originated in this driver took to find the remaining empty seat next to town as we have no less than three us back to one of our founder members who had towns of that name around Manchester. become a legend within the side. Vanessa Distance-wise it fitted our plan perfectly was instrumental in teaching North-West and it was declared a good choice by dances that she had learnt from other sides. the real ale loving husbands who were accompanying us. After a Her enthusiasm carried the other members few dances we tucked into a very in their moments of uncertainty. She good buffet of sandwiches, salad designed the dresses and worked hard to and chips followed by tea and publicise the side. For our day of dance coffee. Vanessa had brought several instruments to assist our regular musicians who played We then headed to Reddish melodeon, , bass guitar, Vale Park on the banks of the and drum. These included a trombone and River Tame. At the Visitor Centre bagpipes. Rhiannon was waiting with cones across the car park as we had warned Our first stop was at the Carrs, a country her that we needed a big space for park on the outskirts of Wilmslow. We twelve dancers to perform Reddish.

10 11 fed www.morrisfed.org.uk fed www.morrisfed.org.uk extraWinter/Spring 2018 extraWinter/Spring 2018

Rooster mascot 'Ken Tucky' meets his end at the climax of Shooting Adderbury ROOSTER NEWS! Photograph by Judith Snelling Dorking’s Rampant Rooster Morris is celebrating its 25th year in 2018. Still a mere chick in morris years, but we Lancashire and Cheshire won’t tell you the average age of the members!

We have a lot of ideas, and crop of apples. Our foreman, pub stands. If all these things recruit. We see Ann some plans for making this a Sheila Gray, will be writing a happen, it will be a busy year! our stands as our Wade Clog Dance Competitions special year. We are thinking special dance for this event, to best publicity, Melanie about having a birthday meal add to the repertoire of Dorking Throughout the year we shall and our new Revived by Sam Sherry and Alan Bell in 1977, there was just one Novice competition initially, which Barber for Roosters and friends, or a Tradition dances which she has be wearing our special silver members were simply attracted was sponsored by and hosted at the then Fylde Folk Festival. The first winner was Alan Fletcher, ceilidh, or even an Ale. created. anniversary badges, designed to us by seeing us dancing out. who went on to win the Lancashire and Cheshire Clog Dance Championship, which by our graphic artist and lead was introduced in 1978. Our Spring season started in We shall be taking part in the musician, Kirsten Baron. Our Squire, Niall Mitchell, runs brilliant style in early March Mole Valley Arts Alive Festival, a happy side and we not only Since then the competitions in East Lancashire. As well Contrary to popular belief with a morning workshop and and we also hope to dance in We have received the most enjoy each other’s company but have expanded to include as the competitions, the you don't have to write your an afternoon of dance, hosted Dorking during the Heritage wonderful present for our also make a point of reaching Junior, Open , Old Lancs weekend includes a day of clog own steps, and most people by Ragged Phoenix Morris and Open Days as we consider birthday year, six new members out to our audiences to share Heel & Toe, Senior (for people dance workshops at beginner, who enter find it's really organised by the Orchard Morris ourselves a part of Dorking’s who have been attending our delight in the dancing. who have learnt clog dancing as intermediate and advanced good to have something to Project www.orchardmorris.com heritage, although we are practice regularly during the We have had one or two new an adult), and Open Group. levels, with specialist tutors work towards to motivate much younger than most of the winter season and are now joiners most years, but this including ex-champions. them to practise. Plus We shall celebrate the summer venerable contributors to the ready to dance out with a year’s influx is exceptional. The The Novice, Championship, the judges give individual solstice Saturday in the event. repertoire of some dozen enthusiasm and commitment Junior and Senior competitions We have been very lucky to feedback to help you Dorking Community Orchard dances. of our new members has been are all danced 'off the toe' to have been given sponsorship build on your style and by dancing among the trees, In addition to these special a breath of fresh air and has a dotted , with the by clog dance teams and presentation. teaching a dance to the public, treats we shall be attending Although we always welcome rekindled the excitement and Championship including the individuals, and Folkus NW, and performing our solstice days of dance with our morris new people, we have not gone passion which launched the traditional skills test of the final which have allowed us to So if you're a budding clog ceremony to ensure a good friends, festivals and our usual to any extraordinary lengths to side 25 years ago. step comprising of hopping keep the competitions free to dancer why not give it a go? double shuffles. The Old Lancs entrants and spectators, and to Heel and Toe is danced in the introduce additional awards for This year's Clog Dance style of Pat Tracey, the Open the Best Overall Performance Weekend will take place Waltz in any style, and the and the Most Improved Dancer. over 16-17 September at Open Group any style and Pendle Heritage Centre in rhythm. Last year saw the 40th Barrowford, East Lancashire. Lancashire and Cheshire When Fylde Folk Festival ceased Championship, which was won Full details, including in 2015 a small group of us for the third consecutive year competition categories, rules decided to continue to run the by Carrie Davies, who featured and judging criteria, and Carrie Davies of Inclognito at competitions independently as on the cover of The Morris workshops, can be found at Oxford Folk Festival, 2007 part of a Clog Dance Weekend Federation Newsletter in 2007. www.clogcomp.org.uk Photograph by Doug Bradshaw Mass dance of Poppleton, after a morning workshop Roosters sticking in Four Up Rampant Roosters Photograph by Clive Funnell Photograph by Clive Funnell Photograph by Judith Snelling

12 13 www.morrisfed.org.uk 'All Around my Hat', an original Anonymous Morris dance fed extraWinter/Spring 2018 All photographs by Dorset Morri’arty

Sharing Dances 'Large Hadron Collider' from the original Anonymous Morris dance 'Three Grenadiers' knew from dancing North-West. from the sheepskin hey. It doesn't even but we're using one of your dances.” Our A change of tempo was all that was needed have any stick clashes. answer is always the same. “Great! That's with anonymous morris to convert them to use for Border. why we made them available. Enjoy!” Judith From the start, we'd written detailed Anonymous Morris started in 2010. We began completely from scratch, with no prior experience of Border Proctor We always take care to credit the teams notation for all the dances we were using. From southern France, all the way to morris other than being inspired by watching Boggart's Breakfast perform at Wimborne Folk Festival. we've learned dances from, mainly out of When you're self-taught, accurate notation Glasgow, there are people dancing courtesy, but also to help anyone trying to is essential. We started uploading them all Anonymous Morris dances. I suspect there I had plenty of experience dancing North- Back in those days, we had four dancers. The footage aimed to give a full dance and research how dances are transmitted. to our website so the dancers and band are more than we know about, because West and Henry had done some rapper in We worked with a number of sources. the camera work was steady, they were could download their own copy (beats third sometimes we discover them in the wild. workshops at Sidmouth. We'd both danced Dave Jones' book, “The Roots of Welsh far more useful than other video sources. After a year or two, we started writing our generation photocopies by a large margin). plenty of ceilidhs, but where could we Border Morris: The Wesh Border Morris They also focused on individual teams, so I own dances. We were still a small team, New teams will adapt our dances, just start with Border? Dances of Herefordshire, bought a selection of Border morris videos. there weren't many dances for two, or As we started writing our own dances, as we've adapted dances we learnt from and ,” was a handy starting point, three, or four, so we got creative. we made a positive decision to upload other people. Just as folk songs change and There was a moderate amount of material but most of the recorded dances from notation, music (ABC, midi and pdf) and a adapt as new people learn them, so do folk on YouTube in 2010, but dances on the Border tradition are very simplistic, We took elements from other dances, video of the dance. This wasn't just for our dances. All we ever ask is that you attribute YouTube are often shot from poor angles, and it was the complexity, as well as the modified them, changed them, sometimes own use, we knew how hard it had been to them to Anonymous Morris, and we'd really move away to look at the band, have poor performance standard, that had attracted created totally new moves from scratch. find material when we were starting out. love it if you sent us a photograph! sound quality and can be hard to analyse. us to Boggart's Breakfast. Then there is the problem of finding a One of our most popular dances, All Around Now, every once in a while, we get an Help yourself at: dance that you actually like...and when you I bought a copy of John Kirkpatrick's My Hat, owes nothing to tradition, apart email saying, “We hope you don't mind, www.anonymousmorris.co.uk find one that you like, it's probably for the book “The First Steps” which gives music wrong number of dancers. and instructions for dances performed by Shropshire Bedlams and Martha Rhoden's Tuppeny Dish. There are lots of dances in Traditional British Clogs there, but we never ended up adopting any of them. I'm not quite sure why, but they simply didn't grab us. Phil Howard - Clogs & Leatherwork Full-time professional Clog Maker Part of the problem was that it was hard to visualise what the dances would look All clogs are made entirely on the premises using only my own soles like and as new teachers with a new team, A move called 'Waves' added to the Boggart's Breakfast we didn't want to put a lot of work into a dance 'Poaching', which has been renamed 'Smuggling' (not machine made) and full-grain leather uppers by Anonymous Morris to fit with Poole's local history dance that we might not even like. Plus the Also: re-wooding and resoling; standard and extra-hard rubber soles (shods) and heels supplied; tunes were often unfamiliar and I wasn't Most of our early dances came from this original unused clog irons available, including clog nails that confident a musician. source. We tried to contact teams to ask their permission to use their dances and a Leatherwork including: badges, keyrings, ear-rings, bell pads, belts etc. Where we actually got most of our early couple were even kind enough to send us My own work so other designs can be made. dances from was the “Morris dancers of the notation. We often changed the music. For up-to-date prices and details of events, visit: www.nw-clogs.co.uk England” series of DVDs: It's no coincidence that some of our early Killing the Squire in 'Dawley', a 5-person dance c 0161 494 0224 m [email protected] w www.facebook.com/philhowardclogs adapted from a Roy Dommett workshop www.morrisdancersofengland.co.uk tunes were identical to tunes that I already

14 15 fed www.morrisfed.org.uk fed www.morrisfed.org.uk extraWinter/Spring 2018 extraWinter/Spring 2018 DERT 2018 The Women's Year! Congratulations to everyone who competed in the 2018 Dancing England Rapper Tournament (DERT), which was hosted in style by Morris Federation members, Sheffield Steel.

As if by way of celebration, in the centenary of the year that women finally got the vote, women's rapper teams were placed 1st Whip the Cat, 2nd Star and Shadow and 3rd Tower Ravens in both the Premier Competition and the overall Steve Maris award. Whip the Cat also won the Veterans and Buzz Factor, and Star and Shadow won Music.

Carnkie Cloggers

(home of the historic Blue If you would like to contact Anchor ‘Spingo’ pub) for us on the team for information Sunday Morning for a massed about future events, stand of 150-ish dancers/ please contact Josie Tapp Carn Brae musicians. They also agreed [email protected] to pay for the closure.

For anyone who hasn’t LOOKING BACK – LOOKING FORWARD organised a weekend It all started with a casual remark at an excellent weekend organised by Carnkie Cloggers in 2014. It was before, yes, it is hard work. a wonderful weekend, thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who came along, and while chatting to another Sometimes frustrating, member of our side, I said ‘why don’t we have a weekend of dance’? And then I couldn’t get it out of my always time consuming, mind. Well, they say ignorance is bliss! but totally rewarding and the rosy glow left by a So when I was elected as only lived in Cornwall for right, finding and booking bums on successful event is worth Josie Whip the Cat Bagman, I suggested to the a short time and without a band for the ceilidh and seats on Tapp every minute. side that Carn Brea should the support of our Squire a million and one details coaches. host a weekend of dance. and our Principal Musician, (well that might be a slight Carn Brae held their Little did I know. I had only it just wouldn’t have been exaggeration). 6. That was wonderful weekend of been dancing morris for three possible. And that was just Carn Brea’s 2015 weekend dance in the middle of the years and had no experience for one coach! 5. The work doesn’t stop successfully accomplished. Cornish summer, from of organising such a thing. But when you get the firm Then came the suggestion 15-17 June. Turncoats and Wreckers the side were totally on-side 4. I was totally ignorant of acceptances in. There are of another weekend to (no pun intended) and so it the need to get permits to special diets to cater for commemorate our 40th started. dance, licences for street final confirmations with Anniversary in 2018, so collections, and other local dance out spots, landlords learning from my previous I learned a lot from that considerations – like tide and caterers and a new experience, I started in experience. times, driving the tour one for 2018 - juggling September 2016. The route to get the timing numbers to maximise result is three coach tours 1. Diaries fill up quickly and organised taking in some surprisingly early. I thought wonderful places such as Star and Shadow a year was plenty of time – Land's End, St Just, St Ives but it just flew by and we and St Michael’s Mount just got it done in time. to name but a few – and essentially stops at suitable 2. Other sides will say – oh, watering holes and eateries yes we definitely want to arranged; ceilidh band come – but other things booked for Saturday night; get in the way and sadly all permits in place; fine they don’t always make it. weather booked (fingers crossed); and acceptances 3. Arranging a coach tour coming in thick and fast. takes a lot of time and local The icing on the cake knowledge. I didn’t have is Helston Town Council the local knowledge having agreeing to close the road

Ilfracombe Red Petticoats Carn Brae performing Laudanum Bunches Tower Ravens

16 17 Phil and Pat Honeysett www.morrisfed.org.uk Photograph by Barry Honeysett fed extraWinter/Spring 2018 Diamond Wedding Paul White's Part 1 DIARY Phil & Pat Does anyone know these dancers? Celebration Honeysett A real radio mystery investigated We were very pleased to have five morris teams come to our day of dance at Topsham in Devon in September morrismen despite the Fran took up the jangly theme, it). Maybe Edgeley are a bit 2017 as part of our Diamond Wedding celebration. Glory of the evidence before their “North West sounds too jangly daring…” West, Downes on Tour Women, Downes on Tour Men, eyes. So gender or gender - if you can get close enough to Great Western Morris and Exeter Morris Men made it a very e recently visited mix is uncertain. all those beads.” While we can’t - at this stage memorable day for us. Borsetshire – a - be absolutely sure what county I have On, then, to a group of So, the current conclusion is style Edgeley dance in, there never set foot entertaining folk who subscribe the Edgeley Morrismen dance in is another Archers angle to Win before. I recommend a visit. to the Facebook-based Archers the Cotswold style. Courtney morris - the theme tune. It is Ambridge is a fascinating village, Appreciation page. They talk had it all worked out, “I would called Barwick Green, a with a grand boozer called about, show pictures of and assume that they are Cotswold, dance from the suite My Native The Bull, and the close-by generally enthuse about a probably a Ring side with an Heath, written in 1924 by the settlements of Penny Hasset, massive range of fascinating average age in the sixties.” Yorkshire composer Arthur Loxley Barrett and Edgeley have and important topics. What’s Wood. It’s a bouncy little a lot for the casual visitor to on the washing number and certainly enjoy. line today, conjures up a feeling for instance. of all things rural and You can learn a lot about The actual traditional. Borsetshire from a long-running programme documentary on Radio Four, rarely gets a An alternative Glory of the West which charts the doings of local look-in. arrangement, played by Photograph by Julia Jennings families, notably a clan called The Yetties, is used to The Archers. They are a rum lot. A number of introduce the Sunday Downes on Tour Women I only ever hear snatches of it them have omnibus. Photograph by Julia Jennings when I tune in to the wrong morris leanings. station on the car radio or So we posted a Bellowhead also someone else is listening on question, "What recorded the tune for catch-up. It’s not that I dislike it is your take the ill-fated Radio Four but it’s just not my bag. on the Edgeley Extra spin-off of The Morrismen?" Archers. Every so often, at certain times of year and at events such as Colin said he Grand Union Morris Cotswold? Border? North-West? weddings and village fetes, gave up morris Which of these traditions do the Edgeley Morrismen follow? used to dance to this morris dancing is heard in dancing when he tune and I am sure I the background in the radio fell off the bonnet. Old jokes There was talk of beer bellies have witnessed other sides do programme and reference is eh? Not always the best. and beards - not sported solely the same. It could be you! made to the Edgeley Morrismen. by men - also a suggestion Downes on Tour Men Phil Honeysett We were hoping to bump into The majority came down that they can only step-hop. Footnote: We have started a new Photograph by Julia Jennings Photograph by Barry Honeysett them on our trip but no such on the Cotswold side of the Christopher again, “Can’t even side (see page 39). Still at the luck. We wanted to see them fence. Dave said, “Cotswold double-step? Shocking.” stage of learning the difference Exeter Morris Men Great Western Morris in action and to know what I'd say. They existed I reckon between a square and a circle. I Photograph by Julia Jennings Photograph by Julia Jennings discipline they follow. before the current fashion for Elizabeth took the issue into a am going to track down Edgeley border.” Genevieve wasn’t sure, new realm, “My children are in Morrismen and invite them to My searches on the internet “Prefer border myself. Although a side that - gasp - do mixed join us for our first weekend of revealed nothing meaningful they sound jangly enough to styles. (They do the summer dance. I wonder if they dance to and listening intently to the be Cotswold.” Anna added a festivals etc. and get away with Barwick Green? radio delivers little of relevance. note of confusion, “Lived in Are they border, North West, the Cotswolds for more years Journalist, editor, ukulele player, and singer, Paul White has been Molly or Cotswold? Can't than I care to mention. We dancing the morris since the year 2000. He is a founding member of fathom it from the musical have mummers.” Christopher both Wreckers and Cat's Eye in Cornwall, helped form Couptrain Morris evidence. Neither can we tell countered, “They need (France) and Turncoat, and has also danced with Lodestone. Paul can if it is all-male, all-women or mummers to turn up at The occasionally be found in Europe introducing fellow campers to the mixed. People call them all Bull, more fun than the panto.” joys of morris, using baguettes, umbrellas, or tent poles for sticks. contact: [email protected] twitter: @morrisbells or Facebook

18 19 #FestivalOfMorris Programme of FestivalFestival of of Events Friday 2pm Storage rooms at Cecil Sharp House open for those who would like to Morris Morris leave luggage and explore local Camden Town or the wider city 20th-22nd September 2018 8pm Knees Up Cecil Sharp ceilidh with Banter and assorted callers including Fee Lock, Gordon and Nancy Potts, and Mary Panton. £10/£8* entry - pay on the door. Saturday 7.30am Breakfasts will be available to buy from the Cecil Sharp House cafe or venture down into the town for your choice of breakfast buffets... New Esperance Morris are proud New Esperance Morris invite you to the to host 2018’s Morris Federation 10am Gather at Cecil Sharp House for accompanied travel to the Southbank AGM in our hometown, the Morris Federation AGM and a wonderful (please note: you will need to bring your own contactless vibrant city of London. We would weekend of dance hosted in the heart payment card or Oyster card) like to invite all Federation sides to celebrate a Festival of Morris weekend of our vibrant capital city Walking Tours of the Southbank with us - a celebration of the living Our programme is overleaf, and Saturday evening’s entertainment 11am-3pm Tours will include local landmarks and floored spots. tradition of Morris which we are proud more details about the schedule, includes a ceilidh, performances, Teams will be given a lunch break, and taken around their to champion. local area, workshops, ceilidhs, Library lecture, a folk costume tour route by a dedicated guide. and performances are available on exhibition, sessions and songs. New Esperance Morris draw their our website - where you will also On the Sunday there will ethos from Mary Neal, a pioneer of find a booking form and payment be dance and music workshops led 4pm Reception at Cecil Sharp House with sign-in for Morris Federation AGM, morris in her time, who originally information. by guests from across the Federation, tea and cake will be available. founded the Esperance Guild from followed by a relaxed local dance out 4.30pm Morris Federation AGM begins whom we take inspiration and20th our Saturday’s - 22nd dancing Septemberwill be a exploring 2018 some of the best watering name. So in turn it is our aim to tour of the London Southbank holes in Camden Town. 7pm - 11pm Festivities in Cecil Sharp House showcase not only the sights and featuring popular spots along the river 6.30pm Lecture in the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library sounds of our beautiful city, but to between Trafalgar Square and We look forward to welcoming you 7pm Canals of Old England performance by Bonnet and Belt showcase pioneering Morris of all London Bridge. Sights will include for the weekend! If you have any 7.30pm Costume Exhibition with talks by Chloe Middleton-Metcalfe traditions to the broad audiences of several popular London attractions queries, and to book, please contact 8.30pm Celidh with Panjandrum and Gordon Potts the capital. When you arrive, TfL will so be sure to bring your camera, us via our website below. 9.30pm Song and Tune sessions begin in the bar proudly tell you “London is Open” - your sharpest dancing and your Craft Stalls and Event Merchandise will be available throughout and we look forward to welcoming best smiles! We can guarantee How much will the you! you’ll never dance to such a diverse crowd as London’s enthusiastic weekend cost? Sunday The weekend will be hosted at tourists and keen-eyed locals... Full Weekend Ticket - £20 / £17* Workshops on different styles of Morris dance and music - Cecil Sharp House, London’s centre 10am - 11.30am for full details from our guest hosts, please see our website for Folk Dance and Song, close to the Saturday Evening only - £15 / £12* amenities, shops, and restaurants of Find out more: Saturday Tour only - Free Camden Town. Indoor Camping will Indoor Camping - +£5 per night 12pm - 3pm Morris tour of local Camden pubs, all serving Sunday Lunches be available for Friday and Saturday Visit our website at: (150 spaces available) nights, and there is a cafe on site for http://bit.do/FedAGM2018 your use as well as local restaurants. *concession for students and low-income #FestivalOfMorris #NewEsperance fed www.morrisfed.org.uk fed www.morrisfed.org.uk extraWinter/Spring 2018 extraWinter/Spring 2018 SIMON BROCK The journey Photographs by Simon Brock to becoming a clog maker

DENNIS LEE WITH THE REPAIRED SINGER 29K

Episode 2: obtaining timber, nobody is safe in retirement, first attempt at making clogs

The second in a series of articles about clog plug for Leather for Folkies coming up) in marital harmony); and I didn’t really have WEDDING CLOGS making, my progress in which has been generously the ever-popular bagpipe quivers and my own gear. assisted by a grant from the Morris Federation. concertina cases that I make. Indeed, for some ‘best’ clogs, hand-stitching is the The former was solved, initially, by sharing way to go. But for ‘standard’ clogs, it’s too a workshop part-time with a friend; but labour-intensive. I needed a machine. this was only a temporary solution and ended my last article by finally getting window when the wood is dry enough didn't constitute a proper, permanent home my stock knives back to working order, to behave itself on machines but wet Enter the Singer 29k, also known as for my clog-making operation in Sheffield. and being more prepared than ever to enough to carve easily using stock ‘The Patcher’. This very attractive but make clog soles. But the sharp-witted knives. notoriously temperamental machine must However, fortune stepped in again Iwill note that I’d still need wood. have been churned out in the thousands regarding the equipment. Another This was still early days, but, borrowing so it’s not hugely difficult to track one coincidence, my next-door neighbour’s I’m friends with a chap who owns a bit lasts and patterns from Trefor Owen, I down – but I didn’t have to, as Trefor dad lives in Somerset, where he’s bosom of woodland: he’s quite well-known in managed to bodge together a couple of Owen stepped in again to provide me pals with one Rick Rybicki. I contacted the folk world but I daren’t give out his pairs of clogs in my own size. (Note I say, with one that he was keeping for spares. Rick without delay. name in case all the readers of FedExtra ‘in my own size’, rather than ‘that fit me’: start asking him for sycamore to make clogs that actually fit would come later!!) Shortly thereafter I spent half a day with Legends abound regarding Rick’s fate clog soles with... We went to his wood my new friends at Guat shoes in Sheffield, after he closed his shop in Todmorden, and cut down a sycamore – my first real ‘Bodge together’ might not be two where I was given the number of a retired but in truth he’s enjoying a peaceful experience using a chainsaw – and I paid words that every girl dreams of hearing sewing machine engineer, Dennis Lee. retirement, and he now has a lot more for it with a bottle of Scotch. in connection with her wedding day, He grumbled a lot that the needle was space in his garage than he did before but despite some whimpers of protest I more like a harpoon (I experimented with I went to see him! Using wood in the round might seem maintained that the second of these pairs finer needles but, later, concluded that rather primeval, but its two great was appropriate footwear to get married size does matter), and the machine wasn’t Rick’s clogs enjoy an enviable reputation RICK RYBICKI RETIRED CLOGMAKER advantages over sawn boards are that: in. I wince when I look at the coarseness right for the job, but he put it back in in the step dancing community and I was of them now, but I’d have always working order nonetheless. delighted to be able to relieve him of a) it’s easy to obtain thick sections, regretted getting married in normal shoes. patterns, lasts, toe tins, nails, clasps, STILL TO COME... enabling a higher cast (curve) to the Two big challenges remained, I had and all kinds of tools and other sundries • I experiment with leather sole; and These first pairs of clogs were stitched by nowhere to make clogs (it turns out – in addition to as much clog making • I stalk clog dancers at festivals b) sycamore works better with hand tools hand, which is my normal leather-working that using the deck, the garden and the knowledge and insight as I could wring • I equip the workshop • I am awarded a grant from when it’s damp. There’s an optimal modus operandi, for example (shameless kitchen for clog making isn’t conducive to out of him in one short day. The Morris Federation

22 23 fed www.morrisfed.org.uk fed www.morrisfed.org.uk extraWinter/Spring 2018 extraWinter/Spring 2018

Left: Jackstraws at Stoke Bruern, 2015

Right: Jackstraws Morris at their first performance, at the White Hart in Pirbright on Boxing Day 1977

Below: Jackstraws at Sidmouth, 2016

Jackstraws Morris – Our Pirbright practice hall was sold off local pub, the Alfred, has adopted us and for a fun afternoon. Further celebrations in 1996, after which we were based hosts post-practice gatherings, our annual include a party on 3 February and a day of for 10 years in Farnborough, just across dinner and the dancing and mummers dance in Farnham on 16 June. Jackstraws dancing with vigour for 40 years! the Hampshire border, but we are now play with which we entertain their patrons and other old friends are welcome to join Shirley resident in Hale, just north of Farnham. every Boxing Day. Boxing Day 2017 was us at our events this year, for details email Jackstraws are hoping to round up as many former members as we can find to join our celebrations. Dixon Not only do we have a convenient and the 40th anniversary of the very first time [email protected] or phone One of the oldest-established women’s Cotswold teams still dancing, we are based in the Surrey/Hampshire reasonably-priced practice hall, but the we danced out, and old friends joined us Shirley on 01252 628 190. borders and are celebrating our 40th anniversary this year.

We were founded in the autumn of 1977 hats decorated with flowers. We based rather than have them all merge to look after a split from one of the earliest ourselves in Pirbright near Woking in the same. We still learned new traditions, women’s teams of the 1970s revival, Surrey, and our first musician, Ivan North, but dropped one whenever we took up Updown Hill, whose leader had been despite getting a job in Kent, faithfully another. Our foreman for many years was attempting to create her own morris attended practices and gigs, struggling Carol Smith, who worked hard on the detail Simon Brock Clogs & Leather for Folkies tradition. Led by Jackie Emerson (now over every Monday night long before the of the dances. She introduced us to the Jackie Weller), Jackstraws were keen to M25 was built. He is still with us – the only wonderfully precise and zingy Headington learn the Cotswold traditions, and adopted founder member left – although he’s no tradition. the vigorous, precise and elegant style longer a regular. for which we are still known. We were We shared with many other teams the pain lucky enough to recruit two experienced The recruitment of some dancers and of seeing folk become very unfashionable foremen from the Pilgrim Morris Men of musicians who had previous experience led in the late 1980s and the 1990s, and Guildford – thank you, Pete Rowe and Pete to a decision in the mid-1980s to restrict numbers dwindled. We changed our kit Lister for that early training! - starting with the number of traditions in our repertoire in 2005 to a more modern look – a tunic the Bampton and Bledington traditions. so that we could polish the details of a few, decorated with green ribbon, and no hat. Sadly, the Petes left us after 125 people have performed with pressure from those members the team over the 40 years. We of their team who disapproved have only 10 regular dancers of women daring to dance now, but we’re delighted that Cotswold morris, but we could former foreman Christine Dover, learn from the many workshops who moved away in 1991, still available. We learned Fieldtown returns to swell our ranks – and (still our signature tradition), and has trained up two daughters to we were trained in the Lichfield help! tradition by the wonderful John Glaister of Thames Valley Morris We’ve had great fun over the Men. years. Relations with the local men’s Cotswold sides are now We chose to wear trousers from very friendly, and our summer the start – quite revolutionary pub evenings are shared with in those days! – and wore one or another of the local hand-made smocks and ‘beanie’ teams. Broadwood, 2016 e: [email protected] www.leatherforfolkies.co.uk

24 0114 233 6146 / 07958 15 45 05 facebook.com/leatherforfolkies www.morrisfed.org.uk

fedextraWinter/Spring 2018 Somerset Morris – on the lookout for musicians Somerset Morris are a thriving women's side. Our repertoire includes Friendly Society stave dancing and Cotswold morris. 1960s folk dance demonstration dress Donated by Faith Kemp. Ref: DMM1712 We are actively seeking musicians, Please email: male or female. Suitable instruments [email protected] would be fiddle, pipe and tabor, or find us on Facebook: The English Folk melodeon, and concertina. @SomersetMorrisDancers

Jackstraw's costume Costume ArchivE Donated by Shirley Dixon. Ref: MM17005 Chloe Middleton-Metcalfe founded the English folk costume archive in 2016 as a safe space to house currently unused clothing. Prior to the formation of the archive there Chloe was no obvious place where such items would go. Middleton- Metcalfe Perhaps because of their comparatively described on our Facebook page: especially in folk dance modern or revival nature such items have www.facebook.com/englishfolkcostumes clubs, individuals would not previously attracted the interest of each have a different design. For me the collections and archives. One morris We currently have 145 accessioned felt-work decoration has echoes to older dancer told me that she had given the items. Warmest thanks go to all of those examples of appliqué patterns in English Colne Royal Morris Men costumes of her team to their local who contributed items in 2017. Recent folk play costumes. I suppose it is the Donated by Alan Seymour. Ref: MM17006f museum who initially accepted them only donations have included Roy Dommett’s detail in addition to the connotations of to later return them saying that they were fool costume, a 1950s Peggy Nisbett Doll handiwork and craft skills that calls me to In 2017 the archive made a number of public not interested. wearing a Beaux of London City costume pick and comment on felt-work specifically. appearances, in February at Dancing England donated by The Morris Federation, social in Sheffield Town Hall, in April to the Boston I continue to hope that by carefully storing dance costumes from the 1960s donated Embroiders Guild in Lincoln and in November to the items and raising their profile through by Faith and John Kemp, A Colne Royal Litchborough in Northamptonshire. a national archive, in due course, the Morris Men’s costume donated by Alan collection will be seen as valuable and Seymour, a Priston Jubilee Morris costume Normally the display of items is combined with a place might be made for it at a more donated by Martyn Hart, a Jackstraws a talk about English folk costume. In addition to illustrious institution. In the mean time I smock donated by Shirley Dixon and talking about different types of costume I make thought that the archive would be a great a social dance waistcoat which has a point about discussing what we mean by ‘folk’ idea to showcase ‘in the flesh’ some of wonderful decorative felt work depicting costume, bringing in more conceptual ideas the many and diverse costumes St George and the Dragon donated by about class, nationalism and politics. used by folk dance Mary-Jo Searle. performers in England. In 2017 I also made a purchase of archival I must say that I have been quality tags and pens, this enabled much quicker The archive is consistently delighted by the labelling of garments and I am now proud physically located in felt-work in some of these to say that all items have been accessioned, Milton Keynes and pieces. Felt-work appliqué photographed and indexed. if you would like to appears to have been a visit please email to common decorative feature The archive welcomes donations of clothing arrange a date and in the 1950s and 1960s but relating to English folk dance. If you would like time. If you can’t visit later fell out of favour. Often to donate a costume please do get in touch to us never fear, most of our the felt-work depicted a group or discuss the details – [email protected] items are pictured and team symbol, but sometimes, James Harry ‘Paddy’ Searle’s or 07500 862 568 Priston Jubilee Morris, from Somerset social folk dance waistcoat 1950-1955 Donated by Martyn Hart. Ref: MM17010 Donated by Mary-Jo Searle. Ref: MM17009

26 27 fed www.morrisfed.org.uk fed www.morrisfed.org.uk extraWinter/Spring 2018 extraWinter/Spring 2018

tradition of the ceremonial procession of St Leopold’s skull out of the abbey; participated in the yearly Fasslrutschen by climbing up, and then sliding down, the giant barrel in the monastery wine cellar; then busked all day in bright winter sunshine, retiring intermittently to the nearby Irish pub.

It all started in the summer of 1983 in Austria. I remember it was hot. There was lots of swimming and home-made elderflower cordial and the first time I had encountered Spritzer. There was milk straight from the churn and spontaneous Austrian-German choruses of skilful close harmony in onion-domed Baroque churches. For me, this exoticism of continental food, multilingualism, at the crossroads of Europe was intoxicating. Neighbouring towns in Czechoslovakia and Hungary behind the so-called 'Iron Curtain' were enticingly sign-posted on the highway outside Klosterneuburg. There were so many borders to block my way to finding out what was on the other side. It was an influential and important time for me and I consider so many people Hammersmith Morris whom I met during that period more as family than friends. Let me suggest that the reason that we could experience all this together is characterised by a sense of curiosity and respect for each other. It is born from a desire to embrace the Dancing together – IN VIENNA unfamiliar and the new and achieved through simple acts of generosity of mind. Indeed, as the mayor of Klosterneuburg Maybe you have heard of Klosterneuburg in Lower Austria. Imagine a small town next to the rightly pointed out, our getting together was about ‘culture’ and Danube on the outskirts of Vienna separated from the city by the woods and vineyards on the ‘tradition’ but I suspect not completely in the way he meant it. I Leopoldsberg hill, the very geographical tip of the Alps, and surrounded by morning mists on the Simon expect he was more about the preservation of imagined pasts, Hammersmith dancing at Rathausplatz Danube plain... Wright in this particular case, from different ends of Europe rather These friendships endured and, indeed, grew over four decades. than a celebration of relationships between peoples in the This is not the Austria of Ski Sunday, though. This is quiet It weaves up and down the building, creating The group of dancers which first visited all that time ago was present. For VTGK and TWFHMM, our music and dance are commuter-land, a town that has a whiff of the sophistication geometric patterns around the room finally forming lines from Towersey in Oxfordshire. Several of the ties formed at instruments in understanding the power of learning together. of the capital and the confidence of history. This was once the flanking the approach to the stage of the state governor and that time continue to this day with various members sharing Austrian capital. Dominating the landscape is the abbey church other dignitaries. There are speeches. Kind words in English and marking each other’s life milestones. As a result of one It takes a bit of courage and a small leap of faith to trust in the founded in the 12th century by Leopold III (1073 – 1136), from the town’s mayor and a reassertion that this is all about association with these first encounters, Hammersmith Morris unknown. Embrace change. Challenge tradition. Make culture. the Margrave and latterly patron saint of Austria. Successive ‘culture’ and ‘tradition’. The band restarts; cue dancing. Men came to be invited to Klosterneuburg. 2017 was not the Although it may be a little harder to do than not, it is important Archdukes and Holy Roman Emperors added neo-Gothic first time. We visited Austria for the Leopolditanz weekend to do so. I wished we could have remained with our Austrian towers and Baroque embellishments. It is still a monastery. Each dance is often unannounced: the running order behind in 2010. We hosted the Voltanzgruppe Klosterneuburg (VTGK) friends for longer and I hope they feel the same. It is better to It houses the relics of St Leopold and its glittering treasury the stage is there to help you remember which comes next. in London in 2015 and asked the Austrian group’s wonderful dance together. remains the repository for the Austrian Archducal crown. This Each dance is recognised by its tune and more often than not, musicians to play at Cecil Sharp House. While at the same time place is all about establishment ‘tradition’ hidden under a each dance is danced in a couple – and is more than likely to cementing old friendships, newer friendships have been made veneer of the faintly unremarkable. be a waltz. It is all about how your partner’s movement can aid and continue to grow through fresh experiences. your own, about balance and the interdependence of sharing It was here that Hammersmith Morris Men (TWFHMM) momentum. If you are lucky enough to dance with an old And it is because of all this that VTGK asked TWFHMM to found themselves to help Klosterneuburg celebrate its 50th Viennese pro who can fix your centre of gravity low enough, help with not only providing the interval entertainment in this anniversary Leopolditanz in 2017, a folkdance ball held every you can spin non-stop till dawn. special year for Leopolditanz, but also one hour of the evening year on the Saturday before 15 November, St Leopold’s with English dancing for all. A small band was put together, Day, a state holiday for Vienna and Lower Austria. The hall TWFHMM are this year’s ceilidh spot, if you like. Each year some dances fixed, and a caller appointed. Members of VTGK is decorated with seasonal garlands and the blue and gold of there is a different interval act, be it dancers from Hungary or were a little nervous how this break with tradition would go Lower Austria. Flanked by armorial banners and, above the formations of unicycling children. We are there to entertain down, how all those immaculate silk dirndls would cope with a band, a giant scroll is hung centre stage with the running order while wine glasses are recharged. We did our bit… gloriously, of lot of sweaty jigging around. For all concerned, they need not of the evening’s dances carefully inscribed one after the other course. But for this the 50th year, it was a bit different… have worried. The dance floor was packed and everyone joined on individually sewn panels. in, patiently and admirably following instructions in English and As for why, let us go back over thirty years: two small groups of dancing wholeheartedly with each other. Guests start to arrive all dressed in Sunday-best Tracht, all people – one English, one Austrian – got together for a short dirndls and lederhosen, which is not such an unusual sight in time, inviting each other into each other’s homes to share in This year, TWFHMM stayed for St Leopold’s Day itself. The German-speaking central Europe. The bar is up and running each other’s appreciation of one’s own music and dance. It was town square was closed off and the streets filled with the and there is a buzz of anticipation. All of a sudden, without any organised as an exchange: there was the implicit agreement tempting smells of freshly cooked pancakes and sausages, stalls great fanfare, couples line up in the four corners of the dance that once one group had hosted those from across the other selling schnapps and the whirring and lights of precarious- floor, the band starts and the opening dance begins. It is a side of the continent, the other would reciprocate and host looking fairground rides and youthful screams of excitement ceremonial march in lines, led without instruction from a caller. their new-found friends the following year. and delight. Together with the crowds, we observed the Hammersmith dancing at Stadtplatz

28 29 fed www.morrisfed.org.uk extraWinter/Spring 2018

Camden Clog Tower Ravens Rapper

Dancing for MAUD We were delighted to have a number of We would like to thank men who came to support the event. These everyone for joining Chloe included our team musicians, two visiting us in celebrating Middleton- A women's day of dance In London musicians from London Pride, a dancer, Maud and female Metcalfe friends, partners, children, bag watchers, performances and very importantly for Belles our Mascot of English traditional celebrating the life of Maud Karpeles – Betley the Wonder Horse. dance and for making a showery autumn Maud Karpeles’ work in folk dance and song collection as well as her contribution as organiser and A very pleasant part of the afternoon day truly special. arts animator supreme has been increasingly recognised and re-evaluated by the folk dance revival. was the socialising between teams as we Still her work is largely over-shadowed by the prestige accorded to Cecil Sharp, under whom she traversed London in not the easiest of The money received through the bucket worked closely as secretary and support for many years. Sunday public transport conditions. collections went to Women’s Aid. half horiz featuring shops may 17_Layout 1 15/05/2017 10:50 Page 1 The Belles of London City decided to take The next dance spot was at Lancaster time dancing in the garden, though sadly New Esperance Morris the opportunity to celebrate Maud’s Gate giving dancers and musicians time couldn’t see the silver birch that was achievements with a day of dance which to wander through Hyde Park. Lancaster planned to be planted in Maud’s honour had a feminist flavour. We invited London Gate, where Maud was born, is in quite an after her death. Finally, we travelled to female-majority teams to join us for a day illustrious part of the city. Despite quiet Holborn to dance at St Sepulchres without of dance which featured dance spots across footfall we had a number of interested Newgate. Known as the musician’s church London with places that were connected to passers-by who wanted to know about this is where Maud’s funeral was held. The since 1976 Maud. Dacre, New Esperance, Camden Clog what we were up to. day chosen for the event also reflected RITAIN S OLK COUSTIC PECIALISTS and Tower Ravens accepted our invitations this, as Maud died on the 1 October 1976. B ’ F & A S and we were therefore able to showcase a Although we didn’t all fit in one busy, wonderful diversity of dance styles. Sunday, single decker bus we did all An unfortunate adjunct to this event has manage to make it to Cecil Sharp House been criticism from those who want to After a pile of bureaucratic paperwork from in Camden, the building that Maud did so know why no men’s teams were invited. the Royal Parks, including risk assessments, much to raise funds for. We had a splendid In common with ritualistic interpretations copies of PLI certificates, four phone of morris dancing common in her time calls promising that no money would we and although Maud was, by accounts, asked for, there would be no audience a beautiful morris dancer, she did participation and the wildlife would consider morris to be a dance form be unharmed, the dancing started more appropriate to male than female at 12 noon outside the imposing public performance. We probably Albert Memorial. could have avoided controversy by having a nice quiet day of dance but Our shops stock all kinds of acoustic & folky It was wonderful to perform in we wanted to make a point. There are Kensington Park, right next to Hyde many days of dance which are men’s musical instruments from Britain and around the world! Park where the first ever International days of dance in everything but name. Our expert staff are always on hand to give you free, friendly advice. Folk Dance Festival, held in 1935, was Importantly emphasis on female- organised by Maud. This festival was to solidarity was important to us. We unintentionally shape folk dancing in wanted to celebrate the diversity of BIRMINGHAM | BRIGHTON | BRISTOL | CANTERBURY England forever, so inspired were the English traditional dance styles done by LEEDS| LONDON | MANCHESTER | SOUTHAMPTON members of the English Folk Dance and female–majority London teams today Song Society (EFDSS) by the Romanian’s and celebrate the history of a lesser dance display, but that is another story. known female dance collector. Buy online www.hobgoblin.com or call 0333 800 9500 The Belles of London City

30 31 fed www.morrisfed.org.uk fed www.morrisfed.org.uk extraWinter/Spring 2018 extraWinter/Spring 2018

Photograph by Julie Williams Photographs by John Heald

CITY CLICKERS Cancelling is not an option Annual Workshop in Bristol Halesworth Day of Dance continues on coldest March day ever!

th We held our 14 day of clog workshops on 21 October 2017 in Bristol. We've organised Julie The huge sigh of relief upon realising that we had escaped The Beast from the East was short lived after this day for so long now that the whole thing runs like clockwork, with members of Williams another severe weather warning. Believing the sun shines on the righteous, Oxblood Molly still held Zoe City Clickers, partners, children, friends and other hangers-on being assigned tasks and hope that there would be a pocket of sunshine over Halesworth for the fourth day of dance. Wadey duties according to skills and availability to keep the whole thing running smoothly. However by Friday morning with a forecast potential onlookers about the change of As in previous years we served This year was as smooth as ever and we from Aberdeen, came the wonderful Cape made the effort. Why? Because it’s great of sub-zero temperatures and heavy winds plan. Of the 24 dance sides expected, 10 tea and delicious cake at the United sent home a group of tired but happy clog Breton dancer, Frank McConnell to lead a meeting up with all our like-minded friends we realised we only had a few hours to braved the foul weather and still made it to Reformed Church and were entertained dancers, full of homemade soup and cakes, class through the intricacies of schottische who are passionate about stepping and plan. By 8am on the day of dance we were Halesworth. by Halesworth Uke3A followed by an clutching dance notation and vowing to and steps, putting them all together clog dancing; because we’re providing the still not sure what was going to happen, evening of ceilidh entertainment with the practise their newly learnt steps at home. into a stepped social dance for the only west-country venue for a workshop however we were determined that the Having only one venue made it easier for Harbour Lights Band and caller Jill Parson showcase finale. day and it also gives us a chance to show show must go on, as after over a year of the local people to watch everything, and at Chinny’s. Other parts of the day ran as This year, we had a beginners' class who off our soup and cake making skills! planning we really didn't want to give up. a great atmosphere prevailed over the planned: beer festival, barbecue and music danced a specially choreographed routine Finally, Vicky Lewis, (ex-Strictly Clog, and dancing which included massed dances, session at the White Swan. devised by Kath Fletcher, one of our founding member of After Dinner Clog), put So this year, we’ll be showing them The whole event which would have joining in dances, mummers plays and team members. Kath did a brilliant job the advanced clog steppers through their off again on Saturday 20 October and included a procession and five outside was announced by the Suffolk Steam Punk It was a great choice of venue and a of devising and teaching the routine - it paces with a set of Lancashire Competition providing a few clog workshops as well. dance spots was moved to the Rifle Hall. Community. fabulous day. Feedback suggested that included all the elements an aspiring clog hornpipe steps devised by Carys Reckless, No more details as yet, but put the date in Stan and the stewards bravely faced the many people actually preferred the dancer needs to get going, and although who won the championship the year that your diary and visit www.city-clickers.org.uk cold to man the car park, direct sides To celebrate St Patrick's Day many sides indoor event. However next year, weather fairly tricky for a beginners' class, they all she performed these. I think the workshop for more information nearer the time. to the hall and walk up and down the also entered into the spirit by wearing permitting, we will be back in the streets of picked it up very well. All thanks to Kath's participants, including thoroughfare telling the shops, cafés and green masks and hats. Halesworth, entertaining the whole town. clear and patient teaching! myself, will have a long way to go to get up to Jane Sheard, an ex and founding member Carys's standard! of City Clickers, travelled up from Cornwall to put her class All in all it was a very through their successful day and paces with although exhausted at the a lovely end of it, we felt that it Welsh was worth the effort. stepping routine. Every year we wonder if From we should run another the other day of workshops, but end of the every year we do, and British Isles, we’re always glad that we

City Clickers at Halsway Manor • Photograph by John Mildenhall

32 33 fed www.morrisfed.org.uk extraWinter/Spring 2018

Winterbourn Down

Claire in Vilanova i-La Geltru Robinson In August 2017, 14 dancers, four musicians and partners, met up in Barcelona International Airport, awaiting by local groups from the balconies of the some of these meant that we don’t have However, we have amazing memories of collection by our hosts from the Agrupació de Balls Populars, an established stick dancing group from Catalonia. town hall building, with refreshments too many photos as we all participated. the weather, a warm sea, the occasion and provided. We all felt as though we Hence there are few pictures of us dancing appreciation of the locals, lost keys and Fifteen years earlier, seven members of and generosity from our hosts who performances and our own contrasting were treated as guests of honour, with the streets and none of our deputy dance late nights in a small and very un-touristy the side had been part of a group of 20 accommodated us, fed and kept us well style of dance and attire. mementos of the occasion presented to all. director taking the lady mayoress in his town. who had made their first visit to Vilanova watered as they accompanied us dancing arms and surprising her with a Hollywood- i-La Geltru as guests of the Balls De Bastion cerca vila (around town), starting in the There were up to 20 dance groups, Making happy memories is said to be one style kiss at an almost 90 degree angle on We’re all up for doing so again, ideally stick dancers for their 25th anniversary. As early evenings in heat of up to 38°C and including us as sole UK representatives, of life's goals although the spontaneity of stage, on day 1. before another 15 years has passed us by! one of few morris sides with a website in 78% humidity. performing simultaneously in the town A5LMorrisXmas_Layout 1 16/09/2016 14:08 Page 1 2002, we’d received an invitation to share square. As one of the main instruments (a stick dancing traditions as their guests. Our first evening began in the town’s main ‘gralla’) used by the Catalans is high pitched, square, where the lady mayoress opened we could barely hear our own musicians KAREN CATER DESIGNS Contact between the two dance groups proceedings and speeches of thanks start up! By contrast, our dances lasted at was maintained throughout this time by a were made in honour of those who had least twice as long as those of the local Spanish/Catalan speaking musician and the helped establish the Catalan group in 1977 groups’ which meant we continued dancing MORRIS CARDS side were delighted to be invited back to and were retiring. They had witnessed when all others had finished and met with FOLKY CARDS share in the 40th anniversary celebration of the development of a successful group, rapturous applause at the end of one of our the Catalan group, as part of a week long supported by local funding, with its own favourite dances Worcester Monkey. CHRISTMAS & YULE CARDS Festa Major. premises and now represented by groups www.hedinghamfair.co.uk of all ages from 6-60+ years, with different There was a feeling of elation as we shared T-SHIRTS There were so many highlights of our few performing styles. We all got a sense of the our repertoire of morris at locations across days there, it’s difficult to know where town’s pride and enthusiasm for a regional the town, ending in front of a church at to begin. We enjoyed such hospitality tradition which had once been banned about 10pm, with no reduction in the CALENDAR OF under crowds or the extent of their appreciation TRADITIONAL CUSTOMS Franco’s rule and interest in where we were from and and now our style of dress. We were all ready for al flourishes. fresco eating back at the agrupacio. BOOKS BOUGHT & SOLD It really was Our second evening of dance started incredible with a carnival style procession. One of MOUNTED PRINTS for us to the most memorable groups performed a experience ‘devil’s dance’ with firecrackers, guns and ENGLISH TUNE-BOOKS crowds of effigies making the scene feel almost war- & TUTORS up to 1000 like, with smoke hanging in still humid air people – quite a scene to witness! GIFTS & JEWELLERY thronging the streets Again, we danced to appreciative crowds, PERFORMANCE; to watch and ending with a memorable Severn Tunnel MUSIC, SONGS and show their as our finale outside the town hall in appreciation the main square. To our amazement, we FOLKLORE TALKS for the local were then invited inside to watch other groups’ groups returning to the square and found By Karen & Colin Cater ourselves ideally positioned to watch the 'people castles and pyramids' being ‘built’ for a free illustrated catalogue; [email protected] 01787 462731

34 35 fed www.morrisfed.org.uk fed www.morrisfed.org.uk extraWinter/Spring 2018 extraWinter/Spring 2018 A Northern Wassail Crook Morris style There may be one or two orchards and made a simple offering to the tree, Anne around these parts but we choose we banged pots and pans loud enough to Hajnrych to encourage a plentiful harvest of drive away evil spirits, we quaffed and ate the local damson trees (damsons all things damson and we danced. being a kind of plum). singing and dancing, with the addition After the first part of the ceremony was of a mumming play and some rappering. Our wassail or ‘waes hael’, the Anglo over we repaired to the Hare and Hounds Fortified by food and drink we continued Saxon greeting meaning ‘be well’, started hostelry at Bowland Bridge and were on…well into the night. at The Row, down the Lyth Valley in the joined by two other sides, Westmorland Simply plumtious! old County of Westmorland at 1:30pm on Step and Garland and Legs Leven, to Furness Clog Dancers' Saturday 13 January 2018. We serenaded continue our celebrations with yet more More info at: www.crookmorris.org.uk Nicky Green Busy Day Grimspound Folk Play Furness Clog Dancers are a small group who meet weekly in Ulverston to have fun keeping Jane alive a range of folk dance styles. Website Nottingham Border Morris Currently, all our dancers are ladies with a Normally we learn dances and practise The Blood Bikes charity bias toward the more mature but we have throughout the year and attend various was launched nationally in Formed in 1992 in Teignmouth, Originally an Relaunch a couple of 'girls’ in their 30s right through days of dance and festivals. In summer we 2012 and consists of local South Devon, and with strong ties to all-male side, The website www.folkplay.info to our matriarch, Josie, who is an amazing also do a series of local evening dance- teams of unpaid volunteer motorbike riders Dartmoor, Grimspound Border are Grimspound, like is dedicated to exploring the 82 years old and still dancing at every outs for the charity we have chosen for who transport blood supplies, pathology well known in south-west for their many others, history and scholarship opportunity. New members are always that year. samples and anything else portable on a uncompromising Border style that suffered from of traditional drama, and Duncan welcome, especially men, if only to make bike (except medical staff or donor organs) celebrates 'maleness'. a declining membership in recent years. In the site has now been Broomhead our two musicians feel less outnumbered! On a bitterly cold Saturday last November, that is urgently needed out of hours by any October 2015 they decided to invite ladies professionally re-designed we decided to do a ‘charity triple whammy’ hospital. Although the style of dancing is Border, to the team and since then have seen a and relaunched. We were founded in the mid 1980s by in Barrow in Furness. they are not from the Welsh/English border steady growth in membership of both men Bruce Wilson who was himself taught by Our first stop was a area, so many of their dances are their own. and women. In recent years they have been Often known as mummers' plays, folk plays cover a range of seasonal the great Norman Robinson. Using Tom photo opportunity Grimspound created the popular massed dance instrumental in the development of the Bovey performances that have been found Flett’s recorded notation we do a range of outside The British Heart Tinners Rabbits - an interpretation of the three Green Man Festival, a Mayday celebration in Britain and Ireland, but also in the old Westmorland and Cumberland clog Foundation charity shop. hares motif, an ancient symbol appearing in including several morris sides, local musicians, Canada, the Caribbean and the stepping routines as well as routines in We presented them with sacred places all over the world including music sessions and food and drink stalls in USA. The website is hosted by the the Lancashire and North-East clog styles. a giant cheque for £480 several churches on Dartmoor. The Tinners Bovey Tracey, Devon. This year’s event is the Traditional Drama Research Group, We also do Border and North-West Morris which was the money we Rabbits dance has been adopted by many biggest so far with 18 morris sides attending. an informal affiliation of informed dances along with dances from the Outer had raised during the year morris sides and has been danced all over the European and North American Hebrides to Cornwall via the Isle of Man. in memory of our much world including Canada and Australia. Grimspound continue to dance out at local scholars and practitioners. loved musician, John events, wassails and folk festivals, including Hazlehurst who we had In July 2018 Tinners Rabbits will be danced Teignmouth, Wessex and Bridport in 2018. On the new-look website, there is an lost suddenly to heart by at least 145 dancers at the Potty Festival, authoritative essay on the mummers' play; a selection of resources to help disease. Being Children in Sheringham, Norfolk in an attempt to break the Visit Facebook @grimspoundbordermorris, Meeting with John Walker, North West Blood Bikes Lancs and Lakes researchers and others discover more Need weekend, we then current Guinness World Record, which was set www.grimspoundbordermorris.org, or email about the plays; some texts and donned furry-ear headbands and danced John gave us our collecting boxes and in 2015 also using Tinners Rabbits. [email protected] performance contexts; where and briskly for 30 minutes to raise money for information leaflets and we have already how to access the major collections Pudsey Bear and stop ourselves freezing raised well over £100 for The Blood Bikes of information; the full run of the to death. Next stop was the market café before our summer dance-out sessions. former newsletter Roomer; a gallery for a welcome cuppa and a meeting with of photographs including the John Walker, the Deputy Northern Area Overall, we had a grand day out and widest selection of photographs of Manager for North West Blood Bikes Lancs managed to help several groups into the Hampshire Mummers ever available; a and Lakes, our new chosen charity for bargain - we were nobbut chuffed wi’ bibliography; papers from a range of 2017/18. ourselves! conferences; and scanned booklets of Dancing for Children in Need references to the play.

36 37 fed www.morrisfed.org.uk fed www.morrisfed.org.uk extraWinter/Spring 2018 extraWinter/Spring 2018 diary dates 2018 Paul White's Part 2 DIARY 4-10 August 22 September The birth of a brand-new morris side – Sidmouth Folk Week The Morris Federation AGM Incorporating John Gasson Competition Hosted by New Esperance Morris, not such a common story www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk Cecil Sharp House, London weren’t given much hope. round for a cup of tea and said pints. They had been talking We weren’t very hopeful he used to play the recorder about entertainment for their 18-24 August 12-14 October ourselves. 30 years ago and he would be forthcoming wedding. Try Whitby Folk Week Fools and Beasts Unconvention he Methodist willing to give the music a go as morris dancing we said. And Incorporating Cliff Barstow Jig Competition Parish Rooms, Highnam Community Centre, chapel in our village It was mentioned at bell ringing long as he didn’t have to wear a so they did. But they were the www.whitbyfolk.co.uk Highnam, Gloucestershire, GL2 8DG closed down. The practice and up spake Kim, hat. He was in. second couple to fall by the www.foolsandbeasts.org.uk congregation was an experienced North West wayside. 15-16 September Tdown to seven. Most of them Clog dancer. She signed up Now he has bought a new Lancashire & Cheshire Clog Dance 20 October were driven in from outlying immediately. wooden recorder - “that plastic The couple at the next table - Competitions City Clickers Clog Dance Workshop Day villages and the average age rubbish doesn’t sound right” - total strangers - were listening Pendle Heritage Centre, Barrowford Horfield, Bristol was greater than that of most An article in the parish and he is one third of the band. in. They run a camp site just www.clogcomp.org.uk www.city-clickers.org.uk morris dancers. It was doomed. newsletter (through 1,600 He is already well to grips with down the road. Another pair letterboxes) brought one The Curly Headed Ploughboy. of morris virgins. David and Fear and rumours spread response, Suzanne were absolutely Know of an event that could be featured here? around the cottages and from Trish. besotted with the notion. Send details to [email protected] terraces. Would it be turned And now they can't get The Morris Federation is not responsible for events organised by external organisations into flats? A posh outsider was Fellow dog enough of it. eyeing it up for conversion to a walkers rather large weekend cottage. Caroline, Former ballet dancer Maybe it would just lie empty Peter and Melanie is a natural and and gradually deteriorate. A Jennie were has dragged her man group of determined villagers cajoled. David along. A worried thought differently. It will sceptic on walking through become a village hall, they Peter and the door for the first time. cried. And lo! It hath happened. Jennie came Now a total convert. Whittlesey along and Through loans, grants and many had a great Lynda has joined our a pasty and bingo evening, the time. But ranks, as has Penny. substantial amount of money post-practice Straw needed to buy the hall and aches and And suddenly, we have adjoined schoolhouse, to effect pains (old Members of Common Morris celebrating their decision to join small but workable repairs and make improvements injuries The Morris Federation! number of dancers all Bear was raised. It needed a lot of flaring up) tasked with the notion dosh. Well done them! ruled out further participation. Richard over the road has had of recruiting more. Our aim a list of medical problems, from is to start off dancing border, 2018 Now to get the villagers making Caroline came then went and which he is recovering and has with dances from the other use of their brand new, very now she is back again. decided to try morris as part traditions becoming part of the Photographs by Barry Honeysett spacious village hall. They of the rehab programme. It’s a repertoire as things progress. would be queuing at the doors Kim’s mate Jan got in touch, good enough reason for me. With so many morris virgins in with ideas and plans. Or would then her mate Maggie wanted the pack it is difficult to predict they? Well, not really. The pasty in. Jan has since dropped Then we went to the pub how this experiment will go. and bingo nights continued. A out but Maggie has proved a and the first couple we saw But so far so good. The village Zumba class began. And that stalwart. started petting Harry, our dog. is Common Moor. And we are was about it. That got us talking and we sat Common Morris. Watch this Our mate Jimmy, melodeonist down next to them with our space... So guess what? The inevitable and all-round keen person, was happened. We’ll start a brand ready and willing to help out in Journalist, editor, ukulele player, and singer, Paul White has been new morris side! We’ve got the the music department. dancing the morris since the year 2000. He is a founding member of hall, we’ve got the musician, both Wreckers and Cat's Eye in Cornwall, helped form Couptrain Morris we’ve got the foreman, and Michael next door said no. “I’ve (France) and Turncoat, and has also danced with Lodestone. Paul can sticks we can source. Now all seen morris dancers and I don’t occasionally be found in Europe introducing fellow campers to the we needed was people. And we want to do it.” Then he came joys of morris, using baguettes, umbrellas, or tent poles for sticks. contact: [email protected] twitter: @morrisbells or Facebook

38 39 Festival of Morris 20th - 22nd September 2018

A weekend celebrating the living tradition of Morris dancing in the heart of the country’s vibrant capital.

Celebrate Morris London is Open! Bring your camera Find our programme All Morris Federation Saturday’s Dance Tour inside which details members are warmly includes sights such as: our celebrations of the invited to this event, which The London Eye broad living tradition includes the 2018 Morris Trafalgar Square of Morris - including Federation AGM. The Golden Hind tours, workshops, talks, Dance, play, sing, and Shakespeare’s Globe ceilidhs, music sessions, celebrate Morris in the Big Ben shows, performances, dynamic city of London, Tower Bridge exhibitions, and access and come showcase your Millennium Bridge to Cecil Sharp House. talent to audiences from Tate Modern Come celebrate with us! around the world. St Paul’s Cathedral Details inside or on our website: http://bit.do/FedAGM2018