Last Updated 7th February 2001
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Death of Alec Hunter- First Squire of the Morris Ring- January 10th 1958
The news of Alec’s death in Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge on Friday January 10th 1958 came as great shock to the club representatives at their annual meeting at Cecil Sharp House the following day. The Squire (Bill Cassie) and Douglas Kennedy each spoke briefly of Alec, and the meeting stood for a few moments in silent tribute to his memory.
Members of the Thaxted Morris men stood vigil at the coffin in Thaxted Church throughout Sunday night. The funeral on Monday was conducted by Father Jack, and the Morris Ring was represented by the first Bagman (Walter Abson), two past Squires (Douglas Kennedy and Arthur Peck) and the present Barman.
On Saturday afternoon, February 1st, an impressive Memorial Service was held at Holy Trinity, Hoxton. This was conducted by the Rev. Kenneth Loveless and attended by a large number of Morris dancers & other friends of Alec. The catafalque was covered with a cloth woven by Alec himself (which had
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also draped the coffin at the funeral) & on it were placed his dancing clothes with drum & drum-sticks, Squire’s hat, staff & tankard. Morris tunes were played on the organ before & after the service, the hymns sung were from the English Hymnal (nos. 352, 356, 358, 360 & 402), and musically the occasion was crowned by a most moving performance by the Imogen Holst Singers of the medieval carol, "Tomorrow shall be my Dancing Day", in the arrangement by Gustav Holst.
[Signed]
Bill Cassie
6/IX/58
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