Last Updated 7th February 2001
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Meeting at Thaxted 30 May-1 June 1958The sixty-third meeting of the Morris Ring and the twenty-fifth annual gathering of Morris Men at Thaxted was held on the week-end May 30th-June 1st 1958.
Inauspicious rain on Friday afternoon was effectively dispersed by the arrival of the men at Thaxted and, apart from a brief few showers, the weather remained fine for the week-end.
The programme followed the familiar yet evergreen Thaxted pattern. There was supper at the Church Hall, & dancing at Bolford Street from 8.30 until 10p.m. Most of the men were accommodated as usual with generous Thaxted hosts and the vicarage garden was well filled with campers.
After breakfast in the Church Hall on Saturday morning the company sorted themselves into six tours, each with two Thaxted men as co-ordinating foremen and collector. This proved to be a successful innovation, as were also the packed lunches supplied by the caterer. The tours left Thaxted at 10 o’clock: -
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Tour 1: Greensleeves, Morley College & Leicester danced at Stebbing, Lindsell, Gt. Easton, Duton Hill & during the afternoon in the environs of Thaxted.
Tour 2: Bedford, Offley, London Pride & Standon danced at Henham, Molehill Green, Hatfield Broad Oak, Hatfield Heath & Bishop’s Stortford.
Tour 3: Colchester, East Surry & Foresters danced at Castle Hedingham, Halstead, Bocking & Braintree.
Tour 4: Benfleet Hoymen, Westminster & Winchester danced at Debden, Widdington, Wicken Bonhunt, Arkesden, Saffron Walden.
Tour 5: Cambridge, Oxford White Horse & Woodside danced at Lt. Bardfield, Gt. Bardfield, Finchingfield, Gt. Saling, Dunmow & Dunmow Church End.
Tour 6: Ipswich, Ravensbourn, Roding Valley & St. Albans danced at Gt. Sampford, Hempstead, Helion’s Bumpstead, Ashdon & Saffron Walden (including St. James’s Hospital)
So far as the Bagman is aware all the tours were carried through with success. The visit to Saffron Walden coincided with
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the last day of the town’s Festival Week. The Squire of the Ring who was unable to get to Thaxted until Saturday joined tour 1 for the morning & tour 5 for the afternoon.
Tea was at the Church Hall at 4.30 after which the men assembled in the Swan Yard. Each tour danced down the hill as a separate procession to the Guildhall where the usual large crowd of spectators awaited the main show of the week-end. Among the twenty or more team displays the Thaxted Morris Men themselves made a most effective contribution with a double side of 12 dancers in Princess Royal (Abingdon). The Squire was hard put to give every team its tern within the allotted hour and a half.
A total of 189 men attended the Feast, which was held in the Bolford Street Hall with an overflow of 75 men in the Church Hall. An excellent meal was enjoyed, and after the formal toasts the Squire expressed the gratitude of us all to the Thaxted Morris Men & particularly to Farther Jack. Before the toast of Thaxted Morris was drunk all stood in silence for
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a few moments in memory of Alec Hunter who was so greatly missed, especially here in Thaxted. Replying to the toast Fr. Jack said Thaxted was glad to welcome the dancers year after year but he emphasised the inportance of all the men carrying out the instruction in regard to accommodation, particularly writing to confirm individual bookings. He also expressed our thanks to Mr. Luff for his excellent management of the catering. The toast of the Morris Ring was proposed by Lionel Bacon in a brief and appropriate speech and the Squire in his reply touched on the question of days of instruction & a possibility of a week-end for club instructors. Wallie Newall had sent his best wishes to the meeting in a letter written from hospital; there was also a message of apology & greetings from Douglas Kennedy.
The Squire then called on the squire of the Offley Morris Men to step up and receive his club’s staff of association in the Ring. At 9.30 the Squire, Fr. Jack & the Bagman went over to the Church Hall where Kenworthy Schofield, who was presiding, forthwith proposed the toast of Thaxted Morris
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and Fr. Jack again replied. Kenworthy then handed over to the Squire who repeated the remarks he made at Bolford Street.
At 10 o’clock the men dispersed to dance, some under the floodlight by the Guild Hall, others at the Star and yet others, it is believed, as far away as the Fox & Hounds. The usual extension of licensing hours had been granted & full advantage was taken of this.
On Sunday morning breakfast was at 8.45 and a meeting of Club Representatives followed at 9.30 in the British Legion Hut. The Church service was at 10.45 included not only the usual procession but also the performance of a Morris dance (Shepherd’s Hay-Fieldtown) in the crossing by one of the club teams. After the service there was dancing in the inn yards. Lunch in the Church Hall was followed by a Country Dance Party on the Vicarage lawn, during which several Morris teams gave displays. Tea at the Church Hall concluded one of the most successful & enjoyable Thaxted week-ends.
R Kenworthy Schofield
30th May 1959
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