Last Updated 4th February 2001
[p18]
Meeting at Lichfield 2nd- 4th September 1955
The fifty-first meeting of the Morris Ring was held at Lichfield on the weekend September 2nd-4th 1955 at the invitation of the Men of Mercia Morris Club, and was attended by approximately 130 dancers. The following 20 clubs were represented: - Beaux of London City, Coventry, Derwent Valley, Jockey, Kings Collage N/C, London Rodney, Men of Mercia, Newcastle, Ravensbourn, Roding Valley, Rugby St. Albans, Stockton, Thaxted, Westminster; also Burton-on-Trent, Farnborough (Hants), The foresters from Nottingham, The Knaves from Bertelin from Stafford and Standon (Herts)
The meeting began with a buffet supper and Morris Ale in the marquees in Beacon Park, which formed the headquarters for the meeting. The marquees that had been supplied by the corporation were fitted up with electric light and modern conveniences nearby. During the evening instruction was given in two of the recently recovered Lichfield dances- the Processional and the Ring o’Bells. At 10pm in the presents of an Arm of the Law the well stocked bar closed down.
Saturday morning was fine and soon after 10 a.m. the following tours set out: -1. Beaux of London City, Roding Valley, & the Knaves of Bertalin to Four Oaks, Sutton, Castle
[p19 - Souvenir Programme - Lichfield Ring Meeting]
[p20]
Bromwich, Water Orton, & Kingsbury.
2. London Rodney, Men of Mercia, Ravensbourn & the Foresters to Burtwood, Chasetown, Brownshills & Aldridge
3. Coventry, Stockton & Thaxted to Rugeley, Colton, Abbots Bromley, Hill Ridware & Armitage.
4. Rugby, ‘Jockey & the Boarder Morris to Alrewas, Burton-on-Trent, Barton-under- Needwood & Rugeley.
5. Bedford, Burton-on-Trent, Derwent Valley, Jockey, King’s Collage N/C, Newcastle & St. Albans to Hammerwich, Hednesford, Penkridge & Milford.
The day was warm at 4p.m. all tours retuned to St. Matthews Hospital, Burntwood, for tea. One tour reported that whilst the police were quite willing for the men to collect they had never heard they were to dance and were taken aback – a case of every money in a welfare state it was supposed! After tea there was, according to the printed programme, ‘Massed dancing for patients’. At 6 o’clock all the men assembled at Beacon Park, Lichfield, where under the Squire’s direction there was massed dancing and displays by the various teams, stimulated by the resident midges.
The Feast took place in St. Michael’s Hall. The Guests were the Mayor of Lichfield
[p21 - blank]
[p22]
(Councillor Gill), the Sheriff of Lichfield (councillor Wilson), Police Superintendent Smith, and Mr. James Fowell & other members of the Abbots Bromley Horn Dancers. The loyal toast was given by the Squire & the toast of the Immortal Memory of Cecil Sharp was drunk in silence. Bill Cassie then proposed the toast of the Morris Ring. He said it had been a magnificent year for the Morris and ventured to suggest that the fine weather could be attributed to the Morris Ring. He stressed that the necessity for the informality of our occasion and the importance of the loyalty to our Squire. He felt at the same time, that the Morris was becoming part of the cultural life of the country and suggested the we should also make our traditions known abroad. He expressed that all traditional teams should be members of the Ring and hoped that future international gatherings at Llangollen would be flooded with Morris teams competing for dancing honours. The Squire responded for the Ring, thanking the proposer for his many suggestions, & adding a plea for a greater interest in our northern dances. He welcomed the Abbots Bromley Horn Dancers to the Feast, thanked George Mauning for his services in connection with the meeting & mentioned that apologies for absence had been received from the Bagman (Russell Wortley), Kenworthy Schofield & Arthur
[p23 - Order of Service, Morris Ring Festival Service - Lichfield Cathedral]
[p24]
Peck. So far only the Abingdon meeting had been fined as an autumn meeting for next year & he urged the Midland & Northern clubs to start thinking. The Squire then spoke of the impotents of club traditions, both those that grow imperceptibly by custom or use and such special events as annual feasts and Ales. He concluded by reading a newspaper cutting giving Australian comments on the Morris. Frederick Hamer the proposed the toast of the City of Lichfield & the Men of Mercia. He thanked the Mayor& corporation for erecting a home for the men during the meeting, and he thanked the Men of Mercia for putting into our repertoire a fresh series of dances and for the trouble they had taken for organising the meeting. The Mayor responded humorously on behalf of the City & spoke of the Bower Ceremony & the Sheriff’s Ride. Jack Brown also responded for the host club & expressed a welcome to all Morris Men attending the meeting. The Feast came to an end with songs, including an effort from the Sheriff, and the men dispersed, some to continue dancing to the early hours.
The men assembled at 10 o’clock on Sunday morning on the Market Square & the Lichfield Processional was danced on the way to the Cathedral. At the service an appropriate address was given by the rev. J.C. Cox, M.A., Prebendary of Dassett Parva, the first lesson was read
[p25]
by Alec Hunter and the second lesson by the Squire. After the service there was massed dancing and displays in the beautiful setting of the Cathedral Close & in the lovely summer sunshine.
The meting was concluded with lunch in the marquee.
[Signed]
Donald Cassels
Archive Homepage|Traditions Page|Author Page|Publications Page|Access/Charging