Last Updated 3rd March 2001
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The 77th meeting of the Morris Ring, at Cecil Sharp House, N.W.1, on Saturday the 22nd of April, 1961, was attended by 121 men; the maximum number at any one time appearing to be little over a hundred.
The intention of the Squire was to have practised the hand and foot movements of several of the traditions danced by clubs; to have some time spent on jigs; to have a musicians session; and to have the Sherborne dances taught by Russell Wortley. These things were done.
At 10.15 a.m. the Bagman and the beer arrived; at 10.30 others came in. At 11.15 three sides danced Bampton Maid of the Mill; then straightaway the Quaker. At 11.20, and five sets Swaggering with Boney, the Squire arrived; and, keeping the men on the floor of the big hall, polished up the Corsican’s hand movements forthwith. At 11.35 75 men were gallying more or less correctly; by midday, in two facing lines the length of the hall, the Nutting Girl was practised; and at 12.15 a near hundred men danced Banks of the Dee as instructed.
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Men went out of Cecil Sharp House to find lunch. The usual dancing occurred at the York and Albany; and the Ring acknowledges, to the men concerned, the resulting bag of 17s. 2d.
Jockey to the Fair was danced at 2.25 p.m. Then Russell Wortley, emphasising "togetherness" in the dance, each man being conscious of the other five, began a long instruction in the Sherborne tradition. Men worked hard at old Woman Tossed Up, Orange in Bloom, Trunkles, and Go and Enlist, among others; for all of which Russell had provided cyclostyled notes and music.
At 3.40 the Squire and twelve players went to Trefusis for a musicians session. They discussed playing together; the need for adequate arrangements between the musician and the dance foreman before a display; and a need to select a leader before a massed show.
All men went to tea in Trefusis at 4.30. At 5.30 they danced Getting Upstairs, Sherborne Blue-Eyed Stranger, Sherborne Trunkles, Banks of the Dee, Bobby and Joan; and the Fieldtown Rose with galleys in the heys.
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The Ale began at 6.45 p.m. Here were danced with immense sprit, and a total consumption of 78 pints of beer and most of 36 pints of cider, these dances: -
Adderbury Black Joke; Dearest Dicky; Queens Delight; Fieldtown Leapfrog; Young Collins, Bled.; Lads a Bunchum, Add.; Trunkles, Bled.; Shepherd’s Hey, Ilmington; Jockey to the Fair by S.W. Essex; Lads a Bunchum, Brackley; Shepherd’s Hey, Fieldtown; and Shepherd’s Hey, Adderbury; Go and Enlist by Russell Wortley and Anthony Haywood; Old Woman Tossed Up, Fieldtown; Laudnum Bunches; Monks March; Webley; Brighton Camp; and the Fool’s Jig by the Squire, using his Staff of Office. Songs were sung.
By 9.15 the 70 men who had begun this Ale had dwindled to 16 dancers and 4 musicians; therefore the Squire called for Bonny Green Garters; and the men having danced this, washed all the glasses and straightened all the tables, and departed from Cecil Sharp House.
To the staff of the E.F.D.S.S., not forgetting the catering ladies who supplied
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the refreshments, the Morris Ring declares its deep feeling of gratitude, for their immense help towards the enjoyment of the day.
These clubs were represented: -
Abingdon; Arun M.M. (Christ’s Hospital); Benfleet Hoymen (full side); Cambridge (full side); Chanctonbury Ring; Colchester (full side); Coventry; East Kent (full side); Greensleeves (full side); Headington Quarry; Heston Boys; Kennet; Letchworth; London Rodney; Martlet; Morley College; North Downs (full side); Offley (full side); Oxford (full side); Rumford (full side); S.W. Essex (two full sides); Thames Valley (full side); Thaxted; Woodside (full side); 24 clubs in all.
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