Squire John Ekers writes:

On a showery Saturday in September, 17 members of the side assembled from seven counties to pay tribute to two stalwarts of Adderbury Morris from different eras. After a moving ceremony to commemorate the centenary of George Robins’ death described previously by Dave Reed, we met at The Black Boy to celebrate our Treasurer and long-term supporter, Chris Garrett’s birthday. It was a great pleasure to mark the dancing debuts of two new members of the side, Troy and Dylan. The latter is John’s grandson; aged six, he has a great dancing career ahead of him. Dylan’s presence meant that Alfie Newman, Chris G’s grandson, who also danced splendidly, is no longer the youngest member of this side. Both of our latest recruits acquitted themselves very well dancing with great enthusiasm and allowing us to field two sets for most of the dances. The occasional showers which created natural breaks between sets of dances enabled those present to enjoy the opportunity to chat to friends, old and new, and feast on chips generously supplied by Chris. It was particularly good to meet up with Robin Wilkinson, the oldest member present, who travelled from Norfolk via Surrey to attend. It was also great to welcome back Bob Southern, fit again after injury and our old friend Nick Duxbury, who made a guest appearance on Brighton Camp before he embarks on a year of extensive travelling.

Thank you to all dancers, musicians, friends and family who made this a most enjoyable and memorable day of dancing.

The Battle of Ypres, 31 July – 10 November 1917

Often known as the Third Battle of Ypres or Passchendaele, the offensive began with encouraging gains but terrible summer weather soon bogged it down. By August the offensive was clearly failing in its objectives and had descended into attritional fighting. New techniques by both sides led to agonisingly slow forward movement for the British at enormous cost in casualties to both sides. Bad weather in October led to the battlefield becoming an impossible quagmire.

The AVMM memorial ceremony to honour George Robins, a former Adderbury Morris dancer, was held on Saturday 9th September at 10:30 am. Private Edward George Robins (1st/6th Battalion, the Gloucestershire Regiment, 144 Brigade, 48th Division, Army no. 267404) died from his wounds on 9 September 1917 aged 23 – he has no known grave. His regiment had been fighting at Ypres. The son of Frank and Rose Robins  he was born in Twyford and is remembered on panel 72 to 75 of the Tyne Cot Memorial.

St Mary’s Church bell-ringers rang a Quarter Peal at 10 o’clock, so we met at the lych-gate in Morris kit while this was still in progress. We gathered in the churchyard to plant a poppy cross in the Garden of Remembrance to the accompaniment of the eight half-muffled bells. Moving into church, we then performed a modified repeat of the ceremony we held at Tyne Cot. The proceedings were led by Jim Plester, using Bryan Sheppard’s text from 2008. David Reed read the poem Dulce Et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen. The wreath provided by Edd Frost & Daughters was laid by Chris Garrett below the war memorial in the South wall, followed by a pause for silent remembrance. John Ekers read the poem Prelude by Robert William Service. The ceremony concluded with a celebration of the return of the Morris to the village through the efforts of Bryan Sheppard and Jim Plester among others, by us all singing The Happy Man. Six men then danced Shepherd’s Hey in the church aisle. This was preceded by the music once through on the instrument of the trenches, the harmonica played by David Reed. The main musicians were Jim Plester and Malcolm Wood. Men present were Troy Daniels, John Ekers (Squire), Christopher Garrett, Ryan Jamniuk, James Plester, David Reed, David Snell, Richard Teare and Malcolm Wood.

Afterwards we danced Beaux of London City, Black Joke and Lads a’Bunchum, outside the library in Mill Lane.

Report by David Reed, former Squire, AVMM