The Adderbury Day of Dance is always a special day in the calendar, but this year was particularly notable. Both the Men’s sides in the village, Adderbury Village Morris Men and Adderbury Morris Men, were celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first Day of Dance which featured both these revival sides. But, in addition, our excellent Women’s side, Sharp and Blunt were honouring the 15th anniversary of their formation. To mark the occasion of the Golden Anniversary, AVMM sported Gold Ribbons around their hats in addition to their usual garb.
Our day started as is traditional, at 10.30 in the churchyard, where a large group of us took part in a ceremony in which we pay our respects to Charlie Coleman, who was the last surviving member of the Adderbury lads who are shown in an old photo of Empire Day from 1908 and who passed on his memories of the pre World War 1 side to Bryan Sheppard and Jim Plester, who were instrumental in researching and forming the revival side of the seventies. Chris Garrett read the poem, “Adderbury Sunrise” and Donald McCombie led us in a rendition of his song which is sung every year on this occasion with a final verse specially written for this our 50th Anniversary year. Jim Plester concluded the ceremony by pouring a foaming tankard of Hooky Bitter over Charlie Coleman’s grave. This was kindly supplied by Rhys Owens, Landlord of The Bell. It was fitting that the first drink of the day should go to Charlie, and Jim thanked him for playing his part in keeping our unique tradition alive. This was witnessed by Charlie’s nephew who always tries to follow AVMM on these occasions.
Church Lane was then filled with three sets of over 20 dancers performing traditional dances from our usual repertoire. Once all our dancers and musicians were nicely warmed up, we moved to the Old Vicarage for a photo opportunity and then a visit to Janet Blunt’s plot in the graveyard, where we showed our appreciation for the notes and details of Adderbury songs and dances which she recorded and which now reside in Cecil Sharp House and which were so helpful to those pioneers of the revival side already mentioned.
Our meandering progress through the village then took us to Streams, by the Adderbury playing field, for more dances featuring two or three sets of six and up to five musicians, and then on to Colin Butler Green. The Handkerchief Tree there, which was planted in Bryan Sheppard’s memory, is an important stop on our travels on the Day of Dance. After honouring our Fool Emeritus by dancing Postman’s Knock, Buffoon and Happy Man. Dave Reed and Bob Southern gave emotional speeches about their memories of Bryan and the early years of our side. And so our progress through the village continued in the time honoured manner with stops to dance at Rose Cottage, former residence of Charlie Coleman, The Red Lion and then The Coach and Horses. As the day progressed the temperature increased and so inevitably did our thirsts. But the quality of dancing remained high throughout the day, despite the aching joints of some of our older dancers or the relative lack of experience of the younger members of the side. As six of Saturday’s dancers are still schoolboys, there was general agreement that the future of the side can be viewed with a degree of optimism. Many older Morris aficionados were impressed by the quality and maturity of these young dancers, especially when they were told that for three lads, it was their first Day of Dance.
Having danced and taken lunch at The Coach, as well as enjoying the visits of the Hook Norton Brewery Shire Horses and a 1909 Traction engine and various other entertainments on and around the village green, we eventually moved on to our final destination of the day, The Bell. Here the crowds were even larger and more enthusiastic. Much amusement was derived from the attempts of our dancers to entertain the crowds with our famous Drinking Jig. Our hosts, Rhys and Michelle, who are doing such a great job in the pub, sportingly provided the beer and soft drinks arranged across the street, and joined in the dance, downing their pints seconds ahead of one experienced dancer, who ruefully poured the remnants of his glass over his head in recognition that he had met his match.
One unusual feature of this Day of Dance was the decision to invite six selected guest sides with whom the local sides have a particular affinity. AVMM’s guests, Shakespeare and Moulton, who had earlier danced at various pubs around the village, finally joined us at The Bell and provided the crowd with yet more high quality Morris entertainment and also gave the weary local sides a bit of respite. It is always a joy to share the company of such sides and to witness a range of dances, styles, tunes and traditions. Shakespeare’s intricate Heys caught the eye and a trio of younger Moulton dancers’ spectacular jigs and capers drew gasps of admiration from the crowd. While their leader, Barry Care, as ever, entertained with his antics and his encyclopaedic knowledge of Morris. Possibly only our own Dorset Dave could give him a run for his money!
After about eight hours of dancing it was time to say our farewells and to head home for some rest. It was a fabulous day much enjoyed by all. Particular highlights for AVMM would include a 22 man Brighton Camp, a rare eight man Jockey to the Fair, quadruple double Jig, if that makes sense and of course the Drinking Jig, not to mention Happy Man and Postman’s Knock and performing Come Landlord Fill the Flowing Bowl inside The Coach. It’s amazing how 14 AVMM dancers wielding sticks can create space in a crowded pub. But we will all have special memories of a lovely day out. It was particularly good to share the day with many older members of the side, some of whom can rarely join us these days. We hope young and old can continue to come along to future Days of Dance for many years yet. Particular thanks must go to our excellent musicians, but above all to our Squire, Ryan, who did a brilliant job throughout the day in marshalling his troops and ensuring that standards remained high and that we danced every dance from the AVMM repertoire at least once. Thanks to Laura and all the lovely members of Sharp and Blunt who helped with the planning of this day of Dance and who helped us move road closure signs and complete other unseen tasks which ensured the day ran smoothly. Last but least, our grateful thanks to the many people, organisations and businesses who helped to ensure that the day was so enjoyable.
John Ekers & Ryan Jamniuk