The Adderbury Village Morris dancing tradition goes back a long way, but probably not as far back as market days held in the beautiful small market square at Kineton in Warwickshire. The stallholders and customers watched with smiles on their faces as our dancing brought joy to the busy Saturday market day. So popular was our audience participation version of shepherd’s hey that the younger onlookers asked us to do it twice! It is our hope that this experience will encourage young people to be aware of, and become involved in dancing within their own communities. As I danced opposite a grinning young girl who, whilst struggling to keep up with the dance moves and clapping was clearly enjoying herself enormously, I thought once more of the phrase (attributed at different times through history to Thomas More, Gustav Mahler and even latterly Princess Caroline of Monaco): “Tradition is not the worshipping of ashes, but the handing on of the fire”.

For centuries, rural communities like Kineton would have had their own musicians, playing a variety of instruments to accompany the celebrations and events marking the seasons of the year and in, the bright May sunshine on Saturday, our Morris dances were splendidly accompanied by melodeon, hurdy-gurdy, English bagpipes and whistle. So we, the current 2025 side, are proactively ‘handing on the fire’, to our eight enthusiastic younger dancers, aged between 9-18 years, and also some older newcomers too, all of whom are grasping the torch with great enthusiasm.

Our thanks to the organisers, Kineton Farmers’ Market for the invitation to dance and all who came, watched and danced with us!

David Snell