On Saturday 16 May, we attended the Moulton Village Festival at the invitation of Simon Care of the Moulton Morris Men. We arrived at the Artichoke pub with dancing already in full swing. Alongside Moulton Morris Men, were Chelmsford Morris, Thaxted Morris Men, Belle D’Vain Northwest Morris, and the Belles of London City who showed off their unique styles of dancing in turn and turnabout. 

After everyone had performed, the May Cart procession began with Morris dancers taking the reins and pulling the cart through the streets of Moulton to the familiar tune of Brighton Camp. At the top of the village, the turn and turnabout continued with our side performing a vigorous version of Constant Billy and, with the help of Pete Jordan, I broke a stick for the first time in my Morris career, and I couldn’t have chosen better place to do it!

Alfie Jordan joined me and the rest of our group in pulling the May Cart down to the Telegraph pub, where Moulton Morris Men performed their version of ‘Lads a buncham’, we then danced ‘Old woman tossed up in a blanket’ followed by a well-deserved lunch break. After that we assembled for the Carnival parade through the village, in which the May Cart once again featured. Cheering crowds lined the streets as we walked with an orchestra of musicians leading the way. At times, the Morris dancers pulling the cart would lift it above their heads to show off the beautifully decorated arches of flowers and foliage. It was a truly unique experience and a great deal of fun to be a part of. 

Each side went to dance in different parts of the village, and we found ourselves back at the Artichoke with Belle D’Vain and the Belles of London City. We performed turn and turnabout until one of the Belles of London City asked to dance our version of Shooting. Matt volunteered to don Percy and be shot at the end of what was a brilliant and enjoyable dance. 

I’d never understood until seeing other sides perform our dances how wide spread our tradition is, and it reminded me that it’s an honour to be part of preserving it. With so many sides there, it only seemed appropriate to invite them to perform a Shepherd’s Hey jig, with members of Belle D’Vain, Thaxted, and the Belles of London City joining us. We then made our way to the public gardens for the final performances of the day. Here, we performed Brighton camp’ and the lyric: “and let it be wet and windy” was apt considering the heavens had started to open!

Thank you to Simon and Barry Care, Moulton Morris Men and all the participating teams for being so welcoming and friendly, it was a joy to joy in all the fun! It was also a wonderful opportunity to see teams that reflect a wide range of dance traditions, and we’ll aim to be back again next year. 

Ryan

Another great morning’s dancing at The Kineton Farmers’ Market, this time not only celebrating May, but also our dancer Raf’s 70th birthday. Happy Birthday Raf. What better way to ward off the passing decades than dancing with Adderbury Village Morris in this lovely location.

Two hours of our usual sensational dancing in the sunshine, left the locals delighted. There was a brilliant mass Shepherd’s Hey which narrowly avoided Penny Varley’s Pottery stall on the  ‘foot down’….that could have been an expensive way to get her husband Rob involved in Morris dancing.!!!

Raf danced like the young man that he is, proving that Morris dancing is the key to a long, happy and a very fit life. Along with great dancing, there was terrific drumming from Alfie,  some great international Morris ‘horse’ activity, precise ‘Shooting’ and a unique six man Jockey to the Fair. With our Cavalry, ‘guns’ and drums it is hardly surprising that we were reminded that we danced a short distance from the Battlefield of Edgehill. (1642) Thankfully our guns, drums and cavalry brought a message of peace, joy  and dance to Kineton.

Thanks to all for a great event.

Donald

PS Safe travels to our dancer Theo on his European adventure. 😎

Our third May dance out in as many days, found us in the picturesque South Warwickshire Village of Preston on Stour. This was a wonderful, traditional May Day in the very best of senses.

We danced The May Queen elect, all the way from The Village Hall to The Village Green and on to her throne where she received her floral crown. Surrounded by her handmaidens, flag bearers, Adderbury Village Morris Dancers and assembled villagers, she became The Queen of the May as the crowd cheered, applauded and cried ‘all hail The Queen of the May.’ That was when the May revels began…

The Preston on Stour May Song was sung to our tune ‘The Landlord’. We danced a selection of Adderbury Village Morris Dances by the massive Maypole. We coaxed the villagers to join us in Shepherd’s Hey. Games and races were organised for the children. We drank tea and ate lots of cake. We had our photographs taken and then danced again, finishing with another mass Shepherd’s Hey and of course Brighton Camp.

Then the tug o war. Preston v The Rest of the World….again.

What a wonderful afternoon. Thankyou Preston on Stour, see you next year. ‘All hail the Queen of the May’.

Donald

As AVMM seem to be called upon to perform at an increasing number of village fetes about this time of year, I got to thinking how all these peculiarly English festivals seem to have certain factors in common: sunshine perhaps, ice creams and marquees and gazebos abound. However, all fetes are of differing sizes and reflect the local communities whose hard work make such events happen. This was the first time our side had danced at Finmere. We found ourselves in a pleasant green space with views of the local church, for which funds were being raised. There were the usual tombolas and stalls selling flowers and vegetables, local crafts and second hand books. At the extremities one could see tractors, ancient and modern, some beautiful classic and vintage cars and there were pony rides for small children.

Musicians Donald and Malcolm led our six dancers into the main arena at the prescribed time. AVMM waited in the warm sunshine while a pair of girls finished singing a selection of songs from Disney films of the early part of the century and then the announcer did what announcers do and we were on. As usual we performed a selection of our dances expertly chosen by Squire Ryan appropriate to the age and experience of the team and the dancing surface. I think horse racing fans would have described the ground as “good to hard”. After our inevitable audience participation dance was judged a success: Lots of smiling faces, no injuries, over 20 participants of all ages from grandparents to toddlers and only one crying infant, soon appeased with an ice lolly, we concluded our set with a finale consisting of Bluebells, Washing Day and Brighton Camp before yielding the arena to The Dog Show and later a Circus Skills Workshop. At this point some of us decided that dancing was rather thirsty work and took advantage of the beer tent. Rebellion Brewery IPA and Saxby cider, rather than gassy lager, were the preferred choices of our discerning drinkers. Others opted for the café or the burger bar. Each to their own.

Tomorrow we have another fete at Preston-on-Stour. 

John

The May Bank Holiday Weekend is always a fun time in The Morris World.

We commenced the festivities with a May Wedding at the Warwickshire, Church Farm  Brewery. A wedding in a brewery !….what could possibly go wrong?

Well we didn’t perform our most popular dance.. the drinking jig. Thankfully we were trying to set a good example for the newly weds so we concentrated on the dancing and left the excessive drinking to the guests. Those guests were clearly enjoying the local produce and joined us for, not one but two, mass Shepherd’s Heys. Great fun was had by all.

We played an hour long set of our greatest hits, featuring ‘Haste to the Wedding’ of course and culminating in our grand farewell dance ‘Brighton Camp.’

This time however ‘ the girl I left behind me’ was the bride ‘riding’ a Morris horse to everyone’s delight.

She said.. ‘it made her day’.

‘What about the wedding’ I said ?

Oh yes she replied ‘how could I forget that.’

Congratulations to bride and groom..cheers 🍺

and don’t forget to Morris On.

Donald