What a joyful occasion this was! With a full band of musicians, comprising of a brace of fiddles, a set of bagpipes, hurdy gurdy, button accordion and harmonica plus two sets of six dancers, Adderbury Village Morris Men entertained a large crowd at this lovely event. We danced for a full hour with hardly an error despite the challenge posed by the narrow aisle in St Mary’s Church. The announcer was effusive in her praise of our efforts and complimented us for our encouragement and inclusion of younger dancers in the side. Although at least one vain sexagenarian in the side thought that she was talking about him, I assumed she meant Alfie, Hector and Dylan, who all danced well and never stopped smiling throughout our full repertoire of dances. As ever we attracted a large number of volunteers for our audience participation dance and the Recruiting Officer was delighted to meet some friends of Dime’s, whom he hopes to welcome to the side in due course. I should add that we also received plenty of compliments for our beautifully decorated Christmas tree too.

Should anyone reading this be interested in joining the side or in booking us for future community events please get in touch. Details can be found on the website.

John

John writes: Our thanks to the dancers, friends and family who met on Thursday 4th December to put the finishing touches to our Christmas tree (St Mary’s Adderbury, annual Christmas tree festival). As well as a magnificent woollen model of a Morris Man, knitted by Musician Sue last year, our decorations were enhanced by a wonderful set of dancers and musicians in AVMM kit, made by Svetlana out of salt dough and beautifully painted to represent individuals in the side. Whilst Musician Donald might be easy to identify, see if you can spot which model shows the Squire or the other quirky characters which make up the team as it comes to the end of the 50th anniversary of the revival side which keeps the tradition of village dances and songs faithfully recorded by Janet Blunt alive for future generations to enjoy.

Members and supporters are encouraged to come along to the festival over the next few days (where you can vote for our tree!). We are dancing at the St Mary’s, festival between 12.30 and 1.15pm on Saturday 6th December.

Additionally, our forthcoming events are:

‘The Story of the Dancer’ (Donald’s powerful story about the World War I Christmas truce) Wed 10th December, Preston on Stour Village Hall, Warwickshire 7.30pm

Boxing Day Dance Out Adderbury, Meet at The Coach and Horses at 12.15pm Friday, 26th December. Our thanks to Sarah for the lovely photo of our tree!

On Saturday afternoon Rhys and Michelle at The Bell were delighted that we were able to display the full range of Adderbury Village Morris dances outside the pub to help draw attention to their excellent Festival of Winter Ales. With two musicians and eight experienced dancers, we entertained a decent crowd on a cold afternoon and drew in many keen volunteers for our crowd participation dance. I counted 20 dancers, at the end of which only Isabel and Donald, our long suffering musicians were still feeling chilled. After we completed our set of dancing with the obligatory Brighton Camp, we were able to retire to a packed and very warm pub, where some of us were able to sample an eclectic range of seasonal ales from local breweries, including Hook Norton’s Twelve Days. Thanks again to all Saturday’s dancers who produced some very impressive and accurate dancing. Special mention, however, must go to Hector and Dylan. One of our senior dancers commented that they both seem to have grown about a foot over the past year and the quality of their capering, like their height, has increased significantly.

On Sunday morning at Hornton Parish Church we were asked to perform in a very different environment viz. to present Donald’s powerful Story of the Dancer as the central part of a church service. Once again, we were able to field eight dancers, although only three of these had performed on the day before. This team were thus less experienced overall than Saturday’s side. Indeed three of them had never previously appeared in this powerful story of dancers drawn into the tragic events of World War 1. Since the performance required us to dance some of our less frequently performed numbers such as Happy Man and The Buffoon, Squire Ryan had to marshal his troops with his customary wisdom. In addition the very narrow aisle of this tiny church created challenges for all the dancers, particularly in performing Heys. The congregation were unanimous in their praise afterwards and the vicar asked us if we would consider repeating the show at one of the larger churches in the benefice next year, to which the answer was, of course, affirmative. As I left the still packed church, Donald was fielding questions about the various sources for his wonderful story, Ryan was attempting to teach an enthusiastic parishioner the rudiments of Shepherd’s Hey and the rest of the side and our supporters were enjoying coffee and biscuits.

Our annual October celebration in memory of the Hobby Horse Festival has come around again! A team of eight dancers and two musicians danced in and around Banbury over the course of Saturday lunchtime providing entertainment to shoppers. We assembled at the White Horse before heading down to the Fine Lady statue, near to Banbury Cross. Having recited the Fine Lady poem, we started with ‘Sweet Jenny Jones’ and ‘Haste to the Wedding’. A crowd started to gather, so we decided to get everyone joining in with a ‘Shepherds’ Hey’ jig. We had a member of the public for all eight members of the team and we had great fun getting everyone to join in with our tradition.

Making our way to the foot of White Lion Walk, we discovered the best outdoor acoustics in Banbury: ‘Bluebells of Scotland’, ‘Shooting’ and ‘Black Joke’ echoed around the foot of the High Street and must have made for some very interesting background listening for the patrons of the ‘Good Game’ café. Our troupe passed through into the Market Place and brought a smile to the café and food market customers. In fact, I felt that we’d really warmed-up as we danced ‘Lads a Bunchum’, ‘Roast Beef of Old England’, ‘Stourton Wake’ and ‘Old Woman Tossed-up in a Blanket’. David led ‘Constant Billy’ to give me a much needed break, and we concluded with everyone dancing ‘Princess Royal’ and ‘Brighton Camp’. After wandering up Parsons Street we made our last stop outside the Reindeer, and ordered drinks before dancing three more dances – including ‘Postman’s Knock’ a tribute to the passing postman we invited to join our group photo outside the White Horse.

Thank you to Donald and Malcolm for playing so well, and to all our dancers. It’s great dancing in my home town and it’s a joy to visit so many different parts of the town to provide some fun and entertainment.

Ryan

Whilst the tradition of Adderbury Morris dancing is well understood by many of our followers and readers of these news items, I had not until now appreciated the origin and ethos of ‘Apple Day’ itself. Although comparatively recent in its conception, Apple Day has been a staple of local events on Britain for a good 30 years and more. I read with interest the Wikipedia entry: ‘Apple Day was initiated by Common Ground on 21 October 1990 at an event in Covent Garden, London, and has been celebrated in each subsequent year. By 2000 the day was celebrated in more than 600 events around the United Kingdom. Common Ground describe the day as a way of celebrating and demonstrating that variety and richness matter to a locality and that it is possible to effect change in your place. Common Ground has used the apple as a symbol of the physical, cultural and genetic diversity we should not let slip away. In linking particular apples with their place of origin, they hope that orchards will be recognized and conserved for their contribution to local distinctiveness, including the rich diversity of wild life they support.”

With eight dancers, including our talented hurdy-gurdy player mixing roles, we entertained the good people of Sibford as they enjoyed their apple day at the Village Hall.

The sun occasionally shone and the apples kept getting squished into delicious apple juice as we danced. Nicky, our Apple Day contact writes: Thank you all so much for you fantastic dancing, singing and beautiful playing (we loved the unusual instrumentals also so nice to have singing included in your performance). It was also lovely to see your very competent young members!

It has been a good year for apples, and it has been a good year for our treasured Morris side. We will be rounding a wonderful year of teamwork and joy with the hobbyhorse event in Banbury this Saturday, then on the 29th November, we’ll be dancing during the afternoon at the Adderbury Bell Winter Beer Festival finally, we are dancing between 12.30-1.15pm on Saturday 6th December at St Mary’s Adderbury Christmas Tree Festival in Adderbury.

David

On Saturday the 20th of September we danced at the Lake House Care Home and Day Centre in Adderbury. Our group of dancers was nearly out-numbered by a full band of musicians, augmented by a resident of Lake House and her fantastic tambourine playing that helped to keep us in time. A special mention must go to Donald who gave health and safety guidance, and steered us clear of low hanging ceiling lights during stick dances!

No dance out would be complete without an audience participation Shepherds’ Hey, and we were pleased to be joined by Lake House team member Jo, and two of the willing and able residents. We would have invited more of the staff in to participate, however they mysteriously disappeared when we began looking for volunteers …

The afternoon was brilliant fun – especially as our audience responded so positively to our music and dancing. I’d like to single our fantastic young dancer of the day Elijah, who has learnt our dances so quickly. This is what our dancing is about – sharing a tradition through the joy of dance, music and song. Our thanks also to Yana, Elijah’s mum, who had given up the opportunity to dance with Sharp & Blunt at around the same time so that she could enable Elijah to join us.

Our grateful thanks to Jo for inviting us, and the other team members for keeping us well hydrated and looked after – we appreciate the hard work you all do when looking after the residents, and we felt privileged to provide some entertainment for them and the whole team. 

Squire Ryan

Approaching Wigginton, we encountered a heavy shower but this soon cleared, giving way to beautiful September sunshine, as 12 dancers and three musicians assembled next to the Dog Show arena where we were on first!

As the weather continued to hold, lots of people stopped to watch us dance as they enjoyed the fete’s numerous attractions. The grassy surface was a little challenging but we adapted and realised that we truly are an all-terrain Morris team. We were delighted to welcome guest musician Adrian on harmonica (Adrian and his band ‘Main Street’ were playing later) and Isabel returning on violin. Mike was also back to play hurdy-gurdy alongside Donald on melodeon. It was great to have a full-strength group of excellent musicians playing for us again after the summer break.

After warming up the crowds we invited audience members to join in our Shepherds’ Hey jig, with plenty of participants forming two sets of dancers, including our friend Megan from Sharp & Blunt. As ever, we so enjoy sharing our tradition more widely and especially with young dancers.

Richard writes: We should like to thank the Wigginton Village Hall Trustees for the invitation to dance at such a beautifully organised event and above all, we would like to thank our contact, Rachel for excellent communications and for all her support. Rachel said that we helped to create a great atmosphere, which is always what we hope to do. Thank you Rachel, we’ll look forward to the opportunity to support your next event.

Our singing on the introduction to Brighton Camp may have startled the dogs waiting for their event to commence, but it was the perfect conclusion to an afternoon of dance with the changeable September weather being very kind to us indeed!

Squire Ryan

AVMM were delighted to be invited to this well organised event on a warm sunny day in a delightful village that most of us had never previously visited. Morris Dancing does not seem to be a frequent occurrence in these parts and we had numerous conversations and questions about our origins, as well as inquiries about joining the side and potential future bookings at this and adjacent villages.

With 13 dancers and a brace of musicians we kept an enthusiastic crowd well entertained for the whole of our allotted time slot. I was slightly concerned that some of our performers might struggle in the heat of an Indian Summer, but was reassured by the presence in the side of a veterinary surgeon as well as an eminent doctor, a geriatrician, no less. In the event, both horses and dancers came through the afternoon unscathed and the standard of dancing throughout, with two sets for every dance, was remarkably high. Even our youngest dancers proved their worth with Dylan capering as high as anyone in the side and both Alfie and Elijah giving flawless performances in Postman’s Knock, with the latter doing this dance in public for the first time. Ryan marshalled his troops throughout the afternoon in exemplary fashion and we had no less than 26 dancers for the Shepherd’s Hey invitation Jig, without the need for any cajoling of members of the crowd.

As we concluded our slot with Old Woman followed by Brighton Camp, it was time to repair to the bar to rehydrate ourselves and enjoy a chat and the generous refreshments on offer. There I met a bar steward who turned out to be a former pupil, whom I allegedly made captain of my Junior Colts Rugby XV some time in the distant past. Matt demonstrated an impressive knowledge of many of the 14 beers on offer as well as, surprisingly, that niche libation, rhubarb cider. Well AVMM attracts all sorts!

Richard writes: We would like to thank Stratton Audley Parish Council and the organising committee for the invitation to dance. There were lots of volunteers working to make this such a special event, but I would like to single out Leah (our contact) who had worked tirelessly to organise stalls, music and dancing for a June event which had to be cancelled due to severe weather. Then Leah and the team had to start organising all over again for the re-scheduled September event! Thank you, Leah, for your enthusiasm for what we do. We’ll look forward to your next village Festival. We were really pleased to help you support your three chosen charities – Thames Air Ambulance, St John’s Ambulance and St Mary & St Edburga Church, Stratton Audley.

We dance next Saturday at 2pm in Wiggington. Let’s hope for another fine day and another excellent day of fun and high-quality dancing.

John

Adderbury Village Morris Men ended a most successful first half of our Golden Anniversary season by dancing at two contrasting local venues. At noon we enhanced the Christopher Rawlings Primary School Summer Fete at the request of the Fete committee. On a warm overcast day with a welcome gentle breeze, nine dancers including a couple of former pupils plus musician, Donald entertained the crowd with our traditional repertoire including a challenging Black Joke, which tested fitness and energy levels, requiring some of our younger dancers to seek sustenance later from the burger stall. As usual our audience participation Shepherd’s Hey Jig brought in a good cohort of volunteers including, it should be noted, a member of the Thames Valley Police Force and a senior teacher from the school who had played for Aston Villa WFC, a fact which would have delighted our late Squire Bryan, who was an ardent fan of the Villa.

As we finished our set of dances and yielded the arena to the competing teams in the Tug of War, it was agreed to relocate to one of the finest Hook Norton pubs in the local area viz The Elephant and Castle, Bloxham. There we were welcomed by Landlord Simon Finch and a small but discerning crowd. We were refreshed with excellent pints of Hooky and had a chance to discuss some exciting ideas for further celebrating what has been, thus far, a most enjoyable Anniversary season as well as performing more of our dances on the compact, but excellent level dancing surface provided by the patio outside the entrance to the pub. Postman’s Knock, Roast Beef, Washing Day, Princess Royal, Stourton Wake and other dances were performed and recorded for posterity on various cameras which miraculously appear as locals and passers by became aware of the free entertainment on offer. We concluded proceedings as tradition demands with Brighton Camp and declined the kind offer of free chips from the management of the pub on the basis that we are now in training for a possible Morris Marathon. Details to follow.

We now have a break from dancing until the start of September so that our members can enjoy some family time and perhaps take holidays away from Adderbury. We will resume dancing on the first Wednesday in September, details to follow, and then have bookings on each of the first three Saturday afternoons in that month. We have sufficient numbers to put out strong teams for Stratton Audley Beer Festival, Wigginton Church Fete and Lake House, but any other members who have not yet committed would be most welcome to join us.

Our thanks to Claire Scott and the Fete organising committee for the opportunity to dance at Christopher Rawlings School, Simon Finch and his colleagues at the Elephant and Castle, Bloxham and to Svetlana for the lovely photo.

John Ekers

In gorgeous summer solstice weather we made the most of the sunshine by dancing at two joyful events.

We started our afternoon at Tingewick Fete in Buckinghamshire, entertaining the lunchtime crowds immediately after it was officially opened by local Member of Parliament, Callum Anderson (pictured with us below). Cloud cover shielded us from the midday sun as we performed and as we ‘warmed up’ with ‘Haste to the Wedding’ as that was where we were heading next! During our break (while a brass band played) we enjoyed delicious cakes and refreshments which gave us just the sugar rush we needed. A final few dances included our audience participation Shepherd’s Hey – our first of the day.

Leaving the fete and heading over the border to Oxfordshire, we arrived at Steeple Aston where the wedding reception was in full swing. We made our way into the wildflower garden, situated next to a swimming lake that was looking more and more appealing by the minute. Guests gathered to watch our dances, before being pulled in to join our second communal Shepherd’s Hey – including the groom himself! Another one of the guests, not wanting to be left out, picked up our horse Charlie and took him for a ride in the afternoon sunshine. There was much joy had by all as we continued dancing, taking breaks for drinks and ice cream where we could. A third and final Shepherd’s Hey of the day had more guests joining us in an even longer set than the previous two performances.

We had a lovely afternoon, and the team did a brilliant job dancing on one of the hottest days of the year so far. We’d like to thank Trisha Lightfoot and the Tingewick Fete committee for inviting to dance, and Lucy Hart (sister of the bride) for the opportunity to participate in the wedding celebrations we wish all the best to Jack and Emma for the future. Finally our thanks to Donald for playing so well throughout and for providing the photos and several video clips. Donald even managed to persuade members of the wedding folk band to play along with him during a final few dances – a memorable day!

Squire Ryan