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

I would like to thank those that attended today for some brilliant playing, dancing and excellent company at this, my favourite event of the season. The weather was kind to us with the only rain coming well after we finished our set. Well done to Hector Wells who played in public, if memory serves, for the first time and did very well. Thanks to Donald for being totally dependable in leading the tunes and to all our ten dancers who delivered a very high quality demonstration of the Adderbury Village tradition. The crowd loved our performance and I have never had to work less hard to recruit volunteers for our audience participation Shepherds Hey. Of course, the beer tent probably helped, but even so the level of enthusiasm from our audience was unusually high. It was a lot of fun and the organisers of the Festival were very grateful for our contribution. We should like to thank Jessica Wood and the Festival organising committee for inviting us to dance and all the volunteers who helped to ensure that it was such an enjoyable day. Our thanks also to Donald for his photos.

Today was a bitter sweet occasion following on the death of a fine AVMM musician, John Wright on Friday 13^th June but John would have enjoyed today’s celebration of music, dance and fellowship.

On Saturday 21^st June, we are performing at Tingewick Fete at 1.30pm and then at a wedding in Steeple Aston at 3.30pm – we are looking forward to it!

John Ekers

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

We were delighted to participate in the Carrdus School lunchtime VE Day event – an invitation arranged by our youngest dancer, Elijah who is a pupil at the school. The entire school were awaiting our arrival and the highlight was a mass Shepherd’s Hey – probably the largest group of people ever – the children loved it! Prior to this, the teachers danced with us and they did nearly as well as the children! Our thanks to the headteacher, staff and pupils of the school and above all, to Elijah who danced beautifully throughout.

We had a wonderful day of ‘laughter, dance and song’ at The Preston on Stour May Day and then at The Low Furlong Care Home in Shipston on Stour for a hundredth birthday party. We were joined in the May Queen procession by The Flowers of Ilmington Morris and many villagers, as we made our way to the picturesque village green. Following the crowning of the Queen of the May and The Preston on Stour May Song, (to the tune of The Landlord) we performed a selection of our unique dances. The village Maypole provided a centre point for a Shepherds Hey jig and Princess Royal. 

There was lots of fun during the invitation Shepherds Hey, involving Flowers of Ilmington and the village people (YMCA Morris ?….no not those Village People !). It was a lovely afternoon performing on the village green in front of St Mary’s Church and the historic houses of Preston on Stour. To complete our dancing set we ‘left behind’ the villagers with a rousing chorus of Brighton Camp then made our way to Low Furlong Care Home Shipston on Stour. 

We were delighted to be part of resident Joan Suckling’s 100th birthday and accordingly performed a short set that included a customised poetic introduction to ‘Old Woman Tossed up in a Blanket’. It would have been rude not too! Again, our invitation Shepherds Hey was a big hit with residents and guests alike. Low Furlong had never seen such an event and they loved it. As I said, a wonderful day of laughter, dance and song.

Donald McCombie

Adderbury Village Morris Men were honoured to be invited by Rosy Burke to join a large crowd of town councillors, representatives of local community and faith groups and interested passers-by to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the official opening of the magnificent Fine Lady upon a White Horse statue, which was designed to represent the Queen of the May and stands by Banbury Cross. One of our members pointed out that the evening before May Day has in the past been celebrated as the pagan feast of Beltane and therefore dancing and a certain amount of wild behaviour were not inappropriate. The evening started with a mass recitation of the nursery rhyme “Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross” led by our button accordion player, Donald. Then it was time to dance. A Bagman’s lot is not always a happy one and it is often difficult to know with any certainty how many members will turn up for any event, particularly as this booking came just five days after our most enjoyable, but physically demanding Adderbury Day of Dance. In the event I need not have worried. The team did me proud and a quick head count revealed four musicians and no less than 13 dancers. Right, two sets of six and a jockey for our Hobby Horse, Charlie. Perfect!

We rattled through a selection of our dances, kicking off with the traditional Sweet Jenny Jones and Haste to the Wedding and then several more dances including Postman’s Knock, which always draws appreciative noises from the crowd. The sun was shining on an unusually warm spring evening and it seemed as if everyone in the audience was smiling. Morris has that magical effect. Before long it was time for speeches and photographs of our team by the statue as well as the local councillors, who work so hard on behalf of the town. We also thanked Rosy and those whose vision and generosity led to the commissioning of such a universally admired piece of art.

But before that, our Squire Ryan pointed out that since the statue was officially opened  in 2005 by  Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, it would be appropriate to perform our Princess Royal Dance around the statue for three sets of four. This dance concluded with all the dancers and our Hobby Horse capering around the Horse as requested by Rosy, our lovely host.

After a couple more dances by the cross, we proceeded to Parsons’ Street and continued dancing outside the Olde Reine Deer Inne. Here we danced Shepherds’ Hey for two sets and then invited members of the audience to join us in the Jig version of the dance. Further entertainment was provided by The Beaux of London City aka Shooting which concluded with the ritual shooting of Charlie and his jockey. After having enjoyed suitable refreshment and being looked after so well by the staff of the pub, we came into the body of this ancient hostelry to sing “Come Landlord Fill the Flowing Bowl” with David and Donald sharing the verses.

As dusk started to fall we said our farewells and all agreed that that was one of the best evenings we could remember: full of laughter, joy and good fellowship. Whether it was the significance of the occasion, the marvellous crowd or the balmy weather, it is certain that the spirit of the Lord of the Dance came to Banbury yesterday evening. Last night was the first outing in public for Mark Skevington, who having only been at practices since the start of March has taken to the Morris like the proverbial duck to water. Special mention also to two teenagers in the side, Hector and Dylan, who showed that they are fine dancers already and whose impressive capers and sticking can only improve in the years to come. Our younger members are the future of the side and we very proud of them. Lastly, thanks to our brilliant musicians, our unflappable Squire and to Rosy for inviting us.

John Ekers