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