See list of Honorary Life Members and Friends of the Morris Federation.
Sally Wearing, past President (1984 – 1995), Meetings Secretary (1979 – 1983), Health & Safety Advisor (2014 – current) – Honorary Life Member (1997)
Nomination by Jadi Carlyon, Squire, Treacle Eater Clog, at our AGM in 1997:
Sally has been involved in the Morris for, putting it tactfully, in excess of 20 years and during this time has always been a positive spokesperson for all that is embodied within it, both in dance and in fellowship. As a member of Bath City Morris she was instrumental in encouraging new team members and supporting team activities; I am only one amongst many of the friends of 1970’s vintage who are still active in dance in the 1990’s. She has, of course, subsequently been member and sometime guiding light of many Federation teams, amongst which notably Phoenix, Chinewrde, and more recently Long Itchington and Coventry Sword.
At Bath, Sally was an active supporter of the early days of the Women’s Morris Federation, under the guidance of Betty Reynolds. Soon after graduation and having previously served as Meetings Secretary (now Events Officer), she succeeded Bev Lane to become its third and longest standing President and it is in this role, during a period of massive increase in member team numbers, that her name became widely known. In that capacity she was most notably instrumental in forging the now strong and positive links between the Federation, the Morris Ring and Open Morris from a previously hostile position. Never one to stand back when something needed to be said, she represented the Federation to the press and media, doing much to dispel the popular myth that Morris dancers were not equipped with brain cells. Whilst all the while continuing a demanding professional career, she also assisted the Moms in general and Women’s Morris in particular to have a much more prominent profile at major festivals such as Sidmouth.
I am sure that those participating in the 1997 AGM will be willing to endorse this proposal by way of thank-you to Sally for her years of hard work. May her bells never grow rusty!
Since 2014, Sally Wearing has been our Health & Safety Advisor, and has helped a great many teams in producing Risk Assessments.
She also gave guidance to all JMO teams throughout the Covid pandemic.
