Editor: Ann Mason
Published: Autumn 1994

Contents

• PRESIDENT’S PROLOGUE 2
• EDITORIAL 3
• DOUGLAS KENNEDY APPEAL 4
• TECHNICAL 5
• PUBLICITY 6
• DIARY 7
• NOTICEBOARD 9
• EVENTS 11
• JOINT MEETING REPORT 13
• CHARITIES ACT 12
• MORRIS OFF

Editorial

Welcome to the third Newsletter of 1994.

Just before I sat down to write this, I heard that Lionel Bacon had died recently. Although I never met him, I do feel a sense of loss. His Black book of Morris dances is the closest thing there is to a Morris bible.  It wasn’t his only contribution to the Morris, but it was the most far reaching. It’s easy to forget now that when it first appeared, it was the only notation (Cotswold and Border) that was available, except for the Sharp books. Even though there is much more material now, it is still the standard reference work for many dancers. 

When it was first published (1974), there were only a handful of women’s teams (and not even the concept of mixed teams). There was a strong rumour for many years that the Black Book wasn’t sold to women.  I’ve no idea where that originated, but it affected many of us – I got my boyfriend to buy my first copy. Times have changed (MF now sells it) but the book is still indispensable. We’ve all benefited from it, as it made Morris so much more accessible than it
was before. So mourn Lionel Bacon’s passing, and remember him with the dance.

Since the last Newsletter, I’ve only had to attend a couple of meetings: one of the MF Committee and one with EFDSS.  I won’t bore you with the details of the first, but the second is well worth a mention. Roy Yarnell (Squire of the Ring), Brian Hopkins (Chairman of Open Morris) and I met up with Jonathan Ripley, the new Chief Executive of EFDSS. The matters under discussion may not be momentous (finances of the Morris Publication Group, for instance), but it was a valuable experience which bodes well for the future.

One important bit of the meeting was the passing over of a cheque for £250 for the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library. This was from the Dance Conference funds, in appreciation of EFDSS’s contribution to the last two conferences – the use of Cecil Sharp House as a venue.

One the same  theme, you may remember that in my last prologue I was lamenting the number of Morris teams around who just aren’t performing good Morris. This was a result of the paper I gave at the last conference. I solicited your views – thanks to John Tose of Morys Ar Y Cant, who was the only one to reply. His thoughtful letter made me think some more and helped crystallise my views. I’m not suggesting that all teams should reach a high standard before performing in public.

What I’m hoping for is that teams will think about what is needed to be good and at least start to head in the right direction. We can all only work within our own team’s limitations, but realising what they are and building a performance around them which both audience and the dancers can enjoy goes a long way towards being good. This theme may run and run. Ann Mason has already asked me to summarise my paper for the next Newsletter – so get your views in first.