Summary: Vol. 23 Issue 2

Published: July 2004

Table of contents

• EDITORIAL
• MINISTRY OF SILLY WALKS 
• ADVICE WHEN STARTING A CLOG MORRIS  Roy Dommett 
• ONE MORE John Lewis 
• BLACK SWAN WORKSHOP Brian Mander 
• BELLE ISLE MARCH Roy Dommett 
• VENI, VIDI, SALT AVI – DERT MMl V Jenny Major
• GREAT GRANDSON OF MORRIS ON Malcolm Major
• MARLBORO’ ALE 2004 Sue Graham 
• A POSSIBLE REFERENCE TO BAMPTON AND BLACK BOURTON DANCE SETS IN 1835 Keith Chandler 
• HOLIDAY READING Roy Dommett 
• NOTICEBOARD 
• MORRIS BAITING Long Lankin
• WANT AGE WEEKEND WORKSHOP 2005 
• SIDMOUTH 2004 Tony Forster 

Editorial

Welcome to Summer – or did we miss it? We had a wonderful June and since then have been almost rained off on several occasions. Still, we have news of several events coming up so let’ s hope that we get the second half of summer very soon. Morris has had a funny press over the past year, from the report overheard on the radio that a woman confessed to an irrational fear of morris dancers (I didn’t hear this one myself – did anyone else?) , to saying that “our folk festivals are appealingly insane (citing Britannia CocoNut dancers) and the suggestion that since morris dancing was banned by the Puritans , this is a good reason for it to continue. And we still meet people when out morris dancing who ask, “what country are you from?” and are amazed when we say “England”?

Morris Matters is nearly 25 volumes old (a little longer than that in years!) as the first issue came out in 1978) and it has been suggested that I compile a “Best Of Morris Matters” volume to celebrate the fact that we are still here! Do you agree and if so, what would you like to see again (or what did you miss)? Remember some of the early issues were typed up and literally cut-and-pasted, so they may be more legible when reprinted.

For now, thanks as always to the regular contributors – especially to Roy Dommett for making yet more of his immense collection of morris knowledge more widely available. I received two CD’s for review ; “Great Grandson” (which is reviewed in this issue) and “Dancing Days” by Chris Leslie. This one I had mentioned in the last issue as being a thoroughly enjoyable listen for anyone who likes a morris tune played well by some excellent musicians. Both are available from Talking Elephant – see review for details.

On anniversaries – Sidmouth is 50 and Towersey is 40 – I wonder how many people reading this have been to all of either of them ? I started at Sidmouth ‘s 23rd (I think) – and haven’t missed one since. I can’t believe it may not be there next year …

Enjoy the season.

Beth