Adam Garland of East Suffolk Morris Men was elected as the next squire of the Morris Ring at the Annual Representatives Meeting on Saturday 8th March 2014.
In his pre-election "pen portait" he wrote:
"I started dancing at the age of 8 and quickly realised that the custom and tradition was something worth preserving. Over thirty-three years I have played an active part in many events in the Morris World. I have helped to arrange weekend tours, ales, 40th and 50th celebrations, and evenings of dance.
I have had the honour of dancing with, and being a member of, many Sides from Gloucestershire to East Anglia and I was made an honorary member of Cambridge Morris Men in 2000.
As ‘Henry’, a hooden horse, I was asked to run a workshop on animal behaviour at a Fools and Animals weekend, and I have been a guide to new club members, assisting in their learning process wherever possible. I have taken the Morris into schools in Suffolk to advertise our heritage to a younger generation and more recently I have taken on the role of Morris correspondent for our local Suffolk folk magazine, ‘Mardles’
Following recent changes I believe that now the Ring needs a time to settle into its current constitution; further major changes would not be welcomed by the Sides. However I do want to continue the good work of my predecessors in advertising the work of the Ring and its clubs, in supporting sides in encouraging recruitment from younger generations, and to forge links abroad with other Traditional Dance organisations. Further, I believe strengthening the links with our fellow organisations in this country, while protecting the interests of the Ring, is important."
Adam was selected from a very strong trio of candidates which also included Pete Simpson of Jockey Morris Men, and Simon Care of Moulton Morris Men in an amazingly amiable contest. The leadership of the organisation has literally been passed to the next generation as Mike Garland, Adam's father was squire of the Ring from 1988 - 1990. This is the first time in the Morris Ring's 80 year history that a father and son have been elected to the squireship. We wish Adam well and he certainly had the full support from all of those that attended an excellent weekend run, as brilliantly as ever, by Hartley Morris Men.