Nigel Strudwick recently reported on a couple of rather special celebrations which he attended as squire of the Morris Ring, which we reproduce below for those unlikely to have visited Facebook..
Headington - 23rd June
Yesterday I attended a significant event in the Morris world, one that marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Cecil Sharp
Although not the first person to revive Morris from its generally moribund state (with notable exceptions) in the late 19th century, the revival of Morris in the early 20th century is usually dated to Sharp seeing the Headington Quarry side (HQMD) on Boxing Day 1899 when he and his family were visiting his mother in law in Headington Quarry.
He had never seen Morris before, nor heard the tunes, and he noted down the tunes from William Kimber, HQMD’s musician that day A few years later, the revival kicked off in earnest, and Sharp both collected the dances and got them taught.
This HQMD held yesterday’s event in memory not only of Sharp, but also of Kimber.
There were dancing displays first from HQMD, Mr Hemming’s Morris Dancers (Abingdon), and Taunton Dene MM. This was followed by a wreath-laying at the grave of William Kimber and then by an afternoon of really interesting talks on both aspects of the Revival and Sharp as a song collector. A fascinating trip, well worth it!
The Oxford Mail also reported on the occasion in some detail - Headington Quarry dancers mark death of Cecil Sharp
Ilmington - 29th June
On Saturday I went along to Ilmington in South Warwickshire, one of the “traditional” Cotswold Morris villages. The Traditional Ilmington Morris Dancers (TIMD) were celebrating 50 years of dance since their current side was revived in 1974. They invited four other teams along, Traditional Bampton Morris Dancers (TBMD), Chipping Camden Morris Dancers (CCMD), Gloucestershire Morris (GM) and Faithful City Morris Men (FCMM, from Worcester). So out of the five sides present, three were either still active when the revival began in the early 20th century, or their dances were collected by Cecil Sharp and others in that revival—it should be noted that CCMD’s dances are not, at their request, performed by other teams, although most Cotswold dancers know Bampton and Ilmington.
Ilmington is a beautiful village, with two excellent pubs still. The format of the day was an initial meet and dance at the Howard Arms, then a procession to the Red Lion, outside which was more dancing. Then the group split into two, touring around various significant places in the village, meeting for tea in the village hall.
The final dancing was adjacent to the hall, outside the Olde Foxe House, a house occupied once by Sam Bennett, from whom much information about the old Ilmington dances was learned, and who died in 1951 at the grand old age of 86.
It was a fabulous day, in a wonderful location, with lovely people.
Nigel Strudwick
Squire of the Morris Ring
Warwickshire World also reported on the occasion Ilmington Morris Dancers ring in 50 years of dancing