The next Squire of The Morris Ring will be Robin Springett, a member of Dartington Morris Men since 1980. Proposed by Plymouth Morris Men, he was elected at today’s Annual Representatives’ Meeting to succeed Peter Halfpenney whose term of office will be completed at The Hartley Ring Meeting at the end of August. Robin has been a morris dancer since his time in the RAF back in 1978 and in all his travels and postings, as well as Dartington Morris Men, has been a member of Pillory Morris Men in Brussels, of Claro Sword & Morris Men and Grand Union Morris.
He writes “I am a supporter of traditional Morris and over the years I have attended many Ring Meetings, ales and Days of Dance, which I consider are important to the future success of the Morris Ring. However, Morris like any folk tradition must be a living tradition, and change will happen. We can embrace change, or we can resist it; I would like to see the Ring use change to its own advantage. I believe in inclusion and we need to reach out to the wider community and show how much innocent fun can be had with the Morris. Part of that approach must be to encourage juniors. We can do that on our own, or within the JMO; my instinct is to do so jointly…”
Now retired, he says he is ready to dedicate himself to the task of carrying on our grand tradition.
We’ll drink to that. Congratulations Robin.