Foresters are sad to report the death of Eric Foxley, a dancer and musician who was well known and respected by many sides. Eric died on December 23rd 2025 after a prolonged battle with cancer which he had fought with true grit and determination. As was his nature he volunteered for experimental drug trials and outlived his NHS predicted life expectancy by over 10 years. Despite the illness he was still playing an accordion at events and riding his tricycle throughout 2025. This he did with humour and a stoic determination to enjoy life.
Eric danced and played for the Thames Valley Morris Men prior to moving to Nottingham in 1956 where he studied mathematics at Nottingham University. He met the Foresters for the first time that summer, at the Abingdon Ring Meeting, and asked if he could join the side.
This meeting was when the Foresters were admitted to the Morris Ring. After graduation he undertook a PhD in mathematical logic before showing an interest in Computer Science and moving on to become a lecturer in the Mathematics Department. At one stage he was Director of the Cripps Computing Centre before re-joining the academic staff in the Mathematics Department. Later he joined the newly-formed Computer Science Department. Throughout this period he danced and played music for Foresters, and continued to do so after retirement in 1998.
Eric had a strong commitment to Morris Dancing throughout his whole life. He was in possession of Cecil Sharp's 3-hole pipe which he wanted to be donated to the EFDSS. As a young teenager he was taken by his parents to meet William Kimber and Jinky Wells. He was given tuition by both these venerable old men of the Morris. He was very proud of this association and his link to former Morris times, a link that has now sadly been broken. He had an intimate knowledge of the history of the Morris Revival in the earlier part of the twentieth century.
Eric was an exceptional musician. In 1993, when Nottingham hosted an international cycle conference, he rode around Nottinghamshire on the back of a tandem playing his accordion. If someone could whistle a tune he could pick it up immediately. This he did for a group of golfers that wanted to perform a Morris Dance with golf clubs to the theme tune of Auf Wiedersehen Pet. Eric also played for Greenwood Clog Dancers and for Freds Folks, in which he was a founding member in the 1950s and leader until 2025.
In Brittany, Eric was known for organising Morris Dancing tours and for many years the Foresters performed in villages and towns in northwest France. The French audiences were always appreciative and keen to arrange spontaneous street parties.
Eric was also an accomplished potter. He owned his own kiln and all of us who knew him have a bowl, mug or plate that he made. Some of his ceramic tiles are still on display in Nottingham and in press cuttings these were referred to as the work of ‘local artist Eric Foxley’.
Not only was he a webmaster for Foresters but he managed websites for many others, including The Greenwood Clog Dancers and an online music database.
Eric was a key member of Foresters and will be sadly missed by the side.
Foresters Morris and Sword Dancing Club