Simon Newman has been elected the next squire of the Morris ring at the Annual Representatives Meeting yesterday (14th March 2020). It was a close run election with Nigel Strudwick of Devil’s Dyke Morris Men, who was the first to congratulate him after the announcement of the voting.
Simon was elated, though surprised at the result that he had not expected. He had said he would be humbled if elected - so much so that he hadn’t planned to stay for the feast and had to have one of his team bring his kit to the venue. He certainly enjoyed his evening thereafter and led the après-evening singing and dancing until the early hours
In his nomination Simon wrote:
First, I would like to thank Anker Morris for their nomination to be the next squire of the ring; it is an honour to be considered. Having been a member of Earlsdon Morris since the age of 9, I have held the role of squire for 15 years. Over the years I have danced the length and breadth of the country, meeting many teams and making friends from not just ring teams but with people across the Morris community. For me, Morris is about sharing experiences and making memories. I am passionate about putting on the best performance we can, by not only concentrating on the standard of dance but also how well we engage an audience. At the heart of the Morris is joy and friendship.
The Ring has undergone many changes in recent years. Though not all will agree, I believe these changes have put the Ring on course to ensure its relevance in the modern Morris scene and I would be honoured to continue to champion these values going forward. The Ring has the richest traditions and a huge range of resources, I believe these are our greatest strengths and should be utilised as much as possible to encourage the next generation of performers. If elected Squire I will be humbled to embody the future of the Morris Ring. The Morris ring has evolved; let us continue to demonstrate it!
Congratulations Simon.