The Squire's Capers No 6 - Spring 2014

Squire of The Ring's Capers No 6 – Spring 2014

(Christmas and New Year was a mixed bag; fabulous day to dance out on Boxing Day, and wet as hell on New Year's Day, but the Dartington Mummers did get an outing both days; once in the street, the other time in the pub!) 

Hearing what a brilliant day out the Jockey Plough Day Tour was, I signed myself up, and with Tim Sercombe in tow, we caught an early train from Exeter, getting us into New Street just befor 11.  We were met and rapidly escorted to the site of the first dance spot, in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre.  We were hosted by Pete Stevens and family to a really brilliant day.  The plough was there, already assembled, but later in the day, we did witness it being taken apart and put in the back of a car! Amazing to think that not much more than 150 years ago, a plough much like that would have been ploughing fields in the area.  Good weather, good humour from the shoppers – even from the gentlemen handing out the Koran, who obligingly turned down their own loud speakers while we danced!  Thanks to Jockey Morris Men of Birmingham and the others taking part for a really good Day of Dance.  Having said our goodbyes, Tim and I were picked up outside Moor Park station by Iain, who had been at work selling his wares nearby, and we set off for Stafford Feast.  I waxed long and hard last year over this feast held in the Victorian splendour of Church Eaton Village Hall, so will keep it brief this time, but this is feast of gourmet quality and gargantuan proportions, and is definitely for meat eaters!  Good fun, good food and beer, but most of all, good company!  Thanks to the Stafford Morris Men, and especially John Edwards and his wife Carol, for their hospitality and hard work on behalf of all the visitors.  It pains me to admit that I spent a portion of my life working in Stafford and didn't discover this excellent bunch of guys – my loss!

The following weekend saw me making the long journey (well, it is from South Devon) to Sutton Bonington for the Jigs Instructional weekend.   It was a very long time since I had been to one of these intensive weekends; not just a jigs instructional, more an MOT for your dancing!  I was really looking forward to the weekend.  Now this was January, and the weather was really quite kind (unlike the last time I was here last July for Dolphin Ring Meeting when we camped in the mud and rain).  From the numbers attending, those contributing with instructionals and working behind the scenes, cooking and washing up, had to work at full stretch all the time to ensure we all had a great time.  This weekend was started long ago by Bert Cleaver, past squire of the Morris Ring, and we were fortunate enough to have Bert with us as guest of honour at the Feast.  Thank you everyone who contributed for a really enjoyable week end, and to Tony Froad for his admin.  If you have never been to this weekend, do consider it; the instruction is second to none, and the “crack” in the King's Head alone is almost worth the journey!

This year I am Chair(man) of the JMO; a post that rotates annually amongst the 3 Morris Organisations.  This year the meeting was to be hosted by Leicester Morris Men, and by kind co-incidence (ahem!) the night before was the Leicester Feast, to which I was lucky enough to have been invited.  In past years, I have been to Winchester Feast this same weekend, and going to Leicester Feast was a new and very enjoyable experience for me.  I never cease to be amazed by the culinary skills of those in the Morris; not sure why I should be, probably because of my own lack of expertise, but if you get an invite to the Leicester Feast, go!  However, onto the JMO meeting on the Sunday.   The Ring was represented by me, our Bagman and Treasurer; The Fed and Open both had two representatives as is customary.  We had a very useful discussions around Days of Dance, Instructionals, website and the JMO charity, BBC Children in Need.  It was agreed that DoDs were successful and popular and would continue on the basis of one national event, but sides hosting their own DoDs which are open to all would be encouraged to consider naming them as Regional JMO DoDs.  The first such would be on 17th May in Warwick, hosted by Shakespeare Morris Men.  It was hoped other sides would follow suit.  In the case of instructionals, all three national organisations would encourage member sides that hosted them to make them available across the organisations.  Some like Fools and Beasts already was, and Letchworth's Theo Thomas would be running Morris Musicians Workshops in the Autumn, at a very nominal cost.  One or two other hosted by the Fed and Open were also available to all. Turning to the website, agreement was being sought to have one or more pages hosted on a commercial website, specifically for JMO information, and the Morris insurance scheme, run on behalf of the Morris by the Open's Michael Stimpson, who briefed those present about updates to the public liability policy.  It was also agreed to continue the JMO charity for at least another year, and a presentation would be made to the BBC of the money collected this winter, a sum in excess of £2500.  As your Squire, I am delighted to report the continued good relations and cooperation between our 3 national organisations; it is particularly important when looking at regulations like the traffic and marshalling problems currently being experienced, but whenever a Morris side or organisation is dealing with the press or other outside body, we need to ensure that information and any lessons learned can be shared quickly to all our sides, and cooperation is the way to achieve that.

On the 28th February, Dartington MM held their annual quiz evening; this is when we host an evening of convivial entertainment and invite our friends from Exeter MM and Plymouth MM to join in.  The winning quiz team of 6 people sets the questions for the following year.  This year over 60 people attended with questions being set by Plymouth MM.  It was great fun, and I am sure sides across the country do something similar.  DMM also held their annual Céilidh on 22nd March; this time to raise funds for September Ring Meeting.  Whilst I am on about my own side, don't forget to let the Ring Bagman know about the regular dance events your side runs for the Calendar of Morris Events to be published on the Ring website.

March brought the ARM impeccably organised by Hartley MM.   This was a most enjoyable weekend, with amazingly good weather.  I won't dwell here on much, as full details will be in the Newsletter and online, but the display and instructional by Seven Champions Molly Dancers was most entertaining, as was the singing by their “musicians”.  I was pleased that they all elected to join us at the Feast.  My sincere congratulations to Adam Garland on his election to be your next Squire of the Morris Ring.

Last year, the season started with a very early Ring Meeting, but that was in Adelaide, South Australia, with the chance of much better weather.  Exactly one year later on 4th April we were to gather in Ely, for a Meeting to be hosted by Ring new comers Devil's Dyke MM.  I confess to closely following the weather forecast for a week before the due date, but by the Friday morning, it was clear that we were likely to have good weather up until Saturday night, but after that, it would be touch and go.  I left home at 10.45 to meet up with Iain and in really nice warm sunshine, we made our way east and a little north.  It was Friday of course, but I don't expect we were prepared for the miserable, slow journey, finally arriving just about 19.15.  I had clocked 328 miles and taken  more than 8 hours – oh well, the delights of living in deepest Devon!   We took a little while finding exactly where we were meant to park and find reception, but once that was established (by going the wrong way along a one way street!), we were warmly welcomed and shown to our (palatial) accommodation in a mediaeval building belonging to Kings Ely, a public school associated with the cathedral.  Not much time to settle in, as food was being served between 7 and 8, in yet another mediaeval building called the Monastic Barn – no prizes for guessing its original purpose, but the bats were still there and flying around whilst we ate! 

Saturday tours started at 09.00, and we eventually got back at 18.30.  Nice day, nice pubs, good company; maybe if I was being picky, just too many stops, but as the Squire's tour sampled both tour A and Tour B, it was probably just me?  Sandwiches for lunch was a novelty, and to me they were just about right; after a full English for breakfast and a feast in the evening, why do we persist with a hot cooked lunch?  OK, I know some will disagree, but it just seems gross to me!   The sandwiches were great too!   I also liked the tea and rock cakes put on by the Methodist ladies; what a treat!  Another treat was to come to the Fens, visit 7 pubs and only have to endure the sight of a Greene King hand pump once.  Time for a shower and change before the Feast – nice!  Peter Taylor the Squire of Greensleeves had rushed away at the first pub stop of the day, because his Dad, Bob had become seriously ill; we learned on getting back the sad news that his Dad had died during the day.  A moment to contemplate our own mortality, and a mention at the Feast for Bob would be appropriate, as he had been a long term member of Greensleeves.  Our thoughts are with the Taylor family of course at this sad time.