On Saturday the sides will tour Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, dancing in the Bury St Edmunds Abbey Gardens at 9:30 before gathering at the Old Cannon Brewery for refreshment. During the day they will be dancing at pubs in Burwell, Fen Ditton, Histon, Kennet, Stow-cum-Quy, West Wratting, Wicken, Woodditton and Upware, before returning to Ely for a feast in the monastic barn at King’s Ely, with the Mayor of Ely as guest of honour.
At 9:30 on Sunday morning the sides will process through Ely, along the High Street to the Cathedral for the Sung Eucharist Service. Afterwards there will be a public display on the paved area on The Gallery near the West end of the Cathedral. This will be an excellent opportunity to see Morris Dancing at its best, performed by the cream of dancers from across the country.
The hosts for the weekend are the Devil's Dyke Morris Men, with dancers and musicians drawn from the (Cambridge / Newmarket / Ely) local area. Formed 30 years ago, the side performs regularly to entertain the public at events such as Reach Fair, the Thriplow Daffodil Weekend, Ely Folk Festival etc. On Thursday evenings in the summer we can be found maintaining this most English of traditions while sampling the fine ales at local inns.
A recent rule change allowed Devil's Dyke, which boasts a history of excellent women musicians, to become a full member side of the Morris Ring and they are hosting this meeting to celebrate joining the wider Morris community.
For further information please contact:
Nick Kerry, Squire of the Devil's Dyke Morris Men
nick.kerry24601 [at] btinternet.com
07526 100767
Randall Scott, Bagman of the Devil's Dyke Morris Men
bagman [at] devilsdykemm.org.uk 01223 208253
The programme for Saturday, which can be found in full on their web site, is:
9:15am – 10:00am Ely, The Cutter CB7 4BN
10:30am Wicken, Maid's Head
10:45am Bury St Edmunds, Old Cannon Brewery
11:45am Burwell Fox
12:00pm Kennett, Bell
1:00pm Fulbourn Social Club
1:30pm Wood Ditton, Three Blackbirds
2:30pm Stow cum Quy, White Swan
2:45pm West Wratting, Chestnut Tree
3:30pm Fen Ditton, King's Head
5:15pm Histon, Red Lion
5:15pm Upware, Five Miles from Anywhere
Sunday,
9:30 am process through Ely, along the High Street to the Cathedral
10:30am Meeting of Ring Clubs - for the Sung Eucharist Service. Afterwards there will be a public display on the paved area on The Gallery near the West end of the Cathedral.