Open to all budding or experienced Fools, Beasts and Morris Characters from any team from the Ring, Open or Federation, or independent. A truly JMO event.
This year Chanctonbury Ring Morris Men are hosting the Unconvention as part of their big anniversary and it will be based in and around Brighton. Our base will be Henfield Cricket Club, Brighton Road, Henfield, West Sussex BN5 9RP.
The agenda has been updated with AOB, so please download a copy from here. There will be a very small number of printed copies at the event but these will only be issued to those who for various reasons cannot directly access the website themselves, so if you would like a copy for your own perusal please consider printing your own or using an electronic device to view it to save on paper. Read more about Annual Representatives' Meeting 2023
Times are going to be tough for all associated with supporting the Morris World. Perhaps now is the time to update your kit, learn a new instrument or some new songs. Use the links to keep these businesses going! Read more about Links
Mike Heaney will need no introduction to those who have an interest in morris history and folk culture. This new (still in pre-publication) book traces the history of morris dancing in England, from its introduction in the 15th century, through the contention of the Reformation and Civil War, when morris dancing and maypoles became potent symbols of the older ways of living, to its re-invention as an emblem of Victorian concepts of Merrie England in the 19th century.. Read more about The Ancient English Morris Dance by Michael Heaney
Apologies once again for the late posting but Michael Stimpson has only just been able to extract the information from the insurers. The deadline of 20th of January cannot, unfortunately, be extended. Read more about Personal Accident Policy
There will be Morris Dancing in Exeter! On behalf of Open Morris, Beltane Border Morris, based on Dartmoor in Devon, have stepped up to host the 2023 JMO Day of Dance in Exeter.
We are planning a day of Morris Dancing extravaganza full of colour and music, with dance spots all over historic Exeter. There will be evening entertainment in the shape of sessions and many opportunities to sample Devon’s finest beers and ales. Read more about JMO Day of Dance 2023 – Exeter – 22nd April 2023
Following the COVID enforced interregnum, most of the traditional events below have resumed. We've worked our way through the entries and those in bold have been confirmed. If we've missed you, shout out. Meanwhile it is worth checking with individual sides' web or Facebook pages for further confirmation. Happy New Year to all our readers ... who have read this far. Read more about Traditional Morris Events: January
As up-to-date as our searches can discover of members Yuletide "traditional" events. If we've missed yours, please email me webeditor [at] themorrisring [dot] orgRead more about Traditional Morris Events: Christmas
The famous Jigs Instructional weekend is returning on 20-22 January 2023. Apologies for the short notice, there were issues with venues, but it is still at Sutton Bonington Village Hall LE12 5NJ.
Come and learn some jigs or treat it - as an ex-Squire put it - as an "MoT for the Morris". We have some excellent tutors and musicians, who will offer something both for the expert and for those with little experience. Note that it's for dancers, we can't offer musicians 'playing for jigs' practice, but you can of course pick our musicians' brains. Read more about Jigs Instructional 2023
All you need know about Membership of the Morris Ring.
Note: A discount in all membership types of £10 is in future applicable if paid by bank transfer. This reflects the now ease of electronic transfer and the additional inconvenience of cheque payments Read more about A Guide to Membership
This year, Mersey Morris are hosting the Unconvention, and it will be based on the Wirral Peninsula, Cheshire.Our base will be at Westbourne Community Centre, 59 Westbourne Rd, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 4DQ. Friday night there will be supper, bar, music/dance workshop and singing! Saturday tour will be mainly in Chester. AGM and workshop on Sunday. Indoor camping as usual; there is space for a few Motor Homes, but not caravans. Camping is probably available nearby. A list of hotels, B&Bs, and campsites is available on request. Read more about The Illustrious Order of Fools and Beasts Unconvention 2022, The Wirral, Cheshire
The 20th meeting of the Morris 18-30 is to take place on the weekend of 14-16 October 2022, based in the fair city of York. This year's entertainment will revert to the typical model popular in the before times, with practice for all men on Friday night in preparation for the tour on Saturday. To conclude the weekend, there will be dancing on Sunday where we will be joined by local Cotswold side Ebor Morris. Read more about Morris 18-30, York – Hosted by members of Ebor Morris
There’s a few items of business that need close attention of club officers in this newsletter. Amongst other things, the bank account has been changed from HSBC to NatWest so any standing orders/...
The Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside, Mr Robert Owen JP DL, is opening proceedings as part of the ceremony at 10.00 in St John's Gardens (next to the iconic St George's Hall) to greet 350 visiting dancers and musicians from across the country, all belonging to member sides of the Morris Ring, the Morris Federation and Open Morris (the Joint Morris Organisations). Southport Swords will welcome Mr Owen and the Squire of the Morris Ring, Simon Newman,with a dance, and Saddleworth Morris Men will perform to start the dance tours rolling. Read more about Joint Morris Organisation National Day of Dance - Liverpool 2022
Following several months of discussions, a new constitution and supporting documents for the running of the organisation were adopted by a majority vote at the 2022 ARM. This is the end of many months of work put in by the Squire's commission to make these documents relevant and more accessible to the wider membership. Read more about The Constitution of the Morris Ring