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| Hankies and sticks: Why do people take up Morris dancing? | Hankies and sticks: Why do people take up Morris dancing? |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Last month the BBC told how a long-standing Morris group feared a dearth of "fit, mildly eccentric men" would force it to fold. Luckily men recognised themselves as both fit and quirky and helped avert a crisis. But what is the appeal of Morris dancing? | |
| The annual rhythms of Morris dancing closely resemble cricket. | The annual rhythms of Morris dancing closely resemble cricket. |
| Yes, Morris groups put on the occasional display during the cold dark months of winter, but its seasonal home is the summer. | |
| Winter is the "indoor season", a time for perfecting routines wearing informal attire, away from public view. | Winter is the "indoor season", a time for perfecting routines wearing informal attire, away from public view. |
| The Chelmsford Morris group invited the BBC in for a behind-the-scenes look to see what makes its devotees tick. | The Chelmsford Morris group invited the BBC in for a behind-the-scenes look to see what makes its devotees tick. |
| Given the "eccentric" tag was applied to members by the club's own bagman Celia Kemp, you might be expecting a cast of Willy Wonka types. | Given the "eccentric" tag was applied to members by the club's own bagman Celia Kemp, you might be expecting a cast of Willy Wonka types. |
| You'd be wrong. Almost. | You'd be wrong. Almost. |
| The dances | The dances |
| "There are hundreds of dances in different styles," says Kieran Fitzgerald, the Chelmsford club's "squire" (chairman) and longest continuous serving member. | "There are hundreds of dances in different styles," says Kieran Fitzgerald, the Chelmsford club's "squire" (chairman) and longest continuous serving member. |
| "We do Cotswold Morris, which is the one most people recognise as Morris dancing." | "We do Cotswold Morris, which is the one most people recognise as Morris dancing." |
| Most of the dances, which originate from Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, involve either six or eight men who dance with handkerchiefs or sticks. | Most of the dances, which originate from Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, involve either six or eight men who dance with handkerchiefs or sticks. |
| They include one called the Beaux of London City (Adderbury) which, I am told, could well be a secretly subversive dance that makes fun of the upper classes. | They include one called the Beaux of London City (Adderbury) which, I am told, could well be a secretly subversive dance that makes fun of the upper classes. |
| The women of Chelmsford Morris do North West Morris, which originates from Lancashire and Cheshire, and involves dancing in clogs. | The women of Chelmsford Morris do North West Morris, which originates from Lancashire and Cheshire, and involves dancing in clogs. |
| Unlike some clubs, the group does not perform wearing black face paint. | Unlike some clubs, the group does not perform wearing black face paint. |
| Peculiar words | Peculiar words |
| As mentioned above, Celia is the club's "bagman". | As mentioned above, Celia is the club's "bagman". |
| After about an hour of dancing everybody suddenly stops and pulls up a chair to form a semicircle around her. | After about an hour of dancing everybody suddenly stops and pulls up a chair to form a semicircle around her. |
| This, I learn, is the start of "bagging". | This, I learn, is the start of "bagging". |
| Bagging is the reading out of any announcements pulled from Celia's bag. | Bagging is the reading out of any announcements pulled from Celia's bag. |
| Of course, this being modern times, Celia also produces a regular "E-bagg" - an email newsletter. | Of course, this being modern times, Celia also produces a regular "E-bagg" - an email newsletter. |
| Another word which caught me off guard was "ockleback". It means, they say, moving backwards while facing forward. Celia suggests "ockle" might have something to do with "ankles". | Another word which caught me off guard was "ockleback". It means, they say, moving backwards while facing forward. Celia suggests "ockle" might have something to do with "ankles". |
| The importance of hats | The importance of hats |
| Morris men wear matching uniforms for public performances. | Morris men wear matching uniforms for public performances. |
| Their individuality is expressed through their headwear. | Their individuality is expressed through their headwear. |
| "It is the hats where our personalities come out," says Mr Fitzgerald, who said he got into Morris following a marital break up. | "It is the hats where our personalities come out," says Mr Fitzgerald, who said he got into Morris following a marital break up. |
| "I have always been interested in folk music and had seen Morris dancing. Years later, my marriage broke and I looked at joining a Morris team and I found Chelmsford was very friendly." | "I have always been interested in folk music and had seen Morris dancing. Years later, my marriage broke and I looked at joining a Morris team and I found Chelmsford was very friendly." |
| His own hat bears a healthy bloom of flowers, badges, beer mats and pheasant feathers which, he says, tell the story of places danced and beers enjoyed. | His own hat bears a healthy bloom of flowers, badges, beer mats and pheasant feathers which, he says, tell the story of places danced and beers enjoyed. |
| Oh yes, the beer | Oh yes, the beer |
| Few clubs take pub visits as seriously as Chelmsford Morris. Almost without exception, members have a passion for good ale. | Few clubs take pub visits as seriously as Chelmsford Morris. Almost without exception, members have a passion for good ale. |
| Colin Penney has been a member for three years. | Colin Penney has been a member for three years. |
| He joined thanks to his wife Jan, a member with 10 years behind her. He would drive her to sessions and stay for the post-dance pub visits. | He joined thanks to his wife Jan, a member with 10 years behind her. He would drive her to sessions and stay for the post-dance pub visits. |
| The crunch moment came when the club announced it was sometimes short of men. | The crunch moment came when the club announced it was sometimes short of men. |
| "I felt slightly embarrassed knowing they were short and that if I joined I could help them out. So I joined. I enjoy it - they are a good crowd." | "I felt slightly embarrassed knowing they were short and that if I joined I could help them out. So I joined. I enjoy it - they are a good crowd." |
| In the blood | In the blood |
| "I am second generation," says Mrs Kemp. "My parents were folk dancers before I was born so I was brought up with folk music. | "I am second generation," says Mrs Kemp. "My parents were folk dancers before I was born so I was brought up with folk music. |
| "I had a melodeon when I was 16 years old and about 14 years ago I got together with some people and started to learn how to play it properly. | "I had a melodeon when I was 16 years old and about 14 years ago I got together with some people and started to learn how to play it properly. |
| "I got into Morris because it just seemed very familiar with the whole folk world really. I don't dance, I just play. I could not do what our women do. | "I got into Morris because it just seemed very familiar with the whole folk world really. I don't dance, I just play. I could not do what our women do. |
| "For me Morris is not just dancing but part of a much wider folk culture. That's the attraction." | "For me Morris is not just dancing but part of a much wider folk culture. That's the attraction." |
| Body parts | Body parts |
| Morris-related injuries are not uncommon. | Morris-related injuries are not uncommon. |
| I met members with shin injuries, sore hands and joint replacements. | I met members with shin injuries, sore hands and joint replacements. |
| Peter Kemp, who returned to the world of Morris after many years in sword dancing, had a hip replacement just over a decade ago. | Peter Kemp, who returned to the world of Morris after many years in sword dancing, had a hip replacement just over a decade ago. |
| "People who have been doing it all their lives are likely to suffer in their knees and ankles. As for my hip, it is still going strong." | "People who have been doing it all their lives are likely to suffer in their knees and ankles. As for my hip, it is still going strong." |
| But he would not give up Morris for the world. | But he would not give up Morris for the world. |
| "When we go out, we go out as a kind of large family," he says. | "When we go out, we go out as a kind of large family," he says. |
| New blood | New blood |
| Aged 30, Matt Barlow is both the club's youngest and newest member. | Aged 30, Matt Barlow is both the club's youngest and newest member. |
| He joined after hearing Morris dancing being berated on radio. | He joined after hearing Morris dancing being berated on radio. |
| "I joined as a bit of a protest against what I heard," he said. "And then there are the pub visits as well. | "I joined as a bit of a protest against what I heard," he said. "And then there are the pub visits as well. |
| "I am really enjoying it, they are a grand bunch of lads." He has yet to meet the club's female group. | "I am really enjoying it, they are a grand bunch of lads." He has yet to meet the club's female group. |
| "I had never ever considered Morris dancing until recently," says fellow newbie Dave Moss. | "I had never ever considered Morris dancing until recently," says fellow newbie Dave Moss. |
| "I heard the club was short of men and it struck me they were in danger of closing and losing an age-old tradition. | "I heard the club was short of men and it struck me they were in danger of closing and losing an age-old tradition. |
| "I thought I would give it a go and have thrown myself in at the deep end." | "I thought I would give it a go and have thrown myself in at the deep end." |