The Newsletter No. 41 October - December 2005

Conversion of this Newsletter into an acceptable Web version was tricky! I eventually split Charlies version down into a number of sections these are:

• Main Newsletter
• Candidates for the Ring Squire Election:
  • Paul Reece & Nomination From Standon MM
  • Brian Tasker & Nomination From Broadwood M
• 2006 Annual Representatives Meeting Application Form
• Morris Ring Contact Information Form

Note that all Email addresses have been 'coded' so that nasty robots cannot find them! Hopefully! Also, the down-loadable files were all generated with Macintosh MS Word, if you have difficulties with these please Email me, , Ring Web Editor

 

Hello,

The administrative stuff to start with:

Side Contact Details. Attempting to keep an up-to-date record of contact information is the most tedious part of my job so thanks to those Bagman and individuals who have contacted me with confirmation of existing details and up-dates where applicable. Where you have NOT replied please spend a few seconds to email confirmation of your sides basic confirmation details esp. email address and phone number.

 

E-mailed Newsletters. It is not possible to please all of the people all of the time I emailed my first Newsletter and posted the second. Some of you moaned that the email clogged your systems and others moaned because I was wasting paper and postage. As the edition has to be accompanied by Insurance and ARM information I have sent snail-mail copies to everyone. In future where you have requested only an electronic version, or both, that is what you will receive and to those who did not reply (or I have got it wrong!) will be snail-mailed a paper copy.

 

Application Forms etc. To ease the task of collation when envelope stuffing you will find all common forms are stapled into the main document. It was interesting how many people phoned & emailed seeking Application Forms for the various instructionals only to find them when they read their Newsletter!

 

Morris Ring 1 Royal Mail 0 Harry Stevenson received this apology and refunds from the Royal Mail following the problems surrounding the posting of the Autumn Ring Circular.

I am writing in response to Mr Stevensons enquiry dated 6^th October, about the service he received at Olivers Battery Post Office branch. As Customer Care Administrator on behalf of Post Office Ltd your complaint has been passed to me for reply.

I am sorry to hear that you were surcharged on the mail you received from Mr Stevenson due to the above office giving the incorrect postage. As a gesture of goodwill on behalf of Post Office Ltd, I have enclosed a book of 1^st Class stamps to cover the costs you have incurred.

Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience you may have been caused, I trust that this will go some way to restoring your faith in our service.

 

Ring Directory Up-dates. Due to the large number of changes over the past few weeks I have NOT included the usual list of changes as they are changing almost daily. I will email up-to-date information as an Excel Spreadsheet upon request. If you let me have your side website address I will include that information on the spreadsheet and in the paper version provided post-ARM. Have you checked your Sidefinder entry at http://www.morrisdancing.org/finder/sfcgi.html

ARM 3^rd- 5^th March 2006. Hosted by Chalice Morris Men. You received formal notification of this meeting in the last newsletter. Booking form at back of the Newsletter please return the form to the name & address on the form and NOT to Steve or myself.

Elections.

I needed to have received nominations for Squire and any Area Reps. who are due for election; Motions, etc. by three months before the date of the ARM. I have received two nominations for the office of Squire of the Morris Ring and nothing for Area Reps.

v     Brian Tasker (Hartley MM & Castleford Longsword) ProposingClub: Broadwood Men

v     Paul Reece (Thaxted MM) Proposing club: Standon Morris Men

The supporting documents are within this newsletter. Ballot forms and a reminder of voting instruction will accompany the next newsletter.

 

John Davies has informed me that he will be standing down as Area Rep for the West Midlands at the ARM in March 2006. Kevin Downham of Ilmington Morris Men is a candidate to replace him.

 

Child Protection Advice. Thanks to Stewart from Mendip and to others for the positive feedback following our work on this. I appreciate that many of you think that the whole issue is silly and that if we all applied common sense that all will be well. You are probably right but if yet another document can protect

 

THE TREASURERS RAMBLINGS

Another year of very successful Ring Meetings over with. My heartiest congratulations to the men of Helmond, Thaxted, Durham, Long Man and St Albans for all their sweat and tears in organising these events.

Subscriptions:

The deadline for these is now behind us (30.11.05). Congratulations to all those that managed to save their Morris side from the additional 10 post cut-off date levy. To all those who have not yet got the hang of this, please get in touch with me as soon as possible.

 

Insurance Matters: (Oh yes it does)

If your insurance document is with this mailing, all is well with your world. If it is not here, it is possible that you have a small problem. This could mean that I have not yet received your annual dues for the period 2005-06. Please see above paragraph.

The Optional Personal Accident application form was supplied with the October Bagmans newsletter and should be submitted, as stated, directly to Michael Stimpson. The deadline for this optional cover is 20^th January 2006. After this date all applications (initial or renewal) and cheques will be returned to the addressee.

 

The Morris Shop: has been very busy stocking up for Christmas and hopefully, a busy year to follow. Morris Ring T-Shirts with Trust me ~ Im a Morris Dancer on the back and the Morris Ring logo in the front. These are better appreciated when viewed on the Morris Ring (Shop) web page, have a look. We currently stock XL, L, Med & Small in any colour you desire as long it is BLACK (with white lettering). Only 6.50 (plus 1 P&P). There are also a few of the 2005 Ring Meetings T-Shirts available at only 5 each (plus 1 P&P)

 

2006 CALENDAR OF TRADITIONAL CUSTOMS.

This item does what it says on the tin. Colourful, unique and very attractive calendar illustrated by Karen Cater of Hedingham Fair. Many of the major folk festival and events listed 6.50 (1 p&p).

 

LOST MORRIS. (Cd) With a few exceptions, the 'lost Morris' tunes on this CD can be found in Sharp's manuscripts (Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, Cecil Sharp House). They come from the counties of Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, and Oxfordshire, from locations such as Stow-on-the-Wold, Shipston-on-Stour, Lower Swell, Clifford's Mesne, Filkins, and Brill. A few are subtly different versions of well-known Morris tunes such as 'Constant Billy' and 'Maid of the Mill', but many are tunes that don't turn up in other traditions. 11 (plus 1 p&p)

THE ANGLO CONCERTINA MUSIC OF WILLIAM KIMBER. (Bk) This is an important study of an important figure in traditional music.  As Roger Digby notes in his foreword It is the first time that the music of a traditional musician has undergone such a detailed analysis, and I think that this must certainly be true as far as England is concerned, at any rate.  For what Dan Worrall has attempted to do is to present a full transcription of 28 tunes as played by Kimber, showing not only the notes being played right and left hand but which buttons are being pressed for each of those notes. 16 (plus 1.40 p&p).

HISTORY AND THE MORRIS DANCE by John Cutting 12.50 (p&p 1.40)

'Where did Morris come from, and what was it for?' After thirty years of dancing, teaching, and research, John Cutting attempts to answer these questions. From the earliest known references (1137 in Spain, 1448 in England) to the middle of the nineteenth century Morris events are listed and examined, while a parallel study looks at publications about Morris, from the Puritans down to the present day. Many illustrations, portraying Morris or possible Morris dancers, from the fourteenth century onwards are reproduced in the text.

 

Steve Adamson BFB, Treasurer, The Morris Ring

Events Calendar?

My suggestion that if you have an event be it dancing on May Day at dawn, a Day of Dance or a Feast to let me have the information and so that I could include it on a central list met with overwhelming indifference. It was simply to provide a source of dates to avoid when planning something. I recognise failure. Topic closed.

Personnel news

Brian Dempsey (White Horse MM, Mendip MM and West Somerset MM) died in July of Liver Cancer. Brian was an active Member of Mendip MM in the early days of Mendip MM and when West Somerset MM emerged out of Mendip MM, Brian was also an active Member of West Somerset MM, attending Ring Meetings with both sides. Well known for driving cars at very high speeds.

After living in the Mendip area for several years Brian and Joyce moved to Chagford for a short period before moving to Hindon where he ran an antique business before moving to develop property and live in France. He also bought and restored Grand Father Clocks. At the Bristol Ring Meeting when this was held at Colston School the late John Venables (then Squire of The Ring) had asked the Club to present a dance at the Massed show, only to find that this was not possible because Brian, accompanied by a car load of dancers, had disappeared to buy another clock.

Brian danced with White Horse, and was very much involved in the early days of Mendip MM and was a contemporary of both Len Luckwell and Bob Bradbury. Dudley Binding

 

Other Issues / Topics / News

Morris Dance Links
A guide to Morris dance resources on the Web. All known Morris-related web sites http://www.sapphireswan.com/dance/links/morris.htm This is part of the America-based Sapphire Swan Dance Directory {Note added by John Maher, Web Editor}

Tunes from the Black Book

A reminder: On the Ring web site you can find many of the tunes from the Black Book available in abc format.(not all there yet). A real boon for those who can't get the dots in through the eyes and out of the fingers. http://www.themorrisring.org/More/Tunes/index.html

 

Looks like a real labour of love from Vaughan Hully of Shakespeare Morris Men who did the transcription and John Maher for getting them on the site with photos and some descriptions to put them in a context. Pete Thomas

 

Call for Papers

Following the success of the Talks, Lectures and Discussions programme at the Arts Centre at this year's Sidmouth Folk Week, it is envisaged that the same will be repeated during the week 4th-11th August 2006. This is a Call for Papers. Topics covered in 2005 included Gipsy folksong, a West Country hobby horse community-based custom, new horizons in West Gallery music, and a discussion on the 'new cool' in Morris dancing! Speakers will be expected to supply their own equipment, although the Arts Centre does offer the use of a projector screen. Please submit ideas to , for a response early next year.

George Frampton

 

Conkers. John Bloxsom of New St George Morris and Rutland Morris Men was narrowly defeated by a previous winner in the nine-minute tactical final of the Vale of Belvoir Conker Championships 2005 today (16th October) in Long Clawson, Leicestershire.

 

Yateley MM were delighted to welcome six visiting sides, their friends from Chalice, Icknield Way, Kennet, Spring Grove, Thames Valley and Utrecht, to their annual day of dance, celebrating their 30^th anniversary, on Saturday, 10^th September. They also invited ex-members of both the boys & mens sides to join them and were delighted when both responded favourably and were able to put up show sides for the Massed Display outside the Dog & Partridge PH.

The whole occasion amply demonstrated the fellowship of the Ring in all its facets & exemplified why for the first 30 years of their existence the Yateley Morris Men have been proud members of the Ring. Long may it continue.

Monty Squire Yateley MM

Cider Bashing.

"For those not familiar with cider bashing, what we have in mind is a start from around 4-ish for those who want to scratter and press apples into a barrel for next year's cider (it's easy and quite fun and complements the wassail we do very nicely). Naturally, we'll be partaking of some of last year's cider which has now developed into a very healthy vintage.

Culled from Dartington Morris Newsletter: (John Culf)

 

Joseph Needham

An interesting Google from a Canadian Newspaper.  An author describes his next book as being:

about China, and about a British academic called Joseph Needham who was a nudist, vegetarian, communist, serial-adulterer, Morris dancing biochemist who went on to write this enormous encyclopaedia about science and the history of science and civilization.

Spotted by John Frearson

Strictly Dance Fever The BBC are currently looking for new contestants to compete in the second series of Strictly Dance Fever. We want to cover as many dance styles as possible

For further information contact:

 

Real Anker Morris Men?

Seeing the photograph of the Morris Scarecrows in the latest Newsletter reminded me of an incident that occurred recently to Anker Morris.

The villagers of Witherley, near Atherstone, hold an Annual Scarecrow Festival where villagers build scarecrows in their gardens and the church populate the pews, pulpit and choirstalls with scarecrows. Anker were booked to dance at the Blue Lion in the village to entertain the hungry and thirsty. A small group of us, in full kit, were in the crowds making their way from the car park to the village centre when we passed an elderly lady in a wheelchair. As we passed she exclaimed in that very loud piercing voice unique to elderly ladies, "Oh look, Morris Men!" Not wishing to miss the opportunity of getting a bit of PR in with the public we turned to speak to her. As we did so she turned to the young woman pushing her wheelchair and continued in the same penetrating voice, "Are they real?". Exit a rather deflated group of Anker Morris Men to the accompaniment of guffaws from Joe Public! And we thought that we looked rather sprightly and energetic!

Tony Ashley.

 

Battle of Trafalgar There were various celebrations of the 200^th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. I have received no reports of dancing but I liked this comment:

The Forest provided many oaks for the Royal Navy fleet in the Napoleonic wars. Nelson visited the Forest and urged the government to plant more oaks to ensure a good supply for future fleets. An act of parliament was passed and thousands of oak trees were planted. By the time these trees had matured, battleships we being built from steel, so they were not needed. Strangely these great oaks in the Forest are now known as Napoleonic oak, and not Nelson oaks.

Steve, Gloucestershire Morris Men

What is Morris? Why do we do it?

There has been a great deal of discussion recently concerning these age old questions. One contribution towards this that appeared on the Web discussion site was:

Last evening after a somewhat lethargic, everyone is a bit tired sort of practice, Jack in the Green retreated to the local pub. Reinforced with reasonably good ale we started in on the singing. Luckily the landlord at this place is a reasonable sort who will actually turn down the resident sound track for us. The first onlookers to get hooked were a couple of Red Cross volunteers, in our area to assist with recent flood damage (New England, not the US South). They joined us at table after deciding we were, on the whole, relatively harmless, and that we might prove to be entertaining "local colour." And of course their presence egged us on; even after one admitted that she was a mental health worker. Eventually we noticed that another woman had left her party on the other side of the pub and was lurking on the outskirts of our group. During a break in the singing we made motion to include her in the group. Somewhat flustered by the sudden attention of 8 or 10 bearded Morris folk wielding pints, she blurted out, with a look of total consternation on her face: "I've been listening from the other room - it's lovely, but what causes it?"

As best I can recall, we never did manage any sort of even remotely adequate answer for the poor woman. C Compton Musician, Jack in the Green

 

Good news Pete Grassby has recovered his instruments reported stolen in the last Newsletter. But there has been another theft: Accordion stolen in Newcastle on Wed 30 Nov 2005

A stunning wooden 60 Bass Salterelle Clifden Accordion, price 2,779, a beautiful wooden body, very tactile, very classy instrument indeed, plus two AKG mikes in silver case were STOLEN last weekend from an up and coming young player and student at Newcastle University on the Folk and Traditional Music Degree Course. If you hear of anyone trying to sell these very special (and expensive!) items, please contact

 

"Next Foot Up" Long Distance Morris Dance

In 1599/1600 Will Kemp danced 150 miles from London to Norwich. In 1981, Jim Bartlett of Ravensbourne M.M. danced 202 miles from Orpington to Worcester. On the 25^th anniversary of that feat, another Ravensbourne man will attempt to beat it by dancing 207 miles from Tunbridge Wells to Worcester, and by so doing, set an undisputed accredited distance record for an individual dancer. Ben Dauncey hopes to set a record which will be duly accredited by Guinness World Records, but his primary object is to raise a large sum of money to be donated equally to The Multiple Sclerosis Society and The Make-A-Wish Foundation.

 

Ben is running over 70 miles a week now and we have found a well-qualified physiotherapist to keep Ben on his feet during the event. We are still looking for someone like a surveyor or civil engineer who would be acceptable to Guinness World Records as an independent witness to accompany the event in order to verify the distance travelled.  If you know someone suitable who might help we should be most grateful.

 

Details of the route, day by day, together with details of how to sponsor him can be found on Bens web site at www.nextfootup.com. Please help Ben to make this a memorable event.

Malc Ward (Ravensbourne)

RING PUBLICATIONS

We all need copy we always appreciate articles, photo's etc.

Harry Stevenson: Editor of the Morris Circular

Contact him at:-           Erin House,

                                    59, Olivers Battery Road North,

                                    Winchester Mobile 07775 785271

                                    SO22 4JB. Tel: 01962 855911

                                                            Email:

 

Sean Goddard : Editor of the Morris Dancer.

Contact him at:-           142, Hollingbury Road,

                                    Brighton

                                    BN1 7JD                     Tel: 01273 559107

                                                            E-mail: .

ARCHIVE NEWS

The Archive Group met on Sunday 13^th November with a lengthy agenda concerning their various projects. I hope to include a report in the next Newsletter.

 

Photos

The Ring archivists and scrapbook keeper are always pleading for photographs of current events but there is a wealth of fascinating historic material available. One such source is the local library photo collections many of which are now being digitized.

Derby and Nottinghamshire - see http://www.picturethepast.org.uk/ [John Frearson reports having searched dance and got Hayfield 1907 and Old Glossop 1925 [plus loads of Maypole etc]. Manchester Central Library Image Archive http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/

[Duncan Broomhead says search: Morris Dancing 24 images, Pace Egg 21 images, Rushcart 6 images]

 

Breaking News.. EFDSS Gold Badge Awards

Phil Heaton and Aubrey O'Brien have recently been awarded gold badges by EFDSS both for services to the Morris Sword in particular. Details to follow. News from Brian Tasker

Past Ring Meetings

John Maher, John Frearson & Chris Metherell were separately, and now together, trying to compile a definitive list of all the 305 (or so) Ring Meetings to date. Everyone is amazed to find that such a list does not seem to exist! Keith Francis, as keeper of the Log Book has a partial list, but a lot of information was destroyed when BFB had that disastrous fire.

Historically there seems to have been some confusion as to what constituted a Ring Meeting. Chris Metherell suggests this as a way forward:

A simple and foolproof way of defining a Ring Meeting: The official record is the Log Book. When the Squire signs off the log as correct, if the meeting is stated in the log to be a Ring Meeting then that's what it is. I have checked the logs for the first 160 meetings - they are 100% accurate.

Sometimes the documents produced by the host team are wrong - but not the log!

       The March 1950 instructional in London was not a Ring Meeting. It is not referred to as such in the logs.

       The meeting on 14th May 1955 was at Ardley, organised by the Letchworth Men. Again not a Ring Meeting.

       A mistake was made by Ludlow MM in the publications for the 71st meeting. They have it as the 68th. This is clearly incorrect.

       There were no meetings in Stockton in 1960, Canterbury in 1964, nor Bristol in 1965.

Visit http://www.themorrisring.org/Archive/previous_rings.html and inform John Maher of any errors.

 

MORRIS RING - AND RING MEMBER -EVENTS

Applications are in and the allocation process is underway. By midnight on the closing date of 5^th November 223 men had applied to attend the Mendip Meeting as their first choice! Mendip have responded by swapping venues to enable them to increase their capacity from 120 to 180 places. The other two meetings were also healthily applied for including those from several sides whose application was sent late.

Successful applicants to the Weston-Super-Mare Ring Meeting 2006 (alphabetical order)

• Side Name(Number of Men)
• Bedford MM (10)
• East Surrey MM (17)
• Hartley MM (8)
• Icknield Way MM (10)
• Jockey MM (15)
• Long Man MM (14)
• Martlett Sword & MM (15)
• Mayflower MM (7)
• Mersey MM (8)
• North Wood MM (14)
• Stafford MM (10)
• Standon MM (9)
• Thaxted MM (10)
• Uttoxeter Heart of Oak MM (10)
• Wadard MM (?)
• TOTAL (16 Sides) (179)
• In view of the huge over subscription for their ring meeting Mendip MM have invited these local sides to tour with us on Saturday 22^nd July :- Chalice MM (12); Exeter MM (12); West Somerset MM (10)

 

Successful applicants to the Chipperfield Ring Meeting 2006

• Side Name(Number of Men)
• Anker MM (10)
• Green Man MM (12)
• Anstey MM (7)
• Trigg MM (2)
• Faithful City (2)
• Chester City MM (?)
• TOTAL (6 sides) (53+)

 

Successful applicants to the Thaxted Ring Meeting 2006

• Side Name(Number of Men)
• Adelaide MM (?)
• Chalice MM (10)
• Dartington MM (15)
• Dolphin MM (9)
• Green Oak MM (2)
• Men of Wight (8)
• Moulton MM (12)
• Rutland MM (14)
• Utrecht MM (8)
• Winchester MM (10)
• TOTAL (10 sides) (88+)

 

Future Ring Meetings

We are looking for sides to organise future Ring Meetings provisionally booked sides and dates are listed below. If your side might be interested in hosting a Ring Meeting to mark an anniversary or simply for the hell of it I can let you have a set of guidelines so that you have some idea of what you are letting yourself in for. Better still volunteer to host an ARM as a practice for your organisational skills, the accommodation and the catering without the added hassle of buses and displays!

 

2007

2^nd - 4^th March                  ARM Hosted By ?

TBA                            THAXTED RING MEETING

29^th June 1^st July          RIPLEY 25^th ANNIV. RING MEETING

13^th - 15^th July            STAFFORD 50^th ANNIV. RING MEETING

TBA                 ?

2008

7^th 9^th March               ARM - Hosted By TBA

TBA ...               THAXTED RING MEETING

TBA ...               MERSEY LIVERPOOL - CITY Of CULTURE RING MEETING

TBA ..               WHITCHURCH 60^th ANNIV. RING MEETING

 

2009 THE MORRIS RINGS 75^th ANNIVERSARY

6^th 8^th March               ARM Hosted by TBA

TBA...                   THAXTED RING MEETING

TBA ...               HARTHILL RING MEETING

 

Other Forthcoming events

Jigs Instructional 20^th-22^nd Jan. 2006 There are still a few places available.

The Jigs Instructional endeavours to inspire the confidence and ability to dance Jigs by giving a good basic grounding in each tradition. There is a lot to cover so the pace is fairly quick and, while try to cater for different levels of ability and experience, it is unlikely that a beginner will derive much benefit from the weekend.

If you are interested please contact Geoff Jerram a.s.a.p. and complete the Application form included in the last Newsletter. [Contact Ring Bagman for copy of form if necessary.]

 

RAPPER SWORD INSTRUCTIONAL 17^th - 19^th March 2006 There are still places available.

Under the skilled tuition of Brain Padgett and Paul Wesson of Stockton Morris Men, (translators will be on hand), a limited number of men will be introduced to just a few traditions of this charismatic Morris of the North East. (Rapper Swords will be provided).

Closing date for applications: Jan 5th Further information: Alan Dandy (Event Bagman)

Tel: 01952 810334 email :

If you are interested please complete the Application form included in the last Newsletter.

 

DERT

Black Swan Rapper are organising the Dancing England Rapper Tournament in York on the weekend of 17^th- 19^th March 2006 and have sent booking information to the rapper contacts they have from the previous DERT. Further information from BlackSwan
Kevern Stafford for Black Swan Rapper

Morris Improvers Workshop

Barry Care, Past Squire of the Ring, Moulton MM, etc. is hoping to host an instructional entitled "Taking it beyond the Basics". It will be "A w/e session for dancers who have achieved a basic competence in their Morris and who want to progress onto Jig Dancing, widen their experience of different traditions, and learn more about the Morris in general."

The dates have yet to be confirmed but are likely to be mid-February.

 

Other instructionals?

I have received a half offer / half request to organize and / or attend a Longsword Instructional in the South West. Any offers or further interest? Please let me know so that I can act as a broker between interested parties.

I repeat my comment / request from Newsletter No. 40

We Ring Officers are frequently asked Why dont you organise thisor that instructional? The simple fact is that we cant! We will do everything in our power to help and encourage you but we are only the figurehead(s) representing you the member sides. If you have an idea for an instructional we can provide notes of guidance (available from the Ring Bagman) and might be able to put you in touch with appropriate tutors but we are unable to undertake the actual organization of the event. We need individual or groups of sides to do that on behalf of the wider membership.

 

Pipe and Tabor Festival

The International Pipe and Tabor Festival is leaving Gloucestershire and moving north. 14th -16th July in York City Centre. They are planning a Morris programme for the Saturday with workshops on Morris taboring, and possibly Moresk music and dance. The real excitement of the festival will be the Taborers providing music for the York Mystery Plays.

 

'Gate to Southwell' Saturday 10^th June 2006

This is now an annual event from hundreds of years ago, revived by Dolphin in 1981 and every year since! The 'Gate' consists of approx 200 dancers retracing the route of the annual pilgrimage from Nottingham to Southwell.  These days we do it in one day with the assistance of buses.  We carry the 'Southwell Pence', the Nottingham Parish's contributions to the mother church, and virtually all of the 23 miles is walked either in total or in relays, in just 8 hours.  We stop at pubs to dance and collect.  (Last tear we collected 1400 for the Nottingham Hospice).  When we arrive in Southwell, we process to the minister, deliver the 'Southwell Pence' to the church and have a short ceremony and dance inside.  This is followed by a drink at the famous Bramley Apple pub.  In all, a tiring but happy and satisfying day.  More details are on the Dolphin Web site www.dolphin-morris.co.uk, those interested in taking part can email us at for more details. Chris Gigg Dolphin MM

LINKS WITH THE MORRIS ORGANISATIONS

Having represented the Morris Ring at the Morris Federation AGM in September last month I drove to Bristol for the Open Morris AGM. Whilst the lynch-pin remains the Insurance links and their housekeeping is none of our business it is interesting to witness how many of the issues apply to all three organisations as was obvious from the letter that I included in the last Newsletter from John Bacon, immediate Past-President of the Morris Federation.

The Three Organisations plus the EFDSS had planned a Joint Meeting March but as there are a number of pressing issues we have arranged an extra meeting on 11^th December. While some are clearly personal to each of the separate organisations there are areas where common interest might be served through joint discussion. These include:

1. Bi-annual Joint Show: Date /Venue
2. Liverpool City of Culture
3. Olympics 2012
4. Performing Rights Society
5. Morris Futures. Up-date?
6. Fall-out from PEL
7. Insurance Issues: (naturally)
8. Child Protection Policies