NOMINATION FOR SQUIRE OF THE MORRIS RING

 

Candidates Name: Paul Reece
Candidate’s Club: Thaxted Morris Men
Proposing Club: Standon Morris Men

 

 

Get Nomination Letter from Standon Morris Men

 

Short Biographical Sketch

I was born in Liverpool in 1948. I am married with four grown-up children and my wife, Marion, is an ardent supporter of the Morris. My formative childhood years were spent in Lincoln, where in 1958 I first danced longsword in public, while my teenage years were spent in Burnley, with periods of study in Falmouth and Brighton. My first job took me to Oxford and an introduction to Bampton on Whit Monday 1973.

In Germany, in 1979, I joined Extraordinary Rheindahlen Morris, with five years as Squire, and in 1980 I began my long association with Trigg Morris Men. Settling in Essex in 1986,1 joined Thaxted Morris Men and Good Easter Molly Gang. Elected Squire of Thaxted in 2000, I have organised the last five Ring Meetings, and prior to this, the central section of the 400th anniversary of Will Kemp's Jig from London to Norwich with displays celebrating East Anglian Morris and Molly traditions.

I have danced and promoted the Morris extensively in Britain and Europe, representing our tradition through street entertainment to displays at a wide range of cultural events and functions. I have taken the Thaxted version of the Horn Dance to the Sidmouth Festival as the climax of the Flame production on the past and future of the Morris, and the Good Easter Molly Gang to the Trafalgar Square celebration of the Morris.

I am passionate about the future of the Morris and the Morris Ring, as the means of galvanising the support that we as a family of morris sides need in securing that future. I see my successful candidacy for the Squire of the Ring as the means of safeguarding the best of our traditions, while moving the organisation forward. Having already taken early retirement, I am able to devote the time necessary to achieving this.