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The Newsletter No.48 February 2007

Hello,

As I put the finishing touches to this Newsletter I have received the sad news that John Price, stalwart of St Albans for many years has died.
“On 6th February John Price collapsed while walking in St. Albans. Attempts to resuscitate him at the scene and later in hospital failed. John had been a member of St Albans Morris Men for many years, a former Squire and Bagman, an outstanding musician, manager of our website, and organizer for the club of several tours abroad. He will be greatly missed.”
His character and sense of humour has been widely appreciated by those who encountered him at various Morris Ring events and more recently through his observant and witty contributions to the exchanges on the MDDL internet discussion site.
Alvechurch Morris Men
We are pleased to welcome this Border Morris side from the West Midlands as associate members of the Morris Ring. Chris Davies (Bgm):
New Year Honours
Shirley Collins and Archie Fisher both received MBEs in the New Years Honours. Congratulations! In addition, Peter Lund, (morris dancer with the Ancient Men (and Oxford University Morris) and EFDSS activist in Oxfordshire), was awarded an MBE for services to the community in Oxfordshire. Peter celebrated his 80th birthday last year.
Derek Schofield
National Charity Appeals
Over the past few months the Officers of the Morris Ring have received several requests for us to support one or other of the numerous very worthy charity appeals. We have made the decision that whilst we may on occasion publicise information about the efforts and appeals of known Morris individuals or sides it would be totally inappropriate for the Morris Ring to select one charity over another. This sort of decision remains totally at the discretion of individual Member and Associate sides. Please be reassured that contact information will never be divulged to any outside organisation however worthy they might be.
Bagman of the Morris Ring
Public Relations Advisor Following many years of faithful service to successive Squires of the Morris Ring - starting when he was appointed as 'Publicity Officer' by Roy Yarnell in 1992 - Adrian Wedgewood has decided to pass on the baton. He suggests that it to go to a younger man and whilst it is up the Squire to make all non-elected appointments we are always looking for volunteers from which to appoint. Are you the one who could fill this important position?
Electronic Communications - A suggestion:
Some time ago John Maher, the Morris Ring Webmaster, Overseas Bagman and generally busy chap, set up a Yahoo Group for the Ring Advisory Council with links from the Morris Ring Website Homepage to ease communications. Despite of his efforts it was not very successful as some of the Morris Ring Advisory Council members had difficulty reading or posting to it.
John has suggested that this Yahoo Group should be deleted, but that we look at an alternative Google group list for the whole Morris Ring, with an initial sign-up of the Bagmen on the Morris Ring Contact list.
The details of how this might work can be seen at http://groups.google.com/googlegroups/tour/index.html John considers this aspect of Google to be much better than Yahoo, and it would enable all the Officers of the Morris Ring (Squire/Bagman/Treasurer) to communicate with all the side Bagmen (and others if necessary) and also vice versa. Communications can be made private to us (the Morris Ring); posts can be moderated; new members can be added / invited and old ones removed, and they can get their information via the web or by email.
To Steve (BFB)s delight this Google system is free, and there is no limit to the number or size of posts. For the tekkies amongst you it is apparently run on the ancient, well tried and tested, Usenet principles, which go back to 1981.
John Maher has intimated that he could manage this but there is an opportunity for someone else to get involved. Could it be YOU? With a careful design of the s ystem it should be possible to make management easy, so that, for example,changes of Bagman and email address could be done by the Bagmen themselves.
Thanks to John Maher, the Morris Ring Webmaster, Overseas Bagman
ARM 2nd 4th March 2007. Hosted by Leicester Morrismen.
A booking form is available here for any late applicants. Please return the form to the name & address on the form and NOT to Steve or myself.
Public Relations and the MORRIS WORKSHOP
Steve Rowley who has run several very successful practical regional workshops on PR and funding for Morris projects will be running an introductory workshop and taster session starting at9am on the Saturday of the ARM. This will be a preparation and focus for the area meetings that follow which will be concerned with recruitment and the development of regional young sides.
ARM Elections.
Bagman of the Morris Ring: No nominations for the office of Bagman of the Morris Ring have been received. I am willing to continue if that is the wish of the membership.
Treasurer of the Morris Ring: We failed to seek nominations for the Post of Treasurer of the Morris Ring at the 2006 ARM. Steve was willing to continue in office.
Area Reps due for election:
The current reps are all willing to stand for re-election.
Area: East: Graham Cox
Area : North East: Brian Pollard
Area: South East: Fred Hands
Squires Message regarding the ARM: In an attempt to encourage fresh faces and contributions to the Morris Ring ARM as a forum and melting pot of ideas, views and practical help in support of the development and improvement of the Morris. Paul Reece, the Squire of the Morris Ring has organised a Morris PR workshop as the first of a series of workshops on Morris PR, promotion & funding planned for 2007-8. It is hoped that through these we will encourage increased attendance at Ring meetings and allied events, and growth in the Morris in general. We need to look at and possibly include:
Youth Matters:
YOUTH FOCUS GROUP
Ben Salmen of Ripley MM iskeen to co-ordinate and develop youth participation, publicity and recruitment for the Morris. He has lots of ideas to stimulate and reinforce the direction that we need to be heading in attractingyouthto the Morris. Checkout his section in the Newsletter and Morris Circular. If youare interestedor have something to contributethen getin touch with him to find out more on:
Morris Ring Jig Instructional. A Personal Viewpoint
“Three youngish lads, virgins to this weekend, went to the Jig Instructional this January in Sutton Bonington fresh faced and not sure what to expect. Ok, three rather jaded but still under 35 year old Ripley lads arrived and thoroughly enjoyed what we received. Whilst there are lots of regulars that attend each year there was a very warm welcome from all to anyone new.
So many things came as a (pleasant) shock to us newcomers, having instruction on the Friday evening, huge amount of dancing in general, the high standard of the food throughout, and the level of organisation and commitment from team, coaches, musicians and demonstrators.
Thank you to the musicians who ably kept us going, endlessly repeating bits whilst we got our feet round the figures. There was inspiring and informative chat about what a bar was, despite most of us leaning on one late in to the night .. or indeed hearing sheep complain with one .. it concluded with a much repeated warning that we should be listening to the music an additional learning point for Ripley.
Rather than our normal fare of 'owt cuisine the food was great, from chicken curry through to the entertainment of eating a grapefruit for the first time (sheltered life) .. but at least I did not get the hi-bred mix of kedgeree and grapefruit that was a special for one of us. Applause to those in the kitchens.
The feast was great fun, superb food, good company, moderately short speeches, varied songs and, oh joy, a stay of execution of dancing.
After teaching, indeed, during it for those unable to master Sherbourne, the King's Head provided a great atmosphere for a session. One of which bizarrely became a short stones throw away from "The Good Old Days" with songs nothing more than a single entendre away from smut, well done all.
So, what a package dances from a cheeringly wide variety of traditions, more Princesses Royal than the most naval or military men can cope with, Dolphin and Winchester MM looking after us .. I am a bugger for names so thanks to everyone that had front room, backroom or evening scullery input to the organising.
I left with a new found knowledge of internal bounce, some stepping basics and the whole jigs I had learned and drove back to the 1936 Bampton time warp I was released from for the weekend ready to share these new found skills with any "nominal" audience to watch.
I still, some weekends later, havent looked down at my feet. This is in sheer terror of knowing the moment I do Mr. Jerram WILL be watching.
Pat Naylor, Ripley MM
National Memorial Arboretum.
The few returns we have received overwhelmingly suggests that there is insufficient support for the project. This I feel is no reflection on the quality of project itself, but it is a very personal and individual matter that a lot of people, couplesand familiestend to leave to very late in life if not too late and you are going to find alarge spread of opinion and consequently difficulty in finding a unified view within clubs and the organisation as a whole. The very positive thing that hascome out of itis to show and advertise that there is a very worthy alternative that is going to be of interest to some, but not necessarily large numbers, or inour case notsignificant numbers within our organisation.
I would like to record our thanks to my predecessor Bob Cross for the hard work and enthusiasm that he has put into researching and promoting this project.
Paul Reece. Squire of the Morris Ring
SCOUTS CENTENARY 2007
Many Scout troops are keen to commemorate the centenary of Scouting and are looking for examples of things typically English to perform when they go to international camps across the world. Get in touch with your local pack and offer to teach them a Morris dance or two - Icknield Way Morrismen did and have gained some new young members.
Paul Reece. Squire of the Morris Ring
BIRMINGHAM BIANNUAL SHOWCASE EVENT 14th April 2007 organised by the three Joint Morris Organisations.
Reminder for sides,including youth and school sides, wishing to attend the Joint Morris Organisations Biannual Showcase Event at Birmingham focussing on Youth and the Future of the Morris will need to contact the Squire ASAP as the programme and timetable for the day is almost finalised.
A resume:
Birmingham City Council has made available for us all their central squares and pedestrian areas for us to perform, all within traffic-free 5 minute walk of each other. The emphasis is on Youth and the Promotion and Future of the Morris, with, we hope, the best and the state-of-the-art from all traditions within the Morris being represented: from Border to Rapper; Longsword to Cotswold; North-West to Molly; and Fooling to Mumming. Birmingham, with its superb facilities, and being at the centre and cross roads of most of these traditions make it an ideal place for us to be showcasing the best of what we can do.
The main dancing on the day is being planned to take place between 10am and 3pm. Promotional displays, taster sessions, exhibitions of the local Morris traditions and sides and recruitment, music and dance workshops and sessions are being planned before and after the day. Jockey Morris Men in conjunction with Green Man and others will be assisting with the hosting of the event on behalf of the Morris Ring.
BIRMINGHAM CITY POLICE MORRIS TEAM
A plea for any information or whereabouts of archive material on this side active at least during the 1920's and 30's and disbanded at the start of the Second World War. They performed 'Flamborough' at the annual festival of the Oxford and County Branch of EFDS at Blenheim on 15th June 1929 which attracted 1500 dancers ('Oxford Times' 21st June 1929, p.17). The event was filmed during the afternoon from the roof of Blenhein Palace.'News Beat' , the magazine of the West Midlands Police are keen to do an article if we can come up with any material on them. If you have any information contact the
The Anstey College for Physical Training and Hygiene, Birmingham had Morris Dancing on the curriculum, received a lecture from Cecil Sharp on English Folk Dancing in 1913 and during the summer holiday undertook a ten day to two week course of lessons in Morris Dancing from a Mr J.T. Hebditch at New Cross Farm, near Martock Station, between Hambridge and South Petherton, South Somerset. Has anybody information on which side in the area, or which organisation he may have belonged to? Contact the
STOP PRESS! To celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Cotswold Olympics or Dover Games, Chipping Campden, Paul Reece is negotiating with local sides to organise the Chipping Campden Cotswold Olympic Morris Ring Meeting on the 25th to 27th May 2012. This will be the start of a week long celebration culminating in the 400th anniversary of the Dover Games itself on nearby Dover Hill. This will be the first of the Olympic Morris Ring Meetings now in place alongside Thaxted (1st-3rd June) and Hartley's 60th Anniversary Meeting (possibly 27th-29th July to coincide with the opening of the London Olympics). A large Joint Morris Organisations Showcase Event is also planned for London.
It would be good to have a Border Olympics Morris Ring Meeting based on Much Wenlock, Shropshire and their Wenlock Olympic Games first performed in October 1850 and now held every July. This is themodel for the modern French revival games of which London 2012 will be the third held in the capital after 1908 and 1948. In 1865 Penny Brookes the founder of the Wenlock Games co-founded the National Olympian Association in Liverpool as a sport's association for amateur athletes. Their first festival held at Crystal Palace, London,the following year attracted 10,000 spectators and the response to this was the Amateur Athletics Club, later to become the Amateur Athletics Association, this country's ruling athletics body. See http://www.wenlock-olympian-society.org.uk
Any West Midlands, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Warwickshire sides interested in putting such a Morris Ring Meeting together please get in touch with the
Massed Dances: Dances selected by Paul Reece (Squire of the Morris Ring) for massed performance:
Fieldtown: The Valentine, Country Gardens (Stick)
Adderbury: Shepherd's Hey, Beaux of London City (shooting), Bluebells of Scotland
Bledington: Young Collins
Brackley: Jockey to the Fair
Bampton: Bobbing Around
Headington: Blue Eyed Stranger, Laudnum Bunches
Music/Licensing Laws - Official Downing Street petition
Here are details of an official petition to 10 Downing Street attempting to secure a review of the Licensing laws, particularly as they affect acoustic music performance. Although the exemption of Morris Dancing (from the need to be licensed) was a very welcome eleventh hour concession when the Licensing Act was passed, many people consider that this law was drafted without proper consideration of the opinions of many likely to be affected by it, and with almost total disregard for these opinions when forceful representations were made both to the Culture Department and to MPs during the passage of the Bill through Parliament. The present situation in which wide screen televisions in pubs do not require a licence while a single acoustic musician or singer does require licensing is a perversion of justice and testifies to the extent to which the present Government is the patsy of big business, particularly in the entertainment industries.
Changing this law is about the type of country we all want to live in, a country in which many ordinary harmless activities such as making acoustic music do not require any form of regulation from Government (at any level) at all.
Points to remember about the new legislation:
  1. The unlicensed provision of even one musician is a potential criminal offence (although some places are exempt, including places of public religious worship, royal palaces and moving vehicles). Max penalty: 20,000 fine and six months in prison.
  2. The rationale is to prevent noise, crime and disorder, to ensure public safety, and the protection of children from harm.
  3. But broadcast entertainment, including sport and music, is exempt no matter where, and no matter how powerfully amplified.
  4. In the transition to the new regime, bars with jukeboxes, CD players etc were automatically granted a licence to play recorded music; but their automatic entitlement to one or two musicians was abolished.
  5. For the first time, private performances raising money for charity are licensable.
  6. School performances open to friends and family are licensable they count as public performances.
  7. Under the old regime all premises licensed to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises were automatically allowed up to two live musicians (the 'two in a bar rule').
  8. In December, DCMS published research confirming that about 40% of these have lost any automatic entitlement to live music as a result of the new Act:
    'Very few establishments that wanted a new licence were denied it, and many who were previously limited to 2-in-a-bar now have the ability to stage music with 2 or more musicians... This contrasts, of course, with the fact that 40% of establishments now have no automatic means of putting on live music (i.e. they would have to give a Tempory Event Notice and cost 21 each and are limited to 12 per year per establishment.
The live music/licensing e-petition currently stands at no.19 in the list of 1,702 petitions on the Number 10 website: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/licensing/ The petition is for everyone, not just musicians. Please consider signing if you haven't already done so. If you have signed, encourage friends to sign.
Bagman of the Morris Ring
TREASURERS RAMBLINGS.
The Morris Ring Annual Representatives Meeting is upon us again. It only seems two minutes since the last one. My apologies to all for the lack of a Treasurers Annual Financial Report with this Newsletter. Worry ye not. This is not to be perceived as an indicator of fiscal doom and gloom. The January audit is always subject to the work load (that pays the mortgage and puts food on the table) of our auditor, and my predecessor, Richard Sinclair. The placing of the financial report on the seats at the ARM is not ideal, but there are times when this cannot be avoided. In true Morris Ring form, if anything have been done once before, it's 'traditional'. However, we will make every effort to circulate the report prior to the meeting.
2006-07 SUBSCRIPTIONS: I make absolutely no apologies for constantly banging this particular drum and I will continue to do so until such time as everyone hears it. Many thanks to all those that have responded to the annual members/associates subscription renewal information with the last Bagman's Newsletter (Number 47). Some settled early, some bang on time and others a little later. The important thing is that these sides are now in compliance and able to fully appreciate all the benefits of belonging to any of the Three Morris Organisations. One of the important aspects of this appreciation is the public liability insurance.
However, and there is always a 'however'. Of our 210 members and associates, there are currently 11 non-compliant sides in our midst (5 members and 6 Associates). Nine of these do not currently enjoy all the benefits of being part of The Morris Ring. I continue to chase these and hope to report a 100% success rate in time for the ARM. If your current insurance document is NOT with this newsletter. Contact me now. The administrative and possible financial future welfare of your Morris side depends on it.
INFORMATION WANTED: Do you know the present whereabouts of the Mid Winter Mummers. Do they still exist? Have they been kidnapped by aliens? Numerous and extensive enquiries have so far failed to bring them to the surface. Seriously, as I have not heard from these people for three years, application will be made at the ARM for their removal from our register of members/associates.
WE THANK YOU: Mr Mike The Quiet Man Chandler of Whitchurch Morris Men has been a behind the scenes stalwart Morris Ring worker for more years that he would care to be reminded of. One of Mikes self imposed duties has been to manage, store and distribute the endless supply of the ever popular 'Hand Book of Morris Dances' by Lionel Bacon. He has now undergone the pleasant experience of clearing out his attic of existing stocks and arranging their transfer to 'The Morris Shop' in Bradford.
My most grateful thanks to Mike for his endless devotion and invaluable service to the Morris Ring and its membership. But he has not totally escaped. Our next project is the transfer of the 'Letchworth Tapes' to CD format. Stay tuned on that one.
Steve Adamson BFB, Treasurer of the Morris Ring
Other Issues / Topics / News
2007 Gate To Southwell The 2007 event takes place on 9th July; sides interested in taking part in this all day event should contact Dolphin MM Email: where they can get more details.
Hastings Traditional Jack in the Green takes place over the first May Bank Holiday and has teams coming from all over the country and overseas. If you've never been before and would like to, please get in touch with Fee Lock Email: or 01424 436052.
2007 SDU Longsword Tournament will be held in Derby on October 13th and will feature some of the Old Trophies from past Whitby competitions, the Snark Trophy and a newly awarded EFDSS cup for youth teams.
International Sword Spectacular The Fifth International Sword Spectacular Festival will be held in Yorkshire on the 23rd-26th May, 2008. The aim of the weekend is quite simple to bring together the biggest and most varied collection of sword dancers ever seen. The organisers will welcome both individuals and teams. Further information from Email: or from Email:
RAPPER LEARNING AIDThe Morris Shop still has available the 2006 Rapper Sword Instructional DVD/booklet produced by Stafford and Stockton Morris Men. This covers the Newbiggin, Earsdon, Northwarbottle, Stockton, High Spen and Winlaton dances. £12.50 + £1 p&p
Morris Ring Workshops
Lichfield:Green Man Morrismen (NOT Greensleeves MM as mistakenly stated in Newsletter 47) have volunteered to host a Lichfield Workshop in Autumn 2007. Details later.

Redcar Sword Dancers: Boxing Day 2006, Greatham near Hartlepool
The day dawned damp and dismal, but this was as bad as it got as Redcar Sword Dancers assembled at the Hope and Anchor in Greatham for the fortieth revival performance of the village's longsword dance and play tradition. This is believed to be the only surviving example of a dance and play still being performed together. Arriving at just after 11am I was surprised to find the pub already quite full with dancers and prospective audience. The earliest arrival had been one team member dumped outside at 10am by his wife on her way to the post Christmas sales! The landlord had however invited him in out of the cold. The entire team was safely gathered in by half past eleven (an historic first!) and after finishing their refreshments walked down to the hospital gates (Greatham Hospital is an Alms House dating from the 13th Century) for a noonday(ish) start.
A sizeable crowd had already gathered and our Doctor went round handing out long service badges to appropriate members of the audience including one young lady approaching thirty years of age who had never missed a performance in her life! There were a number of others who had attended since the day that they were born. We were also pleased to welcome Bob Cross, past Squire of the Morris Ring, his wife Helen and their children Paul and Emma. Also honouring us with their presence were three English Folk Dance and Song Society Gold Badge holders; David 'Doc' Rowe, Phil Heaton and Aubrey O'Brien.
True Blue cleared some room and the dancers were 'called on' and proceeded to dance the first figures. The boastful Bold Hector was sentenced to death and after being given the opportunity to make his will was dispatched in time honoured fashion by the dancers who then blamed each other for the deed. The only answer was to send for a Doctor, who after expounding at great length on his experience and the efficacy of his cures brought the dead man back to life with a bottle of a dark liquid that is said to be good for you. Bold Hector arose and sent the Doctor to collect his pay whilst the rest of the dance was completed. During the final part of the dance the audience rained the pennies that they had been assiduously sharpening over the previous twelve months on the heads of the unfortunate dancers.
We then returned to the Hope and Anchor for liquid refreshment and turkey sandwiches followed by a session of songs and carols. The last people drifted away at about 4:30pm and so ended another Greatham Boxing Day.
I see that the sun is returning, so the magic still works!
Brian Pearce Redcar Sword Dancers
Musicians' Instructional. Sadly due to circumstances beyond the control of the hosts and organisers this event has had to be cancelled this year.
A memorial service for Peter Lawrence, Peter Lawrence, Foreman and dancer with Thaxted Morris men for fifty years , who died recently is to be held on Saturday 24 February, which our tutors Jim Catterall and Mike Chandler will be attending. Peter was probably best known as the Thaxted Horse, 'Skilton' and the 'Jockey' in the Hobby Horse character in the Horn Dance.
The new date for the Instructional will probably be in the Autumn. In days of yore this event was set to coincide with Whitchurch MM's "Octobre Fest", which this year falls on the weekend of 9-11 November. Mike will look to restore that tradition for this year, but either way I'll let you know the date as soon as it's decided. In the meantime, on behalf of Jim, Mike and I, please accept our apologies for this late change of plan and we shall look forward to seeing you next time.
Clive Dumont
Traditional English Morris Dancing now available on DVD to watch in the safety of your own home! A collection of traditional English dance styles - Cotswold Morris, Border, and Clog. Each Morris Dancers of England DVD features entertaining dances and interesting personalities from some of the best sides performing today. £6.99 each via this
Chanctonbury go digital. Chanctonbury led the way , as reported in the last Newsletter. Now there are many examples of the Morris on YouTube.
You can see Chantonbury through this link: http://www.youtube.com/videos/jharriyott but from there you can really have your eyes opened. Trawl at your own risk.
Morris Dance World Record The organisers of the Moreton-in-Marsh Show next September 2007 would like to stage an attempt at a World Record by 'attempting to gather a large number of Morris Dancers, dancing to one tune in one place, to be measured by counting personnel on exit from the enclosure with the aims of both encouraging traditional dance form with local connections and providing publicity'.
If you are interested or simply want more information Email:
Shepley Spring Festival May 18-20th 2007
Would you like to steward at Shepley Spring Festival May 18-20th 2007 ?
There will be a wide range of events over the weekend including folk concerts, ceilidhs, workshops, music/singing sessions, jazz and Bolsterstone Male Voice Choir. It will also be very much a community event with lots of things for families and children planned over the 3 days.
In return for a few hours helping out in the ticket office or door and gateways you will receive a weekend pass. The more people who help out the less time each one of us has to work. See http://www.shepleyspringfestival.com for information.
Nikki Hampson (Festival Director)
RING PUBLICATIONS
Harry Stevenson:
Editor of the Morris Circular
Erin House,
59, Olivers Battery Road North,
Winchester
SO22 4JB
Mobile 07775 785271
Tel: 01962 855911
Email:
Copy Date: The last date for articles etc. for the next edition of the Morris Circular is 31st March 2007. All copy to Harry Stevenson at the above address.
Editor of the Morris Dancer. This post is still vacant.
Calling all former Kennet Morris Men - The Kennet Morris Men are celebrating 50 years of dancing, and during 2007 they are organising some special events to commemorate this anniversary. They would like to invite former members who have moved away from Berkshire, who may now be dancing with other Morris sides, to come and celebrate with them. So far they have managed to contact several of their former members, but there must be many more of you out there. If you have been a member of the Kennet Morris Men at any time in the past, they would like to hear from you. Please get in touch with their Bagman, Email: , or by phone: 0118 947 1246.
A surplus of swords (Could this be a new collective noun?) Manchester MM have a surplus of swords which they would like to pass on/donate to good home(s). If you know of any teams or schools who dance or wish to learn sword? If so, please pass these details on, so that teams or teachers can contact them:
Swords - 1 set of 6 alloy long swords, with wooden handles
              2 sets, each of 8 wooden 'practice' swords (37" long overall)
              24 wooden 'school size' practice swords (30" long)
              (originally used to teach sword dancing in schools)
They also have 2 sets of rappers, each set with 5 rappers, which they would like to sell. Their condition is reported as 'middling'.
Contact Keith Ashman Bagman Manchester Morris Men
Are you a gourmet chef? A Plymouth based TV production company is looking specifically for a Morris angle to one of the planned shows, i.e. showing a bit of Morris dancing or whatever before the cooking happens. Anyone interested should contact them directly, and quickly. They are looking for people to take part in a ten part series called The People's Cookbook for UKTV Food, fronted by Antony Worrall Thompson and Paul Rankin. They are looking for people's recipes and stories that best reflect contemporary food culture in the UK today.
We're looking for recipes with a strong narrative back story - a recipe handed down through generations, a classic recipe witha twist, an unusual regional specialty or perhaps a signature recipe created to celebrate a significant event. Above all perhaps, the recipes must look and taste great.
It is definitely not about being flash and showing off culinary prowess. Its about what we really eat in our homes - from faggots and kormas to hotpots and kebabs - classic British dishes alongside more modern, ethnically inspired ones. It will tell the story of all our lives and our relationships with food - and each other. Crucially it is the peoples' recipes we're after, not those of well known chefs.
The programme will chart the nationwide hunt for recipes put forward by the public that best describe British home cooking today.
We are looking for everyday cooks, rather than chefs, and the recipe would need to be not published already.
Contact Meg Braywith any suggestions by email via http://www.denhams.tv or phone. Tel: 01752 345444 Mob: 07779 003515
Dance Day Every year since 1982 the 29th of April has been celebrated as Dance Day all over the world by the international community of dancers and dance enthusiasts.
The International Dance Council CID has prepared the following guidelines and regardless of whether your side wants or is able to get involved it contains some useful ideas or reminders:
Object: The main purpose of Dance Day events is to attract the attention of the wider public to the art of dance. Special emphasis should be given to addressing a "new" public, people who do not follow dance events during the course of the year.
Events: Dance Day events may be special performances, open-door courses, public rehearsals, lectures, exhibitions, articles in newspapers and magazines, dance evenings, radio and TV programs, visits, street shows etc.
Organizers: Events are primarily organized by dance companies, amateur groups, schools, associations and other institutions active in dance. Wherever possible, it is better for events to be organized jointly with a non-dance institution such as a government agency, a public school, a municipality, a business enterprise, a trade union.
Content: Organizers have full freedom to define the content of the event.
Make sure that you include general information on the art of dance, its history, its importance to society, its universal character. This can be done in a short speech, a note in the program, a text distributed to those present. By adding this dimension you make the event different from dance activities taking place any other day. Read a message from a prominent personality, a poem, a passage from a text by a famous author.
Coordination: In order to achieve maximum success, it is important that preparations start early enough. It is imperative to inform the press and generally the media about your event. Notify an organization holding a central position at regional or national level, which should publish a list of events planned for Dance Day. Entrance to events should preferably be free, or by invitation. Invite persons who do not normally attend dance events.
Location: At best, events should take place in "new" places, such as streets, parks, squares, shops, factories, villages, discotheques, schools, stadiums etc. By setting the event in original surroundings you stress the fact that this is an event dedicated to the universal family of dancers.
Submitted by Michael R. Dunn, Shakespeare MM.
SOMPTING VILLAGE MORRIS. Are you interested in the SOMPTING VILLAGE MORRIS Summer Weekend of Dance in sunny Worthing, Sussex.? It will be a fully catered, camping event on 6th 8th July 2007 with some very special "End of the Pier" entertainment. Their previous Weekends have proved very popular and they are expecting to host loads of sides including dancers from the continent (or even further a field).
Email or visit their website at: http:/www.s-v-m.freeserve.co.uk
Mersey Morris Men 50th Anniversary Morris Ring Meeting A Correction.
"I've been meaning for ages to correct a slight error in the way our forthcoming Morris Ring Meeting is listed in Ring Newsletter. Flattering though it is to have the already long lineage of Mersey Morris Men extended, we are celebrating in 2008 merely 80 years of the Morris in and around Scousopolis. This is founded on an illustrated press report showing that Liverpool MM (from whose figurative, but fecund, loins we sprang in 1960 following a mucky weekend or ten with upstart Wirral MM) were active in 1928. (This might also suggest that they were around even earlier - we haven't any proof of that, though.) So under the Mersey cognomen we are not yet 50 - another 3 years 'til that party - but the Morris has been alive and not too arthritic, thank you for asking, on the banks of the Mersey for at least 79 years (notwithstanding a brief period of enforced rest while the Liverpool MM and their confreres from across the nation went off to give Adolf what-for). By the way, you will know that the Liverpool men were present at the very first RM at Grasmere, and are, I'm reliably informed, gazetted as Inaugral Members of the Morris Ring. Perhaps they might have been among the Founder Members had they not been taking their Pit Bull mascot "Aigburth Devil" that very weekend to New Brighton for some playful interaction with the day-trippers from Ellesmere Port...how we laughed"!
Don O'Farty (Miss) Artistic Director and Biscuit Monitor, Mersey Morris Men
CONCLUSION
Included with the paper copy of this Newsletter Bagmen will find the long awaited Public Liability Insurance Document along with an application form for those sides who have not yet indicated their intention to attend the ARM in March. Numbers are relatively low so far so we have spare capacity and to encourage more sides to attend we are waving the usual late-booking fee. The weekend is much more than simply an AGM. It is an opportunity for representatives from Morris Ring Member and Associate sides from all over the country to who may not usually meet to socialise, swap stories and ideas as well as having a say in the affairs of your morris organisation the Morris Ring.
URGENT FOR SNAIL MAIL DELIVERIES: Please pass on this message: Could all those side Bagmen and contacts, area reps, advertisers and others who have recently changed contact details please inform the Ring Bagman ASAP so that the details can be updated and information and publications reach their intended target.
Charlie's signature Bagman of The Morris Ring

Future Dates:

2007
2nd - 4th March   ARM Hosted By Leicester Morrismen
14th April   3 orgs. event Birmingham
1st - 3rd June 309 Thaxted John Bull Morris Ring Meeting
29th June - 1st July 310 Ripley 25th Anniversary Morris Ring Meeting
20th - 22nd July 311 Stafford 50th Anniversary Morris Ring Meeting
31st Aug - 2nd Sept 312 Tonbridge Geoff Metcalf Morris Ring Meeting
2008
7th - 9th March (?)   ARM - Hosted by (possibly Wadard MM)
30th May - 1st June 313 Thaxted Morris Ring Meeting
4th - 6thJuly 314 Whitchurch MM 60th Anniversary Morris Ring Meeting
11th - 13th July 315 Mersey MM 90th Anniversary Morris Ring Meeting
25th - 27th July 316 Long Man MM
5th - 7th Sept 317 Dartington MM Morris Ring Meeting
2009THE MORRIS RINGS 75th ANNIVERSARY
6th - 8th March(?)   ARM Hosted By TBA
? April   3 orgs. event
29th May - 31st May 318 Thaxted Morris Ring Meeting
TBA 319 Harthill Morris Ring Meeting
24th 26th July 320 Exeter Morris Ring Meeting
TBA September 321 Bathampton MM 75th Anniversary Morris Ring Meeting
2010
5th - 7th March (?)   ARM Hosted by TBA
4th June - 6th June   Thaxted Morris Ring Meeting
2011
4th - 6th March (?)   ARM Hosted By TBA
3rd June - 5th June   Thaxted Centenary Morris Ring Meeting
TBA   Bristol 60th Anniv. Morris Ring Meeting
2012
3rd - 5th March (?)   ARM Hosted by TBA
25th - 27th May   Chipping Campden Cotswold Olympic Morris Ring Meeting
1st June - 3rd June   Thaxted Morris Ring Meeting
27th - 29th July   Hartley 60th Anniv. Morris Ring Meeting
Timetable for ARM Weekend
Friday 17.00 School Reception opens
The evening is set aside for the usual mixture of informal conversation, interspersed with dancing, singing and drinking as the mood takes you.
18.30 22.00 Food available
Saturday
07.30 to 09.00 Breakfast
 9.00 - 10.30 Public Relations Presentation by Stephen Rowley
10.30 - 11.00 Morning Tea/Coffee
11.30 - 12.00 Area Reps Meeting
12.15 - 13.00 Annual Reps. Meeting Part 1
13.00 - 14.15 LUNCH
14.15 - 16.00 Annual Reps. Meeting Part 2
16.00 - 16.30 Afternoon Tea/ Coffee/Cake
16.30 - 17.30 Advisory Council Meeting
19.00 FEAST (followed by informal dancing/singing)
Sunday
08.00 onwards Breakfast