The Club was a small one, having only seven or eight members, under the leadership of Stephen Hiley, but was able to continue its meetings until about the end of the war, and it was still possible to get together a side after Stephen Hiley left for South Africa. At present there is not a complete side but it is hoped that some new members may be forthcoming before long. (B.Bentley)
The Club was founded in 1948 by Walter Newall, for men living in the extensive tract of country from Northants to Notts, and from the Welsh Border to Lincoln. It meets at Birmingham, usually once a month, and the average attendance is about twenty.(W.A.Newall)
Members of the Morley College Club were also members of the demonstration team of the Morley College Folk Dance Club founded in 1927. The Club attained a high standard of performance under the tuition of Richard Callender, but owing to its not having an independent existence lacked something of the essential Club spirit. It was, however, one of the first Clubs to arrange a meeting and feast open to all Clubs of the Ring. During the war many members left London to live permanently in the provinces, and the Club is at present inactive. At least three of the now dispersed members have helped to found new Clubs. (C.D.A.Capp)
The Club, which was active for a short time before the war, is now resuming its activities under the leadership of W. Fisher Cassie, dancing the Morris and rapper-sword dances; there is a keen nucleus and interest is increasing.
There has been men's Morris in Oxford for nearly 40 years. The early E.F.D.S. groups consisted largely
of members of the University, and there was a succession of University Morris sides: newspapers
commented on 'the dancing dons'. In 1934 R. I. Davison of Oriel was the Bagman of the University side
which was one of the Founder members of the Ring. For the last 26 years the May morning dancing, with
William Kimber or some-times Elsie Avril as musician, has been a notable event in the city's calendar,
and many men now prominent in public life must have heard the Morris bells on May morning. Last
May-day three teams were out - Headington Quarry, the Oxford Morris Men, and a University side from the
Cecil Sharp Club.
Between 1937 and 1946 the Club was 'town' rather than `gown'. Even during the war years there was more
or less regular dancing, and the May-day shows were kept up. In 1946 the Club was reorganized; the
first Feast was held in April 1947, and P. Stuart Mills, who had kept the group together over a long
and difficult period, was elected Squire. During the last three year's the Club has met regularly,
and has given 48 displays, mostly at village fetes, but also at Corby Pole Fair (all day) in 1947,
and at Adderbury (three visits: one for Miss Janet Blunt's ninetieth birthday). Musically the Club
is now self-supporting, but William Kimber has played for very many of the displays. There is a strong
link with Headington Quarry, where the side, which was active for a time between the two wars, is now
again revived, and four members of that team were members of the Club. For a short period there was
an Oxford City Police team. The Club's present membership is a mixture of Town, Gown, and Headington.
(L.S.Bardwell)