All Fools Morris

1982-  1992 ?      
Watch this man carefully!!

All Fools Morris started in 1982 when a few of us left another local team to start our own morris side.
We were based near Conwy in North Wales. UK. There was Alan Smith, and his wife Ruth, Dave Rimmer and myself John Hughes. Other early members were Kevin and Lenny. We were aided and abetted by members of Bollin Morris from Cheshire,( Chris and Laurence ) and some members of Bangor Morris from er... Bangor, ( Steve Ashton and Andy ).We danced our own versions of the stick dances known as "Border Morris"

The history of most of our dances goes back to about 1420. We can be fairly certain about that, 'cos it was a Sunday and in those days the pubs shut at 1400hrs. and they chucked us out about twenty minutes later. We also did mumming plays in many local pubs.

The pictured below is of the team after a shaving foam/custard pie fight at Holmfirth Folk Festival, 12th May 1985 .



Click here for The Pictures Page

One day I would like to publish the All Fools versions of the dances here if I can find a format to write them in. Meanwhile, I'll fill up a bit of the page with this........

 
I once thought I might have to make a speech at an All Fools reunion. The speech was not needed, (thank goodness!) But, as I think it sums up All Fools Morris rather nicely, I thought I would reproduce it here.


The historic origins of the Morris dance.
   When we first thought of starting our own Morris Dance side, I was determined that it should follow Morris traditions as closely as possible. But first I needed to know what those traditions were.    This called for some research :-

A look at the evidence.

  We are told that the Morris was originally performed by young working class lads. Whole gangs of, predominantly unemployed, working class lads... Not exactly a section of the community I automatically associate with being suitable to entertain the W.I.   Either young lads have changed an awful lot in the last 200 years, or Cecil Sharp and a few others had got it wrong.

I decided this anomaly needed closer examination.

  We are told that people believed by giving something to these lads (cake, money, beer etc.) they would increase the chances of enjoying good health, wealth, longevity, and it made their crops grow !.... Were they STUPID ? Or were they looking at the Morris men differently than we do today.
  After all, a few hundred years ago, when a wealthy merchant, returning from market, found his road blocked by 8 or 10 lads, hefting large sticks, their faces blacked, their clothes disguised, and proffering the "hat". He probably didn't ask    "What's it in aid of "!  He would just know, that his future health, wealth, fertility and longevity, was not only dependant on whether he dropped anything in the hat, but quite closely to how much !

 In a time when few people journeyed to places new. These lads apparently travelled about quite a bit. To all corners of the parish "beating the bounds". To far flung places that rarely saw a fresh, new, male face. And where ever these lads went, among the chamber maids, milk maids, farmers daughters, and even farmers wives, a strange tales of unexpected and miraculous fecundity arose.

 Some farmers would no doubt be mistrustful of these lads from the distant village. But other more enlightened ones would welcome them with open arms. Clear out the barn for a ceilidh, give all the staff the night off, and send orders to the pub for some beer. And this farmer would know for certain, when he looked out of his window in the morning, he would look out on acres of green and healthy crops.

Where as the neighbouring farm. Where the lads had been turned away, with threats to "clear off. 'afore I sets the dogs on 'e" That farmer would look out on acres of brown and stunted crops which looked like....well looked as if.... they'd been.... stamped on, by a whole team of Morris men in the middle of the night.


  We note that the Morris remained a rural pastime. But not rural in the sense of " field and hedgerow " where the pickings from innocent bystanders would be slim. But rural in the sense of village and small market town or anywhere that gullible people gather together. It never caught on in the cities however, where the local constabulary knew all about organised crime. In short then, the historic evidence seems to suggest that the Morris was a sort of medieval mafia.

  My research gave me a deeper understanding of the fundamental principals of the Morris dance, and an insight into what made it appeal to young men, both hundreds of years ago and today.
  I am pleased and proud to be able to say, that during my time with All Fools Morris, these historic principles on which the Morris was founded, were adhered to as closely as possible.


Links to other sites:-
Warburton Souling play

This page is was created in the hope that All Fools Morris will never be forgotten. Some more pictures and memories may turn up here, if any of the old team will send them to me.
Back to John's other pages