Fiftieth Marlboro

The fiftieth annual Marlboro Morris Ale is over. It rained most of the weekend, though rarely more hard than a sprinkle and it didn’t stop any dancing. I saw numerous old friends including at least one I haven’t seen in a quarter century or so. And newer friends too of course.

I’d been planning to follow the tours as a spectator, like I did last year, but then Tim Shaw of the Bouwerie Boys Morris Dancers made an offer: “Since you’re already going to Marlboro, do you want to don the black vest and join us … ?” And I said yes. Bouwerie mostly does the Sherborne tradition, which I don’t, but a fair amount of Chipping Campden and Ducklington, which I do. So I didn’t do as much dancing on the weekend as I would have with my own team, but I was happy doing what I did and watching the rest.

Since it was the fiftieth ale (counting two virtual online ales in 2020—21) there were more teams attending than usual. To keep the show dance stands from going even longer they were requested not to do their longest dance there… a request that most certainly was made with Bouwerie in mind, who at Newfane normally do Sherborne “Lads a Bunchum” in its full version, with eight corner crossing choruses and timing out at something like ten minutes. So they did a shorter version, with five choruses; but on the tour earlier in the day they did the full version of “Trunkles” which is even longer (and a lot more rarely done).

Great Western Morris was the English team this year, and they put on a great show.

We toured with Jack In the Green Morris, Still River Sword, and Ha’penny Morris on Saturday, and Marlboro Morris and Sword and Half Moon Sword on Sunday, and had a fine time. Some excellent pub singing on Saturday’s tour, and a boisterous ceilidh that evening.

Could have done with a lot fewer hours of rain, and five or ten degrees higher temperature Saturday, but that could have been worse too. I had a fine time.

Added:

• Some photos:
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  • Page 2
• Some videos