Morris Ring Meetings for 2008

• ARM Annual Representatives Meeting, Feb 29^th, Mar 1^st & 2^nd. Hosted by Wadard MM
• Thaxted 30^th May - 1^st June
• Whitchurch 60^th Anniversary, 4^th to 6^th July
• Mersey 90^th Anniversary, 11^th - 13^th July,
• Dartington 5^th - 7^th Sept

See Newsletter e54 for more details (January 2008), note that the Eastbourne, Long Man MM Meeting has been cancelled due to lack of numbers

 

 

 

... and the Details

From Charlie's No 52 Newsletter, November 2007

No.313 75^th Anniversary Thaxted Morris Ring Meeting 30^th May to 1^st June 2008. 200+ men

The Thaxted Morris Ring Meeting is like no other, its idyllic setting and tours into the picturesque North Essex countryside make it unique and draws dancers back year after year to what is considered to be the spiritual home of the Morris. Its early evening processions from both ends of the town to the displays in front of the Thaxted Guildhall culminating in the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance on the Saturday make this a perfect Morris spectacle that has to be experienced again and again. Sunday sees the grand church procession, service and dancing outside the church and in the afternoon Morris and country dancing in Margaret Gardens. Accommodation is school based indoor & outdoor camping. Cost £65 (to be confirmed - with a reduction for day men and special reduced rates for children).

 

 

No. 314 Whitchurch MM 60^th Anniversary Morris Ring Meeting. 4^th to 6^th July 2008 120 men

The village of Cheddington will be our base, which some of you may remember the village of Cheddington featuring prominently in the 1963 Great Train Robbery. It is worth reminding potential visitors that a large percentage of the haul has yet to be recovered. You may wish to pack a spade.

The Village Hall will be our headquarters for the weekend, and the location for registration, camping (indoor and out), ablutions, breakfasting, feasting, drinking, dancing, socializing, and general merriment.

On arrival on Friday registration will take place in the hall, and will be followed by a hot and nourishing supper.

Saturday will be given over to those activities so beloved of morris men the world over; dancing, drinking, and feasting. There will be three themed tours, the Canal tour, the Chilterns Hills tour, and the Vale tour. A great deal of time has been spent ensuring that these tours take in all the most interesting and picturesque locations and drinking establishments in the area. We are immensely proud our territory and are very excited to have the opportunity to show it off to our visitors. Lunch will be taken at a hostelry, and the tours will conclude with a return to Cheddington for tea and refreshments, and a short massed dance show for the excited villagers.

The Feast will be held in the Village Hall, it will be catered by an outside company, and will be followed by normal revelries.

We are very fortunate (and possibly unique) at Whitchurch to have a member of the cloth within our membership, and it is he who will be officiating at the Sunday morning service to be held in his former parish church in Aylesbury. After the service we will make our way to the Market Square, situated in the centre of Aylesbury, for the Mass Dancing. Located right on the Square the Kings Head will provide us with refreshments and lunch. The Kings Head was built in 1455, and is reputed to be the oldest coaching inn in the country. It is also unique in that it is the only pub owned by the National Trust. The Farmers Bar therein will be at our disposal and will be well stocked with beer brewed at a brewery located no more than 3 miles distant. We are sure that our visit to the Kings Head will be a fitting finale to a memorable weekend.

Our website is up and running so please feel free to access it for up to date information. Cost £70.

 

 

No. 315 Liverpool Morris: the 80^th Anniversary Ring Meeting 11^th to 13^th July 2008 120 men

Hosted by Mersey Morris Men

Liverpool Morris Men was the senior conspirator in its 1960 partnership with Wirral Morris Men; this collaboration and a modicum of logical thought gave rise to the sides present name.

By 1928 (the earliest documented date of their existence), Liverpool Morris Men was an established side. Their attendance in 1934 at Cecil Sharpe House on 20th October 1934 earned them and the other sides in attendance the appellation of Inaugral Members of the Morris Ring.

Our Ring Meeting thus celebrates 80 years of the Morris in and around Liverpool. Accommodation (indoor camping) and feast are found across the river at the historic Mostyn House School (www.mostynhouse.co.uk), spectacularly situated on the Banks of the Dee at Parkgate, and looking out towards the hills of North Wales. Three first class pubs lie within walking distance. Saturdays walking tours will allow our guests to enjoy the heart of Liverpool with its outstanding architecture and heritage pubs, and include the mandatory crossing of the Mersey by ferry. Sundays church service will be held at Willaston (centre of the ancient Hundred of Wirral), followed by informal dancing on the green and lunch.

Co-incidentally, Liverpool is celebrating its achievement of European City of Culture in 2008, so expect to see this always dramatic city at its very best during your stay with us. We look forward to welcoming you to special corner of England. Cost £70.

 

 

No.316 Dartington MM 40^th Anniversary Morris Ring Meeting. 5^th to 7^th Sept 2008200 men

Dartington Morris Men cordially invite you to their 40^th Anniversary Morris Ring Meeting at which good dancing, good music, good beer and jovial company will be enjoyed by one and all. Accommodation will include indoor camping on the outskirts of the historic town of Totnes. The Hampshire Basin will be your caterers for the weekend. We will have locally brewed ales available and our own cider made by DMM under the instruction of our very own Pete Black-Hand Holdaway. Tours for the Saturday will include the delightful South Hams, the rugged charms of Dartmoor and the English Riviera. Cost £69.

 

 

A note from Charlie

1. Final costs may vary slightly from those given above. If deposits and final payments are not received at the designated time, your Side may forfeit its place in favour of a Side on the waiting list.
2. Due to an increase in the number of sides defaulting on bookings and thereby putting the financial viability of individual meetings at risk, your side will be asked to pay the per head deposit within a month of having your application confirmed. These deposits will only be refundable under exceptional circumstances.
3. If you fail to appear without giving reasonable notice you may be asked to pay the balance in full as with any other commercial contract.