Meet Our Morris Side...

Andrew - Squire

“I have been Morris dancing for a year now and constantly wish I had started in my youth,
ages ago – such fun! I am privileged to dance with Bedford Morris Men in my hometown and also Aldbury Morris Men. Hemlock Morris is an altogether different departure and a challenge. The whole concept is consuming and absorbing – I’m sure we are destined to have great fun and could possibly be establishing another facet of local culture.”

Tim - Foreman

The Morris Oracle. Full stop.

Chrissie

"I supported my dad as he fullfilled his secret, life-long desire to be a morris man, and after watching him dance noticed the potential for a full-on, big-booted gothic morris side combining two of my favourite things: folk traditions and gothic footwear. Well, that was it... we had to make it happen, and we did! I have been plaing folk music for ten years now, and playing banjo, mandolin and hurdy gurdy with Celtic folk band Faeries Wear Boots and an Broc (check us out by visiting our website via the links page). Just call me Faerie Morris!"

Emma

"I've always liked watching traditional Morris Dancing, there's something about watching it at a village pub, pint in one hand and packet of peanuts in the other. It's great to support a dying tradition. I'm also a fan of rock / heavy metal music and like the gothic type clothes associated with it. When Chrissie contacted me to see if I wanted to join a new alternative dark Morris dancing side, I couldn't wait to join."

“My first experience of Morris dancing was accidental, and possibly involved one too many beers. The next day I awoke with a business card from a folk band and a hazy memory of pledging myself to the Morris. A few weeks later, in a snow blizzard no less, a group of us met up and started to learn our way around words such as ‘napping’ and ‘half gip’. A couple of years on I am dancing with Vikings and skeletons and don’t think I could listen to Upton upon Severn without being tempted to ‘one, two, three hop’. Morris provides an opportunity to take part in a lot of community activities, an excuse to dress up, and the chance to take part in an old tradition as well as creating new ones”.

Fiona

"To be honest I wasn't hugely keen on starting Morris dancing, but Hana kept asking me every week if I would come, and I thought "why not?! what's the worst that could happen?" Clearly the worst that could happen is that I would get effectively addicted to it!

I love the dancing, the gothic clothes, the fact that people seem to really like watching us and especially the other members of the side. I have found some really good friends in Hemlock, ones that I hope will last a lifetime, and I intend to help make that happen!

I encourage anyone interested in dancing to try it, it's great fun, social and even makes you fitter! It's hard work but great fun!"