On June 19th the residents of Ock Street choose The Mayor of Ock Street – or Mock Mayor of Abingdon. I have a suspicion that this is a very important year for the Morris Dancers.
There are two groups of Traditional Abingdon Morris Dancers. For 40 long years they have not danced together. But things are happening…
Two weeks ago at the Cherry Tree in Steventon both groups were there together and some were looking for a chance to dance together.
Whoever becomes Mock Mayor, and leader of the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers, will need to handle this situation. Get it wrong and there could be three groups of Morris Dancers. The new group would be those who want to end the forty year feud and dance together.
There are displays in the shops of Abingdon to promote the annual election – in Fatface, Scuffs , and Merityre.
(The real Mayor of Abingdon will be dancing on the day as a member of the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers. There was talk earlier in the year that he might also stand to become Mock Mayor. I don’t think that is going to happen. But he is to jump out of an aeroplane tomorrow for charity. See more and sponsor him on The Mayor of Abingdon’s Brand New Website. )
Is this some kind of cult?
There can only be ONE morris side in Abingdon! The Hammings will fall!! MMMMHAHHAHAHAHAHAH
So long as the 3rd team are formed of real morris dancers who are prepared to use sticks it got to be a good thing!
Come on guys – both of you lot – Hammings and the Traditional dancers – you dance with Hankies and Brooms. Who’s going to the the courage to dance with sticks and swords!!!
Two brooms were hanging in the closet and after a while they got to know each other so well, they decided to get married.
One broom was, of course, the bride broom, the other the groom broom.
The bride broom looked very beautiful in her white dress. The groom broom was handsome and suave in his tuxedo. The wedding was lovely.
After the wedding, at the wedding dinner, the bride-broom leaned over and said to the groom-broom, “I think I am going to have a little dust broom!!!”
“IMPOSSIBLE !!” said the groom broom.
“WE HAVEN’T EVEN SWEPT TOGETHER!”
It would be good if the 2 teams could amalgamate (feud what feud) its a shame that some people have to write a load of Tosh about something they know nothing about (see the earlier comments). The morris dancing in Abingdon is unique to this town and part of this towns heritage and tradition. Some people are quick to ridicule or mock the morris why not give it a go and find our what it is really all about.
(comment no 3 its Hemmings not Hammings)
A – I do plan to join a troupe when I have more free time, but I’d like to join a troupe that dances with sticks. Maybe the Botley lot?
However my girlfriend is interested in morris dancing in Abingdon. Who should she contact to join?
Rumour is that one of the sides initiation ritual uses a frozen chicken, liquid cheese and duct tape. It used to involve some bull horns, but the police confiscated them a few years back where too much beer was consumed and a novice ended up in A&E. Apparently the other side now has the horns and they are no long used for such purposes.
I think that most of the comments above indicate acomplete lack of understanding or knowlege about Morris dancing and the unique Abingdon tradition.
It is a living tradition and both Abindon sides are doing there best to keep this tradition alive.
The Mr Hemming side of which I have been a member forover thirty years is trying to keep the family and Abingdon tradition going (its been going about 500 years) .
The Abingdon Traditional dancers are keeping the tradition as they know it alive.
If sticks were part of this traditionwe would use them but its not. The big attraction to me of morris dancing is the variations in style, dress and application of the various groups.
As to the rumour of a merger between the two sides it is not going to happen in the near future but should not be ruled out, but in the mean time let both sides enjoy their Dancing there is plenty of room for both sides in Abingdon but I would welcome some joint tours so that the gossip mongers who want to encourage the myth that there is friction between the two sides could be silenced, Yes there are a couple of members who feel strongly about this subject but that is their right and does not reflect i believe the feelings of the majority of membes of both teams.
To hankiesare4wimps, check out the internet, Border morris may be what you would like to do.
http://www.themorrisring.org
http://www.mainlymorrisdancing.org.uk
http://www.morrisfed.org/mf/home.html
http://www.morrisdancing.org
Thanks for your comments Eric.
Last year I placed both my votes for Roger and, despite winning by two votes, he was a total ingrate … Roger, Duncan, Alastair, Patrick and Uncle Tom Cobbly and all know this and I expect us all to be in chains in the Old Goal (luxury apartments) by sundown. If it’s not an illegal election in Abingdon then it’s Abiingone.
Which century is this? Who are the funny guys running around in their jim-jams?
I blame it all on yargh!!! … The Blog lost contact at this point.
(could someone call the Belgian chocolate with the little gray cells?)
May the Hankies of Abingdon, long wave.
They are Abingdon to me.
Eric Clark – Perhaps you can help as you are already a morris dancer. did you see my post #6 above?
My girlfriend is keen to start Morris Dancing. Would the Hemming side be welcoming? Who should she contact?
Thanks!
A wise Scotsman once said you should try everything in life except incest and Morris Dancing. By joining the two groups, it’s going to be both…!
Hankiesare4wimps i think eric clark has already answered your question where he mentioned a 500 year old tradition. Dont be a silly boy the bloke is obviously passionate about what he does so lets not try and stir it up. Dont turn this site into another negative, abingdon hating, activist 4 abingdon forum! Lets hold onto and enjoy what we have left of abingdon and englands past before it all gets forgotten.
Tom H,
I don’t understand your comment. I also live in Abingdon and would like to join in with the Morris tradition. Why is Hankiesare4wimps being a ‘sillyboy’ it sounds like you are here making unhelpful statements.
Wendy
not having danced on a abingdon morris side for a few years, I can only add that I left the side due to short sighted and petty minded decisions made by leading member(s). I hear things are no different, even now. my advice, Join the libdems, far less politics.
Well what im saying is im glad these guys and their fore fathers have kept hold of our towns traditions and not adapted them. Im sure Eric Clark doesnt want to be told that hankies are for wimps or that he should use sticks and swords. Or that he is running around in his jim jams and so on. Ive a feeling that hankiesare4wimps is aware as i and most of Abingdon is that a good way of annoying a TRADITIONAL morris MAN is to suggest they accept women onto their side! I can understand this as it is all about tradition but personally i would love to see a seperate womens or mixed troupe in Abingdon dont get me wrong im not suggesting that be part of the traditional lot though. Maybe Wendy you need to get some friends together and start it yourself?
Watch the Film “Morris: a life with bells on” out in July from Amazon.
I made myself clear on my veiws and do not intend to get into a dialog with the nockers and the trouble makers I can only put it down to ignorance on their part.
I do not think either abingdon side is likely to go mixed and niether would welcome a ladies side performing Abingdon dances, although I know meny of the ladies sides do. we have nothing against ladies sides and infact our main musician is a lady.
I would however welcome a ladies side in abingdon doing a different tradition. unfortunately I do not know of anyone who is starting one.
Whilst people are entitled to their own opinion some of the silly comments just shows their mentality (you know who you are) I am sure people could ridicule the things you do.
However this blog is a chance to inform and have a sensible constructive discussion if people want it about Morris dancing and the Abingdon Tradition
do you ever feel you’ve wandered into a bizarre feud that you have know knowledge of?
it’s like some kind of secret underground mafia war
Sorry if I offended anyone with my name “hankiesare4wimps”. I was intending a little light hearted humour. I would have thought if anyone would be able to handle a bit of banter a troupe of morris dancers would be able to!
I honestly have lots of respect for morris dancers and their ability to brighten up a country pub / fete or what ever event they attend or follow the offers of free beer to.
I do however feel that it’s unfortunate that it seems the troupes in Abingdon do not welcome female dancers. My girlfriend was genuinely interested. This seems like the troups are putting dogma before common sense.
Fortunately it seems the Botley troupe don’t discriminate on gender.
There is a difference between an unbroken all-male morris tradition (as done by the 2 teams in Abingdon, by the 3 teams in Bampton and by the teams in Headington Quarry, Chipping Campden and Bacup) and what is done by other’revival’ groups (who perform morris dances from many different places and can be all-male, all female or mixed). There is no history of ladies dancing the Abingdon tradition. I for one would be quite happy for the Abingdon Traditional team to have an association with a group of lady dancers if they danced a different and maybe a totally new style of dance. I would even offer to help with the music (oops!).
‘do you ever feel you’ve wandered into a bizarre feud that you have know knowledge of?
it’s like some kind of secret underground mafia war’
Don’t be surprised to find a horse’s head in your bed….
Nothing to do with morris dancing, but does anyone know who has paid the mayors rather flashy web site?
Anon. Maybe the owner of this web site and his fellow Lib/Dem town councilors of this morris dancing mayor will be able to answer your question.
Hi all I have not been on this site for a while so thought I would catch up, Just one comment to make ref item 22
in 1910 my Grandmother danced dressed as a man and the photograph that appeared in the paper refered to the Hemmings Morris side.