Based at Kendal, Cumbria, we dance traditional English morris dances from the Cotswolds and the Welsh Borders.
We practise at Nether Hall in Kirkland, Kendal between 8 and 10pm on Mondays from October to March and we welcome new members, either dancers or musicians. No previous experience is necessary!
Between April and September we dance out at local pubs, generally on Monday evenings about once or twice a month and the occasional day tour, such as the Squire's Tour every September. See our programme for details.
You know how it is. You work away from home and get back from a trip to a barrage of answer phone messages. Most are perfectly normal but then there is the one that starts with the words ” Are you the man that has something to do with morris dancing? If you are will you give me a call on…… I’m…….. from……..” That was the last bit and it was pretty indistinct. I nearly just deleted it but after a few days I phoned the number and found myself chatting with a Border TV producer. She explained that they were planning a programme on interesting and different hobbies. Would we be interested in being in it? Would we!!! Years of the media negative portrayals of our traditional dancing and they were offering us the chance for Crook to redress the balance a touch.
The side all agreed that it was an opportunity that we just couldn’t pass up so we let them know we were more than happy to spend half a day going over and over the same dance! The fact that they wanted the presenter to join in was an added bonus.
What a fascinating experience the day was. We were right that there would be a lot of repetition but the film crew were certainly professional in catching highlights and asking for the parts that weren’t so good to be repeated. I had a list of the main positive points that the side hoped to get featured so that when the presenter came to interview us we were primed to get as many in as possible. Of course several disappeared in the editing but never mind.
Ian, the presenter, was tall and overweight. Oh, but we did have fun with him as he got more out of breath and more red in the face. He wasn’t bad at the figures but the stick striking absolutely lost him and we actually had one of his expletives bleeped out when I managed to crack him on the knuckles.
The producer was true to her word and did let us know when the programme was scheduled to go out. Wonderful, most of the side were in France and the rest had popped down to support Richard Hannah at Upton Folk Festival! However, some of us saw it and it has been saved on a DVD. How do we feel we came over in the final cut? Not bad at all. As ever the side is clearly enjoying itself, we got Cotswold and Welsh Border featured, a good spread of ages and both sexes were featured, the music was lively and the message that morris is fun was certainly transmitted.
Martyn Harvey, Foreman
One weekend in mid February,
little Evie was so merry.
For she was at the place of Langdale,
where there was no hail or gail.
Just sun, lake and hill, her happiness this did fill.
She had not a fear, for she knew Hexham, Shilhill and Pecsaetan were near.
Her fun began on the Friday, or at least that's what she did say.
Now let free and loose,
she decided to make a chocolate moose.
With Rosie she explored the grounds,
then went on to climb a very big mound.
Then the sun did set,
so chips she did get.
Her belly full now,
much like a cow.
She decided to play cheat,
but no one she could beat.
After four hours of play,
she decided to hit the hay.
Now on the Saturday she rose quite late,
cos been tired she really did hate. She had breakfast with her friends from crook,
this they happily took.
Then she set out on a walk,
to her good friend Rosie she did talk.
After their two hour adventure,
at the pub they did linger.
One O clock sally appeared,
but tired and ill Evie had steered.
Up to the hostel they did trek,
trying to avoid the muddy beak.
Evie went straight to bed,
she felt almost dead.
When she woke again,
all most gone was all the pain.
The hours passed with lots of fun,
including tunes from the melodeon.
By seven O clock everyone was in fancy dress,
some people looked a right old mess.
Curry was served and went down well,
until off went the fire bell. Pirates, Indians^-Fairies and Lost Boys,
all went out to the night's joys.
After a while they ventured back in,
then they could have pudding.
When everyone was done,
they went of and had some fun.
Except for crook that had to clear away,
but they didn't mind cos they'd had a good day.
The party started with a few ceilidh dances, then each side did their performances.
Hexham a dance, in which they did prance.
Crook a game,
this was not at all lame.
And Pecsaetan a play,
which was good Evie did say.
People then played, sung and danced, until they could no longer prance.
The last to give a big yawn, went to bed at three in the morn.
The sun rose far too early the next day,
Little Evie just wanted to stay and lay.
But she got up, dressed, ate and packed her bags,
then went out and put on her rags.
She was much more tired and colder,
so almost fell asleep on her friend's shoulder.
Twelve O clock came near, so down the steep hill everyone did steer. For Martin and Jen they did have to wait,
which everyone did a little bit hate.
The five side took it in turns to caper, galley and half hey,
for this the audience did pay.
It was a beautiful sight,
when everyone was in kit all tight.
Crook's baldrics,
get the mick.
Shi (hill's rags,
make them look like hags.
Hexham's top hats,
fit for cats.
And Pecsaetan's bells,
sound all over the fells.
But then the great weekend had to come to a close, so little Evie could go home and have a dose.
As there is always lots to do in the run up to Christmas, this year we decided that instead of a Christmas party we would have one at the New Year instead. Twelfth Night just happened to fall on Saturday 5th January, so we chose to hold our party that night. We are lucky to have a branch of the Hawkeshead Brewery at Staveley, just outside Kendal. They have a great upstairs bar and beer hall, which is just right for a party with music, singing and dancing, and they brew terrific beer into the bargain!
The theme was “Posh Frocks”, so some of us put on our grown-up clothes and shoes, whilst others raided the charity shops and dressing up box for gaudy finery. (Crook is always relaxed on dress code, so those preferring jeans and T-shirt did not feel out of place.)
The evening started with drinks, and then we had a buffet supper provided by Wilf’s Café. After this there was a presentation to two founder members of Crook Morris. Colin and Margot Milton have been part of the side since Crook was formed, originally as a splinter group from Crook Folk Dance Group. This year they have had to withdraw from the main stream of Crook activities, so we decided that they should be made Life Members of the side. Shelley collected a series of ‘photos spanning their history with the side, and made a beautiful book to mount them all in. It was a very emotional moment when they were presented with the album, and we hope it will remind them of their many happy years with Crook.
Festivities continued with ceilidh dancing, song and a session, until we were finally obliged to leave at midnight. The party continued for some in Martyn and Jenny’s van, with the sampling of damson vodka and sloe gin, where the idea for another evening of fun (a vodka tasting competition!) was hatched. The following day a few of us managed a bracing walk in the snow. Let’s hope next year’s party is as good!