SHAMELESS PLUG!
Hexham Morrismen will be holding four open practice sessions for beginners in Hexham's Moot Hall, on Thursday evenings from the 25th of September to the 16th October, starting at 7.30pm. Our sister side,the Hexhamshire Lasses, practice regularly on Monday evenings in Corbridge Middle School from 8pm - beginners are always welcome.

For more information about both teams and their activities, visit our website. (http://www.hexhammorris.com)

ANSWER TO ORIGINAL THREAD QUESTION
Do we have young members? Yes, though not as many as we'd like - and we tend not to keep them very long. Some local teenagers dance with us for a while, but lose touch when they go away to university. Some incoming university students join us while they're here, but usually don't stay around afterwards. Nevertheless, they all seem to enjoy the experience.

PERSONAL STATEMENT
If curious people(of any age)ask "why do you do it?" my reply goes something like this:

"Well, dancing the Morris is an enjoyable thing to do in itself. On top of that, in the last 12 years it's earned me all-week tickets for three Sidmouths and four Whitbys, plus entry to more UK weekend folk festivals than I can be bothered to count, plus subsidised trips to perform at international festivals in Japan, Bulgaria, Hungary and The Azores.

Moreover, during this period it's kept me reasonably fit, despite the ravages of time and heavy consumption of fish and chips (Whitby), pasties (Sidmouth) and beer (everywhere). And most importantly of all, it's introduced me to lots of very nice people, many of whom have become permanent friends."

Not a bad deal, all things considered?

Wassail!