The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #111426   Message #2347534
Posted By: Bill S from Adelaide
23-May-08 - 07:55 AM
Thread Name: 40 years since Gorton Morris revived
Subject: RE: 40 years since Gorton Morris revived
Yes I live in Perth Oz so I'll struggle to be there.
Odd how many memories feature drinking, very much a part of north west.
We joined the Ring at Giffard in Wolverhampton but I forgot to organise a show dance, so we made one up on the spot. We declared that only the ones who had supped 20 pints that day could dance and every man stood up. Can't remember that much but we called insides and all belted Paul with morris sticks, blood pouring out and him laughing due to a lack of pain.
Or one of our regular midweek crawls of Hulme and Salford docks, 7 pubs from 7 breweries, finishing on Holts, the landlord of the last pub said he'd serve us once and let us sup up what we bought. Ash ordered 15 pints, the landlord said, is that for everybody and Ash said no that's for me, we filled the back room with beer and left about 4am to get ready for work. (No breathalysers in those days)
Or outside the Jolly Angler in thick fog with half a dozen police cars in a ring to light us.
First time we went to Alford we were the first north west side most people had seen, everybody who had ever been turned up so we had a couple of dozen lads in clog irons.
When our funds reached twenty quid, we organised an ale with Adlington and the Jemmers on a Maynes double decker and just bagged enough to cover costs

When I joined along with Ian OToole, there were Ash, Chris, Barry, Sid, Geoff and a couple of lads, Keith and John joined soon after as did Tom, Ron and Paul and Janet played for us (we refused to go to a Ring meeting if she couldn't come but she was away for Giffard), apologies to anyone I missed, it was a long time ago.

Kids today, dun't know they're born

I might put together a few stories for the reunion commemorating not dancing (a tradition dating back to 1775), might even scan a few photos

That's enough, I've worked up a thirst and, yes, you can get Boddingtons on tap in my local

Cheers
Bill