Just returned from a week away to pick up on this debate. I was the author of the original letter to the Fed and Ring although as I made clear I was encouraged to write by members of other sides and festival organisers. My opinions are clear in the original letter so I needn't reiterate them.. although I suggest that some of the later contribitors go back and have another look.

Regarding the principle of whether informal teams should dance.. that is entirely a matter of opinion. Mine is that it is fine as long as they put on a decent show in kit and do not disrupt the official proceedings.

As far as Scratch Morris at Whitby are concerned I think Geoff's and Les' memories are failing them. I did not see the coffin incident myself but here are a few facts which I observed first hand.

Fact one: In 1999 they pushed themselves into the grand finale photograph at the Bandstand. This was meant to be the cover photograph of the next year's milleniuem programme. I know for a fact that the dance organiser (R.Mc) was absolutely furious about this.

Fact two: At least twice Scratch Morris have been dancing at official venues and run over into the time when the booked sides should be dancing (if it has happened to us twice then presumably they have done it to other teams also).

Fact three: in the parade in 2003 Scratch Morris ran ahead of the parade, cut through the Ship pub and tried to barge into the parade in front of us. When we refused to let them in one member of Scratch attempted to trip up one member of our team (BB).

Fact four: at the end of the parade they were specifically told not to dance in the finale by the dance coordinator (RU) but continued to do so. This not only upset her but angered a number of members of other teams (specifically Barley Break and Rivington). A former dance coordinator (SA) remonstrated with Scratch's ringleader (JMc) who then went round the back of the Bandstand apologising to all the teams.

Again it is clearly a matter of opinion at to whether dancing in shorts, cardboard hats and using balloons is a good thing or not. But willfully disrupting the efforts of others teams and the organiser is not.

I see some of these folks at the Sheffied Carols. Can I make a suggestion. We'll all take some red noses this year. Just as Will Noble gets up to sing the Mistletoe Bough I'll nod. We'll all whip the noses on and break into Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. All in favour say 'aye'.

Yours with bells on and proud of it

Roger Kennington
Hexham Morrismen