The Morris Ring is a private members' organisation, and anyone who disagrees with it, or who has an unfavourable opinion of it, is entitled to choose not to join.

It is an umbrella organisation for Morris dance clubs that are all male. That is for historical reasons, and remains the case largely for social reasons, and because the pace of change in an organisation devoted to a traditional activity is likely to be slow.

My own team, Dolphin, has been in the Ring for many years. We get a lot out of it, not just meeting other clubs at events all over the country and abroad, but also as a source of information, publications and equipment. The Ring has massive archives of photographs and film, and has published or facilitated the publication of many books, tapes, CDs and videos, all of which help to keep the morris alive.

As a member of a Ring side, I enjoy the "all boys together" atmosphere of a Ring feast. It's puerile, sometimes, but it's fun.

But I have only come across one or two so-called "misogynists" in 24 years in the Morris. And one of those has a wife who dances in a step-clog team that is closely allied to his own Cotswold side.

Dolphin have a long history of association with women's and mixed sides. Several of our members are or have been married to dancers from other North West and Cotswold sides. We regularly dance at mixed events. We organise events and invite mixed and women's sides.

It simply isn't an issue, and hasn't been for 20 years or more.

There is no more misogyny in the Ring than in any other group of men with a similar age profile. The Ring doesn't seek to discourage or prevent women from dancing. I have been to several Ring events where women have been at the top table.

I see more prejudice against the Ring than I find within it.