I have had the privilege of dancing with two crack sides in my time : Manchester, with which I served my apprenticeship ; and Southport Swords.

My knees will not let me dance with a Side, today. It wouldn't be fair ; I haven't the stamina these days, apart from the fact of having one bionic knee and the wait for another. I content myself with teaching

Morris at the school in Northants which my grandsons attend, at the invitation of the Head Teacher. I get the chance here to play me Anglo and my taborer's pipes.

The average age of the dancers is 10 ; and the kids think that Morris is "cool".

They took to the dance ('Jockie to the Fair', Brackley tradition) like a duck takes to water. Whether any will continue to dance later with one of the many local sides in Northants remains, of course, to be

seen.

With this attitude, I don't think that the Morris (Ring, Fed or other) is likely to become extinct yet.