Hexham Morris - 25th Birthday

Subject: Hexham Morris - 25th Birthday
From: MikeofNorthumbria
Date: 01 May 02 - 11:17 AM

Hexham Morris Men are planning to celebrate their 25th anniversary this summer with dance, music, song and ale over the weekend 19-21 July. Our sister side, the Hexhamshire Lasses, will also be participating, along with numerous guest dance teams.

I'm hoping this posting might catch the attention of some former members of the Hexham teams who've lost touch with us over the years. If any of you are reading this, we'd be delighted to hear from you. Please PM me for further information about the weekend.

For anyone else in the Northumbrian region who might be interested - on Saturday 20th July, there will be dance displays in various public open spaces, plus a ceilidh in the evening. Full details available on request.

Wassail!

Subject: RE: Hexham Morris - 25th Birthday
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 02 May 02 - 04:06 AM

Mike of Northumbria, you've gor me racking my poor brain, trying to place you! You'll know why when I muse that you may well know Chippy and Alan and Tony [McMahon], or the "Wizard" Wilson from Haugh Lane, or Bill the demon barber next door to the "Ex"..... I was at the youth folk fest there last year, and enjoyed your teams performance by the bandstand---cannot make it this year--damn!!

Subject: RE: Hexham Morris - 25th Birthday
From: MikeofNorthumbria
Date: 02 May 02 - 07:11 AM

Hi Boab,

Glad you enjoyed our dancing at last year's Hexham Youth Fest. This year we won't be part of it, as we're booked to perform that weekend at Cleethorpes – jewel of the Lincolnshire Riviera. However, we'll be dancing in, or near to, Hexham several times during the summer. If you want to say hello, ask any member of the team to point me out next time you run into us.

I well remember Chippy, Alan and Tony as "The Marras" from the days when they were regulars at the Royal Hotel, and have heard them occasionally since then, at ceilidhs and so forth. The names of "Wizard" Wilson and Bill the demon barber don't ring any bells, but I may well know them by sight. A few months ago, at a session in the Tanners (or is it The Tannery?) I bumped into Greg Milne, who used to MC the Hexham folk club back in the '70s, when I was a regular there. I was sad to learn that he no longer sings, but pleased to find him still his old cheerful self.

Most of us who survive from that era are now getting a bit ragged around the edges, though still functioning – more or less. But Terry Conway, bless him, never looks a day older, and sings better than ever. Let's hope his talents will become more widely recognised, now that he's finally got round to putting some of his stuff on a CD.

See you around sometime …

Wassail!

Subject: RE: Hexham Morris - 25th Birthday
From: GUEST,Topsy Stedman
Date: 02 May 02 - 09:00 AM

Hello Mike, I dance with Sompting Village Morris in West Sussex but am originally from the North East. Being with the Morris for only four years I have not heard of Hexham Morris until now. We have a ladies and mens side of about 60 in total. I wondered if you might like to look at our website and possibly in the future we could come and visit your side - any excuse to get up North again. I've always loved Hexham. I have little sway with the big-wigs of Sompting Morris but couldn't resist e-mailing you just incase we could get together some time. Regards, Topsy Stedman (home e-mail: [e-mail])

Subject: RE: Hexham Morris - 25th Birthday
From: MikeofNorthumbria
Date: 07 May 02 - 05:38 AM

Refresh!

Any former members of Hexham Morris Men or Hexhamshire Lasses out there? Please get in touch if you'd like to come back for the celebrations.

Any Northumbrian Mudcatters who'd like to catch the dance spots in Newcastle and/or Hexham on the 20th/21st July? Or who'd like a ticket for our ceilidh on the Saturday evening? If so, please write in to this thread, or send me a PM.

Wassail!

Subject: RE: Hexham Morris - 25th Birthday
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 08 May 02 - 03:40 AM

Ah, Mike! Wittingly or not, you shared part of this man's life! I was part of Hexham folk club from the mid-sixties till well through the seventies---and, indeed, shared the m.c. spot with James McGregor Milne for long spells. Yon was a folk club! I still have my wee book bearing the programming of successive nights over a long period. What names---Archie Fisher, Martin Carthy, Danny Kyle, Battlefield Band, Dick Gaughan and Five Hand Reel,Finbar and Eddie Furey, The Grehan Sisters, Benny the Whale, The High Level Ranters, Cilla Fisher and Artie Tresize-----heck!--stop me, or I'll fill a book! The "Wizard" is the pet name for Colin Wilson, he who must have his lyrics to hand when he is singing "Dicey Riley". The "demon Barber" is Bill Moulding who had his business next to the "Ex". Last time I was in "the Heart of All England", besides having a glass or two with Greg in the Old Tannery, ["the Skinners"] I tried to pick up a track of Caroline Robson carrying a rendition of "Macrimmon's Lament", which she does so beautifully. No luck. Got a nice cassette of Brian Watson, though. How in heck you miss my identity I don't know; but a mention of "Scotch Bob" to Terry, Tony, Alan, Chippy or any other denizen of what was the best club in the U.K. bar none in those old days will elicit, I'm sure, a positive response! By the way---am I right in saying that Bob Scott used to be active in your team?

Subject: RE: Hexham Morris - 25th Birthday
From: MikeofNorthumbria
Date: 10 May 02 - 09:15 AM

Hi Boab!

We must have spilt each other's beer a few times in the crush round the bar at the Royal (or possibly the Beaumont, later on). Were you the chap who played the piano accordion by any chance?

I remember hearing most of those guest performers you listed, plus a few others like Cyril Tawney, Peter Bellamy, Tony Rose, Pete & Chris Coe, Na Fili and Pywacket. The singers' nights were usually good fun as well. During the early to mid- 1970s I often contributed to them myself - and also played back-up guitar for Carole Hill from time to time.

Hexham Morris actually grew out of the folk club. We began practicing in the back room in November '76, and danced out for the first time in April '77. Bob Scott was indeed one of our earliest members. So too was Dougie Law, whom still I bump into occasionally at folk events in Tynedale. We're hoping that some, at least, of our far-flung ex-members will be able to get up for the weekend. We're also keen to entice local friends of the side to come along for the Saturday night ceilidh. (But advance booking will be essential - all our previous ceildhs have been sold out weeks ahead.) Hope to see you there, or thereabouts.

Wassail!

Subject: RE: Hexham Morris - 25th Birthday
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 11 May 02 - 02:30 AM

Bingo, Mike! And I still have yon old Scandalli, which came to me indirectly through the same Bob Scott we have mentioned. I remember the move to the Beaumont. If I remember right, Cilla and Artie [now of "Singing Kettle" fame] did a great gig for us there. The old Scandalli is still resident in Scotland, and is aye there waiting when I visit home. It has four "brothers and sisters" over here in Canada nowadays. And three bodhrans to keep them in tempo. Saw and spoke with Dougie Law last time I was in Hexham; somehow I always seem to run into Doug. Maybe it's the similar accent?? Will be over for a [short ] visit last ten days in June, but unlikely to be in Hexham this trip. Keep that tradition alive! [ A Scottish morris dancer?---kind of unique---but Dougie IS unique, after all :-) ! Boab

Subject: RE: Hexham Morris - 25th Birthday
From: GUEST
Date: 13 May 02 - 08:40 AM

Hi Boab!

Glad to hear you're still pushing the bellows and tickling the keys - I hope that "The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen" remains in your repertoire. Last year I finally joined the squeeze-box family myself, after forty years of fidelity to the guitar, and am gradually coming to terms with the Morris repertoire - plus a few standard ceilidh tunes - on an anglo concertina. (And having a lot of fun with it, though not quite up to public performance standard yet.)

Looking at the diary for the period of your visit, I see that Hexham Morris Men and Hexhamshire Lasses are due to dance at Alnwick Fair on the afternoon of Sunday 30 June. Maybe see you there? The previous Thursday (27th)may be a practice night, in which case we'll probably be found in the Queen's Head at Great Whittington from about 10.pm. Alternatively, we may be dancing out somewhere in the Tynedale area between 7.30 & 9.30, followed by drink and music at some hospitable local pub. Either way, you'd be very welcome to look in. For up-to-date information, email me: [e-mail]

Wassail!

Subject: RE: Hexham Morris - 25th Birthday
From: GUEST,Mike of Northumbria
Date: 13 May 02 - 08:41 AM

Hi Again Boab!

Now who ate my cookie this time?

Wassail!

Subject: RE: Hexham Morris - 25th Birthday
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 12:38 PM

hi i'm really sorry to bother you but i wonder if you might be able to help me.
during the course of my family tree research i found 2 cousins that my father was unaware of one of those is a gentleman by the name of Hugh Douglas Law from the carlisle area who i have found out goee by the name of Dougie Law. I have been unable to find him or his sister margaret but i have just come across reference to at the above forum to Dougie Law at Hexam.
would you by any chance have a recent contact address for him.
i,m sure this is the same person because i know he was from the hexam area & used to busk around there.
would much appreciate any help you can give me.
thanks again
kevin law
kent

Subject: RE: Hexham Morris - 25th Birthday
From: LesB
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 03:09 PM

Happy Birthday Hexham. Have to dash just going to practice!
Les (Southport Swords)

Subject: RE: Hexham Morris - 25th Birthday
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 03:43 PM

Congratulations Hexham!

I was going to sing Helen Akitt's "Granddads go dancing on May Day" at Chippenham last year, but changed my mind after I'd seen you lot, since you were still looking much more energetic than other sides your age...

Hope to see you at Chippenham again in May.

Kitty

PS MikeofNorthumbria - Your (and McGrath's) Young Student Sent Down in his Prime was sung by Caroline at Oxford Folk Club's 16 birthday party in November!

Subject: RE: Hexham Morris - 25th Birthday
From: GUEST,MikeofNorthumbria (off base)
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 07:25 PM

Hi there Mr Law,

Yes, Dougie Law was a regular at Hexham folk club back in the '70s, and danced with Hexham Morrismen for a while in their early days. I haven't seen him for several months, but as far as I know, he's still above ground. I'll make some enquiries about his location, and try to get back to you with the results. (If you register with Mudcat, send me a personal message with your address, and I'll pass it on to him if I can.)

Hi Les from Southport - thanks for the congratulations, but this is a resurrected thread from 2002. Our 25th birthday has been and gone, though planning will soon begin for our 30th anniversary season in 2007.

Hi Kitty - thanks for the news about the old song - Chippenham is looking unlikely for us at the moment, but I hope to see you at Whitby in August.

Wassail!

Subject: RE: Hexham Morris - 25th Birthday
From: LesB
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 03:43 PM

Whoops I wasn't watching that one. Now you come to mention it I think I remember, I think you came to our D of D that year. I'll be suitably embarressed and chastened when I see Frank at D.E.R.T.
Any chance you might make it to our D of D this year?
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: Hexham Morris - 25th Birthday
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 05:16 PM

Hippo Birdies Two Ewes!
Hippo Birdies Two Ewes!
Hippo Birdies, Hippo Birdies!
Hippo Birdies Two Ewes!


Greetings from Foolestroupe T.W. (MA)...