The story of ..

HARWICH MORRIS MEN

Contact Harwich Morris by email on: mrb@battym.freeserve.co.uk

INDEX - Click on the appropriate section:
 - The History of Harwich Morris Men
- Photos #1 / Photos #2 / Photos #3 / Photos #4 / Photos #5 Photos #6 Photos #7
- The 2007 Season
- The 2008 Season
- 2008 SUMMER CELEBRATION - 4th-6th JULY 2008
- The officers of Harwich Morris Men
- Members past and present
- Squires of Harwich Morris Men

OUR 2008 SEASON:
To be arranged but we intend to go to:
Rochester Sweep's Festival.
4th Suffolk Folk Festival at Woodbridge.
Leigh Folk Festival.
July 4th - 6th: HARWICH MORRIS MEN'S SUMMER CELEBRATION!
Broadstairs Folk Week.

The History of Harwich Morris Men
Harwich Morris Men could very easily have been, literally, a five minute wonder. In 1978 the teachers at Harwich School were planning a summer celebration. Two teachers, Matt Annear and Neil Arbon, both had an interest in folk music. The word on the grapevine was that Roger Hamer, who was soon to join the staff, had danced with Redbornstoke Morris Men. Wouldn't it be fun to entertain the expected masses with a Morris Dance? When Roger arrived he agreed to teach them a couple of dances. A motley crew learned to dance "Dearest Dicky" and "Beaux of London City".

That early lineup was: Matt Annear, Neil Arbon, Bernard Fawcett, John Finch, Roger Hamer and Dave Sampson. The music was provided by John Hoskyns on the violin.

They put together the costumes from whatever came to hand. Cricket provided the white shirts and trousers. Netball provided the crossed team ribbons that became the baldricks and the school badge was proudly placed in the middle to hold it together. Bells were attached to elastic and these makeshift pads finished off the regalia.

To everyones surprise the performance received rapturous applause and the dancers enjoyed it so much that they decided to take it more seriously. At least, as serious as any morris side take themselves.

Neil became the first Squire and the side with no name became Harwich Morris and danced it first season in 1979.


THE 2007 SEASON
The 2007 season was enjoyed by all. We danced at Rochester Sweeps Fair, Leigh-on-Sea Folk Festival, the Suffolk Folk Festival at Woodbridge and Broadstairs Folk Week. We also staged our 2007 SUMMER CELEBRATION in July which was a great success. To find out about our SUMMER CELEBRATION 2008 click here for details.

THE OFFICERS OF HARWICH MORRIS MEN
Squire: Andy Schooler
Bagman: Andy Schooler
Summer Celebration Bagman: Malcolm Batty
Foreman: Peter Davis
Fool & Stableman: Paul Hallett
Keeper of the Scrap: Matt Annear
Keeper of the Sticks: Alan White
Musicians: Mick Rogers, Jon Fitzgerald, Pam Fitzgerald, Lorraine Jessop, Mark -- & Gordon Rudland

Animals: Nemo and Stanley

MEMBERS PAST AND PRESENT
(The names of current members are in bold type)

Name

Years

Service

Dave Andrews

1984-1986

Bagman ‘84, ‘85,
Jnt Bagman ‘86

Frank Andrews

1980-1985

-

Hugh Andrews

1985-1986

-

Nick Andrews

1979-1985

Squire ‘81,’82

Matthew Annear

1978-

Log ’80
Bagman ‘81, ‘96, ‘97, ’98
Squire ‘84, ’87, '00, '01, '02, '03, '04
Scrap ‘90, ‘91, ‘93, '07
Jnt Foreman ’93
Foreman ‘95

Neil Arbon

1978-1982

Squire ’80
Foreman ‘82

John Barrow

1981-1985

Musician to ‘82,
Dancer ’82 - ‘85

Malcolm Batty

1996-

Scrap ‘98, '05
Bagman ’99, '00, Sticks '03, '04
Summer Celebration Bagman '07

Mike Bell

1996-2001

-

Terry Brooker

1985-1995

Jnt Fool ‘88

Kathy Bunten

1996-1999

Musician

Dave Carter

1985-1989

-

Simon Carter

1985-1989

-

Fred Cosstick

1983-1986

-

Hugh Cronin

1996-2003

Sticks ‘96, ‘97

John Curd

1982-

Foreman ‘90, ‘91, ‘99, '00, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05
Jnt Foreman ‘96, ‘97
Squire ‘92, ‘93, ‘94, ‘95

Ian Davies

1982-1988

Ian contacted us after seeing this site. Nice to hear from you. Thanks for the correction on the dates.

Peter Davis

1986-

Stable ’88
Foreman ‘92, '07
Squire ‘96, ‘97, ‘98, ‘99
Bagman, '03, '04, '05

Robert Davis

1988-1989

-

Colin Dungate

1991-1993

Stable ‘91

Sam Dungate

1991-1995

-

Mark Elliott

1985-1986

-

Bernard Fawcett

1978-1980

Bagman ‘80

Jonathan Fitzgerald

1978-

Asst Bagman ‘81
Keeper of sticks ‘85, ‘86
Squire ‘88, ‘89, ‘90, ‘91
Jnt Fool ‘88
Jnt Foreman ‘93, ‘96, ‘97
Musician '03, '04, '05, '06' '07

Pam Fitzgerald

2003-

Musician '03, '04, '05, '06, '07

Richard Flatt

2005-2005

-

Peter Gray

1985-1986

-

Paul Hallett

2005-

Stable '05, '06, '07

Roger Hamer

1978-

Foreman ‘80, ‘81, ’85, ‘86

Paul Hart

1983-1988

Scrap ‘81,’82,
Asst Bagman ‘81,
Squire ‘85, ‘86
Foreman ‘87

Adrian Hartley

1980-1982

Moved to Plymouth area (1982/3)

Norman Hill

1982-1983

-

Chris Jarrett

1981-1985

Bagman ‘82

Lorraine Jessop

2006-

Musician

Mark Johnson

2006-

Musician

Phil Knight

1978-1980

-

Tim Knight

1980-1981

-

Christopher Moore

1985-1988

-

John Moore

1978-1986

-

Alun Owen

1996-2002

Sticks ‘98, ‘99, '00
Moved to Suffolk 2002

Rachel Owen

1999-2002

Musician
Moved to Suffolk 2002

Simon Phillips

1996-1999

Musician - moved to Scotland

Vic Puddick

1982-1984

Asst Foreman ‘82

Clive Reynolds

1985-1996

-

Mick Rogers

1986-

Musician
Bagman "'92", ‘93, ‘95

Gordon Rudland

1978-

Musician

John Rundell

1980-1982

Asst Bagman ’81
Keeper ‘81
Moved to Plymouth area (82/3)

Chris Russell Jnr

1986-1991

Keeper of Scrap ‘86

Chris Russell Snr

1985-1991

Bagman ‘88, ‘90, ‘91

Jamie Sacre

1993-1995

-

Keith Sacre

1981-2005

Scrap ‘85, ‘96, ‘97, ‘99, '00, '02, '03, '04
Bagman '01, '02
Jnt Bagman ‘86
Foreman ‘88, ‘89
Fool ‘90, ‘91

Andrew Schooler Jnr

1988-1990

Scrap ‘88

Andrew Schooler Snr

1985-

Squire '05, '06, '07
Bagman '07
Sticks ‘88, ‘90, ‘91, ‘93, ‘94, ‘95
Fool ‘93, ‘94, ‘95, ‘96, ‘97, ‘98, ‘99, '00, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05
Stable ‘93, ‘94, ‘95, ‘96, ‘97, ‘98, ‘99, '00, '01, '02, 03

Bill Shoulder

1985-1991

-

Bill Simon

1982-1985

-

Claude Smith

1985-1986

-

Dick Taylor

1980-1986

Musician to’82
Dancer ’82 -’86
Song Master ‘82

Rick Thompson

1993-1994

-

Brian Vince

1982-1983

-

Graham Weare

1990-1996

-

Alan White

2003-

Sticks '05, '06, '07

Clive Woodman

1978-1983

-

Geoff Woodman

1979-1981

-

Peter Woodman

1981-1988

Keeper of sticks ‘81, ‘82
Fool ‘85, ‘86


THE SQUIRES OF HARWICH MORRIS MEN ..

NAME

From autumn AGM of....

Neil Arbon

1978-80

Nick Andrews

1981-82

Keith Sacre

1983

Matthew Annear

1984

Paul Hart

1985-86

Peter Woodman

1986

Matthew Annear

1987

Jonathan Fitzgerald

1988-91

John Curd

1992-95

Peter Davis

1996-99

Matthew Annear

2000-05

Andy Schooler

2005-07

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