1975

In September 1975 a letter by Will Newman and Alan Wilson was placed in the Buxton Advertiser asking if there were any ‘like-minded souls’ who would like to form a local Morris side.  From the responses a meeting was arranged in the Kings Arms, Chapel-en-le-Frith and those who attended agreed to start practising.  Norman King, who was in charge of Adult Education in Chapel  allowed the nascent side to use a room at Chapel-en-le-Frith School free of charge.

2 experienced Morris dancers living in the area saw the advert and became our first tutors.  Jim Hirst from Chapel and Harry Phillips from Buxton taught us seven dancers during the autumn term.

In December Jim’s brother, Stuart, invited the side to dance at his folk dance club’s Christmas Ceilidh in Sandbach. The dances performed at this inaugural performance were:

Lads a Bunchum – Adderbury

How D’you Do Sir – Headington

Getting Upstairs – Headington

Princess Royal Jig – Bledington (Jim)

Bluebells of Scotland – Adderbury

Constant Billy – Adderbury

Bonny Green Garters – Bampton

Arthur McArdle from Holmes Chapel attended the ceilidh and was so impressed with the performance that he decided to join.  He has continued to be a mainstay of the side despite his regular 50 miles round trip to practice every Monday. At the first Morris Christmas Dinner at The Chimes, Taxal we met Randall Dawson who was to become our long term Musician and Treasurer.

Officers

Squire: Jim Hirst

Foreman: Harry Phillips

Bagman: Alan Wilson