Wadard Morris Men - Brief History
The Wadard Morris Men were formed in Farningham in 1977 when The Hartley Morris men left the Pied Bull for Wrotham. Several members of the club who were also members of Skinners Rats were using a recording studio at the Pied Bull and not wishing to loose this facility, they decided to stay in Farningham. The Founder members were Pete Hicks and his Father Tom, Barrie Laing, Pete "Blossom" Currie. They were joined by John Kelly, John Studley, Tim Ash, Andrew and Roger Hearn, Julian Audsley, and Dave Grabham, Of these, only John Kelly, is still a dancing member. [June 2007] The side practised and first danced at The Pied Bull Farningham, Kent (England). It also held its first Ale there.
The side adopted the name 'Wadard Morris' (since changed to 'Wadard Morris Men'), which is both distinctive but also slightly embarrassing, since we are always being asked where Wadard is to be found on the map. Wadard is not a place, but the name of one of the knights mentioned by name in the Bayeux Tapestry and was the first lord of the manor of Farningham.
Our badge is based on the design of the weather-vane on the village hall at Farningham which is in turn based on the tapestry representation. Wadard and his land-holdings in Kent are also mentioned in the domesday survey.
Over the past 30 years we have regulary danced at Pubs throughout the Darent Valley during the summer months. We can be seen dancing at Dawn 0532 at Eynsford ford each year on May 1st. This has become "traditional" event always watched by an enthusiastic audience who come for the dancing, singing and in recent years our charity "Duck Race", and of course our hospitality.
In 1985 one of our performances was in the Historic Dockyard Chatham on the weekend in July prior to the start of the Tall Ships Race.
In May 1987 Wadard Morris Men were invited to take part in the May Queen's procession in the Village of Offham. This has become a 'traditional' booking. With one or two exceptions we have led the procession through the village every year since.
In 1988 the side was admitted to the Morris Ring, sponsored by Boar's Head Morris Men and Green Oak Morris Men. We danced in at the Thaxted Ring-Meeting in June dancing'Highland Mary', from the Ascott-under-Wychwood tradition ,accompanied on the melodeon by Adrian Thorogood, then 13 years old. Since then we have attended Ring Meetings around the country almost every year since. In March 1995 WMM hosted the Morris Ring ARM (Annual Representitives Meeting) in Meopham, Kent.
In the summer of 1998 we attended the 275th meeting of the Morris Ring at Chipping Campden, in Gloucestershire. This was a memorable event of good company, excellent food served to some 400-odd dancers, good drinking and good dancing. Especially enjoyable was the dancing of Chipping Campden, the host side, dancing their own tradition and the Minnesota Morris Men dancing a Jazz version of a well-known tradition.
The Wadard Morris Men have travelled around the country as guests of many other clubs dancing in very many places making and meeting many friends, The Saddleworth Rushcart Festival based in Uppermill near Oldham and hosted By The Saddleworth Morris Men, is an event where Wadard are regularly represented and often have a full dancing side.
Over the years the Wadard Morris Men have fostered relationships with dance clubs in Belgium have travelled to Belgium on about 10 occasions for visits to Lendelede and Bornem, and have hosted the De Speleman folkdance group from Bornem near Antwerp on about 5 occaisions.
The side has appeared three times on television (not including repeats).The first was in 1983 (?) in a program "The Pilgrim's Way in June" part of a series "Country Ways" made for TV South and recorded at the "Chequers"at Heaverham. The second, unscheduled, was a clip of amateur video shown in "You've been Framed" in which one of our members slipped dramatically and inelegantly during a display on loose gravel at a local school fete. The third was an appearance in "Surprise, surprise!" with Cilla Black.
Wadard Morris Men celebrated its 21st Anniversary during the autumn of 1998 with a Winter's Ale in our practice hall in Hartley. The event was attended by several sides from both near and further away and also by several past members of Wadard Morris Men and the Squire and Treasurer of the Morris Ring.
Over the years Wadard Morris Men have always held a Chrismas Carol evening. Originaly held in one of the local pubs and consisting of Carols and a performance by the Wadard Mummers. In 2000 we decided to hold "Carols by Torchlight" at the Ford at Eynsford followed by more carols, songs, stories and of course the mummers play back at Horton Kirby Village Hall, for the first year only. This proved to be very popular with the local residents of Eynsford and has been continued every year since with performances by members of many local morris dance clubs. This event now takes place at Eynsford Village Hall.
Last updated: 29th June 2007 - AJH