Trigg Background
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    The Trigg Mumming Play  

     

    The Origins of Mummers Plays are believed to be rooted in the oldest of pagan ceremonies combined with the "Lord of Misrule" customs, and were a traditional part of Christmas at the Court of Edward III (1327-77).  In the early Middle Ages the Church introduced Saints and Old Testament Prophets into the drama to produce Christian Miracle Plays, but perhaps it was the other way round.

    Despite the efforts of the Clergy and the popularity of the Miracle Plays, they never quite succeeded in ousting the old pagan Mumming Plays, which remain popular to this day.  In these the players disguised themselves by blacking their faces or by wearing masks, and garments made from ribbon or strips of paper, a custom that still survives at Marshfield in Wiltshire.  The practice is based on an ancient belief that if the Mummers were recognised, the magical power of their play would be broken.

    Although there are many regional variations, the main plot of the traditional mumming play revolves around a battle between Saint George and an enemy who is variously called The Turkish Knight, Bold Slasher, or the Black Prince of Paradise.  The climax comes when one or other of the protagonists is killed.  The Doctor then intervenes and miraculously restores him to life.  This simple story symbolises the eternal struggle of good & evil, light & darkeness, fertile spring & sterile Winter - an expression of man's preoccupation with the cycle of the seasons.

    THE ACTING SONG
    You Gentlemen of England
    I'll have you to draw near,
    And mark these words which we shall say,
    And quickly you shall hear.

    CHORUS
    Repeat the last line, e.g. "and quickly you shall hear", then
    With your ha'pence and strong beer
    And we'll come no more a guising,
    Until another year.

     
    The winter it is with us now,
    So dirty wet and cold,
    To try your good nature
    This night we do make bold.

    THE PLAY
    Go down into your cellar,
    And see what you can find,
    If your barrels be not empty,
    We hope you will prove kind.

    chorus
    So now we make an ending,
    Of what we did begin,
    For going out a Guising,
    We think it is no sin

    chorus

     

     

     

    And a version here from the New Inn Tywardreath 

     

    Our play was "written" in 1981 by Peter Hicks. He researched as many Mummers Plays as he could, (quite a feat in itself in 1981 without the internet) and took what he considered to be the best bits from each and cobbled them all together!  He looked at the Mylor version, but also the Symondsbury, Sussex and Carrington Moss plays, all of which feature the King of Egypt's Daughter and have very familiar sounding lines. 

    The Original Play was for seven players
    Page - not known (but possibly Vic Legg)
    Father Christmas – Chris Ridley
    St George – Peter Marlow
    Turkish Knight – Peter Hicks
    Doctor – Roger Hancock
    Besty Bub – Vic Legg
    Big Head (Musician) – Dave Blayney

    It is recorded that we performed it in 1981 and 1982, but it was never mentioned again until 1996. The numbers involved since then have varied with perhaps as many 13 characters being involved, though probably not all at the same time. 

    The first 'performance' was at the Folk Club, at Christmas in the old hut behind the Flowery Cow, by process of elimination, It all came to pass sometime between 1973 & 1975.

    Trigg Background
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    TRIGG AND THEIR HISTORY
     

     
    Thank you for taking the time to stop and watch us, as audiences have done since we gave our first public show in July 1971.  We enjoy performing and appreciate the interest you show.  We must also thank those who make it all possible, such as Publicans, Local Authorities, The Police, and our supporters.

    Our costume reflects our rural background, and you will note that our green baldrics are decorated with Celtic designs that are found on the Ancient Stone Crosses located around the County.

    Our name comes from "The Hundred of Trigg", an ancient administrative area of Mid Cornwall, and most of our men live within reasonably easy reach of Bodmin.

    We perform dances of the "Cotswold" style: Fieldtown with sticks or handkerchiefs, Bucknell also with sticks or handkerchiefs, but with the hands at shoulder height, and Stanton Harcourt, which nobody else still remembers, but where we have the handkerchiefs on our little fingers and sometimes with both sticks and hankies at the same time! As well as the occasional Lichfield dance with 8 dancers.


    We mainly dance on Thursdays, but we have no recollection why we chose that day.  But we've been doing it so long it must be a tradition by now.


    Morris dancing is a tradition that goes back a long time, but so long that it was never written down, so it's your guess what it looked, or sounded like in Shakespeare's time and before.  Some people like to think it's a fertility rite, or linked to John of Gaunt and Moors from Spain, and who are we to disagree.  One thing is certain - and that's a close association between Morris dancers and pubs over many years.  So we practice in the winter, and then when the evenings are lighter in the summer, we can be found dancing outside pubs across central Cornwall.  And just to make sure that others don't miss out, each year we pick out a couple of villages who haven't got a pub and descend on them as well (usually with adequate supplies of beer).

     

    And not to forget - Trigg does consist of dancers of both male and female persuasions.

    And a Beast ... Trigger 


     

    LIST OF TRIGG MORRIS PERFORMERS 1971-2020

    Vic Legg (1971 - )

    Steve Danby (1971)

    Phil Beaumont (1971 – 73 & 1977 - 78)

    Alan Ramsden (1971 - 88)

    Peter Marlow (1971 - )

    Roger Hancock (1971 - )

    Dick Welsby (1971 – 72) deceased

    Ron Hayward (1971 - 72)

    Brian Goodman (1971)

    Maurice Dart (1971, 82, 96, 2003 - )

    Ian West (1971 – 74) Musician

    Chris Best (1971 - 72)

    Dave Williams (1971 - 2001)

    Pete Philp (1972 - )

    Colin Williams (1972)

    Mike Johnson (1972 – 88) deceased

    Michael – Musician (1972)

    Peter Bunt (1972 - 86)

    Chris Penton (1972 – 87) deceased

    Dave Rye (1973 -74)

    Bob Fallis (1973 -74)

    Chris Farr (1973 -74)

    Dennis Ackersley (1973)

    John Dunkell (1973 - 74)

    Rob Elliot (1973)

    Peter Cock (1973 – 86) deceased

    Rodney (1973)

    Chris Ridley – Musician (1973 – 2020) deceased

    Keith (1973)

    Peter Hicks (1973 – 83 & 2012 - 2018)

    Robert Robins (1974 – 93) deceased

    Dave Blayney (1974 -81) deceased

    Mike O’Connor (1974 – 76, 79, 90, 93 & 94) Musician

    John Pearman (1974)

    Mike Trevellyan (1975)

    Pat Bell (1976 – 79) deceased

    Dave Killer (1976 - 81)

    John Knight (1976 - 80)

    Colin Barker (1976 - 77)

    Ernie Keast (1976) deceased

    Dicken Keslake (1977 - 78)

    Malcolm Harvey (1977 -2021 )

    Brian Roberts (1977 – 79) deceased

    Andy Jones (1977 - 83)

    Lee Ellis (1977- 78)

    Reg Ellis (1977 – 85) deceased

    John Peters (1979 - 82)

    Owain Bell (1979 - 94)

    Trevor Johnson (1979 - 81)

    Bob Wicks (1980 - 84)

    Dennis Cook (1979 – 2000) deceased

    Paul Reece (1980 - )

    John Sparrow (1981 - 84)

    Graham Owen (1981 - 89

    Rod Edwards (1983 - 84)

    Roger Sexton (1983)

    Mick Bull (1984 - )

    John Webb (1984 - 94)

    Dave Martin (1984 – 94) deceased

    Simon Pipe (1984 - 85)

    Brian Palmer (1984 - 91)

    Ian Chanter (1985 - )

    Rob Chisman (1985 - )

    John Tremaine (1985 - 95)

    Terry Letchford (1985 - )

    Christian Norgaard (1988 - 97)

    Clive Baker (1990 - 96)

    Pat Broderick (1991 - 2015)

    Phil Champion (1992 – 2020) deceased

    Pete Turner – Mrs Baggit (1993 -94) deceased

    John Richards (1994 - 2015)

    Dave Marshall (1997 – 98 & 2008 - 2015)

    Alan Tringham (1998 - )

    Ted Kent (1998 - 2013)   deceased

    Bob Mann (1998 - 2018)

    Ivor Read (1999 – 2013) deceased)

    Chris Gill (2000)

    Jim Hutchins (2002 - 2013)

    Ben Harding (2004 - 07)

    Kevin Mckeogh (2005 - 07)

    Andy Hill (2006 - 09)

    Chris Thomas (2006 - 16)

    Andy Payne (2009 – 20) deceased

    Trevor Tanner (2009 - )

    Darren Marfleet (2010 – 13) deceased

    Andy Dabrowski (2011 - )

    Neil Hartwell (2011 - )

    Kevin Everett - Musician (2013 -2014)

    Chris Seamarks (2015)

    Ethan Armes (2016 – 18)

    Viv Champion (2019 - )

    Elaine Philp (2018 - )

    Amy Dyer (2018 - )

    Sandie Pinder (2019 - )

    Derek Pinder (2019 - )

     

    Associate Members for other services

    Viv Champion (1990 – ) Musician and player of the J.C.Penton concertina

    Sid Richards (1994 – 2015) – Valued supporter

    Pauline McKeogh (2005 – 2007) Musician

    Lyn Thomas (2007 – 16) Musician

    Marion Reece (2016 - ) Musician

     

    Two other lady musicians have also assisted in the past, but are not listed in the minutes by date;

    Rosemary Gratton, nee Wills (circa 1972)

    Carol McEvoy, nee Watson (1977 - 78)

     

     

    Historic list of THE SQUIRES OF TRIGG MORRIS MEN in date order.

    Soon after starting practices, and before our inaugural tour on June 26, our first Squire had been elected.

    1971/2 Peter Marlow
    1972 - 1977 Vic Legg
    1978/9 Peter Marlow
    1980/1 Dave Killer
    1982/3 Peter Cock
    1984/5 Peter Philp
    1986/7 Owain Bell
    1988/9 Vic Legg
    1990/1 Peter Philp
    1992/3 Ian Chanter
    1994/5 Dave Williams

    1996 - 1998 Mick Bull
    1999/2000 Peter Marlow
    2001/2 Malcolm Harvey
    2003/4 Ian Chanter
    2005/6 Peter Philp
    2007/8 Ivor Read
    2009/10 Ian Chanter
    2011/12 Terry Letchford
    2013/14 Robert Chisman
    2015/16 Bob Mann
    2017/18 Phil Champion
    2018/20 Paul Reece

    2020/  Ian Chanter   

    The Person who is elected Squire has to spend the year choosing which dances to do, maintaining order and decorum (?)

    and he has a special Waistcoat and Bells to wear  - and there is inevitably a long tale to tell about the waistcoat.

    .
    Foremen
    1971 and 1972 - Phil Beamont
    1973 to 1982 - Chris Penton
    1983 to 1991 - Vic Legg
    1992 - Pete Philp
    1993 to 1995 - Vic Legg & Pete Philp
    1996 to 2012 - Pete Philp
    2013 to 2018 - Terry Letchford
    2018 -             Peter Philp
     
       

    Bagman     
    1971 onwards - Roger Hancock


     
    Practice Venues   

    Morris Dancing was talked about late in 1970, Vic & Steve having been inspired by the Exeter Ring Meeting, and enlisting the help of Phil B to get things going. Records start in January 1971, but practices might have begun earlier, the first being held in the old Methodist Chapel on Town Wall recently occupied by The St Johns Ambulance Brigade, but moving quickly to the Methodist Assembly Rooms, Fore St.

     
    Ambulance Hall, Town Wall 

    1971

    Methodist Assembly Rooms, Fore Street                            1971
    Bodmin Comprehensive School                                         1971 & 1972
    Bodmin Football Club, Old Drill Hall                                   1972 & 1973
    Lanivet Hall                                                                    1973 to 1975
    Garland Ox                                                                     1975 to 1982
    St Mary's Hall                                                                 1983 to 1985
    Bodmin CP School                                                           1986 to 1991
    St Lawrence Social Club/Old Carew/Foster Hall                   1991 to 199?
    Bodmin Community Association Rooms                              199* to 2017
    Bodmin Boxing Club                                                         2017 to 2018
    One For All Community Centre, Lanivet.                             2018 to 
       

    *Definitely 1997, possibly as early as 1993/4

     

      


    AGM Venues
     
        
     
    Black and Amber Club                                           1st March 1972 & 7th February 1973
    C. Pentons Residence                                            22nd January 1974 & 23rd January 1975
    R. Hancock's Residence                                        15th January 1976
    R. Hancock's Residence (Tolgate, Treningle)           13th January 1977 & 6th October 1977
    P. Bell's Residence (Ruthern Valley House)              5th October 1978
    No Venue Recorded                                             February 1979
    J. Peter's Residence (8 Dawe Road)                       27th September 1979
    Garland Ox                                                         11th & 18th September 1980
    Garland Ox                                                         17th September 1981
    Guildhall                                                             23rd September 1982
    Shire House                                                        29th September 1983
    St Mary's Hall                                                      4th October 1984 & 26th September 1985
    Bodmin CP School                                               23rd October 1986
    V. Legg's Residence                                             19th November 1987
    R. Hancock's Residence                                        6th October 1988
    Bodmin Community Association Rooms ever since
    5th October 1989. 4th October 1990. 10th October 1991. 1st October 1992. 14th October 1993. 6th October 1994. 19th October 1995. 3rd October 1996. 9th October 1997. 17th September 1998. 21st October 1999. 19th October 2000. 11th October 2001. 26th September 2002. 25th September 2003. 30th September 2004. 6th October 2005.
    12th October 2006. 27th September 2007. 25th September 2008. 24th September 2009. 23rd September 2010. 6th October 2011. 6th October 2012. 7th November 2013, 13th October 2014, 29th October 2015 and 20th October 2016.

    One For All Community Centre, Lanivet.                             2018 to 2019

    2020 Our first "Virtual" AGM - by courtesy of the Zoom conferencing program 

     

    Except from Bad Education Movie
     


    The Annual Feast of St Hygenus
        
    What is the Feast of St Hygenus? Not sure if Pope Saint Hyginus had anything to do with Trigg Morris, however, it has traditionally become an annual event to celebrate the Birthday of one of the Founder Members of Trigg Morris, namely Dr Christopher Penton. Although Chris Penton died many years ago, Trigg Morris still traditionally celebrates his birthday.  The first Feasts were held at his flat, within the grounds of St Lawrence Hospital, and the later ones were at his house in Wenford Bridge, and it was several years before the team realised that we were attending his birthday party!  Chris was born in 1911 and died in November 1987. The first Feast in its current format was held at Blisland (then called The Royal Oak) on the 11th January 1988.  I think that we have organised something every year since (though at least one was cancelled because of the weather). and the main venue has been the Old Inn at St Breward.  We have also been to The Masons Arms and St Mabyn  and back to Blisland.

    Who was Dr Penton?  Dr Chris Penton worked up country and was offered a posting to the Psychiatric Hospital in Bodmin but wouldn't take it unless there was a Morris team nearby.  Fortunately Trigg Morris had formed in February 1971 and Chris arrived at about the same time as Pete Philp in September 1971. Chris took over as Foreman from Phil Beamont who had taught Trigg from day one in February 1973 and held the post until 1982. He introduced the policy of only dancing 3 traditions max, it prevented us from dancing Mush Morris and allowed us to concentrate on the individual styles of the traditions.  A very intelligent person, he spoke 16 languages, four of them fluently, including Arabic and Russian. Situated at Berlin University, he returned to the UK in 1938 and during WW2 became an advisor to the British Army on Psychological Warfare!

    What happens on the night?  We start the evening with a session of dance, 5 or 6 dances before retiring to the bar for an après Morris.  A hat resembling a Turkish Fez is passed around and at this point anyone can take possession of the hat, place it upon their head, if they wish and do a party trick, whether singing, reciting, playing an instrument or anything else before passing it on.  It is not a requirement that you have to do something but more of an opportunity to do so, if you are feeling brave (I have been known to sing (badly) during this event). During the evening, we toast Dr Penton with a shot of Rum and Shrub, bought from funds.

     

    © Trigg Morris All Rights Reserved.

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