A few pictures of our members in their hats, past and present

Roger Hancock

Vic Legg EFDSS Gold Badge

Peter Marlow

Mick Bull

Paul Reece

Viv Champion (Squire)

Peter Philp

Elaine Philp

Amy Dyer

Neil Hartwell

Andy Dabrowski

Terry Letchford

Trevor Tanner

Ian Chanter

Malcolm Harvey

Rob Chisman

Trigger

Sandie Pinder

Derek Pinder (Squire Elect)

Marion Reece

Sophia Skingley 

Cathy Glaser 

Jan Chivers

We have some friends who , even though they have moved away , still dance with or play for us when they can 

 Bob Mann

Lynn Thomas 

Chris Thomas

Ethan Armes  

Alan Tringham 

Josh Baker joined us for a brief period and fled overseas

And an Honorary member 

Sid Richards 

Gone but not forgotten  

Dave Marshall

Ben Harding 

Jim Hutchins 

Pat Broderick 

Pete Hicks

Past Members

Chris Ridley -  died 2 May 2020 after a fight with cancer. 

 Chris began his Morris with Thames Valley in  1953 where he began playing the Melodeon,  after moving to Cornwall he joined Trigg as a musician in the early 1970's, and soon became the main musician. He continued his association with Thames Valley Morris Men and was their  President .

When the Morris was over, Chris could be relied on to be in the centre of the action, entertaining with his broad repertoire of songs & music both Ancient & Modern. Beyond the Morris Chris was also active in the Folk arena as an integral member of Bodmin Folk Club and creating & running Folk News Kernow for many years.

Phil Champion died in 2020 after a long fight with the Covid-19 Virus.

Phil was a well respected dancer with Tywardreath Morris and Trigg,  and our Squire 2017-18 

Trigg's first encounter with Phil was around 1990 as a minibus driver who was engaged to deliver some of us home after those evenings out when there was some reluctance among the side to be the nominated driver. He enjoyed being with the team and we were invited to dance at his 40th Birthday celebration in 1991. We asked him to join in and he proved to be a natural!

Andy Payne - died 20 June 2020 at Derriford Hospital as a result of a stroke.

Andy joined Trigg Morris in the 2008/9 practice season and he had been a regular performer with the side since then. He was a popular , thoughtful & friendly colleague who will be much missed by his friends in both Trigg and Tywardreath Morris 

  Maurice Dart - passed away on Tuesday 2nd April 2024. He had been around since Trigg Morris started all those years ago and we recently helped him celebrate his 92nd birthday.

Many of you will know of his interests, particularly in the wider realms of the folk movement beginning during his younger days in Plymouth.

He was a member of the Cornwall Railway Society and was one of the old guard of the railway enthusiast world. Maurice wrote many books over the years, together with arranging many walks and visits over Branch Lines around Cornwall and farther afield.

Other friends who have passed on

: 

Ivor Reed    1999-2013 

Darren Marfleet  2010-2013

  Ted Kent 1998-2013

Ted joined in 1998 having previously danced North West Clog with Earlsdon Morris in Coventry. He enjoyed being part of the team, but felt that he was too old to start learning Cotswold Morris. Instead he became a much valued collector! He also played melodeon (pictured on the Trigg Postcard in 2001)

Ted received a special honour in 2021 of a place on the Banner for the Saddleworth Rushcart. Simon Newman of Earlsdon Morris was the current Squire of the Morris Ring and he gave Ted a special mention. 

Robbie Robins 1923-2015

Robert Robins, who died on 23^rd February 2015, aged 91 can make the rare claim of having been an active member of six Morris Clubs.His interest in the Morris began, as a member of the Cambridge Morris Men. He became a House Surgeon at Bart’s, London and by 1948 had joined his second club, Beaux of London City;  Robert moved north in the early 50s became an early member of  Newcastle Kingsmen, 

Robert was  appointed at Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford which put him within striking distance of Headington Quarry Morris Men, then a team of mostly young lads (Kimber’s Boys). Robert was to teach the lads the Rapper that he had learnt in Newcastle . Robert’s next move was to Exeter where he was to join his fifth team, Exeter Morris Men.

In 1961 Robert moved to the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Truro. – you can go no further than Cornwall. But to his good fortune his sixth and final team was awaiting him, Trigg Morris. He was to become a valued member. In 1965 he retired from Trigg but remained good friends with the team – who were proud to dance at his funeral (with Headington Quarry members in the congregation).

   Brian Roberts 1977-79

Chris Penton 1972-1987 - Noted Musician sharing his birth date with St Hyginus

Dave Blayney 1974-81 

 Dave Martin 1984-94

Dennis Cook 1979-2000

Dick Welsby 1971-72

Mike Johnson 1972-88

Pat Bell 1976-79

Ern Keast 1979

Peter Turner 1993-94 aka Mrs Baggit

Peter Cock 1973-1986 

Reg Ellis 1977-1985

Details

Written by: Super User

Category: Trigg Morris

Published: 24 June 2024

Hits: 2275

Nothing is free it seems - most of the videos which follow are hosted on YouTube or similar

- so you often get a clip of advertising first (you can usually skip it as well) 

And sometimes the recordings vanish for reasons unknown. 

 Trigg and Saffron Maids 2013

Trigg and Saffron Maids 2013

Trigg Brighton Camp -(B&W) Stanton Harcourt

Trigg dancing to alternative music

Martyn Windham-Reed and Gang , with pete Philp solo jig

Saturday Night to the tune Hal an Tow

Chipping Camden 2012 Show Dance

Stafford Show Dance - after a night of flooding

Shepherds Hey Bucknell in Lostwithiel 2008 (Rude ?)

Trigg trying Lichfield

Part of Trigg doing Mumming and dance to Xmas Tunes at Lanhydrock 2011

It seems it has to be in three bits - Part 2

And another part where the Doctor does his stuff - thanks to Jocelyn Murgatroyd

Christmas Music at Blisland

A Blisland Solo Jig

A rare outing for A jug by the Ear 

Trigg Ring of Bells

Trigg practising in our old home in Bodmin

Vic Legg getting an EFDSS Gold Badge

Trigg on TV - Oz Clark and James May

Trigg on the Cornwall Channel - 12 minutes of interviews in 2013

A typical Easter - Arriving at Launceston

A clip of Owen Bell (after he left us - bound for South Australia )

The Duke of Grafton

Wadebridge Folk Festival 2022  

(OK it's in German - but Trigg are there 15:27-17:00 ) 

Maurice at 91

St Kew with Boscastle Morris - Saturday Night 

Shepherd's Hey

Millie's Bequest

Hayle Saturday Night

Maurice's 92 Birthday Jig

Cornish Lads are Fishermen

12 Days of Christmas

Union Miner

While Shepherds watched their flocks

Frankie and Johnnie - with Pat

Have you got any news of the Iceberg - with Pete

The Wedding that never was - featuring our Bagman Roger

Being a Pirate - featuring Ian

I want a banana - featuring Ian

Messing about on the river

Trigg take over Blisland - Dancing and Singing - featuring the Woolamoloo Lair with Mick

A worried Man - Vic singing at a Rugby Club do in 1980 (with Owen Bell)

A black velvet band as sung in Polperro   

Stars of the Silver Screen 

In progress - more pictures to follow :

6 September 1980 - London . Esther Rantzen 

10 April 1982 - Torquay - Barry Coope & Fi Fraser

20 August 2008 - Blisland : Oz Clarke and James May

11 October 2012 - Blisland - Rory Bremner

14 December 2013 - Roche - Martin Wyndham Read & Iris Bishop

26 February 2015 -Mevagissey Quay filming “The Bad Education Movie” with Jack Whitehall

6 January 2016 -Wassail at Hybadore with Dawn French

August 2022 Wadebridge Folk Festival - we met a German Film crew 

The presenter was Judith Raker - Germany's equivalent of Fiona Bruce 

We have also met

Rodney Bewes (one of the Likely Lads),

Paul Henry (Benny from Crossroads)

David Penhaligon (M.P. for Truro)

The cast of "The Archers"

While we can't claim to have known Bagpuss - Trigg is older than he is 

Details

Written by: Super User

Category: Trigg Morris

Published: 23 June 2024

Hits: 2701

MORRIS DANCE IN CORNWALL- early days 

During the Twelve Days of Christmas between 1466-67, the household accounts of the Arundells of Lanherne, Mawgan-in-Pydar, record expenditures to buy white bonnets for minstrels, cloth and bells for Morris Dancers, as well as materials for costumes for the "disgysing" (mummers or guise dancers), an activity which involved music and dancing.

This can't have been Trigg, even though we have a long tradition of collecting money in Cornwall. 

And then there is St Nonna's Church in Altarnun , who decorated one of their pews about 1520 

I hope Trigg's current dancing is less wooden

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 dancers live within reasonably easy reach of Bodmin. ( We have no links at all to Colonel Trigg who fell at the Battle of Blue Lick , Kentucky - his ancestors originally came from Norway it seems   - Erik Torsteinson Åsgård Trygge b 1440 )

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 hardly anyone 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.  Click here for ridiculous amounts of additional data 

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 

His origin is lost in the mists of time - but dendochronology aside , we know he once had a name "Hoddy Horse" 

and a 1964 date inscribed on his wooden skeleton. So he may have danced with other sides (?) 

You can't get the staff these days ...

Back in 1975 a group of Trigg chaps went to Stratford upon Avon and "danced in" to join the Morris Ring

(left to right) Peter Marlow , Christopher Penton, Roger Hancock, Mike Johnson, Alan Ramsden (in front, holding the Staff), Peter Cock, Pete Philp, Vic Legg (Our Squire at the time also holding the Staff)  and Dave Williams.

They received a "Staff of Office" which is never used for dancing , but we show it off once a year 

LIST OF TRIGG MORRIS PERFORMERS 1971-  

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 - 2024) deceased

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) deceased 

John Knight (1976 - 80)

Colin Barker (1976 - 77)

Ernie Keast (1976) deceased

Dicken Keslake (1977 - 78)

Malcolm Harvey (1977 - 2021 ) (But still taking photos for us) 

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)      Musician and Illustrator 

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 - ) (aka Jasmine)

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 - ) See also below 

Elaine Philp (2018 - )

Amy Dyer (2018 - )

Sandie Pinder (2019 - )

Derek Pinder (2019 - )

Sophia Skingley (2021- )

Josh Baker (2023- ) (On loan overseas )

Cathy Glaser (2024-)

Jan Chivers (2024-) 

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)

(Strictly speaking that's not us - its the Bodmin Wassailers from 1953) -

Some of our members have been known to associate with them as well

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

2023/ Viv Champion

2024/ Derek Pinder 

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

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

Foremen (who try to get us to dance to a good standard)
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     (our Social Secretary and Treasurer)
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. (Bodmin)

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

Above is a shot from the Movie "Bad Education" 2015 with us (and a lot of luvvie extras) in Mevagissey

  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                1989 - 2016    (It's now a cinema complex) 
One For All Community Centre, Lanivet.                2018, 2019 , 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024

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

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.  We have organised something nearly every year since  and the venues : the Old Inn at St Breward, The Masons Arms and 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, concentraing on the individual styles of those traditions.  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, 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. During the evening, we toast Dr Penton with a shot of Rum and Shrub, bought from funds. This does depend on it still being in production ....

In 2020 - the Feast had to be a virtual affair - Hats both real and imaginary were worn, and the tradition was upheld

In 2021 the Feast resumed - but in the well ventilated and lateral Flow tested circumstances of our practice hall 

A last remnant of Shrub was passed round.

Mind you - if you are looking for odd Saints - In Switzerland there is the famous resort town of San Moritz

- named after Saint Morris - a Christian martyr 

Other travels outside Cornwall 

Often this has been driven by the strange habit of the "Morris Ring"

organising collective meetings of Morris Dancers , and counting them 

1973 2/3 September – Yeovil – Wessex Morris Men - 142^nd (Meeting of the Ring)

1974 20^/21 July – Winchester – Winchester Morris Men - 147^th

1975 28/29 June – Stratford upon Avon – Shakespeare Morris and Sword Men - 152^nd

1976 10/12 September – Guildford – East Surrey Morris Men (Golden Jubilee) - 162^nd

1977 22/24 July - Derby – Derby Morris Men - 169^th

1979 30 June/1 July - Ilmington

1979 23/26 June - Jersey

1979 6/8 July – Wolverhampton – Giffard Morris Men - 177^th

1980 5/7 September – London – London Clubs - 185^th

1981 24/26 July – Shiplake College - Kennnet Morris Men - 191^st

1982 10 April - Torquay – Stage performance of “The Everlasting Circle”

1982 8/9 May – Jersey - Helier Men's Day of Dance

1982 5/6 June – Thaxted -Thaxted Morris Men - 193^rd

1982 7/8 August - Dartmoor Folk Festival

1983 13/14 August – Isle of Wight - Men of Wight - 201^st

1983 September - Weekend of dance with Carn Brae, Hellier and Kings Morris Men

1984 1/4 June - Le Relecq Kerhuon, Brittany with Bodmin Twinning Association

1984 23/24 June – Preston - Preston Royal Morris Men - 204^th

1985 4/6 May - Le Relecq Kerhuon, Brittany with Bodmin Twinning Association

1985 19/20 July – Worcester – Faithful City Morris Men - 210^th

1986 May – Normandy to visit to Dick Welsby

1986 6/7 September - Worksop – Harthill Morris Men - 217^th

1987 6/7 June - Le Relecq Kerhuon, Brittany to take part in “Musiques et Dances Traditionelles”

1987 17/19 July – Crediton – Exeter Morris Men - 221^st

1988 9/10 July – Bodmin (OK we didn't travel but others did) – Trigg Morris Men - 225^th

1988 2/4 September – Canterbury – Wantsum Morris Men - 226^th

1989 9/11 June - South Petherton Festival

1989 22/23 July – Kennet Morris Men - 231^st

1990 7/8 July - St Albans – St Albans Morris Men - 234^th

1991 5/7 July - Ripley – Ripley Morris Men - 239^th

1991 14/15 September - Langueux Trade Fair with Wadebridge Twinning Association

1992 5/6 September - Hartley Morris Men - 247^th

1993 4/5 September - Stockbridge – Winchester Morris Men - 252^nd

1994 29/30 - Normandy to visit to Dick Welsby

1994 23/24 July – Ledbury – Silurian Border Morris Men - 257^th

1995 June - Cothele – National Trust Centenary with Dartington Morris Men

1995 14/16 July - Oakham - The Rutland Morris Men - 262^nd 1

1996 7/10 June - Le Relecq Kerhuon, Brittany for their Centenary Celebrations

1996 13/14 July – Bodmin – Trigg Morris Men - 266^th

1996 19/21 July – Wantage – Icknield Way Morris Men - 267^th

1997 24/25 May - Jersey – Helier Men's Day of Dance

1997 12/13 July – Ludlow – South Shropshire and Jockey Morris Men - 271^st

1998 19/21 June – Chipping Campden – Chipping Campden & Shakespeare M M - 275^th

1998 24/25 October – Plymouth - Fools and Beasts

1999 17/18 July – Eastbourne – Long Man Morris Men (21^st Anniversary) - 278^th

1999 21/22 August – Uppermill, Oldham - Saddleworth Rushcart Silver Jubilee

2000 May - Jersey Helier Men's Jubilee Meeting

2000 24/25 June – Nuneaton – Anker Morris Men (Silver Jubilee) - 283^rd

2001 18/19 August – Epsom – East Surrey Morris Men (75^th Anniversary) - 288^th

2002 31 May/5 June – Le Relecq Kerhuon, Brittany with Bodmin Folk Club

2002 8/9 June – Thaxted – Thaxted Morris Men - 290^th

2002 12/13 October - Killigarth, Polperro - Fools & Beasts Weekend with Plymouth Morris Men

2003 5/7 September – Stockbridge – Winchester Morris Men (Golden Jubilee) -297^th

2003 24/31 October – Grass Valley, U.S.A.

2004 15/16 May – Sutton Bonnington – Dolphin Morrismen - 298^th

2004 21/22 August – Uppermill, Oldham - Saddleworth Rushcart XXX

2005 7/9 May - Le Relecq Kerhuon Brittany - “Le Basket”

2005 30/31 July – St Albans – St Albans Morris Men (75^th Anniversary) - 305^th

2006 14/16 July – Chipperfield – Greensleeves Morris Men (80^th Anniversary) – 307^th

2006 13 August - South Petherton – Dartmoor Folk Festival

2007 6/8 July – Worthing – Sompting Village Morris “End of the Pier” Weekend of Dance

2007 21/22 July – Brewood – Stafford Morris Men (50^th Anniversary) - 311^th

2008 4/6 July – Cheddington – Whitchurch Morris Men (60^th Anniversary) – 314^th

2009 5/9 June – Stockholm, Sweden – Eken Morris Men Weekend of Dance

2009 5/6 September – Bath – Bathampton Morris Men (75^th Anniversary) - 321^st

2010 4/6 June – Thaxted – Thaxted Morris Men - 323^rd

2010 3/5 September – St Austell – Trigg Morris Men - 324^th

2011 8/10 July – Worthing – Sompting Village Morris “Panto” Weekend of Dance

2011 4/5 June – Thaxted – Thaxted Centenary - 327^th (P & V Champion & Philp Family as Trigg’s Representatives)

2012 26/27 May - Chipping Campden – Chipping Campden, Ilmington & Shakespeare - 331^st

2013 6/7 July– Chichester – Martlet Sword & Morris Men (60^th Anniversary) 338^th

2013 24/25 August – Uppermill, Oldham - Saddleworth Rushcart 39^th (Pete Philp & Family as Trigg’s Reps)

2014 31 May/1 June – Thaxted - 341^st (Pete Philp attended as Trigg's Representative)

2014 6/7 September – Dartmouth – Dartington Morris Men - 343^rd

2014 22/23 August – Uppermill, Oldham - Saddleworth Rushcart 40^th/348^th (Alan Tringham as Trigg's Representative)

2015 5/6 September – Bulkington – Anker Morris Men (40^th Anniversary) - 349^th

2016 16/17 July – Tadworth – East Surrey Morris Men (90^th Anniversary) -351^st

2017 10/11 June – Wrotham – Hartley Morris Men (65^th Anniversary) - 354^th

2018 30 June/1 July - Stoke Mandeville - Whitchurch Morris Men (70^th Anniversary)

2019 7/9 June – Isle of Wight - Men of Wight Weekend of Dance

2019 20/21 July – Henley in Arden – Jockey & Shakespeare (70^th & 60^th Anniversary) – 361^st

2021 4 September – Plymouth - Plymouth Morris “Mayflower Morris Muster”- 364^th

2022 16/18 September – Isle of Wight – Men of Wight 50^th Anniversary

Willie Clancy and The Trigg Morris Side's Visit to Miltown Malbay, May 1972.

"I (Ian West) was the first musician of the Trigg Morris Men, a revival side formed in 1971 in central Cornwall, dancing traditional Cotswold Morris. If Cotswold Morris seems slightly odd for Central Cornwall, it was certainly so in remote County Clare at that time in the early seventies.

As an enthusiastic young Morris Side we were eager to show off our own music; but we were enormously enthusiastic worshippers at the alter of all traditional music. Visualize seven Morris dancers, a Morris musician plus two wives and a girlfriend in a Ford Transit minibus, travelling by ferry from Swansea to Cork. We were directed by Danny Linnehan (an Irish lad at the Bodmin Folk Club) to go to his native Knocknagree in the heart of 'Sliabh Luachra' as an excellent starting point for our pilgrimage in search of living traditional Irish music. Our 'Squire' at the time was Vic Legg (a fine traditional singer), and our 'Bagman' was Roger Hancock; both are still dancing with Trigg and have confirmed details of this trip. Vic recalls travelled up to County Clare from Knocknagree, crossing the Shannon by ferry to Kilrush, where we encountered the Horse Fair. ("Anything from a £50,000 race-horse to a £5 donkey" Vic remembers someone saying.) From there Vic recalls we made our way to “… Doolin where we met two of the three Russell brothers, Packie and Micko. (Gussie wasn't there.) Packie. played the concertina, and Micko. the whistle, or flute, or both. Sadly, none of them are alive today”. (Vic was deeply into the Irish traditional music scene, and knew where to go and who to meet.)

The encounter with Willie Clancy came the next day. I wrote some notes at the time which I transcribe verbatim for, though unpolished, they carry an immediacy. This was written on Wednesday the 31 May 1972 [with later ‘clarification’ in square brackets].

"Last night [Tuesday 30th May 1972] we hoped to join a ceilidh at Spanish Point, but found nothing happening at the Armada; nor at Quilty could we find anything. So we drove back into Miltown Malbay. We stopped on the way in and Vic [our 'squire'] asked some girls playing in the street if they could tell us the pub habituated by the great player of the Uilleann pipes -- Willie Clancy. They could not, but as we were by chance parked immediately outside his house they offered to call him out. Vic said "No, you cannot do that to a great man!"; then "--but, dammit, I would like to shake his hand." After 10 minutes Vic came out of the house and said that Willie Clancy would like to meet us all; so we [8 Morris men in full kit with bells and baldricks, plus 3 women] trooped into his small house. After we had chatted to his wife for a few minutes Willie came through; a tall, smiling, man with sandy hair, boyish face and a one-day beard. He wore carpenter's overalls complete with boxwood rule. We shook hands and engaged in conversation. Then he took up the long box containing his pipes, and said it was time for a glass of porter, and directed us [to go ahead of him up] to Lynch's Bar. Vic entered the dark bar and O'Fleary [can that be the right name?] came to greet him out of his kitchen beyond the bar, where he had been sitting by the stove. When we explained that Willie Clancy was coming round to play he took us all into his kitchen. [Willie and his wife arrived.] We bought a round of Guinness, chatted a while and Willie played a tune on a whistle. We went out onto the street and danced a few [Morris] dances, but it was very cold outside. So back into the kitchen. Some other friends of Willie's were gathering. A fellow (could it be Martin Talty?) produced a dark wooden flute with an ivory mouthpiece and practically no keys; and Willie and he played. Very, very, fine music. One could go on listening all night. But we got to singing songs and with our lasses we danced a Dorset four-hand reel across the kitchen. And Willie danced a solo jig, and Willie's foil -- old "Farmer" -- was persuaded to tell us a story. "At half past midnight, O'Fleary, who had been flitting about noiselessly smiling all evening, let us out one by one into the street from the dark bar. A very fine evening.”

Vic, Roger, and I have all added further recollections, albeit recalled some 34 years after the event. Vic remembers that, when the minibus stopped beside them in Miltown Malby, the two girls were playing a game with two balls bouncing against the house wall. They might still remember the occasion, as the Morris men were in full costume (for the anticipated ceilidh); and the occasion was only months before Willie Clancy’s untimely death. Roger recollects that the man referred to as “Farmer” was named Michael, and that Willie jokingly called him his ‘manager’. Old “Farmer” preceded his story by protesting that these English youngsters wouldn’t understand him. I found it hard going but I think I got the gist; one of those stories where you wake and find it was all a dream. I thought the landlord had seemed reluctant to open up the pub until told what had prompted us to knock him up, whereupon he sprang to. We soon had quite a throng in the back kitchen, though the pub had appeared shut for the evening. I concluded that someone had spread the word that Willie Clancy was going to play, which someone told me was a rare event by then. It seemed that the enthusiasm of our visiting Morris Side had proved sufficient to stimulate Willie into playing. Vic visualizes Lynch’s bar as having two counters to walk between; on one side a bar, and on the other groceries. He also recalls that upon entering the empty bar off the dark street it was lit by a single light, which was a brand new electric sign on the Guinness pump, connected to the ceiling rose by a long piece of flex. Roger recollects that, as the Trigg Men drove through Miltown Malbay the next day, they saw Willie Clancy and his wife in a throng of others dressed for church, (or possibly a funeral).  "  As recounted in 2006

More on Willie Clancy here : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Clancy_(musician)

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Written by: Super User

Category: Trigg Morris

Published: 23 June 2024

Hits: 5332

Trigg Morris from Bodmin are now recruiting - we are a mixed side doing Cotswold dances.

We meet regularly on Thursday evenings from 8 pm to 10 pm, between October and Easter

The venue we use is the excellent Lanivet Community Centre near Bodmin PL30 5HG.

///mulled.applies.rivals

If you find people lying flat out in the dark - that's the folk practicing Yoga before our session

If you are interested all we ask is that give it a fair trial and do not give up after the first week. Some of us took years to get it, others might be reasonably proficient in a few weeks, so, just take it as a challenge. Of course if you do not dance but can play a good tune on a suitable instrument you will be equally welcome.
So, get in touch now, you never know it may change your life too, for we have some good times with our team mates all the year round.

Triggnometry

This is the Morris Family from Trigg , Kentucky, USA  

Nothing to do with us at all 

This is Trigg and Gusset - a cool Jazz combo from the Netherlands 

There's also Maddie and Triggs if you need a dog 

 1973 - Very early colour photo - dancing in hats ! Bell pads with handkerchiefs and Tabards !

1974 More familiar Baldrics 

1976

1979 More familiar Bell pads

1980-

1982

1983

1984 - with Unicycle 

1986 Handkerchiefs seem to have migrated to the belt

1987

1989

1990-

1990

1996

1999 - possibly the last shot with dark hair & beards

2000-

2002 - Postcard - showing Squire with waistcoat 

2004

2005

2006 Postcard

2007

2009

2010- 

2010 - with a few friends from Sompting

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019 No longer an exclusive Male preserve - no white socks

2022

almost naked (for the radio) 

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Written by: Super User

Category: Trigg Morris

Published: 22 June 2024

Hits: 2806