Wessex Morris Men are holding a ‘Bring-a-friend’ night in the hopes of attracting new members of all ages.
The side are resuming their practice season in their new home of Charminster Village Hall, North Street, Charminster, DT2 9QS, on Monday evenings between 7.30pm and 9.30pm.
Bagman Ray Dyson said: “Our first practice on September 14 is a ‘Bring-a-friend’ night so perhaps you could encourage others who may have been interested (but dare not speak it) to come along with you to begin your Morris journey together.
“If you can’t make this date, we do welcome new members to come along to any Monday practice evening from September through to April.
“The hardest part is walking through that door for the first time – or email me bagman@wessexmorrismen.co.uk to express an interest and arrange to be introduced to the side.
“We hope we can get you to the point of performing in public for future generations to enjoy.
“You never know, you could be a part of Wessex Morris Men’s 70th anniversary celebrations and performances next year.”
Ray added: “Part of the tradition and camaraderie of Morris dancing is the social side, which we embrace by retiring to the nearby Three Compasses after practice.”
History of the Wessex Morris Men
Wessex Morris Men were founded in 1957 by a group of young men who broke away from The White Horse Morris Men to form their own side. They are an all-male group, dancing predominantly in the Cotswold tradition, and have been a fixture of the West Dorset dancing calendar for nearly seven decades.
The side dance out mainly from St George’s Day through the summer months, performing in and around West Dorset at various events and gatherings. During their closed season, which runs from September to April, they hold practice sessions at Charminster Village Hall on Monday evenings between 7.30pm and 9.30pm, welcoming both experienced dancers and complete beginners.
Over the years, Wessex Morris Men have become closely associated with the village of Cerne Abbas. Perhaps their most well-known tradition is dancing on the old maypole site above the Cerne Giant at sunrise each May Day, a spectacle that draws visitors keen to witness this ancient custom. The side also performs a mummers’ play at their Christmas party, usually held on the Monday before Christmas, and again at lunchtime in Cerne Abbas on Boxing Day.
The group is always keen to welcome new recruits. Anyone who is reasonably fit, or would like to work towards becoming so, and is interested in learning the dance is encouraged to come along to a weekly practice session. This also applies to those who already know the tradition and have recently moved to the area.
Among their most treasured possessions is the Dorset Ooser (pronounced “oozer”), a striking carved head with a large wooden face and oversized horns, made from a single log by John Byfleet using nothing more than a small pen-knife. Some believe the Ooser represents the Dorset manifestation of the Horned God, a figure known elsewhere as Herne the Hunter, Cerne, or Cernunnos.
Horses and other animals have long played a part in morris entertainment, and the Wessex Morris Men are no exception. Their hobby horse, named Cadbury, often joins the side on their outings to delight onlookers.
The group also keeps alive the tradition of the Mummers’ Play, a form of folk theatre performed across England since the late 1700s, with most Dorset villages once having their own version. While Cerne Abbas likely had its own play at one time, no trace of it survives today. To fill this gap, Wessex Morris Men adopted a play from the village of Quidhampton, near Salisbury, and have performed it regularly in Cerne Abbas for more than 30 years.