Redbornstoke Morris
Chronology of
Redbornstoke Morris' own traditions
1975 When the side first formed it danced the collected “Black Book” traditions
Sunday 3rd July 1983 The first meeting of the group that would develop Ampthill as a tradition
1984 Billy Bones, the first Ampthill dance, added to the list of Redbornstoke dances
18th June 1984 Nodder Sway added at a dance out at The Three Tuns, Biddenham
By 1987 Three more Ampthill Dances: Pilgrim, Snuffing the candles, Hunt the Bunny
By 1993 XO, Bedfordshire Clanger, One Man’s Morris, Middles’ Revenge, and Alameda Walk added
By 1994 Motley Cap added
1995 Finest added
18 October 1998 Workshop to develop a winter tradition, Brian Mander comments
The notes I made prior to this details the stepping sequence (replacing the Jump with the Spin), but not the “twist” into the first step of the double, which developed during the workshop. My notes also express the possibility/probability that we would have a ready-made repertoire using Ampthill choruses, but during the workshop we came to the conclusion that most of them really didn’t fit and so we were restricted to three dances: Boney Bill. Cardington Hanger and Marston Thrift
May 1999 Three man Stick dance added to the Ampthill tradition
2000/01 Marston dances Silken Chains, Ms Ashby’s Request, Swaying Nods, Meg’s First Kiss and John’s Bunion added.
Ibsen’s Reel added to the Ampthill.
Three new figures added to Marston to give more variety to the dances (until then the figures were based on Ampthill figures)
8 July 2001 Scouthall Workshop – named because it was held in the Harlington Scout Hall.
After trying out lots of “Black Book” traditions, the side developed a style of its own, which seemed to work quite well. Two set dances came out of this: Scouting for Boys and Old Slapper. A fairly traditional Shepherd’s Hey was added to encourage public participation.
2002/03 Blue-Eyed Stranger added to the Scouthall tradition
12 October 2003 Scouthall Capers workshop
2005 Month of May – the first Scouthall dance using capers was danced out.
2016 Forty Years On developed to celebrate our 40th anniversary.
Devised for the Scouthall tradition, it was also performed as a Marston dance.
2017/18 Various workshops to teach Ampthill dances to other teams.
(notably Hemlock Morris in Bedford and Deofrith Morris in the New Forest) and to encourage the formation of a new team in Ampthill to continue the tradition ( Golden Hare Morris)
12 July 2018 Final appearance of Redbornstoke Morris (at the Toddington Tour).
The last dance was a special performance of Pilgrim incorporating the Toddington Tour song – originally performed at Chippenham Folk Festival as part of The Singing, Dancing Year