Morris dancers in ‘end of term bash’

A DECADES-long tradition is coming Henley next week when four Morris dancing teams will meet up in Market Place.

Known as OBJ’s “end of term bash”, the event, which started in 2021, marks the end of the summer for regular Morris dancers and takes place on the last Tuesday in July, which this year is Tuesday, July 30.

The four teams perform different variations of the old English dance.

Bracknell group OBJ Morris wear green, black and white rag jackets and perform “Border Morris”, from the area between Birmingham and Wales.

Taeppa’s Tump Morris, from Maidenhead, are a ladies’ team who dress in green pinafores and maroon skirts. They perform “North West Morris”, which originated in the mill towns of Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Phoenix Morris, from Rickmansworth, have a red, white and black kit. They dance the “Cotswold Morris”, the most recognised form, using handkerchiefs and sticks.

Though not strictly a Morris team, Aldbrickham Clog and Step Dancers, from Reading, perform clog and step dances from around the UK. “Aldbrickham” was Thomas Hardy’s nickname for Reading.

The event will start at 8pm and include a joining-in dance, where dancers and the audience will perform together with basic instructions for newcomers.

For more information, email info@obj.org.uk or visit www.obj.org.uk