Diary for 1949

ATMD diary of 1949

Except where there are notes in italic font, this is taken directly from the first notebook of the bagman, Jack Hyde, which is entitled:  THE ABINGDON MORRIS DANCERS DIARY OF EVENTS FEBRUARY 14TH 1949 TO JULY 7TH 1951.  Someone very kindly typed this out in the 1970s or 1980s which has made it easy to scan, though a few transcription errors have been corrected – we have the original notebook (and two more that follow).

The first page lists the dancers, presumably those who were active at the start of 1949.

  • PERSONNEL
  • LEADING DANCER: T HEMMINGS, 100 OCK STREET  [Tom Hemmings actually lived at 144 Ock Street, but 100 is what is written in the book]
  • NUMBER 2 DANCER: C BRETT, SAXTON ROAD
  • NUMBER 3 DANCER: P J HEMMINGS, 45 JOHN MORRIS ROAD
  • NUMBER 4 DANCER: C HEMMINGS, CALDICOT GARDENS
  • NUMBER 5 DANCER: E CONSTANCE, SAXTON ROAD
  • NUMBER 6 DANCER: J GRIMSDALE, SAXTON ROAD
  • NUMBER 7 DANCER: J HYDE, 15 BOROUGH WALK
  • MUSICIAN: Mr F FRYER, WARGRAVE HALL
  • FOOL  [blank]
  • HORN BEARER [blank]
  • MAYOR FOR YEAR ENDING JUNE 21ST 1950 [blank] – this is in different ink, so added later

 

TUESDAY 14 FEBRUARY 1949   A meeting was held on 15 Feb 1949. It was decided amongst the members present to practice twice a month, the first practice to take place at the “Happy Dick” on Thursday 3rd of March and to go forward with the programme for the summer months. the election for Mayor to take place on June 21st.  A short practice was held during the evening for the first time since the war.

MEETING HELD MARCH 3RD 1949   Practice as arranged at previous meeting, very poorly attended. Major F Fryer kindly consented to play the tunes until a musician had been found.

MEETING HELD JUNE 16TH 1949   It was decided to hold our annual celebrations on Saturday June 25th. permission having been obtained from the Town Clerk and Police, for dancing to take place in the streets on that day.

MEETING JUNE 25 1949  Turned out in full regalia as arranged at previous meeting.  Received a card from Mr Bardwell (Oxford Morris Men) conveying their best wishes for a successful day. The members present were: Thomas Hemmings, Charlie Brett, John Grimsdale, Major Francis Fryer, Mr R Annetts (Mr Drew, Horn Bearer), John Hyde.  Dancing took place in Ock street starting at the “Ock street Horns” public house then up Ock street in easy stages until the Town Hall was reached. From there on to “The Crown and Thistle Hotel” where the dancing was watched by a large gathering. After a little light refreshments at “The Seven Stars” we made for Headquarters, arriving back at 10:00 pm. After a short display for the benefit of the customers and our supporters, and a number of trippers from Coventry and Lincoln we retired for the day. The sum of £7.13.0 was collected during the day, divided as follows: £1 each for the six members taking part. Mr Drew who acted as Horn Bearer for the day declined to take his share leaving a balance of £1.13.0 in the hands of the Secretary. It was suggested that the monies shared out should be ear-marked for expenses for future engagements and upkeep of uniforms and regalia. [note that there is no mention of an election for the Mayor of Ock Street, even though the archives and scrapbook have a photo of Tom Hemmings dressed as Mayor dated 1949.]

MEETING JULY 14TH 1949  Practice and social evening only “Maid Of The Mill” demonstrated by Mr J Hemmings, hope to include this dance in our programme shortly. [J Hemmings is most probably Jim Hemmings, brother of Tom, who was involved in the dancing before the war.  However, the handwriting in the notebook is not that clear, and the J might also be a T (i.e. Tom).]

MEETING HELD JULY 28TH 1949  A letter of invitation was received by the Club through Major Fryer to visit St Albans Morris Festival which takes place from Friday September 9th 1949 until Sunday September 11th 1949, both dates inclusive. A very full programme has been arranged.  It was decided to accept the invitation and to go forward with the practice dances.  The arrangements made for the tour of local towns and villages by The Abingdon Morris was held over to a later date, owing to the Stratford week, 6th -13th August, Major Fryer will not be available until after that date. Next meeting to take place Thursday 18th.

MEETING HELD THURSDAY 18TH AUGUST 1949   Short practice and discussion concerning our visit to St Albans. Decided to postpone our tour as suggested at an earlier meeting. To meet again Wednesday August 31st.

MEETING HELD WEDNESDAY AUGUST 31ST  Received full particulars of Morris Ring Meeting. Dances arranged for the festival were “Jockeys To The Fair” and “Princess Royal”. Had long practice, went through all our dances. Music supplied by Mr Bardwell, Major Fryer being sick.

MEETING HELD WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 7TH 1949   Ran through all our dances, Major Fryer was not able to attend owing to illness. John Grimsdale gave notice that he would be unable to go to St Albans owing to other engagements.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 10TH 1949  Proceeded to St Albans as arranged. Started from “The Happy Dick” 10:00 am. The party attending were James Hemmings -Mayor, Tom Hemmings -Leading Dancer, Charlie Brett -Dancer, Ray Hemmings -Dancer, Reggie Annetts -Dancer, John Gillet -Dancer, Major Fryer -Musician, John Hyde -Bagman, William Hacket -Fool.   A very enjoyable day was spent by all, dancing took place in several villages en-route. Met up with Wargrave, Oxford and Headington Quarry dancers at Redbourne Common. Massed dancing took place there, afterwards proceeded to St Albans for tea. After tea all dancers proceeded to the Verulamium for massed dancing and club displays. Our team gave the Abingdon version of “Princess Royal”, music supplied by Major Fryer. Massed dancing and club displays continued until 7:00 pm, before a very large gathering and in beautiful weather. The Feast commenced at 8:00 pm, a real good spread, with plenty to wash it down. Speeches were made by the leading men of the Morris Ring, toasts were given for absent members and a hearty note of thanks to the St Albans Morris Men for a very fine programme.  Left Town Hall at about 10:30 pm to make the long journey home reached Abingdon 1 am.  All proceeds were handed to St Albans Club to help defray expenses.  [Note that Jim Hemmings is listed as the Mayor for this event.]

MEETING HELD WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 28TH 1949   Practice and general discussion of the St Albans meeting. Demonstration by Tom Hemmings of “The Maid Of The Mill”, decided to continue practice of this dance in future at a faster tempo. Major Fryer and three men from Wargrave again attended.

MEETING HELD WEDNESDAY 12TH OCTOBER 1949   On this occasion Mr Bardwell from Oxford Morris Men paid us a visit and helped with the music. Invitation was received from Headington Quarry Morris Men to take part in their Jubilee Meeting on November 26th at Headington to commemorate the 50 years since the meeting of William Kimber and the late Cecil Sharp on Boxing Day 1899.

MEETING HELD OCTOBER 26TH 1949   The tour to Headington was again discussed with Mr Bardwell. It was decided to go in the afternoon as one of our dancers did not leave work until after lunch. Practised the “Jockeys To The Fair” dance, the one we had decided to open dancing.

MEETING HELD NOVEMBER 9TH 1949   Practice of all dances, including “Maid Of The Mill”. Wargrave Men in attendance.

MEETING WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 23RD 1949   General discussion about Headington meeting to be held on the following Saturday. Major Fryer did not attend, but sent particulars with Reg Annetts and John Gillet, he had received a letter from Headington that week, asking him if he could be there in the early morning to play for one of the parties so it was arranged that we should all be there by 10 o’clock, the one man we left behind would make his own way later in the day.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 26TH 1949   Proceeded to Headington as arranged, arrived in good time. After a short rest at the village Hall we proceeded to a demonstration by the Headington Morris Men at Sandfield Cottage, the actual meeting place of Cecil Sharp and William Kimber, Boxing Day 1899, a lovely old place. Refreshments in the way of beer and buns were provided by the present occupier, very acceptable as it was a very cold day and raining at times. After that we formed up into three parties, and danced to very many people in different parts of the town, including the Laurels, a home for old folks, who very much enjoyed it, light refreshments were taken here. After several more dancing points which was shared equally between ourselves and Oxford Men we had lunch in Quarry Village Hall.  After lunch all dancers proceeded to Margaret School Assembly Hall.  Massed dancing and individual club dancing took place before a large and very interested audience, in spite of the very cold and rather damp weather until dusk.  Tea was taken in the Quarry Village Hall, church service at the Quarry Church from 6:00 pm until 7:00 pm, one of the bell ropes broke just as we entered the church. The service was taken by the very Rev. Matthews who gave a very delightful address assisted by a curate who’s name I do not know.  The Feast began at 7:30 pm, attended by many celebrities of the City of Oxford and Morris Ring Men, it was a good show. Toasts and speeches were made by the Chief Constable of Oxford, Mr Douglas Kennedy Director of English Folk Dance and Song Society and several others.  We left at 10pm just as the fun commenced after giving the “Curly Headed Plough-boy” as a demonstration. Arrived home at 10:45pm.

MEETING HELD DECEMBER 8TH 1949   Short practice and general discussion on the Headington meeting. It was decided to suspend further practice meetings until the New Year.

Cash account for year ending 31st December 1949:- Receipts £7.13.0, Expenditure Postage £0.7.0, Subscription Morris Ring £0.2.6, Cash in hand £1.3.6. Share out £1 per man £6.0.0. TOTAL £7.13.0