Quick links to 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974
External version, which does not include comprehensive names of members and records of members weddings, etc. This is because there are many ex members of ATMD from this period that are still living but with whom we are no longer in contact, and we can’t be sure that they would permit the use of their names. Exceptions are made for Mayor’s Day candidates, those who have been Bagman, and those who joined before the end of 1969 and are mentioned in earlier diaries.
A fuller, internal version of this diary, which does include names of members and also refers to their marriages etc, is in the ATMD Archives.
Source material for this period:
- Entries in Scrapbook 1 (SB1) to 1971, and Scrapbook 2 (SB2) 1972-79
- Newspaper cuttings, mostly from the North Berks Herald (NBH), Abingdon Herald (AH) and Oxford Mail (OM)
- Miscellaneous photographs not in SB1 or SB2.
- 1970-74 Paper archives. There is very little material for 1970 and 1972, and none at all for 1971. From 1973 onwards, there is quite a lot of material, mostly Colin Corner’s bagman notes and papers.
- Personal reminiscences and communications, Dave Spiers.
Other abbreviations used:
- EFDSS: English Folk Dance and Song Society
- MM: Morris Men (eg as in Bathampton MM)
- OCMM: Oxford City Morris Men
- OUMM: Oxford University Morris Men
Friday 20th, Saturday 21st February 1970: Royal Albert Hall Folk Festival. Performances were Friday 7.30, Saturday 10.30, 2.30, and 7.30, also 2 shows at Cecil Sharp House (Saturday & Sunday). Same dances each performance: Procession with chair (Girl I Left Behnd Me), Constant Billy, Squire’s Dance, Maid of the Mill, Nutting Girl (dance off). On Sunday 22nd February, silver EFDSS badges were presented to the team.
Friday 29th May 1970 was the date the new shopping precinct in Abingdon was officially opened. No record of morris dancing but the flag wavers from Belgium were photographed.
Saturday 30th May: Abingdon Festival ’70. ATMD and St Niklaas flag wavers performed on Hales Meadow during the afternoon.
Saturday 20th June 1970: Mayor’s Day. Cross Keys polling station, Fred Stimpson Returning Officer, Result: Charlie Brett 247 votes, Johnny Grimsdale 45. Reported in OM 22-6-1970, page 7.
date unknown but probably a Saturday in September 1970: Fair Close Care Home (Newbury) annual fete. Source: an unidentified press article with photo.
date unknown, but probably a winter month: Annual Ladies’ Night at the Railway Inn. Source: an unidentified press clipping that says it was held on a Saturday night, photo shows country dancing.
April 1971: wedding of Bruce Tofield in Wadham college, Oxford. Both Abingdon and Oxford University Morris Men danced and formed a guard of honour.
Saturday 1st May 1971: Oxford May Morning. This was the first time for a long time that the event had fallen on a Saturday and the squire of OUMM decided it should be an all day event, with afternoon and evening tours. After the usual morning dancing from 6am to 9am and breakfast in Crawford’s cafeteria in Queen Street, the dancers and their followers went for morning drinks in the Wharf House, OUMM’s ‘local’ in the St Ebbes area. In the afternoon, the teams split into two tours: OUMM, Colne Royal and Kennet danced in Chipping Norton, Woodstock and Witney, while Oxford City, some of OUMM, Bampton and Abingdon danced in Wallingford, Dorchester and Abingdon. The two tours met up for evening dancing in Stanton Harcourt and Eynsham (before Eynsham had re-formed) and finally finished up again in the Wharf House, which had got a special extension to stay open until midnight. In all an 18 hour day. Oxford May Morning was changed forever.
Saturday 17th June 1971: Mayor’s Day. Polling at the Cross Keys, Fred Stimpson and the town mayor in attendance. Result: Charlie Brett 165 votes, Les Argyle 37. Evening guests were Oxford City, Oxford University and Gloucestershire (they had all previously been on OUMM’s Day of Dancing). An unidentified press article mentions that Charlie Brett’s gold braided hat had recently been renewed – and if Les Argyle had won, the hat would not have fitted him. Reported in both OM 21.6.1971 p3 and NBH.
October 1971: Jack Hyde retired as Bagman. The Ring Bagman sent him a congratualtory letter.
June 1972: Folk magazine article by Tony Foxworthy describes Abingdon morris and customs.
Monday 1st May: Oxford May Morning
Saturday 17th June 1972: Mayor’s Day. Charlie Brett 148 votes, Les Argyle 56. Polling at the Cross Keys, dancing finished at the Railway Inn. Guests included OUMM and Bampton. Reported in Oxford Mail 19.6.1972 p3. Whiteknights MM turned up uninvited, were allowed to dance but not allowed to join the party at the Railway (so they sat and drank in the Public Bar).
Friday 28th July 1972: Evening tour, joining an Ancient Men tour at the Harrow (West Ilsley), Crown & Horns (East Ilsley), Bell (Aldworth). A late night and two traction engines in attendance at Aldworth. The Ancient Men were camping the whole week at Aldworth cricket field.
August 1972: Morris Festival at Bampton, organised by TBMD (Arnold Woodley). ATMD attended, along with Headington, Burford(?), W Somerset, Thames Valley and Hammersmith.
August 1972: Attended “Scouring of the White Horse” and Tom Brown White Horse Festival, Uffington.
Saturday 7th October 1972: Abingdon town twinning with Lucca ceremony: Charlie Brett presented the Mayor of Lucca with a miniature replica of the Horns. There was a bun throwing.
Tuesday 1st May 1973: Oxford May Morning. After the morning dancing and breakfast, lunchtime was spent at the Royal Oak, Woodstock Road. A coach was ordered at closing time (3pm) for OUMM and ATMD to join a Whiteknights MM tour starting at Goring at 5pm, then Crays Pond and the Bottle and Glass (Binfield Heath). The Abingdon horns fell over and damaged an ear in Goring.
Monday 7th May 1973: tour 1: meet at Railway at 7pm, Vine (Long Wittenham), Carpeneters Arms (Appleford), Waggon & Horses (Culham)
Saturday 12th May 1973: Westminster Day of Dance: leave Railway 8am
Monday 21st May 1973: tour 2 with Kennet: Barley Mow (Blewbury), Four Points (Aldworth)
Monday 28th May 1973: Bampton 6pm start.
Monday 4th June 1973: tour 3: Bystander (Wootton), Vine (Cumnor), Fair Rosamund (Botley)
Saturday 16th June 1973: Mayor’s Day. Result: Charlie Brett 150 votes, Les Argyle 80, Johnny Grimsdale 24. Guests for the whole day were Chipping Campden, Bampton, Headington Quarry and this is believed to be the first time these four traditional sides danced together. As well as the Ock Street ceremony, there was dancing outside 9 pubs, at a care home and at Abingdon Hospital. Morlands donated a ‘barrel’ of beer (probably a firkin). Polling station was the Cross Keys, Fred Stimpson was returning officer. Last dancing was at the Market Place, and the evening finished at the Railway. The visiting sides were presented with miniature replicas of the Horns and Mace.
Monday 25th June 1973: tour 4: Red Lion (Drayton), Admiral Benbow (Milton), George & Dragon (Sutton Courtenay)
Saturday 30th June 1973: John Mason school Summer Fayre, afternoon. Berks College of Education, Reading, evening
Sunday 1st July 1973: Blewbury fete
Monday 9th July 1973: tour 5: 7.30 Galley Fields estate (Radley Rd), 8.15 Tandem (Kennington), 9 Flowing Well (Sunningwell)
Friday 13th-Sunday 15th July1973: Bath, Monarchy 1000 Festival. At Bathampton MM’s weekend to celebrate 1000 years of monarchy, ATMD were guests along with White Horse, Kennet, Marchfield Mummers, South Shropshire and Colne Royal. Feast was in the Pump Room. Dancing at Trowbridge, Longleat and Frome. Bathampton presented Charlie Brett with a silver cup.
Saturday 28th July 1973: Hagbourne, Square Dance and Barn Dance. Free steak, swimming
Monday 4th August 1973: dancing on Market Place (the Queen’s) for Abingdon Sport for All Week, then tour 6: Cameron Avenue (Radley Rd), Boundary House (Oxford Rd).
date inknown 1973 St Niklaas Belgium: Second visit to St Niklaas, lasting 3 days. Dancing on the ferry going over. This was part of the “British Week” celebrations and was an official visit of the town Mayor of Abingdon. Some Abingdon policemen were also on the trip.
Monday 20th August 1973: tour 7: 7.30 Swan (Sutton Courtenay), 8.45 North Star (Steventon)
Sunday 26th August 1973: Lambourn Festival
Saturday 30th March 1974: Bun Throwing, meet at Queens 10.30. The Bun Throwing was to celebrate the end of the Borough of Abingdon (and the move from Berkshire to Oxfordshire). The new Abingdon Town Council invited ATMD to wear the town crest on the back of their baldricks.
Easter Saturday 13th April 1974: Schongau Band on Market Place, party at a member’s house.
Wednesday 1st May 1974: May Morning Oxford May Morning breakfast was at University College. After the breakfast, ATMD and Oxford University among others were invited to dance on the lawn of the Master of Univ (Lord Goodman), who provided beer. There are photos of ATMD dancing on the lawn, including a Maid of the Mill around Lady Goodman.
Saturday 4th May 1974: Ladies Night, Railway Inn
Saturday 11th May 1974: Westminster Day of Dance Abingdon on morning tour A with Bedford, Garstang, Newcastle, Thaxted & Westminster: 1030-1100 St Johns Gardens, 1110-1135 Arneway St (Barley Mow). All clubs 1145-1230 Broad Sanctuary (Westminster Abbey). Afternoon tour C Abingdon with Beaux of London City, Derby, Exeter and Thaxted: 2.30-3.00 Victoria Embankment, 3.10-3.45 Waterloo Place, 4.00-4.30 St Martin-In-The-Fields. Tea. 6.00-7.00 All clubs danced in Trafalgar Square.
possibly Sat 18th May 1974: East Ilsley Sheep Fair (revived in 1974 and ATMD danced there)
Saturday 25th May 1974: Abingdon Carnival. Report and photo in AH 30-5-74 p3.
Monday 27th May 1974: Bampton
Monday 3rd June 1974: tour 1 with Kennet: Barley Mow (Blewbury), Four Points (Aldworth)
Saturday 8th June 1974: Dunmore school fete 4pm, tea, then tour Chequers (Charney Bassett), Plough (W Hanney), Kings Arms (Steventon)
Saturday 22nd June 1974: Mayors Day. Programme: 1000-1100 Cross Keys, prepare polling station, 1110-1130 Punch Bowl & County Hall, 1130-1145 Shopping Precinct, 1200-1230 Queens, Market Place; 1230-1.30 Lunch, Queens Hotel; 1.30-2.00 Queens, Market Place, 2.00-2.30 Anchor & St Helens Almshouses, 2.35-3.00 Abingdon Hospital, 3.15-3.45 Old Folks Home and Almshouses, Ock St, 3.50-4.00 Morris Men voting at Cross Keys; 4.15-4.45 Election Results, Mayor Making Ceremony, Chairing in Ock St, Dancing in of new Mayor; 4.45-5.30 Tea, Cross Keys, 6.00-8.00 White Horse, Air Balloon, Cross Keys, Mr Warricks Arms, Crown, 8.15-9.00 Queens, Market Place; 9.00-11.45 Morris Men and guests to Railway Inn, private party, tickets only. Guests: Bathampton all day, evening Bampton, Oxford City, Oxford University. Result: Charlie Brett 205 votes, Les Argyle 64, Johnny Grimsdale 41. Reported in AH 27-6-74 p1 with photo.
Thursday 27th June 1974: Culham College evening party, 8pm
Saturday 29th June 1974: St Mary’s school Victorian fete, Wantage 3.30-5, tea, then tour Boars Head (Ardington), Hare (Wantage Road [W Hanney]), Wheatsheaf (E Hendred)
Monday 8th July 1974: tour2: Waggon & Horses (Culham), Swan (Sutton Courteney), Admiral Benbow (Milton)
date unknown 1974: Garford Fete There are photos of ATMD at this event, including presenting a young three year old girl with her own set of bells.
Monday 22nd July 1974: tour 3: Vine (Cumnor), Greyhound (Besselsleigh), Five Bells (Eaton)
Saturday 3rd August 1974: Thames Tour: Dorchester to Abingdon by boat, riverside inns 10.00-midnight. The Richmond Yacht Club magazine, Signal, describes how they joined the morris at Dorchester with dancing at the Fleur de Lys, George and Chequers (lunch). Then Barley Mow, Clifton Hampden and Abingdon, and on to the Flowing Well, Sunningwell and Fleur de Lys at Dry Sandford where dancing was floodlit.
Monday 12th August 1974: tour 4: Queens (Abingdon), North Star (Steventon)
Monday 19th August 1974: tour 5: Fair Rosamund (Botley), Ampney Cottage (Cowley Rd, Oxford)
Saturday 31st August 1974: Abingdon Sport for All, Market Place, 11-2
Saturday 7th September 1974: Headington Ring Meeting. Abingdon were on Tour A with Oxford City and Exeter: 9.30 Headington Trustees Saving Bank, 10.30 Aylesbury Clock Tower, 11.30 Thame Buttermarket, 12.20 Cowley Centre, 1.15 Wheatley, The Sun (lunch), 3.30 Massed dancing in Bury Knowle Park, 6.30 Feast at the Poly (now Brookes), 9pm dancing in Quarry, Masons Arms, Chequers, Six Bells, Crown & Thistle.
Friday 6th December 1974: Oxford Journal p12 reported Muhammad Ali’s visit earlier that week to Paddy Monaghan’s house in Saxton Road, Abingdon. Paddy was Ali’s no 1 fan and had campaigned for Ali’s boxing licence to be restored after it was taken from him for not going to the Vietnam war. There were huge crowds to greet Ali and although Charlie Brett (Mayor), Colin Corner (Bagman) and one other dancer had turned up to greet him, there was little time for that, although there is a photo of them meeting him. A later typewritten article which wrongly dated the event as 1975 explained that Paddy Monaghan was a near neighbour of Charlie Brett in Saxton Road and Paddy later arranged for Ali to send an autograph and a thank you message.
Christmas Eve Tuesday 24th December 1974: several performances of the Sunningwell Mummers Play, raising money for the Mayoress’s Fund for the OAP Christmas party.