Tarka Morris Men are based in Bideford, North Devon, a small working
port on the river Torridge and the birthplace of Charles Kingsley,
author of 'The Water Babies' and 'Westward Ho!' We 'dance out' in
Bideford and the surrounding area during the summer months and also on
Boxing Day and St. George's Day.
The side was founded in September 1991 by John Blackburn, still the
current Squire, and other former members of nearby Barnstaple Morris
which had disbanded in the late 1980's. The side takes its name (and its
logo) from the novel 'Tarka the Otter' by Henry Williamson, another
local author. Nobody knows where the Morris came from, but it's
almost certainly an ancient tradition, probably connected with pagan
rituals celebrating the coming of summer. It's fun is the Morris and it
has great music. And sometimes (quite often in fact) there really is
free beer......
Tarka Morris Men have
their own dance style, which is based on the Cotswold tradition. We
dance the Morris because we enjoy it, and because we are preserving an
ancient and important part of our heritage. And if that's not enough we
also do Mummers' Plays.
We've always room for new members, dancers or musicians or both. Ring
our Foreman Daemon Billing or our Squire John Blackburn for more
information. They're on 01237 476632 and 01237 476632 respectively.
