Posted on by Sarah Crofts

Westminster Day of Dance Saturday 14th May 2022

Come and see Westminster Morris and guests at our Day of Dance.

Tour 1:

Camden Clog, Thaxted/Cambridge, New Esperance, Westminster

10.10 St. Margarets, St Margaret St, London SW1P 3JX

10.50 Westminster Arms, 9 & 10 Storey’s Gate, London SW1P 3AT

11.30 Victoria Tower Gardens, Millbank, London SW1P 3JA

Tour 2:

St Albans, Madder Mill Molly, Ravensbourne

10.10 Victoria Tower Gardens, Millbank, London SW1P 3JA

10.50 St. Margarets, St Margaret St, London SW1P 3JX

11.30 Westminster Arms, 9 & 10 Storey’s Gate, London SW1P 3AT

All: Trafalgar Square 12.30 – 13.30

Afternoon tours (* denotes a site near a pub):

Tour 1

Camden Clog, St Albans, New Esperance, Ravensbourne

14.30 Ship and Shovell,1-3 Craven Passage, London WC2N 5PH*

15.15 Adelaide Street, London WC2N 4HZ *

16.00 Duke of York Steps, Waterloo Place, St. James’s, London SW1Y 5AJ

Tour 2

Madder Mill Molly, Thaxted/Cambridge, Westminster

14.30 Duke of York Steps, Waterloo Place, St. James’s, London SW1Y 5AJ

15.15 Ship and Shovell,1-3 Craven Passage, London WC2N 5PH*

16.00 Adelaide Street, LondonWC2N 4HZ  *

All: 

17.00-18.00 Glassblower, 40-42 Glasshouse St, London W1B 5JY

Posted on by Andy Dehaney-Steven

Practice season 2021 – new venue

September 22nd 2021 will see Wesminster Morris commence practices in our new venue. It’s a short stagger from a nice Fullers pub and from Paddington station.

Here’s what Richard (our baggy bagman) has to say about it…

Our new practice venue will be in the church hall at St Johns Church, 18 Hyde Park Crescent, Tyburnia, London W2 2QD, starting on September 22nd, 8.00pm to 10.00pm.  The hall is on the left-hand side of the church, at the back.

A Fuller’s pub is nearby, the Victoria on the corner of Sussex Place and Strathearn Place, I suggest that early arrivals could meet there.

There are several options for getting there:

Central line: Lancaster Gate and Marble Arch are the same distance from the church, but Lancaster Gate is closer to the Victoria, about 300m along Stanhope Terrace.

From Victoria it’s probably quickest to get the Circle/District line to Paddington.  Take the exit signposted to Praed Street, turn right along Praed Street, and right along London Street.  Ignore the Sussex Arms, it doesn’t have any cask beer.  Continue along London Street/Sussex Place and see the Victoria straight ahead, or turn left along Gloucester Square to the church.  It’s about 400m from Paddington station to the Victoria, 300m from there to the church.

If you’re coming along the Circle/Hammersmith & City line from King’s Cross, either walk from Edgware Road station (700m to the church) or change to the Circle/District line to Paddington.  This is because the Hammersmith & City platform at Paddington is much further North and you have to walk miles around the building site to get to Praed Street (guess how I know that!).

From Victoria station to Napier Hall was about 950m, so most of us have less far to walk

Posted on by Andy Dehaney-Steven

3rd November. Stop thinking about it and DO IT.

WESTMINSTER MORRIS – NEW DANCERS WELCOME

If you are interested in learning to dance Cotswold Morris in the distinctive Westminster style, taking exercise, having fun and a drink or two afterwards, come along to the Taster Session on 3rd November and give it a try, or any Wednesday evening this Autumn.

We are a friendly, all-inclusive, mixed team with a passion for keeping a great English tradition alive and everyone is welcome. No previous experience is required.

When and where:-
St. John’s Church Hall, 18 Hyde Park Crescent W2 2QD
8:00 to 10:00 pm each Wednesday.
Nearest stations Paddington, Edgware Road and Lancaster Gate.

Questions?
email our Bagman, Richard on newbagman@westminstermorris.org
Call our Squire, Roger on 07312111850
See our website westminstermorris.org or
https://www.facebook.com/morrisdancers/

Posted on by Andy Dehaney-Steven

June 26th 2021 – Not a day of dance but it’ll do

Westminster Morris have been holding our Day of Dance celebration in May for over 60 years now, and then bloody Covid came along and buggered it all up. We spent 2020 and a good part of 2021 on zoom meetings, trying to dance to music which was even more behind the beat than usual. It was not fun. Finally, we’re allowed to venture out and this is what we’ll be up to.

All times quoted are BMT (British Morris Time = BST plus or minus an unspecified amount of time depending on unspecified things such as, pubs)

Here’s the list of where we’ll be from our lovely Squire, who is being even more vague than usual.

  • 11:00 The Red Lion Crown Passage, SW1Y 6PP
    • Crown Passage is a narrow alley off Pall Mall at the Western end, opposite Marlborough Road. The nearest tube is Green Park.
  • 12:00 Waterloo Place – the top of the steps from the Duke of York Column overlooking St. James Park
    • SW1Y 5AG might help you
  • 12:45 A pub, whose name or street Roger can’t remember – either that or somewhere else for lunch.
    • So, if you don’t see us in that pub, look somewhere else
  • 13:45 St Martin’s in the field.
    • There’s a  nice terrace near to the posh entrance.
  • 14:30 The Ship and Shovell
    • 1-3 Craven passage Wc2N 5PH
  • 15:30 Adelaide Street
    • WC2N 4HZ – on the pedestrianised bit, near the Subway food substitute place.
  • 16:00 Finishing at The Harp
    • Anyone still able to stand will be here
    • WC2N 4HS
    • Either that or The Wellington (Next to the Lyceum)
      • WC2R 0HS

Come on down – we’d love to see you…. if you can find us!

Posted on by Andy Dehaney-Steven

In memoriam: Dr Denis Smith

Long time musician to Westminster Morris, Dr Denis Smith died in November 2017. His funeral in December was well attended but, being in Scotland, there were many more who were unable to make the trip.

Lynda has arranged a memorial service to be held in the church at Thaxted on 9th June 2018 at 2:30 and all are welcome. Please see the notice attached here and let Lynda know if you are going to attend. It will help with the catering arrangements.

Posted on by Andy Dehaney-Steven

Westminster Day of Dance 2014 Programme

(This article is also available in PDF form – click to download)

Here is the day’s dancing programme for this year’s Westminster Day of Dance – which takes place this year on Saturday May the 10th.  London will come alive with the traditional English dance: this year demonstrating the rhythmic clog dancing of the North West, the East Anglian form known as Molly Dancing, and of course the traditional Cotswold Morris.

We’ve got a couple of interesting new spots, as well as some of our old favourites.  And once again we’re delighted to be joined by some of our friends from around the UK, and this time even further afield!

Time Tour 1 Tour 2 Tour 3 Tour 4 Tour 5
10:15 – 10:40 Victoria Embankment Steps St Margaret’s, Westminster Westminster Cathedral Tate Britain Victoria Tower Gardens
11:00 – 11:30 Adelaide St / St Martin In The Field Church Path Victoria Embankment Steps St. Margaret’s, Westminster Abbey Lambeth Palace Forecourt Westminster Arms, Storey’s Gate
12:00 – 12:30 Leicester Square Westminster Arms, Storey’s Gate Admiralty Arch Victoria Embankment Steps St James’s Park Bandstand
 Sides Datchet
Jockey
Aldbury		 Chester
Thaxted
Ravensbourne		 Icknield Way
Westminster
Seven  Champions		 Moulton
Westminster 2
Utrecht		 Martlets
Exeter
St Albans
LUNCH BREAK
Tour 6 Tour 7 Tour 8 Tour 9
14:00 – 14:30 Duke of York’s Steps Glasshouse Street St Martin’s Lane / St Mary’s Court Leicester Square
15:00 – 15:30 Glasshouse Street Gerrard St / Macclesfield St Chinatown Duke Of York Steps Adelaide St/ St Martin In The Field Church Path
 Sides Ravensbourne
Utrecht
Datchet
Exeter		 Westminster 2
Ickneild Way
Chester
Aldbury		 Thaxted
Westminster
Jockey
St Albans		 Moulton
Martlets
Seven Champions
TEA BREAK
16:30 – 18:00 Massed Show – Victoria Embankment Gardens

Come on down – we’d love to see you!