Morris Federation AGM 2023

THE MARTHA RHODEN’S TUPPENNY DISH AND SHROPSHIRE BEDLAMS

PRESENT:

MORRIS FEDERATION AGM 2023 INFORMATION

The Shropshire Bedlams and Martha Rhoden's

Tuppenny Dish are two Border Morris sides who always perform together. We are based in South West Shropshire, centred around the small market town of Bishop's Castle.

When our two teams burst on to the morris dancing world in the mid 1970s, nobody knew what had hit them. We were the first to go round together as companion teams of men and women and the first to concentrate exclusively on the previously neglected dances from Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire –Border Morris. Both sides present radical and revolutionary interpretations of the original dances, along with a large dollop of repertoire specially concocted by team members. These days you can see teams inspired by the Bedlams throughout the morris world, whereas only the most discerning have followed the lead of Martha Rhoden’s. Now in their 48th year, we continue to put on a show full of sparkling originality and vitality.

GUEST TEAMS

BEVERLEY GARLAND DANCERS

BOW BROOK MORRIS

DOMESDAY MORRIS

GLORISHEARS OF BRUMMAGEM GIDDERSKINS

LEEK MORRIS

STROUD MORRIS

DOWNES ON TOUR

JENNY PIPES’

MORRIS

MABEL GUBBINS

KNIGHTS OF KING INA

MOCKBEGGAR MORRIS

SHREWSBURY MORRIS

WINKLEIGH MORRIS

MILLTOWN CLOGGIES

RIPLEY GREEN GARTERS

SLUBBING BILLY'S

IRONMEN

THE OUTSIDE CAPERING CREW

THE WEEKEND

FRIDAY

20:00 - 23:00 - Session in the top room of the Three Tuns, Bishop’s Castle

SATURDAY

09:30 - 10:00 - Registration at Bishop’s Castle Community College

10:00 - half the teams take coaches to Ludlow

10:00 - 15:00 - Dancing in Ludlow and Bishop’s Castle

15:30 - 16:00 - Tea and cakes in the School Hall

16:30 - AGM start

19:30 - 23:00 - Ceilidh 'Kirkophony' at the School

19:30 - 23:00 - Folk session at the Six Bells

SUNDAY

11:00 onwards - Morris teams are invited to join us in processing up from the Six Bells at the bottom of Bishop’s Castle town to the Three Tuns at the top of town. Meeting at 11:00 to start the procession at 11:30.

THE DANCE TOURS

We dance in Ludlow each year for our Midsummer celebrations. It is a beautiful town with lots of character and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

The coach will drop people as close to their first spot as possible but collect from Galdeford car park

A buffet lunch will be served at the Ludlow Brewery, where you can also sample some of the local ales if you so wish! The only drawback of serving lunch here is that it’s at the bottom of the town so some teams will have to do two journeys up the hill, sorry but well worth it!

The below link will take you to Google Maps, where all the main spots have been pinned: https://goo.gl/maps/5nAJNYNd34c8GU6z7

After the dancing, tea and cakes will be served at the School Hall, where the coach drops people back off in time for the AGM.

COACH DEPARTS FROM THE SCHOOL FOR LUDLOW 11:00 – 11:45

10:00

12:00 – 12:45

13:00 – 14: 00

LUNCH ALL TEAMS AT BREWERY 14:15 – 14:45

15:15

Mockbeggar, OCC,

COACH DEPARTS FROM GALDEFORD CAR PARK

Square

Rose & Crown Brewery

Beverley Garland , Ripley Green Garters, Winkleigh

Jenny Pipes’, Gidderskins, KOKI OCC, Ironmen, Mockbeggar

Jenny Pipes, Ironmen, Ripley Green Garters

Mockbeggar, Winkleigh, OCC

Beverley Garland Dancers, KOKI, Gidderskins

Gidderskins

Ironmen, Beverley Garland Dancers, KOKI

Ripley Green Garters, Jenny Pipes’, Winkleigh

*We have left plenty of time to walk between spots. If you arrive early, please feel free to start!

THE DANCE TOURS

Three Tuns Castle Hotel King’s Head Churchyard Stone House

10:00 ALL TEAMS MEET AT SCHOOL (OPPORTUNITY FOR A MASSED DANCE)

11:00 – 11:45

Bow Brook, Glorishears, Slubbing Billy’s, Mabel Gubbins

Domesday, Leek, Old Meg

Shrewsbury, Stroud, Milltown Cloggies

SB, MRTD, Downes on Tour

12:00 – 12:45

SB, MRTD, Stroud, Old Meg

Shrewsbury, Glorishears, Mabel Gubbins

Bow Brook, Downes on Tour, Slubbing Billy’s

Domesday, Leek, Milltown Cloggies

13:00 – 14:00

LUNCH ALL TEAMS AT METHODIST HALL

14:15 – 15:00

Shrewsbury, Downes on Tour

SB, MRTD, Slubbing Billy’s, Milltown Cloggies

Domesday, Leek, Mabel Gubbins

Glorishears, Stroud, Old Meg, Bow Brook

15:00 – 16:00 ALL TEAMS MEET BACK AT SCHOOL (OPPORTUNITY FOR A MASSED DANCE)

Bishop’s Castle is our home town and where we dance at local events throughout the year. Unfortunately, the town is not large enough to accommodate all of the wonderful teams we have coming this year but both BC and Ludlow are great for dancing and a spot of sight seeing.

A buffet lunch will be served at the Methodist Hall in the middle of town, unlike Ludlow there is no alcohol allowed on the premises (soft/hot drinks provided) but most of the dance spots are near a pub if you fancy one!

B I S H O P ’ S C A S T L E

The below link will take you to Google Maps, where all the main spots have been pinned: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QhB8nHG2ZJWiH wJaA

After the dancing, tea and cakes will be served at the School Hall, where the coach drops people back off in time for the AGM

*We have left plenty of time to walk between spots If you arrive early, please feel free to start!

SATURDAY NIGHT

KIRKOPHONY CEILIDH

Join John Kirkpatrick on accordion and calling, plus all four sons in an explosion of English danciness.

The Saturday night ceilidh will be held at the School Hall.

Cash bar with local ales.

19:30 doors open.

SIX BELLS SESSION

Folk session in private room at the Six Bells Pub at the bottom of town lead by Scott Zwetsloot.

The Six Bells are also putting on a BBQ in the evening, where you can grab a bite to eat before the ceilidh and/or session.

PROCESSION

Every year at our Midsummer celebrations, we process up and down the High Street, it’s not for the faint hearted but good fun.

Please join us to process up from the Six Bells, at the bottom of Bishop’s Castle, to the Three Tuns, at the top of town. Once at the Three Tuns, we will dance until we drop!

CONTACTS

STEWARDS NUMBERS

There will be event stewards at each dance spot to help you with any queries.

If you need to contact anyone before or on the day, please call: Poppy: 07468427141

Emma: 07891975240

Marion: 07817112915

BISHOP’SCASTLE TOWNTOURS

Discover the historic buildings in the market town and hear about some of the characters and events that shaped it.

Tours are on Saturday evening at 16:30, 16:45 and 17:00 or by request on Sunday.

£3 per person - cash on the day. To book, please contact Poppy on 07468427141.

WHERE TO EAT

BISHOPS CASTLE

Six Bells - evening meals – BBQ arranged for Sat evening

Castle Hotel – eat in - lunches and evening meals (booking advisable)

Three Tuns – eat in - evening meals

The Chai Shop – small eat in area or takeaway Indian snacks

Happy Bap – lunches - eat in and takeaway (closed Sunday)

Yarborough House – tea, coffee & cakes

The Poetry Pharmacy – tea, coffee & cakes

Poppy House - eat in - lunches

Fish & Chip Shop - takeaway

Dragon’s Lair Chinese - takeaway – evenings - cash only

Ganges (eat in and takeaway) – evenings only