MORRIS dancers have been ringing bells, striking sticks and waving handkerchiefs across the Vale and beyond this weekend (June 20 to 22).
Some 600 Morris dancers from 50 sides across England and Wales have brought the county alive with a riot of colour, music, and centuries-old tradition.
Towns and villages visited include Broadway, Bretforton, Pershore, Droitwich, Worcester, Alcester, Bidford and Stratford.
Morris sides filled Market Square, Evesham, with sound, dancing and colour on Saturday. Pictures by Lise Evans
It is all part of the annual National Morris Weekend, based in Evesham – celebrating the full spectrum of morris dancing, including Appalachian, Border, Cotswold, Clog Stepping, Molly, Northwest, Long Sword and Stave Dancing.
Morris dancing features in the plays of William Shakespeare and Samuel Pepys mentions seeing them in his famous diaries.
The weekend finishes with a church service at All Saints, Evesham and a procession from Abbey Gardens to Market Place followed by the presentation of the ‘Evesham Stick’ by the mayor, with more dancing until 4pm.
Visit nationalmorrisweekend.co.uk for further details.
