Morris dancers parade through Oxford

More than 600 morris men — and women and children — danced their way from Oxford Castle along New Inn Hall Street, St Michael’s Street and Cornmarket Street.

It was the sixth year of the folk festival and the fourth year morris sides have taken part in the procession through the city centre.

Festival director Tim Healey said: “The festival has been growing every year and we have now become a major feature in the city’s calendar of events.

“A major part of the festival is the morris dancing, with sides coming from across the country, including lots of local ones.

“The parade is a fairly new tradition for Oxford, but it draws on deeply historical roots — some of the tunes being played date back to Tudor times, or they may be even older still.”

Bob Richards, 23, from Sheffield, a member of Boggart’s Breakfast morris men, was drumming in the parade.

He said: “It’s wrong to say morris dancing is dying out — new groups are starting all the time and lots of young people are joining in.

“I have been doing this for about a year and I really enjoyed the parade.”

Nick Cooper, from Abingdon, one of the festival organisers, said the procession was getting bigger every year and added: “Some members of the public don’t know this is going to happen but they stay and watch — it’s fantastic to see, and the lovely weather has certainly helped.”

Passer-by Lesley Horwood, 52, from Blackbird Leys, said: “I didn’t know this was on but I stopped to watch and really enjoyed it.”

Mary Shakespeare, 43, from Iffley Road, added: “I saw a bit of the procession last year but not the full parade — this year it has been very impressive.”

Dan Buckley, 31, from London, said he had watched some “amazing” bands during the festival, including the Dhol Foundation who played at the town hall on Friday.

Other highlights of the festival included a concert by Kate Rusby on Saturday and folk duo Spiers and Boden performing songs from their new album Vagabond.

affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk