CALLING ALL MORRIS DANCERS

You too can enjoy the fun of the Nine Days Wonder. There has already been interest expressed in the event by TV, Radio and the Press, and Tim would like to maximise the positive impact by inviting all Morris Dancers to join him on the diffferent legs of the journey, either for a short stretch or a nice long stretch.

If you would like to be kept informed of what is going on, please send your email to either Tim or Woodside's Dave D, and we will strive to keep you up to date with where and when each leg of the journey will be taking place, and when any special events take place to celebrate or promote the event.

Tim FitzHigham's
Nine Days Wonder

28 June to 7 July 2008

Nine Days Wonder Home

Commodore of the Dance

On 28 June 2008, Tim FitzHigham will be embarking upon the 147 mile journey from Shakespeare's Globe, on London's Southbank to the Bishop's Gardens in Norwich, and every step of the way will danced using the medium of Morris.

Yet it was only one month previously, on the Whitsun bank holiday, that Tim took his first Morris steps, in the meeting rooms of St Mary's Church in Essendon, and under the critical eye of Woodside's Wayne Lang and David Dunham.

Following an initial meeting in the Beehive public house on Epping Green, during which Tim made assurances of his honourable intentions in presenting Morris Dancing to a wider audience, by way of re-enacting Will Kemp's Nine Days Wonder, and then recounting adventures and tribulations that took place on the way during his always educational stage shows. He also regaled Wayne and Dave with insider tales of his previous derring do, stressing the commitment not only to to taking part in adventures that capture the imagination, but also develop understanding of areas of life and history often overlooked by the general public.

Battered into submission simply by the application of Tim's enthusiasm for the task in hand, the Woodside men went to the meeting rooms and put him through his Morris paces. A number of similar meetings took place over the next few weeks, first of all at Essendon and then moving on to the assembly hall at Merry Hill School, Bushey, during which time Tim was taught the stepping style of the traditional Field Town dances.

Although Tim picked up the steps well, there was a definate individual style which came to be dubbed as the Wild Morris, elements of which still drift into Tims Field Town stepping now, and which will be very handy for encouraging obstructive bystanders to get out of his way whilst on route.

However, stepping is only one part of the dance, and Tim was itching to get involved in a full, six man set dance. To prepare him for such a momentous moment, and to introduce him to the reest of Woodside, Tim came along to a number of our Wednesday evening dance outs, as well as attending his first fully fledged folk festival at Wimborne. Having dabbled with a little Bonny Green at every given opportunity, Tim was strongly feeling the urge to get into a set for Old Woman Tossed up in a Blanket, the tune and steps for which had been used by Wayne and Dave to teach. So, with just a week and a half to go, Tim finally got his wish, and joined in with a Woodside set at the Land of Liberty, Peace and Plenty in Heronsgate.

The performance was most commendable, demonstrating a good nack for the Morris, with a tidy double step and a good sense of position within the set. We were duly impressed!

Though we can't account for the ability of the flesh in terms of a sustained Morrising road trip, we can vouch for Tim's ability to take on this adventure in a very creditable Morris style.

Our work is done!