MORRIS dancers from across the West Midlands are confident they set a new world record in Warwick last weekend.
A total of 138 dancers from 15 teams danced for nearly six minutes in a bid to break the existing record for the world’s largest morris dance, set by 88 dancers at the Moreton-in-Marsh show in 2007.
The record attempt came at the end of a ‘Day of Dance’ throughout Warwick on Saturday (May 17) to mark 1,100 years since the town’s foundation in 914.
Allan Smith, squire of the Plum Jerkum side and member of the organising team, was delighted with the popularity of the event.
He said: “We filled the town during the day and we certainly got the weather for it. It really was a magnificent spectacle.
“We gathered for the record attempt just before 3pm and by 3.15pm we were set and ready. In total we did the dance for five minutes and 48 seconds with not a single person dropping out. Fortunately there were no great dramas.
“The record is of course unofficial at this point but we know we have done it. Now it is a case of collecting and sending the evidence and getting that accepted.”
Dancing took place throughout the day at various locations in the town centre, as well as at Warwick Castle.
Teams from Warwickshire included Plum Jerkum from Warwick, Chinewrde women’s side from Kenilworth, Hereburgh mixed group from Harbury and the Shakespeare Morris Men from Stratford.
Visitors to the town were encouraged to try maypole dancing in front of Shire Hall and the day culminated in a Ceilidh at Parochial Hall in Kenilworth.
Geoff Parsons and Pat Herlihy with Geoff Watkins as the jester. 21.014.010.leam.jm14
Jennie Diplock, Jenny Thatcher and young Alfie Morley from the Silhill team. 21.014.010.leam.jm16
The Chinewrde Women’s team outside the Rose & Crown. 21.014.010.leam.jm1
The Plum Jerkum Morris Men from Warwick in action. 21.014.010.leam.jm3
Angela McCann, Nicola Bayliss and Eleanor Rowley from the Belle D’Vain side from Evesham. 21.014.010.leam.jm11
Greta with her Baritone saxophone. 21.014.010.leam.jm20
Left – Liz and Amy Pollard, members of Belle D’Vain from Evesham, enjoy a well earned drink. 21.014.010.leam.jm10
