Peter Stewart

It's likely to be their very final summer and I've got three gentlemen with me who are first of all going to explain about the Morris Men and what they do and what they're about to perform here outside the plough and

and also tell me a little bit more about their history and the story, and about why they may not be here for next summer, and why that is a terrific shame, because they've got a big anniversary coming up. Phil is the bag man. That means that you're the secretary. You're kind of doing a lot of the admin and so on. That's right, yes.

and also tell me a little bit more about their history and the story, and about why they may not be here for next summer, and why that is a terrific shame, because they've got a big anniversary coming up. Phil is the bag man. That means that you're the secretary. You're kind of doing a lot of the admin and so on. That's right, yes.

So, Phil, first of all, tell me about... Thank you very much indeed for inviting me down. Tell me a little bit more about the East Surrey Morris men.

So, Phil, first of all, tell me about... Thank you very much indeed for inviting me down. Tell me a little bit more about the East Surrey Morris men.

OK, well, let's move on to Robin. You're a relative newcomer, then, by the sound of it, aren't you?

OK, well, let's move on to Robin. You're a relative newcomer, then, by the sound of it, aren't you?

I'm going to whisper this, and forgive me for saying it, but you know there's a few people out there that kind of look on Morris Dancers as a little bit unusual, a little bit odd.

I'm going to whisper this, and forgive me for saying it, but you know there's a few people out there that kind of look on Morris Dancers as a little bit unusual, a little bit odd.

And Phil, you were explaining to me a little bit earlier on about how intricate the dances are with the different beats and things like that. Together with perhaps some of the dances I think have some words or some chants and there's music and there's sticks and there's bells and all sorts of things going on. It's not just kind of dancing or swaying to a disco beat, is it?

And Phil, you were explaining to me a little bit earlier on about how intricate the dances are with the different beats and things like that. Together with perhaps some of the dances I think have some words or some chants and there's music and there's sticks and there's bells and all sorts of things going on. It's not just kind of dancing or swaying to a disco beat, is it?

All of this intricate footwork and so on is good for the brain. It's good for the cognition and so on, isn't it?

All of this intricate footwork and so on is good for the brain. It's good for the cognition and so on, isn't it?

But I suppose with the music, that could be written down in a way that the dances couldn't be written down.

But I suppose with the music, that could be written down in a way that the dances couldn't be written down.

But also I suppose that it's almost part of the charm of the whole Morris tradition, is it, that... Different villages would have different variations of dances and would adapt and change.

But also I suppose that it's almost part of the charm of the whole Morris tradition, is it, that... Different villages would have different variations of dances and would adapt and change.

That's the main thing. We love it. But unfortunately, Robin, not enough people love it. I mean, Phil hinted at this earlier on in his, I think, very first answer when he said, when the Surrey Morris men started up, that actually you're nearing 100 years, but you may not quite get there.

That's the main thing. We love it. But unfortunately, Robin, not enough people love it. I mean, Phil hinted at this earlier on in his, I think, very first answer when he said, when the Surrey Morris men started up, that actually you're nearing 100 years, but you may not quite get there.

Why is it that people don't want to join Morris groups anymore?