1973
Three Weddings, one Stag Night, two full sides dancing,
a demolition party, and ... a controversy.

No sooner had the New Year’s bells rung out than the Dolphin men were preparing for a journey to Great Barr, Birmingham. Mick Couldry was marrying Sue Guest at St Margaret’s Parish Church, Great Barr on 6^th January 1973.

Dolphin’s Present were:  John Whitelaw Laurence Platt Bob Hine Denny Plowman Wocko John Sweeney Ted Hutchby Roy Dyson John Baxter Ian Stewart John Whitelaw remembers the day and says, ‘At the end of dancing Brighton Camp the dancers sped off down the path with the Bride held high and the groom [still] hobbling behind shouting, “Bring back my wife!”

As the couple left the Church, the guard of honour was partially made up of members of the Sealed Knot who fired a salute with various firearms stuffed with (burning) confetti. Jan was ensconced on the loo which was in the church hall immediately at the side where they exited the church. It was a good job she was sitting down!’ John also recalls, ‘This was nearly the wedding that never was. The banns had not been received from Bramcote and the vicar was refusing to carry out the ceremony. Late on the morning of the wedding he rang the house and spoke to Sue and told her in no uncertain terms to cancel’. All was sorted and the wedding went off as planned.

The traditional lift and grope during ‘Brighton Camp’, much to the delight of the other guests.

NTMC newsletter number 164 dated 12th January 1973 reports: 'Another good man down…Mick and Sue’s wedding was announced in last weeks noozletta, so I need only to say here that it went off in every bit of the style you’d expect, with Morris men dancing, ancient muskets being discharged at the church door, and most people sloshed long before the ceremony began’. At the reception (and being mad), the Dolphin men could not resist performing the Kingston-on-Soar Horn Dance. It was a shocking spectacle full of lewd and crude imagery of the very worst kind. Bob Hine, more than the others, appears to be in ‘the zone’ as he holds his stick!

Saturday 20^th January 1973 and Dolphin were the guests of Derby Morris Men at their annual ale, which was held at The Nightingale Hotel, Osmaston Road, Derby.

John Whitelaw recalls: ‘Derby Morris had a fine tradition of someone proposing a toast to absent friends. A senior member of the side would stand and mention by name all past members of the side not present (including the dead ones) and saying a few words about each. It gave your food chance to go down and gave a renewed appetite for the dancing!’

 The cost was 60p which included unlimited free ale…Dolphin was always willing to rise to a challenge.

Five days later and NTMC newsletter number 216 dated 25^th January 1973 pointed out that, ‘Our associated sides of Mummers and Morris men are also flourishing in grand style. The Morris men, for instance, now for the first time in their history have two full sides of men turning out for practices every week…’ 

The Yorker Folk Club was the venue for Wednesday 14^th March 1973 where the side was the guests, and would provide an evening of approximately 50/50 singing and dancing. The arrangement was for two sessions of about half an hour each for an inclusive fee of £16. Terry Paling pointed out that this worked out at, ‘about 65p per cwt’.  

On Saturday 24^th March 1973 the side went to The Plough at Caunton for the regular NTMC visit to that public house. It was, ‘completely unorganised’ and ‘random happenings took place throughout the evening’, including ‘a bit of Morris’ according to newsletter number 175 dated 30^th March 1973.  

Regular readers of the NTMC newsletters, and researchers looking back at them, will note that the numbering system was not foolproof and every so often it appears that a number was picked at random and occasionally a number would be recycled. This is because the author would often not have the previous newsletter at his disposal but needed to get it printed in a rush for it to be ready for the Friday night meeting of the club. A few issues had no number at all which added to the fun and would ensure that researchers in the future would have no idea at all about what was going on. 

Saturday 14^th April 1972 was another NTMC ceilidh.  Peggy Cash was the caller, the band was supported by ‘Tommy ‘Edmundo’ Cooper’ on maracas and tambourine, Wocko sang the ‘Shipstone’s song’, and Mick and Sue Couldry were responsible for the food. 

The regular Thursday pub tours were attended by Dolphins in good numbers and the NTMC newsletters sing the praises of the men’s enthusiasm and skill. This might have been true, but it must be pointed out that the editor of the newsletter was none other than Ian Stewart…a Dolphin Morris Man, with perhaps an element of bias encapsulated within his reporting. 

The NTMC newsletter number 180 dated 4^th May 1973 points out that… 

’ The Dolphin Men…as is their practice during the summer season, are touring the pubs of Nottingham town and county, and are currently delighting crowds everywhere they go with a skilled exhibition of the traditional dances of England. 

The Dolphin side is really well up in numbers this season, and already several people have said they’re going to come along to next Autumn’s practice sessions, to swell the numbers even further, but  there is still room for a few more, so if you’re male, have two legs, two arms and at least one functional ear, why not come along to see the side in action, then if you fancy having a go, mention your name to Roy Dyson, our famous Bagman’.

Thursday 10^th May 1973 and Dolphin were dancing at The Newcastle Arms, Nuthall Road.

Denny Plowman recalls: ‘My first dancing out in public was very memorable. We danced inside the Newcastle Arms on Nuthall Road as it was raining. It was very crowded for dancing which helped me hide a few wrong steps. God knows what the old guys drinking in the pub made of it. There was a photographer from the Evening Post there and I featured prominently in the photo that they published. Mick Scott used the photo as the basis of a drawing of the side, replacing the pub interior with a suitable rustic scene. I seem to remember that it was to be used on posters and flyers for the side for years to come. We also danced at the Three Ponds and another pub whose name I can’t recall’.

The caption that accompanied the photograph in the Evening Post said, ’bringing a part of England’s folk heritage to the ‘regulars’. Last night they started their performance outside but owing to bad light and a sudden downpour they moved inside the pub and after moving some tables were able to complete their colourful display near the bar’.  

After The Newcastle Arms, the tour went on to The Red Lion at Cinderhill and finished at The Three Ponds at Nuthall.
Newsletter number 180 points out: 

‘By the way, The Three Ponds is always stacked out with people watching us, so if you would like to start off the evening with just a bit more room to watch, I’d recommend that you come to one of the earlier stops if you can’ 

Dolphin were allocated tour D with Coventry Morris Men and performed at Ockbrook, Borrowash, Elvaston Castle, Weston on Trent and Chellaston. The cost was between £1.75p and £2.25p and was to include lunch, tea, and buffet/ale.

Dolphin and Coventry outside the Harrington Arms.	A ‘rounds’ at Elvaston Castle, the men caught in mid move

NTMC newsletter number 181 dated 9^th May 1973 gives a short overview of the dancing season so far, ‘Though weather has been a problem on two of the tours, this hasn’t stopped the spectators from turning out to be entertained and to contribute to the bag. Nor has it stopped the Morrismen from turning out, since one of the most pleasing things about this season has been that we’ve always had very good numbers of dancers. Here’s hoping the weather is on our side this Thursday, when the tour will be: 7.30pm, Magna Charta, Lowdham; 8.15pm, Green Dragon, Oxton; the Railway, Lowdham; 9.45pm, The Unicorn, Gunthorpe.

The Beverley Ring meeting organised by Green Ginger Morris Men took place between 8^th and 10^th June 1973. Scribbled notes show that Dolphin sent, ‘2 musicians, 8 dancers and Dearest Dicky – Fieldtown was the show dance’. The meeting was based in a school and insurance requirements meant that a midnight curfew was in place.

NTMC newsletter number 186 dated 15th June 1973 reports that Beverley was, ‘the best Ring Meeting ever’. It points out that the weather was good, Beverley has extremely pleasant surroundings but the great thing was the informal atmosphere. The author notes that he ‘got up at about 1am on the Saturday morning, and found a vigorous Morris dance going on in the men’s washroom, Morris men in underpants, pyjamas and towels, waving facecloths and shaving brushes instead of hankies’.

Chris Nixon recalls, ‘Beverley Ring Meeting, when Dai invented the Lees push test for inebriation by shoving Sweeney over a garden wall. That’ll teach him to drink Bacardi and Coke’.

Saturday 23rd June 1973 was the Sutton Bonington Day of Dance. In the evening there was an NTMC ceilidh. The itinerary… 10.00am Kingston on Soar village green, travel to Sutton Bonington to dance, 12.45pm – 1.45pm Station Hotel, Kegworth,  2.10pm – 2.40pm the Plough, Normanton-on-Soar.

Wocko

NTMC newsletter number 188 dated 29^th June 1973 has an item called, ‘Do you remember?’ and goes on to say, ‘What happened at the ceilidh last Saturday? I don’t but they tell me it was good.  The problem was that there was about £4.50 worth of booze behind the counter for the Morris Men, which resulted in several of the side – your editor among them – getting paralytic. This bonanza of booze had been well earned by the Morris Men. After having danced all the way through Sutton Bonington and surrounding villages, they were so keen to do some more dancing that they got together for an impromptu stop at the “Maypole”. It was agreed that since this wasn’t an “official” stop, the bag money should go into Morris beer at the ceilidh’.

Chris Nixon, Bob Hine and Dai Lees' back.	Laurence Platt dancing a jig that looks to be from Bampton.
Beaux, Badby.	Yet another traditional lift and grope at the King’s Head, Sutton Bonington

No sooner had the day of dance come to an end than there was another just one week later. Sunday 1^st July 1973 and Dolphin organised a day out with Handsworth Longsword Dancers from Sheffield.  

A bus was organised by John Sweeney and for a ‘measly’ charge NTMC members were invited to go along. Dolphin had met Handsworth at The Beverley Ring Meeting a few weeks before and on the spur of the moment the two side tour was arranged. 

Dancing spots included: The George, Castleton; Plough Inn, Hathersage; Baslow; Royal Oak Hotel, Bakewell; Matlock and Matlock Bath. Afternoon tea was taken at The Royal Oak, at a cost of 32p per person. 

The day finished with dinner at Hodgkinson’s, South Parade, Matlock Bath.

	Receipt from ‘Mermaid Printing and Duplicating Service and Unregistered Travel Agency Unlimited’ 8, Leighton Street.
	Dolphin takes it easy at Chatsworth…  John Whitelaw Bob Hine Terry Paling Mick Couldry Keith Paling Wocko (‘Eauqueau’)
	Dancing on the grass to entertain the masses.

NTMC newsletter number 189 dated 6^th July 1973…

’After a very enjoyable, very profitable, and very hot day of dancing in Derbyshire last Sunday in the company of the Handsworth Sword Dancers, our side is undaunted in its energy, and has two more sessions on the books for this coming week’.

1973 was a busy year but there was always time for a little controversy… Roy Dyson received a letter dated 8-7-73 from Rex Wyer, Bagman of The Foresters Morris Men. It would appear that Rex had visited The Admiral Rodney at Wollaton and received a less than favourable reception from the landlord. The letter pointed out: ‘It came as quite a shock to find out that the landlord has now banned any Morris team from the pub following the recent visit to the pub by the Dolphins’. The landlord complained of, ‘Bad language’ and ‘drunkenness’ and ‘general rowdiness’. Rex hoped that it was an, ‘isolated incident’ and that the good relations between the teams would continue. Roy replied. ‘The side has discussed at length the contents of your recent letter and whilst we do feel that it is a matter for some concern that the Foresters have been prevented from dancing at the Admiral Rodney…we also feel that to send a letter the contents of which are based on the comments of one individual is also a matter for some concern’. Roy felt it would have been more prudent to discuss before resorting to correspondence. Roy goes on: ‘…that a misunderstanding between ourselves and the management did occur cannot be denied but the matter was attended to during our performance and we were allowed to complete our show’. Roy further states, ‘That the Dolphin were guilty of bad language, drunkenness and general rowdyness is a gross mis-statement and to couch our performance in those terms is more a reflection of the landlord than an accurate critical assessment of our presence’. Roy too hoped that good relations would continue between the teams. The ‘recent visit’ by Dolphin to the Admiral Rodney was in fact Thursday 26th April 1973. Good relations did continue and no lasting harm was done.

The Gloucester Morris Ring Meeting took place on the weekend of 14^th and 15^th July and Dolphin initially booked ten places although in the end a refund was given for places not taken. The men were housed at Danescourt Guest House at a cost of £1.50 per man per day for bed and breakfast.

Dolphin were allocated tour ‘D’ and danced with Winchester Morris and Pinewood Morris. Tour spots included Newent, Dymock, Ledbury, British Camp, Malvern and Abbey Mill, Tewksbury.

The information sheet points out that Saturday tours will include a packed lunch and also that V.A.T. has ‘caused a slight increase over our original estimates’.

John Whitelaw recalls, ‘we did Headington Trunkles as a display dance in the centre of Gloucester but after first corners no-one [Roy] called “cross over”. We all stood waiting whilst Ian Stewart played a bit of a solo, finally slowing down like a gramophone that needed re-winding’.

The feast menu shows local delicacies to be, ‘Severn Salmon’, Roast Chicken ‘Cotswold Style’, Gloucester Mustard, Peas Newant style, cider trifle and Double Gloucester cheese’.

Concert poster from event organised by Neil Wayne for Wednesday 18th July 1973 The line drawing of Dolphin men was drawn by Mick Scott and was based on the Evening Post photograph taken on 10th May at The Newcastle Arms. The picture was reversed and the country scene added In a letter from Neil Wayne confirming the booking he points out that: ‘Unfortunately, no booze allowed on school premises, so we’ll be glad to pay for a few pints each, rather than a crate, if agreeable’ [No record of protest exists within the sides archive].

NTMC newsletter number 191 dated Friday 20^th July 1973 asks: ‘HAVE YOU HEARD…Dai’s [Dai Lees] joke about the Japanese in the crematorium? If not, I recommend that you hear it as soon as you can. It’s currently sweeping the ranks of the Morris men. And unlike most jokes it gets funnier with each time you hear it. Sorry if this news item seems a bit obscure, but you’ll appreciate that if I explained too fully, the joke would be spoiled’.  

Saturday 21^st July 1973 was the date of John Whitelaw’s stag night. John requested no shorts in beer – ‘it ruins the taste of both – it’s just as easy to have a drink in both hands’. Dolphin complied.  The ‘stag’ tour took in The Newshouse, Flying Horse, Queen Elizabeth, Cross Keys and The Clinton Arms.  

At the end of the night John was carried by stretcher to Dave Hughes house where Terry Paling dropped his corner (and John) into Dave’s harmonium causing much blood and a bad cut. Unaware, John fell fast asleep. 

NTMC newsletter 192 dated 27^th July 1973 reminds us that ‘tomorrow [28^th July 1973] John Whitelaw will marry Jan Sharpe’. The wedding took place at Christ Church, Cinderhill. 

John Whitelaw recalls: ‘My wedding includes father of the bride threatening not to give her away but vicar forgot to mention that bit anyway. Had a pair of wire cutters in the car which were very handy for removing cans etc. Kippers on the exhaust manifold but very warm afternoon so no need to put heating on. They were done by the time we reached Strensham Services but neither of us like kippers!’ 

Dolphin form traditional guard of honour for the newlyweds.	John and Jan with best man Dave Hughes.
John performed a fertility jig	Dolphin danced too

These photographs have been taken from the cine film of the wedding. The official photographs were all in black and white - the photographer forgot to take colour film! 

Not wishing to be outdone, Mr. Lloyd Winston Watkins and Janina were married exactly one week later at Basford Registry Office on Saturday 4^th August 1973 at 10.20am.

A proud Wocko looks at his new bride who had been frightened by Grenville Bendigo Blatherwick (right)…The wild man of Waldeck Road.

The guests were appropriately respectful…     Left: John Baxter and Chris Nixon              Right: Roy Dyson and John Baxter (again)

Roy Dyson appearing passably drunk

NTMC newsletter number ‘19 something’ (that was the number) dated 10^th August 1973 reported: 

’Congratulations to Jan and Wocko who got married last Saturday. Wocko was well known to the club as a singer with a very individual style but more especially as the fool in the Dolphin Morris Men – a role that came naturally to him.

The wedding was covered by Radio Nottingham and of course Dolphin danced. I was told that there would be a public consummation but as yet I have been unable to find anyone who saw it – let alone anyone who can remember what happened – although it doesn’t need much imagination to guess.

The happy couple will be going to live near Stevenage where Wocco has a job as a woodman’. (Knebworth Park)

On Thursday 6th September 1973 the Newark Shopkeepers Guild held a Georgian Market and Fayre which was opened by the Mayor of Newark. It was an evening affair boasting various and diverse entertainments which included ‘Moorish Dancing’.     This photo appeared in a local newspaper along with the caption: ‘Even the dancing was medieval when the Morris Men got busy, handkerchiefs waving and bells jangling’.

Flyer for the Georgian Fayre:

NTMC newsletter number 199 dated 21^st September 1973 was full of Morris asides and would have been short of copy without it… 

1. Recruiting piece for the Morris, ‘qualifications for the Morris, two legs and arms, two functional ears (no sorry, one will do) and two feet, one of which must be right, and the other a left one’. 

2. A post script to the recruiting message, ‘Oh by the way, one final word – Morris and Mumming are, by long tradition, open to men only. (Well it’s not a matter of tradition – have you ever seen a girl trying to do, say, a Longborough shuffle back or a Bledington hook-leg?’) 

3. ‘TONI PODS…Toni Baxter wife of John Baxter, the Squire of the Morris, had a son and that both were well. John and Toni thus became the first couple to be proud parents of a kid born while the father was a paid up member of the Morris side’. 

Wocko in a letter dated 23^rd May 2002 and while reminiscing says, ‘I am reminded of an incident that occurred in the early days. It was the practice to visit an Indian restaurant on St Ann’s Well Road after an evening dancing out.  On this occasion the then Squire, John Baxter, was caught short. He did not have sufficient notice of a pending puke to get his head under the table, but was taken by surprise and threw up onto his plate. Undaunted he did no more than turn the plate around and finish the unregurgitated curry. To be honest it was difficult to tell which was which. But now I must finish my own supper’. [This incident is undated but must have occurred at sometime in 1972 or 1973)  

The date of the AGM is not known but a statement of accounts dated Wednesday 10^th October 1973 shows that Dolphin was worth £52.87 1/2p. Terry Paling took the role of Bagman from Roy Dyson and Roy Dyson took over as Squire from John Baxter. 

Tuesday 20^th November and the Dolphin were entertaining at the Sherwood Hospital. A note, from Roy Dyson, in the archive gives the contents of the performance as: 

Beaux of London City, Badby
Banbury Bill, Bampton
…Songs from Wibley and Terry
Shepherds Hey, Adderbury
Constant Billy, Headington
…Songs from Roy and Ian
Stepback, Fieldtown
Rig’s o’ Marlow, Headington
…Songs from Lawrence, + ‘Jerusalem’
Highland Mary, Bampton
Lads a Bunchum, Adderbury
Bonny Green Garters, Bampton

On Saturday 15^th December 1973 Dolphin were dancing in Nottingham City centre during the day and at an NTMC ceilidh in the evening. Dolphin had some trouble with the local Police during the day and Terry Paling was moved to write a limerick about it… 

A certain young lady in blue, when stuck for something to do, said, ‘Them Dolphin’s look likely, I’ll book ‘em by crikey! Then I’ll ask Rex* if he’ll sue?  *[Rex Fletcher was the Chief Constable at that time]

Drawing courtesy of the 1974 diary of events and Mick Scott.

Roy Dyson talking to Inspector Smedley over the problem on the day – believed to be about the collecting permit, which may not have been issued?

NTMC Ceilidh poster designed by Mick Scott 

1973 finished with two further events.  

Thursday 20^th December 1973; and Dolphin were performing at the Portland Club for Handicapped People for an all inclusive fee of £15 plus coffee and biscuits during the break. The Dolphin 1974 diary records that the performance stretched from the planned one hour to two hours with a break. The conditions being such, ‘that the men were forced to seek solace in the White Hart across the road’. Apparently the room was ‘so hot’ and the floor ‘so slippery’… 

Saturday 22^nd December 1973 was date of the famous DEMOLITION party at 8 Leig(h)ton Street, the home of Dave Hughes and Denny Plowman. Apparently you had to be there and several Dolphins were…

A correspondent recalls:

‘…we discovered the biggest private collection of milk bottles in the back “garden”: they had been putting them out at the back door for years (the milkman only came to the front door!)- We danced upstairs until we came through the ceiling, showering the drunks downstairs with plaster.

John Whitelaw points out: ‘We were not drunk, just eating a Chinese meal which prompted one person to remark that he couldn’t tell rice from plaster’.

The correspondent continues: ‘A number of men were semi-comatose and didn’t realise that they had rude things written on their foreheads with felt tip pens – those were the days eh?’

A rare copy of a flyer for the party, the original of which is in the archive

These rare photographs were taken inside 8 Leighton Street during the demolition party courtesy of Al Atkinson, who was there with his camera.

Wocko and Bob Proctor	Wocko and Wib boppin’

It appears that the house had been ‘tinned up' by the Council and the toilet smashed while Dave Hughes and Denny Plowman were out. They had paid their rent in advance and returned ‘home’ to find they were ‘locked out’. The Council had to remove the tin and provide them with a ‘portaloo’ in order for them to have the party (and in the process commence the job of demolition).

Al Atkinson recalls: I remember there being some of the Dolphin Morris Men at the party. They seemed rather nonplussed by the ambient anarchy, and, true to their N.T.M.C. roots, attempted to impose an element of control over the proceedings by lining up and executing a Morris dance.

They merrily chugged away while Wocko and Gren Blatherwick, in the room above, tore out the floor boards and gurned through the gaps.

The adjoining house No 6, was still occupied and the inhabitants were gamely trying to watch T.V. despite the mayhem going on next door. Eventually they, or perhaps someone further down the street, tiring of the noise of rending wood and breaking glass, phoned for the Police. Two bobbies duly arrived and were fielded by Wocko who at his diplomatic best, made sure they got a drink then ushered them out with the offer, ‘Would you like to break a window or two before you go?’

Other highlights were Denny Plowman drinking a pint while standing on his head and Wocko, in “Cockleshell Heroes” mode, skidding down the stairs in the bath’.

Information to hand suggests that new member for 1973 was Andy Siddons. Dai Lees left for university in 1973 but returned to dance whenever he could over the following couple of years.