Higham Ferrers Tourism, Business and Community Partnership

HEADTURNING HEMLOCK MORRIS DANCERS HIGHLIGHT OF FAIR

AND THE AUDIENCE JOINED IN

The visiting Morris dancers might have worn black, but their mood was far from sombre.

The Hemlock Morris Dancers were the highlight of Higham Ferrers Tourism’s recent annual Chichele Garden Fair and they were having so much fun and the fascinated crowd liked them so much that the audience even joined in one of the dances when invited.

For most in the audience, it was the first time they had seen Morris dancers sporting a gothic look to their outfits.

Most were expecting them to be wearing the usual crisp white shirts and breeches, not a wardrobe of black, purple and green or rag coats, feathers and even patterned face paint.

As the group’s “squire” (leader), Solly Pires explained later, it is unusual for a side who do Cotswold-style Morris dancing to have a gothic look - and it even surprises other Morris dancers who don’t know them. (They also dance Border-style from the Welsh borders, which is more typical of sides who dress the way they do).

The audience were also surprised to see women in the group, although Solly said that this is now very common.

“Many sides who were men-only found that their numbers were dwindling, so dropped the gender restriction and found that their numbers soared as women flocked to join,” he said.

Based in Bedford, the Hemlock Morris Dancers started in 2009 to give women the chance to be involved after women in the audience expressed an interest in joining following a performance by the Bedford Morris Men.

The Hemlock Morris Dancers were paying their first visit to Higham Ferrers, but it won’t be their last as they have already been booked for next year’s garden fair.

The visiting Revellers Steel Band, which performed last year, were also a big hit and they too have been invited to return next year.

“We receive an entertainment allowance from the Higham Ferrers Town Council which enables us to invite such fascinating groups,” said Carol Fitzgerald of Higham Ferrers Tourism.

June 2026