- The Ancient Men -
Rosette

occasionally known as:
Oxford University Morris Men

Welcome to the home of the The Ancient Men.


 

NEWS 2009!

Summer dancing programme:

May
May Morning
Radcliffe Square, Broad Street etc., Oxford
Saturday 2 MayThe Tortoise Fair, Corpus Christi College 2pm
Tuesday 12 May Blackbird Leys 6pm (private function); Prince of Wales, Iffley, 7.30pm
Friday 15 May Blenheim Palace (private function)
Wednesday 20 May Marston: Red Lion 7.30pm, and Victoria Arms 9.00pm
Saturday 23 MayOxford-Bonn Celebrations, Bonn Square
Thursday 28 May

Steventon: 7.45pm Cherry Tree, 8.45pm North Star, as guests of Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers

Saturday 30 May Ribbon Walk, Blenheim Palace, (charity event)
June
Wednesday 3 June Dancing in City centre, meet in Far from Madding Crowd 7.30pm
Saturday 6 June Stoke Row Steam Rally, Highmoor
Wednesday 10 June Osney Island: Hollybush 7.30pm, Waterman's Arms 9.00pm
Saturday 13 JuneJericho Street Fair 12.00 noon, 'Oxford Unlocked' Oxford Castle 2.00pm
Tuesday 16 June Headington Hill Hall 7pm (private)
Saturday 20 June Wolvercote Village Fair
Wednesday 24 June Oxford: Jericho 7.30pm, Rose & Crown, North Parade
Saturday 27 June Three Horseshoes, Towersey 4.00 pm
July
Wednesday 1 JulyThe Northern Territories: Falkland Arms, Great Tew 7.30pm, The Fox, Middle Barton 9pm
Wednesday 8 July Islip: Red Lion 7.30pm, The Swan 9.00pm
Friday 10 July Divinity School 6.30pm (private function)
Saturday 11 JulyMoonlight Stroll, St Edwards School, (charity event)

 

The 100th Tour took us to Uganda to help celebrate St George's Day, 2008.
We returned to Africa this year, with a Tour to Kenya in April.


(l to r) John Stott, David Henthorn, John Corlett, Gerard Robinson, Neil McKay
(front row) John Dawson, Garry Gibbons

The Ancient Men performing Young Collins (Bledington) at the Equator on 23rd April 2008.
(0 0' 0.00", +32 2' 23.21" according to GPS)

An on-line 'Google map' of the Tours is now available, as is the Google 'photo album'.

  • If you would like more information about joining OUMM or are a former member please complete the CONTACT form or e-mail The Squire: Squire@am39.com.
  • Practices take place on Wednesday evenings from 7.30pm to 9.00pm at St Barnabas School in Jerico from October to April, in collaboration with Oxford City Morris Men. New members are always welcome.

50 Years young and still going strong!

The Ancient Men undertook their first tour in 1952 which was based at Fairford, Gloucestershire in collaboration with The Travelling Morrice. Since then they toured far and wide, from New Mexico to Japan; more than 100 tours in over 12 countries. To celebrate our Golden Jubilee we revisited the very first tour during August 2002, also accompanied by The Travelling Morrice. However the first and only recorded tour by Oxford University Mens Morris was based at Trefusis in Cornwall in 1929.

TOURS:

2009:

  • Nairobi, Kenya, April
  • The Chilterns, July/August

Previous year's tours:

(more evidence of our activity can be seen on Picasaweb and YouTube.)

  • Ancient Wiltshire 30 July - 6 August 2006, Tour 96.

Happy Chaps on the Wiltshire Tour. ('photos Tim Hutton)


left to right:
John Stott, Capt Bob, John Forrest, Tim Diaper (kneeling), Gerard Robinson, Badger Blinco (crouching), Garry Gibbons, Big John, Chris Sheffield

Contact details:

"The Squire"
Neil "Mac" McKay: e-mail: Squire @am39.com

"The Cyber-Squre/Bagman"
Gerard Robinson: e-mail: CyberSquire @am39.com

"International Tours"
Prof. John Forrest: e-mail: International @am39.com


Information regarding activies in the area, including a list of local morris sides, can be obtained from: Oxfordshire Folk Association


Footnotes:

  • ' Tradition is a burden imposed by the dead on the living.' Radio 4, Today Programme, 1996
  • 'Not every tradition, however entrenched, is attractive. Some should be closed down immediately.' Anon.
  • 'Mutliplicanda non sunt rea plurima quam oportet' - William of Occam

Site maintained by and is the copyright of:Gerard Robinson (CyberSquire@am39.com)

Last updated 5 Jan 2009