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Two teams of Morris dancers met to celebrate St George’s Day (23rd April) by performing for pub goers.

It was a chance for their audience at The Palmer Arms, Dorney to see two contrasting styles of Morris.

Datchet Border Morris squire (leader) Keith Walter said: “It’s good to be out on St Georges Day in great company. 

“We’re looking forward to the coming dance season. Everyone is welcome to watch us performing.” 

They perform clashing stick dances from Welsh border villages and paint their faces in black and red, the colours of the old Buckinghamshire county. Their ‘rag’ coats are made of strips of different fabrics.   

Their guests last Thursday were Hurst Morris People (HuMP) who perform Cotswold village dances. They wear white with blue baldricks, crossed bands, across their chests and use sticks and white hankies in their dances.

HuMP squire, Christine Taylor, said: “It’s good to be out celebrating St George’s day with our friends from Datchet. 

“Over the May Day bank holiday we’ll be dancing at the Hastings Traditional Jack in the Green festival, thousands of people attend. It’s great to be out dancing again after our winter practising.” 

Both groups’ dance dates and venues are on their Facebook pages.

Visitors from across the world quizzed us when we performed along with dozens of other dance groups at Oxford Folk Festival.

We were a completely new experience for many of those kindly asking what our dance and costume were all about. 

We loved the festival, in April, with its amazing dancing, music and joy in beautiful Oxford.

Our dancers are pictured taking the bull by the horns on the Westgate Centre’s roof terrace. Here we enjoyed great city views and a model bull painted in tribute to Alice in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll.   

​Hurst Morris People danced inside All Saints Church, Dunsden, on their Snowdrop Sunday on Feb 22, 2026.

John Bodman, from the church, told them: “This was a most extraordinary experience for everyone who attended. As far as All Saints was concerned this was a unique event. 
“How your dancers performed in such a small space was to be admired.” Hurst Morris People (HuMP), who usually perform in a larger area, out of doors, adapted their dancing so they could perform in the church.
The group made extra contributions. Melodeon player Mary described the history of Morris dancing and flute player Nikki read her poem celebrating Morris dancing.
​ HuMP practices at Hurst Village Hall before performing at shows and festivals in the summer. Taster sessions for everyone to have a go at the dancing and music are every autumn.  Details are on this website under Join Us.

Thanks to Hurst Morris People students from all over the world learned morris dancing, an English custom most of them had never heard of.

The 90 students from places including Australia, the United States, South Korea and Europe are on a five month exchange visit to study at Reading University.

HuMP squire (leader) Christine said: “They gave our demo dances a great reception and then learned some dances which they performed with huge enthusiasm. We had fun teaching them.”

The morris evening was a surprise event for the students and part of a week of welcoming activities.

Hurst Morris People, HuMP, are helping homeless people endure the winter cold by paying for sleeping bags, tents and vacuum flasks. They raised £300 from generous crowds watching them perform in the summer at pubs and shows.

Lauren Webb who runs the Brett Foundation charity collected the cheque from HuMP squire Christine Taylor recently at Hurst Village Hall where the side practises on Thursdays. Lauren said: “We’re really pleased, we’re a small charity, donations like this make such a large difference to us.”