CENTENARY OF THE REVIVAL OF MORRIS DANCING

Early day motion 239, tabled 11 January 2000 by Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 25 members.

That this House pays tribute to Cecil Sharp for his unrivalled services to English folk dance and song; notes that it was on Boxing Day 1899 that he commenced saving morris dancing from oblivion through a chance encounter near Oxford with the Headington Quarry Morris Dancers; acknowledges that in the succeeding years Cecil Sharp was able to save for posterity many of England's native ceremonial dances; recognises that over the past 100 years morris dancing has grown in popularity and that today there are more participants than at any other time in its history; and on the occasion of the centenary of the event leading to the revival of morris dancing wishes all member clubs of The Morris Ring further success and enjoyment in the future.

Signatures by party: Labour 15, Liberal Democrat 5, Labour/Co-operative 3, Conservative 1, Independent Labour 1.