Earlier this year, on Saturday 23rd September, Etcetera Morris Men went out in Enfield, with a quick trip to Winchmore Hill too, for a Day of Dance.
This time around, we didn’t invite other sides as we had commemorative intentions. This year has seen the passing of two Etcetera men who danced at the first ever public appearance of Enfield’s local Morris Dancing team back in the mid-1970s, and our Day of Dance 2023 was held in their memory.
These two members were, firstly, Colin Roker – the founder of Etcetera Morris Men, and for many years our Fool. Although Colin moved away after he retired, we still get people talking to us when we’re out dancing in Enfield who remember him – often former pupils of his. A repeated story is often “my headteacher did this…”. In the last decade, we’ve enjoyed Colin’s company at our 40th Anniversary Day of Dance in 2014 and at a few of our visits to join Leeds Morris Men for their annual Dales Tour.
Steve Woodroffe joined the fledgling Side before our first ‘dance out’, making him also one of the original Etcetera Morris Men. Steve, like Colin, moved away, but was regularly back for both dancing and social events, locally and around the country, including Thaxted’s annual weekend of dance in Essex, in the Yorkshire Dales on Tour, or just with us for a local appearance.
The Day of Dance tour began in Enfield’s Market Place, where a good start to the day’s dancing was had, with shoppers stopping to watch while the sun shone. Then, admittedly to the bemusement of the driver and some fellow passengers, we caught a 329 bus to Winchmore Hill for a dance at the award-winning Little Green Dragon Micro-Pub. Then it was “everyone back on the bus”, returning us to Enfield for a now traditional stop in Gentleman’s Row – where we performed a dance created by Colin, which goes by the name of that street.
Then, after an impromptu dance stop at The Cricketers, the public part of the day ended at dance-out-regular venue The Wonder. An evening of food, dance, and song followed nearby.
We were glad to be joined for the day by both Colin and Steve’s families, as well as a great number of former members of both Etcetera Morris Men and the wider Etcetera Folk group, and a few other friends connected with the history of the side. It was a great pleasure to see former members dance, and to dance with them. Appearances of a Fool and the Beast were also included in the day. Thanks to all who made journeys from various parts of the country to help us commemorate and celebrate the contribution of Colin and Steve to the birth and life of Etcetera Morris Men.
There are too many stories and memories to relate here, stretching back nearly 50 years now. These are not just for the dancers and musicians, but all in our lives who make it possible to get out and enjoy the fun of folk and the Morris in particular. The Day of Dance was a great coming together, however, that wouldn’t have been possible without these two key people, so we wish fond thanks and farewell to Colin and Steve.
Etcetera Morris Men 