Treacle Eater Clog North-West Morris Dancers and musicians are making plans to celebrate their 40th anniversary – and seeking new recruits along the way…

The Treacle Eater Morris side was formed in 1983, and has danced at venues throughout Dorset and Somerset continuously since then. In addition to dancing outside pubs and by village greens as part of their summer programme, Treacle Eater has enjoyed Morris dancing weekends and festivals, and twinning events in locations from Cornwall to Derbyshire and in Wales, Jersey, France and Italy.

A rich history
The dances have their roots in the cotton mills of industrial North-West England, where dancers wearing brightly-coloured costumes and decorated clogs were a feature of carnival processions and Bank Holiday celebrations.
The loud and lively big band play traditional English folk music for the dancing on a range of musical instruments including an accordion, melodeon, fiddles and drums.
Treacle Eater plans to make 2023 a season of celebration with dancing and music at great locations followed by good food and drink. In April, the group will celebrate St George’s Day and will go to Exeter to dance around the city and outside the cathedral as part of the Joint Morris Federation Day of Dance.
On May 1 the group will welcome summer by dancing on Ham Hill to greet the dawn at 5.30am. These events will be followed by fetes, festivals and frolics at various locations.

Join in the fun
Treacle Eater is inviting potential new dancers and musicians to a ‘Have a go at North West Morris Dancing’ evening on Monday 3 October at 7.30pm at Rimpton village hall, Back Lane, Rimpton BA22 8AD (between Sherborne and Marston Magna). Everyone is welcome, no previous experience is necessary and trainers or similar footwear is recommended. More information is available on the group’s website,
www.treacleeaterclog.org.uk, or its Facebook page
/treacleeaterclog. Alternatively, phone 07974 590927 to speak to Jenny or email secretary@treacleeaterclog.org.uk.