Images, Videos and a Short History ...
The Early Years... a personal perspective from Gez
The Minster Strays was originally conceived by two couples in York - Gez and Juliette Pegram, and Bob Missin and Janet Hancock. There was already a men's team (Ebor Morris) and a women's team (Acorn Morris) in York. The nearest mixed side (Yorkshire Coast) was, however, based in Scarborough.
Juliette in particular wanted to form a side closer to home and to recreate the style and energy of some of her previous teams. She had danced while studying with Bath City Morris and later with Bare Bones Women's Morris whilst on secondment in Loughborough. She had also danced and taught in the New Forest Meddlars whilst working in Southampton.
Gez had first met Juliette in Bath in 1989. He joined the ceilidh club looking for women, only to discover it was a front for Bath City Morris. He was persuaded to play the recorder for them (with a tiny music stand mounted on the end!) Juliette used her wiles to entice him to dance and he later joined her in the New Forest Meddlars.
Bob and Janet had danced in numerous different clubs before the Strays, including morris sides and Appalachian stepping.
We were quickly joined by a number of keen dancers and musicians, many of whom have lasted at least up until 2013! The early photos from 2003 and 2004 show Wendy Bostock, Wendy Williamson, Chris Lawrenson, Hazel Dales, Jude Pickering, Pete Kelly (the only Irishmen to offer official comment on English Morris on local radio!) and Jaynor Bullock. Music was provided by Stella Fisher on the melodeon, Mick Tew on the fiddle and Sue Venables on the accordion.
The name "Minster Strays" came about firstly because we wanted to be thought of as not directly a York side, and secondly because Gez and Juliette had just adopted a stray cat, Gingers, who lives on in our logo. Our original practice hall was in Tang Hall in York. Some interesting altercations with the local yoofs, with Bob keeping a stick up his sleeve as an enforcer! A flick-stick? Since then we've tried a number of different venues...
The AGM minutes from 2004 make entertaining reading for those in the know - how many of the issues raised then have come up since?
Juliette in particular wanted to form a side closer to home and to recreate the style and energy of some of her previous teams. She had danced while studying with Bath City Morris and later with Bare Bones Women's Morris whilst on secondment in Loughborough. She had also danced and taught in the New Forest Meddlars whilst working in Southampton.
Gez had first met Juliette in Bath in 1989. He joined the ceilidh club looking for women, only to discover it was a front for Bath City Morris. He was persuaded to play the recorder for them (with a tiny music stand mounted on the end!) Juliette used her wiles to entice him to dance and he later joined her in the New Forest Meddlars.
Bob and Janet had danced in numerous different clubs before the Strays, including morris sides and Appalachian stepping.
We were quickly joined by a number of keen dancers and musicians, many of whom have lasted at least up until 2013! The early photos from 2003 and 2004 show Wendy Bostock, Wendy Williamson, Chris Lawrenson, Hazel Dales, Jude Pickering, Pete Kelly (the only Irishmen to offer official comment on English Morris on local radio!) and Jaynor Bullock. Music was provided by Stella Fisher on the melodeon, Mick Tew on the fiddle and Sue Venables on the accordion.
The name "Minster Strays" came about firstly because we wanted to be thought of as not directly a York side, and secondly because Gez and Juliette had just adopted a stray cat, Gingers, who lives on in our logo. Our original practice hall was in Tang Hall in York. Some interesting altercations with the local yoofs, with Bob keeping a stick up his sleeve as an enforcer! A flick-stick? Since then we've tried a number of different venues...
The AGM minutes from 2004 make entertaining reading for those in the know - how many of the issues raised then have come up since?