Blog

15^th October

If you have ever wondered about trying Morris dancing now is your chance to have a go. Hook Eagle Morris are hosting a free taster session on Friday October 15th at the Elizabeth Hall in Hook. Free beer for anyone that comes along. The practice starts at 8pm and we are usually at a pub by 10!

No experience is necessary. We are a fun and friendly Morris Team who perform at pubs, festivals and private events. A warm welcome is waiting for anyone who comes along. New members have ranged in age from Explorer Scouts doing their DofE to septuagenarian. A good sense of humour and the ability to count to four are the main requirements – and possibly a taste for the odd beer!

Join us at:
Elizabeth Hall, Raven Road, Hook, Hampshire, RG27 9HH

Please contact us for more information or to let us know you are coming.

Presented by Rob Turner 1st May, 2000

The quaint, typically English village of Hook nestled in the picturesque valley of the M3 has been totally ignored by contemporary historians. This is surprising because a number of pivotal incidents have occurred there, due in no small measure to the intermittent existence of the Hook Eagle Morris Men.

Pre-History

Archaeological evidence suggests a primitive hunter/gatherer/plumber/I.T.Consultant community centred on a number of huts grouped around the 7-11. Rude carvings have been found, some making rude gestures. Without doubt the first Eagles.

The Roman Era

Hook and the Eagles fought resolutely against the Roman invaders. At this time the Eagles were coloured blue. The Romans were angered at this resistance (woad rage) and defeated the gallant Britons by the underhand tactic of only fighting  after 5:30 when the defendants had gone down the pub.

The Battle of Hastings

King Harold persuaded Hook Men at Arms to join him by telling them it was 1066. As they had only had mead at about OG:1035 up to then they followed him to Hastings. However no-one got a skin-full, Harold got an eyeful, and we were ruled by a Norman who is still our squire.

The Civil War

There was no battle of Hook. It is rumoured that Eagles switched allegiance from Royalist to Parliamentarian and back several times, depending on whose round it was. Several plastic Spitfires, Hurricanes and Wellington bombers suggest the possible formation of a New Model Airforce.

The Crimean War

Several Eagles fought in theCrimea, as it gave them the opportunity to wear strange clothes (cardigans, balaclavas etc) Most notable was the famous Arthur Leeg, the onwardest of the Light Programme and inventor of wireless.

The Present Day

As can be seen the Hook Eagles have been at their strongest at times of National Crisis and have helped bring about victory, social change, political upheaval etc.

So what is their raison d’être now? It can be no coincidence that less than 10 years into their current manifestation 24-hour pub opening is to become law.

Presented by Richard Walton, Squire, 25th March, 1997

HAT:

The Hook Eagle Morris Man wears a black top hat adorned with feathers. The hat serves the very useful function of keeping the rays of the sun from turning the top of his head red, which is a problem that affects most of us in the side. The feathers are lobster feathers, that come only from a particular variety of lobster that lives off the north coast of Norfolk. It is a tradition that the number of lobster feathers on each man’s hat signifies the number of “romantic encounters” that he has had. It is also a tradition that Morris men are prone to wild exaggeration.

BLUE FACE:

The question we are asked most often is “why do you blue your faces?”, although the question “would you like a pint?” also crops up very occasionally (perhaps not as often as we would like). The answer to the first question is two-fold:

1. It leaves a very satisfactory mark on the faces (and other parts) of female members of the audience; and
2. When washed off again, it makes us harder to recognise by the male companions of the aforementioned female members of the audience. Oh, and
3. It’s traditional.

The answer to the second question is yes, please.

DARK SUNGLASSES:

These are a de-rigueur fashion accessory for the modern man-about-town. Also, certain members of the side find that they cannot face bright sunlight in the morning after the night before.

RAGGY WAISTCOAT:

The dancing members of the side wear waistcoats covered in yellow and blue rag strips. A hundred years ago, Border Morris dancers used to pin paper strips to their ordinary clothes, but found this was too dangerous because children used to set the paper alight. Rags are less flammable. The musicians tend to wear black tail-coats without the rags. We think this is because they are too lazy to sew any on.

BLACK SHIRT:

This is so we can wipe the sweat off our (blue-ened) faces onto the shirt sleeves without it showing.

BRACES:

Some members of the side have to wear braces to keep their trousers up. This is necessary due to an absence of waist. The rest of us wear braces as well so that they won’t feel self-conscious about this.

BLACK TROUSERS:

These are to avoid us being arrested – as might be the case if we were to wear no trousers at all. Also, I can assure you that you really would NOT want to see us without trousers.

BELLS:

A single row of Morris bells is worn around each leg, just below the knee. The bells serve to frighten off evil spirits as they jingle merrily to the rhythm of the dance (the bells, that is). It is evil spirits that are sometimes the reason for having to wear sunglasses (see above). Bells also serve to warn of our approach which helps people to avoid us, in the same way that a bell is sometimes affixed to a cat to warn mice to keep out of the way.

BLACK BOOTS:

Some Morris sides wear dainty dancing shoes. Some wear sporty trainers. Anybody can dance in trainers – that’s no challenge at all. Real Men such as the Hook Eagles (stop laughing) wear big clumpy boots to dance in. This gives us an excuse for not getting off the ground.

STICKS:

The Hook Eagle Morris man carries his stick erect, although to keep it out of the way whilst dancing he puts it over his shoulder. Some of our dances are for men who only have short sticks, and some are for men with long sticks. We even have one dance for men who have TWO sticks each! We don’t have any dances for people without sticks, although such people are welcome to join the band.