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White Rose Morris are based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
Originally formed in the autumn of 1953 by a number of Leeds University Morris Men and others who wished to form a non-university side, White Rose Morris Men met initially in the Burley Road scout headquarters and were helped by Ron Smedley, the EFDSS Yorkshire Area Organiser. Co-operation continued with the Leeds University Men resulting in the joint hosting of the 53rd Morris Ring Meeting in Leeds in 1956 although it was to be 1959 before White Rose were admitted as a member side into the Morris Ring.
In 1971, the club moved its base to Huddersfield and organised the 215th Ring Meeting in the town in 1986. Celebrations for our Golden Jubilee in 2003 took place throughout the year and included a weekend gathering in September when around 280 members of traditional dance sides descended on Bradley Wood from around the country to tour surrounding areas. In 2013 the side celebrated its 60th – and in 2018 its 65th – anniversaries with weekends of dance touring Calderdale and Kirklees, including the Colne Valley.
Cliff Barstow, the founder member of White Rose, sadly passed away in February 2015, but the family tradition is continued by his son (Ned) and grandsons (Joseph and Liam). The annual Cliff Barstow Memorial Jig Competition is organised by White Rose to promote an economically graceful and upright dancing style embodied by Cliff.
A familiar sight in distinctive ‘whites’ with green baldrics and straw hats at regional and national folk festivals, and other local events, White Rose dance the South Midlands (or Cotswold) tradition ‘Up North’ and have also performed in Sweden, Jersey, Provence, Romania and, most recently (2019), in Germany at the Aachen Festival.
White Rose Morris Men spawned the former associate side Dog Rose that appeared in the English Roots and Demon Barbers folk road shows touring nationwide, and on television in Later With Jools Holland (here) bringing ‘the Morris’ to a wider audience.
White Rose Morris practise at HD1 Dance Studio , 5 St John’s Road, Huddersfield HD1 5AY on Wednesday evenings except during the summer months (when we often dance out) and new members are always welcome, however inexperienced!