Programme News: The summer dance programme is nearing its end (shame ....) with just a few events before we revert to the practice hall again..

The remaining events we have in the prgramme are:

• Saturday & Sunday 9th & 10th September - Swanage Folk Festival   (Times and locations as detailed in the festival programme - see the festival website for further info)
• Wednesday 20th September - 6.30pm - International Thatching Society - Conference 2017 at Sandy Balls, Godshill, Fordingbridge. SP6 2JZ
• Thursday 21st September - 8.00pm SHARP - Bourne River Morris Men's Annual General Meeting - for members only, at The Poole Ex-Serviceman's Club, 66 North Road, Poole. BH14 0LY. Map here
• Saturday 23rd September - from about 11.00am - BOURNE RIVER MORRIS MEN's 50th Anniversary Reunion. Fox and Hounds, Hungerford Bottom, Old Bursledon, Hampshire. SO31 8DE
• Thursday 28th September - 7.30pm - First practice and FREE TASTER SESSION for any new or would-be Morris Men at The Poole Ex-Serviceman's Club, 66 North Road, Poole. BH14 0LY. Map here

50^th Anniversary Year - Special Events

We have a number of celebration events planned for our 50th anniversary during 2017.

2017 is a year to be doubly celebrated - not only will Bourne River Morris be 50 years old but our Squire, Stuart Planner, will also be celebrating his own 50th birthday.

• We held a Spring ceilidh on Saturday 18th March 7.30 - 11.00pm with Arish Mel and Michael Catovsky at Broadstone War Memorial Hall, Tudor Road, Broadstone. BH18 8AW
• We held a Weekend of Dance 14th-16th July, based at West Parley Memorial Hall, Stocks Lane, Christchurch Road, West Parley, Dorset, BH22 8SQ.
  • Ably supported by some of our friends from other local teams (Dorset Buttons & Buttons Rapper, Hobos Morris, Quayside Cloggies and Sarum Morris) and a very welcome visit from our old friends Martlet Sword and Morris from West Sussex, there were two coach excursions visiting some of our favourite palces around the Purbecks and the New Forest.
  • It was grand to see quite a number of our "resting, retired and exiled" past members at the weekend.
  • A few photos from the weekend can be seen in the gallery below
• We will have a further 50th Anniversary re-union onSaturday 23rd September - lunchtime. The Fox and Hounds, Hungerford Bottom, Old Bursledon, Hampshire, SO31 8DE. A return visit to the very first pub at which Bourne River Morris Men danced, returning from their first ever booking which was for the Fareham Ladies Professional Association.

Your local Morris Team needs YOU Would YOU like to have a go?   Why not come to one of our practice evenings ?

We practise most Thursday evenings during Autumn, Winter & Spring, starting 7.30pm. For most of the 2017-2018, practice season we will be at The Poole Ex-Serviceman's Club, 66 North Road, Poole. BH14 0LY. Map here. (NB every 4th week there may have to be a late change due to room availabiility so watch this space)

• We are always keen to find new members to dance with us (men only) or musicians to play for us (men or women).

• No previous dance experience needed and we can accept age 16 and over (no upper limit). We can teach you all you need to know. 

• We will be holding a FREE TASTER SESSION on Thursday 28th September for newcomers to give it a try - starting at 7.30pm, why not come along, and maybe bring a friend ? We will also be providing some free refreshments during the evening.

• So why not work up the courage - you know you really want to. Come and join us in the wonderful whacky (especially in the stick dances) world of the Morris.

If you want to contact the team please call the Squire (leader) Stuart on 01258 858987 or the Bagman (secretary) Geoff on 01202 602221 or see the contacts page if you would like further details or wish to arrange transport.

And always remember, Morris Dancing is good fun - it gives you plenty of exercise - and gets you to some of the best locations and pubs in Dorset and elsewhere.  It costs you NOTHING to join the team - we have no membership, joining or subscription fees.

The Bourne River Morris Men

Formed in November 1967, and now in our 50^th year, Bourne River Morris Men are a men's side dancing in the Cotswold style of Morris.  We are members of The Morris Ring and perform dances originally collected in the early 1900's from a number of villages in the Cotswolds area of England, hence the description of 'Cotswold Morris'. 

We are based in and around Bournemouth in Dorset, and in the summer months we visit and perform at a number of local hostelries (especially those purveyors of good ales) most Thursday evenings and many weekend events.

Some photos of our first ever performance in November 1967 can be found on the archives page.

During the winter months, despite rumours to the contrary, we do not hibernate - instead we practice indoors each Thursday and would welcome any new members whether novice or experienced dancer (and of course musicians).   Many of us also transform into Stourvale Mummers in the pre-Christmas period to perform a traditional folk play from Sixpenny Handley.

You can also  where there are also lots more pictures