Programme News: We remain mostly indoors whilst we practice before the summer's events. You can still download the 2018 summer programme here if you should want to see the sort of things we got up to last year.

Pending a complete makeover of this site, we have added an interactive online calendar (courtesy Google Maps) with colour coding to highlight confirmed and provisional events, along with separate highlighting of weekends, festivals and events hosted by other Morris teams.  Just click the link in the menu bar above, then you can browse the calendar and click on any event to get more information.

Forthcoming Events:

• Saturday 16th February 12.00 - 4.00pm           NEW YEAR - NEW CHALLENGE - FREE TASTER SESSION

Come and join us for an afternoon of fun and try out Morris Dancing in the Cotswold Tradition for yourself.
Noon until 4.pm.  Bar Open, Soup and roll provided.
Everyone Welcome, any age, Ladies and Gentlemen
Poole Ex-Serviceman's Club, 66 North Road, Poole. BH14 0LY. Map here

• Thursday's    7.30pm     Remaining Practice dates in 2019
  January 3, 17, 24 & 31 (no practice on 10th)
  February 7, 21 & 28 (no practice on 14th)
  March 7, 21 & 28 (no practice on 14th)
  April 4, 18,  & 25 (no practice on 11th)
  May 2 only (no practice on 9th). From the 16th onwards we will be into our summer dance out programme.
  
  at The Poole Ex-Serviceman's Club, 66 North Road, Poole. BH14 0LY. Map here
  Please feel free to come along and have a go - we're really quite a friendly bunch

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 2018-2019, practice season we will be at The Poole Ex-Serviceman's Club, 66 North Road, Poole. BH14 0LY. Map here. (NB every 4th week or so there may have to be a late change due to room availability so watch this space, or check the online calendar)

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

• We can accept dancers of any age (although if you are lucky enough to be under 16 or so it would be a good idea to bring a parent along to a first practice).  There is no upper age limit (as you would see if you came along to a practice).

• No previous dance experience needed - we can teach you all you need to know.  And, of course, if you are an experienced dancer moving into the area then we'd be delighted if you could join us.

• 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 52^nd 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

50^th Anniversary Year - Special Events

We held a number of celebration events during our 50th anniversary year in 2017.

2017 was a year to be doubly celebrated - not only were Bourne River Morris 50 years old but our then Squire, Stuart Planner, was also celebrating his own 50th birthday.  Stuart had set the team a target for the year of performing 50 different dances and including 50 different venues - we achieved this feat at the 50th reunion on 23rd September.

• 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 places 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 had a further 50th Anniversary re-union on Saturday 23rd September - lunchtime. The Fox and Hounds, Hungerford Bottom, Old Bursledon, Hampshire, SO31 8DE, where we were joined by Deofrith Morris and some of  our "resting" members. 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.