Chris joined Grimsby Morris in 1981 and first danced out that summer at the Green Man. To further confirm his lack of sanity he stayed with the side until 2022! In the intervening years he has danced all over the county and further afield as well as taking part in (nearly?) every Boxing Day tour or waes-hal and has been what can only be called a stalwart. His enthusiasm, particularly for beer, has been an inspiration to many subsequent members of the side.
| Steve Fuller : | Right. Here we are, in a nice warm pub, with a beer in front of us, surrounded by friends. And, uh, I'm Steve Fuller, foreman of Grimsby Morris. And I'm with, uh, Chris Weeden. So, Chris, I'd like you to just tell me a bit about how you first came to be involved in Grimsby Morris, and how you, uh, got on with joining the team and, uh, becoming part of it. |
| Chris Weeden : | Hmm. I'll tell you, yeah. My earliest memory of Morris dancing in the local area would be sometime in the late '70s. Um, just happened to be on the Cleethorpes sea front one afternoon as the Folk Festival dance procession was leaving the pier. Um, so actually spent an hour or so watching the displays in the pier gardens. And I remember thinking, "Oh, looks like fun. Something I could do." But then didn't really think any more of it until about 1981 when I happened to be at a meeting of the local branch of the Diabetic Association, which was giving a talk on foot care. And a gentleman there raised his hand to ask a question, saying, "I do a lot of dancing." And with that, I looked across and recognized him as one of the dancers. And at the interval, went over and introduced myself, said, "Is it, yeah, Morris dancing you do?" He said, "Yeah, yeah." Um, I gathered all the relevant information as to where the team practiced and how often, and went to one, went along the next week and that was 36 years ago. I've been dancing more or less ever since. |
| Steve Fuller : | So that was Ken Fox. |
| Chris Weeden : | Mm-hmm |
| Steve Fuller : | Who was a very important influence on the team in the early days. Can you tell us something about Ken, what you remember about him? |
| Chris Weeden : | Okay. He just seemed to be an all-round good chap, excellent musician, excellent dancer, very good singer, and very enthusiastic about everything he did. Uh, I mean, I went along the first week, he more or less pulled me into the hall. Um, he said, "Stand there and do what they do." Um, sort of got you involved almost straight away. There was none of this sitting around the edge of the room watching for a week. It was get stuck in and get involved. (footsteps thudding) |
| Steve Fuller : | Chris, so who - (laughter) - uh, else do you think was, was an important influence in the team at that time? |
| Chris Weeden : | Over the years there's been many influential people. Yourself, of course, as dance instructor for the 30 years or more. Um, but Ken, Ken Watson, another longstanding member. Um, I mean, basically the whole team have been over the years have been very helpful. You know, past members and present members. Um, uh, I mean, even Mike Nightingale was a, was a pusher in the early days. (laughter) I mean, I remember my first actual dance out was wearing his rag coat at the Green Man, Stallingborough, on one summer's evening. And somebody said, "Well, we'll do Broomfield." And he said, "Oh, you've been coming long enough. Put that on and dance. I'm having a beer." (laughter) And that was my first dance. That was Broomfield at the Green Man, Stallingbrook in 19-, late summer of 1981. |
| Steve Fuller : | What about the, um, exchange visits to other teams? 'Cause you must have been involved in those for some time. |
| Chris Weeden : | Chris Weeden: From the early days, yeah. Um, 1982 was the first one I went on. Um, and most of the ones since then. I think I've missed one, I think due to all the commitments. Um, but yeah, they've been great fun over the years. I've made many good friends (clears throat) in the Hanover area. And plus, also the trip we did to Clisson, in Brittany, France. |
| Steve Fuller : | Brittany? |
| Chris Weeden : | In Brittany, France. Yeah. Again, only a one off, but still very enjoyable. And I think adding to that, the canal tour, 1984, and the Stratford Room, Avon Room? Or half of it anyway. Getting stuck in a lock pit. (laughter) Yeah, I was the unfortunate one on the tiller, where all the good young ladies were on the bow, trying to get- (laughter) But that's, that's not for printing. (coughs) And it's one of the funniest things we ever did. That was Wath Festival one year, was Morris on a bouncy castle - (laughter) - which lasts for three seconds. (laughter) The team stands there side by side. The musician leans against the wall, plays a chord, we jump up, and everybody falls off. Um. (coughing and laughter) Absolute hysterics from, for five or 10 minutes. One, one of my funniest memories. Yes. |
| Steve Fuller : | Right. Well, thank you very much Chris for sharing some of those memories with us. And, uh, all the best. |
| Chris Weeden : | Okay, thank you. |