ALTON was invaded by Morris dancers last month, as visiting teams flocked to the town centre to join Alton Morris’s 25th birthday celebrations.

Despite the rain, Mayflower Morris, Ellington Morris and Hook Eagle brought an extra dose of colour and tradition to the town centre.

Alton Morris are celebrating 25 years of men and women dancing together in a tradition that began on England’s border with the Wales.

It is believed that this style of dancing started from when out-of-work farm labourers busked to earn money to feed their families.

As this was against the law at the time, and to avoid imprisonment, the dancers covered their faces in charcoal so that they wouldn’t be recognisable.

Alton Morris paint their faces in red and green these days, although visiting Hook Eagle use the traditional black.

The four Morris sides spent Saturday dancing in the Market Square, outside the Assembly Rooms and in front of the Community Centre – to the delight of many of the shoppers.

The expected rain arrived later than forecast, and even when it did, this didn’t stop them. Alton Morris spokesperson Jan Treacher-Evans said: “Forget Singing in the Rain, this was Dancing in the Rain!”

A delightful lunch hour was spent at the Kings Head, whose a beer festival was much appreciated by the thirsty dancers, and the musicians entertained the regulars in the garden under a hastily erected tarpaulin.

The day ended with all sides performing in the Market Square, including the hastily renamed Brolly Dollies, usually known as Mayflower Morris. The sides then adjourned to The George where they toasted the day with beer and an appropriately decorated cake made by Cake Creations, ofTurk Street. It featured a likeness of Jane Austen, complete with red and green face.

Alton Morris still has four original members in its side: Don Hammond, who danced in its men-only days, Jan Treacher-Evans, Trish Privetti and Ann Foulkes.

Mrs Treacher-Evans joked: “I was, of course, only a teenager when I became one of the founders of Alton’s mixed side.

“I have so enjoyed dancing with the side over the years and have visited so many festivals and lovely pubs. I’ve made some lifelong friends and it’s been really fun.”

Alton Morris will be recruiting new dancers and musicians in September and October. The side practises on Friday evenings at Alton Infant School – starting 8pm – and will be holding Open Nights on October 6 and 13.

E-mail [email protected] for further informantion, call Brian on 01420 542819, or just turn up on the night, using the Victoria Road entrance to the school.

No experience necessary.