Dancing queens

By June Withenshaw

AT ONE time, most village fetes and carnival parades would have seemed lacking without a display from the ubiquitous, pompom-swishing morris dancing girls.

Always eager to perform - and earn more medals for their uniform waistcoats - the troupes were an almost obligatory attraction, entertaining crowds and impressing competition judges with their high-stepping routines.

Some are still going strong - but the glory days of Frodsham's own champion country dancers are long gone.

It is now almost 30 years since the Frodonians Morris Dancing Troupe performed for the last time, packed away their pompoms, sold their tour buses and donated the proceeds to local charities.
Inspired by Frodsham Community Association's first village carnival in 1968, many local youngsters pressured residents Doreen Woods, Pauline Bibby, Miriam Jennings and Barbara Pearson to re-form the village morris dancing troupe.

The ladies organised an open night at the community centre for potential members and more than 100 children and parents turned up.
"We were overwhelmed by the interest and the Frodonians were born," said Doreen who, as a youngster herself, danced with the old Frodsham Trinitaires Morris Troupe.

The girls trained at the community centre and began fundraising.
Said Doreen: "Parents were an important part of our group and Ted Sutton, Don Mellor, Ron Astbury and Dennis Pritchard started a bus fund so we could buy our own coach to take us to competitions.

"This was so successful we ended up with two buses which were driven and maintained by Peter Davies, Jim Whitfield, Pete Edwards, Ray Spruce and Ken Deakin."
The Frodonians began entering competitions in 1969, said Doreen, "and for the next ten years our summers were taken up with morris dancing."

"We were very successful and I have only praise for all the girls. We were the All England Champions, the United Kingdom Champions, Welsh and Border Counties Champions and the proud holders of many more trophies."

The group had novice, tinies, juniors and senior troupes, said Doreen: "And our cleanliness and smart appearance became renowned with the carnival organisations, which can only be put down to the parents who cared for the uniforms."

She added: "I couldn't begin to mention all the children, parents and helpers by name, there were so many; but they were all appreciated very much. More than 250 girls took part during our ten years, many starting at four years old and staying with us right through to their late teens.

"But in 1979 numbers started to fall and it was agreed to end the Frodonians while we were still of a high standard."