MORRIS men will be dancing at dawn on May Day – whatever the weather.
The White Rose Morris Men will welcome in May on Castle Hill, Almondbury, with the traditional British Folk Dance.
Member of four years, Andrew Titley, told the Examiner they were hoping for good weather this year.
He said: “One year it was really windy, and another year it was very cold but last year was glorious so we’re hoping for the same.
“We dress in white and wear panama hats – unless it’s too windy at the top of the hill.
“Dawn is about 5.15am so it’s a bit of an early start – some of our dancers are coming all the way from York.”
Andrew said there wasn’t often a lot of spectators at the Castle Hill event due to the early start.
But this year they will be joined by a troop of female Morris dancers from Sheffield.
The Huddersfield group was originally formed in autumn 1953 by a number of Leeds University Morris Men.
They met in the Burley Road scout headquarters in the city.
In 1971, they moved to Huddersfield and organised the 215th Ring Meeting in the town in 1986.
It’s not clear what year the troop started dancing on Castle Hill.
Andrew said the group wear distinctive white clothing with green belts and straw Panama hats.
They have danced at Holmfirth Folk Festival and will perform at Shepley Spring Festival this year.
Morris dancing is traditionally a Cotswolds tradition but the White Rose Men have brought it to Yorkshire.
