Morris dancers from all over the country descended on Sandbach at last weekend for the town’s annual day of dance.
The sun shone and the quality of dancing was to a very high standard writes Stewart Green.
Some 13 troupes took part in the event in Sandbach town centre last Saturday.
Dances took place at the Old Hall, Market Square, the Swan and Chequers, Military Arms, Sandbach Library and two locations outside the town hall.
Each troupe performed at all the venues in pre-arranged time slots.
If there was a prize for best costumes, it would have gone to Clerical Error, whose members dressed like vicars and had with them Idris the dragon, a magnificent red creature who clung to the back of their squire, Nicola Greenwood.
Organiser and committee member Bruce Jarvis said he was pleased to see the festival bathed in sunshine. He said it was well supported by the people of Sandbach, with many messages of support from the public as well as donations so they were able to fund the event without a grant from the town council, which had been pulled due to a row over black-faced dancers being featured on marketing material for the 2025 event.
At the end of the event each side performed one dance on the Market Square to compete for the “Sandbach Stick”.
The contest was judged by the new mayor of Sandbach Coun Sam Corcoran, mayor’s cadet Panashe Chaduka and Joanne Goodwin, editor of “Cheshire Life”.
The winners were Ironmen Morris from Ironbridge.
Mr Jarvis said he hoped that they could raise more money for next year’s event to make it bigger and better in 2027 and he thanked the individuals and businesses who funded the 2026 event.
He said: “You can do anything to support the day of dance. You can play an instrument or be one of the administrators and organisers who are vitally important to an event. It gives everyone the opportunity to have some fun to do something for the town and to celebrate Sandbach, as it is a great place.”
(Photos: Stewart Green).
