MORRIS dancing has been a British tradition for centuries.

But upholding the ancient custom has not stopped groups like Thelwall Morris Men having a sense of humour about it.

The team of 14 compete for awards like ‘Silver Shoes’ for most impressive cock-up and ‘Slippery Ferret’ for the most implausible excuse for not turning up for a dance.

Kevin Farrell, who won the inaugural Thelwall Morris Man of the Year award in 2001, said: “They are just a bit of fun but there’s actually quite a bit of serious competition for those awards as ridiculous as that sounds.”

Thelwall Morris Men have recently returned from Galway Arts Festival celebrating their 40th anniversary.

Kevin, from Great Sankey, added: “It’s like the Edinburgh Festival with international artists appearing for two weeks.

“We had a superb time and got a very good reception.

“There’s a thing in Morris dancing circles that the closer you are to home the worse the reception is and the further away you are the better it gets - so that was proven!”

Thelwall Morris Men formed in 1973 when a group of regulars from the Pickering Arms were inspired after seeing a team at a folk festival at Keele University.

They now have a regular calendar of appearances in Warrington including Thelwall Rose Queen, Appleton’s Bawming of the Thorn and Croft Carnival.

Over the decades, they have learnt 150 dance routines and currently rehearse about 35.

Kevin, who joined the group in 1987, said: “We’ve actually got a member, Geoff Bibby, who has been with us for the whole 40 years.

“He’s still active, dancing, running a folk club at The Bulls Head in Church Street and looking for new ways of doing things.”

So what is it like to uphold a historical tradition?

“It’s a uniquely English thing but has influences from all over the place,” added Kevin, aged 54.

“People have come up to us with really bizarre ideas about the origins but we don’t have the answer.

“It’s believed that people have been Morris dancing for 1,000 years and people have spent whole careers studying the history of it and haven’t got far.”

Morris dancing’s roots may remain a mystery but the group definitely want the colourful routines to continue long into the future.

“People either love it or hate it,” said Kevin, who recently performed with Thelwall Morris Men as guests of Greensleeves Morris Men in Hertfordshire.

“But we try and get people involved as much as we can. We do outreach in schools and perform in old people’s homes.”

- Thelwall Morris Men will perform at Warrington Market on September 7 from 10am as part of a day of dance - The group, who rehearse at Thelwall Parish Hall, are always on the lookout for new dancers and musicians. You can contact them through the website at thelwallmorris.org.uk