Easter morris dancers return to Furness

For more than 50 years the Furness Morris Dancers have delighted crowds with time-honoured performances around the area.

Since 1965, the group have toured the peninsula to showcase their customary Pasche egg play on the bank holiday.

Yesterday, residents in Baycliff, Gleaston, Ulverston and Broughton were able to watch the traditional performance.

Pasche or pace egg plays have their origins many centuries ago and would have been familiar to all Furness folk in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

David Linney, one of the performers, said: “Plays like this are performed all across the country.

“There are different plays for different times of the year like Christmas, Easter and autumn.

“Todays play is an amalgamation of several plays from across the area.

“The first performance was in 1965.

“We have a regular crowd.

“It’s alway good fun, people enjoy it, everyone has a good laugh.”

Robert Wheatley BEM, committee member of the Baycliff Community Association, addressed the crowd at Baycliff and thanked them for supporting the event.

He also thanked the morris dancers for what was the 56th year they have come to the area and performed.

Speaking after the performance he said: “The morris dancers have been coming every Easter Monday for many years now.

“They always get a good turn put from people in the community and it is always a good day.

“Also things for the children to do such as egg decorating as well as decorating hats.

“We also served hot cross buns and tea for residents to enjoy.

“And later in the day we did an Easter egg hunt for the children in Baycliff park.”

Baycliff resident Mike Greves said: “The performers come every year and it is a good time.

“I’ve been in the village 30 years and they have visited each year.

“It has become a great tradition for the area.”

Simon Tomlinson, from Baycliff, said: “I think it’s really nice to see the community come together

“We’re always happy to come down and support the event.”