The Beginning

In 1992 four people who had all been involved in Morris dancing and folk music for many years felt it was time to leave their respective Morris Sides and form a new, vibrant mixed Morris Side. These were the Founding Members who formed the Side based on its original ideals and objectives . They are no longer active with the side and we thank them all for their enthusiasm and contribution they have made over many years to Rampant Rooster Morris

Martina Preece - First Squire

Tim Curtin First - First Foreman

Ray Henderson - First Bagman

Neil McRitchie - First lead Musician

The originating members of the Morris Side thought hard and long about a name: it was agreed that is should be unique to us, reflect our area of origin and describe us if possible.

The Name

After considering quite a few alternative suggestions the Morris Side settled on the name

Rooster

- to reflect the famous five-toed cockerel of Dorking Town which is encapsulated in the Mole Valley Coat of Arms find out more about the Dorking Cockerel here

Rampant

- which in one sense is a term used for a heraldic animal standing on one leg with the other raised (as in the Coat of Arms stylised cockerel)
- and in another sense is “unrestrained”, “flourishing excessively” which does describe our dancing!

…and RampantRoosterMorris were christened!

The logo we use and on our badges is directly from the Mole Valley Coat of Arms, and also gave us our Side colours of red, gold-yellow and green.

This is how the the Dorking Rampant Rooster Mixed Morris Dancing Side came to be named.