Over forty years ago in the early days of The Side there was no resident team musician other than Mary Shunn playing the piano "in camera" for practices on a Wednesday evening. Out of the practice room Mary believed morris was "men's business". So, when it came to the first tours, musicians from other teams where Mary had friends (through the EFDSS network) were seconded to accompany tours by The Side. One such musician was Ian Dunmur from our neighbours Kennet MM. Ian was one of the original members of Kennet and the longest serving member still strutting his stuff.

The Side had many joint tours with Kennet in those early days (particularly May Bank Holiday) and one such tour of Goring/Streetly was the subject of a famous morris Jigsaw which was marketed nationally by Waddingtons. Photographs of that tour also appear in the Encyclopedia "Man, Myth & Magic".

More than forty years on amazingly The Side and Kennet are still speaking to each other and this photograph shows a joint visit to the Saddleworth Rushcart weekend in August 2006. Even more amazingly it shows the legendary Ian Dunmur playing for Kennet that weekend.

Matt Smee carried on a lengthy tradition by playing for both teams over the w/e and also dances with The Side as does Clive Blunt and Allie Hutchinson (not in picture - but in the church!).

Sem Seaborne
Icknield Way Morris Men
September 2006