Meet The Side

Mel

Meet Mel the Vixen's Squire, responsible for the leadership and performance of the Vixen's dancers. "I have danced with Vixen's for 23 years and they are like a family that you choose. We're all a bit odd, bit quirky, bit different, but everyone has a place here. It's also a hobby I can share with my family, all the children in the side play together and grow up together. I did performing arts when I was younger so this is a way to still do this, still be creative in a relaxed friendly way and it also keeps me fit! I love the social side and we've had some amazing opportunities to dance in some fantastic places and met some fantastic people. I have so many highlights but my top 3 would be dancing alongside my daughter, watching new Vixen's loving their first dance out and winning the Rochester Sweeps Festival Green Man shield 3 times!"

Whistling Simon

Meet Simon, the Side Gaffer (Music Foreperson). Simon leads the band and coordinates the tunes to match the dancers.
"I've been with the side for about 18 years and I was drawn to the side way before I joined as they stopped me in my tracks at Rochester Sweeps. It was the unique gothic look and haunting music. I hadn't really got the time to commit then and practice was 1hr from where I live near Sandwich. One Sweeps in the Good Intent garden I was asked to join and that was it. I knew a few people in the side and quickly realised they were a nice and slightly crazy lot. We have a lot of fun.
Being music mad I love the music sessions when we get together with other sides or at festivals we dance at.
I love music and writing tunes so being able to have an input as gaffer means a lot. However everyone can input. I'm delighted 2 of my tunes are being used for dances.
Our anniversary event at Glastonbury in 2025 was a highlight. All staying in one house and having some great morris sides dance with us. I also love Wickham Festival where we can all be together do some dancing and enjoy a wide range of excellent music."

Rachel

Meet Rachel, Vixen dancer and drummer who joined in 2025
"I had seen WH&V dancing at sweeps and I said to Ian 'i want to do that'!
I got home and searched local Morris sides and WH&V were the first on the list.
I've only line danced before and soon realised that this was very different and much harder than I thought it would be!
My highlights were performing at sweeps in 2026. Performing at Wickham music festival, that was an amazing weekend and experience. Deal, Whitstable & Broadstairs were great days out with WH&V.
My stand out moments have to be Sweeps & Wickham, and I am super excited for Glastonbury next year, hopefully as a dancer as well as a drummer.
Another stand out moment on a more personal level is the love and support the whole side have showed me whilst I navigated my breast cancer journey. They made sure I was included in everything and showed me how to play a drum! Forever grateful to WH&V"

Les

Meet Les, Wolf's Head dancer and singer of 'Twa Corbies', who joined in 2024.

"I spoke to Emma at Tenterden Folk Festival and I liked the music and style. I enjoy the camaraderie and everyone is kind, welcoming, accepting of everyone's foibles.

My highlight is being with everyone at pub stands and having a laugh."

Graham

Meet Graham the Wolf's Head Squire, responsible for the leadership and performance of the Wolf's Head dancers. Graham has been with the side for 9 years and first joined when he was dragged along by his wife!
"I found the side so welcoming, fun and friendly. I enjoy the dancing and great energy at practice, particularly working alongside the Wolfshead Foreperson when we have new dancers, watching their progression and achievements. If I've had a bad day at work coming to practice or going to a stand uplifts me.
A highlight for me was dancing in Glastonbury last year for our 30th anniversary. We rocked Glastonbury Tor!"

Ian aka Shouty

Meet Ian also known as 'The Shouty Man' or just 'Shouty'. As well as introducing the dances with a little bit of information and a lot of humour, Ian also plays the big drum and makes it go boom!
"My friend Diane, who was a vixen at the time, encouraged me to join in 2011 as a drummer and after a while I was asked to introduce the dances at a stand. Once they discovered how loud I could be it became my job!
I enjoy being a different person as shouty. I can be silly and pose in front of the camera- I'm actually really shy! I like the support in the side, we all look after each other in whatever way we can.
My highlights have been our 30th anniversary in Glastonbury, I got to show off so much and the crowd were good fun. The Bloodstone rallies on the Isle of Wight were great fun too."

Michelle

Meet Michelle, Vixen dancer who joined in 2016.
"I saw WH&V dance at The Bull Inn, East Farleigh in 2007. I really liked the aesthetic and dances. I got to know some of the dancers through other groups locally and they became good friends so I decided to join.
I've always felt like an outsider but felt really welcome, everyone was really nice and I felt like I fitted in really well.
I've never forgotten my first dance at Sweeps and the sense of achievement after all my efforts paying off when I'd finally learnt my 3 dances and got to dance out. My children were so proud when watching me dance."

Arran

Meet Arran, the Wolf's Head Foreperson. The foreperson teaches and trains the dancers, runs practice sessions, and maintains the quality and style of the dances.
Arran has been with Wolf's Head for 11 years after initially coming as the "taxi" driver for his wife who joined Vixens. Unfortunately for him, Phil had other ideas for him and soon got him dancing!
"I enjoy the social part of being a member of Wolf's Head and Vixen; it's a good laugh and everyone is really friendly. The music and the atmosphere really make it. I've also gone to places I would never have had the opportunity to go to otherwise. It's been great as foreperson to watch new people progress and to also resurrect old dances with the help of Graham, the squire.
My highlights have been the Bloodstone rallies on the Isle of Wight and our anniversary weekend at Glastonbury."

Hannah

Meet Hannah, Vixen side Secretary. The secretary manages the correspondence, manages performance requests and the diary.

"I joined Wolf's Head and Vixen in 2019. after many years dancing Cotswolds. I thought it was time to try something different and join the dark side of Morris!

My highlights have been dancing the sun up on May day and being part of the creation of our unique Dusking event in November where we dance the sun down. I really love having a safe space to be creative with lots of like minded people"

Morgan

Meet Morgan, Vixen dancer who joined the side in 2023.
"I enjoy being a part of WH&V and it lets me meet new people and make connections that I wouldn't have if I hadn't joined.
My top highlight since joining has been the sense of accomplishment I feel after finishing a dance correctly at a stand, especially if it's my first time doing the dance in public.
Sweeps will always be the stand I enjoy the most because it's local and where my love for dancing started originally "

Emma

Meet Emma the Vixen's Foreperson and Bagperson. The foreperson teaches and trains the dancers, and the bagperson is the keeper of the bag or treasurer. Emma is super woman and does both brilliantly!
'I've been with the side for 9 years. I spent years going to folk camps and dipping my toe in all types of folk music, dance and morris and decided it was time to actually do some outside of my holidays. I think we are incredibly inclusive as a side and I love the social aspect of being in a team. I’m primarily a dancer but love playing in the band too.
My highlights are being part of traditions that bring communities together such as the Hop Hoodening in Canterbury."

Wolfie aka Neil

Meet Neil who plays our beast 'Wolfie', bodhran player and Wolf's Head dancer. "I joined almost 7 years ago after my wife joined the side, I only came along to have a beer and watch but Wolf's Head had other ideas! I really enjoy the camaraderie within the side and with other Morris sides. I love the social side of being with Wolf's Head and Vixen, being with lots of different people and personalities. I've attended lots of different festivals and events that I would never have had the chance to otherwise. Being 'Wolfie' I get to be someone I'm not usually, posing, causing mischief and occasionally scaring people! My highlights have been dancing at Wickham festival, waking up Jack in the Green at silly o'clock on May day and being 'Wolfie' in the sweeps festival parade and getting all the children to howl with me!"

William

Meet William, Wolf's Head dancer and drummer.
'I've been dancing with Wolf's Head since 2024, but I've been with the side since I was about 8 years old.
I enjoy travelling around the UK going to new places and learning new things about Morris.
I've enjoyed the Sweeps festival the most, as I've been going to it for as long as I can remember and it's always enjoyable!'

Wolf's Head & Vixen Morris