Sheffield dancers beat the odds to bring in 2021 with historic tradition

Since 1979, come rain, shine, snow or gale, Sheffield City Morris have danced outside Sheffield Cathedral at midday on January 1 to welcome in the New Year.

In 2014 they had to move to St Marie’s Cathedral, due to works on the forecourt of the Anglican Cathedral, but still their dance went ahead to the delight of crowds.

This year, the team thought they would be forced to break their tradition and forsake the New Year Day dance out due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

But on reflection they decided that would be ‘very sad.’

So, they gathered six of the team members, four dancers, one musician, one cameraman – and turned up outside Sheffield Cathedral at 10am on Friday January 1, 2021.

There they performed two dances, one while wearing face masks, and maintained social distance.

The performance was filmed to provide evidence, there was no publicity in advance, and they brought the time forward by two hours, to avoid attracting crowds.

"As it was, the dances were performed to a very small number of curious bystanders who happened to be passing”, said publicity officer Dominic Rice.

The team also used the opportunity to remember one of their early members, Gerry Bates, who died in November 2020, by holding a minute’s silence before dancing.

Until his death Gerry was the team’s longest-serving member of 45 years.

He also had an important association with their New Year’s Day activities, as up until a few years ago the whole team would retire to Gerry’s house following the dancing to enjoy a feast of various curries prepared by Gerry and his wife Judith.

Dominic added: “Sheffield City Morris therefore hope that prosperity and good fortune will be bestowed upon the people of Sheffield in 2021 – we certainly all need it.”

Sheffield City Morris was due to celebrate its 45th anniversary in 2020, but that did not happen.

Members are now looking forward to their 50th anniversary in 2025 and hoping they can get back to regular practices in 2021, along with performing at various events in Sheffield and beyond.