A BRIEF HISTORY
The Early Years
Heybury Aces was formed in 1977 by four people.
Gladys and Ronnie Hulme along with Jean and Frank James
The name was formed by linking the two towns where they lived.
Gladys and Ronnie lived in Heywood, Jean and Frank lived in Bury.
When they started they already had a few good dancers as their own daughters and quite a few of
their friends had learned to dance with another team in Heywood.
They started small but gained numbers steadily and not too long after forming they danced out.
Most of their competitions in the early days were with Freddy Bennett's organisation and for many
years they danced in red and white uniforms.
Heybury Aces was formed in 1977 by four people.
Gladys and Ronnie Hulme along with Jean and Frank James
The name was formed by linking the two towns where they lived.
Gladys and Ronnie lived in Heywood, Jean and Frank lived in Bury.
When they started they already had a few good dancers as their own daughters and quite a few of
their friends had learned to dance with another team in Heywood.
They started small but gained numbers steadily and not too long after forming they danced out.
Most of their competitions in the early days were with Freddy Bennett's organisation and for many
years they danced in red and white uniforms.
In 1978, I was watching the local carnival in Bury.
As an ex dancer I had always enjoyed watching morris dancing but as I was new to the Bury area I
didn't know of any troupes.
I watched Heybury Aces dancing on the field and approached the trainers to ask if I might be able to
join them.
They agreed and so in June that year I started to train with them.
Very soon I was asked if I would train the new children to form a dinky team.
Not that long after Gladys and Ronnie gave up going to the training night as they had other
commitments so that left Jean and Frank running the troupe.
Frank then left as he had started up his own business and was unable to dedicate as much time as he
wanted to with the troupe.
Diane then came in and helped Jean with the running of the teams.
Shortly after Jean became poorly and so I was asked to help Diane and so in early 1981, I became
joint principal.
People joined and left as in all troupes but I continued to run the troupe with the help of Norma until
1998.
It was in 1998 that I was approached by another troupe principal with a proposition of joining forces
as both her team and mine were struggling for girls to dance in their correct age group.
That seemed to work fine for 1 year until the lady announced one day that she had sold everything and
was disbanding the troupe.
I was so sad and didn't know what to do with myself for a good six months.
Then ..........(in the words of the song) I picked myself up, dust myself down and started all over
again.
Harwood Village Morris troupe was born. September 1999
As an ex dancer I had always enjoyed watching morris dancing but as I was new to the Bury area I
didn't know of any troupes.
I watched Heybury Aces dancing on the field and approached the trainers to ask if I might be able to
join them.
They agreed and so in June that year I started to train with them.
Very soon I was asked if I would train the new children to form a dinky team.
Not that long after Gladys and Ronnie gave up going to the training night as they had other
commitments so that left Jean and Frank running the troupe.
Frank then left as he had started up his own business and was unable to dedicate as much time as he
wanted to with the troupe.
Diane then came in and helped Jean with the running of the teams.
Shortly after Jean became poorly and so I was asked to help Diane and so in early 1981, I became
joint principal.
People joined and left as in all troupes but I continued to run the troupe with the help of Norma until
1998.
It was in 1998 that I was approached by another troupe principal with a proposition of joining forces
as both her team and mine were struggling for girls to dance in their correct age group.
That seemed to work fine for 1 year until the lady announced one day that she had sold everything and
was disbanding the troupe.
I was so sad and didn't know what to do with myself for a good six months.
Then ..........(in the words of the song) I picked myself up, dust myself down and started all over
again.
Harwood Village Morris troupe was born. September 1999