Alan Morgan, 1949 - 1989

Alan died suddenly after collapsing during William and Nancy on September 30th. He had travelled with a small contingent from Rutland to join in Peterborough Morris's Day of Dance, right up to the moment of his death he had participated in the proceedings with his customary vigour and good humour. The support of the Peterborough men at the hospital was of enormous help to those of us who were with Alan and is gratefully acknowledged.

Alan was characteristically modest about his prowess as a dancer; he had been dancing for less than five years and was open about the limitations of his repertory but, with his generosity of spirit and good-natured enthusiasm, he reperesented everything that the commitment, cameraderie and fellowship of the morris should be about. He was a fine singer who would willingly lead a chorus or give a solo performance. It is not surprising that earlier on the day of his death we had already been treated to a couple of songs. Despite the relatively short time that Alan had been with Rutland, he had been elected Treasurer and had just fulfilled his first year of office with typical efficiency. The respect and affection in which he was held is to be measured in the grief displayed at his passing. It was Rutland's own Day of Dance just one week after Peterborough: although it is a hackneyed expression, we know that it would have been Alan's wish that the event go ahead as planned. William and Nancy was danced at 3.40 with a space at number 4. It was an experience that many found hard to bear. Our thoughts are, of course, with Gert, Dana and Nadia; they have been wondefully supported by family and friends alike. When a little more time has passed, we hope that they will once again share the morris with us.

Written by Brian Collins, 1989, for the Morris Dancer