The Traditional Idiot Clog Dance of Sowerby Bridge. (see notes of explanation)

In 1987 Channel 4 television commissioned John Floyd (aka The Third Earl) to make a television programme about folk music emanating from West Yorkshire and Sowerby Bridge in particular. This particular excerpt is of the late (some say great) Jeremy Melonie performing the Traditional Idiot Clog Dance of Sowerby Bridge with two other self confessed loonies and Paul Grange on accordion. It is of course a well known fact that a lot of traditional dance sides have fools; and normally only one of them. Here in Sowerby Bridge we have three, not fools but, idiots. The first section of the dance is comprised of attempting to stamp on the nearest foot whilst circulating in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions. The traditional Sowerby Bridge idiot felt no pain, so whereas the more sensible traditional sides try to avoid stamping on each others feet here there is a deliberate attempt to do just that. The second and third parts of the dance are more difficult to explain. We believe that the second part goes back to the time when idiots often failed to go to work and consequently needed a good kick up the arse to do so. Hopping was an important past-time. The best beers have been brewed in Yorkshire since the discovery of good ale and we believe the third and final part is a celebration of good hopping. If anyone recognises the other two un-named loonies, or alternatively if they are capable of recognising themselves, perhaps they would contact me and then I will be delighted to add their names to the pay-roll. This dance (peculiar to Sowerby Bridge) is also called Three man morris